Phil soars to new heights with the Hawks

It was an emotional afternoon at Rathmines Road Reserve last Saturday as Hawthorn Amateur Football Club great PHIL AVERY broke the all-time Club Games Record by running out for his 329^th match.

A big crowd of family and friends were on hand to mark Phil’s special occasion as the Hawthorn Thirds hosted Old Trinity in the fourth and final game of a quadruple header at the Hawks’ nest, continuing an incredible 30-year association between Avery and the Hawks.

Phil managed to sneak forward late and slot a relatively rare goal, which sent his fan club into raptures.

“I played soccer as a kid and only took up footy when I was 18,” Phil recalls.

“I was playing cricket for Bulleen and my cricket coach, Max McColl, also coached the footy team and invited me to come down for a run. I played for Bulleen United for five or six years.

“I knew a few guys at Hawthorn. It was local and more convenient, so I moved there. We only had Clubbies (Club XVIII) to begin with.

“My first game was memorable for all the wrong reasons. I came off the bench, charged in and laid a shepherd in the first 5 seconds of being on the ground. I completely winded myself in that collision and had to come straight off again!”

That was 1996. A mind-blowing thirty years and 329 games later, Phil’s passion for the Hawks is as strong as ever.

“I reckon I’ve played 240-odd games in the Seniors, 70 in the Reserves and 15 or so in the Thirds, which re-formed last year. In that time, I’ve played in two flags – the 1998 Seniors and the 2018 Reserves.

“I’ve also played in 7 losing Grand Finals. We’ve had so many good teams over the years, but things just didn’t go our way on the day. It happens. But despite the frustration, I’ve never walked away and thought ‘I’ve had enough.’

“You have three options – stay where you are, go to another club or retire. I wouldn’t ever go to another club and while I’m still fit, I’m really excited to keep playing.”

A stoic defender, Phil won the League Best & Fairest in 1998 and four club Best & Fairests (Seniors 1996 & 98, Reserves 2018 & 22). Club captain in 1999 and having held multiple off-field roles within the Football Department and Committee, he is a HAFC Life Member.

But his greatest thrill came in 2024, when he got the opportunity to cement the Avery family legacy by running out with his four sons.

“Playing with my own kids in recent years has revived me. I watched my four boys (Eamonn, Magnus, Stirling & Moss) grow up around the club over the years. They all started out as waterboys and boundary umpires. I enjoy that they’ve got involved in a sporting club with such a good mix of people. I’m grateful that they’re fit and active.

“To run out with them last year was really special. I’ll never forget it.”

Breaking the Hawks’ games record is another milestone moment that will live long in Phil’s memory. It’s particularly significant given who he has replaced atop the leaderboard.

The former games-record holder, Dan Lauletta, is an iconic figure at the Hawks, having kicked over 1000 goals, won multiple club and league Best & Fairests, plus leading goalkicker awards.

A former teammate of Phil’s, Dan sadly passed away from leukaemia in 2018. The team went on to win the premiership – Phil holding a picture of Dan in the team photo:

“I was quite cautious about breaking Dan’s record,” Phil admits. “I know his Mum and Dad – they still come down and watch us on occasions and my memories of Dan are still very strong. He was a really special person who died too young.

“I’ll never forget the Saturday after he passed away. It was a wonderful day of celebration. Sad, but wonderful.

“We were complete opposites. He was the star full-forward and I was in the backline. He dominated Saturday nights and I was not like that at all. But we shared so many games together. Footy clubs bring very different people together like that.”

Photo: 2010 Presentation Night. Phil (second from left), Dan Lauletta (far right).

“I’ve made truckloads of good friends. I would never have the same number of Facebook friends if I wasn’t involved at the footy club. I appreciate that network of relationships more as I get older.

“There’s always a new crop of 10-15 people to meet and get to know every year – to chat with, learn their stories from around the world. I enjoy having those introductory conversations with people. I was chatting to a father of a new player the other day. It was really nice to talk to him about the environment we’ve created around the club and he then trusts us to look after his kid from a footy perspective.

“It’s a special place. We started the ‘Wings’ program around 2007, 2008. We had a couple of players that took their own lives and a father of a player also. I was involved in the Committee at the time and, at that stage, it was all about awareness. Mental health challenges were just starting to be talked about more openly in society.

“We started a breakfast to raise money and now it’s an annual event to bring awareness to mental health. We have a mental health fund that players can access if they’re struggling and need to see a professional. Being involved with ‘Wings’ has done a lot for me personally. I grew up in an age where mental health challenges were seen as a weakness, but this has helped me understand it so much better.”

On the field, Phil has seen the game change enormously over his 30 years of pulling on the boots.

“In the old days, you’d win the ball in the backline and kick up the line,” he chuckles.

“Now the ball moves around pretty quickly. Lots of direction changes with 45-degree kicks. The ‘High Press’ is now in the game. It used to be stay on your man at all times! I’ve liked how it’s evolved over time and you have to evolve with it.

“I was always pretty mellow on the field. At my age, I can get away with being a little more verbal these days! You end up having chats with blokes you’ve played against regularly over the years. There are no sheep-stations on the line, so while it’s good to be competitive, no-one gets overly serious.”

At 52 years young, Phil’s desire to keep having a kick in the Ammos on Saturday hasn’t waned a bit.

“I’ve been pretty fortunate over the years – 7 broken fingers, but only one bad injury, which was a broken ankle two years ago. That was a worry as I wondered whether that might be it. But I got back and was able to tape it up and run, so I kept on going!

“I definitely feel sore on Sunday and Monday, but I feel a responsibility to the club to keep playing while I can. If I can still pull on the boots and participate effectively, then why shouldn’t I? I feel like I’ve chosen the right moment over the years to drop down from the Seniors to Reserves to Thirds.

“I don’t train much these days, but I still like the physical activity and the competition. They’re the main things that keep me going. It helps me stay fit, so even when I wake up sore, I still know it’s good for me.

“There will be a point when I need to stop playing, but I’ll want to stay involved in how the club operates and keeps people together. I’ll find myself running the boundary or being involved in some way.

“Seven or eight years ago, someone observed that we’re like a country football club in a suburban area. We do get a lot of players come from the country – places like Warrnambool, Phillip Island, Bairnsdale, Echuca. Usually, one joins the club, and then the next year, they bring 4 or 5 of their mates. It’s that sort of place. A real welcoming country footy club vibe.”

“Playing 329 games shows my commitment and love for the club. I’d never really thought about it like that. But it’s like my second family. It keeps me young. I’m continually talking to young people who aren’t my kids.

“A former team-mate, Max Zavarella, who sadly passed away a couple of years ago, has twins. I watched them grow up and now they’re playing with us. It’s special.”

No-one makes it to 329 games over 30 years without a lot of support behind-the-scenes.

“First and foremost, I have to thank my wife Nicole for everything she’s done. She’s been awesome.

“As has my Mum, who’s now in her 80s and still comes to every game. She used to watch me in the Reserves and then Eamonn in the Seniors.

“I say to people thinking about giving footy a go – ‘It doesn’t matter whether you have any footy ability. Don’t worry about that. You can come in and play Thirds. You don’t need to be fantastic. You don’t need to be perfect. Just get involved.

“It will give you so much in return.”

As have you, Phil. As have you.

From all of us in the VAFA community, congratulations on your achievement and thank you for everything you’ve given (and continue to give) to our competition over three decades.

And here’s to the next three!

Phil featured on this week’s episode of FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME (from 1:01:30):