The Melbourne High School Old Boys Football Club (MHSOB), nicknamed the Unicorns, is an Australian rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of South Yarra.
The club is part of the Melbourne High School Old Boys Association (MHSOBA), an organisation run primarily by alumni of Melbourne High School. In addition to football, MHSOBA also has cricket and field hockey clubs.
As of 2024, MHSOB competes in Division 2 of the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA).
History The team's founding in August 1907 was an unofficial game between the club and the school. The school side won by 58 points, but the Old Boys returned the next year to play the match again. The game became a yearly fixture. In 1912 the MHSOBFC had its first victory over past students. The games were discontinued during both World Wars, but continued to be played between them.
In 1923, the club proposed to make the move to the Metropolitan Amateur Association, but it was not until 1929 that the club entered the premiership points race. On 24 April 1928, the football club was formally established. It was fairly successful, albeit in a low grade, early in its history. A constant finals contender, it finally won the D grade in 1937, earning promotion. It won the C grade in 1939, and then after won the B grade in 1946. Since then has moved intermittently between the B and A grades barring a decline in the 1980s.
In 1939, as the MHSOB was in the midst of its rise to the A grade, the U19 club was formed. This club was immediately successful, winning the premiership in 1943 and 1945. The club did not win a premiership during the 50s, but in the 60s it became a formidable force. It won the premiership in 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964. The five-year record run has not been matched again, with the U19s winning only two more premierships: in 1985 and 1998. In total, the U19s have won nine times.
Honours Senior Competition Best and Fairest Awards J.N. Woodrow Medal (A Section) – I.Turnbull 1962; J.Nelson 1964–65 (3 total); G.T. Moore Medal B Section – J.Nelson 1959 & 1961 (1 Medallist/2 Medals); L.S. Zachariah Medal C Grade – L.Boyd-Gerny 1938; J.Nelson 1960; R.Skinner 1994; M.White 2004 (4 total) Division 2 – Tim Harper 2015Divisions 1-4 best fairests announced
Notable players Keith Truscott Neil Roberts Ken Albiston
Seasons PremiersGrand FinalistMinor premiersFinals appearanceWooden spoonDivision leading goalkickerDivision best and fairest Seniors YearLeagueDivisionCoachCaptainBest and fairestLeading goalkicker 1929 MAFA 9th 3 15 0 2011VAFAPremier C10th4140Paul DoddLachlan D EvansHeath J TaylorMatt White222012VAFADivision 15th990Paul DoddLachlan D EvansSteve VillaniNicholas Hawking212013VAFADivision 19th5130Luke EganKane C SmithDylan Hamilton-HoBenjamin Smith162014VAFADivision 110th1170Luke EganKane C SmithSteve VillaniAnthony Svirskis212015VAFADivision 26th990Matt NicholasAnthony Svirskis, Timothy HarperSteve VillaniNicholas Hawking562016VAFADivision 25th880Matt NicholasAnthony Svirskis, Timothy HarperDylan Hamilton-Ho Kane C Smith442017VAFADivision 2 3rd1170Matt NicholasBeau Jellis, Michael BrainJames TranKane C Smith422018VAFADivision 25th990Matt NicholasKane C Smith, Mitchell WilsonBradley JordanKane C Smith682019VAFADivision 24th880Matt NicholasKane C Smith, Mitchell WilsonTimothy CampeljAshan Wijayakumara302021VAFADivision 22nd1010Bernard PrettyMitchell Wilson, Timothy CampeljWill HellierAshan Wijayakumara422022VAFADivision 25th1161Bernard PrettyMitchell Wilson, Sean LesterJulian EimutisAshan Wijayakumara352023VAFADivision 26th7101Bernard PrettyJulian EimutisJulian EimutisMathew Pereira412024VAFADivision 26th7101Bernard PrettySean LesterNick McKinnonMathew Pereira382025VAFADivision 25th990Bernard PrettySean LesterAlastair ClarkeMathew Pereira462026VAFADivision 23rd1350Sean LesterWill CardwellLuca Di Lallo72
References
External links Official website