Gleeson & O'Halloran Families 100 Year Football Rematch

23/07/2026

VALE “Max William O’Halloran”

On behalf of the Gleeson & O’Halloran Families, we would like to past on our sincere condolences on the sad passing of Max O’Halloran.

Max touched many lives during his 74 years as a family man, footballer and a councillor for thirteen years just to name a few.

Max was born at Smithton Tasmania and played his early senior football at Ulverstone and in 1971 was drafted to Footscray in the then VFL. Here he played one season with the Dogs before he was moved to Carlton and played for two seasons with a total of 20 games.

He then moved north to become a coach with Darwin and Windsor-Zillmere in Brisbane. Moving to Cairns, Max played for South Cairns and then in 1979 for North Cairns. He was a player in North Cairns premiership team in 1980 and 1984. The next season of 1985 Max would coach North Cairns to the premiership. He then turned his hand to coaching the Cairns Saints and became head coach in the early 1990s winning the 1995 premiership.
He served on the board of AFL Cairns from 1998 to 2007. He was awarded life membership of AFL Cairns and the North Cairns Football Club.
In 2025, Max coached the Cairns Saints Division 3 team.
On a number of occasions he coached the Queensland Country Team in the Australian Championships.

To show age is now barrier, and as many of you would know, Max coached the victorious O’Halloran team in the recent match between the two families played at Irishtown last October. At age 73 he would lift the Bridget Cup Aloft.

Travelling from QLD to play his roll on what was an historic event and football match of 100 years celebration of the 1925 match, Max showed what family spirt really meant with his contribution not only on the field, but also contributing off it with sponsorship from his business Tidal Seafood Traders Pty Ltd for the 100 YEAR REMATCH programme and then if that wasn’t enough, Max would foot half the cost with Joyce Gleeson to see to it that the match would be not only filmed, but filmed live and across the world for all family members and spectators that could not make it on the day.
Yes, Max was a legend in all walks of life and we will be forever grateful for his contributions that would effectively help raise over 15k for the Children’s Cancer Foundation.

To Max’s family and close friends, our hearts are all with you during this sad time.
A great man at rest who will be dearly missed.

Rest in peace Max William O’Halloran
💚💛💙❤️

Wade Gleeson 🖊️

https://www.facebook.com/share/1P7dVvcrSb/?mibextid=wwXIfr

27/10/2025

The Committee would like to say a huge thank you to the Tasmania Football Club 💚💛❤️🏉

From start to finish, the club supported our event to the fullest!

To the lovely Kath McCann for the endless support and connections in the media was just fantastic. The many phone calls, messages and even to the membership pack for the auction was very much appreciated. The club is so lucky to have you!

Alistair Nicholson for his amazing TFC Website Story and interview. A passionate Tasmanian who continues to put our club and beautiful state on the map every day!

And to the club’s CEO in Brendon Gale. A Tasmanian Football Legend both on and off the field!
Brendon’s interest in the match was very heart warming for us all. This was evident in the program article that really showed how hard the Devils are working to becoming Tasmania’s elite sporting body that is embracing all communities around the state.
Brendon’s support with in the change rooms of both teams was fantastic as it was with 718 strong crowd! And to top it off, a stint in the commentary box while the match was live streamed by DUFF TV to more than 1500 viewers across the world! Yes, across the world!

On behalf of the committee, we cannot thank the Tasmanian Football Club enough and we can’t wait to see both the men’s and women’s teams playing in the VFL and then soon after in the big league of the AFL.

“CARN THE DEVILS “💚💛❤️🏉

25/10/2025

A Big Thankyou to Wynyard Concert Band for playing for us on the day and half time, another tradition kept up as they played in the original match back in 1925 🎼🎺🎻

24/10/2025

24/10/2025

🏉 THANK YOU TO OUR UMPIRES 🏉

As a committee we would like to thank our amazing umpires for their contribution to our amazing day at Irishtown!
How smart you all looked in your uniforms, it really brought everything together.

