By Marc McGowan
Adopted Ballarat local and new Giant Ollie Hannaford felt the regional city’s pain this year during a devastating two-month period when three women were killed.
The deaths of Samantha Murphy, Rebecca Young and Hannah McGuire sparked grief and anger, but also unity against gender-based violence within the close-knit Ballarat community. The three women died violently, allegedly at the hands of men.
Bendigo-raised Hannaford – who the Giants used a top-20 pick on at last week’s AFL draft – was boarding at St Patrick’s College in Ballarat, and wanted to make a stand, too.
Giants draftee Ollie Hannaford.Credit: Nick Moir
The horrific Bondi Junction stabbings in NSW were also around this time, with five women among the victims.
Hannaford’s conversation with the school’s boarding master, Tam Westwood, led to the creation of the “Break the cycle” event, designed to raise funds and awareness about violence against women.
Students and staff took turns riding four exercise bikes non-stop for 24 hours, helping raise more than $8000 for the cause. Hannaford hopes it will become an annual event on the St Pat’s calendar.
“It was so awful, and some people [at school] knew the victims and even knew the people who were a part of it,” Hannaford told this masthead.
“It was very eye-opening, especially when you have such important women in your life, like mothers, sisters, girlfriends – everything. It was very confronting, almost, just thinking how hard it would be if it happened to your family, so it was a no-brainer for us to try and do something.
“Being an all-boys school, I think it was very significant for our school to show that we are respectful young men, and we were trying to get rid of the stigma of toxic masculinity.”
This was not an isolated case of Hannaford’s leadership, with the 18-year-old captaining the school’s football side and his boarding house.
He plans to use his new status as an AFL footballer, alongside close friend and fellow St Pat’s graduate-turned-Giant Jack Ough, to continue making a difference beyond sport.
Hannaford is making his mark on and off the football field.Credit: AFL Photos
“Being on an AFL list now, it’s really important to be able to use that platform for a good cause, so doing more things like this is something that I can work towards in the future,” Hannaford said.
“I’ve built my leadership and definitely benefited from going to [St Patrick’s College] as well, so it’s something I’m trying to display when I can.”
‘It was very eye-opening, especially when you have such important women in your life, like mothers, sisters, girlfriends – everything. It was very confronting, almost, just thinking how hard it would be if it happened to your family, so it was a no-brainer for us to try and do something.’
Ollie Hannaford
However, the Giants did not select Hannaford just because he is a model citizen.
His surprise mid-season switch to the forward line – after starting the season as a midfielder, then shifting to defence – saw him transform from a fringe draftee into a certain first-round selection, with GWS swooping with their No.18 pick.
Hannaford’s blistering second half of the season for GWV Rebels was integral in the David Loader-coached team reaching the Talent League under-18 grand final, as well as his own stocks rising.
Recruiters became enamoured with his goalkicking nous, speed, agility, power, aggression and ultra-competitiveness, all of which should fit in wonderfully in Giants coach Adam Kingsley’s system.
“It was a bit of a rollercoaster for me. I came into the year expecting to be a midfielder who gets 30 touches a game,” Hannaford said.
“That’s what every kid dreams of, but I couldn’t live up to that, and I wasn’t playing good footy, so I went to the backline, went back to what I was good at, and what I was used to, but it wasn’t really giving me the exposure I needed and wanted.
“I was lucky enough to make the Vic Country team, and I got told I was playing forward in the first champs games – and I had barely played there at all my whole career.”
Hannaford (left) with fellow Giants draftee Harry Oliver.Credit: AFL Photos
Even then, it was not all smooth sailing. Hannaford was dropped for Country’s championships finale against Metro, which lit a fire within him that remained throughout the rest of the season.
Now, he could be about to share a forward line with the likes of Toby Greene and Jesse Hogan.
“I’m over the moon, and can’t wait to get stuck into it,” Hannaford said. “It’s obviously a very competitive team, so it’s going to take a lot of work to try and get a game, but if I do, it will be unbelievable.”
If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline 131 114, or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636. Or, in Ballarat, call Orange Door on 1800 219 819