Part of field to be named after mortgage industry leader
The death of Blake Albones just five months ago not only had a major impact on his family and friends but affected many people who worked with the highly respected leader in the mortgage industry.
Albones, who is survived by his wife, three daughters, brother Mark and his parents, was well known in the financial services industry.
He worked in various senior sales and broker roles at Galilee, MyState Bank, RateOne, NAB, and PLAN Australia.
His death at the age of 45 has also rocked the Oak Park Football Club in Melbourne, where Albones’ contribution will never be forgotten.
Albones (pictured above and below) was a legendary figure at Oak Park in the Essendon District Football League competition in the five seasons he played there and now the club is holding a game on Saturday, April 6, to honour Albones. A section of the club’s ground will also be named after him.
Oak Park senior coach Todd Clark said Albones played for Oak park from 2000 to 2004, taking part in four Premier League grand finals, winning two of them as vice-captain.
“In those five years, Blake kicked 321 goals in 91 games, including 94 in 2001,” Clark said. “Eight times he kicked more than eight goals, including a league record of 16 in 2001.”
Clark described Albones as a bigger-than-life, selfless character who people would gravitate to, and who always looked after other’s needs before his own.
“It was an easy decision for the club to honour Blake as one of the true Oak Park legends.”
The EDFL has changed its fixture to allow Oak Park to play Maribyrnong Park a week prior to the true start of season. The game will be called the Blake Albones Cup.
“In a fantastic initiative, this will be the only EDFL game being played on that weekend,” said Clark. “We urge everyone to come along to the game and support a great man.”
Albones’ absence leaves a hole, says teammate Nick Reilly
Nick Reilly, the managing director of Melbourne brokerage Inovayt, played alongside Albones at Oak Park and is also keen to see plenty of people in the mortgage industry attend the game in his friend’s honour.
Reilly said he was about 20 years old when he first met Albones after moving to Melbourne from NSW and joining the Oak Park club.
“I played a lot of reserve grade and Blake played first grade but we were all pretty tight,” said Reilly. “We won some premierships and had some good times. I had a good relationship with Blake both inside and outside the industry.”
A few years after arriving in Melbourne, Reilly became a mortgage broker and Albones was already working in the industry.
Reilly described Albones as a very good footballer, who played as a full forward or centre half-forward.
“He was a natural leader – you saw a lot of the stuff that came out in the industry after he passed just around his desire to help people with their careers and his generosity.
“I heard that from numerous people in the industry and that was very much what he was like at the football club as well – very welcoming, spoke to everyone. He was the centre of attention but always for the right reasons.”
Albones remained involved with Oak Park after he stopped playing there, organising a number of grand final reunions.
Reilly (pictured below) said Albones’ death affected so many people at Oak Park, not only because he was a well-known footballer right across the Essendon league but also because he was such a good person off the field.
He said it was a shock to lose someone so young, who also had a young family.
“Blake was always the life of the party and the big personality, so not having him around just leaves a massive gap. There’s a lot of things for a lot of people at that club that just don’t feel normal because he’s not there.”
Albones’ impact at the club had led Oak Park to organise the memorial game against Maribyrnong Park and to dedicate one end of the football field near the clubroom after Albones.
Reilly said Albones also had a close association with Maribyrnong Park – he had lived in that suburb and his daughters played for the club.
The match between Oak Park and Maribyrnong Park kicks off at 2.15pm on April 6 and the naming of one end of the field in honour of Albones will happen before the game.
For anyone needing bereavement support or counselling, you can access support via Griefline – 1300 845 745 - or at griefline.com.au or Lifeline at 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au
