LA TROBE UNIVERSITY (La Trobe University Blacks/La Trobe University Reds)
Current Affiliation: Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) since 1970
Home Ground: Main Oval, Latrobe University
Formed: 1967 (In 1968 and 1969, and between 1971 and 1977, the club fielded two separate senior teams, La Trobe University Blacks and La Trobe University Reds.)
Colours: Black and red
Senior VAFA Premierships: E Section - 1976 (Blacks), 1989 (2 total); E White Section - 1999 (1 total); F Section - 1988
Senior Competition Best and Fairest Awards: J.Fullerton Medal (E Section) - D.Poole 1989*; I.Wrigglesworth 1989* (2 total); O.J. Meehan Medal (F Section) - N.Harrison (Reds) 1973; D.Cowling (Reds) 1974 (2 total)
Most Games: 321 by Tony Sheehan
* indicates tied for the Medal
La Trobe University was established in 1967, and its football club was formed the same year as a founding member of what came to be known as the La Trobe University Sports and Recreation Association.
Between 1967 and 1969 the La Trobe University Football Club was a member of the Panton Hill Football League (PHFL). In its first season, the University fielded just one senior team, but in 1968 it divided into two, University Blacks and University Reds. In 1969 University Blacks won the PHFL premiership, beating Mernda in the grand final.
The 1970 season saw La Trobe University admitted to the VAFA in E Section. Competing as a unified team once more, it enjoyed a good year, and reached the preliminary final.
In 1971 the VAFA reintroduced F Section, which had been mothballed six years previously. At this point, La Trobe University split into the same two teams as in 1968-9, with the Blacks competing in E Grade, and the Reds in F. The Blacks performed well to achieve promotion to D Section after reaching the E Grade grand final, although in a closely fought, low scoring affair, St Pat's Old Collegians won the premiership by the narrowest of margins.
Following their elevation, the Blacks continued to perform creditably for a time, finishing 4th in both 1972 and 1973. After that their form declined, however, and by 1976 they were back in E Grade. The Reds meanwhile had enjoyed one promising year in 1973, when they ran 4th, but other than that had failed to impress.
Captain-coached by club 'games played' record holder Tony Sheehan, the Blacks broke through for their first VAFA premiership in 1976 when they downed St Kevin's Old Boys in the E Section grand final by 46 points, 12.8 (80) to 4.10 (34). Relegation followed immediately, however, and with the Reds continuing to perform disappointingly the decision was taken to streamline operations by once again fielding just one University senior team.
La Trobe University's first VAFA flag as a unified team came in 1988 in F Section. It was convincingly won thanks to an 18.10 (118) to 7.9 (51) grand final demolition of Doveton St John's Old Collegians. The following year saw the club achieve back to back premierships for the only time to date when St Bede's Old Collegians were beaten by 23 points in the E Grade grand final. Both the 1988 and 1989 flag-winning sides were coached by Peter O'Donohue.
The club's most recent senior premiership came in 1999 in the short-lived E East Section. Fitzroy Reds provided the opposition in the grand final which La Trobe University won by 32 points, 14.11 (95) to 9.9 (63). The team's best finish since 1999 was 3rd place in D2 Section in 2002. It also competed in D2 Section in 2006, but fared somewhat worse, winning just 4 of 18 home and away matches to succumb to relegation to D3 Grade, where it had a promising first season, finishing 4th.
In addition to its five senior premierships, La Trobe University has also won three reserves flags and three inter-varsity premierships. More importantly, regardless of the score on the board or positions on the premiership ladder, the club has, for four decades, consistently fulfilled its own self-declared primary aim, which is to "provide an opportunity for students to be involved in sport in an environment that that complements their academic endeavours" (see footnote 1).
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Footnotes
1. La Trobe University Football Club official website at http://www.latrobe.edu.au/sara/clubweb/aust_rules/ClubHistory.htm. Return to Main Text