Sporting stars and the Geelong high schools they went to
There have been plenty of amazing athletes emerge from some of Geelong’s biggest schools. Here is a selection of the incredible sporting alumni.
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There have been plenty of amazing athletes emerge from Geelong.
These talented men and women have starred in a variety of sports including AFL, cricket, soccer, netball, as well as shining on the Olympic stage.
The region’s schools played a part in their development, and they continue to do so for the next generation.
These are some of the athletes some of our biggest schools have produced.
Geelong College
Notable sporting alumni: Edward ‘Carji’ Greeves (VFL), Lindsay Hassett (cricket), Ian Redpath (cricket), Lachie Henderson (AFL), Charlie Curnow (AFL), Ed Curnow (AFL), Josh Dunkley-Smith (rowing), Steve Horvat (soccer), Phoebe Stanley (rowing).
SPORT has always been a big part of life at Geelong College, with the school boasting a long history of stars.
More than 100 AFL, AFLW and VFL players have walked through the doors including Brownlow medallists Alistair Lord and Edward ‘Craji’ Greeves, while Geelong’s Steph Williams is carrying on the tradition in the AFLW.
A trio of test cricketers – batting great Lindsay Hassett, stoic opener Ian Redpath and quick bowler Paul Sheahan – also passed through the doors, as well as an Ironwoman champion (Harriet Brown), a Socceroos captain (Steve Horvat), a slew of Olympians and even two Scotland Rugby Union representatives.
School principal Dr Peter Miller said sport would always be important at the College “because of the strong educational benefits” it provides.
“The strong sporting history and success of a relative few at the Geelong College is inspiring but the lessons for all through participation in sport is the main reason for the firm place of sport in our education program for the past 160 years,” he said.
Dr Miller said the school was reviewing its gymnasium and training facilities at the school with an eye to improving participation in sport.
Geelong Grammar
Notable sporting alumni: John Landy (athletics), Jock Landale (basketball), John ‘Sam’ Newman (AFL), Craig Mottram (athletics), Kate Slatter (rowing), Tayla Honey (netball), Nina Morrison (AFLW), Emily Mannix (netball), Caleb Serong (AFL).
A FAMOUS old school, Geelong Grammar’s tradition in sport is only growing.
The 2020 AFL Rising Star winner Caleb Serong (Fremantle) is leading the charge after the school ramped up its sporting scholarships in the 2010s.
Serong is joined by Nina Morrison (Geelong, AFLW), Easton Wood (Western Bulldogs) and Devon Smith (Essendon) among many others currently in the game.
The new wave carries the football tradition set up by Geelong 300 game legend John ‘Sam’ Newman.
But it also carries beyond Australian rules, with Jock Landale (San Antonio Spurs, NBA) and Emily Mannix (Melbourne Vixens, Super Netball).
In recent years, the school has scaled back its sporting scholarships but remains committed to sport.
Kate Slatter is one of many Olympians from the school and she claimed gold in Atlanta in 1996 in the coxless pair.
Long-distance runner Craig Mottram too wore the famous Eton blue.
Despite the good work those names have done, they are all dwarfed by John Landy.
The legendary runner is a Geelong athletic icon, who won bronze in the 1500m at the Melbourne Olympic Games and would go on to become the Governor of Victoria.
Sacred Heart College
Notable sporting alumni:Lily Mithen (AFLW), Olivia Purcell (AFLW), Lucy McEvoy (AFLW), Hannah Burchell (AFLW), Maddy McMahon (AFLW), Denby Taylor (AFLW), Rebecca Goring (AFLW), Anna Teague (AFLW), Jessica Gulli (hurdles), Alice Teague-Neeld (netball)
SACRED Heart College has become a talent factory for AFLW clubs in recent years, but it’s not the only sport the all-girls school has excelled in.
With more than 20 sports on offer at Sacred Heart, sports coordinator Bianca Cheever said students had plenty of options.
“I think it’s all about opportunity and participation,” she said.
“I like to get as many teams as possible to sporting events, which exposes these students to playing against other schools.
“We do 21 sports, and there are probably sports they’ve never done before. They might find out, ‘I’m actually pretty good at badminton’ for instance.
“What I try to get across to the girls is give everything a try, no matter what.”
The school is part of two sporting associations — the Secondary Catholic Sports Association and the Geelong Independent Schools Sporting Association.
A former college student herself, Bianca said it was always a thrill to see a student athlete kick on.
