History
History of the Emerald Football Club
This is an abbreviated version of the extensive Club History that Pat Caddaye has put together and is available in the Clubrooms. Many thansk to Pat and those that have contributed to this valuable document. We hope to put more of the history on the website shortly.
Introduction and Early Years
1930's by Ern Dunham
1967~1980 by Leon "COOGEE" Michalski
History M.D.F.A.-Y.V.M.D.F.L.
Introduction and Early Years
The Emerald Football Club was one of the earlier clubs in the Mountain District Football Association, as it was named, when first formed in 1905, and then later in 1967 when it became known as the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League.
During its long and colourful history it has produced many outstanding players and administrators who began, and maintained, great standards and traditions.
The success of Emerald in the M.D.F.A. has been Premierships in 1931, 1945, 1946, 1955 and 1956 when it was only First Division.
In 1966-67 the M.D.F.A. amalgamated as the Y.V.M.D.F.L. and became known as the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football Association.
From the early seventies football in the hills was made up of two Divisions - First and Second - with Emerald in Second Division until 1980 when they won the Flag and were promoted to First Division in 1982. We were relegated after the 1982 season, but came back in 1983 and won the Flag again. We were relegated again but won the flag in 1997 only to be relegated at the end of 1999 and we have been in second division since.
At Emerald the recruiting of players for our junior and senior sides is most important, particularly the junior sides, as these players are the hope for the future.
One of the great strengths of the Club has been the calibre of players and committee persons from the early twenties up until the present. The Club is renowned for the strength of its administration and never say die spirit of players and supporters alike.
Everyone who has been, and is, connected with Emerald have wonderful memories of their time at the Club. For all these years Emerald has faithfully served its many devoted supporters, and even though a true blue Emerald supporter might be critical on occasion, he or she would not stand by and hear it denigrated in any way.
Why has the Emerald Football Club been one of the most respected in, firstly, the Mountain District Football Association and then the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League as it is now?
Why does it attract so many men and women who are prepared to commit many years of service to such a great Club, it is Club spirit and tradition?
This Club spirit and tradition just do not happen. They are born on the formation of the Club, and all present members and supporters should be very proud of its foundation President and Committee who laid these foundations so many years ago.
This was undoubtedly was achieved from hard work, commanding respect, good behaviour, and total commitment, thus creating a Football Club that is held in high esteem.
It is up to our current members and supporters to see that this legacy continues in the future.
Emerald's tradition is striving to win, refusing to accept defeat, being of good conduct on, and off, the field.
Another important part of our tradition is our Club colours. Initially our colours were blue and white, followed by green and gold, until what we have today, red and black.
In the mid twenties we were nick named the "EMITES,." the thirties the "REDLEGS." and later the "BOMBERS."
All those who have been connected with our Club over the years have been proud participants. proud of the tradition, spirit and successes, downhearted with its failures, but ready with a helping hand at all times.
The above is what has been our strength and preservation over the years.
THE PLAYING YEARS 1920-1926
Pre 1920 The first game in the hills was played-in 1895 when Ferntree Gully defeated Monbulk.
A small Association was formed in 1905 and the teams were Cockatoo, Emerald, Gembrook, Macclesfield, Monbulk and Woori Yallock.
Knickers were worn 3" - 4" below the knee as anything shorter would have been considered indelicate.
In 1911 Belgrave were Premiers, and in 1914 Monbulk.
Matches were then abandoned as players enlisted for WWI. Play resumed in 1919, but a dispute caused games to be cancelled in 1920.
Quite a number of games were only ever played in paddocks, not on properly constructed ovals, and because of the lack of transport players walked to neighbouring grounds for the match. At the same time this was a means of training, kicking and passing the ball to one another en route to the respective grounds.
There was no insurance for players if injured, and they had to finance all their own football gear.
Our colours in the early days were blue and white.
1921-1926
1921 Monbulk won the flag, followed by Ferntree Gully, Belgrave, Ferny Creek, Emerald and Gembrook played in the M.D.F.A.
Captains were: 1923 McCormack; 1924 Carl Nobelius; and 1925 N. Holmes.
1925 Emerald were in the Scoresby District Football League and on one occasion Kilsyth did not arrive for a game until 3.30p.m. because of the bad roads and the last quarter was played in moonlight. Emerald won 7-4 to 5.3.
Emerald's colours in this League were green and gold.
During these years Emerald had the nickname 'IT-HE EMITES."
