The Glen Waverley Hawks are a football team, started in 1973. It is based in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne

Melbourne

Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...

, Victoria

Victoria (Australia)

Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....

, Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

 and is part of the Eastern Football League

Eastern Football League (Australia)

The Eastern Football League is an Australian rules football League, based in the eastern suburbs of metropolitan Melbourne....

. It has produced such AFL stars as the brothers Justin and Michael Pickering

Michael Pickering

Michael Pickering is a former Australian rules football player who played in the VFL/AFL between 1984 and 1991 for the Richmond Football Club and then from 1992 until 1993 for the Melbourne Football Club....

. In 2005 a senior club was established.

2005

The Glen Waverley Hawks senior football club was formed and begun in 2005 under the reins of Dean Warren. The club played its first game against Ferntree Gully and unfortunately fell short. However the club bounced back, beating Chirnside Park by 62 points to take out their first ever win. Little did they know this would be their last win until round 17 in 2007. The club would take out the wooden spoon

Wooden spoon (award)

A wooden spoon is a mock or real award, usually given to an individual or team which has come last in a competition, but sometimes also to runners-up. Examples range from the academic to sporting and more frivolous events...

 on percentage finishing equal on points with Chirnside Park, who they lost to by 1 point in round 11.

2006

Possibly the worst year the club had. Bernie Ryan was appointed coach

Coach (sport)

In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...

, with John Tarquinio the new reserves coach. The club started poorly being thrashed in most games. Eight games into the season there was a coaching change with Bernie Ryan resigning and assistant Mark Fitt taking the tough job of leading a team that was struggling big time. Whilst there was some improvement in performances, the Hawks did not win at all that year. Their second consecutive wooden spoon meant that major changes were required in personnel if they were to achieve success next year.

2007

This was a year that had marked improvement by the Hawks, yet they only won one game. They fell desperately short in many a game including a 7 point loss to semi finalists Eastern Lions, and a 6 point loss to Chirnside Park. The Team however broke through at Surrey Park Reserve, defeating the home team by 62 points in round 17. In this match they were dominant and played free flowing football, however it was still evident that they would require some more key players if they were to break away from the bottom of the table and they once again finished last.

2008

Finally some success for the Hawks. They began in fine fashion winning their first five games, including wins over 2007 preliminary finalists, The Basin and runners up Heathmont. They met the turn at 6-3 before finishing 4th at 15 wins, 5 losses. Coach Fitt had achieved leading the club to their first ever senior finals series, playing Eastern Lions and Tomore Reserve in Boronia. The game was a seesawing battle which ended up in a Hawks victory by 12 points, after trailing by a goal early in time on in the last. Two late goals to Matt Carnelly (Division Four Leading Goal Kicker), and Darren Dewar saw the win. This would have them play Heathmont in the preliminary final, however the Hawks were beaten after leading at 3/4 time. Whilst this was disappointing, it was amazing what the club had achieved. Sadly at this time Mark Fitt announced his retirement from coaching due to personal reasons. In 2009 he would be replaced by his assistant Andy Owen, with Grant Rutley replacing Tarquinio after his long stay as reserves coach. The Hawks also achieved their first ever Colts win, over Rowville and won 4 games for the year. Disappointingly for the club there will be no under 18s side in 2009.

2009

The Glen Waverley Hawks had another successful year managing to finish 3rd on the ladder at the end of the season with Matt Carnelly winning the Division 4 goal kicking for the 2nd year running. However injuries hurt the Hawks throughout the year with Hoare, Azzapardi and Sibly all missing significant parts of the season. The Hawks played The Basin in the qualifying final, and after leading by 7 points at half time, fell away to be smashed by more than 10 goals. The 1st semi final against Kilsyth ended in heartbreak as the Hawks lost by 3 points. The season however was again successful when you consider the number of players injured throughout the year. Andy Owen decided mid season that he would no longer continue as coach after the 2009 season and would be replaced by Mick Gaul for season 2010 whilst Adrian Zandt would replace Rutley as the reserves coach.

2010

2010 saw the Glen Waverley Hawks get off to a flying start, but fall to many injuries in the middle of the season. They would again play in the finals after finishing 4th at seasons end. In the Elimination Final they beat Forest Hill by 30 points, and the belief was installed in the playing group. After leading Templestowe at half time of the 1st Semi Final they were blown away to lose by 30 points. The hawks were beaten by the eventual premier and knew if they could get fit players on the park they could have an influence in season 2011

2011

2011 was the Hawks most successful year. They would finish the season 16-2 and take out the minor premiership. They would go on to blow out a depleted Ferntree Gully Eagles in the 2nd Semi Final by 41 points. However in an epic Grand Final against Heathmont the scores were locked at full time. Heathmont would go on to take out the Division 4 Premiership by 7 points in a heart breaking loss for the Glen Waverley Hawks. However with the addition of Park Orchards to the Division 4 competition they would move up to Division 3 in 2012. The day was marred even more by the Colts loss to Park Orchards by 31 points.>

Year	Senior Coach	Reserves Coach	Colts Coach
2005	Dean Warren	Scott Russell
2006	Bernie Ryan/Mark Fitt	John Tarquinio	Scott Russell
2007	Mark Fitt	John Tarquinio
2008	Mark Fitt	John Tarquinio	Luke Marchant
2009	Andy Owen	Grant Rutley
2010	Mick Gaul	Adrian Zandt	Peter Nash
2011	Mick Gaul	Adrian Zandt	Simon Grasser
2012	Mick Gaul		Simon Grasser