Hello and welcome to the 2021 season at The Mount Lofty District Football Club. The committee of the MLDFC would like to welcome all players, families, volunteers, sponsors and supporters to the 2021 season.
We have been planning for the upcoming season behind the scenes since November of last year, and I thank all those involved in those meetings for their efforts to date to ensure that the 2021 season is a success. I would like to acknowledge the great work done from the outgoing committee members who chose not to sit again. I am sure we will continue to see their faces around the club. I personally look forward to the upcoming season and all the challenges and rewards that it will bring.
Setting up a Junior Committee: an area we identified as being under represented within the management structure of the football club was in the Junior and Modified age groups. I am excited to announce that this year under the leadership of Gill, Chris and Holly, we have managed to get some great volunteers onto this committee. I will make an announcement of committee members in a separate letter.
‘One Club All In’ continues as our motto. As like last year, the help and support of all involved within the club is essential to keep this great club afloat. To enable the club to progress financially we need as many volunteers as possible who are willing to fill the ever increasing roles and responsibilities that have to be done.
I thank all of you who stepped into roles last season and look forward to even more people putting their hands up to help out this very proud club.
The committee will be working hard to get Thursday night teas up and running again. Thanks to the amazing help from all who chipped in last year to run this. Many players and parents got to come back to the club to enjoy the social side of the club and for me that was great to see and be a part of. The start date for this will be confirmed in the near future.
Meals will continue to be served at the club on Saturday nights throughout the season. We encourage as many of you that are able to make this a go to place for a meal and a relaxing drink. Our intention is to have all presentations roll through the club rooms from the juniors up to the seniors. Once again there will be an early start to encourage families to stay and enjoy a meal at a reasonable price to help support the club. The club will ensure there will be family deals available to encourage participation.
To run this service we are looking for volunteers to help as required. The kitchen is a fun place to be. You will meet new people and have some laughs, all in the knowledge that you are helping your club to thrive and foster community spirit.
The first official function is for the Season Launch on Sunday February 14th at Arkaba Oval Heathfield from 10am until 12noon. As this is lunch time, we extend an invite to you and your family to have lunch with us. We will have a simple BBQ running throughout the event. The bar will be open so you can enjoy a drink with new and old friends. It will be an expectation that ALL coaches and ALL players attend. The Committee will be present to answer any questions in relation to the club and how it works. Merchandise will be sold on the day or orders taken if needed. We will also have someone on hand to answer any questions you may have about registration.
On behalf of everyone involved at the club, we welcome you all, whether that be as either a new or returning Mt Lofty Devil. Deciding to be involved at Mt Lofty Football Club will be a decision you will not regret and we appreciate you choosing to be a part of our football community.
Crafers, April 6.-At a meeting in Mr. J.W. Harris’ Crafers Hotel on Tuesday evening a local football club was formed, with 25 members. Central grounds have been secured by Mr. Harris, and he has also presented the club with their first match ball. The colors are to be black, gold trimmings with black hose. The officials elected were:-Patron, Mr. F. J. Atkinson; president, Mr. John Howard; vice-presidents, the Rev. L T. Maund, Messrs . S. J. Jacobs. W. D.Wade, Phil Byrne, A. Stephen, Geo. Hall. A. Waterhouse, T. Burrows, H. T. Smith, A. W. Ware, J. Farrant, A. E. and F. Tolley, G. Castle, A. E. Knott, W. MacGregor. C. H. Terrors. J. Briant. J. Lord, J. J. Briant, W. Ralph, and Alf. Francis; general committee, Messrs. J. Briant, F. Freeman, F. Colby, W. D. Wade, B. Atkinson, L. Lampe, and C. Castle: auditors. Messrs. F. Howard and F. Freeman; treasurer. Mr. John Harris; secretary, Mr. Ern. T. Brown. Donations were received by Messrs. J. Farrant and T. Burrows. The season will start on April 16. when Crafers plays Stirling Seconds.
Past Players present at 2019 Reunion Grand Finalist – 1969 Stirling A Grade Premiers – 1969 Stirling Senior Colts, 1969 HAU Junior Colts, 1989 Mt Lofty B Grade, 1999 Mt Lofty Junior Colts. Left to Right: Paul McLoughlin, Robert Healey, Adam Penny, Owen Bevan, ?, ?, Carl Dorsch, Matt Stapleton (partly obscured), John Stoddard, ?, Tali Strauss, Michael Clarke, Brian Ross, Bob Leach, Chris Chardon, Malcolm “Fuji” Foale, Rob Bonython, Andy Fletcher, David Evans, Vin Pistola, Ross Healey, Ray Daley, Doug Sanders, Richard Henderson.
