COLAC IMPERIALS
Current Affiliation: Colac and District Football League (CDFL) since 1955
Formed: 1922
Colours: Navy blue and white
Emblem: Cats
Senior CDFL Premierships: 1947, 1949, 1960, 1963-4, 1968, 1979, 1986, 1989, 1995 (10 total)
With ten senior flags to their credit since 1947, the Cats have been the Colac and District Football League's second most successful post-war club, behind Alvie. They won the first of those premierships with a 13.8 (86) to 9.4 (58) grand final defeat of Coragulac Rovers, and followed this up with a second premiership two seasons later. In 1950 the club left the CDFL to compete in the Polwarth Football League, only to return in 1955. A losing grand final against Otway Rovers in 1958 was followed two years later with another premiership as the club embarked on the most successful phase in its history, capped by further flag triumphs in 1963, 1964 and 1968. After that the 1970s were largely disappointing, until the last year of the decade that is when the Cats again went top.
Of the club's three most recent premierships that of 1995 was perhaps the most memorable. The Cats commenced their finals campaign with a hard fought 3 point win over Lorne in the qualifying final, but were then outgunned and outplayed by Apollo Bay to the tune of 34 points in the 2nd semi. The preliminary final rematch with Lorne was a stern test, but Imperials looked quite solid and assured in winning by 25 points, 15.6 (96) to 11.5 (71). The Bayers, who had lost just once all season, were raging hot favourites to win their second flag in three years, but the Cats, expertly coached by John Henry, produced their best display of the season to snatch a dramatic 2 point win. Final scores were Colac Imperials 13.7 (85) to Apollo Bay 13.5 (83), with ruckman Henry and wingman Tyson Hay, both of whom nabbed 4 goals, vying for best afield honours.
The 2006 season saw the Cats reaching the finals, but after an impressive 22.10 (142) to 13.13 (91) elimination final win over Alvie they succumbed to a dismal 92 point hiding at the hands of Forrest. They slipped down the list in 2007, finishing mid-table, but well out of the running as far as finals qualification was concerned.
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