OCC has an Olympian in Tokyo!
The Ormond Cricket Club is yet to produce a test cricketer but we do have an Olympian!
Elise Collier is going to Tokyo and competing in the 10-metre air rifle event. It’s an incredible story that has featured in major
newspapers and you can read it here:-
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/shooting-pains-for-this-olympian-sport-relieves-the-pressure-20210630-p585jz.html
Elise began playing at OCC in 2009/10 in the U12C grade team along with her brother Michael with her mother Jacque as team manager. Elise
won the Team Manager’s Award that season for her sportsmanship, encouragement of team mates and 100 percent effort at training. Her
next season in the U12s saw her take 4/9 in a winning semi-final against Mackie. In 2011/12, she was a member of the club’s first U12A Grade
Premiership in 30 years. That team was coached by current club president Pat Camm who described her as, “A very dedicated and talented
all-rounder who bowled pace and was a hard hitting batter. I recall her hitting several 6’s that season at East Caulfield Reserve and she
was devastated when she was the victim of a bad umpiring decision in the grand final. In true Elise style she fought back with the ball and
with the grand final really in the balance she produced a bit of fielding magic. The ball was hit to the left hand side of Elise at mid-off
and she picked up the ball in her left hand and switched the ball to her right hand as she pivoted to release the throw. With one stump to
aim at, her direct hit found one of Brighton’s star batsman 30 centimetres short of the crease. Everyone at the ground knew they had
witnessed something special and it changed the momentum of the game. We made 9/96cc and Brighton who were 1/83 collapsed to be all out for
91.”
That Under 12A team was captained by Ben Paine and included current senior players Alex Camm and Alex Riley along with a guest appearance from 9 year old Bailey Moon who filled in due to injuries to Flynn Wood and Campbell Lord. Elise’s brother Michael won the U12C batting award in the same season and in 2013/14 Elise captained the U14B Grade side which included her brother and was coached by Will Robertshaw. Elise was selected in the U16 & 18 South East Representative sides. The following season, Elise coached the club’s U14 C side which her brother captained and her father Peter was Team Manager. Current player Ben Oaten played in this team and the club umpire was Russell Oaten.
Sadly, a freak fielding accident at training resulted in Elise fracturing her skull and as you’ll read in the article, it ultimately ended her cricket career and led to her new sporting career in shooting. The rest is history and hopefully she can bring home a gold medal for Australia in Tokyo.
Good luck Elise!