Collie Eagles Football Club president Ash Stewart is calling for all former Collie footballers and volunteers to come ‘back to the footy’ this weekend.
Stewart said the club was holding a function on Saturday, August 4 during the round 15 clash with Carey Park, for all former players, to recognise and acknowledge all the players, staff and volunteers who have played a part in Collie football throughout its long history.
“We’re going to have what we’re calling our Back to Footy day, which is effectively like a premiership reunion but for anyone who has been involved in football in Collie over the last 100 years,” he said.
“It’s probably our biggest function on a game day this year.”
Stewart said it was important to recognise the contributions of everyone involved in getting the Collie Eagles where they are today.
“Over the years premiership teams have reunions and everyone can catch up with people they played with in those premierships,” he said.
“But for people who didn’t play in a premiership, we don’t organise things for them because it’s not a milestone to celebrate.
“But just because people didn’t win a flag doesn’t mean that they didn’t put just as much in to footy as the people who did win one.
“So we’d like to get people back who were involved in footy and catch up, especially with those who aren’t in town anymore and just celebrate Collie football.”
Stewart said he hoped to see many familiar faces make it to the game, considering the long history of football in Collie.
“We want to get everyone back to the footy if they’ve been part of our history,” he said.
“Back in the past, it was the Collie Saints and Mines Rovers and they became the Collie Eagles.
“Anyone who has been involved in footy under those three clubs and even prior to that, back in the 50s and 60s with Railways and Centrals (who merged to become the Collie Saints), we’d like to see them get down on that day.”
The day will also see some of Australia’s best woodchoppers turn out for a special event.
The WA Axemen’s League will host a range of events at the Collie Recreation Ground to raise money for woodchopper Alek Ashcroft.
From 12pm on into the night, the league will host acitivities such as a calcutta run, an evening auction, a sportsman’s night with world champion woodchopper David Foster and an elimination woodchopping competition.
The colts will kick off the day of games against Carey Park at 9am before the reserves follow at 11.05am.
The women’s team plays at 1.10pm and the league side will be looking to bounce back from a couple of disappointing results in the day’s final game at 2.30pm.
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