Myrtleford Football Club
Encyclopedia
The Myrtleford Football Club, nicknamed the Saints, is an Australian Rules Football
club playing in the Ovens & Murray Football League
(OMFL).
The club is based in the town of Myrtleford
, in north east Victoria
on the Ovens River
.
The club was initiated into the Bright League in 1886, which later became the Myrtleford Bright District Football League. The club joined the OMFL in 1950. Myrtleford's only premiership triumph was against Wangaratta Rovers in 1970. The Saints were runners-up in 2001, 2005 and 2006.
Myrtleford has produced VFL/AFL
players including Len Ablett
, Sam Kekovich
, Steve McKee and Guy Rigoni
.
Other VFL/AFL footballers who have played with Myrtleford include Albert Rodda, Jim Deane
, 1970 premiership coach Martin Cross
, Gary Ablett, Sr. and Ben Beams
.
In 2008 the Myrtleford Saints under 18s merged with the Bright under 18s to become the Alpine Eagles. The Eagles field a side in both the OMFL and the Ovens and King Football League. The Eagles have been relatively successful under coach Michael Quirk, reaching the OMFL grand final in 2010.
In 2009 former Murray Bushrangers player and coach Mark Knobel was appointed coach of Myrtleford, but just before the start of the 2009 season Knobel pulled out for medical reasons. He was succeeded by Matthew Crisp. Myrtleford failed to win a game in the 2009 season.
In 2009 the Myrtleford reserves side coached by Paul Muraca was close to pulling out of the OMFL due to lack of numbers.
The 2010 season saw an overhaul of the board and coaching staff, with Adrian Villella becoming president and former Collingwood
player Stan Magro
appointed senior coach.
Despite the changes, Myrtleford failed to win a senior match in the 2010 season.
Myrtleford broke through for its first win in 62 matches on 2 April 2011 when the Saints defeated Corowa-Rutherglen. Long-suffering supporters crammed into the changerooms and the team song was belted out with gusto after the victory, which Magro described as "bloody good".
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 playing in the Ovens & Murray Football League
Ovens & Murray Football League
The Ovens and Murray Football League, often referred to locally as the O&M, is a semi-professional Australian rules football league based around ten clubs in north-eastern Victoria and the southern Riverina region of New South Wales, and affiliated with the Victorian Country Football League...
(OMFL).
The club is based in the town of Myrtleford
Myrtleford, Victoria
Myrtleford is a town in north-east Victoria, Australia, 45 km south-east of Wangaratta and 275 km north-east of Melbourne. Myrtleford is part of the Alpine Shire local government area and at the 2006 census the town had a population of 3,187....
, in north east 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....
on the Ovens River
Ovens River
The Ovens River is a river in the Australian state of Victoria.Hamilton Hume and William Hovell explored the area in 1824, naming the Ovens River...
.
The club was initiated into the Bright League in 1886, which later became the Myrtleford Bright District Football League. The club joined the OMFL in 1950. Myrtleford's only premiership triumph was against Wangaratta Rovers in 1970. The Saints were runners-up in 2001, 2005 and 2006.
Myrtleford has produced VFL/AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
players including Len Ablett
Len Ablett
Len Ablett was an Australian rules footballer who played with Richmond in the VFL during the early 1940s.Ablett joined Richmond from the Victorian town of Myrtleford...
, Sam Kekovich
Sam Kekovich
Sam Kekovich is an Australian media personality, sports commentator and former Australian rules football player.He is well known for his controversial behaviour, both on and off the field, and most recently for his series of satirical advertisements as the spokesman for Meat and Livestock...
, Steve McKee and Guy Rigoni
Guy Rigoni
Guy Rigoni is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne in the Australian Football League . He began his career in 1998, and played every game that season. In later years he started developing back problems that limited his appearances, but he finally reached his 100th game in...
.
Other VFL/AFL footballers who have played with Myrtleford include Albert Rodda, Jim Deane
Jim Deane
Jim Deane was a former Australian rules footballer who played with Richmond in the VFL and South Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League ....
, 1970 premiership coach Martin Cross
Martin Cross (footballer)
Martin Cross is a former Australian rules footballer in the VFL.Martin Cross joined Carlton in 1961 from North Ballarat, Where he played 96 games in the Ballarat League prior to crossing to Carlton...
, Gary Ablett, Sr. and Ben Beams
Ben Beams
Ben Beams is an Australian rules football player who played for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League between 1999 and 2001 and the Tasmanian Devils Football club in the Victorian Football League from 2002 until 2006.-AFL career:Recruited from Glenorchy, Tasmania he made...
.
In 2008 the Myrtleford Saints under 18s merged with the Bright under 18s to become the Alpine Eagles. The Eagles field a side in both the OMFL and the Ovens and King Football League. The Eagles have been relatively successful under coach Michael Quirk, reaching the OMFL grand final in 2010.
In 2009 former Murray Bushrangers player and coach Mark Knobel was appointed coach of Myrtleford, but just before the start of the 2009 season Knobel pulled out for medical reasons. He was succeeded by Matthew Crisp. Myrtleford failed to win a game in the 2009 season.
In 2009 the Myrtleford reserves side coached by Paul Muraca was close to pulling out of the OMFL due to lack of numbers.
The 2010 season saw an overhaul of the board and coaching staff, with Adrian Villella becoming president and former Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
player Stan Magro
Stan Magro
Stan Magro is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Collingwood Football Club in the VFL. He also played for South Fremantle and East Perth in the WAFL....
appointed senior coach.
Despite the changes, Myrtleford failed to win a senior match in the 2010 season.
Myrtleford broke through for its first win in 62 matches on 2 April 2011 when the Saints defeated Corowa-Rutherglen. Long-suffering supporters crammed into the changerooms and the team song was belted out with gusto after the victory, which Magro described as "bloody good".
Premierships
- Myrtleford Bright District Football League 1895
- Ovens Valley Association 1914
- Myrtleford District Football Association 1923
- Ovens & King Football LeagueOvens & King Football League300px|thumb|right|O&K 2007 Thirds Grand Final between Whorouly and North WangarattaThe Ovens & King Football League is a minor country Australian rules football league based in Northeastern Victoria in the vicinity of Wangaratta and more recently Benalla....
1936, 1945, 1949 - Ovens & Murray Football LeagueOvens & Murray Football LeagueThe Ovens and Murray Football League, often referred to locally as the O&M, is a semi-professional Australian rules football league based around ten clubs in north-eastern Victoria and the southern Riverina region of New South Wales, and affiliated with the Victorian Country Football League...
1970