BRETT KOHLHAGEN: What has been your proudest moment at Osborne?

GARY O'CONNELL: I'd say our very first premiership in the Hume league in 1985. It was a miracle. We had been getting flogged for 15 years. Phil Cox was the coach. He still rings me every Christmas.

BK: You captained-coached Osborne in 1952-53. Were you a better player or football administrator?

GO: I couldn't have been too good of a player because I always played in the backline (laughs). I think I played for 13 years. We didn't keep a record of the games played back then.

BK: How did you first get to become an administrator at Osborne in 1945?

GO: When I left school at 16, I rode my bike down to Osborne for a meeting one night. I suppose I was the only eligible one and they made me secretary. I came home and remember crying about it. The club helped me though. I remember the second year we had a balance of 17 pound and everyone thought it was great.

BK: How did you go from secretary to president?

GO: All jokes aside, in those days there weren't an abundance of people who could do it. One of the main reasons why I became president was because Rob Mackie was coaching and Bert Clarke had been there for a long time. He was getting older and Mackie talked me into becoming president.

BK: Mackie's son, Joel, is coaching Osborne next year. He might talk you back into the presidency again?

GO: I don't think so. I'm a bit old now (laughs)

BK: You obviously enjoyed being president for 25 years at Osborne?

GO: I did but I wouldn't have been able to do it unless I had such great support.

BK: I've often heard you might have a working bee at Osborne and 20 or 25 farmers would turn up to help?

GO: No, in recent years over the summer we crutch sheep and this year we had about 60 people come along and I'd say we get over 50 every year. There is no bullshit about it. We always get a big crowd.

BK: When Osborne came into the Hume league in 1970, it must have been a big thing for the club?

GO: Everyone was pretty happy about it at Osborne. We had applied for a while and had to go to a committee where we were accepted at a meeting at Yerong Creek.

BK: What was the main reason for the switch of leagues?

GO: The travelling. One of the clubs we were playing against in the Central Riverina league was Cootamundra. Another was Marrar. Vehicles weren't like they are now either.

BK: It wasn't always easy for Osborne when you came into the Hume league was it? You copped your share of hidings

GO: We did. I suppose you could say we were a bit competitive but didn't win too many matches. We didn't win a flag for a long time.

BK: If there was one thing you always tried to achieve as president, what was it?

GO: Win flags (laughs). I reckon one of the plusses we have is that we have a very good culture.

BK: So you didn't tolerate idiots?

GO: No, we didn't. The culture was there when I came in 1945 and we have kept it ever since. Sometimes it's more by good luck in football clubs than good management though.

IN OTHER NEWS:

BK: You have a reputation for being able to land some very good coaches over the years. Have you got a favourite?

GO: Craig Smith would be one. He was a great bloke and coached two premierships in four years. We have been very lucky with our coaches over the years. There has been a lot of good ones.

BK: Is it right you rang Craig for the coaching position from your hospital bed?

GO: I can't remember exactly but I hurt my shoulder. I was talking to the physio Shane Robertson and he said Craig Smith had retired from Wodonga Raiders after playing AFL and would make a good coach. The next time I saw Shane I asked him a few more questions and it went from there. I managed to get his phone number.

BK: Any interesting recruiting stories?

GO: Not really but on at least one occasion I went to Wagga and a player didn't turn up for a meeting. They have all been pretty good over the years though.

BK: Who are some of the best Osborne players you have seen?

GO: Darren Howard would be one. I think he's won nine premierships at Osborne. Stephen Clarke was a very good footballer as well.

BK: Osborne has won 15 premierships since 1985. What is the secret?

GO: Basically, we have a lot of locals who are fairly handy footballers. Players like the Gleesons, McDonnells and Marty Bahr. Those sort of players. We have managed to keep these local players as well which has been important. Over that period we have had some fantastic coaches as well which we have always placed a lot of importance on. Matt Rava was very good this year.

BK: You must have enjoyed watching your children, grand-children and great grand children play over the years?

GO: I have. It's kept me very interested. Even this year I had two great grand-children playing in the under 14s.

BK: I take it you haven't missed too many Osborne games over the years?

GO: To be honest, I can't remember missing a game. Two years ago I was in hospital and got permission to get out for the day when we were playing against Jindera. I still enjoy it.

IN OTHER SPORTING NEWS:

BK: You have seen massive change at the club with the pavilion being built and major ground improvements. I can recall rabbit diggings being on the ground in the southern forward pocket and juniors from both sides filling them in before the under-17s started.

GO: The club has done a great job. Before Craig Smith accepted the job, he wanted to have a look at the ground so he came out one day. He couldn't believe we actually played football on it. It was like a fallow paddock.

BK: We've spoken about your roles at Osborne, but you also spent 17 years as president of the Hume league between 1983 to 1999.

GO: Yes, basically I was a club delegate and went along to meetings. There was a vacancy at some stage and I put my name up.

BK: They would have been interesting times with major changes happening in the league?

GO: They were interesting. I enjoyed it. You couldn't not have good times working with Des (Kennedy). I can't speak highly enough of Des Kennedy and Merv Wegener. They were great mates and very supportive. Merv still rings up quite often.

BK: What does being a life member of the Hume league, Osborne and AFL NSW/ACT mean to you?

GO: It's good but I've just enjoyed being involved in the game for such a long time. I got involved in 1945 and, for 71 years, I'd been a part of some sort of committee at Osborne.

BK: It sounds like you earned your life membership at Osborne then?

GO: Do you think, I hope so (laughs).

BK: People are continually amazed by Osborne's success given it has no township. Do you think that has worked to the club's advantage?

GO: I'd say that is true. The football and netball clubs bring people together from the farms. Even now every Thursday, apart from the players, I reckon there would be 20 or 30 supporters there at training. They come in to socialise and bat on for a fair while. After the grand finals, they all go back the next Thursday and enjoy themselves.