At the 2016 AGM, the GV COM elected our newest and 15th Life Member Wally Sanders (shown above middle circa 1988)
A larger than life contributor to Gridiron Victoria, Wally has been involved for almost the entire existence of the league.
He began his playing career in 1986, started coaching in 1993, was President of Gridiron Victoria from 1986 to 1989 in addition to serving as a committee member another decade.
126 Games Played 1986 – 1994 inclusive of representative games
199 Games Coached (approx) 1993 – 2015 inclusive of representative games
325 Games Combined Games Played & Coached
His incredible commitment to GV over many decades includes the following:
Coaching experience
1993 – Moorabbin Raiders (Juniors) – Junior Gridiron Association of Victoria (Position Held) – Line Coach (Team won the inaugural League Championship)
1994 – Moorabbin Raiders (Juniors) – Junior Gridiron Association of Victoria (Position Held) – Line Coach/Assistant Offensive Coach (Team Made the play-offs)
1995 – Berwick Miners (Seniors) – Victorian Gridiron Football League (Position Held) – Line Coach (Team Made the play-offs)
1996 – Berwick Miners (Seniors) – Victorian Gridiron Football League (Position Held) – Line Coach (Team Made the play-offs)
1997 – Banyule Panthers (Seniors) – Victorian Gridiron Football League (Position Held) – Line Coach (Team lost the Vic Bowl)
2003 – Berwick Miners (Seniors) – Gridiron Victoria (Position Held) – Line Coach/Assistant Offensive Coach (Team won the Vic Bowl)
2003 – Victorian State Team (Seniors) Gridiron Victoria (Position Held) – Line Coach (Team Record Defeated Western Australia, Lost to New Zealand)
2004 – Berwick Miners (Seniors) – Gridiron Victoria (Position Held) – Line Coach (Team Made the playoffs)
2005 – Victorian State Team (Seniors) Gridiron Victoria (Position Held) – Line Coach (Team Record – Championship Runners-up)
2005 – Southern Seahawks (Seniors) – Gridiron Victoria (Position Held) – Team Head Coach (Team won its first game in 2 seasons but failed to make the play-offs)
2005 – GV Southern All Stars (Seniors) – Gridiron Victoria (Position Held) – Team Head Coach (Team defeated the GV Northern All Stars) (One off All Star Game 8/10/2005)
2006 – Victorian State Team (Seniors) Gridiron Victoria (Position Held) – Line Coach (Team Record – Championship Runners-up)
2006 – Southern Seahawks (Seniors) – Gridiron Victoria (Position Held) – Team Head Coach (Team Record – failed to make the play-offs)
2007 – Southern Seahawks (Seniors) – Gridiron Victoria (Position Held) – Team Head Coach (Team Record – Team withdrawn from competition 3 weeks before end of season due to injuries and lack of player availability).
2010 – Croydon Rangers (Seniors) – Gridiron Victoria (Position Held) – Line Coach (Team made the playoffs)
2011 – Croydon Rangers/Stars (Seniors) – Gridiron Victoria (Position Held) – Line Coach (Team Record – lost the Vic Bowl)
2012 – Gridiron Croydon (Seniors) – Gridiron Victoria (Position Held) – Head Coach of the Croydon Stars Division Two Team (Team Failed to make the Playoffs)
2013 – Berwick Miners (Senior Women’s) – Gridiron Victoria (Position Held) – Team Head Coach (Team Folded before they could get on the park due to lack of numbers and the Victoria Maidens selecting 20 plus of the teams players.
2013 – Monash Warriors – Gridiron Victoria (Position Held) – Line Coach (Team Record – won the Vic Bowl)
2014 – South Eastern Predators – Gridiron Victoria (Position Held) – Line Coach (Team Record – Made the Playoffs)
2015 – South Eastern Predators – Gridiron Victoria (Position Held) – Assistant Offensive Coach (Team Record – Failed to make the Playoffs)
Administrative experience
1986/7 87/88/ 88/89 Victorian Gridiron Football League – Position – League President
(Highlight:- getting the league back in the black after the $15,000 debt due the leagues involvement in the poorly supported College game at Princess Park). This one of the reasons you can all still play this great game in Victoria.
1986 – Brighton Outlaws Gridiron Club – Position – Secretary
1987/8 Brighton Outlaws Gridiron Club – Position – Treasurer
1987/8/9 – Victorian Gridiron Football League – Position – Outlaws League Delegate (League President 87/88/89)
1989 – Melbourne Outlaws Gridiron Club – Position – Treasurer
1991 – Victorian Gridiron Football League – Position – Berwick Miners League Delegate
1991/2 and 2003 – Berwick Miners Gridiron Club – Club Committee Member
2005/ 6/ 7 – Southern Seahawks Gridiron Club – Club Committee Member
2011 – Croydon Rangers Gridiron Club – Club Committee Member
2013-2015 South Eastern Predators – Club Committee Member
Playing experience
1986 – SABA Outlaws (Seniors) – Victorian Gridiron Football League (Playing Position – Offensive Left Tackle) (Team won the Vic Bowl)
1987 – VGFL All Stars (Seniors) – State Team (Playing Position – Offensive Left Tackle) (Team beat South Australia at the Melbourne Bowl)
1987 – Brighton Outlaws (Seniors) – Victorian Gridiron Football League (Playing Position – Offensive Left Tackle) (Team won the Vic Bowl)
1988 – VGFL All Stars (Seniors) – State Team (Playing Position – Offensive Left Tackle) (Team lost to Augsburg College NCAA Division 3 Team)
1988 – Melbourne Outlaws (Seniors) – Victorian Gridiron Football League (Playing Position – Offensive Left Tackle) (Team won the Vic Bowl)
1989 – Melbourne Outlaws (Seniors) – Victorian Gridiron Football League (Playing Position – Offensive Left Tackle) (Team failed to make the playoffs)
1989 – VGFL All Stars (Seniors) – State Team (Playing Position – Offensive Left Tackle)
1990 – Berwick Miners (Seniors) – Victorian Gridiron Football League (Playing Position – Offensive Right Tackle) (Team made the playoffs)
1991 – Berwick Miners (Seniors) – Victorian Gridiron Football League Playing Position – Centre) (Team won the Vic Bowl)
1991 – VGFL Representative (Seniors) – State Team (Playing Position – Centre) (Team beat South Australia and New South Wales)
1992 – Berwick Miners (Seniors) – Victorian Gridiron Football League Playing Position – Centre) (Team Lost the Vic Bowl)
1992 – VGFL Representative (Seniors) – State Team (Playing Position – Centre) (Did not play due to injury) 1993 – Berwick Miners (Seniors) – Victorian Gridiron Football League (Did not play due to injury)
1994 – Berwick Miners (Seniors) – Victorian Gridiron Football League Playing Position – Centre) (Team won the Vic Bowl)
1995 – Berwick Miners (Seniors) – Victorian Gridiron Football League – Retired in preseason to coach due to reoccurring injury.