AFL Xmen

Brownlow Medal Lunch 16th Sep 2011, Hilton on the Park

2011-08-24T00:28:00.000-07:00

VFL & AFL Brownlow Medals

Only a few tables left 'Hurry' contact ronodwyer@aflxmen.com.au

Rated as one of the best, fun-filled events in kicking off the AFL Grand Final celebrations, the AFL X-Men’s Brownlow Medal Luncheon gets better each year.

Given unparalleled benefits offered, it is little wonder that corporations prefer to invite clients and friends to this enjoyable day. For example…..

No other event offers so many Brownlow Medal winners in the same room.
No other event can boast of a so many former AFL/VFL greats in the same room
No other event can surpass the professionalism of our international standard of entertainment
Our footy panel of experts will predict with accuracy the 2011 Brownlow Medal winner
Add to all this a sumptuous two-course luncheon, accompanied by selected ales and classic wines

To secure the best seats/ tables in the house, email ronodwyer@aflxmen.com.au

Click this link to facebook and veiw our Past Brownlow Medal Lunch and Past Brownlow Medal Winners

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.154990677884754.49596.154946421222513&l=ae7a5cd663&type=1

Launching the Mildura Flood Relief Campaign

2011-08-17T02:44:00.000-07:00

Left to right Ron O Dwyer (Ex Carlton/ Ex Collingwood), Des Tuddenham (Ex Collingwood), Mayor John Arnold , Dale Weightman Ex Richmond

http://www.mildura.vic.gov.au/page/page.asp?page_Id=3619

WIN TV - http://www.wintv.com.au/mildura/news/item/43801

Harry O Brien signs on as nos:1 Patron to help Kids

2011-01-27T17:41:00.000-08:00

Collingwood FC, Harry O Brien has signed on as the XMEN’s number 1 Patron to help kids from impoverished families beat the poverty cycle.

Harry is no stranger to hardship and knows what it means to reach out to others in the quest to live a healthy and sustained life.

The XMEN and Harry O’Brain in association with an executive of the Justice, have 143 children, (boys and girls between the ages of eight to sixteen) needing desperate help to turn their lives around. Click to view causes

Sponsoring a child for a Collingwood three game membership. The appeal is called” XMEN Magpie Be a Sport“, Sponsor an impoverished child.

By providing these impoverished children with a Collingwood membership and by them attending games at the MCG, will give them an opportunity to see how other people live, over their current unfortunate circumstances

Additionally XMEN Magpies will offer these children mentoring and leadership programmes

Australia Day 2011 Honouring the tribe

2011-01-09T00:31:00.000-08:00

My New Years resolution is to understand social media and I must say with all the bad news I am a bit scared of social media. I didn’t realise how difficult blogging would be, I’m certainly not a writer. But, here I am on twitter, facebook and a blog. Thanks to my family (children and grandchildren) I’ve got it up and running.

2011……some 56 years since the boy from Broken Hill came to Melbourne to play for Carlton in the Victorian Football League. I’m no longer the President of the AFLCPPOA, I resigned from my duties mid year 2010 after nearly ten years with the Association, I’m no longer on the committee of the Collingwood Past Players, I am however still active with the Xmen and continue to raise funds, awareness and hold events using sport as a modality for children, whatever the cause may be.

Over the years I’ve enjoyed a mutually respectful association with all the AFL clubs, their players past and present; more recently, a close and respectful association with the AFLPA who now actively look after the welfare of both past and present day players and clearly, a very long association with the AFL and it’s administrators.

Australia Day is on the 26^thJanuary 2011 (only a few weeks away). “A day of reflection”, below are two paragraphs from the Australia Day website and the link.

Australia

Day we come together as a nation to celebrate what's great about Australia and being Australian. It's the day to reflect on what we have achieved and what we can be proud of in our great nation. It's the day for us to re-commit to making Australia an even better place for the future.

At its core, Australia Day is a day driven by communities, and the celebrations held in each town, suburb or city – unified by the celebration of what’s great about Australia and being Australian – are the foundation of its ongoing success.

http://www.australiaday.org.au/experience/page31.asp

Australian Rules football….. “AFL” is Australian at its core as you can get.

Below is a photo of an event I attended “Australian Football League and Coaches Centenary Dinner”, Melbourne Park 1996, celebrating 100 years formation of the VFL.

Organised by Ross Oakley (former St Kilda FC Player, the then C.E.O of the AFL and successful business man) 1,500 Past and Present Day Players attended, in order to be invited you had to have played 25 games.

Here are a few names in the picture:

Michael Tuck, Hawthorn FC - 425 games, 7 Premierships

Mike Fitzpatrick, Carlton FC, Rhode Scholar

Bob Skilton, South Melbourne FC (Sydney Swans), Triple Brownlow Medallist

Peter Moore, Collingwood FC and Melbourne FC, Dual Brownlow Medallist

Ken Hands, Carlton FC, Carlton legend

Not forgetting my personal friend whom I played against in a Grand Final, Ron Barrasi, Melbourne FC, Carlton FC, coach, first player to be inaugurated into the Australian Football Hall of fame as a Legend and who lent his motivational skills to Bertrand's America's Cup campaign back in the 1980s, crossing sports and nations.

