On the eve of the 2019 Singleton Greyhounds' past players weekend the Singleton Argus put forth five questions to three members of the club's current coaching panel.
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The Greyhounds will be playing host to Denman (first grade and under-18) and Murrurundi (second grade and women's league tag) on Sunday with a large crowd expected at Singleton's Pirtek Park.
1. What was your first memory with the Singleton Greyhounds?
Jye Bayley (First grade coach): My first memory was watching them as a kid from the Singleton Showground while mucking around on the dog track. My favourite player during that time was Bruce Turner.
Alex Ferrie (Second grade coach): When I was a real young kid, back when the club still played at the Singleton Showground, I used to run cups of sand (before kicking tees) out to the kickers to earn myself a pie and can of coke at the end of the day.
If I wasn't running the cups of sand we were over with the rest of the kids playing football on the old dog track while first grade were on the main field before the iconic voice of Griffo (the old ground announcer) would yell over the speakers 'kids get off the dog track'.
Dan Higgins (Under-18 coach): Playing in the grand final in the first year I arrived in 2009 but unfortunately we faced a defeat.
2. What was your greatest Singleton Greyhounds memory?
JB: Winning the 2007 grand final with the under-18 side. That year we actually went through undefeated. To play with blokes like Ben Thorley was special because he's now the club secretary and one of the current first grade coaching staff members.
Gary Gardner and Paul Neely were our coaches, Jacob Carey and Jake Smith also featured in the side while Mark Newman was the first grade coach. I looked up to those guys so now it's my job to get it done as a coach like they did.
AF: I would have to say the 2009 under 18s grand final victory. A great group of boys that are still very close mates to this day. I played alongside the big three that day in Kerrod Holland, Dale Watson and Jacob Rinkin.
There have been a few unforgettable Reggies bus trips over the years as well!
DH: Winning the reserve grade competition. Maybe it was 2015? I didn't play but the club also conquered all grades in 2012 so that would be memorable as well.
3. What should Old Dogs day mean to the current playing group?
JB: There is a lot of history with the Greyhounds because they were very successful in certain times. So many of the Old Dogs who celebrated success in the late 2000s and early 2010s still come down and watch from the hill so the message for me is to give the Old Dogs something to cheer about.
AF: I believe it's all about honouring the past and inspiring the future. Those words are quoted on our shed walls and I think this Sunday is all about going out and working hard for each other before having a beer with the old boys on the hill afterwards.
DH: On days like this Sunday, players need to remember they're part of something much bigger than an individual group. They're members of a great club and they need to acknowledge the history and the work of past people to get the club where it is today.
4. Which Old Dog do you look forward to having a beer with on Sunday?
JB: They're all a bunch of lunatics. As long as I stay away from Bradley Schultz then I'll have a beer with any of them.
AF: It's always great to hear the familiar voice of blokes like Luke Holtz, Brad Schultz and the GOAT Russel Richards yelling from the hill so I'm sure the boys will be looking forward to joining them for a beer after the game.
Benny Deaves is a bloke I always like catching up with on Old Dogs Day. He coached me as a junior right through to grade. He's very passionate and loves the club so hopefully I will be able to have a cold one with him on Sunday.
DH: There are many within the current playing group as well. Mick Millgate is always good to have a beer with as is Brad Schultz, Dale Watson and Jake Smith and youngster Luke Gardner (current first grade captain).
5. Which member of the current group would you like to see in charge of the Old Dogs 20-30 years from now?
JB: Shawn Dash.
AF: Luke Gardner, Jake Smith and Dale Watson are three that come to mind. All three have played 100+ first grade games for the club and they're always putting their hand up on and off the field to try and better the club. The club is lucky to have blokes like them to help inspire the next generation of Red Dogs.
DH: Probably Jake Smith or a Dale Watson or (like I said) a Luke Gardner. Those guys have been at the club since they were five or six years old and have played right through.
This weekend the Singleton Greyhounds will be celebrating the reunions of the following teams:
- 1959 Reserve grade premiership and Scanlon Shield sides
- 1969 Reserve grade and Under 18 premiership side
- 1989 Under 18 and Bronco premiership sides
- 2009 Under 18 premiership side