The Eaglehawk Football Netball Club is an Australian rules football and netball club based in the town of Eaglehawk, Victoria and Eaglehawk teams currently compete in the Bendigo Football Netball League (BFNL).
Club History The Eaglehawk Football Club was formed in 1880 and recruited most of its players from the gold mines in and around Eaglehawk.
Canterbury Park was crown land set aside by the Eaglehawk Borough Council for the purpose of a sports ground and gardens and in November 1872, the Eaglehawk Cricket Club requested to the council that the land at Canterbury Park be levelled "to suit it for cricket purposes". Canterbury Park has always been the home of the "Hawks" or the "Two Blues" ever since the club was established way back in 1880.
Bendigo FC won the 1886 and 1887 premierships and not Eaglehawk as previously recorded on this page. Sandhurst FC were undefeated premiers in 1889 and not Eaglehawk FC as previously recorded on this page. Eaglehawk FC won the 1900 premiership and not South Bendigo as previously recorded on this page.
Eaglehawk has competed in every Bendigo Football League season since the league began in 1880, with the exception of 1904 when the Eaglehawk FC players wished to join the new Eaglehawk District Football Association and the committee supported this move. The 1904 Eaglehawk DFA premiers were Job's Gully FC. Interestingly, in September 1904, the Eaglehawk District FA: 6.11 - 47 defeated Footscray: 7.3 - 45.
Eaglehawk re-joined the Bendigo Football Association in 1905.
Between 1882 and 1908, Eaglehawk won a staggering 12 premierships and between 1892 and 1903, Eaglehawk either finished as Premiers or runners up for 12 consecutive years.
There were new football clubrooms built in 1961 at a cost of £2000 and were named the "W. R. Bill Crawford - Pavilion" after long-serving club president as Crawford was the driving force behind the construction of the new state of the art building.
Former player from the 1890's John Scaddan, went onto become the youngest ever Premier of Western Australia in 1911, at 35 years of age.
From 1936 until 1978 Canterbury Park hosted greyhound racing in Bendigo.
Former Eaglehawk player, Sam Irwin-Hill went onto have a career with the Dallas Cowboys and other NFL clubs as an American football punter.
Football Premierships Senior Football Between 1880 and 1903, the team on top of the ladder at the end of the home and away series of matches were crowned Premiers, therefore no official Bendigo Football Association Grand Finals were played prior to 1904.
In 1915, the season was abandoned in late July, 1915 due to World War One. No official premiership was awarded, but Rochester were on top of the ladder, with Eaglehawk, second.
As of 2025, the Eaglehawk seniors have won 27 premierships and have also been runners up on 26 occasions too.
