Coburg Amateurs Football Club Explained

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Color2:	white
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Clubname:	Coburg Amateurs
Fullname:	Coburg Amateurs Football Club
Nicknames:	Swans
Founded:	1920s^[1]
Dissolved:	1988
Season:	1987 F Section
Home&Amp;Away:	10th
Colours:	Blue Red
League:	MJFL (1928−34) VAFA (1935−40; 1942−87) EDFL (1941)
Premierships:	VAFA A Section (1) VAFA B Section (2) VAFA C Section (2) VAFA D Section (2)
Ground:	De Chene Reserve, Coburg^[2] ^[3]
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Socks1:	0000cc

The Coburg Amateurs Football Club, nicknamed the Swans, was an Australian rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of Coburg.^{[4] [5]}

The club's most successful period was the 1930s, where they won two premierships and were runners-up in another four grand finals. They won premierships in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) in every decade that followed (excluding the 1940s), but struggled after 1982 and eventually folded in 1988.

History

Early years

Coburg Amateurs was formed in the 1920s and first competed in the Northern District Football Association (NDFA)'s A Grade in 1928.^{[6] [7]} The club made the finals series in 1929, but were defeated by Richmond United in the semi-final.^[8]

The NDFA was renamed to the Metropolitan Junior Football League (MJFL) in 1930, and Coburg was defeated by Richmond United in the grand final later that year.^{[9] [10]} In 1931, Coburg defeated Richmond United in the semi-final, but was defeated by West Brunswick in the grand final.^{[11] [12]}

In its final season in the MJFL, Coburg was defeated by South Kensington in the 1934 grand final.^{[13] [14]}

VAFA

Coburg left the MJFL to join the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) in 1935.^[15] Its first VAFA premiership was won in D Section in 1936, which was followed by a C Section premiership in 1937.^{[16] [17]}

After the VAFA suspended competition in 1940 because of the Second World War, Coburg joined the Essendon District Football League (EDFL) for the 1941 season.^[18] The club returned to VAFA affiliation in 1942 and resumed playing in 1946.^{[1] [19]} The club also affiliated with Moreland Amateurs, which entered the VAFA in 1949.^[20]

Coburg made the 1970 A Section Grand Final, but despite being seen as favourites going into the match and finishing strongly, they were defeated by Caulfield Grammarians by two points.^[21]

In its final season in 1987, Coburg only won a single game, finishing last on the D Section ladder. The club went into recess before the 1988 season began, and folded shortly after.^{[22] [23]}

Honours

Premierships

Division	Level	Wins	Years won
A Section	Seniors	1	1969
	Reserves	1	1976
B Section	Seniors	2	1955, 1963
C Section	Seniors	2	1937, 1952
	Reserves	1	1982
D Section	Seniors	2	1936, 1981
	Reserves	1	1981
Junior 2	Juniors	2	1973, 1979

Leading VAFA goalkickers

• 1968

Rod McFarlane − 54 goals (A Section)

• 1969

Rod McFarlane − 70 goals (A Section)

• 1970

Rod McFarlane − 105 goals (A Section)

