Ardmona Football Club

The Ardmona Football Club is an Australian rules football club from the Goulburn Valley town of Ardmona, Victoria, Australia that plays in the Kyabram & District Football League.

Ardmona
Names
Full nameArdmona Football Club
Nickname(s)Bush Cats
Club details
Founded1920
Colours     Navy Blue      White
CompetitionKyabram DFL since 1957
Premierships1932, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1947, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2002, 2006.
Ground(s)Ardmona Recreation Reserve

History

Ardmona Football Club was established in 1920 by the local young men of Ardmona, playing in Wednesday afternoon competitions at the primary school grounds. An attempt was made in 1920 to secure a ground for the club but the deal was not brought to completion. A letter to the editor in the Shepparton Advertiser in November 1921 claimed that Ardmona needed a recreation ground for the locals to utilize. The local young men were travelling to Mooroopna to play sport.  [1]

Ardmona played its first league game in the Toolamba District Association on 24 June 1922 against Toolamba.[2] In 1923 a committee was formed to raise funds to secure land for an oval. [3]

In May 1923, a public meeting was held to discuss the question for an Ardmona Recreation Reserve. There was a very large attendance and two sites were discussed, either 10 acres north of Ardmona Store or 20 acres next to the property of Mr Eli North. The latter property was purchased with community donations and Messrs. W, J. Pearson, A. Lenne, C. W. Norton, J. Simson, E. Young and E.North were appointed as trustees. [4] [5] [6]

The club played in the Goulburn Valley Association, the Central Goulburn Valley Football League and the Kyabram & District Football League.

The Cats consistently featured among the competition's pace setters - for a time, earning a total of 10 Premiership Flags. Over the past five seasons the Cats have struggled on field and financially. [7]

2019 saw the club faced with suspension. The club was featured on Channel 7's Sunday Night Program in a bid to help raise funds to pay debts. [8] On 14 November 2019 the club was suspended from the league, but after a successful appeal to AFL they were reinstated on 17 December 2019. [9] [10]

AFL legend Shane Crawford has signed to coach the Ardmona Cats for the 2020 season. [11]

Premierships
  • 1932 (Goulburn Valley 2nd XVIII)
  • 1933 (Goulburn Valley 2nd XVIII)
  • 1935 (Goulburn Valley 2nd XVIII)
  • 1936 (Goulburn Valley 2nd XVIII)
  • 1947 (Central Goulburn Valley Football League)
  • 1993 Kyabram & District Football League
  • 1995 (Kyabram & District Football League)
  • 1996 (Kyabram & District Football League)
  • 2002 (Kyabram & District Football League)
  • 2006 (Kyabram & District Football League)

Best & Fairest Winners
  • C. Barnes 1968
  • D. McKellar 1972
  • G. Saunders 1979
  • B. Lowe 2005
  • M. Young 2008
  • C. Atkinson 2019

RESERVES

  • D. Moor 2013
  • X. Hand 2014
  • B. Lodding 2019

THIRDS

  • J. Castle 2013
  • S. Cashion 2014
  • T. Lackmann 2019

Leading Goal Kickers
  • S. Florence 1974 (101)
  • P. Meka 1992 (151)
  • P. Meka 1993 (143)
  • S. Loveless 1995 (125)
  • S. Loveless 1996 (140)
  • D. Yze 2002 (129)
  • P. Meka 2006 (138)
  • P. Meka 2006 (105)
  • A. Meka 2008 (97)

References
  1. "ARDMONA. - Wanted: A Recreation Ground. - Shepparton Advertiser (Vic. : 1914 - 1953) - 14 Nov 1921". Trove. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  2. "TOOLAMBA. - Shepparton Advertiser (Vic. : 1914 - 1953) - 1 Jun 1922". Trove. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  3. "Our Correspondents - ARDMONA. - Shepparton Advertiser (Vic. : 1914 - 1953) - 10 May 1923". Trove. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  4. "ARDMONA. - Shepparton Advertiser (Vic. : 1914 - 1953) - 21 May 1923". Trove. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  5. "Ardmona Recreation Reserve - Shepparton Advertiser (Vic. : 1914 - 1953) - 19 Nov 1923". Trove. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  6. "TRANSACTIONS IN REAL ESTATE. - Goulburn Valley Stock and Property Journal (Vic. : 1916 - 1942) - 19 Dec 1923". Trove. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  7. "Australian Football - ardmona Football Club - Info". australianfootball.com. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  8. "'We go to war every week': Footy club's battle for survival after five winless years". 7NEWS.com.au. 8 September 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  9. "Ardmona's KDL membership suspended". Shepparton News. 10 September 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  10. "Ardmona back in the Kyabram District League". Shepparton News. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  11. "AFL great given green light to coach local footy battlers". The West Australian. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
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