A game of football in those days was quite an event. The ladies brought picnic hampers and everyone enjoyed a social cup of tea at half time. This was particularly enjoyed by the players.
On the 10th April, 1926 Emerald withdrew from the S.D.F.L. and players were allowed to join any other Club, not requiring clearances from Emerald.
1930's by Ern Dunham
These are some of the great names that come to mind who played for Emerald at the same time I did.
Les Coates, Keith Harvey, Bruce Young, Leo Charman, Bob O'Neill, George Baird, Bert Carson, Cedric Barron, Herb. Sherriff, George and Clyde Stapleton, Harry Paternoster, Jim Dickenson,
Tom, Frank, Clem and Jim (Podge) Worrell, Bill Pavey, Lance (Dodger) McKellar, Ray Fyffe, Charlie Fellows and Alex Forster.
Then we had Jack Hirst. I knew Jack as a Secretary and Coach. In fact, you could say, "The Emerald Football Club." He never said much on the field but he encouraged his players, he did not abuse them.
There was also Clyde Stapleton, played centre half back, but he could only ever turn one way and that prevented him from becoming a champion in League football. He was a left foot kick and only ever turned to the left. He had a beautiful pair of hands for marking a ball.
At one time we had Ivan McAlpine (ex Footscray and Hawthorn) as Coach who was a Primary School teacher at Menzies Creek. He coached and trained Emerald on a Tuesday and trained with Footscray on a Thursday. Our colours were green and gold at the time. Later they would become red and black because when we were in the Dandenong League Clayton had green and gold.
To give you an idea of the strength of our teams, coming to the end of the home and home games we were playing Olinda at home, when they had only one scoring shot for the match.
Upon leaving Emerald I coached the East Brunswick Methodists for a time after the war. I came back in 1954 and played in the "Old Players v the New Players" match.
One of the best footballers to ever come out of the M.D.F.A., and should have played League Firsts, was Clem Worrell, but he just never had the right temperament. That fella could kick a ball as far as, and as straight as, any man I have ever seen, torpedo punts. It was nothing for him to kick goals from fifty yards out - beautiful kicks.
Clem's father was a fantastic supporter of Emerald. He used to put the scores up on the board around the 1931-1933 period when Clem was dominating. It was nothing for him to kick six, seven, eight, ten or twelve goals a match.
Clem's Dad used to always tell the story about when he played for Tungamah. He said "there were seventeen O'Briens playing and only one Worrell, but that one Worrell was better than the seventeen O'Briens.
Another highlight of my life at this time was witnessing the Worrell women. Whichever way Emerald were kicking the women were there brandishing umbrellas and not hesitating to attack the players if things weren't going their way.
I met up with Jack Hirst after fifty years when he presented me with the Most Determined Medallion for 1935 that I had won. He had been carrying it around for the last fifty years.
One of the greatest things that ever happened to the town of Emerald was acquiring the Emerald Sports Ground from Jock Nobelius, the father of Arch, Cliff and Jock. This was directly after the first World War.
I remember what it was like up here when we came to live at Menzies Creek in 1920, it was all bush and tracks.
Around the same time there was a family of Huntington's, eleven boys and one girl.
The boys mainly played cricket, but I think one or two of the boys may have played football.
Frank Huntington was a friend of mine and his son, Ian, played for Victoria, and prior to that he played for Melbourne.
I doubt if there was any football competition here before the first World War, because in the early days I can only ever remember playing teams from opposition State Schools, such as Menzies Creek and Monbulk.
1967~1980 by LEON "COOGEE" MICHALSKI
My first memories of Emerald Football Club were in the early '60s as a boy watching the football from up in the cyprus hedge around the ground eating my 1/- worth of chips and wishing that some day I would wear the "Red and Black" like my heroes of those days, the Haag Brothers, the Mulcahys, Ken Ferris and David Sharp, just to name a few.
In 1967 my wish came true, playing my first game that year in the Under 16s, the following year making the Finals, only to go down to Healesville by three points in the Preliminary Final.
In 1969 the League changed the age rule and this gave me another year in the Juniors.
The next step in 1970 was Senior football, and playing a few games in the Firsts was a great thrill.
In 1971 after joining the R.A.A.F. this meant I could not train so I played in the Reserves for the next six years of my career, having to come from Laverton, Wagga Wagga or East Sale every week-end to play, such was my love of the Emerald Football Club.