• 1959

K. C. O'Brien − 41 goals (B Section)

• 1937

J. Plunkett − 99 goals (C Section)

• 1957

J. Brown − 67 goals (Junior Section)

• 1975

M. Egan − 82 goals (Junior Section)^[24]

Seasons

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Premiers

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Grand Finalist

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Minor premiers

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Finals appearance

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Wooden spoon

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Division leading goalkicker

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Division best and fairest

Seniors

Year	League	Division					Coach	Captain	Best and fairest	Leading goalkicker	Goals
1928	NDFA	A Grade
1929	NDFA	A Grade	style=background:#96CDCD; align="center"
1930	MJFL	A Grade	style=background:#C0BFBD; align="center"
1931	MJFL	A Grade	style=background:#C0BFBD; align="center"
1932	MJFL	A Grade
1933	MJFL	A Grade
1934	MJFL	A Grade	style=background:#C0BFBD; align="center"
1935	VAFA	D Section	style=background:#96CDCD; align="center"	4th
1936	VAFA	D Section	style=background:#F0E68C; align="center"
1937	VAFA	C Section	style=background:#F0E68C; align="center"	1st		0	0				style=background:#FAECC8	J. Plunkett	99
1938	VAFA	B Section	style=background:#C0BFBD; align="center"					Stan McDonald					^[25]
1939	VAFA	A Section	style=background:#96CDCD; align="center"	4th
1940	VAFA	A Section										^[26]
1941	EDFL
1942		(No season)
1943		(No season)
1944		(No season)
1945		(No season)
1946	VAFA	A Section
1947	VAFA	A Section	style=background:#96CDCD; align="center"	4th
1948	VAFA	A Section										^[27]
1949	VAFA
1950	VAFA
1951	VAFA	B Section
1952	VAFA	C Section	style=background:#F0E68C; align=center
1953	VAFA
1954	VAFA	B Section	style=background:#96CDCD; align="center"	3rd
1955	VAFA	B Section	style=background:#F0E68C; align=center	1st
1956	VAFA	A Section	style=background:#C0BFBD; align="center"
1957	VAFA
1958	VAFA
1959	VAFA	B Section	style=background:#96CDCD; align="center"	3rd							style=background:#FAECC8	K. C. O'Brien	41
1960	VAFA								style=background:#DDFFDD	I.J. Merrick
1961	VAFA
1962	VAFA	B Section	style=background:#96CDCD; align="center"	3rd
1963	VAFA	B Section	style=background:#F0E68C; align=center							style=background:#DDFFDD	Peter Scanlon
1964	VAFA	A Section
1965	VAFA	A Section	style=background:#C0BFBD; align="center"
1966	VAFA	A Section	style=background:#96CDCD; align="center"	3rd
1967	VAFA	A Section					Alan Salter					^[28]
1968	VAFA	A Section					Alan Salter			style=background:#FAECC8	Rod McFarlane	54
1969	VAFA	A Section	style=background:#F0E68C; align=center					Alan Salter		style=background:#DDFFDD	Norman Beattie	style=background:#FAECC8	Rod McFarlane	70
1970	VAFA	A Section	style=background:#C0BFBD; align="center"					Alan Salter		style=background:#DDFFDD	Norman Beattie	style=background:#FAECC8	Rod McFarlane	105
1971	VAFA	A Section	style=background:#96CDCD; align="center"	4th				Alan Salter		style=background:#DDFFDD	John Douglas
1972	VAFA	A Section	style=background:#96CDCD; align="center"	4th				Alan Salter					^[29]
1973	VAFA	A Section
1974	VAFA	A Section	style=background:#96CDCD; align="center"	3rd
1975	VAFA	A Section					Graham Warfe^[30]
1976	VAFA	A Section
1977	VAFA	A Section					Lance Riky	C. V. Cunningham				^[31]
1978	VAFA
1979	VAFA
1980	VAFA	C Section	9th	4	14	0						^[32]
1981	VAFA		style=background:#F0E68C; align=center
1982	VAFA		style=background:#C0BFBD; align="center"
1983	VAFA	B Section	9th	6	12	0						^[33]
1984	VAFA	B Section	9th	4	14	0
1985	VAFA	C Section	style=background:#FFCCCC; align=center	10th	4	14	0						^[34]
1986	VAFA	D Section	6th	9	8	1	John Taylor^[35]					^[36]
1987	VAFA		style=background:#FFCCCC; align=center	10th	1	17	0	John Maloney^[37]					^[38]

