Milestone Games – Saturday 24 May 2025

Congratulations to Patrick Howe (100 games), David Barbuto (50 games), Sara McMillan (50 games) and Billie Harvey (50 games) who will all play milestones this weekend.

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Patrick Howe

This week, we have the honour of celebrating Paddy Howe’s 100th game, one of the all-time club greats and my longest-standing best mate.

A few words that come to mind when I think of Howey in a football sense are leader, workhorse and family. A young captain leading those older than him for many years, highlighted individually with a top-three league best and fairest finish. Truly one of the best to ever pull on the Marcellin jumper, with a loving family so engrained in the community and history of the club.

I’ve had the privilege of running out side by side with Howey for as long as I can remember, dating all the way back to Auskick, where his dad was teaching us how to kick drop punts, through school footy where we shared two premierships together, to now still walking out to compete together week after week. I’m forever grateful for the friendship we share, filled with football and life memories.

Respected and loved by all around the club, he will always be the first to celebrate and congratulate anyone’s achievements, but most importantly, he will never turn down a froffy together, which always turns into 100. Hopefully, we can get over the line for you this week, mate, and knock a few off the top to celebrate.

Matthew Capetola

A big congrats to Paddy Howe who will run out in the Eagles colours for the 100th time this week.

Howey has made an incredible contribution to the club since debuting back in 2017, being a former best and fairest winner and captain of the club for several years. He is a standard setter, and his relentless desire to lift the team and maximise the strengths of his teammates is something he can really be proud of. Howey is super passionate about Marcellin and making the most of his time at the Eagles, so I know how much this milestone will mean to him.

Well done Paddy, a great achievement and one you deserve. I love playing with you and can’t wait to be out there with you and witness another great performance, both this weekend and beyond.

Adam Tomaro

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David Barbuto

Congratulations David on reaching the 50 games milestone at Marcelin OCFC, as a lifetime thirds player who only plays between 12 and 16 games a year, this is a remarkable feat!

David joined the Marcellin Old Boys in 2021 after graduating from Marcellin in 2020. He played in the under 19s in 2021 under the leadership and guidance of Nicholas Hullick. While enjoying his time in the under 19s, David’s football career at Marcellin began to flourish when he transitioned to the thirds in late 2021, before permanently joining the team in 2022.

Within the Thirds group, David has been a constant presence, playing nearly every game since the start of 2022. He stood by the team during the challenging years of 2022 and 2023, always maintaining a positive outlook even after some tough losses. His witty jokes and upbeat persona after games have made every outcome—win, lose, or draw—a more enjoyable experience.

It’s been fantastic to watch David’s footballing skills develop over his years at the club. Every year, he has been one of the first to arrive at pre-season training to work on his fitness and skills. I have seen noticeable improvements in David’s composure with the ball and his ability to hit targets and make strategic decisions. He has always possessed brute strength, and there have been many times when he has attempted to run directly through the opposition. Although this doesn’t always work out, it is always entertaining to watch. With his size and frame, it usually takes a moment or two for the opponent to get back on their feet!

David has always played with aggression and passion. You can often hear him yelling and encouraging the team from the sidelines. His large and booming voice must come from our mother, who can often be heard shouting encouragement from the sidelines while David yells from the forward line. It makes me smile knowing how passionate and dedicated they both are to this club.

One of my favourite memories of David’s football career was last year, when we played against Melbourne High—the same team we are up against for David’s 50th game! We were down by three points late in the fourth quarter. David received the ball 30 meters out, directly in front of the goal. The issue was that there were two Melbourne High defenders between David and the goal. David executed one of his world-famous “run-through-the-opposition” moves, and this time it paid off. He pushed through both defenders, got the ball onto his boot, and scored a fantastic goal, putting us in the lead and ultimately winning the game.

Off the field, David is the ultimate clubman and one of the kindest people I know. He always has time to talk to anyone who is willing to listen, which is why so many in the club know and appreciate him. David consistently attends club social functions and pasta nights. He loves being involved in the club, and the club loves having him.