We welcome everybody to the Mt Lofty District Football Club’s Annual Reunion Day on Saturday 25 May 2019
Every home match is special, but reunion day gives everybody
an opportunity to watch our many developing teams, where wins or incidents
could become part of future club legend, while reliving stories of the past
which have become legendary with the passing of time.
We are very pleased and proud, to welcome past players,
officials, members, sponsors and supporters today, where we recognise the
people and the achievements of Mt Lofty and its heritage clubs. Each year we
try to bring together the people who contributed so much in previous decades,
while recognising young players with the presentation, by past players, of a
special medal struck for the day, to be awarded to a player in each of the
colts grades.
2019 is especially significant as we celebrate the 40th
anniversary of Mt Lofty entering into football competition for the first time,
following the club’s formation as a result of the amalgamation of 2 iconic
hills clubs in Heathfield Aldgate United and Stirling. This very bold initiative saw hill’s players
provided with an opportunity to compete at a higher level in the newly and at
the time, innovative football competition, the South Australian Football
Association (SAFA).
The look of the game has certainly changed over the decades,
but the passion of hills football was there at the 1929 Stirling Premiership (6th
in a row and 8th won in the 1920’s), the 1939 Crafers Premiership (Britain
and France declared war on Germany the next day) and has been so strong throughout
the passing decades:
1969 Stirling A Grade Grand Finalists
1969 Heathfield Aldgate United Junior Colts
Premiers
1969 Stirling Senior Colts Premiers
1989 Mt Lofty B Grade Premiers
1999 Mt Lofty Senior Colts Premiers
We would like to especially welcome the Coach of the 1969 HAU Junior Colt’s side, Andy Fletcher. Andy, who now lives in Cairns, has gone to great lengths, while managing a serious health condition, to attend the last 3 reunions. Now a successful author, he achieved much success as a Junior Coach of United and as an important member of the 1967 and 1968 Heathfield Aldgate United A Grade Premierships.
Heritage Clubs shared the spoils in 1969. Malcolm Foale (left) played in the HAU Junior Colts premiership, Rob Bonython (centre) was a member of the Stirling A Grade Grand Final team and Rex Robinson (right) played in the Stirling Senior Colts premiership. Photo courtesy Mt Barker Courier. Bruce Dawes (left) played in the 1989 Mt Lofty B Grade Premiership side and Matt Stapleton (right) in the 1998 Mt Lofty Junior Colts Premiership. Club loyalty saw them become Premiership team mates in the 2006 Mt Lofty A Grade Premiership. Big changes in 40 Years – Inaugural Mt Lofty A Grade Captain John Coventry reminiscing with current Men’s A Grade Captain Sam Miles and Elsie Dawes, a member of the Div 1 Womens leadership group. Photo courtesy Mt Barker Courier.
Mt Lofty Begins
Competition in 1979
Mt Lofty was formed in 1978 when the members of neighbouring
rivals, Heathfield Aldgate United and Stirling Football Club’s almost
unanimously voted to merge to compete in the newly formed South Australian
Football Association. SAFA, as it was commonly known, was created in the mould
of the then Victorian Football Association which played on Sunday’s with games
being telecast in the day’s when the VFL and Television stations did not fully
appreciate the huge appeal of Australian Football and the financial gains to be
made by much more flexible programming.
Meetings of the two heritage clubs took place separately and
simultaneously in 1978, with detailed proposals presented by the 4 members of a
subcommittee with Frank Clements and Richard Symons representing Heathfield
Aldgate United and Royl Chardon and Allan Miller representing Stirling.
In the 33 seasons which followed the end of World War II
until the amalgamation, Heathfield Aldgate United and Stirling had competed in
a combined 25 Grand Finals. Both clubs won a combined 18 Premierships in that
time, with Stirling winning 9 and Heathfield Aldgate United winning 9 in its 13
years in the Hills competitiion.
The incredible work and dedication of officials, players,
members and supporters saw Mt Lofty compete in A and B Grade Grand Finals in
their first year in the SAFA competition, win the Senior Colts Premiership in
the second year and go on to win the A Grade Premiership in just the third year
of competition. In 1986 Mt Lofty left SAFA to join the Hills Football League,
winning the A Grade Premiership in that year.
Incredible change has taken place over Mt Lofty’s 40 years,
to the point where the club now fields over 500 players in 21 teams and 60
children participate in the Auskick program. The club introduced it’s first
women’s side in 2016 and now has 2 senior women’s teams and 2 junior girl’s
teams.
