Our Old Collegians have been busy including –
Jacob Lohmann (SPC 2016-18) has signed on as Lake Wendouree’s assistant senior coach for 2026, choosing to end his VFL career at Werribee to move into a coaching career with the Lakers. Jake played more than 50 VFL games across his career at North Ballarat, Sandringham, Brisbane and Werribee and key leadership role at SPC and GWV Rebels. Read more here
Read this great story here on Jacob Brown (SPC 2011-16) who will be playing with the Tiwi Bombers for the third season over the summer months and why he heads north. He’ll be lining up alongside Old Boys and East Point teammates Matt (SPC 2009-14) and Jordan Johnston (SPC 2012-17). Matt and Jordan are also mentioned in this story here, along with Bryn (SPC 2017-22) and Hamish Thompson (SPC 2017-22), and Matt (SPC 2013-17, PY2018) and Sam Romeril (SPC 2009-14) highlighting the special brotherhood at East Point.
Two-time national 400m champion Cooper Sherman (SPC 2017-22) has become the first sprinter from Ballarat since 1983 to be selected to compete for Australia in the history of the World Athletics Championships. The world titles will start in Tokyo on 13 September, read more here
We’ll also be cheering on Austin Reinehr (SPC 2018-21) who will be competing in the Men’s Four at the World Rowing Championships in Shanghai, China between 21-28 September. Chris O’Brien (SPC 1980-85) is head coach of the Men’s team.
Good luck to Alex Ross (SPC 2010-15) who is taking over from fellow Old Boy Ryan Waight (SPC1998-2003) as senior coach of Bungaree. Brenton Payne (SPC 2010-14) is also finishing up as coach of Gordon in the Central Highlands FNL. Meanwhile, Mitch Walsh (SPC 2009-14) is locked into coach again next season at Skipton and is chasing premiership glory this weekend for the Emus against Daylesford in the senior football grand final at Mars Stadium. Read more here, here, here, here and here
Wyatt Squires (SPC 2016-20, PY2021) talks about his progression from a Ballarat Swans junior to a key senior member of the Swans line-up in this story here
Well done to Dunnstown midfield Flynn Stevenson (SPC 2014-19) who won the Central Highlands senior best and fairest recently, coasting home by four votes. Fellow Old Boy Joel Ottavi (SPC 2008-12, PY2013) for Skipton finished second in a tie, Nedd Bennett (SPC 2019-24) for Newlyn tied in fourth place with Sean Willmott (SPC 2008-13) (Newlyn) and Will Green (SPC 2013-18) (Learmonth), while Matt Aikman (SPC 2013-18) finished in fifth place for Rokewood-Corindhap on 12 votes. Ash McKenzie (SPC 2015-18, PY2020) was runner-up in the reserves’ best and fairest competition. Check out more here
Flynn also rated a mention in a recent story showcasing the best players from the AFL Goldfields region who are currently playing in the Central Highlands and Maryborough Castlemaine District competitions. Also mentioned – Nedd Bennett for Newlyn, Billy Griffiths (SPC 2011-16) for Gordon; Dean O’Brien (SPC 2013-18) for Carngham-Linton; Joel Ottavi for Buninyong; Charlie Perks (SPC 2013-18) for Learmonth; Zachary Priddle (SPC 2010-15) for Rokewood-Corindhap; Matt Ryan (SPC 2018-23) for Clunes; Harry Twaits (SPC 2013-18) for Springbank; and Brad Whittaker (SPC 2004-09) for Dunnstown. Check it out here
Brad Whittaker, coach for Dunnstown, also talks about juggling new fatherhood and coaching in this story here
Well done to Ben Stevens (SPC 2015-20) who won gold in the Eureka Open (U20) team in the Australian Athletics Cross Country Relay at Ballarat’s Lake Wendouree recently.
Lachie Charleson (SPC 2018-23) has been delisted from the Port Adelaide after being picked in the 2023 AFL National Draft. Lachie put in some strong SANFL performances over 2024 and 2025 however his contract has not been renewed.
Gerard Ryan (SPC 1974-79) and his wife Diane announced at the Central Highlands’ best and fairest presentation night recently of their intention to step away from their long-serving football administration roles after more than two decades of association with football in the area. Read more here
Rokewood-Corindhap captain Matt Aikman (SPC 2013-18) was back in the action following a serious knee injury to play in the finals against Springbank, but both teams missed out on a berth in the Central Highlands FNL grand final, read more here
Great to see Barry Richardson (SPC 1961-64) catching with fellow Richmond Hall of Famers Neil Balme, Dick Clay, Francis Bourke and Royce Hart in Tasmania recently!
Congratulations to Ballarat’s 2025 Business of the Year, owners of the Turret Café and Catering, LeRoy Hand (SPC 1993-98) and Belinda Pilcher. The couple scooped the top prize and the Restaurants, Cafes and Pubs Business Award at the awards night in late August, read more here
Isaac Lovison (SPC 2015-2020) debuted in the high-profile NCAA Big 12 American College football competition recently for the University of Arizona Wildcats. The team’s season kicked off on 30 August against Hawaii with Isaac chasing his dream of punting in the United States, read more here. He’s not the only Old Boy playing American football though, with Finn Lappin (SPC 2015-2020) currently playing with the Kansas Jayhawks, Jack Burgess (SPC 2013-18) (Texas Tech Red Raiders) and Patrick Rea (SPC 2019-2020) suited up with the James Madison Dukes. Read more about these young mens’ dream journeys here and here
Meanwhile Ned Renfree (SPC 2019-24) is living his basketball dream in the US as a guard with Milwaukee. Check out Ned’s instagram at @nedrenfree
Ararat FNC has appointed Tom Williamson (SPC 2003-08) as senior coach for 2026, taking on the role on his own, next season. Tom and co-coach Tom Mills led the side to a premiership in 2024. Tom nominated for the AFL midseason draft earlier this year, in a bid to restart his AFL career.
