OHA has special reason to win Old Scholars flag in grand final showdown with Hutchins

After a health scare last month, Ian Callinan is said to be recovering well from a stroke and his Old Scholars team OHA aim to win the premiership for their great mate

OHA football club coach, Brodie Langford and Hutchins Old Boys coach, Lance Spaulding ahead of this weekend's old scholars grand final. Picture: Zak Simmonds

• “Snowy” about to set new all-time games record for Old Scholars football
• Stats and individual ranking of every player in the TSL — here’s how to get them

THEY might be the underdog heading into the Old Scholars grand final against Hutchins at North Hobart Oval tomorrow but the OHA Ships will have extra wind in their sails as they try to claim the premiership for fallen soldier Ian Callinan.

Ships coach Brodie Langford said there was a quiet determination in the group to do it for the former Adelaide Crows forward, affectionately known as “Wingnut”, after he had a stroke early last month.

“He’s been a big part of our footy club for the past couple of years. He’s a special person and a close friend of ours,” Langford said.

“It was difficult early for a lot of us with the news of what happened to him.

“But he’s been around the footy club over the past week or so, and it has been really nice to see the improvement he has made and he’s excited for us, which is making us excited as well.”

The former Tassie Mariner, Clarence onballer, VFL Devil, Central Districts SANFL premiership player and Adelaide Crow, had a stroke aged 37.

“It is going to be a long road, but he’s a competitive beast and he doesn’t like not being able to do the things he likes to do,” Langford said.

“But he has improved out of sight from when it first happened four or five weeks ago – he’s walking and talking and he’s got 90 per cent of his motor skills back, and that is really great.”

Hutchins scored three wins over OHA on its way to the grand final, which gives coach Lance Spaulding reason to be optimistic.

“Our best is good enough to win,” Spaulding said.

“We’ve had good performances against strong sides this year and we’ve been beaten as well, so we are fully aware that we’ve got to bring our best.”