Waverley Football Club

The Waverley Football Club were an Australian rules football club which played in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) from 1961 until 1987. Waverley went by the nickname Panthers and wore red and black as their club colours. They were based in the Melbourne suburb of Glen Waverley.

History

Waverley started out in the Caulfield-Oakleigh District League and in 1961 joined the newly formed VFA 2nd division. They started strongly, winning half of their 18 matches that year and then in 1963 finished runners up. The club was promoted to the 1st Division in 1964 to fill the spot left by Moorabbin which had left following a dispute with the league.

The Melbourne club's breakthrough year came in 1965 under the coaching of Ian Thorogood when, despite competing in just their second season in the top division, they claimed the premiership with a 12 point victory over Port Melbourne in the Grand Final. The following season they met again in the decider, but this time Port Melbourne were too strong. In 1970 they finished third but the Panthers soon found themselves back in the 2nd Division, where they were runners up in 1981 and their final season in 1987.

Honours

VFA Premierships (1)
* 1st Division - 1965Waverley 14.13 (97) d. Port Melbourne 10.25 (85)

J. J. Liston Trophies (2)
* Alan Poore - 1965, 1966

Notable players

* Russell Blew, Essendon dual premiership player
* Greg Brown, 1965 Essendon premiership team
* Alan Poore, had a stint at Collingwood
* Don R. Scott, inaugural VFA captain-coach
* Ray Shaw, Collingwood player and Copeland Trophy winner

References

* [http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/Waverley.htm Full Points Footy page on the Waverley Football Club]