Grand finals

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Premiers

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Runners-up

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Drawn

Year	League	Division	Grade	Opponent	Score	Venue	Date	Report
1930	MJFL	A Grade	Seniors	Richmond United	8.7 (55) d. 7.7 (49)		6 September 1930
1931	MJFL	A Grade	Seniors	West Brunswick	7.12 (54) d. 4.8 (32)	Motordrome	10 October 1931
1934	MJFL	A Grade	Seniors	South Kensington	7.11 (53) d. 3.10 (28)		September 1934
1936	VAFA		Seniors	Footscray TSOB	18.19 (127) d. 15.8 (98)
1937	VAFA	C Section	Seniors	Footscray TSOB	22.24 (156) d. 10.6 (66)
1938	VAFA	B Section	Seniors	Old Melburnians	13.10 (88) d. 12.10 (82)
1952	VAFA	C Section	Seniors	Elsternwick	7.16 (58) d. 4.11 (35)			^[39]
1955	VAFA	B Section	Seniors	Old Scotch	10.12 (72) d. 8.2 (50)
1956	VAFA	A Section	Seniors	Ivanhoe	6.14 (50) d. 5.12 (42)			^[40]
1963	VAFA	B Section	Seniors	UHSOB	9.15 (69) d. 7.13 (55)
1965	VAFA	A Section	Seniors	University Blacks	17.12 (114) d. 10.5 (65)
1969	VAFA	A Section	Seniors	Ormond	13.17 (95) d. 12.12 (84)
1970	VAFA	A Section	Seniors
1976	VAFA	D Section	Reserves	North Old Boys	12.18 (90) d. 7.13 (55)			^[41]
1979	VAFA		Juniors	Kew	14.15 (99) d. 11.15 (81)
1981	VAFA	D Section	Seniors	West Brunswick	17.12 (114) d. 3.4 (22)			^[42]
1981	VAFA	D Section	Reserves	West Brunswick	15.7 (97) d. 13.8 (86)
1982	VAFA	C Section	Seniors	Old Camberwell	17.20 (122) d. 11.7 (73)
1982	VAFA	C Section	Reserves	Hampton Rovers	12.8 (80) d. 10.7 (67)			^[43]

Notable players

• Phil Cleary − VFA captain and coach in the 1980s^[44]
• Godfrey Goldin − champion schoolboy footballer^[45]
• Neil Rainbow − oldest Australian rules footballer as of 2024^[46]
• Alan Salter − 1972 VAFA representative coach^[47]
• Robert Walls − 259 VFL games with and ^[48]

