By: Daniel Cencic
Twitter: @DC_EFL
Club loyalty is scarce in today’s footballing landscape.
Near on 30 years after first donning the black and white, East Burwood’s Craig O’Malley will run out for his 450th club game this weekend.
After falling on lean times in the past decade, with the Rams last making a senior finals appearance in 2005, O’Malley has epitomised loyalty in every respect as the club has started to enjoy the taste of victory again in the opening three rounds this season.
He is as revered as any at the club.
“167 junior games, 283 senior games, coach, sponsor, committee member and life member, it is doubtful if any individual has contributed as much to the club over this period,” club stalwart John Brady said of O’Malley.
“He (Craig) is greatly respected by all at the club and always makes time for younger players as they make their way into the seniors.
“The ultimate one-club player who deserves all the rewards that come his way.”
First representing the Rams as an eight-year-old in the club’s under-10s side in 1990, O’Malley’s junior career would see a best and fairest in 1992 as captain, followed by the under-14s best and fairest in 1996, later finishing runner-up for the under-16s honour while enjoying a stint at the Oakleigh Chargers.
It wouldn’t be long before O’Malley would taste premiership success, with flag triumphs for East Burwood’s under-18s side in 1999 and 2000 – at a time when the Rams were the Division 1 powerhouse, also claiming silverware at senior level in both those years.
Reflecting on his career, O’Malley says that while the last decade for the club has been tough, season 2018 has brought a rivitalised buzz to the Rams.
“The last number of years have been tough, and I suppose it’s easier for me to hang around and help out where I could (and) it’s starting to pay off now,” O’Malley said.
Transitioning into senior footy in 2001 culminated in the reserves flag that year, of which O’Malley was an integral part of – claiming best on ground honours in the grand final, with another reserves flag presenting in 2003, with O’Malley taking the best on ground honours again.
“’01 was great, it was my first year of seniors and that team was one of the best sides I’ve played in,” O’Malley said.
“There was so much talent, there were a lot of blokes that were senior footballers and just couldn’t fit in and a couple who were a bit older and other kids who were just pumped up and so excited to be there – that was a really special one (and) ’03 we were pretty good most of the year – I think we went into that game as favourites.”
The feeling of ecstasy that grand final victory brings would prove just as strong as the feeling of despair following grand final defeat – which O’Malley remembers from 2002.
With East Burwood taking on East Ringwood in the 2002 Division 1 decider, the Rams raced out of the blocks early and by three quarter time, led by 33 points in what looked all but certain to be the club’s third senior cup in four years.
The Roos came storming home, booting 10 majors in the final term to claim an historic premiership.
“It was the one that got away,” O’Malley said.
“It was incredible, it was a game of two halves.
“We were so good in the first half and I remember Damian Houlihan was on fire and we had the edge on them at three quarter time.
“In the last quarter they kicked 10-straight from memory, we had Adam Slater in the ruck and they had a pretty good ruckman and ‘Slatts’ (Adam Slater) just ran out of legs I think and we got cut up in the guts – they just got on a roll and couldn’t stop.”
2004 would see a powerful Noble Park outfit overcome the Rams in the Division 1 grand final, but from a personal point of view, O’Malley remembers it fondly.
“’04 was probably a really memorable year for me too – Paul Broderick coached and it was one of the best years I’ve had in terms of where I finished in the votes at the end of the year, and I think I got best-on (for East Burwood) in that one too, but in a losing grand final,” he said.
“It was good to just to be a part of that powerhouse and to play with some incredible players.
“I played in four grand finals in a row and to play in six grand finals was pretty special.”
It was also the year O’Malley first tried his hand at coaching in the junior ranks alongside mates Ryan Crozier and Daniel Waide, resulting in an under-15s flag featuring a number of players that would go on to carve out fruitful senior careers.
“They were battling for some coaches and not one of us had the time to do it so we all did it together and shared the role,” O’Malley said.
“They were some great kids – Mark Holland, one of the Marianis, all went on to play a lot of senior footy for us and elsewhere, some great players they turned out to be.”
In 2010, O’Malley achieved an honour nobody in East Burwood’s illustrious history had been bestowed, when he became the only person in the club’s history to be awarded a life membership while still playing.
“That was a massive honour, I was quite emotional,” O’Malley said.
“Wayne Cripps we gave life membership to last year, but at the time I was the first.
“I think that’s probably my most proudest moment to be honest.”
What makes a club as special to be closing in on three decades of involvement? For Craig O’Malley, it’s the lifelong friendships and bonds formed over many years.
“I still get goosebumps just driving in,” he said.
“It is pretty special and it sort of puts it into perspective losing a Johnny Trollope and a Barry Wenker and people like that who you become so close to and you cherish your relationship with them but until they sort of go, it really puts it into perspective how special the place is.
“I think that’s the biggest thing – you create life friendships (and) I think winning flags and best and fairests are all bonuses, it’s the people you meet and to be a part of something like that, it’s something you cherish forever.”
With East Burwood taking on neighbouring club Forest Hill this week, the Rams’ start to the season, winning its first three matches has given O’Malley an eerily similar feeling to when he first transitioned into senior footy some 17 years ago.
“Obviously I played a lot of footy with the Slater boys and Stuey Wynd and the boys that have come back to help – that was another reason I wanted to keep going – as soon as they walked in the door, it (the mood around the club) was a flick of the switch nearly,” O’Malley said.
“There’s just a massive buzz around the joint (and) for me, it’s how it felt when I started seniors.”
