| Clubname: | Eltham Football Club |
| Fullname: | Eltham Football Club |
| Nicknames: | The Panthers |
| Season: | 2023 |
| Position: | Premiers Division 2 |
| Topgoalkicker: | Jason McCormick |
| Bestandfairest: | Jesse Donaldson |
| Founded: | 1907 |
| Colours: | Black and Red |
| President: | Michael Smith |
| Secretary: | Malcolm Brown |
| Coach: | Tim Bongetti |
| Captain: | Darcy Vallance/Dale Sinclair |
| Ground: | Eltham Central Park |
| Ground2: | Susan Street Oval, Eltham |
| Url: | elthamfc.com.au |
Eltham Football Club is an Australian rules football club in Eltham, Victoria, currently competing in the Northern Football League.
The Eltham Football Club began playing social matches at nearby Kangaroo Ground, Diamond Creek and Greensborough from around 1904. Phil McGavin was listed as Secretary in 1904.
In 1907, Police Constable "Ike" Stephens convened a meeting with the idea of providing entertainment for the lads and an outlet for their surplus energy. .
Eltham continued to play social games however World War One saw these stop. After the return of the men in 1918-19, Eltham returned to the football field.
In 1920, the Eltham Football Club joined the Heidelberg District Football League. The team travelled by train to Ivanhoe to play their first game. Home games were played at Eltham Park, now called Eltham Lower Park.
In 1922, Eltham joined other nearby clubs Greensborough, Diamond Creek, Templestowe, Warrandyte, and Kangaroo Ground in establishing the Diamond Valley Football League.
Eltham made their first finals appearance in 1928 and won their first premiership in 1930 by defeating Heidelberg.
In 1930, Eltham Central Park was opened, although this was only used by the footballers for training until 1935, when the club formally moved their home games there and this has been the club's home ever since.
In 1935, Eltham defeated Epping in the Grand Final, but Epping lodged a protest over the eligibility of an Eltham player. A tribunal in Melbourne upheld the protest and ordered a replay. Eltham forfeited the replay and Epping was awarded the premiership.
Eltham left the DVFL to play in VFL Sub Districts League for seasons 1936 & 1937 before returning in 1938.
After five consecutive wooden spoons during the early 1960s, the club went through a golden period of four premierships in six seasons between 1969 and 1974.
Eltham Football Club was relegated to the new DVFL Second Division for Season 1981, but quickly responded with the 1982 premiership and subsequent return to the First Division. This began a trend with Eltham "yo-yoing" between the two divisions – six Second Division premierships and five First Division wooden spoons.
The 2002 Second Division premiership was the Panthers last success. After relegation in 2017 the Panthers went into the season strong favourites and won their first 15 games. On a blustery, raining day the seniors gave up a 3/4 time lead to lose on the siren to Lower Plenty. The reserves, coached by 2017 U/19 Premiership winning coach Tom Snell held on in a tough game to defeat Diamond Creek and only their 5th reserves premiership.
Season 2020 was called off due to the COVID19 Pandemic.
(Division One)
(Division Two)
(Division One)
(Division Two)
(Division One)
| Year | President | Coach | Captain | B & F | Goalkicker |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Michael Smith | Tim Bongetti | Darcy Vallance, Jackson Wearherald | Jesse Donaldson | Jason McCormick |
| 2022 | Michael Smith | Robert Hyde | Darcy Vallance, Jackson Wearherald | Ben Montanaro | Daniel Owen |
| 2021 | Michael Smith | Robert Hyde | Anton Woods Brent Macaffer | Brent Macaffer | Michael Still |
| 2020 | Michael Smith | Robert Hyde | Anton Woods Brent Macaffer | NA | NA |
| 2019 | Michael Smith | Paul King | Anton Woods | Brent Macaffer | Michael Still |
| 2018 | Greg Wilson | Paul King | Bradyn Taglieri, Josh Merkel | Brent Macaffer | Brandon Freeman (34) |
| 2017 | Greg Wilson | Paul King | Bradyn Taglieri, Josh Merkel | Anton Woods | Brandon Freeman (19) |
| 2016 | Greg Wilson | Mario Bandera | Bradyn Taglieri, Josh Merkel | Gavan Connelly | Josh Merkel (21) |
| 2015 | Greg Wilson | Mario Bandera | Bradyn Taglieri, Josh Merkel | Bradyn Taglieri | James Kroussoratis (67) |
| 2014 | Steve Merkel | Mario Bandera | Gavan Connelly, Josh Merkel | Billy Glasgow | James Kroussoratis (53) |
| 2013 | Steven McAllister | Brett Weatherald | Paul Currie | Brad Perry | James Kroussoratis (29) |
| 2012 | Steven McAllister | Brett Weatherald | Paul Currie | Lachlan Richardson | Paul Currie |
| 2011 | Steven Merkel | Craig Hayes | Paul Currie | Gavan Connelly | Chris Burton |
| 2010 | Steven Merkel | Craig Hayes | Paul Currie | Gavan Connelly | Paul Currie |
| 2009 | Steven Merkel | Craig Hayes | Lachlan Richardson | Gavan Connelly | Paul Currie |
| 2008 | Steven Williamson | Phil Maylin | Lachlan Richardson | Chris Varsamakis | Nick Sandy |
| 2007 | Steven Williamson | Phil Maylin | Lachlan Richardson | Jai Audley | Mark Minney |
| 2006 | Dean Philpots | Phil Maylin | Lachlan Richardson | Mark Minney | Ryan Bongetti |
| 2005 | Dean Philpots | Phil Maylin | Lachlan Richardson | Adam Contessa | Ashley Dickson |
| 2004 | Dean Philpots | Phil Maylin | Lachlan Richardson | Adam Contessa | Marcus Pappa |
| 2003 | Dean Philpots | Phil Maylin | Lachlan Richardson | Mark Minney | Gavan NevilleChris Moyle |
| 2002 | Dean Philpots | Wayne Freeman | Lachlan RichardsonCraig McKay | Lachlan Richardson | Luke Kennell |
| 2001 | Geoff Waddell | Grant Turnbull | Dean Philpots | Mark Minney | Jimmy Stirton |
| 2000 | Geoff Waddell | Garry Jessop | Lucas PaulMark Minney | Lachlan Richardson | Lucas Paul |
| 1999 | Neil Halfpenny | Garry Jessop | David Brown | Mark Minney | Mark MinneyJohn Garrard |
| 1998 | Colin Wilson | Michael JonesRay Spratt | David Brown | Lucas Paul | Mark Minney |
| 1997 | Colin Wilson | Ray Spratt | Paul Smith | Garry Ramsay | Greg Wilson |
Other highlights: