NOW to sometime later in the year (maybe) - Talk about anything

[MortlockWatcher]

The Salvation Army (E grade in 1986) became the Salvo Saints from 1987-1989 (D in 1987, E in 1988-89) before folding.

 

[jumperfan]

They wore the old Footscray guernseys except with yellow bands instead of white.

The Salvation Army Australia - Museum

SALVO FOOTY TEAMS ........ but never on a Sunday ! 1. Salvo Saints - 1999. 2.Hawthorn Corps - 1939. 3. Combined Corps (Melbourne) - 1949 4. Adelaide Congress Hall - 1966

www.facebook.com

Good find, had been looking for a pic of the Adelaide Salvo team as well!

 

[localfootyguru]

Here’s a (perhaps not complete) list of clubs that were in the ESCFA and the years they were there

Affiliated clubs (Historical)
East Malvern Presbyterians (VIC) 1925-1992; Gardenvale (VIC) 1927-1992; St. Marys COE (VIC) 1932-1989; Box Hill Adelphians (VIC) 1936-1992; Burwood United (VIC) 1946-1992; Blackburn United (VIC) 1946-1982; Balwyn Combined (VIC) 1951-1992; Canterbury Presbyterians (VIC) 1951-1977; Whitehorse Pioneers (VIC) 1954-1992; Springvale Districts (VIC) 1959-1992; Hampton (VIC) 1959-1992; St. Andrews Box Hill (VIC) 1959-1982; Malvern South Uniting (VIC) 1960-1978; Noble Park Bears (VIC) 1962-1988; Ashburton Uniting (VIC) 1962-1985; Emmanuel (VIC) 1962-1991; Hawthorn Amateurs (Original) (VIC) 1962; North Balwyn Methodists (VIC) 1964-1977; Bentleigh (VIC) 1965-1992; Wattle Park (Original) (VIC) 1965-1991; Bellfield (VIC) 1966-1992; South Yarra(VIC) 1967-1992; Syndal (VIC) 1967-1980; East Camberwell (VIC) 1970-1992; Donvale United (VIC) 1971-1991; Lower Plenty (VIC) 1971-1982, 1986-1992; Wattle Park (VIC) 1972-1991; Salesian OC(VIC) 1973-1988; Chadstone Salesians(VIC) 1973-1985; Oakleigh Sacred Heart(VIC) 1973-1991; Fairfield (VIC) 1974-1992; St. Anthony's⁠–⁠Glen Huntly (VIC) 1974-1990; Mount Waverley Catholics (VIC) 1975-1992; St. Kevin's Ormond (VIC) 1976-1992; South Caulfield YCW (VIC) 1977-1978; Mazenod OC (VIC) 1978-1988; Canterbury⁠–⁠North Balwyn (VIC) 1978-1992; South Caulfield⁠–⁠Malvern (VIC) 1979; St. Paul's McKinnon (VIC) 1980-1992; Black Rock (VIC) 1980-1985; Knox (VIC) 1980-1988; Saint Patricks Mentone (VIC) 1980-1990; Murrumbeena⁠–⁠Sth Caulfield(VIC) 1980-1991; Aquinas OC (VIC) 1981-1986; Syndal Tally Ho (VIC) 1981-1992; Box Hill North (VIC) 1983-1992; Dandenong West (VIC) 1984-1992; Wonga Park (VIC) 1985; Clayton Saints(VIC) 1985-1992; East Bentleigh (VIC) 1985-1992; North Blackburn (VIC) 1985-1992; Ashburton⁠–⁠Chadstone (VIC) 1986-1992; Moorabbin West (VIC) 1986-1992; Collingwood District (VIC) 1987-1992; Richmond Rosellas (VIC) 1987-1992; Salvation Army (VIC) 1987-1989; Lyndale(VIC) 1989-1992; Heatherton (VIC) 1990-1992

There were some tough clubs in that competition despite it being called the churches league. Collingwood District comes to mind. I have been around football for a long time but never feared any club except Collingwood District. They were home to many well known criminals and certainly had an edgy playing list. Was always watching behind me when we played them. They had players who came for the fights more than the game itself and wasn’t a place you stayed for an after match drink.

 

[localfootyguru]

Strong mail from someone I know that Josh Schache

19

Josh Schache

Age

28

Ht

199cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.8

2star

K

6.0

2star

HB

3.8

3star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.3

3star

G

1.2

4star

D

6.5

1star

K

4.0

1star

HB

2.5

2star

M

1.5

2star

T

0.0

1star

G

1.0

4star

D

10.2

3star

K

7.2

3star

HB

3.0

3star

M

4.6

5star

T

2.2

4star

G

0.8

4star

won’t be at Doncaster East in 2026 and will be heading to Southern Mallee Thunder in the Wimmera FNL. Decided to play there due to family links and that his late Father was originally from Hopetoun of which is now part of the Thunder’s merged clubs.

