Ocean Ridge Great the First to 400
25 Jun, 2012
Ocean Ridge Life Member Matt “Vicko” Vickers will be the first player at the club to reach 400 club games at Heathridge Park on the 30th June.
Now playing in E2, Vickers started in 1989 in the inaugural Ocean Ridge Colts team and quite often doubled up, playing Reserves in the afternoon (before these games were counted in the games played tally).
It only took one year of Reserves football – in which he won his first Reserves Best and Fairest – for Vickers to break into and cement his spot in the League side, a spot which he held for the next nine years.
After playing over 150 League Games, Matt took it upon himself to move back to Reserves to release his League position for the younger players coming through the ranks, a decision that was universally respected at the Club. Matt then again won the Reserves B&F in his first full year of Reserves football and went on to captain the Reserves for over 5 years.
Recognised for his contribution to the club in 2002 with the awarding of Life Membership, and a member of the Team of the Quarter Century (a side that included 4 individual Association Fairest and Bests) in 2004. Matt is only one of nine 2 time premiership players (2006 C Reserves and 2010 G Grade) for the club. Not restricting his involvement to on-field activities, Matt has played an integral part over the years including 2 stints as Vice President totaling seven years.
Most notably known for his flowing red goatee, Matt’s most memorable football memory is a scintillating 6 bounce run down the wing at Claremont Oval during the 2006 Grand Final. Vicko has now set himself the goal of being the first player at the Club to play a senior game with his son (Travis is currently 12), so 450 games is very much on the cards.
The Life Members, Committee, Past Players, Members, Supporters Club and Supporters congratulate Vicko on an achievement that is unlikely to ever be equaled at the club again. WELL DONE VICKO.
