The Putney Magpies is an Australian rules football club based in west London. The club runs men's and women's teams, and includes many Australian expats.
The club fields teams in each of the three AFL London divisions — Premiership (1sts), Conference (2nds) and Social (3rds). The associate netball club is called the Putney Blackbirds.
History The London Gryphons were founded in 1999 by former West Coast Eagles, Brisbane Bears and Fitzroy Football Club player Mark Zanotti along with BARFL Admin Officer Donald Eastwood who originally played with the Earls Court Kangaroos, and have competed in the British Australian Rules Football League since that year. The club was originally made up of former rugby players and were predominantly British. After Zanotti's return to Australia after one year where the Gryphons made the finals, the Gryphons struggled both off-field and on-field, and eventually formed a partnership with the London Collingwood Supporters group, changing their name and colours to match those of the AFL's Collingwood Magpies.
The Putney Magpies were started in 2004 by Simon Thorp in his capacity as President of the London Collingwood Supporters Club, a phoenix rising from the ashes of the London Gryphons. Simon landed some good sponsorship, attracted some of the former Gryphons players (as well as some new blood), and with a bit of help from Eddie and the Collingwood Football Club, the Putney Magpies were born. Simon remained as President for the first two years.
The Putney Magpies Football Club made the 2004 Conference Grand Final in its first year as a club, a top four finish in 2005, developed five International players who represented their country in the 2005 British Bulldogs tour to Melbourne for the AFL International Cup, and boasted the 2005 Conference Best and Fairest winner and both the 2004 and 2005 Grand Final half time 'Dash for Cash' winners.
In seasons 2008 and 2010, the Putney Magpies competed in the London AFL Premiership Grand Final.
Putney now fields three teams in the AFL London Competition with a side to suit all levels and abilities. The Premiership side must field 5 non-aussies and 4 British players on the field while the Conference side (known as the reserves) only has to field 2. The Social team is also an available facility for interested people.
The Premiership side is coached by former Richmond, Essendon and Collingwood player Mark Pitura who also played games for Sturt in the SANFL.
The Pies are now entering their 10th season in the AFL London competition and are now going from strength to strength in the number of participants involved in the club.
Training and matches
The club trains at Hurlingham Park every Sunday at 1pm from the first weekend of Feb during the pre-season, then switches to Tuesdays and Thursday evenings from 6.30pm in South Park, Parsons Green after Easter once the daylight becomes longer.
Home games are played on Wimbledon Common at the Richardson Evans memorial playing fields in Putney Vale every Saturday during the summer months from early May until late July. Away games are played all through London. Finals are played in the month of August.
Honour board
COMMITTEE
Year President Vice-President Secretary Treasurer Captain 2004 Simon Thorp Matt Sime Matt Sime 2005 Simon Thorp Matt Sime Viktor Zabori 2006 Ben Connolly Matt Sime Matt Sime 2007 Ben Connolly Matt Sime Matt Sime Alex Thompson 2008 Mick Mullins Blair Riseborough Graham Tuffin Alex Thompson 2009 Pete O'Neill Brad McLeod Charlie Craig Brad McLeod 2010 Mark Pitura Aaron Williams Phil McLeod Steven Tindale Aaron Williams/Paul Sosic 2011 Mark Pitura Paul Sosic Jimmy Lloyd Steven Tindale Liam Flanagan/Paul Sosic 2012 Mark Pitura Steven Tindale Greg Chapman/Andrew Slevison 2013 Mark Pitura Taryn Dawson Rob Paterson Brad Busch Greg Chapman/Andrew Lawson
PREMIERSHIP
Year Position Coach Best & Fairest Leading Goalkicker Best EU/Non Aussie 2004 Remon Gazal Gareth Edwards/Remon Gazal Steve Connolly Phil Holby 2005 Ben Connolly Tommy Langford Joe Cordwell Chris Dickson 2006 Andrew Tweedie Pete O'Neill Joe Cordwell Chris Dickson 2007 4th Andrew Tweedie Alex Thompson Rick Talbot Andy Ruinoff 2008 2nd Mark Pitura Alex Thompson/Pete O'Neill Justin Hunter Andy Ruinoff 2009 3rd Mark Pitura Aaron Williams Joe Pedler Christian Maine 2010 2nd Mark Pitura Greg Hesse Pete McGettigan Paul Harris/Andy Ruinoff 2011 4th Mark Pitura Josh Cutten Andrew Slevison (31) John Scott 2012 3rd Alex Gunn Clayton Fitzgerald Andrew Slevison (54) James O'Connor 2013
CONFERENCE
Year Position Coach Best & Fairest Leading Goalkicker 2004 Remon Gazal Lauchlan MacKinnon Nick Dallimore 2005 Jeremy Cogdon Dave Van Horne Nick Dallimore 2006 Remon Gazal Scott Richmond Nick Dallimore/Matt Sime 2007 4th Mark Pitura Blair Robertson Steve Connolly 2008 3rd Blair Riseborough Chris Connolly Nick Salter 2009 3rd Mark Pitura Matt Best Mark Pitura/Ryan Batt 2010 5th Mark Pitura Brad Pozzi Nick Maddock 2011 5th Mark Pitura Luke Howard Luke Howard 2012 4th Pat Mahon Jarred Jones Pat Mahon 2013
Year Great Britain Representatives 2004 N/A 2005 Phil Holby, Simon Jones, Chris Dickson, Jon Dickson, Chris Glen, Paul Harris 2006 Chris Dickson, Jon Dickson, Nick Stevens, Paul Manley, Chris Glen, Paul Harris 2007 Andy Ruinoff, Chris Dickson, Amerigo Holthouse, Paul Harris, Paul Manley 2008 Andy Ruinoff, Amerigo Holthouse, Paul Harris, Graham Tuffin, Christian Lloyd, Aiden Dillane 2009 Rob Harmeston, Christian Lloyd, Christian Maine, Paul Harris, Andy Ruinoff 2010 Rob Harmeston, Paul Harris, Andy Ruinoff, Adam Street, Martyn Hinchey 2011 Paul Harris (Capt), Tom Mercer, Mark Todd 2012 N/A 2013 Paul Harris, Mark Todd, Will Murrells, Eliott Rich, Rob Harmeston
International matches 2008 The Brussels Saints, Brussels, Belgium 2009 The Flying Dutchmen, Amsterdam, Netherlands 2010 The Flying Dutchmen, Amsterdam, Netherlands 2011 The Flying Dutchmen, Amsterdam, Netherlands 2012 Port Malmo Maulers, Malmo, Sweden 2013 Berlin Crocodiles, Berlin, Germany
Footy trips 2007 Riga, Latvia 2008 Newcastle, England 2009 Newcastle, England 2010 Nottingham, England 2011 Lagos, Portugal 2012 Magaluf, Spain 2013 Lagos, Portugal 2014 Magaluf, Spain 2015 Fulham, England 2016 Sunny Beach, Bulgaria
See also
References
External links Putney Magpies