Much fascinating detail of the inaugural year of competition
is on display in the club and we are very grateful to Margaret Clements for
making her excellent scrap book available for copying.
Among the detail is the Courier article below which was presented prior to Mt Lofty’s first match. As shown, inaugural Club Captain was John Coventry who was one of the most outstanding players in the Adelaide Hills. Unfortunately, while largely uninjured throughout his decorated career, John suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in Mt Lofty A Grade’s first ever match. Vice Captain, and former Stirling Champion, Harvey Dawes, who was John’s brother in law, then lead the club for the remainder of the season.
Heritage Clubs
Rivalry in 1969
1969 saw heritage clubs, Heathfield Aldgate United and
Stirling Football Clubs, both feature in the HFL final’s series. The rivalry
between the two clubs was fierce and legendary and the thought of amalgamation
10 years later would have been unimaginable at the time.
In that year, Stirling A Grade actually defeated Heathfield
Aldgate United in the 1st semi final on their way to playing Mt
Barker in the Grand Final. Amazingly, this was the only year in which United
did not compete in the Grand Final in its 12 seasons competing in the HFL.
Mt Barker had been dominant throughout 1969 and while coach
Royl Chardon had marshalled many Stirling teams to Premierships over the years,
Mounts form continued in the Grand Final. Most of the damage was done in the
first quarter with Mt Barker getting off to a great start to lead by 35 points
at quarter time, making full use of the dry ball on what was a very wet day.
Stirling restricted their opponents in the remainder of the match with the winning
margin increasing by just 10 points to see the final score of 15 goals 13
behinds to Stirling’s 8 goals 10 behinds. Alan Evans, as a ruck rover, was
clearly Stirling’s best player with John Stoddard at half back and centre,
together with Phil Riggs at centre half back also putting in strong efforts.
In the Senior Colts Grand Final, Stirling defeated Mt Barker
to win the Premiership in a very hard slog where the margin at every break was
less than 1 goal. The talented young side was coached by the very popular Reg
Hewish who in later years, was President of both Stirling and Mt Lofty. Final
score was Stirling 4 goals 7 behinds to Mt Barker 4 goals 5 behinds, a 2 point win where Captain
Brian Wybrow was best player, well supported by Tali Strauss and Andrew Clarke.
In the Junior Colts, Heathfield Aldgate United won its
second Premiership in a row, a fairly rare achievement in junior football. HAU
A Grade Premiership player, Andy Fletcher was the side’s coach and had coached the side the previous year
with Jack Hampton. In a final score line very similar to the
Senior Colts, HAU held on to record a 4
point win with 4 goals 7 behinds to Lenswood Ranges 4 goals 3 behinds. Best
player for United was Adrian Wastell, with strong support from Bronte Payne and
Peter Goodhand.
1989 Mount Lofty B
Grade Premiers – Youth and Experience!
The Mount Lofty B Grade side had a very good mix of youth
and experience which saw it trailing Mt Barker by 3 points at half time, but
then kick 6 goals 3 behinds to 1 goal 1 behind in the third quarter to set up a
Premiership win. Final score was Mt Lofty 11 goals 10 behinds to Mt Barker 6
goals 7 behinds.
Coached by Michael Hayward, the side had young players
including Bruce Dawes, Gerald and Greg Petersen, Philip Blows and Simon DeRoos
to name a few. Leading and guiding the way, however, was perhaps the most
experienced and decorated group of players seen in an HFL B Grade side. John
Coventry, Geoff Hampton, David Evans and John Bowes had played in many
Premiership sides and had been recognised with Club and HFL awards. John
Coventry played in the first of many
Premiership sides in 1961 with the Heathfield Colts.
Best players that day were Greg Northcott, Phil Blows and
Geoff Hampton who also kicked 3 goals playing on the wing. Geoff had kept the
side in the match until half time and was described in the Courier report as
“ageless” and a “dynamo”.
1989 also saw Mt Lofty’s A3 side, coached by Jeff Pistola, compete
in the Grand Final. Unfortunately, the side just failed in its bid to win 3
Premierships in a row, with Milang taking the flag with the narrowest of
margins in a tight match which saw both sides score just 12 goals during the
full match.
1999 Mount Lofty
Junior Colts Premiers – A Grade Premiership Foundation!
The 1999 Mount Lofty Junior Colts Premiership side is
testament to the fact that a strong junior program must be in place if a club
is to achieve success in A Grade competition in future years. 6 players from this side went on to play in A
Grade Premierships during Mt Lofty’s triple Premiership run in 2006, 2007 and
2008.
