New life members inducted
As a community sporting club, Mulgrave relies heavily on the passion and the service of its people to survive and prosper. Part of the committee’s role is to, as appropriate, recognise those who have played their part in serving our club.
The highest level of recognition is life membership, which is reserved for those who have particularly distinguished themselves through the length or significant nature of their service to the club. Of the thousands of players and officials that have made up the club across our 97-year history, just 93 individuals have been awarded life membership.
With no new life member inductions made during the COVID-impacted years of 2020 and 2021, the club has inducted seven new life members in 2022.
Dean Siakoulis
Nobody who has been around Mulgrave for the past decade or so needs an introduction to Dean. Joining us from Waverley Park Hawks and Oakleigh Chargers in 2011, Dean has gone on to become one of the club’s all-time greats. He’s played 186 senior games for Mulgrave, won six senior best and fairest awards and captained the club from 2015 to 2021.
Speaking about Dean, long-time teammates Sam Kassianou and Adam Booth paid tribute to a remarkable toughness and resilience that belies Dean’s small frame. There’s no better illustration of this than Dean having played 186 games for Mulgrave and only missing a single game due to injury. He’s also never played a reserves or colts game, despite arriving at the club at 17 years of age!
Both Adam and Sam also spoke of Dean’s total loyalty to Mulgrave despite his phone ringing off the hook each silly season as the offers flooded in from clubs near and far.
Dean still has plenty of footy left in him but his place in Mulgrave history is already secure.
Sam Trevethan
Sam has been a mainstay of Mulgrave since he joined our Under 18s from Glen Waverley Rovers back in 2010. Since arriving at the club, Sam has played 191 games across all grades. He’s often dominated at reserve grade in that time, winning four Reserves best and fairest awards and captaining the team. This sort of form has meant he’s had plenty of opportunities to move elsewhere to play senior footy more regularly… but Sam’s loyalty to Mulgrave and his mates has seen him remain at Garnett Road for his entire career.
Sam regularly steps up to senior level where he’s exactly what every coach wants… a super-solid, skilful and incredibly consistent player who is always willing to do the unrewarded running and grunt work to make those around him better.
Sam is just as valuable off the field, never missing a club function and invariably being one of the last to leave.
Dale Cheesman
Cheesy joined Mulgrave from Montrose all the way back in 2008 and few back then could’ve predicted what an stalwart he would become.
Dale is our second-longest serving current player after Adam Booth, still taking grabs and kicking goals in 2022.
Cheesy spent some early games starring in the reserves before establishing himself as one of our more valuable senior players over an extremely long period of time. Often employed by coaches as their Mr Fix-It, Dale could be and often was thrown into positions all over the ground as required. His team-first approach, discipline, vice-like hands and strong presence in the air made him an integral part the line-up for years, as he played over 150 games in the seniors and just shy of 200 (and counting…?) games for the club overall. Cheesy quickly developed into a terrific leader and mentor for young players who came into the club.
Off the field, Dale became a certified master builder and has built his thriving business, The Melbourne Builder, through which he’s continued to support Mulgrave by sponsoring the club, employing fellow players and generally being on hand whenever his expertise was helpful.
Finally, Dale is also a member of the Mully Grubs coterie so we look forward to seeing him around for many, many years to come… as well as the next generation in their #13 kids jumpers.
Darren Butler
Buttsy joined Mulgrave after playing his junior footy at Glen Waverley Rovers, going on to represent the club in 170 games from 2005 to 2009 and 2013 to 2017.
He quickly became a favourite among his teammates for his uncompromising work in the midfield, his toughness and his team-first approach.
While Darren was a grunt player who “excelled in heavy conditions” according to former teammates, he could certainly turn on the class when required… Mulgrave people still talk of his dominant performance in the winning 2014 semi final, when he had the ball on a string and also pulled down *that* hanger atop a Doncaster opponent’s shoulders.
At the same time Darren had taken on one of the most critical roles at the club, guiding our youngsters as Under 19 coach. He took the team to consecutive grand final appearances in 2014 and 2015, lifting the premiership cup in 2014 – the club’s most recent footy flag. Many of Darren’s premiership players went on to senior football with Mulgrave and remain with the club today.
Heath Evans
Heath joined us from Noble Park back in 2004 and was a fixture on our playing list for 13 seasons. His passion for the game and the club was immediately obvious and he quickly became highly valued by his teammates and the wider club.
A crafty and versatile on-baller, Heath’s commitment to the team and club never wavered. He was everywhere, barely missing a matchday, training session, club function or footy trip in his time at the club.
On top of Heath’s own impact, his personal recruiting efforts over the years saw him bring a long line of mates to Mulgrave. His ongoing influence on the place therefore spread far beyond just himself, and Mulgrave was much the richer for it.
Chris Doyle
Chris was a gun recruit for Mulgrave in 2003 after an outstanding junior career with Glen Waverley Rovers and Oakleigh Chargers. Making an immediate impact across half back with his bristling speed and silky skills, he quickly grew into one of the senior team’s key contributors.
It wasn’t long before opposition teams started putting considerable work into curbing Doyley’s influence, as his ability to break lines, provide drive off half back and sneak forward to hit the scoreboard made him one of the most damaging players in the competition.
A classic big-game player, Chris’ time at Mulgrave culminated with an outstanding final series in 2010, which he stamped with a huge performance on Grand Final day as the seniors broke the club’s 31-year premiership drought.
Chris returned to Mulgrave for a second stint in 2014, retiring in 2016 after 165 senior games – and going out in trademark style with 5 goals in a big win in his final game.
Unfortunately the quality performances didn’t extend to footy trips, with onlookers labelling him a very limited type hampered by an inability to back-up day after day. Even superstars have their weaknesses!
Chris was a star on the field and continues to contribute to Mulgrave in retirement as a member of the Mully Grubs coterie, and this year went even further by sponsoring the club through Spark Global Logistics.
Ian McLennan
After a very strong junior career, Macca joined Mulgrave from Glen Waverley Rovers back in 2004 and made an immediate impression, splitting his time between the seniors and reserves – where he excelled, winning the Reserves Best and Fairest in 2007.
He soon found himself a regular member of the senior team, where he proved to be a fantastic role player who would faultlessly stick his task in any number of roles, including often shutting down threatening opponents.
His career form peaked in 2010 as part of one of Mulgrave’s strongest sides, and he was rewarded with the ultimate prize: a senior premiership medal.
Macca remained with Mulgrave for many years to come, finally hanging up the boots in 2017 after well over 150 games for the club. He remained one of the most popular players among teammates and the wider club, with his commitment, courage and ability to perform (on and off the field!) endearing him to all.
Such a long playing career and a senior premiership are really just the start of Macca’s contribution to Mulgrave, however. Off the field he established and built his successful business, Pro-Cut Tree Services, which is a long-term major sponsor of our club. Macca’s generosity as a sponsor – financially, time-wise and in many other forms – has known no bounds and continues to this day.
