Wikipedia

Eltham Football Club

For the New Zealand association football club, see Eltham AFC.

Eltham Football Club is an Australian rules football club in Eltham, Victoria, currently competing in the Northern Football League.

Eltham Football Club
Names
Full nameEltham Football Club
Nickname(s)The Panthers
2023 season
Leading goalkickerJason McCormick
Best and fairestJesse Donaldson
Club details
Founded1907
Colours  Black and   Red
CompetitionNorthern Football League
CoachTim Bongetti
Captain(s)Darcy Vallance/Dale Sinclair
Ground(s)Eltham Central Park
 Susan Street Oval, Eltham
Other information
Official websiteelthamfc.com.au

History

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The Eltham Football Club began playing social matches at nearby Kangaroo Ground, Diamond Creek and Greensborough from around 1904. Phil McGavin was listed as Secretary in 1904.

In 1907, Police Constable "Ike" Stephens convened a meeting with the idea of providing entertainment for the lads and an outlet for their surplus energy. .

Eltham continued to play social games however World War One saw these stop. After the return of the men in 1918-19, Eltham returned to the football field.

In 1920, the Eltham Football Club joined the Heidelberg District Football League. The team travelled by train to Ivanhoe to play their first game. Home games were played at Eltham Park, now called Eltham Lower Park.

In 1922, Eltham joined other nearby clubs Greensborough, Diamond Creek, Templestowe, Warrandyte, and Kangaroo Ground in establishing the Diamond Valley Football League.

Eltham made their first finals appearance in 1928 and won their first premiership in 1930 by defeating Heidelberg.

In 1930, Eltham Central Park was opened, although this was only used by the footballers for training until 1935, when the club formally moved their home games there and this has been the club's home ever since.

In 1935, Eltham defeated Epping in the Grand Final, but Epping lodged a protest over the eligibility of an Eltham player. A tribunal in Melbourne upheld the protest and ordered a replay. Eltham forfeited the replay and Epping was awarded the premiership.

Eltham left the DVFL to play in VFL Sub Districts League for seasons 1936 & 1937 before returning in 1938.

After five consecutive wooden spoons during the early 1960s, the club went through a golden period of four premierships in six seasons between 1969 and 1974.

Eltham Football Club was relegated to the new DVFL Second Division for Season 1981, but quickly responded with the 1982 premiership and subsequent return to the First Division. This began a trend with Eltham "yo-yoing" between the two divisions – six Second Division premierships and five First Division wooden spoons.

The 2002 Second Division premiership was the Panthers last success. After relegation in 2017 the Panthers went into the season strong favourites and won their first 15 games. On a blustery, raining day the seniors gave up a 3/4 time lead to lose on the siren to Lower Plenty. The reserves, coached by 2017 U/19 Premiership winning coach Tom Snell held on in a tough game to defeat Diamond Creek and only their 5th reserves premiership.

Season 2020 was called off due to the COVID19 Pandemic.

Premierships

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Seniors

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(Division One)

  • 1930 Eltham 7.15.57 defeated Heidelberg 7.8.50 @ Memorial Park, Greensborough
  • 1932 Eltham 13.19.97 defeated Heidelberg 8.10.58 @ Warringal Park, Heidelberg
  • 1949 Eltham 8.8.56 defeated Greensborough 7.6.48 @ Warringal Park, Heidelberg
  • 1953 Eltham 9.16.70 defeated Lakeside Rovers 9.7.61 @ Warringal Park, Heidelberg
  • 1969 Eltham 16.11.107 defeated Diamond Creek 10.12.72 @ Warringal Park, Heidelberg
  • 1970 Eltham 14.13.97 defeated Diamond Creek 12.11.83 @ Epping
  • 1972 Eltham 15.19.109 defeated Reservoir Lakeside 11.11.77 @ Warringal Park, Heidelberg
  • 1974 Eltham 10.9.69 defeated Heidelberg 9.8.62 @ Warringal Park, Heidelberg

(Division Two)

  • 1982 Eltham 15.13.103 defeated Macleod Rosanna 14.8.92 @ Nillimbik Park, Diamond Creek
  • 1989 Eltham 18.11.119 defeated Epping 17.8.110 @ Warringal Park, Heidelberg
  • 1995 Eltham 10.14.74 defeated West Preston 10.10.70 @ Warringal Park, Heidelberg
  • 1997 Eltham 13.9.87 defeated Mernda 7.13.55 @ Warringal Park, Heidelberg
  • 2000 Eltham 12.8.80 defeated Watsonia 8.6.54 @ Shelly St, North Heidelberg
  • 2002 Eltham 12.9.81 defeated Mernda 7.17.59 @ Whittlesea Showgrounds,
  • 2023 Eltham 12.13.85 defeated Diamond Creek 6.8.44 @ Preston City Oval. Preston