Well done to Redan’s Rhys Elliott (SPC 2014-19) and Dean Chester (SPC 2003) recognised for some mighty milestones recently. Rhys celebrated 200 games, while Dean played his final senior game for the club.
Great to see mental health awareness taking centre stage with the Nathan Shanahan Memorial Cup being played between Buninyong and Clunes in the Central Highlands FL recently. The clubs play an annual contest for the cup, proudly bestowed by father John (SPC 1967-69) in honour and recognition of his son Nathan (SPC 1988-93), a firefighter and returned serviceman who took his own life. John was become a passionate and outspoken advocate to destigmatise mental health conversations, particularly among young men. Read more about this great cause here
Congratulations to Nick Cushing (SPC 2016-21) who coached the Minyip-Murtoa senior women’s football team to a premiership win in early August. MM upset the previously undefeated Laharum in the inaugural Wimmera Football Netball League senior women’s football grand final to win 4.4 (28) to 2.3 (15). Nick has also been continuing to impress for Minyip-Murtoa himself, and touted as one of the best ruckmen in the league. He has been averaging more than a goal a game, in his 13 matches, and has been among the best in seven games. Read more here and here
Joe Carmody (SPC 1992-97) will coach East Point for another season in 2026 as they chase the elusive Ballarat FNC premiership in this story here
Well done to Tim Canny (SPC 1995-2000) and his wife Mon who won the Motel of the Year for their Sovereign Park Motor Inn in the 2025 Victorian Accommodation Awards for Excellence recently.
Congratulations to 2008 College Captain Dr Tom Kavanagh (SPC 2003-08) who has attained his prestigious FRANZCOG specialist qualifications after six long years of studying and training. Tom is now working at Obstretrics and Gynaecology on the Surfcoast. Good luck Tom!
Well done to Hoppers legend Pat Smith (SPC 2002-07) who celebrated 300 games for Rokewood-Corindhap in early August.
Well done to Paddy Tuddenham (SPC 2016-21) who was named the back-to-back winner of the Lachie Poulter Memorial – Best on Ground award this season in honour of former Dunnstown player, Lachie (SPC 2006-09, PY2010).
Congratulations also to Paul “Plugger” White (SPC 1991-96) who has been inducted as a life member of the Dunnstown FNC. Plugger has been a player at Dunnstown for 32 years, playing 360 open age games. He has also held the title of club secretary (two years) and Reserves coach for 11 and a-half years, and these days, also plays an instrumental role in both senior sides. A true Dunnstown legend!
Brendan Scott (SPC 1983-88) is Sale’s Gippsland Grammar School’s new rowing coach. Brendan joins the school’s highly successful program from St Kevin’s in Melbourne after a stint at SPC. Read more here
Congratulations to Timothy Buckland (SPC 2019-24) who was recognised at the Premier’s VCE Awards for his exceptional achievements in Outdoor and Environment Studies.
Well done to Broden Haintz (SPC 2014-19), who is working at Heinz Law in Ballarat, and has been awarded the Student Achievement Award at the highest achieving graduate in the Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Swinburne University of Technology this year.
Well done also to Josh Liston (SPC 1992-97) and Edward de Salis (SPC 2020-22) who were part of the Billy’s (Brownless) Team LOVE, helping to raise over $90,000 for cancer support in the Dry July Challenge. You can still support these Old Boys by clicking here
Great story on Creswick’s Caleb Hepworth (SPC 2004-09) coming home to the Wickers for the first time in eight years in this story here
The names of some of our Old Collegian sports stars, including Steve Moneghetti (SPC 1975-80), Shane McInerney (SPC 1983-88), Danny Frawley’s (SPC 1976-79, PY1981) have been thrown out in the spotlight for inclusion in special walk of fame or naming of the new grandstand currently under construction at the Mars Stadium mentioned lately, see this story here
Danny Frawley’s (SPC 1976-79, PY1981) name has been raised among others to possibly be immortalised at the new-look Mars Stadium, in Ballarat, which is expected to be completed sometime in 2026. To read more, click here
Bacchus Marsh’s Tyson Shea (SPC 2001-06) notched up his 300th game in a win over North Ballarat earlier this term, read more here and here
Ed Denouden (SPC 1999-2000, PY2004) will continue to coach Rokewood-Corindhap in 2026 alongside Lucas Murphy, it’s been announced in this story here
Take a look here at Ian Whitehead’s (SPC 1973) music video “Nobody Wins a A War” which has received TV and media coverage since its release last year.
If you have any Old Boy news, please contact the College’s Alumni and Foundation Officer Lorrie Liston on (03) 5322 4442 or via email at lliston@stpats.vic.edu.au
