The Wangaratta Rovers, officially known as the Wangaratta Rovers Football & Netball Club, is an Australian rules football club based in Wangaratta, Victoria and play in the Ovens & Murray Football League. Their nickname is the Hawks. Their home ground is W.J. Findlay Oval in Wangaratta. Their playing guernsey consists of gold and brown stripes on the front and gold on the back.
| Wangaratta Rovers Football Club | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Names | |||
| Full name | Wangaratta Rovers Football / Netball Club Incorporated. | ||
| Nickname(s) | Hawks | ||
| Motto | The Family Club | ||
| 2024 season | |||
| After finals | 1st (Premiers) | ||
| Home-and-away season | 2nd | ||
| Leading goalkicker | 54: Alex Marklew | ||
| Bob Rose Medal | Sam Murray | ||
| Club details | |||
| Founded | 1922 (entered O&MFL in 1950) | ||
| Colours | Brown Gold | ||
| Competition | Ovens and Murray Football League | ||
| President | Walter Pasquali | ||
| Coach | Sam Murray | ||
| Captain(s) | Alex Marklew | ||
| Premierships | 16: O&MFL | ||
| Ground(s) | W. J. Findlay Oval (capacity: 10,000) | ||
| (1953 to 2024) | |||
| Training ground(s) | W. J. Findlay Oval | ||
| Uniforms | |||
| |||
| Other information | |||
| Official website | wangrovers.com.au | ||
History
edit
Wangaratta Rovers were initially formed in 1922 and competed in the Wangaratta District Football Association (WDFA) from 1922 to 1924,[1] then moved across to the Ovens and King Football League (O&KFL) from 1925 to 1929. Wangaratta Rovers lost both the 1922[2] and the 1923[3] WDFA grand finals to Milawa.
Wangaratta Rovers actually merged with the Wangaratta Football Club in 1930, who then entered one team in the Ovens and Murray Football League and one team in the O&KFL.
The Wangaratta Rovers re-formed in 1945 and competed in the O&KFL from 1945 to 1949, winning the 1948 premiership[4] and losing to Myrtleford in the 1949 O&KFL grand final,[5] before joining the Ovens & Murray Football League in 1950.[6]
Football Premierships
edit- Seniors
- Ovens and King Football League (1)
- 1948[7]
- Ovens and Murray Football League (16)
- 1958, 1960, 1964, 1965, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1994, 2024.
- Reserves
- Ovens and Murray Football League (8)
- 1958, 1962, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1984, 2007.
- Under 18 / Thirds
- Ovens and Murray Football League (12)
- 1980, 1985, 1988, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2018, 2024.
Netball Premiership
edit- A. Grade
- Ovens and Murray Football League (4)
- 1993, 1994, 2005, 2006,
- B. Grade
- Ovens and Murray Football League (1)
- 1999
- C. Grade
- Ovens and Murray Football League (1)
- 1996,
- 16 & Under
- Ovens and Murray Football League (1)
- 2019
League Best & Fairest Award Winners
edit- Seniors
- Ovens & Murray Football League - Morris Medal
- 1958 & 1960 - Bob Rose
- 1966 - Neville Hogan
- 1975 - Andrew Scott
- 1991, 1997, 1999, 2001 & 2003 - Robert Walker
- Reserves
- Ovens & Murray Football League
- 1969 - Alan Daniel
- 1975 - Barry Clarke
- 1979 - Malcom Dalton
- 1982 - Ian Gambold
- 1989 - Andrew Robinson
- 2021 - Mitchell Booth
- 2024 - Noah Amery
- Thirds / Under 18's
- Ovens & Murray Football League
- 1984 - Chris O'Connor
- 1989 - Daine Hochfeld* (Polled the most votes, but was disqualified due to a suspension)
- 1996 - Daniel McLaughlin
- 2002 - Jamie Allan
- 2005 - Ben Reid
- 2007 - Zac O'Brien
- 2016 & 2017 - Paul Sanderson
- 2018 - Ed Dayman
- 2019 - Alessandro Belci
- 2023 - Riley Allan
VFL / AFL Players
editThe following footballers played with Wangaratta Rovers, prior to playing senior football in the VFL/AFL, and / or drafted, with the year indicating their VFL/AFL debut.
