BACKS
Tom Lonergan
Lost a kidney and nearly his life after an on-field collision in 2006, but fought his way back and now plays a key role in Geelong’s defence. Originally from Yarrawonga, Tom was drafted out of Assumption College. 

Laurie Serafini
A former Fitzroy full-back who was recruited from Assumption. He played 146 games for the Lions between 1977-1988 and represented Victoria on two occasions.

Tony Armstrong
You’ve got to look after yourself, right? I boarded at Assumption College before being drafted by the Crows. I’ve got my school footy gear in a frame on the wall at home.

HALF-BACKS
Neale Daniher
One of the best players ever to come out of Assumption. Neale won Essendon’s best and fairest award and also represented the Big V twice before a knee injury cut short his career.

Daniel Talia
Super athletic, a strong mark of the footy and a good kick for a big man. Hasn’t played an AFL game yet, but I can see him slotting in at centre half-back for the Crows in the years to come.

David King
I’m not sure Kingy even played first XVIII football for Assumption, but he certainly went to school there and went on to have an amazing AFL career. He played 241 games for North Melbourne, winning two premierships and two All-Australian crowns as a half-back flanker/wingman.

CENTRES
Jason Johnson
Another guy I’m not sure played first XVIII footy at school, but who - like Kingy - went on to have a brilliant career at AFL level. The tough onballer played 184 games for Essendon, including the club’s premiership in 2000, and was an All-Australian in 2001.

Peter Crimmins
There’s a scoreboard named after Peter at Assumption. An inspirational midfielder and captain of the Hawks, Peter was a member of the club’s 1974 premiership team. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer and passed away two years later in 1976. Hawthorn’s best and fairest award is named in his honour.

Francis Bourke
The most decorated player to come out of Assumption College. Bourke won five premierships with Richmond and was selected in the AFL’s Team of the Century. He captained the Tigers and also Victoria and could play in virtually any position on the ground.

HALF-FORWARDS
Richard Douglas
When he was playing for Assumption, Dougy was always ferocious and hard at the footy, but he had that little bit of class. He had the ability to come out and kick a few goals in a quarter and really change a game. He’s played most of his AFL career in the forward line, but has starred in the midfield for us this season.

Billy Brownless
Our coach Mr Carroll also coached the cricket team at Assumption and he used to tell us how he’d pull Billy out of English class to go and roll the cricket pitch. I think Billy was pretty happy to ditch English. He as a phenomenal player for us and went onto have a brilliant AFL career with Geelong.

Ray Garby
It was a bit before my time, but Ray attended Assumption in the 1930s and went on to play in Carlton’s 1947 premiership side. A dashing half-forward who could take a speccy and also kick an accurate torpedo.

FORWARDS
Ben Dixon
Another lad from Yarrawonga, Dicko kicked 482 goals in 203 games for Hawthorn. He retired before the club’s premiership success of 2008, but is a life member of the club and is ranked 11th in the Hawks’ leading goalkickers of all time.

Ray Power
Captained Assumption in 1982 and still holds the Australian college record for most goals in a season with 210. Amazing. Ray played first XXVIII footy in year 9 and once kicked 24 goals in a shield game.

Simon O’Donnell
Played footy and cricket for Assumption and went on to excel in both sports. Simon played 24 games with Saints in the early 80s before switching to cricket and being selected to represent Australia.

FOLLOWERS
Peter ‘Crackers’ Keenan
The strong-marking ruckman played a total of 213 games for Melbourne, North Melbourne and Essendon during the 1970s. He was a member of North’s 1977 premiership team.

Shane Crawford
Crawf kicked over 100 goals in a season playing in the midfield for Assumption. He started playing first XVIII football when he was in year 9 and his AFL career, which includes a Brownlow medal and a premiership with the Hawks, speaks for itself.

Michael Barlow
I think there might have been one week in the whole season that Mick didn’t get 30-plus possessions playing for Assumption. He was our best player that year by a mile. He was killing it for Freo before he broke his leg and was just a superstar of school footy.

INTERCHANGE
Angus Graham
Originally from Tasmania, Angus was another boarder at Assumption. He was a few years ahead of me at school, but is playing some great footy in the ruck for Richmond this year and I reckon his best is still ahead of him.

Ben Clifton
I would have Ben in any side. He was a midfielder very similar to Michael Barlow. He wasn’t freakishly athletic and didn’t have any super-duper attributes, but every week he just won the footy. He won the best and fairest at Assumption in year 11 and year 12, but didn’t get drafted and is playing down at Coburg now. He could take a massive mark and was a great kick at goal.

Tom Groves
I think Tom came runner-up to Ben in the best and fairest in both of those years. He played onball as well, but also down back. He was super fast and super hard at it. He was pretty skinny but still crashed packs. He’s sort of a similar player to Rory Sloane - he’d do anything for you. Both Tom and Ben are only 20 years old, so hopefully with the new sides coming into the competition they’ll get a look in. I’m always trying to talk about them.

Dion Prestia
A bit of a left field pick, but Dion’s likely to be the first kid drafted out of Assumption this year. He represented Vic Metro in the U18 Championships last month and from all reports has the makings of a top AFL player, with great skills, strength and speed.

COACH
Ray Carroll
Who else? Mr Carroll has been at Assumption something like 50 years. I remember him always talking about the powerhouse that we were and how we couldn’t let other sides come up to Assumption and win because if we did we’d be the first Assumption side in 35 years to lose to that particular side.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs