THE GAME GOES ON
Assumption College Football, like its cricket has survived and very often thrived for more than 130 years. Its history is studded with great teams, great times and fine players. Just on 150 ACK boys have progressed to the ranks of the VFL-AFL. Some are among the game’s immortals- e.g. Brendan Edwards, Francis Bourke, Peter Crimmins, Lauire Serafini, Peter McCormack, Neale Daniher, Shane Crawford to list a few of them.
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The two lads pictured (Photo of Assumption boys) are key players in the 2026 squad doing their best with their team mates to keep the flag flying. Tex Longmire (L) and captain Cruz Young endeavour to inspire team-mates to higher achievements. Tex is from the Riverina (Corowa) and his uncle is John Longmire of North Melbourne and Sydney renown. Cruz hails from the city from a likewise fine family. Cruz attended Box Hill senior secondary college before coming to ACK. His dad is a car wash owner and I.C.T contractor. His mum is a primary school business manager. Elder brothers Boston and Hunter have good employment. Younger sisters are Jayla and Miyah. Cruz is a really impressive lad and has many friends. He is keen on a number of sports- football, tennis, basketball and hockey and he is a keen Bulldogs fan, he enjoys life at college and told me, “It has been learning about myself and finding out what impact I can have on others whilst striving to get the best out of myself”.
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Tex Longmire, also an impressive lad, hails from the farm fields near Corowa. Dad Beau has farmed the property for more than three decades. Mum Bec is a pre-school teacher whilst brother Jed (ex ACK) is at uni studying agro business. A sister Penny is also at uni pursuing agricultural therapy. The Longmire name is held in high regard in the Corowa area and beyond. Apart from footy Tex is a “serious” golfer, also keen on water sports and loves farm life. For obvious reasons he follows the Sydney Swans. Like Cruz he has quite a few valued friends. Tex sees Assumption as a “connected culture with individuals from distant parts of Australia looking to get the best out of themselves and others”. The two students and their teammates enjoy playing under coach Nathan Thompson.
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A couple of lads who play juniors with ACK and Kilmore Football Club are Julian and Alexander Boulton. Both are keen youngsters who love the game. Dad Aaron who attended ACK from a well respected Broadford family is highly regarded in his industry. Mum Kate is on ACK’s staff, and she is a fine liaison officer for the Old Collegian’s association and is held in very high regard by former students.
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FINE WIN
Assumptions strong win in the wet against Yarra Valley in the final game prior to the term break should ensure the team a place in the AGSV Finals. Straight after the holidays ACK meets Marcellin under lights at Bulleen and victory there may ensure a “home” final.
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The Yarra Valley clashes (boys and girls) were part of a designated mental health round and nearly 200 players, families and staff packed into the Daniher Pavilion for refreshments following the games. It was a really nice gathering, and I was happy to meet up with a number of families whose names echo down the generations at ACK. Names such as Harrison, Kennedy, Ryan are generational names. One of the current players Campbell Harrison follows in the footsteps of dad Brock, and several uncles and a grandfather who played for the dark and light Blues. One of several impressive team members, Robert Marchant was keenly watched by his folks. His dad speaks highly of the influence his friend, Robbie Fowler of Wallan, continues to have on the towns cricket and football.
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Principal Paul Finneran was happy with proceedings. A keen sportsman in his youth and an avid Swan’s fan he is held in high regard at ACK and he reminds me of fine Marist “bosses” Brothers Paul Kane and Paul Gilchrist. A trio of very good “Paul’s” I wish to thank Paul Finneran for the kindness he has shown to me. School principals in today’s Australia face a tougher task than in former times. In 2025 across this nation and public and private schools 87 percent of “heads” were assaulted by parents. What a sad state of affairs. It sets a “great” example to the sons and daughters of the “aggressors”, I don’t think. And it doesn’t do much to build character and resilience in the sons and daughters of such parents.
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The World Cup of soccer is in full swing and Aussie fans have been willing the Socceroos on. Stadiums in the USA have been packed despite the outrageous prices for admittance. Thousands of dollars for the “cheap” seats and for the most part ordinary and passionate fans cannot afford the staggering prices charged for the finals. The previous FIFA boss Sepp Blatter and his cronies were corrupt. I doubt things have changed under his successor Gianni Infantino.
