.htm_cmp_capsules010_vbtn.gif)
.htm_cmp_capsules010_vbtn.gif)
.htm_cmp_capsules010_vbtn.gif)
PENNANT HILLS
Affiliated: SFA 1971-76; SAFL (and precursors) 1977-present
Club Address: P.O. Box 200, Pennant Hills, 2120, New South Wales
Home Ground: Ern Holmes Oval, Brittania Avenue, Pennant Hills
Colours: Navy blue and red
Emblem: Demons
Premierships: SAFL - 2000, 2006, 2008 (3 total); SFA - 1975-76 (2 total)
Phelan Medallists: M.Toy 1983; G.Spillane 1988; C.Richardson 2007; M.Carey 2008 (4 total)
S(A)FL Top Goalkickers: S.Bird (96) 1984; R.Green (82) 1995 & (68) 1996; L.Spencer (63) 2004 (4 total)
Most Games: Rod Miles 233
Action from a game between Pennant Hills (red collars) and Western Suburbs in 1997.
Often referred to, with colloquial affection, as 'Penno', the Pennant Hills Football Club was formed in 1971 and spent its first six seasons in the Sydney Football Association, where it was twice successful in lifting the premiership. In 1977 the club was admitted to Sydney's senior football competition, the New South Wales Australian Football League (precursor of today's Sydney AFL), and qualified for the finals in its first year before finishing 5th.
After dropping to 6th in 1978 the side finished 5th again in 1979 and 1980, but by this time the NSWAFL, after a six season flirtation with the final five, had reverted to a top four finals system.
Pennant Hills enjoyed its best season to date in 1981, finishing 3rd, before qualifying for its first grand final the following year. Opponents East Sydney had won the previous two grand finals by an average margin of 105 points, but Pennant Hills refused to be intimidated or overawed, eventually succumbing by just three straight kicks after a tortuous battle of wills. In 1983 and '84 East Sydney went on to make it five premierships in a row, with the Demons' effort in 1982 remaining the only occasion when they were seriously tested. Unfortunately for Pennant Hills, however, the club's time as a genuine flag contender was over, at least for the time being.
It was not until the mid 1990s that the Demons re-emerged as a credible force, reaching successive grand finals in 1995 and 1996. However, Campbelltown (by 56 points) and Western Suburbs (by 2 goals) proved too strong, a situation that was replicated in 1998 when Balmain 12.13 (85) defeated Pennant Hills 9.11 (65).
The long awaited moment of glory for Pennant Hills came at the end of a 2000 season in which the side overcame a slow start to win 11 of its 16 home and away matches and finish 2nd on the ladder behind the Sydney Swans reserves. However, the AFL side did not participate in the finals, leaving Pennant Hills to contest the 2nd semi final against 3rd placed North Shore, which had finished behind the Demons only on percentage. Pennant Hills duly won this encounter with some comfort by 62 points, earning outright premiership favouritism for the follow up meeting between the two sides which occurred a fortnight later in the grand final. Once again the Demons proved too strong, effectively sealing the game with a 7 goal opening term burst before cruising to a 35 point victory, 15.12 (32) to North Shore's 10.7 (67).
Having finally managed to 'get the monkey off their back', the Demons suffered something of a premiership hangover, dropping to 4th place in 2001, and missing the finals altogether in 2002 and 2003. The 2004 season brought a return to finals participation, and a 4th place finish, while in 2005 the side got as far as the preliminary final before bowing out to North Shore, so clearly things were moving in the right direction.
This impression was confirmed the following year when the Demons clinched their second SAFL premiership thanks to a gutsy 2 point grand final win over previously unbeaten East Coast Eagles. At the last change the Eagles led 6.6 (42) to 4.11 (35), and in a dour final quarter only 2 goals were registered, 1 to either side. Pennant Hills, however, dominated the play, and only waywardness in front of goal prevented them from securing a comfortable victory. As it was, the final scoreline of Pennant Hills 5.20 (50) to East Coast 7.6 (48) made it unambiguously evident that the better team on the day had won the premiership.
The 2007 season brought another finals campaign for the Eagles, but this was brought to an emphatic end at the preliminary final stage by North Shore.
A year later the Eagles enjoyed arguably the finest season in their history as they comfortably qualified for the finals in second place with a 14-4 record before cruising to emphatic finals victories over St George, UNSW-Eastern Suburbs and, in the grand final, East Coast Eagles by a staggering 104 point margin.
After engaging in a brief, informal liaison with the Kangaroos, Pennant Hills is now formally aligned with its AFL 'nicknamesake', Melbourne.
Where now?
or