Redemption on the cards in 2023 for University Blues

University Blues experienced the highest of highs in 2019. Winning their first William Buck Premier Men’s Premiership since 2004. After running through the abandoned 2021 season in the middle of the table with six wins and five losses, they encountered the lowest of lows in 2022. Stripped of Premiership points at the midway point of the year.

The club fought valiantly after the VAFA’s double bye. Winning three games, while losing four. They ended the home and away season in eighth spot. Enough to keep them in William Buck Premier Men’s in 2023.

When VAFA footy takes centre stage again on April 15, 2023. It will be a very different looking unit that takes to Melbourne Uni Oval under the guise of Guy Martyn.

The club recently bid farewell to five of their star players. Paddy Hayes, Kieran Harper, Ben Capra, Joe Macula all hanging up the boots while James Carr is set to play on locally after relocating.

Four of the five departing (Hayes, Harper, Capra and Macula) were all premiership players in 2019 with the club and were all key pillars of the side throughout the dominant 2019 season.

Hayes had recently played his 200th game this season after first playing with the club in 2009, finishing with 203 senior games and two premierships.

The Uni Blues club website acknowledged the outstanding contribution and role these five members have played in the clubs history “all five players have made magnificent contributions to University Blues. We would like to take this opportunity to thank them each sincerely and we wish them all well in the future.”

The club will now set about replacing the well of on-field knowledge and experience to fill the vacancies left. In a boost for the club, they’ve had fullback Marty Gleeson, full forward Sam Grimley and Cam O’Shea all committing to the cause in 2023.

Gleeson, now 28, played 97 games for Essendon over eight years and has been a strong presence down at the club with his knowledge and leadership becoming valuable for many of the younger players coming through. In a stellar debut season for the club, Gleeson took out the clubs best and fairest, earned a spot in the VAFA’s Team of the Year and was ranked the #1 player in the VAFA by Premier Data. Given his position on the field playing against the games biggest and best forwards, he was outstanding on-field all season.

Sam Grimley was the league’s standout forward as he took hold of the goal kicking tables. He kicked the most goals this season in William Buck Premier Men’s with 56 goals kicked despite missing games later in the year through injury. When Grimley is on, he is impossible to stop. He finished fourth in the clubs best and fairest count.

Cam O’Shea, joined the Blues in 2019, playing a key role in the clubs premiership that year, has been an integral player down in the backline, and always ready to be called upon to jump into the midfield when needed. Such was his influence on the group this year, he found his way to third on best and fairest night for the club.

The club is well led on the field by two-time Woodrow Medallist Ayce Cordy who missed key chunks of 2022 through injury. He is a strong leader, a bold competitor. Turning 33 during the 2023 season, the end is closer than the beginning for Cordy, he will leave no stone unturned in wanting to get University Blues back where they belong, inside the top four and competing for Premierships.

The 2022 year, that was full of drama for University Blues, is all behind them now, as they surge forward to once again become a strong force in William Buck Premier Men’s.