Eaglehawk FNC: Grand Final ResultsYearPremiersScoreRunners upScoreBest on GroundCaptainCoachVenueComments 18821st: Eaglehawk 2nd: Charlie Leggo 18831st: Eaglehawk 2nd: 18921st: Bendigo 2nd: Eaglehawk 18931st: Sandhurst 2nd: Eaglehawk 18941st: Eaglehawk 2nd: South Bendigo E Hummell Undefeated Premiers18951st: Eaglehawk 2nd: South Bendigo 18961st: Eaglehawk 2nd: South Bendigo 18971st: Eaglehawk 2nd: South Bendigo 18981st: Eaglehawk 2nd: South Bendigo 18991st: South Bendigo 2nd: Eaglehawk 19001st: Eaglehawk 2nd: South Bendigo George Cairns 19011st: Eaglehawk 2nd: South Bendigo George Cairns 19021st: South Bendigo 2nd: Eaglehawk 19031st: Eaglehawk 2nd: .1906Eaglehawk 8.9 - 57 West Bendigo 1.7 - 13 Canterbury Park1907Long Gully 3.3 - 21 Eaglehawk 1.7 - 12 1908Eaglehawk 7.5 - 47 Long Gully 4.7 - 31 Upper Reserve 1909South Bendigo 7.9 - 51 Eaglehawk 3.2 - 20 1911South Bendigo 7.12 - 54 Eaglehawk 2.6 - 18 1914South Bendigo 5.10 - 40 Eaglehawk 4.6 - 30 19151st: Rochester 2nd:Eaglehawk BFL abandoned WW11921South Bendigo 6.15 - 51 Eaglehawk 3.7 - 28 1922Eaglehawk 10.16 - 76 Sandhurst 10.11 - 71 Upper Reserve 1924Eaglehawk 14.17 - 101 Rochester 8.9 - 57 Upper Reserve 1930Sandhurst 17.9 - 111 Eaglehawk 9.9 - 63 Gate: £765 1932Sandhurst 16.20 - 116 Eaglehawk 7.9 - 51 £3471935Eaglehawk 11.15 - 81 Sandhurst 7.17 - 59 Eric Fleming Eric Fleming Bendigo Grand Final: Eaglehawk's Easy Win, The Weekly Times, (Saturday, 12 October 1935), p.64.1938Golden Square 21.13 - 139 Eaglehawk 14.7 - 91 £4411941Eaglehawk 17.10 - 112 South Bendigo9.14 - 68 1945Golden Square 23.20 - 158 Eaglehawk 8.9 - 57 1946Eaglehawk 14.10 - 94 Golden Square 13.12 - 90 Harold "Wicky" Toma £3801948Sandhurst 16.24 - 120 Eaglehawk 8.9 - 57 1951South Bendigo 24.12 - 156 Eaglehawk 20.8 - 128 QEO£11301953Eaglehawk 12.13 - 85 Sandhurst 7.12 - 54 Ollie Grieve 1956South Bendigo 10.19 - 79 Eaglehawk 9.15 - 69 1957Eaglehawk 14.17 - 101 Kyneton 10.11 - 71 Basil Ashman 1968Eaglehawk 8.16 - 64 South Bendigo 8.10 - 58 John Ledwidge 1969South Bendigo 10.10 - 70 Eaglehawk 9.13 - 67 1971Eaglehawk 15.13 - 103 Golden Square 3.10 - 28 John Ledwidge 1980Eaglehawk 17.20 - 122 Golden Square 19.6 - 120 Denis Higgins 1982Eaglehawk 18.19 - 127 Golden Square 6.12 - 48 Phil Byrne 1984Northern United 18.16 - 124 Eaglehawk 12.10 - 82 Ron Best (NU) 1986Northern United 19.18 - 132 Eaglehawk 11.9 - 75 Tony Barnes (NU) 1987Northern United 23.15 - 153 Eaglehawk 14.7 - 91 Eddie Shield (NU) 2003Gisborne 18.12 - 120 Eaglehawk 11.7 - 83 Matt Fitzgerald (G) Derrick Filo 2005Gisborne 14.17 - 101 Eaglehawk 10.10 - 70 Ty Elliott (G) Derrick Filo 2007Eaglehawk 12.12 - 84 Gisborne 12.10 - 82 Rhys Healey (EH) Derrick Filo 2008Eaglehawk 14.11 - 95 Golden Square 12.17 - 89 Damian Lock (EH) Derrick Filo 2011Golden Square 25.18 - 169 Eaglehawk 5.3 - 33 Mark Lloyd (GS) Luke MonahanQEO2017Strathfieldsaye 13.10 - 88 Eaglehawk 7.14 - 56 Kallen Geary (STR) Josh Bowe QEO2018Eaglehawk 19.8 - 122 Strathfieldsaye 11.7 - 73 Jonty Neaves (EH) Josh Bowe QEO2019Strathfieldsaye 14.10 - 94 Eaglehawk 10.20 - 80 Bryce Curnow (STR) QEO2025Eaglehawk 14.10 - 94 Sandhurst 12.12 - 84 Bailey Ilsley (EH) Clayton Holmes & QEO Travis Matheson YearPremiersScoreRunner UpScoreBest on Ground Captain Coach VenueComments
Reserves (9) Bendigo Second Rate Football Association (1928 to 1933) 1930 - Eaglehawk Juniors (Reserves): 12.14 - 86 d Golden City: 9.11 - 65 1932 - Eaglehawk Juniors (Reserves): 14.16 - 100 d Sandhurst Juniors: 8.8 - 56 Bendigo Football League 1948, 1951, 1953, 1978, 1999, 2003, 2004
Thirds (6) 1971, 1972, 1987, 1998, 2003, 2007 - * 1894: Eaglehawk were undefeated.
