Moonee Valley Football Club

MOONEE VALLEY FOOTBALL CLUB
Full name	Moonee Valley Football Club
Emblem	The Magpies
Colours	Black & White
Founded	1933
League	Essendon District Football League
Ground	Ormond Park, Moonee Ponds
Official website	http://www.mooneevalleyfc.com.au/

Mooney Valley Football Club was founded in 1933 in the Essendon District Football League and is located 13 km north west of Melbourne in the suburb of Moonee Valley^[1]

On April 29th 1933 Moonee Valley had their first game and first win vs Woodlands Football Club. That year, Jack Taylor a future President (in 1938) won the Best & Fairest award in the EDFL Competition

Over the Last 25 Years

VALE to our distinguished and valued Life Members, Ken Mitchell (2003) and Len Sutherland (2000). Ken Mitchell, had continued as the Timekeeper for U18's and Reserves during 2003 season. He was secretary from '46 to mid 60's. Ken was happy to be present when the new pavilion was named in his honour. Len Sutherland, was a popular hard working member and Treasurer for many years.

Moonee Valley has survived moves up to A Grade and down to B Grade over the last 25 years. During the 80's we had many highlights. In 1985 we won three Flags, U14's, U16's, and The B Grade Reserves. The Senior side struggled in the early 80's eventually achieving success in 1986, when the Reserves finished third and the Seniors finished on top of the ladder and won the B Grade Premiership. In 1987 the Club was promoted to A Grade. Over the next 10 years the U14's, U16's and U18's continued to be competitive making Finals each year. The Seniors struggled going to B Grade in 1992. The early ninety's saw our U18's in the Finals every year, eventually wining a Flag in 1993. Trevor 'Frosty' Simmons was the estatic U18 Coach. That year the Seniors, were Runners Up, with the Reserves in Finals. In 1994 the Seniors won the B Grade Flag, the Reserves were Runners Up and the U16's finished 3rd. So in 1995 the Seniors were back in A Grade to finish 4th. Ian Grant, a Club Best&Fairest winner seven times,was an inspirational player who retired in 1996 from 'the best A Grade side since the 50's' but retirements and injury had a big impact and we were back in B Grade in 1998 and B Grade Premiers in 1999. 1999 was a very successful year, wining B Grade and B Reserves Flags, a first for Moonee Valley. Ian Denny, a Club Legend was a playing Coach. The players celebrated by walking back to Ormond Park from Windy Hill in full gear, even footy boots, stopping at a few Hotels on the way. Our Seniors have been in A Grade since 2000, but will be in B Grade in 2006.

300 Games - Ian Denny, Garry Noonan, Mario Tenace, Alan Sutherland, B O'Reilly, R Szulc, Paul Wood and Troy Whillance. Lee Newman, a past President and our major Sponsor in JNT Imports, finished playing on 298.

AusKick and Junior Section - In 1994 the AusKick program commenced to encourage new membership to the Club. Ian 'Spider' Beel, still our Treasurer was the original coordinator. In 1995 the very first U12's Junior side started in Div 3 and finished 5th. Harry Abbouichi who had always played above his age was Runner Up in the EDFL Comp. Mick Intagliata and Paul Comino were Coach, Team Manager, Trainer and the Committee for the first few years. Two players from this AusKick group are still playing at Moonee Valley - Luke Ryan, who is now Vice Captain of Seniors and Robert Ryan, who is the U18 Captain and regularly plays Seniors after the U18 game. Robbie who has played in and above his age most weeks is close to 200 games at Moonee Valley in 10 years of football. In 1996 we introduced our first U10 side and they finished Runners Up with Joseph Reitano the U10's Runner Up in EDFL Best and Fairest. The next year, 1997, Sam Wellard was Runner Up in U10's. Our Juniors teams have kept improving with players in EDFL combined sides each year and Calder Cannons Teams. In 1998, Steven Morris in U10's, won EDFL's Best and Fairest Award. In 1999 Luke Ryan, then in U14's, won the first, of his three EDFL Best & Fairest in Comp awards, others were in 2001 for U16's and U18 Div 1 in 2003. In 1998 our Juniors started to field more than one side in each age group. Joey Reitano, then in U14's was EDFL Best and Fairest in 2000. In 2001 our U14's and U16's teams both won Premiership Flags in Div 2. A wonderful time for the Junior teams. The Juniors joined the Seniors in A Grade in 2002, but asked to return to Div 2 for 2005 season. A highpoint in 2004 was Guy Walker's Runner Up in Comp in U10's, although he had missed a few games. In 2005, the 10th Anniversary of the first U12 team, four out of six Junior teams were in the Finals. Two were Premiers - U10's and U12's Div 2, both teams were undefeated all year. U14's finished 5th and U10 Div 5 a very young side won 7 games. Robbie Ball was U12's Runner Up in EDFL Comp and Marcus Considine 'Best on Ground' in the Grand Finals. The AusKick program has been successful and the Club is continuing to grow with Phil Coote now the AusKick and Junior Coaching Coordinator.

AFL Recruit - In 2004 Lynden Dunn, a 1st year U18's was the AFL Draft pick No 15 to Melbourne Football Club. Lynden had joined in 2001 and played in the U14's Premiership team.

Moonee Valley Magpies - In 2001 with Lee Newman as President, the Club started a special team 'The Moonee Valley Magpies'. A football team for intellectually disabled male and female footballers. The first coach was Marcus Plozza who was awarded the 'Spirit of Moonee Valley Community Award' for his 'Contribution to Sport' from the local Council. Trevor Simmons a past player and Coach has now coached this team for four years. In 2003 with their numbers growing, they finished the year as Runners Up in the FIDDA Grand Final. 'The Magpies' have played in Finals, 3 times in 4 years.

Completed and Future Projects - The oval was changed from East-West to North-South with the new pavilion and small change rooms at the northern end. In future an extension to the change rooms and canteen area is planned. The Sporting Club hall where many football functions are still held, is being repaired and renovated. In 2003 we celebrated 70 years as a Club in the EDFL by announcing the Team of the Century at the Annual Ball. The Coach was Colin Bradley. Garry Noonan and Ian Grant were joint Captains. Moonee Valley has always been a family orientated Club and will continue to provide a quality environment for young people of many nationalities to enjoy community football. Special thanks to the assistance given by families who are players, coaches and committee members over many decades, such as the Meyer, Noonan, Sutherland, Simmons, Powell, Intagliatia / Rennex and Bevis families. In last ten years starting through the Juniors teams are the Ryan, Thomas, Walker, Fenaughty, O Brien, Roberts, Coote and Ferrier families. Moonee Valley Football Club is now flourishing with growing membership and increasing teams numbers in the Junior section.

Senior Premierships (6)

• A Grade
  • 1952
• B Grade
  • 1975, 1986, 1994, 1999
• C Grade
  • 1970

References

1. ^ EDFL Website

• [1]
• EDFL Website