Any truth to this?

Happy new year all.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

There were some tough clubs in that competition despite it being called the churches league. Collingwood District comes to mind. I have been around football for a long time but never feared any club except Collingwood District. They were home to many well known criminals and certainly had an edgy playing list. Was always watching behind me when we played them. They had players who came for the fights more than the game itself and wasn’t a place you stayed for an after match drink.

They folded in 1995, not sure what happened because they played in the Southern Div 2 GF in their final season - so something went wrong very quickly. The SFNL was fairly new back then and would’ve been five divisions I reckon, so the D2 GF put you pretty high up in the league. Chelt knocked them off in the game at Bentleigh.



(Video says Div 1 but it is Div 2).

They also played in the prelim in 93 and were runners up in 94.

 

[jumperfan]

They folded in 1995, not sure what happened because they played in the Southern Div 2 GF in their final season - so something went wrong very quickly. The SFNL was fairly new back then and would’ve been five divisions I reckon, so the D2 GF put you pretty high up in the league. Chelt knocked them off in the game at Bentleigh.



(Video says Div 1 but it is Div 2).

They also played in the prelim in 93 and were runners up in 94.

Lots of the ESCFA clubs folded soon after the league change. I'm guessing they probably weren't the most stable club given the "cultural issues".

 

[ManInWhite]

There were some tough clubs in that competition despite it being called the churches league. Collingwood District comes to mind. I have been around football for a long time but never feared any club except Collingwood District. They were home to many well known criminals and certainly had an edgy playing list. Was always watching behind me when we played them. They had players who came for the fights more than the game itself and wasn’t a place you stayed for an after match drink.

I had a few games at Ramsden St and you had to have your wits about you. I still remember Ali (#3) and needing to watch him at all times - even when play was at other end of the ground.

One day I had Balwyn vs Collingwood and I knew the Balwyn captain well - we usually saw each other at Richmond AFL games. He clipped the Collingwood captain too high and I paid the free and ran in. Said to him "Marty, you know we have to send you off for things like that. But I'm keeping you on because they'll get you". Have never seen him run so fast for the next 30 mins. He said to me after the game "don't ever do that to me again". I said to him "Don't belt blokes then"...

 

[CliffMcTainshaw]

Just in case you have been complaining about the state of our grounds. Heidelberg’s AJ Burkitt Oval now has a sinkhole courtesy of the tunneling works for the North East Link project directly under the oval. Apparently the oval was being used when it happened. It's now 12 M in dia.

 

[MortlockWatcher]

The local residents must be sh-tting themselves knowing that this happened so close to them.
It's not an impossibility that houses may suffer the same fate given that they are pretty much working underneath them right now.

 

[hansie]

Just in case you have been complaining about the state of our grounds. Heidelberg’s AJ Burkitt Oval now has a sinkhole courtesy of the tunneling works for the North East Link project directly under the oval. Apparently the oval was being used when it happened. It's now 12 M in dia.
View attachment 2505810

Perhaps it’s the Heidelberg cash bin underground causing it?!?

 

[YMEYU]

One of their new recruits just received their sign on and the ground gave way.

 

[Pendles1991]

Strong mail from someone I know that Josh Schache won’t be at Doncaster East in 2026 and will be heading to Southern Mallee Thunder in the Wimmera FNL. Decided to play there due to family links and that his late Father was originally from Hopetoun of which is now part of the Thunder’s merged clubs.

Any truth to this?

Happy new year all.

Quite confident this isn't true. Would love to see him leave Donny East, but won't be in 2026.

 

[CliffMcTainshaw]

Vale Barry Hughes East Burwood player, committee member, former President, life member and all round great bloke. Barry was a tireless worker for the club for more than 40 years. If you've ever bought a beer or hamburger from the beer booth, you can thank Barry because it was his idea. Condolences to Anne and family.

 

[Thunder1]

Perhaps it’s the Heidelberg cash bin underground causing it?!?

It is actually Banyule's 2nd ground, they have a pretty big war chest as well and from all reports it could swell considerably wurh compo payout from NEL.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

It is actually Banyule's 2nd ground, they have a pretty big war chest as well and from all reports it could swell considerably wurh compo payout from NEL.

Ha, pigs will fly before a club would see any money from this.

The council own it. Maybe they’ll waive Banyule’s $5k lease fee this year.

