Goulburn Valley League Hall of Fame grows bigger with seven new inductees and legend elevation

Tatura legend Gaye Eaton was bestowed the honour, graciously accepting the plaque six years after entering the Hall of Fame.

“Being inducted in the Hall of Fame, number one, is amazing, but this level is beyond words actually,” she said.

“It’s just been an amazing journey; congratulations to all the other people here tonight who’ve (been inducted into the) Hall of Fame and past ones.

“It is an absolute honour and it’s very humbling because so many people put in so many hours of playing, volunteering, and doing everything to keep their clubs going.”

Eaton is a four-time Wellman Family medallist, five-time GVL premiership winner and 338-gamer with the Bulldogs.

The fiercely talented Congupna-born netballer was recruited by Tatura in 1989 through a chance meeting upon return to the Goulburn Valley following several years spent in the north east.

Eaton shared an excerpt on Sunday night in which Tatura icon John Ryan mentioned that the Bulldogs were looking for a netball coach when she was cutting his hair 35 years ago.

She accepted the offer and, as they say, the rest is history.

From then on, Eaton went on to dominate the competition and forge countless friendships in a career she looks back on so fondly.

“Over the journey, we’ve just met so many amazing and beautiful people,” she said.

“We lived in Seymour — we love playing against Seymour because you catch up with those people and every other club you come across on and off the court, it’s just amazing.

“I’ve just been so fortunate to have an amazing journey within this league and within sport, and I humbly, humbly thank you for this honour.”

Eaton was one of two netballers under the spotlight on the night.

Ex-Kyabram and current Echuca gun Ashlea Mangan was ushered into the Hall of Fame nearly two decades on from her A-grade debut for the Bombers.

Mangan, a three-time league medallist, holds a staggering six A-grade GVL premierships with last season’s flag with Echuca, making her one of the most successful defenders to grace the league.

She wasn’t the only Kyabram-made talent to be inducted, either.

Legendary dual-sport talent Paul Newman was sworn in by emcee Don Kilgour for his playing and coaching exports for the Bombers, each as impressive as the other.

While donning the sash, Newman kicked 762 goals in 222 games and later coached Kyabram to 83 wins from 84 games — the only loss coming against Shepparton in the 2018 grand final.

Another football star in Tatura’s John Greenwood was called to the stage to accept his Hall of Fame plaque, with one of his six proud daughters proudly watching on as he walked to the podium.

Greenwood, originally from Western Australia, was widely renowned as one of the best athletes to play in the league once he departed the GVL in 1976.

The high-marking defender played 45 games at VFL level for Footscray and South Melbourne prior to his time at Tatura.

Lemnos and Shepparton Swans stalwart Metty Selman beamed when accepting his plaque, becoming one of a select few from the club to join the league’s elite club.

Selman famously made an astonishing return to the game following a brain haemorrhage, going on to play 267 senior games for the Swans before becoming a big fundraising driver in his post-playing days.

Two of Seymour Football Club’s favourite sons, Matthew O’Sullivan and Shane Schottner, were also acknowledged with Hall of Fame status.

O’Sullivan was, like Newman, a dab hand at cricket and footy, with his 1991 premiership for the Lions a clear highlight for the 200-gamer.

Schottner holds Seymour’s appearance record and was a linchpin in the club’s triple-premiership run in 2005-07.

Rushworth’s Keith Kane was the only inductee not to feature on the night, but his tale was told with just as much vim and vigour as the rest by Kilgour.

A five-time premiership Tiger and 1938-39 Morrison Medal winner, Kane served in WWII and died in 1965 at the age of 55.