One of the best to ever do it, we congratulate Blanchy on this massive achievement!
This Saturday Jono Blanch will run out in the maroon, blue and gold in his 200th game for the club. Spanning over 14 years Jono has developed into a great leader and true clubman both on and off the field.
From his debut game in 2007 for the U/19 Premier side Jono developed a consistent brand of football known for being tough in the contest, a running machine and a good user of the football.
His devotion to improving his skills and focus on maintaining his fitness allowed him to cement his position in the Senior team week in week out often playing through the middle, wing and more recently off half back.
Jono holds an elite place in Marcellin OCFC history with regular best on ground performances leading to appear in seven VAFA teams of the year (‘08, ’13, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’17), and a four-time Senior team Best and Fairest award winner (’15, ’16, ’17, ’18).
Such achievements are a good reflection of Jono’s dedication to get the best out of himself every year week to week. Whether it be in preseason when he pushes 3km time trial PBs (current PB 8:49), preparation to training or post-match recovery you can be sure that Jono will lead by example and set the standard for the club to give himself and team the best chance at achieving ultimate success.
Putting the personal achievements aside, every Marcellin person that has come through the Bulleen Road gate to play, train or spectate, I think can all attest to the fact that he is a true clubman. Despite offers throughout his career to play elsewhere Jono has remained loyal to the club. Choosing to play out his career at one club, out on the Bray Oval, I think just shows how much he cares for the Marcellin OCFC fabric, past and present players and supporters.
Football aside, Jono has been an amazingly supportive brother to both myself and Matty and made mum and dad both extremely proud. We are so lucky to have you as the captain/coach of the Blanch boys and can’t wait to watch you run out leading the Eagles.
– Tim Blanch
This weekend, we get the opportunity to celebrate an incredible milestone by Jono Blanch, who will run out as an Eagle for the 200th time and achieve Life Member status at the Marcellin Old Collegians Football Club.
Jono has been a consistent club figure and on-field performer for the best part of the last 15 years. He began his Senior career in the late 2000’s when the club was in A Grade, winning the Rising Eagle Award. Since then, he has earned himself a long list of accolades including four-peat Best and Fairest honours between 2015 and 2018, etching himself into club history. He has been recognised in the VAFA Team of the Year seven times in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, representing the Big V during this time.
Throughout his journey, Jono has proven to be a valuable utility player, filling many different roles for the team. His aerobic capacity from a young age has been the envy of many opposition midfielders. He has proven to be dangerous around goals and in the past few seasons, provided a cool head and clean skills out of defence. Jono is a tackling machine and one of the most courageous intercept markers in the competition. This makes him an inspiration to watch and play alongside, leading from the front and setting the standard for his peers. It is through these attributes that Jono was elected to serve as the club captain between 2016 and 2019.
Jono has battled through his fair share of adversity on the injury front, particularly in recent years, where he endured a serious hip injury requiring surgery. Jono’s professionalism and dedication to rehab has seen him recover well and play some of his best footy in the early stages of this 2021 season, displaying one of his finest career games against Old Ivanhoe in Round 4.
The contribution of the entire Blanch family has been incredible over the years with the family business, MicroCloud Bedding, making a large contribution to the club over the past decade. Jono’s parents, Tony and Collette attend match day week-in, week-out and his brother’s, Tim and Matt have pulled on the jumper many times themselves. They are an extremely supportive family and there is no doubt that they, along with his friends are incredibly proud of Jono, both as a footballer and as a person. This pride is shared by his teammates and Marcellin supporters.
Jono – on behalf of the entire MOCFC Community, congratulations on reaching 200 games. It is a rare achievement and truly an amazing effort built on the back of loyalty and hard work. You are the ultimate club man and we wish you all the best for the weekend. May the boys display your level of determination to deliver you the result that you deserve.
Well done.
– Daniel McMahon
