By Tara Murray
Melton Centrals players new and old took to the field for a good cause on Saturday.
The club’s women’s side had a match between current and past players, the OG vs NE Centrals Legends match, to raise money for three different charities.
There was plenty of interest in the match between the original gang and the new era, prompting the Centrals men’s to get in on the action and set up their own match as a curtain-raiser.
Speaking before the match, Jay Martin said there was plenty of anticipation ahead of the game.
The charity day included the two matches, raffles, a longest kicking competition and other fundraisers, to raise money for Beyond Blue, Multiple Sclerosis and the Peter Mac foundation.
Plenty of people put their hands up to volunteer and help make the day a success.
The match was named the Sandy Crisp Memorial Match in honour of volunteers who helped the club over many years. Crisp’s daughter Tara Crisp played at the club for many years
“One of the old girls thought it up,” Martin said. “It’s an old girls versus a new era team. Anyone who played before 2016 was part of the old girl’s team.
“There’s players from the Bloods [Melton], Manor Lakes, Williamstown VFL.
“A few girls from different competitions have come back to play in the old girls side, they all wanted to be involved.”
Martin, who was part of the old girls team, said there had been some banter between the two sides.
A couple of Facebook posts from both teams appeared in the lead-up to the game, adding more spice into the mix ahead of the game.
Many players from the original gang are still playing or have played with a lot of the new era girls, adding to the rivalry.
Current Melton Centrals coach Ray Martin, who was also the inaugural coach of the women’s side, coached the old girls team.
Jay Martin said while the new era girls had the pace, the older players had the smarts.
“I think there are some nerves coming back to play against the young girls, as footy has changed.
“It’s all for a good cause and we’re rapt the men have jumped on board too.”
In the end the bragging rights went to the original gang team, which won by nine points.