Also a big shout out to our goal umpires for also officiating in the junior match as well 👏🏻

We cannot express our gratitude enough for everyone’s efforts! Just amazing!
💚💛💙❤️🏉🏆

CENTRAL UMPIRES
Nigel Webb
Mark Kearnes
Andrew Dunlop

BOUNDARY UMPIRES
Duke Marcello
Nixon Marcello
Nate McAlister
Dyson Ryan
Flyn Coates

GOAL UMPIRES
Michael Burgess
Bryan O’Halloran

18/10/2025

Morning all 😀

Wade Gleeson will be on ABC Hobart & Northern Tasmania at 11:30am for an interview recap on last Saturday’s “Perfect Day” 💚💛❤️🏉🏆📻

17/10/2025

“AUCTION GENEROSITY”

AFTER Raising the huge amount of $7,050.00 from the auction on Saturday night, the committee would like to say a huge thank you to the following who donated items to allow us to get to this total!
The generosity shown by these people and also the people that purchased the items is just amazing!
We are just overwhelmed by how the whole event went and it’s now been dubbed -
“THE PERFECT DAY”

Thank you one and all 💚💛💙❤️🏉🏆✅

CELEBRITY MEMORABILIA
Signed Carlton 1987 Premiership Guernsey - David Rhys Jones.
Signed Dusty Martin Playing Guernsey.
Sport & Music Memorabilia - 8 items.

WHITEHAWK Apparel
Gleeson Guernsey.
O’Halloran Guernsey.
Umpires Top.
100 Year Rematch Beanies.

CIRCULAR HEAD FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
Footballs from the Rematch

TASMANIA FOOTBALL CLUB
Merchandise Pack

PENNICOTT WILDERNESS JOURNEYS
Award Winning 3 Hour Wilderness Cruise for two adults.

DAVID FOSTER
Two Cartoon Characters.

WELLS CONTRACTING
Hay Wrap Net.

SMITHTON JEWELLERY
$50.00 Voucher.

SONNY AU
Rematch Canvas.

TYREPOWER SMITHTON
X4 $100.00 vouchers.

THINK WATER
$100 gift voucher to spend in store.

FUEL ON GOLDIE
Car Care Kit.

DEEP BLUE MASSAGE
X4 $50 dollars vouchers.

WENDY SHOEMAKER
Signed 2024 Tas Relive the Rivalry Guernsey.

KANE O’HALLORAN
3 Irishtown Football Club 120 Year Anniversary Jumpers.

OX McCLAREN
Bulls Head Steele Artworks.

BOLT BOY
Welding Helmet.

LUKE HOWARD - CLARKSON SPORTS STORE
Cricket Bat.

GREENHAMS
X3 Scotch Fillet Cube Rolls

Grumpy Goat Co
Goat Soap & Care Package.

17/10/2025

🔸𝟙𝟘𝟘 𝕐𝔼𝔸ℝ 𝔸ℕℕ𝕀𝕍𝔼ℝ𝕊𝔸ℝ𝕐 🔸

AFTER what was a Sensational Day last Saturday at Irishtown, with two families recreating history and for a great cause, today marks the 100 Year Anniversary of the 1925 match played at the Wynyard Recreation Ground.

The Gleeson & O’Halloran families played off in a Great Football Match that would go on to raise £50 for the Devon & Spencer Hospitals.
The scores were -

O’Hallorans 11. 17 (83)
Gleesons 2. 0 (12)

Fast forward 100 hundred years and the results was much the same & not just on the score board. The two families have once again raised money for a good cause! This time for the Children’s Cancer Foundation! A staggering total of over $15,000.00!

Both matches have since been highly praised for what has been a beautiful example of family, community spirt and generosity!

While the committee of today’s match won’t have a bar of any accolades, we as grateful Australians thank them for their outstanding efforts to not only help a great cause, but to also continue a family and community tradition that has stood the test of time for 100 years and is certain to continue for a further 100 more

“Outstanding”
💚💛💙❤️🏉🏆

Below are links of the the huge article written after the 1925 match - enjoy 😊

The Advocate 19 Oct 1925 pg 7
“Pioneer Families Meet at Football –
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66982586?searchTerm=Pioneer%20Families
The Advocate 19 Oct 1925 pg 7
“Two Families
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66982585
The Advocate Mon 19 Oct 1925 pg 7
Complimentary Dinner
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66982595

15/10/2025

A MASSIVE SHOUT OUT TO TWO TALANTED LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHERS 📸

Mengha's back paddock

Kaylah Keogh Photography

We never imagined that the day would be captured in such a beautiful way, you have created memories for another 100 years 🏆

THANKYOU 🥰

HEAD OVER AND FOLLOW THEIR SOCIALS

15/10/2025

DID YOU MISS SATURDAYS MATCH?

Thanks to DUFF TV you can watch the whole match via the below link ⬇️

https://www.youtube.com/live/20_Mm8Fgnac?si=jneouXOQy8BLdvPdY

Thankyou Duff Tv for making the Journey to Irishtown and Capturing the match you guys were amazing 🤩