The Watsonia Sporting Club is an Australian rules football club located in Watsonia, Victoria that currently competes in Division 3 in the Northern Football Netball League.
History of the Watsonia Football Club
The club was established in 1966 when a group of local parents, motivated by a desire to support youth sport in the district, held a meeting at the Watsonia RSL Hall. The formation of the club was guided by former Footscray and Collingwood player Harvey Stevens. In its inaugural year, Watsonia fielded two teams: an Under-13 team that won the Greensborough Midget League premiership, and an Under-15 team that claimed the Preston and Reservoir League flag.
In 1967, Watsonia began playing its home games at A.K. Lines Reserve, fielding four teams in the Panton Hill League. That year, the Senior and Reserve sides finished sixth, the Under-15s were runners-up, and the Under-13s secured another premiership. Initially, players used a small tin shed purchased from Watsonia Motors as changerooms, but it was soon replaced due to complaints from neighbours regarding players changing outdoors.
Significant progress came in 1968 when committee member and builder Gerald Browne constructed the club's first dedicated clubrooms. On the field, the Under-13 team continued the club's early success by winning another premiership.
In 1969, Watsonia joined the Diamond Valley Football League (DVFL) under coach Barry Smart, formerly of Sandringham. The senior team struggled, failing to record a win that season, while the junior sides continued to perform strongly, with the Watsonia South Under-13s winning the premiership.
The club recorded its first senior DVFL victory on 30 May 1970, defeating Lalor 16.16 (112) to 9.12 (66), one of six wins achieved by the senior team that season. The Reserves also finished with six wins.
The club's foundation was guided by its first committee: Neil McGovern (President), Harvey Stevens (Secretary), Michael Walsh (Treasurer), with members Jack Bowman, Willy Flores, Gerald Browne, and Bill Cope.
The club fields teams in Senior football and Netball, as well as Under-19's as has a junior affiliate agreement with Mill Park Football Club.
Premierships
Seniors (2)
Year League Division Result Best on Ground Captain Coach 2016 NFNL 3 Watsonia 14.11.95 def Epping 6.12.48 Levi Moss Matthew Crompton Corey McCall 1987 DVFL 2 Watsonia 13.13.91 def Reservoir-Lakeside 8.11.59 Adrian Sanderson Barry Rist
Reserves (1)
Year League Division Result Best on Ground Captain Coach 2013 NFNL 3 Watsonia 8.8.56 defeated Panton Hill 7.6.48 Jamie Harris Simon Joules Steven Leeman
Under 19 (2)
Year League Division Result Best on Ground Captain Coach2022NFNL3Watsonia (7.13.55) def. Mernda (5.4.34)Patrick DooleyNick Lawson & Toby BerardiSilvio Iocannis 1977 DVFL 1 Watsonia def. Reservoir-Lakeside Willy Flores
Senior League Best & Fairests
Year League Division Player 2016 NFNL 3 Matthew Crompton 2013 NFNL 3 Lochie Dornauf 2000 DVFL 2 Paul Eccles 1990 DVFL 2 Malcolm Griffiths 1979 DVFL 1 John Ellis Reserves League Best & Fairests Year League Division Player 2023 NFNL 2 Jack Larkin 2014 NFNL 3 Simon Joules2013NFNL3Simon Joules1990DVFL2R.Blinman1987DVFL2A.Lampton1981DVFL1K.Carey
Under 19's League Best & Fairests Year League Division Player 2011 NFL 3 Nick Gaylor1983DVFL2Joe Viglione1979DVFL1Mick Lamb 1977 DVFL 1 Malcolm Griffiths1975DVFL1Graeme L .Anderson