Notes and References

1. Web site: COBURG AMATEURS . Australian Football . 20 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211105075020/https://www.australianfootball.com/clubs/stats/coburg%2Bamateurs/2632/1987 . 5 November 2021.
2. Web site: Coburg Grounds Allotted . Trove . The Sun News-Pictorial . 20 July 2024 . 23 April 1935 . De Chene Reserve, Bell Street: Coburg Amateur Football Club, Presbyterian Football Club.
3. Web site: The Amateur Footballer Week 3 1980 . Victorian Amateur Football Association . 20 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240720124845/https://www.vafa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/File-AF-1980-No-31.pdf . 20 July 2024.
4. Web site: Coburg Amateurs To Train . Trove . The Herald . 14 June 2024 . 26 March 1938.
5. Web site: BRUNSWICK VS. COBURG AMATEURS . Brunswick Football Club . 20 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240720032607/https://brunswickfootball.org.au/versus/coburg-amateurs/ . 20 July 2024.
6. Web site: Coburg Amateur Football Club (Vic) . Footypedia . 20 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240720031006/http://www.footypedia.info/00000825.htm . 20 July 2024.
7. Web site: NORTHERN DISTRICTS' ASSOCIATION . Trove . The Age . 20 July 2024 . 6 September 1929 . Keilor v. Coburg Amateurs, to be played at Keilor.
8. Web site: NORTHERN DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION . The Age . 20 July 2024 . 16 September 1929.
9. Web site: Northern Districts Association . Trove . The Argus . 20 July 2024 . 26 February 1930 . At the annual meeting of the Northern Districts Association it was unanimously to change the name of the federation to the Metropolitan Junior Football League.
10. Web site: METROPOLITAN JUNIOR LEAGUE . Trove . The Age . 20 July 2024 . 8 September 1930.
11. Web site: METROPOLITAN JUNIOR LEAGUE . Trove . The Age . 20 July 2024 . 5 October 1931 . The first grade final between Richmond and Coburg Amateurs was played on the Exhibition oval, the result being in Coburg's favor by 31 points.
12. Web site: METROPOLITAN JUNIOR LEAGUE . Trove . The Age . 20 July 2024 . 12 October 1931.
13. Web site: Victorian Junior League Grand-Final . Trove . Sporting Globe . 20 July 2024 . 29 September 1934.
14. Web site: KFJSC: A POTTED HISTORY . Kensington Flemington Junior Sports Club . 20 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240716074403/https://www.kfjsc.com.au/about/ . 16 July 2024 . South Kensington had a meteoric career: formed in 1930 and sponsored by local bookmaker Harry Youlden, it won the Metropolitan Junior League A grade flag three years running (1932-34).
15. Web site: Previous VAFA Clubs . Victorian Amateur Football Association . 6 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231202092414/https://www.vafa.com.au/history/vafa-clubs-1892-2015/previous-vafa-clubs/ . 2 December 2023.
16. Web site: Coburg Amateurs . Trove . The Age . 11 March 1938.
17. Web site: George Ross . Tigerland Archive . 6 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211127175338/https://www.tigerlandarchive.org/tiki-index.php?page=George+Ross . 27 November 2021.
18. Web site: ESSENDON DISTRICT . Trove . The Age . 20 July 2024 . 14 July 1941 . Coburg Amateurs 8-19 d. Fawkner District 3-18.
19. Web site: SIX OVALS FOR SEMI-FINALS . Trove . The Age . 20 July 2024 . 14 August 1946 . With two wins In a row, Coburg has assured itself of remaining in A grade..
20. Web site: Good Draw For First Matches . Trove . The Herald . 20 July 2024 . 21 April 1949 . Moreland Amateurs (affiliated with Coburg Amateurs).
21. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NeFUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=v5ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=3080%2C3052696 Caulfield by Two Points, The Age, (Monday, 14 September 1970), p.17.
22. Web site: The Amateur Footballer, Week 1, 1988 . Issuu . 17 January 2017 . VAFA Media . https://web.archive.org/web/20240606031925/https://issuu.com/vafa_hq/docs/vafa-vol88.no01 . 6 June 2024.
23. Web site: A BRIEF HISTORY . Victorian Amateur Football Association . 9 June 2024 . 9 April 2009.
24. Web site: The Amateur Footballer Week 4 1977 . Victorian Amateur Football Association . 21 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160314014949/https://www.vafa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/File-AF-1977-No-4.pdf . 14 March 2016 . 7 May 1977.
25. Web site: Coburg Amateurs . Trove . The Age . 20 July 2024 . 11 March 1938 . The club was fortunate in its coach, Stan McDonald..
26. Web site: AMATEUR SIDES TO FINISH . The Herald . 6 August 2024 . 16 . 21 June 1940.
27. Web site: Cohurg's Vital Amateur Game . Trove . The Herald . 20 July 2024 . 8 July 1948.
28. Web site: The Amateur Footballer Week 2 1987 . Victorian Amateur Football Association . 20 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240609040543/https://www.vafa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/File-AF-1987-No-2.pdf . 9 June 2024 . 7 . 11 April 1987.
29. Web site: Rundle . Noel . The Amateur Footballer Week12 1977 . Victorian Amateur Football Association . 21 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160314015050/https://www.vafa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/File-AF-1977-No-12.pdf . 14 March 2016 . 5 . 9 July 1977 . 'A' Section coaches were John Caspars (Caulfield Gramm.), Alan Salter (Coburg).
