Moorabbin Football Club
Encyclopedia
Moorabbin Football Club, nicknamed the The Kangaroos, was an Australian rules football
club which played in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) from 1951 to 1963 and then from 1983 to 1987. They played home matches at Moorabbin Oval
and wore royal blue and white hooped jerseys.
Moorabbin played initially in the Federal Football League, making their debut in 1909 and competing until 1950. During this time the club won 12 premierships, including four in a row from 1945 until 1948.
They entered the VFA in 1951 and were at that time based in Cheltenham
as Moorabbin Oval was not yet developed. The Kangaroos made the 1954 and 1955 finals series without success but in 1957 they helped eliminate premiership favourite Williamstown after defeating them by two points in the Semi Final. Moorabbin, who were coached by Bill Faul
, took on Port Melbourne in the Grand Final, whom they had not once beaten since joining the league. In another upset, Moorabbin won comfortably to claim their maiden VFA premiership.
In 1958, Moorabbin reached the Grand Final once more, but were forced to return the following weekend after drawing with Williamstown. The replay was won by Williamstown
, the first and to date only instance of a Grand Final Replay
in the VFA.
The club were minor premiers in 1962 and made the Grand Final, only to lose in remarkable fashion to Sandringham. Despite trailing by 44 points at three quarter time, Sandringham put on an eight goal final quarter to win by a single point. It didn't take long though for Moorabbin to get their revenge, doing so by beating Sandringham twice in their finals campaign the following season, most importantly a 64 point win in the Grand Final. It was a fine way to end what had been a difficult year as Moorabbin had a new coach, Graham Dunscombe
, appointed mid-season.
After the 1963 premiership, Moorabbin sold their home ground to the St Kilda Football Club which put them in a dispute with the VFA. As a result, the Moorabbin committee voted to end their affiliation with the league.
They did return briefly in the 1980s, as a second division team, but during their fifth season were suspended by the VFA after they forfeited three successive matches owing to an internal disagreement.
J. J. Liston Trophy winners (1)
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
club which played in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) from 1951 to 1963 and then from 1983 to 1987. They played home matches at Moorabbin Oval
Moorabbin Oval
Moorabbin Oval, also known by its sponsorship name of Linen House Oval, is an Australian Rules Football ground in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia at Linton Street in the suburb of Moorabbin....
and wore royal blue and white hooped jerseys.
History
They entered the VFA in 1951 and were at that time based in Cheltenham
Cheltenham, Victoria
Cheltenham is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located 19 km south-east of Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Kingston to the eastern side of the area's metropolitan railway line and Charman Road north, while the City of Bayside resides over...
as Moorabbin Oval was not yet developed. The Kangaroos made the 1954 and 1955 finals series without success but in 1957 they helped eliminate premiership favourite Williamstown after defeating them by two points in the Semi Final. Moorabbin, who were coached by Bill Faul
Bill Faul
Bill Faul was an Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League ....
, took on Port Melbourne in the Grand Final, whom they had not once beaten since joining the league. In another upset, Moorabbin won comfortably to claim their maiden VFA premiership.
In 1958, Moorabbin reached the Grand Final once more, but were forced to return the following weekend after drawing with Williamstown. The replay was won by Williamstown
Williamstown Football Club
The Williamstown Football Club, nicknamed The Seagulls, is an Australian rules football club based in Melbourne and are currently playing in the Victorian Football League...
, the first and to date only instance of a Grand Final Replay
Grand Final Replay
A Grand Final Replay is a method of deciding the winner of a competition when a Grand Final is drawn. It is commonly used in football codes, particularly in Australian rules football, and most notably in the Australian Football League, where it has been used three times, most recently in...
in the VFA.
The club were minor premiers in 1962 and made the Grand Final, only to lose in remarkable fashion to Sandringham. Despite trailing by 44 points at three quarter time, Sandringham put on an eight goal final quarter to win by a single point. It didn't take long though for Moorabbin to get their revenge, doing so by beating Sandringham twice in their finals campaign the following season, most importantly a 64 point win in the Grand Final. It was a fine way to end what had been a difficult year as Moorabbin had a new coach, Graham Dunscombe
Graham Dunscombe
Graham Dunscombe was an Australian rules footballer who played for North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League ....
, appointed mid-season.
After the 1963 premiership, Moorabbin sold their home ground to the St Kilda Football Club which put them in a dispute with the VFA. As a result, the Moorabbin committee voted to end their affiliation with the league.
They did return briefly in the 1980s, as a second division team, but during their fifth season were suspended by the VFA after they forfeited three successive matches owing to an internal disagreement.
Honours
VFA Premierships (2)- 1957, 1963
J. J. Liston Trophy winners (1)
- Les Moroney (1955)