For the Brakenridge brothers, the 2017 Orange District Football Association season presented one last chance to play alongside each other before hanging up the boots for good.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Now, heading into this weekend’s A Grade grand final it also gives Adam, Matt and Scott the chance to win one last title together.
The Brakenridge trio has led their Waratahs Old Boys to Saturday’s decider against Millthorpe, and you better belive they’ll be doing everything they can to win it.
“I was going to play for the Western Mariners again, but Matt hasn’t played for six or so years and Scott’s club in Forbes didn’t field a side so we sort of thought we’d play together once more,” Adam explained.
“Scott actually came back this year because Adam and I were playing,” Matt added.
“One last hurrah really, it was a chance for us to have another run around with some old mates too,” Adam continued.
“I’m not sure about the others, but I’ll be hanging up the boots for good after this year so a premiership would be a pretty good way to go out.”
The trio has won a title before, in the old Western Premier League (WPL).
“That was about 2006 I think, it’d be nice to get one more together,” Matt said.
They’ll have to overcome Millthorpe though, a side that came from the clouds mid-season to win through to the decider. The Tigers lost their first six games, before a stunning late-season surge.
Considering the Old Boys side is named literally, the Tigers’ speed is one thing Waratahs will have to work hard to nullify.
“Our average age is 38, our captain Paul Bloomfield is 47, I’m not sure how we got this far,” Adam laughed.
A premiership would be a pretty good way to go out.
- Old Boys' Adam Brakenridge
“The Millthorpe guys will chase anything, they’re quick,” Matt said.
“Nathan Davis is up front for them and he’ll pose a threat, but we beat them in the major semi-final and had gone back to the basics in defence in that one so we’ll have to do that again and take our chances when they come,” Adam added.
Old Boys will also play in the Champion of Champions against Lilli Pilli, thanks to winning the minor title, on Sunday from 11am.
“They’ll get here and think they’re playing an over 35s side,” Matt laughed.
The A Grade decider kicks off at 3pm at Jack Brabham, after Barnstoneworth’s huge local derby, over 35s grand final against Denley Moor.
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