30. Web site: The Amateur Footballer Week 2 1985 . Victorian Amateur Football Association . 20 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160311025407/https://www.vafa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/File-AF-1985-No-2.pdf . 11 March 2016 . 12 April 1985.
31. Web site: The Amateur Footballer Week 2 1977 . Victorian Amateur Football Association . 20 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160314014932/https://www.vafa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/File-AF-1977-No-2.pdf . 14 March 2016 . 3 . 23 April 1977.
32. Web site: The Amateur Footballer Week 22 1980 . Victorian Amateur Football Association . 22 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240521031014/https://www.vafa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/File-AF-1980-No-22.pdf . 21 May 2024 . 7 September 1980.
33. Web site: The Amateur Footballer Week 20 1983 . Victorian Amateur Football Association . 21 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160311025321/https://www.vafa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/File-AF-1983-No-20.pdf . 11 March 2016 . 27 August 1983.
34. Web site: The Amateur Footballer Week 21 1985 . Victorian Amateur Football Association . 20 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160311025731/https://www.vafa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/File-AF-1985-No-21.pdf . 11 March 2016.
35. Web site: The Amateur Footballer, Week 4, 1986 . Issuu . VAFA Media . 20 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230227022811/https://issuu.com/vafa_hq/docs/vafa-vol86.no04 . 27 February 2023 . 10 . 18 January 2017.
36. Web site: The Amateur Footballer, Week 22, 1986 . Issuu . VAFA Media . 23 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240609070357/https://issuu.com/vafa_hq/docs/vafa-vol86.no22 . 9 June 2024 . 18 January 2017.
37. Web site: The Amateur Footballer Week 10 1987 . Victorian Amateur Football Association . 20 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231023234419/https://vafa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/File-AF-1987-No-10.pdf . 23 October 2023 . 17 . 20 June 1987.
38. Web site: The Amateur Footballer Week 23 1987 . Victorian Amateur Football Association. https://web.archive.org/web/20240608054238/https://vafa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/File-AF-1987-No-23.pdf . 8 June 2024.
39. Web site: Premier C Section Grand Finals . Victorian Amateur Football Association . 15 March 2023.
40. Web site: Premier Men’s Grand Finals . Victorian Amateur Football Association . 20 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240525061534/https://www.vafa.com.au/history/finals-series/premier-grand-finals/ . 25 May 2024.
41. Web site: The Amateur Footballer Week 1 1977 . Victorian Amateur Football Association . 20 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160314014926/http://www.vafa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/File-AF-1977-No-1.pdf . 14 March 2016 . 9 . 16 April 1977.
42. Web site: The Amateur Footballer Week 1 1982 . Victorian Amateur Football Association . 21 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160311024612/https://www.vafa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/File-AF-1982-No-1.pdf . 11 March 2016 . 17 April 1982.
43. Web site: The Amateur Footballer Week 1 1983 . 21 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160311024939/https://www.vafa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/File-AF-1983-No-1.pdf . 11 March 2016 . 9 April 1983.
44. Web site: Noakes . Cameron . Beloved football commentator Ross Booth dies, aged 72 . 7NEWS . https://web.archive.org/web/20240605233531/https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/beloved-football-commentator-ross-booth-dies-aged-72-c-14918958 . 5 June 2024 . 5 June 2024.
45. Web site: Almanac Footy (History) – Jack Mueller: The Power of One . The Footy Almanac . 20 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240720031754/https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/almanac-footy-jack-mueller-the-power-of-one/ . 20 July 2024 . 4 December 2023 . Godfrey (ex-Coburg Amateurs VAFA) played just eight games for Essendon before enlisting in the Second AIF..
46. Web site: Eddie Williams . Floss Adams . Australia's oldest footballer, Neil Rainbow, still playing at 76 for Bega-Tathra in AFL Sapphire Coast comp . ABC News . 29 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240629140427/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-28/neil-rainbow-australia-s-oldest-footballer-bega-tathra-aged-76/103991984 . 29 June 2024 . 28 June 2024 . After years representing school teams and suburban junior sides, Rainbow said he received interest from VFL and VFA clubs before ultimately joining Coburg amateurs..
47. Web site: Vale Alan Salter . Victorian Amateur Football Association . 6 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231204140646/https://www.vafa.com.au/news/2016/11/14/vale-alan-salter/ . 4 December 2023 . 14 November 2016.
48. Web site: Robert Walls. 15 March 2022.