I will look back fondly on these years. Playing football alongside my brother for the past five years has been a privilege and is one of the memories I’ll cherish for years to come. I look forward to a few more years as teammates. David, I wish you the best this weekend. You are the ultimate clubman and a true asset, not only to the thirds but to the MOCFC as a whole.

Melbourne High won’t know what hit them this weekend!

James Barbuto

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Sara McMillan

Wowee, 50 games for the wonderful Sara McMillan. It is such an incredible milestone to reach and I am so lucky to have played 37 of those great games with you.

You may ask, why did you go through the very hard to navigate VAFA archives to find out these stats? Well, I’m so happy you asked. It’s because ever since Sara finished school and my dad found out her very impressive ATAR score, he has called her Brainsy. And as Boydo likes to mention at every milestone, you have to bring some part of the milestone player into your own game, so I thought, what better way than to bring Sara’s skills with numbers into her footy career.

So let’s begin.

Sara has played a total of 49 games, and in those 49 games, she has kicked a whopping total of 8 goals, which averages out to 0.16 goals a game. To those just looking at the stats, that might not seem like much for a forward, but I would like to point out what the VAFA archives unfortunately could not. Sara would have some of the highest numbers in score assists. Her unrelenting pressure over the ball and hands out the back have provided our team with the privilege of playing in 2 grand finals (even if she only got to play in one) and a premiership flag in 2021. Sara’s skills and footy IQ have come a long way since she started in 2021, and she is a player I look up to very highly.

I also feel that I should point out that not only is Sara a superstar player, but she is also a 5-star Uber driver. She somehow managed to bring the vibes, whether it was blasting One Direction or yapping about whatever drama had happened at work that week. From the 9:20 games in Brighton to hour-long trips to Truganina or Parkdale, games without Sara are never the same, and she will be deeply missed when she runs away on her rite-of-passage European tour.

Here’s to 50 games for my third big sister and our very own mighty 31. Hopefully, you can have as good of a game as your Bulldogs counterpart, Bailey Dale, this weekend with 49 touches and maybe a goal or two.

Ava Menzies

50 Games for Sizzling Sezzy!
I’m so glad you’ve reached this amazing milestone—because honestly, I wasn’t sure you’d make it past your first training session!

Sara and I met through hip-hop classes, and luckily for me, she took pity on the dancer in the back row. That’s where our friendship began. Maybe it was our borderline obsession with football, our passion for Pilates, or our shared love for the Bont but our bond has grown from the dance floor to the footy field (thank god for that!).

Sara, like me, loved (and that’s putting it lightly) football and her dogs. When I started playing for the Eagles, she floated the idea of coming down to training because she was thinking about giving footy a go. It’s hard to imagine now, but the Sara back then was very different, and I wasn’t entirely sure football was the right sport for her.

Sara back then was quite timid—so much so that she once walked over 8km in heeled boots from the SCG to our hotel after the Dogs demolished the Swans, just to avoid the wrath of Damo and the Menzies after a Swans loss.

Sara back then was also a stickler for the rules. Just ask Zoe, while Zoe was getting kicked out of class in high school for being too loud and disruptive, Sara was genuinely DUXing VCE subjects. Just ask Damo why her nickname is “Brainsey.”

Sara back the she was known to have a sook or two (mmmm I guess some things never change!).

Despite my early doubts, I clearly had nothing to worry about. Sara integrated seamlessly into our team, and now it’s hard to imagine playing without her. Her voice and energy on the field are unmatched. Her ability to read the play, slot into unfamiliar positions, and still make an impact is incredible. But more than that, knowing she’s always there to back you up is one of her best qualities.

Like so many of us, the friendships we’ve made through footy go far beyond the field. Sara is a staple at every outing, the one handing me a drink on a night out (and dealing with the aftermath of said drink), and truly my third sister.

I know deep down you love footy (despite the complaints), and lord knows this team loves you. Go well this weekend, I can’t believe another sister has made it to 50 games!

Tess Menzies

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Billie Harvey

It’s an absolute pleasure to congratulate Billie Harvey on reaching 50 games this Saturday. A name synonymous with Marcellin, with two brothers at the club and her dad as both a Baldie and the Sheagles coach, it’s now time for her to shine and show off her talent.

