YARRA VALLEY OLD BOYS
Current Affiliation: Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) since 1993
Home Ground: Domeney Reserve, Knees Road, Park Orchards
Formed: 1993
Colours: Black, gold and red
Emblem: Bushrangers
Senior VAFA Premierships: D2 Section - 2002 (1 total); E Grade - 1997 (1 total); F Section - 1994 (1 total)
Senior Competition Best and Fairest Awards: J. Fullerton Medal (E Section) - F.MacVean 1996 (1 total)
Yarra Valley Old Boys Football Club was formed in 1993 by a group of former students of Yarra Valley Grammar School. The club was admitted to the VAFA that same year and, with Wayne Reddaway as senior coach and Jarrod Dickson as captain, commenced in the newly formed F2 Grade (which was really just G Grade under another name).
The Bushrangers, as they are known, showed promise from the start, winning their first match by 10 goals, and going on to qualify for the finals with considerable comfort. They ended up reaching the grand final against Oakleigh, only to put in an inexplicably poor performance and lose 59 points. The main objective of promotion to F1 Section (which in 1994 would revert to its previous name of F Section) had been achieved, however.
The 1994 season proved extremely memorable in that the club not only procured its first senior premiership, but did so at the expense of its 1993 nemesis, Oakleigh. Yarra Valley won by 25 points, 16.10 (106) to 12.9 (81).
Despite winning many games by massive margins the Bushrangers found E Section frustratingly difficult to escape from, but they finally managed it in 1997 thanks to a narrow grand final win over Kew. The club had only existed for five years but was making great strides both on and off the field, with a sound administration, dedicated support, and reserves and under nineteen teams in addition to the seniors. A further step forward was taken in 1998 with the formation of a Club XVIII team for players who found it difficult to commit themselves to a full scale training regime but were still keen to be actively involved in the game.
The Bushrangers' most recent senior premiership victory was by some measure their most conclusive to date. After winning the minor premiership, they accounted for Salesian in the 2nd semi final by 27 points - an impressive enough victory, but one that gave no hint whatsoever of what was to occur in the grand final re-match a fortnight later. It was quite simply one of the most consummate grand final annihilations in VAFA history, with the Bushrangers doing virtually as they pleased in winning by 139 points, 28.19 (187) to 7.6 (148). With the reserves also winning their premiership, it was a near exemplary season, as well as the perfect way for the club to celebrate its ten season anniversary.
Yarra Valley enjoyed a solid season in 2006 with the seniors winning 12 of their 18 home and away matches in D1 to qualify for the 1st semi final, which they lost to Rupertswood. The 2007 season, by contrast, was somewhat disappointing, with the Bushrangers managing just half a dozen wins, a result that put them just one place above the relegation zone.
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