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Mel Martin:
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
1989-1991. Played for the Waverley Sharks. Mostly as an offensive lineman or outside linebacker. 1991 co-captained the defense. 1990 won Offensive lineman of the year. 1991 won coaches award.
1991. As co-captain I also acted as defensive coordinator.
1992. Defensive coordinator for the Waverley Sharks.
1993-1995. Head Coach Waverley Sharks
1993-1994. Head Coach Victorian Eagles State team
1996-1998. Head Coach Berwick Miners
1999. Head Coach Victorian Volunteers State Team
2001-2002. Head Coach Northern Blackhawks. (Juniors).
2001. Special Teams Coordinator Australian Outback National Team
2001. Head Coach Western Crusaders.
2002-2003 Head Coach Northern Blackhawks. (Seniors).
Lack of numbers prevented fielding teams in competition
2003. Offensive Coordinator Australian Outback Junior National Team.
2007-2008. Offensive Coordinator Berwick Miners.
As well as off field roles as club secretary, league rep, GV commissioner, GA board member, Acting chairman GA, GA commissioner, founder VGCA, AGCA board member, AGCA treasurer, AGCA president, tournament director for various competitions.
Memorable moment:
In a gridiron career that is closing
in on it’s 20th year needless to say I have many, many memorable moments. Some good, some bad. Each has taught me a lesson. Most involve a different group of players from each other. This makes them so diverse to make it near impossible to separate them. Here goes:
- Lining up as the first Australian team to officially carry the National coat of arms and be recognized officially as the national team was a thrill but the biggest thrill was to line up and face the “haka” then sing the national anthem and know it is being played for me! Couple that with one of my most challenging personal moments in that my wife had died less than a year earlier and as the anthem was played I looked to the stands which were full wishing she was there, it was surreal!
- Obviously winning the championship. Is a close second. Unfortunately it was against the Miners, but I had already agreed in principle to coach the Miners the next year. You as players have no idea how much work goes into coaching properly at this level. To have the ultimate success validates all that hard work. Very satisfying.
- Taking the state senior team to its only national title in 1999 although it wasn’t called that at the time. We had to play NSW then QLD to win. Again challenging but satisfying considering the circumstances in which it was played.
There are so many big and small moments I am troubled to separate them, but one of the most recent was the looks on you guys faces after you finished your first practice at camp. You were exhausted but you wanted more…that proved to me “YOU ARE MINERS”
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Dale Warren:
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
1987-2000,04,06,07. Played for the Miners.
1988-90,93-95 & 2001
Played State for Victoria.
1989. Won the Miners best Offensive back award
1990,92,95,96. Won the Miners Best Club Person award.
1993. Won the best Defensive back award
1996. Won the Miners best Offensive back award
1998. Won the Miners Club Champion award.
1994-1997. Head coach of the Miners Juniors Team.
1994-2000. Offensive CoOrdinator for Juniors Team
2002. Assistant Coach for the Juniors Team
1999,2001,2006. Offensive coach for the Miners Seniors
2006-2007. Head coach for the Miners Seniors
Dale Warren has played a record 208 games for the Orange and Black and he says he has one more season to reach his goal of 222 games. Not bad for a 40 year old. Dales off field efforts are also noted. He has been the club treasurer from 1988 and equipment manager for just as long. He has marked the field 1988 and present. Dale Warren trulely is the Miners.
Memorable moment:
1994 Grand Final vs the Waverley Sharks, with Scores tied, I recovered a Fumble in Sharks end zone. This allowed The Miners to drive the ball 20 yards down field, from the 20 yard line, with some great weaving by Running Back Branko Topal to set up the last play of the game before overtime, with 1 Second left on the Game clock. Quarterback Troy Davis threw the ball to me, in triple coverage, from where I then caught the ball and ran 60 yards to score the winning touch down, to make the Miners victors for Vic Bowl IX.
Second Most Memorable Moment
Recovering a Fumble in the End Zone for a Touch Down in my first game with the 1987 Frankston Sweathogs against the Waverley Sharks
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