AVONDALE HEIGHTS
Current Affiliation: Essendon District Football Association (EDFL) since 1966
Formed: 1966 as a junior club; seniors commenced in 1967
Club Address: P.O. Box 154, Avondale Heights 3034, Victoria
Colours: Navy blue and white
Senior EDFL Premierships: A Grade - 1987 (1 total); B Grade - 1976, 2004 (2 total); A3 Grade - 1980, 1983 (2 total)
League Best and Fairest Awards: A Grade (Reynolds Medal) - A.Galea 1978; P.Darby 1986; S.O'Hagen 1989; M.O'Dea 1996; C.Liddle 1998; A.Ibrahim 2000 (6 total) B Grade (W.Hutchison Medal) - A.Tarcson 1974 (1 total)
Avondale Heights Football Club commenced operations in 1966 when it fielded a team in the EDFL's under fifteens competition. Given that the average age of the team members was just eleven, it is not surprising that no wins were recorded. Within two years, however, the under fifteens would improve sufficiently to win the club's first premiership.
The Avondale Heights senior side got underway in 1967 when it was admitted to the EDFL's C Grade league, and like the juniors it found the going tough at first. The seventies brought gradual improvement, however, both on and off the field. By 1972 the club was fielding half a dozen teams each weekend, two at senior level, and four junior combinations. The first senior premiership arrived in 1976 thanks to a 17.13 (115) to 15.14 (94) B Grade grand final win over Brunswick City.
Over the ensuing decade the senior team established itself as a solid performer in A Grade, finally breaking through for a premiership in 1987. Meanwhile, the club's A3 team had enjoyed premiership success in 1980 and 1983.
Avondale Heights' most recent senior premiership arrived in 2004 in B Grade, and was won in the most emphatic fashion possible as the team went through the entire season unbeaten. The side then went on to qualify for the A Grade finals in 2005, but the 2006 season brought a slump in form and a mid-table finish. Improvement was shown in 2007 as the team managed 11 wins from 18 matches to qualify for the finals in 4th spot, ahead of West Coburg on percentage. It failed to do itself justice in the 1st semi final, however, and ended up losing by 45 points to Keilor.
Where now?
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