2026 President’s Welcome Address

Hello everyone,

I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself properly and share what an honour it is to be elected President of our great football club.

For those who don’t know me, my name is Marshall Hill, and my connection to this club goes back to 1987, when I first pulled on the jumper for the Under 19s under the great Rob Draper. By the mid-90s I’d joined the committee and served as Vice President to Michael Perry. By the mid-2000s, with our fourth child on the way, Sally and I had to step back for almost 10 years.

Thankfully, in 2016, we found ourselves right back where we belonged when our eldest son Harry joined OBGFC – and honestly, it felt like coming home. Since then, our whole family has been involved; Molly has played in the Women’s team, Lucy has worked the bar, and George has played Under 19s for the last two seasons. This club has truly become an extension of our family.

Over the last decade, our club has been on a remarkable upward trajectory. The establishment of our Women’s program and our sustained presence in the VAFA Premier Division have fundamentally strengthened the club. The schools’ football programs have also been incredible, not only producing talented players, but sending us outstanding young men and women who are polite, respectful, and great ambassadors for the game.

The last two years in particular have been nothing short of extraordinary.

On-field success:

• Back-to-back Under 19 premierships

• Back-to-back Women’s premierships

• First ever Men’s Reserves Preliminary Final

• And of course… our first ever A-Grade (Premier Division) Senior Men’s premiership

Off-field success:

• Record membership

• Record sponsorship

• The highest level of past player involvement in decades

• Unprecedented demand for club lunches and events

• Huge growth in all membership categories

• Two Under 19 teams fielded for the first time in club history

• The continued strength of our “Clubbies” team

To every sponsor, past player, member, supporter, volunteer, and family who has been part of this — thank you sincerely. This club’s success belongs to all of us.

One of the biggest joys for me personally has been seeing so many past players returning with their young families. It brings a warmth and spirit to the place that can’t be manufactured. You can feel it every Saturday.