Oak Park and Maribyrnong Park to honour Blake “Boner” Albones

Oak Park will pay tribute to a premiership star who died suddenly last year in a standalone clash against Maribyrnong Park on Saturday. Here’s what is planned.

Blake Albones was a popular member of both club's communities.

Oak Park and Maribyrnong Park’s first game of the Essendon District Football League season is about much more than the four points.

The club’s will come together to celebrate the life of former competition star Blake “Boner” Albones who died suddenly in October last year this Saturday.

He left behind a wife, three daughters, his brother Mark and both his parents.

Albones was a key part of the Oak Park side which played in four A-Grade, now known as Premier Division, grand finals in the early 2000s as the Roos won flags in 2002 and 2003.

During this period, Albones booted 321 goals including 94 in the 2001 season and holds the record of 16 goals in a top tier game.

He was also an EDFL representative and played for Vic Metro against the Canberra competition.

Albones became involved at Maribyrnong Park when his daughters started playing footy.

Current Oak Park coach Todd Clark developed a strong relationship with Albones after the pair both arrived at the club around the same time from interstate.

He said the game would also see the new Blake Albones End unveiled at the new clubrooms.

The poster for the weekend's fixture.

“He was a dominant forward, a great teammate, someone you loved to play alongside,” Clark said.

“On the field, he was aggressive at the ball, he loved the contact. He was someone the younger guys would walk taller alongside when they played.

“When I coached the club for the first time in 2008-09, I got him back as a runner because he was someone you wanted around.

Away from footy, Albones was a prominent member of the financial services industry.

His infectious humour and “selfless character” always made him a popular figure wherever he went.

“He would always look after others needs before his own,” Clark said.

“A great mate to so many, someone people would gravitate too.”

The day to remember Albones will start at 11.40am with the reserves game before the seniors take to the field at 2.15pm.

“We’re really excited to get out there and test ourselves against the side that has come down from Premier Division,” Clark said.

The game will be played at JP Fawkner Reserve.