- 1929 - Gil Patrick - Footscray
- 1950 - Mac Hill - Collingwood
- 1956 - Alan Dale - St. Kilda
- 1959 - Kevin Dellar - Essendon
- 1959 - Les Gregory - St. Kilda
- 1964 - Barrie Beattie - Footscray
- 1964 - Graeme Leydin - Essendon
- 1967 - Mike Hallahan - Fitzroy
- 1968 - Norm Bussell - Hawthorn
- 1972 - Phil Doherty - North Melbourne
- 1973 - Mick Nolan - North Melbourne
- 1975 - John Byrne - North Melbourne
- 1985 - Rohan Robertson - North Melbourne
- 1985 - Shane Robertson - North Melbourne
- 1987 - Paul Bryce - North Melbourne
- 1987 - Craig Patrick - North Melbourne, Pick No.35
- 1988 - Scott Williamson - West Coast Eagles, Pick No.44
- 1989 - Joe Wilson - Brisbane Bears, Pick No.51
- 1990 - Tim Rieniets - Carlton
- 1990 - Robert Hickmott - Melbourne
- 1990 - Scott Williamson - Melbourne, No. 31 (1990 Pre season draft)
- 1991 - Dean Harding - Fitzroy
- 2001 - Andrew Hill - Collingwood, No.39 (2001 AFL Rookie Draft)
- 2002 - Sean O'Keeffe - Carlton
- 2003 - Karl Norman - Carlton
- 2004 - Luke Mullins - St. Kilda
- 2006 - Alipate Carlile - Port Adelaide
- 2007 - Ben Reid - Collingwood
- 2010 - Sam Reid - Sydney Swans
- 2014 - Zac O'Brien - Brisbane Lions
- 2021 - Nick Murray - Adelaide Crows
- 2022 - Brayden George - North Melbourne
- 2023 - Darcy Wilson - St. Kilda
- 2024 - Toby Murray - Adelaide Crows
The following footballers played senior VFL / AFL football prior to playing and / or coaching with Wangaratta Rovers with the year indicating their first season at WRFNC.
- 1950 - Ken Bodger - Hawthorn
- 1954 - Alan Dale - St. Kilda
- 1956 - Bob Rose - Collingwood
- 1962 - Graeme Leydin - Essendon
- 1964 - Ken Boyd - South Melbourne
- 1964 - Frank Hogan - South Melbourne
- 1965 - Bob Hempel - Footscray
- 1967 - Ian Brewer - Collingwood
- 1975 - Andrew Scott - Hawthorn
- 1981 - Phil Seaton - Melbourne
- 1983 - Gerry McCarthy - Hawthorn & Fitzroy
- 1987 - Peter Tossol - Melbourne
- 2001 - Nick Trask - Brisbane Bears
- 2012 - Barry Hall - St. Kilda, Sydney Swans & Footscray
- 2014 - Daniel Archer - St. Kilda
- 2014 - Jarrad Boumann - Hawthorn
- 2014 - James Mulligan - Footscray
- 2019 - Daryn Cresswell - Sydney Swans
- 2021 - Matt Jones - Melbourne
- 2021 - Sam Murray - Collingwood
- 2024 - Lochie O'Brien - Carlton
- 2024 - Eddie Betts - Carlton & Adelaide Crows
References
edit- ^ "1923 - Wangaratta". The Argus. 16 April 1923. p. 14. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ "1922 - Country Matches: Wangaratta". The Argus. 4 September 1922. p. 12. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ "1923 - Matches in the Country: Wangaratta". The Age. 24 September 1923. p. 15. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ "1948 - Wang Rovers win premiership by 20 points". Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic). 29 September 1948. p. 4. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ "1949 - Myrtleford defeats Rovers in grand final". Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic). 28 September 1948. p. 4. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ "1950 - Two more teams?". Rutherglen Sun and Chiltern Valley Advertiser (Vic). 7 February 1950. p. 3. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ "1948 - Rovers well won premiership". The Myrtleford Times. 29 September 1948. p. 3. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
External links
edit
- WRFNC - Website
- WRFNC - Facebook
- 1949 - Wangaratta Rovers team photo
- 1954 - Wangaratta Rovers team photo
- 1953 - Alan Dale photo / article
- 1956 - Wangaratta Rovers team photo
- 1975 - O&MFL Premiers: Wangaratta Rovers team photo