Billie came down to the club in 2022 and quickly established herself as a powerhouse on the field. Renowned for her bone-crunching tackles, explosive pace, and relentless pressure around the contest, Billie is the kind of player who never takes a backward step and always leads by example. Her elite footy IQ and ability to read the play before it unfolds make her a constant threat, whether she’s finding space in congestion or hitting targets with precision by hand or foot. A fierce competitor and natural leader, Billie sets the standard both off and on the field, lifting her teammates with every effort and proving herself time and again as one of the hardest workers in the game.

I feel incredibly lucky to have started at the club the same year as Bill in 2022. We clicked almost instantly and have been inseparable ever since, and for good reason. She has a rare ability to make everyone around her feel welcome, valued, and included. If you’re ever feeling flat, Bill is the first to notice and the first to lift you up, somehow always leaving you feeling a million times better than before. I know as well as anyone that she gives any club function a red hot crack. She really does set the standard both off and on the field.

As she reaches this milestone game, Billie isn’t just being celebrated for the games she’s played, but for the way she plays them. Good luck this weekend, Bill, you deserve it all.

Jasmine Getson

This week we celebrate Billie’s 50th game for the Sheagles. Fifty games is a pretty big deal for anyone, but fifty games playing the way Billie does is an achievement on a whole other level. She doesn’t just play footy, she plays with her whole heart and soul, launching herself into every contest like it’s life or death.

You know exactly what you’re going to get from Billie: pressure, aggression, and an elite tackling ability envied by many. It doesn’t matter if she’s outnumbered, outsized, or half-injured, she never backs out of a contest. I’ve seen her run down players twice her size and get up like it’s nothing, while the rest of us just watch on in awe. That’s Billie, no fuss, no ego, just hard, honest footy. The kind of player every team needs, and we are very lucky to have her.

To be completely honest, I reckon some of Billie’s tackles should come with a warning, not only for the unlucky opposition about to be cleaned up, but also for herself. Who could forget that game against Brighton in 2023, involving a trademark Billie Harvey tackle and an ambulance? It was your classic 9:20 am fresh mid-winter game on the Lyons. Billie was playing in her usual style, tough, competitive, and with zero regard for her own safety. Just before halftime, out of nowhere, she lays a bone-crunching, run-down tackle, wins the free kick for holding the ball, and knocks herself out in the process.

I remember just standing there in disbelief at what had just happened.

The ambulance was called, Billie was assessed and taken off to hospital, and the Lyons Oval needed a rest. So much so that the entire game was moved to the Bray for the second half. That’s how hard Billie hits, she doesn’t just shut down opponents, she shuts down entire ovals.

Now most people would probably think twice about diving headfirst into a contest after something like that. But not Billie. On her return, although being the next season due to a trip to Europe that ultimately cut her 2023 season short, not the injury, she went straight back to her usual self, hungrier than ever, putting her body on the line for the team every single week.

Even when given the task of taking some of the most dangerous mids out of the game. Where others would see this as a sacrifice of their own game, there are never any complaints from Billie. She just moves on, and not only does she get the job done, she absolutely dominates it.

That’s Billie in a nutshell, tough as nails, absolutely fearless, and always puts the team first. The type of player you want beside you when it’s tight, when it’s messy, and when it matters most.

But it’s not just about the physical side of the game. Billie possesses all the qualities you want in a future leader of this great team. She is always one of the first to lift the group, bring the energy, and back her teammates in, even when things aren’t going our way.

Off the field, she’s a great mate you can go to for encouragement, advice, or a bit of a push when you need it. Like she reminded me a few weeks ago, I didn’t give her much at all for a while when she first arrived at the club. But where most people would’ve given up on trying to make an effort, Billie saw this as a challenge. And like any challenge on the footy field, her persistence, acceptance, and encouragement really paid off. I’m forever grateful for that.

Congratulations on reaching this incredible milestone. Looking forward to seeing what you bring for the next fifty.

Tania Carpinteri