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GORMANDALECurrent Affiliation: North Gippsland Football League (NGFL) since 1955 Formed: 1891 Colours: Black and yellow Emblem: Tigers Senior Premierships: Cowwarr Football League (CFL) - 1940, 1954 (2 total); Sale Cowwarr Football League/NGFL - 1982, 1986, 1989, 1991-2, 1995 (6 total) C.L. Burley Medallists: G.Hollingsworth 1961; D.Coney 1967; A.Jennings 1992; B.Graham 1994; P.Rust 2003 (5 total) When, in 1955, the Cowwarr Football League merged with the Sale District Football League to form the Sale Cowwarr Football League Gormandale was one of the new competition's foundation members. The Tigers boasted a strong side at the time, having defeated Cowwarr 10.16 (76) to 6.7 (43) in the last ever Cowwarr Football League grand final final. However, competition in the SCFL was stiff, and it would be a quarter of a century before Gormandale again tasted premiership success. During that time, the side was often highly competitive, and reached the grand final, only to lose, on four occasions. The long awaited breakthrough finally arrived in 1982 when the Tigers comfortably overcame the grand final challenge of Glengarry, winning by 38 points, 15.6 (96) to 8.10 (58). Gormandale's second flag in 1986 was especially noteworthy in that it was claimed unbeaten, and the club rounded off the decade in perfect fashion with another grand final win over Glengarry, this time by the much narrower margin of just 5 points. With a tally of three premierships from half a dozen grand final appearances the 1980s were Gormandale's most successful decade to date, but the 1990s were not far behind, spawning another three flags from five grand finals. For the first time in the club's history, two of these premierships - those of 1991 against Heyfield, and 1992 against Glengarry - were won consecutively. The 1992 side emulated their 1986 predecessors by winning every match for the season. The Tigers' third flag of the decade came following a 13.13 (91) to 12.11 (83) grand final defeat of Churchill in 1995. Gormandale Football Club is well over a century old, having been formed in 1891. Prior to World War One, and for several years after it, the Tigers competed in the Traralgon District Football Association, before crossing to the Cowwarr Football League in the early 1920s, where they would remain until 1955. In addition to the premiership of 1954, mentioned above, the Tigers went top in 1940 thanks to an 8.11 (59) to 4.5 (29) grand final triumph over Cowwarr. Gormandale has not contested a senior grand final since 1995, but over the past few seasons the side has shown steady improvement. After finishing well down the list in 2004 the Tigers claimed 5th spot in 2005, and in both 2006 and 2007 made it as far as the 1st semi final, where they lost respectively to Churchill and Rosedale. The 2008 season brought a minor premiership followed by a 16.10 (106) to 13.13 (91) second semi final defeat of Churchill. However, in the grand final re-match between the sides a fortnight later the Cougars kicked straighter, and edged to victory by 3 points, 11.10 (76) to 9.19 (73). Where now? or
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