After my discharge I still played Reserves as six years of Air Force (and drink) saw my weight soar. Season 1978 wasn't a bad year for the Club with three teams being Runners Up. Geoff "Digger" Dolan won the Senior League Goalkicking and Runner Up Best and Fairest. Mark Morris won the League Reserves Best and Fairest. "Yours Truly" won the League Reserve Goalkicking. After serving on the Committee since 1975 I took on the role of President. It was a testing time as I played as well. 1980, my last playing year, I played a handful of games and passed the two hundred (200) game milestone.
In 1981, under Coach Terry Geddes, we won the Flag and I, together with many supporters, players and committee celebrated for an entire week.
After returning to Second Division in 1982, again under Coach Terry Geddes, we won the Flag in 1983. The Reserves also won the Flag under Coach, John "Wooduck" Vanderplight.
In 1984 I received the greatest honour - a Life Membership. This has pride of place on my wall at home.
1986, due to circumstances, I took over as President again just before the season started. At the season's end I retired from the Committee until 1992, helping out for another year.
From all the years some funny incidents come to mind, such as some of the excuses for not attending training.
The best would have to be Mick Wyzenbeck who couldn't attend training because his mate Ollie was bitten by a bull ant (we later found out that Ollie was allergic).
Another was Bruce Matson who said he couldn't attend because he ran over a cyclist on the way to training.
Another was Bobby Young who would read the "Age" before the game at half time. Robert Black would eat a pie just before the game.
Also the time we were getting changed at Fairpark. The skies were grey overhead when Max Thomas, Captain-Coach of the Reserves came up with a gem stating "it was raining in Ballarat". Not very relevant to us., but it got a laugh, even though Max was serious.
Another funny incident involved Steven Holmes. After receiving a free kick in front of goal he was lining up to kick when one of the opposition players called out "chewy on your boot" and with that Steven stopped and checked his boot, which was clear of chewy.
In the Seventies the Club was in Second Division by choice, but we probably had more support than any other club in the Competition, including First Division.
It took a lot of hard work by many volunteers who took on Committee positions for no remuneration and got the Club back into First Division.
I would like to finish this article by suggesting that if anyone feels they have something to offer the Club, or has fresh ideas, please do not hesitate to make your services available, because I am sure you will be welcomed with open arms.
As so much has to be achieved by the same few each year the more hands, the lighter the load on everyone. You will have good times and lean times but, above all, you will have happy times and fond memories like I did.
HISTORY M.D.F.A.-Y.V.M.D.F.L.
Discussions took place in January 1953 about possible amalgamation of the Mountain District Football Association and the Dandenong District Football Association, but to no avail.
However, in July 1953 further discussions took place about a proposed merger between the M.D.F.A. and the Y.V.F.L. but on the 15th September three Clubs in the M.D.F.A. rejected the idea. Upper Ferntree Gully, South Belgrave and Upwey-Tecoma.
The Yarra Valley President at the time, George Sutherland, was extremely disappointed because he could see both bodies being swallowed up by the Eastern Districts Football League.
South Belgrave and Upwey-Tecoma's objection was the extra travelling and Upper Ferntree Gully claimed they had the most to lose because with "under cover football" only thirty minutes away at the Melbourne Cricket Ground they would lose more support, plus they would lose their coach.
In February 1966 the M.D.F.A.-Y.V.F.L. deal was on again and Clubs were asked for their opinion on the proposed conditions.
· All Y-V. Clubs must have an Under 16 team and the games to be played as curtain-raisers to the Firsts.
· When playing Marysville M.D.F.A. Clubs will have the right to ask that the game be played at a nearer ground.
· The Y.V.F.L. join with the M.D.F.A.
· The absorption be for a two year trial period.
· The M.D.F.A. remain affiliated with the V.F.U.
· The Y.V.F.L. have equal representation on the M.D.F.A. Administration,
· The M.D.F.A. Clubs agree to the absorption by a six out of seven majority,
On the 2nd March the M.D.F.A-Y.V.F.L. merged for a trial period of two years with twelve Clubs competing namely, Belgrave, Emerald, Gembrook, Healesville, Marysville, Millgrove, Monbulk, South Belgrave, Upwey-Tecoma, Warburton, Woori Yallock and Yarra Junction. They would field "A" Grade "B" Grade (now known as "Reserves") and Under 16.
Affiliation fees would be $6.00 adults and children 20c.
As at 20th December 1967 the M.D.F.A.~Y.V.F.L. amalgamated under the name of the Y.V.M.D.F.L. - Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League and the new competition elected the Officials.