That’s the tribe, the clan, collective all of us in the one room, past, present and the future.

Fathers, grandfathers, coaches, business men, sponsors, AFL administrators, managers, event mangers, lawyers, doctors, Rhode scholar, some had gone to war (WW11, Vietnam, and Korean) AFL/ VFL legends, famous and hidden, great sportsmen.

Great Australians whom for over a century have mentored, facilitated communities, charities, entertained and inspired all of us, proud and honoured to be part of Australia’s sporting history.

Over the years many of these men past and present as well as the AFL Clubs attend events/functions, to raise money for Australian children. Rarely and I mean rarely, was I ever knocked back with a request.

And still today AFL legends and mentors joining history, Brett Kirk, Sydney Swans FC won the Madden Medal 2010. The Madden Medal is awarded to a player for outstanding achievements on and off the footy field. One who displays personal growth over their career, community and charity endeavours.

I was invited to the Madden Medal Lunch held by the AFLPA, it was a great honour meeting this extraordinary young man, not just for his football playing ability but, for his compassionate work he does for the community and children. Like minded, Brett Kirk and I believe that children playing sport are more likely to become better upstanding citizens, with healthy exercise, discipline, sharing the wins and how to handle the losses. Brett tells me that he will continue to promote Australian Rules football, in Australia and around the world.

What an amazing network!

As past President of the AFLCPPOA and having worked closely for ten years with many of these amazing men, as well as the businesses which supported us, perhaps this Australia Day players, past, present and those wishing to join the ranks, can reflect on what we have achieved, what we are proud of and what we can re-commit to, making it a better sport for the future.

History of the AFL Xmen

2011-01-06T01:45:00.000-08:00

All AFL/VFL Clubs have and hopefully always will have their own Past Player Club? My football elders in the 1950’s saw a need to become a Combined Past Players Club, since we played football with not only our team mates but, the other side as well as officials….. In reality we’re a tribe, a network, a clan and like all groups we shared some very special times together.

In 1958 the VFL Past Players registered the VFLCPP&OA (Victorian Football League Combined Past Players & Officials Association) and so passionate were they, they become Incorporation?

Perhaps they had a vision? Perhaps they saw the future? Who knows?

By the early 1990’s when the AFL was formed the name changed to AFLCPP&OA “wow what a mouth full!”

What ever their reasons or vision for becoming an Incorporation, with today’s players certain to play for more than one club during their career, a Combined Past Players Association is the future.

Many, if not all Past Players Clubs struggle, unfortunately for many years the AFLCPP&OA lacked interest from Past Players in general or collectively. Although the executive team of the AFLCPP&OA had a representative from the board of every AFL Past Players Club, other than a catching up for a drink or a game of bowls every so often, by 2001 they were unsuccessful in becoming anything that would resemble any reason for registering an “Incorporation”.

Now don’t get me wrong, many Past Players “individually” after their football careers ended have gone on to be enormously successful in their chosen fields and continue to contribute to society in a variety of ways. As we all know, many AFL/VFL legends “individually” have continued to reap the glory of their hay day’s but, collectively they had failed.

In the early 2000’s through my own Past Players Club “Collingwood” I became involved with the AFLCPP&OA. Approximately 7500 living men who made the game what it is today, with little or no money, lost at how to serve a purpose to the association or their members, collectively having no impact in the market place or, a collective voice in our nation’s great sport they once took part in and a name that simply was not marketable.

With my background in marketing and some truly great legends on my executive team we became the “XMEN” AFL Xmen, we had a vision, a purpose and our tribe rejoined.

With that we joined forces with the AFL and the AFLPA, to look after our clan, our children are our future, we are the elders and collectively we thrive, together we are a tribe. So with the help of some amazing networks, corporations and people across the country the AFL Xmen,

Facilitated Junior Football leagues

Saved a league from extinction

Sourced Sponsorship Junior Football leagues

Created working alliances

Raised funds for junior sport development

Created an association with a purpose in which previous AFL Past Players now have a voice.

Helped numerous Past Players out of difficult times, gave aid and raised funds for health and welfare of Past Players.

Presented in media via, news papers, TV, Radio, press releases

We’re published in books, banners, articles and on the internet

Co- branded with consumables and affiliations

We did so by holding events in order to raise money to help those in need.

During my time as President of the AFL Xmen and my years in AFL/VFL I’ve been honoured. I have stood beside some of the greatest legends the AFL/VFL has produced and with that came some of our countries greatest hidden legends, “the others”, the corporations, the workers, the people, the children, the most humanitarian, kind and giving people our country has to offer.

What a wonderful thing social media is, as I looked over the years, the photos, the films, the people, I became so excited I didn’t know where to start, which club? What hero? Who’s first? What event?.......Then I read the news and then I knew where to start.

Despite the damming news we've read over the Christmas New Year period 2010 -2011

We are mentors from a great tribe and with our network, we can and we did transform lives…..I intend on sharing the entire journey, all the legends, famous and hidden.

Enjoy!