By Noah Desta
Olinda Ferny Creek Football Netball Club has undergone a major makeover with fresh leadership and management on and off the field in 2024.
Local builder and former junior coach and player, Ben Selby-Hele, has stepped up as president, replacing the long-serving Michael Hill. However, Michael isn’t lost to OFC and has placed his vast club and league experience at Ben’s disposal to use as a sounding board whenever required.
Ben has seen the club from many different angles. He has watched on as a parent, been an Auskick coordinator, team manager, runner, and committee member.
Because of Ben’s past ties to the club, he understands the benefits of volunteering at grassroots level sport. Ben’s focus on participating in community sport made the choice of pursuing the club presidency straightforward, “it was a natural pathway for me.”
OFC’s aim in 2024, according to the president, is to continue to build on the successes of past leaders – OFC has been voted the League’s best-conducted club a number of times, most recently in 2023. And what will he bring to OFC in 2024 – “clear and open communication, positive leadership, mentoring, inclusion, and bridging the equality gap.”
OFC also has a revitalised committee which has taken over from the hard-working executive who guided the club through the Covid and post-Covid eras.
Meanwhile, one of the Club’s favourite sons, the highly respected 2017 Premiership skipper Dylan Wilson, has returned as senior coach. Dylan knows first-hand how special it is to taste the ultimate success in football and what it takes to get there. He aims to “foster a confidence and belief in the group that they can challenge the bigger teams in our league.”
Dylan will be directing OFC with the help and guidance of second year captain, and his past premiership teammate, Lachlan Taylor.
Dylan says the skipper’s “leadership qualities are clear, and I’ve been blown away by his dedication to the Bloods.” Being past teammates, the pair have experienced success and have a strong bond and “understanding of what is important for team success.”
With pre-season well underway, the new coach has been especially “pleased with the energy and enthusiasm of the group ” and the “great dynamic between the younger players and the older guys. The senior players are hungry for team success, and the kids are looking to establish themselves as key pieces in that senior team.”
In the final addition to the pool of new leadership at OFC, Jake Hederics has signed on as head coach of the netball program. Jake has a rich history of leadership, both as an athlete and on a range of committees in his line of work. He is a current player in the Open Men’s Victorian and Australian Netball sides and was a training partner of the Collingwood Magpies in 2023.
Jake has tasked himself with the job of bringing “enthusiasm, empathy, and responsibility” to OFC and says in a very short time the club and the girls have “made him feel right at home.” Jake is really excited about the future of Olinda’s netball program and believes that with the right guidance, this youthful group will “continue to develop into a strong unit”.
Completing the leadership structure at OFC is women’s football coach Simon Gilson, who took the team to a surprise 2023 Division 1 flag. Simon’s program has proven so popular that OFC looks set to field a second women’s team, in Division 2, this year.