League Best & Fairest Winners Bendigo Football League Seniors - Jack Michelsen Medal
1971 - Greg Kennedy 1974 - Allan Williams 1978 - Des English 2000 - Reece Langan 2001 - Lucas Matthews 2006 - Kaine Robins 2008 - Shannon Milward 2010 - Josh Bowe 2015 - Brodie Filo 2023 - Noah Wheeler
Reserves
1958 - Arthur Gilbert 1969 - Roy Keene 1970 - Roy Keene 1972 - Graeme Brown 1989 - Andrew Evely 1998 - Matt Pollack 2001 - Sean Major & 2001 - Dwayne Smith 2002 - Dwayne Smith 2008 - Dwayne Smith 2010 - Dwayne Smith 2014 - Luke Rundell-Gordon
Thirds
1971 - Rod Ashman 1972 - Robert Clough 1973 - Robert Clough 1977 - Derek Burford 1978 - Colin Jacobs 1996 - Brett Manderson 1998 - Scott Tuddenham 2006 - Cory Jacobs 2007 - Ryan Threlfall 2011 - Kevin Archbold
Leading League Goalkicker Bendigo Football League Seniors
1893 - Joe Mundy 35 1894 - Joe Mundy 43 1930 - Frank Crapper: 95 1932 - Frank Crapper: 129 1933 - Frank Crapper: 154 (162) 1935 - Mancel Davies: 82 1936 - Mancel Davies: 88 1938 - Mancel Davies: 86 1948 - Harry Morgan: 66 1951 - Harry Morgan: 78 1952 - Harry Morgan: 66 1953 - Harry Morgan: 107 (114) 1961 - Merv Hicks: 64 1970 - Greg Kennedy: 105 (125) 1971 - Greg Kennedy: 139 (152) 1972 - Keith Raynor: 69 1982 - Daryl Gilmore: 113 1984 - Daryl Gilmore: 120 1991 - Daryl Gilmore: 92 2007 - Damian Brown: 59 2015 - Matt Gretgrix: 82 2016 - Matt Gretgrix: 90
( ) The figures in brackets includes goals kicked in the finals. Most goals in a match 24 - Harry Morgan v Rochester, 1953. Morgan was rested on the bench at 3/4 time too!
Team of the Century
The Eaglehawk FNC senior football Team of the Century was announced at the All Seasons Resort Hotel, Bendigo in August 2005 and there were five selectors who eventually settled on the team below.
Backline: Basil Ashman, Ollie Grieve, Bob Clough Half Back: Peter Rogerson, Robert O'Connell, Fred Jinks Centre: Jack Slattery, Eddie "Moots" Esposito, Alan Williams Half forward: Mancel Davies, George Ilsley, Alf Baud Forwardline: Harry Morgan, Greg Kennedy, Rod Ashman Ruck: Fred Trewarne Ruck Rover: Des English Rover: Peter Pianto Interchange: Frank Crapper, George Ennor, Steve McDougall, Kevin J Smith, Darren Thompson, George McWilliam Coach: John Ledwidge Captain: Robert O'Connell Vice Captain: Basil Ashman
VFL / AFL players
The following footballers played with Eaglehawk prior to playing senior VFL / AFL football, with the year indicating their VFL / AFL debut.
