There wouldn’t be too many players who can brag they have played the same amount of games in the seniors as they have in the juniors.
Playing his last five games in the seniors, Ollie Day is more mature than your average 17 year old, taking his tally of AFL games to 10.
Ollie’s journey from the rugby fields of Bath, England, to the Aussie football grounds of Euroa is one of good timing.
With a family history deeply rooted in the Euroa Football Club, Ollie is not only carving out his own path but also honouring the footsteps of his grandfather and father.
“Back in the UK, my background’s rugby union,” Ollie explains.
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“Rugby being a contact sport means the transition has been rather comfortable, all I’ve had to do is learn all the rules and the basic skills required to play footy.
"My position in rugby requires me to be able to kick and have good handling skills so I feel as if I’ve been able to bring those skills over to footy.”
Growing up in Bath, Ollie spent much of his youth playing hockey alongside his three brothers before committing seriously to rugby at age 17.
His rugby career blossomed through notable milestones, including selection to the Bath Rugby U18s Academy for the 2023/24 season and a subsequent scholarship at Brunel University linked with the Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Academy for 2024/25.
Despite his rugby pedigree, Ollie embraced Australian football wholeheartedly after his first game for Euroa’s under 18s team last June.
“I’ve trained most years I’ve come out to Euroa,” he says, “but what hooked me into playing footy is just wanting to follow my grandfather’s and father’s steps and keep the legacy going in the family.”
His grandfather Ray Day and father Andrew Day both proudly represented Euroa in their day, and Ollie fondly recalls family visits to the Euroa Oval.
“Whenever we came over from England to Australia, my Dad would always take me and my brothers down to Memorial oval in Euroa and would have a kick with us.
"It has made it easier for me now with understanding all the rules and how to play the game.”
The physical demands of senior footy have posed a challenge for Ollie, who admits the pace and intensity ramp up significantly from under 18s football.
“I would say the physicality has been very different at each level I’ve played.
"Senior footy has been a lot more physically demanding than when I played those two games in the U18s."
But Ollie credits the welcoming nature of the Euroa Football Club and the support from teammates, coaches, and his grandparents for helping him adapt and grow.
“The way I have been welcomed into the club has enabled me to learn a lot of different attributes from a number of the Euroa players and coaching staff.
"It’s also been great having the support of my grandparents on the journey to date.”
Currently, Ollie is focused on improving his positioning on the field and sharpening his kicking accuracy.
“Sometimes I find myself in the wrong positions making it harder for my teammates,” he admits.
“Another focus at the moment is improving my kicking accuracy when having a shot on goal.”
Looking ahead, Ollie’s goals for the season are simple but ambitious:
“Just trying to be more consistent, hopefully kick a few more goals, and play in the seniors for the rest of the season.
"Then looking ahead to next season I would say just trying to make sure I have a good off season and get lots of kicking and running practice in to make sure I’m ready to go for the 2026 season.”
The Euroa community looks forward to seeing the rising talent of Ollie Day and other juniors, as they continue to make their mark.
