History

Established in 1972, the South Belgrave Junior Football Club (SBJFC) is a growing junior football club that play in the Eastern Football League (EFL) which is the largest Aussie Rules football league in Australia.

The SBJFC home ground is at Narre Warren East Reserve on Berwick Road (near Cnr Wellington Rd).

A brief history and highlights of SBJFC dating back to 1972......

If any person has anything to add to this brief history of the SBJFC please contact the SBJFC committee here as we would love to add to our story.

2019 - Was a huge success for both our girls’ and boys’ teams. Two of our teams won the premiership (U14 Premier Girls who went all season undefeated & U12C Boys by a thrilling 1-point victory). In addition to two premierships, of our competitive age groups, our U16 Premier Girls made finals as did U11D made finals.

2018 - All competitive teams make it to preliminary finals. Two teams win Premierships!

Premiers U14 Girls Premier Divsion
Premiers U11 Boys Division D

2017 - Introduction of Girls team as part of the Eastern Ranges Football League

Premiers U12 Girls South
U9 Boys Lightning Premiership winners

2015 - SBJFC transfer from the Dandenong Rangers Junior Football League (DRJFL) to the Eastern Football League (EFL) and field 7 teams including under 8s, 9s, 11s, 13s, 14s, 15s & 17s.

Premiers EFL division B - under 15s

2014

DRJFL Best conducted club.
DRJFL Premiers - under 14s

2013

DRJFL Premiers - under 13s
Runners-up - under 14s

2012

DRJFL Premiers - under 12s

2011

DRJFL Premiers - under 11s

2010

Runners-up - under 15s

1997

DRJFL Best conducted club.
DRJFL Lightening premiers - under 10s

1996

DRJFL Lightening premiers - under 12s

1995

DRJFL Lightening premiers - under 12s

1989

DRJFL Lightening premiers - under 11s

1980 - The catch cry loud and clear "there's no place like home" and at last South returned to home soil. The rooms were refurbished and coach's boxes built. Both Committees were prepared to get things moving. This year the juniors age was raised to under 18s and our boys were coached by Ken Hickey. The ground was still far from satisfactory and problems with the hot water and lack of social amenities are on that list to fix. The junior section reported a shortage of under 15s players at the beginning of the season and added an under 9 side to their already strong numbers. Over 120 boys played footy this season.

1979 - The Junior club again under the leadership of Bill Cormack, reported that 80 boys represented the club in the competition in the under 11s, 13s and 15s.

1978 - The Shire decided to upgrade and realign the South Belgrave oval and our home ground was to be the Narre Warren East oval. There were no clubrooms at the oval nor much-needed showers and players changed at the Narre East (Muddy Creek) Hall across the busy Harkaway Road. It was not long before this ground became unplayable and also without showers at the hall, the Club moved on to the Narre Hallam ground on the Princes Highway. This season saw, for the first time, the election of a separate committee to administer the Junior teams who continued to play in the DRJFL. Bill Cormack became the first chairman of the juniors. Initially, the under 13s and under 15s were to play but owing to so many enthusiastic younger boys an under 11s team was formed but it was too late to take part in the competition and they played practice matches against the bye teams. Russell Wishart took charge of the under 15s and Bob Holmes the under 13s. All told 76 boys participated in the season.

1977 - The under 15s played on Sundays in the DRJFL competition and Richard Hobbs was coach. An under 13 side was also introduced this year under the watchful eyes of Bob Holmes, assisted by Bill Cormack and Dick Pendlebury. The number of younger children coming into the district was becoming obvious.

1976 - Although the reserves only won two games, there was continued improvement throughout the season, particually from the younger brigade. Reg Parker Jnr was in everything and even stripped for two games during the year... The under 15s played intheir first finals appearance since their formation. Ken Gray Jnr, captian of the side, put in a brilliant performance, claiming the League Best and fairest Award and also featured in our under 17 Premiership side, the second year in a row that a South player has completed this feat. Rod Lovell was vice captain and David Murphy deputy.

1975 - Terry Ronald gained the under 15s respect and confidence. Under 17s Best and fairest - John Colby, Runner-up - Paul Hester, Most Determined - Bruce Willett, Most Improved - Adrian Parsons, Best Utility - Ross Colby, Under 15s Best and Fairest - Mark Thomas

1974 - The under 15s team continued in 1974. In regard to South Belgrave Reserve it was suggested that contact be made with Council "for action on the ground."

1973 - In 1973 season with Ian Quast taking charge of the under 17s. An under 15s side was also fielded. Don Squires was appointed non playing. The scoreboard was donated by Edelston's Hardware and goal posts would be supplied by Council. Although not confirmed, there were some interesting situations that occured around this period that should be noted. South Belgrave Football Club were consummate hosts as when visiting teams needed to change at the end of the game they had the luxury of hot water - the visitors rooms was at this time was the old Scout Hall and it contained a bath which was filled with cold water. A fire would be lit under the bath until the temperature rose enough to bath all 20 players one after another! One can only wonder about this smoky environment. Another story tells us that the cold showers in the home clubswhiz-bang brick building gave many a player quite a shock - not from the cold water though, but rather from some electric current that must have earthed out on the tap fittings.

1972 - Training would commence on Thursday 20 February 1972 at Narre Warren East again. A letter in regard to our home ground was to be sent to the Grounds committee and the Sherbrooke Shire. Early in February, the committee drafted a constitution and at an extraordinary meeting called for the purpose, 20 members being present, made many amendments, the final document being adopted. (with the number of items on the agenda, discussion probably going well into the night) Don Squires was appointed Chairman of Selectors. Bottles of beer were to be sold at 50c each on training nights and 60c after the game and moves were made to form a separate Social Committee with advertising for members. In February/ March in 1972 the senior club in the area supported the idea of forming a junior competition and thus the Junior League was born. Up until this time clubs consisted of up to two senior grades and an under 16 grade. Our club would enter an under 13 side in the competition with the assistance from B. Cordell, N. Oram, T Doggett and A. McCann using the South Belgrave Primary School jumpers for the time being with a donation to the school of $10. We would continue to field the under 17s.

NOTE: 1972 to 1980 extracted from South Belgrave Football Club History

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