1906 - Fred Jinks - 1907 - Charlie Clymo - St Kilda 1907 - George McWilliam - 1907 - Billy Williams - 1908 - Fred Forbes - 1908 - Harry Hall - 1909 - George Stewart - 1913 - Alf Baud - 1916 - Tom Wraith - 1924 - Joe Rowe - 1926 - Les Chapple - 1929 - Bill Downie - 1929 - Ted Esposito - 1929 - Jack King - 1929 - Claude Rowe - 1929 - Neal Thompson - 1930 - Ron James - 1931 - Frank Crapper - 1935 - Reg Collier - 1935 - Eddie Gray - 1936 - Fred Crapper - 1936 - Almond Richards - 1939 - Kevin O'Halloran - 1940 - Ian Chinn - South Melbourne 1942 - Arthur Cairns - 1942 - Harold Daly - 1947 - Russ Robinson - 1951 - Alan Daly - 1951 - Peter Pianto - 1952 - Doug Palmer - 1954 - George Ilsley - 1955 - Clive Brown - 1955 - Kevin J. Smith - 1956 - Bill Evely - 1957 - Max Hetherington - 1957 - Denis Strauch - 1958 - Mal Smith - South Melbourne 1959 - Hugh Routley - 1959 - Jack Slattery - 1962 - Ike Ilsley - 1963 - Peter Lyon - 1972 - Greg Kennedy - 1973 - Rod Ashman - Carlton 1980 - Des English 1982 - Chris Waterson - 1983 - Daryl Gilmore - 1998 - Damien Lock - 2008 - Jarryn Geary St Kilda 2013 - Jake Stringer -
The following footballers played VFL / AFL senior football prior to playing with Eaglehawk FC, with the year indicating his debut with Eaglehawk FC.
1925 - Percy Martyn - 1932 - Norm Sexton - 1935 - Eric Fleming - 1937 - Jack Anderson - 1937 - Cairo Dixon - 1953 - Ollie Grieve - 1961 - Merv Hicks - 1966 - Mike Hammond - 1968 - John Ledwidge - 1968 - John Lloyd - 1968 - Maurie Young - 1969 - Ron Critchley - 1969 - Bob Mallett - 1969 - Rod Williams -
Canterbury Park Oval
The club's home ground facilities are situated at 2 Simpson Road, Eaglehawk, Bendigo, Victoria.
References
External links
Eaglehawk FNC - Facebook 1901 - Bendigo FA Premiers: Eaglehawk FC team photo 1901 - Eaglehawk FC & Cummeragunga FC team photos 1902 - Bendigo FA Runner Up: Eaglehawk FC team photo 1903 - Eaglehawk First Rate FA Premiers: The Young Colonials 1903 - Bendigo FA Premiers: Eaglehawk FC team photo 1918 - Bendigo Trades FA Premiers: Eaglehawk FC 1922 - Bendigo FL Premiers: Eaglehawk FC team photo 1926 - Eaglehawk FC & Castlemaine FC team photos 1926 - Eaglehawk FC Officials 1928 - Eaglehawk FC team photo 1930 - Eaglehawk FC & Castlemaine FC team photos 1930 - Bendigo FL Grand Final team photos: Sandhurst FC & Eaglehawk FC 1932 - Eaglehawk FC & Rochester FC team photos 1937 - Eaglehawk FC & Kyneton FC team photos 1938 - Canterbury Park Greyhounds Official Programme cover 19?? - Canterbury Park Greyhound Track photo 1946 - Bendigo FL Premiers: Eaglehawk FC team photos 1953 - Eaglehawk FC team photo 1953 - Bendigo FL Premiers: Eaglehawk FC team photo 1966 - Eaglehawk State Primary School Premiers team photo 1971 - Bendigo FL Premiers: Eaglehawk FC team photo 2007 - Bendigo FNL Premiers: Eaglehawk FC team photo 2008 - Bendigo FNL Premiers: Eaglehawk FC team photo 2015 - Aerial view of Canterbury Park, Eaglehawk 2018 - Bendigo FNL Premiers: Eaglehawk FC team photo