Senior League Leading Goalkicker Award Year League Division Player Goals2024NFNL2Ethan Lowe572023NFNL2James Lucente59 2000 DVFL 2 Gavin Tapner 90 1979 DVFL 1 Robert Downie 64
Reserves League Leading Goalkicker Award Year League Division Player Goals2022NFNL2James Latross68
Under 19 League Leading Goalkicker Award Year League Division Player Goals2019NFNL2Kyle Wheatley472013NFNL2Jack Larkin612012NFNL2Josh Clancy801995DVFL2M. La Franci411977DVFL1Andrew Smith501973DVFL1Gary Livermore55
Watsonia Team Of The Decade (2010-19)
Club Best & Fairest Awards
Seniors Year 1st 2nd 3rd2025Josh Boulton (3)Ben CallaghanHarry Sinclair2024Daniel AnnettaHarry SinclairJosh Boulton2023Josh Boulton (2)Kobe Van ZwienenHarry Sinclair2022Josh BoultonCorey PotterKobe Van Zwienen2021Teague Van ZwienenLachlan PotterRiley Taylor2019Daniel WatsonHayden MitchellXavier Kelly2018Matthew Crompton (3)Matt GibbsAllan Young2017 Matthew Crompton (2) Ben Anderson Ben Sutherland2016 Matthew Buzinskas Hayden Mitchell Matthew Crompton2015 Jarryd Allan Jordan Brown Andrew Kidd2014 Hayden Mitchell Jarryd Allan John Perichon 2013 Tom Wallis Tony Hogg Matt Crompton 2012 Matthew Crompton Joel Buckley Paul McConnell 2011 Paul McConnell Eldon Abbott Allan Young 2010 Michael Ryan Gary Ring Matthew Calcutt 2009 Dean Richardson (2) Patrick Tarrant Tony Hogg 2008 Sabastian Ciavola Tony Hogg Adam Curran 2007Dean RichardsonDanny O’SullivanMarc Ventura 2006 Shane Hodgson 2005 Corey Bennett 2004 Paul Eccles (4) 2003 Paul Eccles (3) 2002 Paul Eccles (2) 2001 Adrian Talarico 2000 Paul Eccles 1999 M.Grech 1998 Warren Harris1997 A.Parke
Reserves
Year 1st 2nd 3rd2025Jack Larkin (4)Nick StoneMason Grech2024Jack Larkin (3)Liam DohertyOwen Gao2023Jack Larkin (2)Spencer BriggsCooper Burns & Fraser Kubeil2022Jack LarkinJames LatrossLuke Whyte2021Charlie KhouryRyan EleyGary Ring2019 Ryan Eley (2) Sean Smith Austin Creak2018 Gary Barton Ben McKenzie Michael Paske2017 Ryan Eley Sam Miles Luke Hazelager2016 Sam Leishman James Latross Brayden Mann2015 Andrew Reid (2) Simon Joules Ryan Eley & Jake Osbourne2014 Andrew Reid Simon Joules Steve Rickard2013 Simon Joules (2) Nathan Groves Jon Bunn & Ryan Joules2012 Simon Joules Matt Buckley Gary Ring 2011 Christian Daly-Thomson Daniel Camilleri Dylan Saw & Gary Ring 2010 Chris McGregor Christian Daly-Thomson Luke Gaylor 2009 Eldon Abbott Nathan Groves & Steve Rickard Clint Dunell 2008 Nathan Groves Hayden Byrne Cameron Webb
Under 19s
Year 1st 2nd 3rd2025Kobi MaynardMatthew SommervilleDean Talarico & Jasper Tucker2023James CharbelDavid GillBen Park2022Nick Lawson & Toby BerardiLiam DohertyJack Tatter 2019 Jordan Kubeil Frasier Kubeil Noah Bazzano2018Adrian Saccuzzo (2)Christopher BogoefskiConnor Fitzgerald2017Adrian SaccuzzoDhiraj ShivakumarVincent Nativo2015Luke TurcoKane RichardsonAustin Creak 2013 Rodney Box Jamie Haber Ben Sutherland & Jack Larkin 2012 Jamie Haber Nathan Alty Liam McInereny & Josh Clancy 2011 Tyson Veenman Beau Rankin Liam McInerney & Timothy Edgell 2010 Luke Money David Bilusic Tyson Veenman 2009 Gary Ring Jess Barnett Brett George 2008 Liam Symons Matthew Crawford Gary Ring 2007 Jamie Harris Steve Rickard Glenn Wilkins & Jarrod Magann
Under 17s
Year 1st 2nd 3rd 2011 Nick Gaylor Matthew Rutter Jake Plunkett Honour Board
External links Watsonia Sporting Club Website Northern Football League Website
References