“The fact you know them, you’re more invested in them to see how they go,” she said. “There is that bit of satisfaction and that pride that they went to Sacred Heart.”
There are plenty more talented athletes from the school on the rise as well, with ex-students such as Agnes Emma-Nnopu (basketball), Ally Knights (basketball), Olivia Ryan (tennis) and Heidi Demeo (athletics) currently in the US college system.
Sacred Heart teacher and junior football coach Carl Tracey said sport played a big role in many students’ lives.
“We’re certainly very proud of the sporting history we have here,” he said.
“We’re pretty fortunate that whatever sport the girls want to have a go at, they’ll pretty much be able to do it here.
“For some students, sport is the main reason they come to school.”
Grovedale College
Notable sporting alumni: Jacinta Carroll (waterskiing), Leigh Howard (cycling), Susan Meaney (netball), Darcy Parish (AFL), David Mensch (AFL), Gryan Miers (AFL), Rhys Mathieson (AFL), Carly Remmos (AFLW).
GROVEDALE College certainly punches out of its weight division.
The school has a proud history of participation and for a medium-sized government school, its success in School Sport Victoria competitions has been outstanding.
Sport co-ordinator Mick Lenaghan said its academy program, which was introduced 15 years ago, had become well regarded.
The program provides students with an elite sporting pathway, also providing participants a chance to engage in competitions.
“The program provides specialist sports coaching mainly in AFL, netball and fitness, together with leadership and initiative training and personal development activities to maximise the development of the whole student,” Lenaghan said.
“The program builds the student’s skills and knowledge to participate in elite sport competitions, coaching and other elite sport professions.”
Students also get the opportunity to hear from elite athletes, participate in performance program Leading Teams and travel to Darwin on a leadership camp to work in remote communities.
It also gives students an gain a Certificate III in Sport and Recreation and a contribution to their ATAR score.
“With a combination of interschool sport opportunities, the sports academy program and some of the best sporting facilities within government schools in Geelong, Grovedale College will continue to provide outstanding outcomes for all students with the passion, love and joy of playing sport,” Lenaghan said.
St Joseph’s College
Notable sporting alumni: Jimmy Bartel (AFL), Cameron Ling (AFL), Nick Maxwell (AFL), Matthew Scarlett (AFL), Sam Walsh (AFL), Tom Stewart (AFL), Jack Henry (AFL) Cameron Johnston (NFL), Matthew Spiranovic (soccer), Josh Spence (baseball)
THE first thing that comes to mind when many think of St Joseph’s is football.
The school and the sport go together like a meat pie and sauce.
In the St Joseph’s gym, a wall is dedicated to the alumni who have played and coached at the highest level, with 58 names all given their own plaques.
Those on the wall include legends like Bill McMaster, John and Matthew Scarlett, Jimmy Bartel and Cameron Ling.
Current stars such as Tom Stewart, Luke Dahlhaus and Sam Walsh continue to carry the torch for the school in the AFL.
St Joseph’s released its best combined AFL side in 2020, featuring four club captains, eight All-Australians and a Brownlow Medal.
But the sporting prowess of the school isn’t limited to the Australian game, with soccer star Matt Spiranovic one of many to spread his wings from the Newtown campus, while Josh Spence (baseball) and Cameron Johnston (NFL) continue to succeed.
Geelong High School
Notable sporting alumni: Jed Bews (AFL), Max Kroger (VFL/athletics), John Hine (cycling), Addy Bucek (sailing), Frank Bucek (sailing), Alan Connolly (cricket).
Geelong High School opened in 1910, and it’s no surprise the institution has created a strong sporting legacy in the more than 100 years since.
Australian cricketer Alan Connolly and current Cats star Jed Bews attended the school.
Principal Glenn Davey said sport had always been a big part of students’ experiences at the school.
“I think the school has a proud history, not just as an academic school, but across all of the areas of society, and sport being a significant one of those, particularly in Geelong,” he said.
“Over time the school has built a strong reputation in the community as a school that prepares people for life, and a significant part of that is the participation in recreational activities and sport.”
Mr Davey said Geelong High traditionally had a strong history in football and athletics, but noted the range of sports available to students had grown over the years.
“We’ve got a strong girls’ footy team nowadays. Golf is another one,” he said.
“Our kids are generally pretty prepared to give a wide range of sports a go. And we do encourage our kids to get involved.”
Originally published as Sporting stars and the Geelong high schools they went to
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