BENTLEIGH
Current Affiliation: Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) since 2000
Home Ground: Bentleigh Recreation Reserve, Arthur Street, Bentleigh
Formed: 1965
Colours: Navy blue and red
Emblem: Demons
Senior VAFA Premierships: Nil
Senior Competition Best and Fairest Awards: D2 Section Best and Fairest - D.Martin 2002; James Robertson 2007 (2 total); D3 Section Best and Fairest - D.Martin 2001 (1 total); D4 Section Best and Fairest - D.Martin 2000 (1 total)
Today's Bentleigh Amateur Football Club began life in 1965 as Bentleigh Methodists. The club was admitted that year to D Grade in the Eastern Suburban Protestant Churches Football Association (ESPCFA - later renamed the ESCFA). It won its first premiership in 1968, thanks to a hefty grand final defeat of Mont Albert, but had to wait until 1990 before procuring its second, this time in B Grade.
During its time in the ES(P)CFA Bentleigh underwent more emblem changes than it won grand finals. Initially nicknamed the Terriers, it was later known as the Bulldogs, and then the Dragons. In 1995 it underwent another nickname change when it adopted a similar playing uniform to AFL club Melbourne, and became known as the Demons. Two years earlier, the ES(P)CFA had been merged into the Southern Football League (SFL) and that was where Bentleigh remained until the end of the 1999 season. It was generally quite competitive, but was unable to add to its tally of senior premierships.
It has been a similar story since the club crossed to the VAFA in 2000. Despite reaching grand finals in D4 in 2000, and D3 in 2001 and 2006, it has yet to emerge victorious.
Coached by Troy Lupoi, Bentleigh endured a difficult first season in D2 Grade, but ultimately lived to fight another year at the same level after avoiding the drop back to D3 Section on the merest sliver (0.29%) of percentage.
Where now?
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