Reserves

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(Division One)

  • 1947 Eltham 3.6.24 defeated Diamond Creek 3.5.23 @ Warringal Park, Heidelberg
  • 1971 Eltham 11.11.77 defeated Greensborough 10.8.68 @ Warringal Park, Heidelberg
  • 1974 Eltham 10.13.73 defeated Templestowe 5.5.35 @ Warringal Park, Heidelberg

(Division Two)

  • 2000 Eltham 13.16.94 defeated Macleod 7.12.54 @ Shelley Street Reserve, North Heidelberg
  • 2018 Eltham 7.12.54 defeated Diamond Creek 5.8.38 @ Preston City Oval, Preston
  • 2021 No final series due to Covid Pandemic. Awarded Minor Premiership
  • 2022 Eltham 16.13.109 defeated Diamond Creek 3.8.26 @ Preston City Oval, Preston
  • 2023 Eltham 18.11.118 defeated Thomastown 8.6,42 @ Preston City Oval, Preston

Under 19

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(Division One)

Honourboard

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Year President Coach Captain B & F Goalkicker
2023 Michael Smith Tim Bongetti Darcy Vallance, Jackson Wearherald Jesse Donaldson Jason McCormick
2022 Michael Smith Robert Hyde Darcy Vallance, Jackson Wearherald Ben Montanaro Daniel Owen
2021 Michael Smith Robert Hyde Anton Woods Brent Macaffer Brent Macaffer Michael Still
2020 Michael Smith Robert Hyde Anton Woods Brent Macaffer NA NA
2019 Michael Smith Paul King Anton Woods Brent Macaffer Michael Still
2018 Greg Wilson Paul King Bradyn Taglieri, Josh Merkel Brent Macaffer Brandon Freeman (34)
2017 Greg Wilson Paul King Bradyn Taglieri, Josh Merkel Anton Woods Brandon Freeman (19)
2016 Greg Wilson Mario Bandera Bradyn Taglieri, Josh Merkel Gavan Connelly Josh Merkel (21)
2015 Greg Wilson Mario Bandera Bradyn Taglieri, Josh Merkel Bradyn Taglieri James Kroussoratis (67)
2014 Steve Merkel Mario Bandera Gavan Connelly, Josh Merkel Billy Glasgow James Kroussoratis (53)
2013 Steven McAllister Brett Weatherald Paul Currie Brad Perry James Kroussoratis (29)
2012 Steven McAllister Brett Weatherald Paul Currie Lachlan Richardson Paul Currie
2011 Steven Merkel Craig Hayes Paul Currie Gavan Connelly Chris Burton
2010 Steven Merkel Craig Hayes Paul Currie Gavan Connelly Paul Currie
2009 Steven Merkel Craig Hayes Lachlan Richardson Gavan Connelly Paul Currie
2008 Steven Williamson Phil Maylin Lachlan Richardson Chris Varsamakis Nick Sandy
2007 Steven Williamson Phil Maylin Lachlan Richardson Jai Audley Mark Minney
2006 Dean Philpots Phil Maylin Lachlan Richardson Mark Minney Ryan Bongetti
2005 Dean Philpots Phil Maylin Lachlan Richardson Adam Contessa Ashley Dickson
2004 Dean Philpots Phil Maylin Lachlan Richardson Adam Contessa Marcus Pappa
2003 Dean Philpots Phil Maylin Lachlan Richardson Mark Minney Gavan Neville

Chris Moyle

2002 Dean Philpots Wayne Freeman Lachlan Richardson

Craig McKay

Lachlan Richardson Luke Kennell
2001 Geoff Waddell Grant Turnbull Dean Philpots Mark Minney Jimmy Stirton
2000 Geoff Waddell Garry Jessop Lucas Paul

Mark Minney

Lachlan Richardson Lucas Paul
1999 Neil Halfpenny Garry Jessop David Brown Mark Minney Mark Minney

John Garrard

1998 Colin Wilson Michael Jones

Ray Spratt

David Brown Lucas Paul Mark Minney
1997 Colin Wilson Ray Spratt Paul Smith Garry Ramsay Greg Wilson

Other highlights:

  • Most no. 'A' Grade games at Eltham Football Club Harry Barrett (dec.) (263)
  • Most no. Open Age games at Eltham Football Club David Brown 308
  • Most no. 'A' Grade games as a player/umpire Eddie Mapperson (843).
  • Winner of VFL / AFL Brownlow Medal Peter Moore 1979, 1984

AFL / VFL footballers from Eltham Football Club

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