Over 50 people - including Blue Bloods, former players and parents - enjoyed an entertaining Blue Bloods luncheon at the Clare Castle Hotel on Saturday prior to the game against Marcellin.

The panel of guest speakers consisted of former Blues skipper Gil McLachlan, former Blues B&F and Hawthorn captain Richie Vandenberg and journalist and grassroots football guru Paul Daffey.

Notable attendees included Peter Rush (a member of the 1960 Uni Blues A-Grade Premiership team), Roger Collins (a member of the 1975 Under 19 Premiership team) and no less than five former presidents of the club (including Wayne "Turk" Carroll who flew in from KL on the morning of the function).  Also present in very healthy numbers were members of the Under 19 team that was Premiers and Champions in 1995.  Some had travelled quite a distance for their antipasti and jug of Clare Draught but none further than Damien Keys who had made the trek from Kalgoorlie.

Those who broke bread at the Clare were rewarded with a lively discussion by the hand-picked panel members.  Richie Vandenberg recalled some of his off-field highlights at Uni Oval (including nocturnal soirees at John Garnaut's Fitzroy warehouse), explained his nickname "Cannon" and discussed his current role as a runner for Hawks' coach Alistair Clarkson.  Paul Daffey chaired the panel with aplomb, quizzing Gil McLachlan on his brush with an onfield AFL career with Carlton and his current working life as the league's Chief Operating Officer.  Prompted by a question from the floor, Paul also reflected on his own playing days that included a stint with Blues' rival St Bernards.

At the conclusion of the lunch, the microphone was handed over to the coach of the 1995 Under 19 Premiership team, Steve Carroll.  Steve's speech entailed a potted history of the VAFA Under 19 competition, a reasonable impression of Grant "Treeo" Williams and a celebration of the achievements of his former charges 15 years ago.