b'56The Ross Oakley CollectionA key figure in the VFLs transformation into the Australiancompleted a Bachelor of Economics and an MBA, in Football League, Ross Oakley began his association1974 a new challenge beckoned in the form of Wynns with the sport in the late 1950s during his school days atWinegrowers, working as marketing director under ex-Melbournes Wesley College. At that time the dominantVFL umpire Ray King. Whilst at Wynns he organised a team in the Associated Public Schools competition, Wesleysponsorship with the Hawthorn Football Club, and when would win three Premierships in a row during Oakleyshe subsequently left Wynns to go and run AAMI for six time on the team. He was then asked by Collegians,years, he was asked to stay on and join the Hawthorn Wesleys Old Boys team in the A grade amateurs, toboard. He later went on to accept a position as Chairman play for them for the last three weeks of their season,and Managing Director of the Royal Insurance Australian taking part in their Finals, Grand Final and subsequentoperation, remaining for almost four years until his fateful Premiership, in which he kicked four goals. St Kildas thennomination as head of the VFL Commission.coach Allan Jeans was at the game, and he invited OakleyChosen to replace the retiring Jack Hamilton in 1986, to play for the Saints in the following 1962 season. Ross Oakley was deemed to possess the two elements Oakley would kick 38 goals throughout his 62 games withnecessary for success in the role: a demonstrated prior the club, though his career hopes were compromised byinvolvement in football sufficient enough to satisfy the persistent knee injuries. He missed many games due toclubs, together with much experience in management and injury, including the teams 1965 and 1966 Grand Finalfinancial discipline from his time in the corporate world.outings, the latter of which resulted in St Kildas onlyOakley would inherit a parlous state of affairs: by 1985, Premiership to date. Following a further injury at the startattendances had been falling for four straight years, and the of the 1967 season, a disappointed Oakley made theself-interested, partisan state of the VFL clubs, memorably decision to retire from the game at the age of 24. described by Justice Crockett during 1983s Foschini case A twenty-year career in business then followed: havingas an alliance of sworn enemies, evinced a management started at BHP while at St Kilda, he progressed from salesculture in dire need of professionalisation. Looking back, into marketing, and on into corporate planning. HavingOakley would later state, I had run corporations with'