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ELTHAMCurrent Affiliation: Northern Football League (NFL) since 2007 Home Ground: Eltham Central Park, Panther Place, Eltham Club Address: P.O. Box 823, Eltham 3095, Victoria Colours: Black and red Emblem: Panthers Senior Grade Premierships: Diamond Valley Football League (DVFL) - 1930, 1932, 1949, 1953, 1969-70, 1972, 1974 (8 total); DVFL Division Two - 1982, 1989, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2002 (6 total) Most Games: 263 by Harry Barrett Having competed in the Heidelberg District Football League since 1920 Eltham was one of half a dozen foundation members in 1922 of the Diamond Valley Football League, precursor of today’s Northern Football League. The club qualified for the finals for the first time in 1928, but bowed out at the first hurdle against Heidelberg. Two years later Eltham played off for the premiership for the first time, with Heidelberg once again providing the opposition. After a tense, low scoring tussle Eltham emerged victorious by 7 points. The club’s second flag was achieved in 1932, also at the expense of Heidelberg. Final scores in the grand final were Eltham 13.19 (97) defeated Heidelberg 8.10 (58). Controversy attended the club in 1935 when it downed Epping in the final only for a replay to be ordered after Epping queried the eligibility of one of Eltham’s players. Eltham refused to take part in the replay, and the match was awarded to Epping. Possibly as a reaction to this controversy Eltham spent the 1936 and 1937 seasons competing in the VFL Sub Districts League before resuming in the DVFL in 1938. Eltham’s next premiership did not arrive until 1949, when Greensborough was downed in the grand final by 8 points, 8.8 (56) to 7.6 (48). A second post-war flag followed four years later at the expense of Lakeside Rovers. The late 1960s and early ‘70s saw Eltham fielding probably the strongest teams in its history with premierships coming its way in 1969, 1970, 1972 and 1974. The 1974 flag, achieved by means of a 10.9 (69) to 9.8 (62) grand final defeat of Heidelberg, remains the Panthers’ last at the equivalent of division one level. When the DVFL introduced a second tier in 1981 that was where Eltham found itself, and all the club’s subsequent senior grade premierships have been won at that level. These triumphs were claimed at the expense of Macleod-Rosanna in 1982, Epping in 1989, West Preston in 1995, Mernda in 1997, Watsonia in 2000, and Mernda in 2002. The Panthers currently compete in division one of the Northern Football League, which replaced the DVFL in 2007. In 2008 they ran seventh in a field of ten after winning 7 of their 18 home and away fixtures. Where now? or
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