The Marcellin Old Collegians Football Club, members and the wider network congratulate Sam Chandler on playing 100 games with the Club.
For those who are lucky enough to have played either 1 or 100 games with Sam will know that they have played with the ultimate Smiling Attack Dog. I am one of the lucky ones who have played a number of years with Sam and am also lucky enough to reflect on this milestone in a public forum.
The off field charm, parted hair, well spoken English and responsibility coming from being a team leader in Essendon’s membership department is thrown out the door once he crosses the white line.
Sam is an indefatigable champion of our Club as you will see from his playing record (above). He is a one club player who bleeds for the Club, taking bleeding for the Club too far, reliably donating litres of his finest claret to Bulleen Park West each weekend.
Since ‘digital records’ have been maintained on the VAFA website, Sam has been in the best players in over 40% of the games he has played in. This is an extraordinary effort and strike rate at any level of football. Privately I feel that % would be well above 70% had ‘Koach Kofe’ done the right thing and not ‘shared it around’… Often playing through injury, Sam is incredibly respected by teammates and his opponents.
The recent success of the Third XVIII in the past three years is in no small part attributable to Sam Chandler’s presence, he has been awarded the Best and Fairest in both 2014 and 2015. A skillful and hard as nails midfielder in the mould of Lenny Hayes, Sam stands his ground in a marking contest or a toe to toe flex of muscle.
One of the most impressive sights on a football field is seeing Sam close down an opponent and bury him into the ground or better still see him time his tackle on the unsuspecting opponent, before which Sam helps them back up on their feet with a giant grin on his face.
It is for these reasons that it comes as a surprise that Sam was once rated by Senior Coach DT as the “teammate that would be most annoying to play on”. By his own admission, “I feel that I’ve mellowed out in my old age” (Ed. Note – obviously old age is 28 these days). Fortunately for us at the Club we don’t have to play on an ‘annoying’ Sam Chandler and we are lucky enough to play with him week in week out. We have also been lucky enough to play with some of Sam’s work colleagues who he has introduced to the Club, and have been contributory the Third XVIII success, in Alistair Ferguson, Simon Whelan and Nathan Attard.
Sam was pivotal in the Third XVIII making the grand final last season and played his heart out in the semi-final and on the big day. Unfortunately we didn’t get over the line, but based on Sam’s efforts this season to date, the goal to go one better this season is one thing driving him.
All the best for this weekend mate, your team mates hold you in the highest regard and love playing with you and want to go that one step further this season.
Sam Chandler – One Club
Marcellin College –
2001-2006Marcellin Old Collegians Football Club
Under 19 – 2007
Senior – 2008
Reserves – 2008-2010, 2014
Thirds – 2010 -2011, 2014-2016, Best & Fairest
2014-2015Julian Toohey
