WAVERLEY

Affiliated: VFA 1961-1987

Colours:  Red and black

Emblem: Panthers

Premierships: 1st Division - 1965 (1 total)

J.J.Liston Trophy winners: A.Poore 1965 & 1966 (2 total)

J.Field Trophy winners: R.Allan 1974; L.Styles 1978; P.Rogerson 1987 (3 total)

Glen Waverley Football Club, which was a member of the Caulfield-Oakleigh District League, was admitted to the VFA 2nd division (see footnote 1) in 1961.  On entry to the higher level competition the club took on the name of the newly constituted city of Waverley, and right from the outset it proved itself a competitive combination, winning 9 of its 18 matches in its inaugural season.

Three seasons later Waverley gained promotion to 1st division 'through the back door'.  Reigning division one premiers Moorabbin had left the competition after a dispute with the VFA, and the Panthers, having finished the previous season as division two runners up, were the logical choice to replace them.

After narrowly avoiding relegation in 1964 the side caused a major surprise the following year when it broke through for its first and only flag, downing Port Melbourne in the grand final by 12 points after being outplayed early.  Final scores were Waverley 14.13 (97) to Port Melbourne 10.25 (85).

The same two sides made it through to the following year's grand final, but on this occasion, after an even 1st quarter, the Borough proved to have Waverley's measure. A small degree of consolation was afforded by former Collingwood player Allan Poore's achievement in becoming the first ever 'back to back' winner of the Liston Trophy (see footnote 2).

All told, Waverley appeared in a total of four losing grand finals in a VFA career which ended after the last of them, a 19 point loss to Prahran in 2nd Division in 1987.

Among the Panthers' more prominent players over the years were the aforementioned Allan Poore, Ian Thorogood, Ron Alan and Geoff Gosper.

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Footnotes

1. The VFA introduced a two division format in 1961, and Glen Waverley's admission was part of the Association's concomitant expansion at this time.  Return to Main Text

2.  Neville Huggins and Arthur Cutting, both of Williamstown, had each won successive VFA Medals in 1936-7, and 1938-9 respectively.  Return to Main Text