A new Legend at the House!

At our awards night in October, we had the honour of adding our 7th Legend to the Power House AFC honour board.

Our very own President – Nic Pavlou.

Here are some highlights from his induction speech:

Pav the player

A Wesley boy who grew up playing soccer and only finding Australian Rules as an 18-year-old, he came down for “just one game” in 1980 to help out mate Dave Clarahan and after more than 40 years, calls the Ross Gregory and its people his home. We thank our lucky starts that he didn’t suit up for Old Collegians!

His football career of 296 games and 527 goals should not be ignored. Crowned the Wal Davie Reserves Best and Fairest in 1984, Pav’s on field success stemmed to being an 11-time

highest goal kicking award winner and a club record 15 goals in a game. (Ask Pav about not getting best on ground in that game! Nothing changes Forward never get votes!)

One other thing, if you ask him nicely, he will point out Pav’s Pocket on the Ross Gregory.

It wasn’t all highs though, after averaging 2 goals a game for the 1988 season, Pav was controversially DROPPED FOR 1988 GRAND FINAL. Power House went on to lose by 1 goal.

Thankfully, Pav didn’t do a Derek Kickett and walk out on the club, he took it on the chin and was quick to get on with the 1989 pre-season.

In the tail end of his playing career, Pav was the 2006 Chairman of Selectors alongside one of his best friends and Life Member Rob Sarosi, who led the side to the 2006 Senior Premiership. His daughter Anna took the medal that day and he still hasn’t seen it – 16 years on!

Pav then finished is career with one final game in 2007. For game 296,Legend has it, it was a cold wet day at the Ross Gregory and Pav was on the bench for the entire game. He ran out late in the last quarter, only to realise it was too wet, cold and muddy to go on… so head headed back to the bench and promptly hung up his boots for good.

Pav the President

After his long career finished in 2007 (much to his wife Jenni’s delight, thinking she would have him back to help with the kids!), Pav immediately found himself in the thick of the action off field.

He became President in 2010 and has shown an incredible passion for creating a home at Power House.

One of Pav’s proudest achievements was the establishment of our Inaugural Women’s Team and Program in 2018.

Pav and Bucks, alongside Barry Cox and Phil Mackney created a women’s program that is still thriving today and a growing part of the club’s rich history.

Since then, Pav has been Women’s team manager, filled every job every week, travelled near and far to games and been the first to arrive and last to leave.

From an admin point of view, His relationships he has formed greatly respected relationship through the entire VAFA competition. When we are attending VAFA events, Pav is always across who is who and can often be seem catching up with other club presidents and VAFA staff. He is held in extremely high regard and has put Power House on the map at VAFA HQ, which is no mean feat for a Division club.

Pav also has great working relationships with Lord Somers Camp, Parks Vic and the Grand Prix corporation. It’s thanks to these relationships that Power House is so greatly looked upon by these organizations, Pav is always going the extra mile to make sure we accommodate these organizations best we can

The list of Pav’s achievements since taking on the Presidency is staggering:

Grants manager: securing sports club and local community grants
Inherited club with $10,000 debt, currently $60,000+ in bank (one of the most financial clubs in the VAFA)
Australian Grand Prix club relationship manager
Securing a newLease and License – Ground and club rooms
Writes the weekly club emails sent out to 500+ subscribers
Past Players group manager: Organise yearly reunions, organise past players for weekly game jobs
Sponsorship manager: Liaise with major sponsors (Urban Alley, Spinktel)
Gear manager
Tribunal – club advocate
Liquor License manager
Overseeing of club redevelopment projects: including refurbishment of clubrooms and bar and clubrooms redevelopment, new electronic scoreboard, player benches
Creation of IT and audio-visual room setup
Major club sponsor with Jenni and her business Brainwave HR
Creator and writer of club five and ten-year strategy plans
Canteen manager
Umpire manager
Event manager and organiser with major sponsor venues for major club functions
The list goes on and on…….

Pav also fills any job needed, from pouring a beer, time keeping, goal umpiring (even in the hail!) and even spent a few years umpiring the Reserves (much to Paddy Arnold’s dislike!).

We pulled a good stat on Pav for this induction. Power House had had over 2,500 men and women play for us since out inception. In Pav’s time, 1,359 people have passed through the club. That means that more than half of the people who have played for power house would have interacted with Pav.

That also doesn’t take into account the countless past players, supporters and volunteers that he has befriended over the journey.

His presidency is going to be a hard act to follow!

Pav the Person

Like all smart operators, Pav has been quick to enlist the services of his family into the Power House club fold.

Pav’s family have been a huge part of Power House. His wife Jenni has been part of the journey herself, even running the canteen for a while.

Behind every great football person is an even greater partner and Jenni has given her husband of 27 years to the club every week day and weekend for their whole marriage!

Now that’s impressive!

His cousin and Life Member James Demetrie who played 66 games, started the first ever. Football club website (outside of the AFL) with Pav for Power House in 1995.

His sister Penny, also here tonight, watched his whole career with their mother Nikki and Father Europe and now, Penny is our Canteen lady and has done an amazing job this year.

Pav’s daughter Anna caught the Power House bug and has grown up at the Ross Gregory, following her Dad’s passion and serving on the committee.

And his son James has been our women’s boundary umpire and our music talent tonight, always lending a hand to the House.

Pav is the ultimate clubman, puts everyone and the club before himself because he loves it AND thoroughly deserves to be recognised with the Legends of our Club.