 

[Thunder1]

Ha, pigs will fly before a club would see any money from this.

The council own it. Maybe they’ll waive Banyule’s $5k lease fee this year.

Watsonia are benefitting considerably from NEL.

 

[localfootylegend23]

Watsonia are benefitting considerably from NEL.

They give you grant money for ground projects/uniforms/equipment, not payments for players - from what i've heard from several clubs close to NEL

 

[Thunder1]

They give you grant money for ground projects/uniforms/equipment, not payments for players - from what i've heard from several clubs close to NEL

And where do the savings from ground projects/uniforms/equipment go, I wonder!!!

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Watsonia are benefitting considerably from NEL.

There are grants available for all community groups in a certain radius of the new infrastructure.

 

[CliffMcTainshaw]

There are grants available for all community groups in a certain radius of the new infrastructure.

There are already plenty of electronic scoreboards in Whitehorse funded by this infrastructure. Nunawading got one last year. Hardly used until the cricket season, will be like new for this year.

 

[localfootylegend23]

And where do the savings from ground projects/uniforms/equipment go, I wonder!!!

I get you, i doubt they are giving clubs much more than the project cost, I think scoreboards etc are council tendered anyway

 

[CliffMcTainshaw]

And where do the savings from ground projects/uniforms/equipment go, I wonder!!!

Can you explain what you mean by savings? What savings?

 

[localfootylegend23]

Can you explain what you mean by savings? What savings?

Yeah he thinks NEL just give out more money than they need to. Being involved with a club that has received money from them, they pay in installments, and then any jobs on council property they (the council) have to legally tender the job out to the public, which takes incompetent organizations like councils months/years to do. I bet there are loads of projects waiting to start being held up by this.

Clubs would have gotten payment for projects and just spent it on other things - thats going to come back to bite them.

 

[CliffMcTainshaw]

Yeah he thinks NEL just give out more money than they need to. Being involved with a club that has received money from them, they pay in installments, and then any jobs on council property they (the council) have to legally tender the job out to the public, which takes incompetent organizations like councils months/years to do. I bet there are loads of projects waiting to start being held up by this.

Clubs would have gotten payment for projects and just spent it on other things - thats going to come back to bite them.

You just can't spend the money on anything other than what you have applied for. After you get a grant you have to give them proof that the money was spent on that project. Usually it involves getting a quote, putting in a submission, (with no guarantee it will be accepted), and then if you get the money to do the project, providing invoices and photos to prove to them the job has been successfully completed. You are informed at the start of the process that there are penalties under the law that can be applied if the money is used incorrectly. I just can't see clubs stupid enough to think they can use the money as they see fit. The Committee members would be deep in it.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Interesting one league has made this change... will be interesting to see how it goes


Langwarrin has earned praise for becoming the first MPFNL club to implement the new under-19s player cap for 2026, setting a positive example for the competition.

The Mornington Peninsula Football Netball League has mandated that clubs cap their U19 numbers at 35 this year — with slight allowances for private school boys or Stingrays representatives — in a move designed to distribute talent more evenly across the competition and help struggling clubs boost their numbers.

Langwarrin announced its U19 list on Wednesday.

The club’s prompt action has been hailed as “a great story” by league observers, particularly given the club’s strong junior program.

Fresh off premiership success in both their under-17s and under-19s, the Kangaroos could easily justify holding onto every talented youngster in their system.

Instead, their early commitment to the cap provides significant benefits throughout the competition.

Players outside the 35-strong squad now have ample time to explore their options rather than being strung along with false hope.

They can establish themselves at clubs where they’ll receive regular game time, creating genuine pathways through reserves and seniors.

Several clubs have already contacted Langwarrin about their surplus players, demonstrating the initiative’s immediate impact.

The club has handled these inquiries professionally, earning further respect from their peers.

Importantly, the door remains open for players who may wish to return to Langwarrin in the future, maintaining positive relationships across the league.

It’s hoped other powerhouse clubs will follow Langwarrin’s lead.

The earlier clubs commit to the cap, the better the outcome for everyone involved, potentially ensuring nearly every club fields competitive numbers.

As one observer noted: “If everyone followed their lead, the competition would be in a much better place.”

Langwarrin’s Dave Kelly said his club had 63 expressions of interest for its under 19s this year.

“And then we had a selection committee that chose 45 to train on,’’ he said.

“Through natural attrition, we’re at that 35 plus our Stingrays and school kids right now.

“We’ve tried to do the right thing by the kids to say, ‘look, that’s where it’s at. If you want to play somewhere else we have connections at other footy clubs’.

“And do it early rather than wait until practice matches and keep them hanging on until March and April right before the season.’’