An accolade which recognises the best players in each playing position for the season, the two Goulburn Valley exports were named as midfielders, with Wines taking his place as the centreman and Oliver as rover.
Hailing from Echuca, the boys moved to the Shepparton-based school in Year 7, where they spent six years before graduating in 2012 (Wines) and 2015 (Oliver).
Goulburn Valley Grammar School sport co-ordinator Greg Reynoldson said the entire school community was excited to see the duo achieving such great things.
“It is fantastic for the area, for the school and for their family and friends,” Reynoldson said.
“They are both ripping blokes and deserve all the accolades they get and we are just proud to be associated with their journey.”
Although both boys were limited in how much football they could play for the school due to ongoing commitments with their respective NAB League sides, Reynoldson recalls the impact they had on the field when representing the school.
“Unfortunately they weren’t able to play much in Year 12 due to their other commitments, but the games they did play in Year 11 the boys they played with were just in awe of those two players because of the way they went about playing the game,” he said.
“Oliver (Wines) was just a bull and was so strong for his age, he was just dancing around and running through players, which is no different to what he does now at Port Adelaide — I mentioned to a number of people I know in the AFL industry that he was probably the best schoolboys footballer I had seen.
“Clayton (Oliver) was very different in a lot of ways, his parents sacrificed a lot of different things to get him across (to GV Grammar), starting out at the Bendigo Pioneers there weren’t a lot of opportunities there, so he shifted over to Mooroopna and got into the Murray Bushrangers where he really shone, winning the Morrish Medal.”
Now considered to be two of the best players in the competition, Goulburn Valley Grammar School director of co-curricular Shane McDonald said current students should take great inspiration in seeing how far they have come.
“Both Ollie and Clayton have been been gone from the school for a long while, so most of the students wouldn’t know them, and it is only when we raise them or see them in our sports hall of fame, so they are aware of their achievements and seeing them do so well I hope it inspires our current kids,” McDonald said.
“From a school’s point of view, to have two All Australians is a phenomenal effort, but as a school we look to celebrate success in all forms — so when something like this comes up we are always very excited.”
Despite the individual accolades they have received in recent weeks, the focus of Wines and Oliver is solely on capturing that elusive first premiership medallion, after Melbourne and Port Adelaide progressed through to preliminary finals at the weekend.
Reynoldson wanted to give the boys this message of support as they head into the pointy end of the season.
“They know exactly what to do and they are pure professionals, so they just need to do what they are trained to do and I am sure they will produce their best,” he said.
“They are just genuine men and everyone here at GV Grammar is just so proud of them and behind them every step of the way.”
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