Coached by Mt Lofty stalwart and Premiership player John
Bowes, the young Devils won with 7 goals 9 behinds to Mt Barker 5 goals 5
behinds, a margin of 16 points. Best for Mt Lofty was Galvin Zeitz, Alex Cullen
and Dougal McCormish.
As mentioned above, six players in that side went on to play A Grade Premierships during the 2006 to 2008 Premiership run. Matt Stapleton was the Vice Captain of the A’s during that amazing period, with Jon Temme, Nathan Peterson-Gray, Lachlan Fleet, Sam Broadbridge and Matt Penny all going on to become A Grade Premiership players.
1929 Stirling A Grade
Premiership
Unfortunately we do not have a photograph of this side. If you know of somebody who may have one, could you please contact Chris Chardon on 0448 657 593 or Haydn Cutting on 0409 088 565.
1939 Crafers A Grade Premiership
Back Row: J.B. Reynolds (Chairman), G.R. Cossich (Secretary), M. Radford, K. Jarrott, R. Read, E. Coventry, M. Charlick, P. Chaplin, A. Bennett, A. Cruickshank, G. Cocker, H. Williams (Trainer), E. Grimes (Timekeeper). Front Row: H. Wighton, M. Heyer, J. Kirkmoe, A. Slater, H. Cossich (Vice Captain), J. Murphy (Captain), H. Kemp, H. Hewish, L. Murphy. Absent: H. Williams, M. Carver, Jack Wakefield.
1969 Stirling A Grade Grand Finalists
Back Row: Bob Martin, Chris Chardon, John Smart, Peter Suridge, Ian Evans, Robert Healey, Robert Bonython. Middle Rowe: Theo Evans (Secretary), Keith Brown, Ross Swayne, Peter Cutting, John Stoddard, Neil Rogers, Wayne Radbone, Peter Moulds. Front Row: Brian Searle (standing), Philip Riggs, Harvey Dawes, Royl Chardon (Coach), Vin Pistola, Trevor Surman. Absent from photo: Alan Evans, Owen Bevan (Owen actually took the photograph)
1969 Stirling Senior Colts Premiers
Fourth Row: B Ross, R Muller, T Strauss, A Clarke. Third Row: B Saltmarsh, R Leatch, C Howe (Trainer), R Robinson, P Hewish, A Pepper (Runner). Second Row: R. Healey, C Dorsch, B Atkinson, L Sharrad, C Waters, R Hewish. Front Row: B Moulds, M Remnant, T Lockett (Vice Captain), B Wybrow (Captain), R Thomas, D Morris, R Hewish (Coach).
1969 Heathfield Aldgate United Junior Colts Premiers
Fourth Row: M Clarke, T Deans, R Henderson, Third Row: R Daly, D Mackie, B Chaplin, P McLaughlin, M McGough, Second Row: R Weatherald, D Sanders, G Allen, M Foale, P Chappel, K Healy Front Row: D O’Brien, D White, A Wastell (Vice Captain), A Fletcher (Coach), B Payne (Captain), P Goodhand, M Sherrif.
1989 Mt Lofty B Grade Premiers
Back Row: G Northcott, A Harvey (Trainer), G Petersen, J Baltais, I Jones, A May, G Noble (Trainer), G Petersen. Middle Row: I Lewis, T Watson (Head Trainer), P Blows, L Sparrow, S DeRoos, D Evans, D Paech, A Evans. Front Row: B Dawes, H DeRoos (President), B Lewis, M Hayward (Coach), J Bowes, H Dawes (Selector), S Milde. Absent: T Milde, K Isgar, J Coventry, J Gardner, S Isgar, S Mohor, C Thomas, S Deayton, G Hampton, P Davies, D Badcock, D Wissell
1999 Mt Lofty Junior Colts Premiers
Back Row: K Brown (Trainer), M Stapleton, A Cullen, J Temme, T Murphy, N Peterson-Gray, G Zeitz, L Fleet, B Henschhke, T Johnson, J Lovell, R Miles (Trainer). Middle Row: P Fleet (Manager), W Broadbridge (Runner), S Broadbridge, M Huggard, A Uren, M Bulman, J Dukas, A Fimeri, A Bowes, D McOmish, E Miles, B Warburton (Manager). Front Row: M Penny, R Penny (Coach), A Penny (Deputy Vice Captain), M Rowe (Captain), A Brereton (Vice Captain), J Bowes (Coach), M Warburton. Absent: M Power, J Hansberry, J Trevaskis, A Lang, J Pappin.
