Camberwell Football Club

Camberwell Football Club was an Australian rules football club which formed around the mid-1880s, with a published match in 1886 and competed in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) between 1926 and 1990. Nicknamed the Cobras, Camberwell wore blue, white and red club colours. They were based in the Melbourne suburb of Camberwell.

History
Camberwell first competed in the Victorian Junior Football Association in 1888, finishing sixth on the ladder, 8th in 1890 and 8th in 1891. At the 1895 VJFA AGM, the competition was reduced from 20 teams to 12 teams and Camberwell was one of the clubs that was not admitted and it appears that Camberwell FC went into recess for a number of years, before joining the Eastern Suburbs Football Association in 1899. In 1912, Camberwell went into recess with their players being distributed to the Burwood and Kew Football Clubs. In 1913, Camberwell was readmitted into the VJFA, rated by many as the third highest grade of football in Victoria at that time.

It seems a Camberwell Football Club was playing at Camberwell Junction (the corner of Burke and Riversdale Roads) as early as 1886. The space that became the home of the Camberwell Football Club for eighty years (eventually known as 'Camberwell Sports Ground') was originally a vegetable garden ('Brooks Paddock') and part of Camberwell Racecourse. The preparation of a new sports ground (originally dubbed 'Bowen Park') on this site was finished in 1909 and Camberwell Football Club first played at the new ground the following year (1910). A grandstand for visitors' rooms (the 'Tramways Grandstand') was built in 1920. A much larger spectators' grandstand and pavilion was built in 1935 – and ready for the 1936 football season.

After establishing itself as a successful junior and sub-district club, Camberwell was seen by the 1920s as a likely strong fit for expansions into the eastern suburbs of either the Victorian Football League or the Victorian Football Association. It lodged applications to join both at different times during the early 1920s, and was admitted to the VFA for the 1926 season. It reached its first Grand Final in 1935, losing by nine points to Yarraville.

With the introduction of throw-pass football to the VFA in 1938, the club made one of the VFA's most significant ever recruiting coups when it recruited champion VFL player Laurie Nash for a huge salary of £8/wk. Following World War II, Camberwell won its first and only top division minor premiership in 1946, but lost in the Grand Final against Sandringham by seven points.

Following the end of the throw-pass era in 1950, Camberwell became one of several weaker VFA clubs who struggled throughout the 1950s. The club was operating as amateur in 1953 due to lack of funds, and it faced pressure to hold its lease at the Camberwell Sports Ground from local soccer clubs who could offer the council more money. It was generally near the bottom of the ladder, and found itself in Division 2 when the Association was partitioned in 1961. The club remained weak throughout the 1960s.

The club improved through the early 1970s, and became a regular Division 2 finalist from 1973. The club played in losing Grand Finals in 1975 against Brunswick and in 1978 against Frankston, before winning its first premiership in 1979, defeating Oakleigh by 38 points. Promoted to Division 1 for the first time, the club was relegated after one season, but won the Division 2 premiership again in 1981, defeating Waverley by 32 points in the Grand Final. In the next few years, Camberwell was considered one of the boom clubs of the VFA, and in 1984 it reached the Division 1 finals for the first time since the 1940s.

Camberwell's position deteriorated abruptly in 1985. Struggling financially, as many VFA clubs were, it asked its players to take a pay cut at the start of the season; but, still unable to make its player payments, senior players began to walk out on the club at midseason. Within a year, there had been an exodus of more than forty players, plus the club was left with a large damage bill after a grandstand fire. The inexperienced team which remained was winless with a percentage of only 30.1 in 1986, including suffering a VFA-record loss against Williamstown by 315 points, and was relegated. The club was more competitive in Division 2, but endured two consecutive winless seasons after the competition was recombined into a single division in 1989. After pre-season form indicated the club would be even less competitive in 1991, the club dropped out of the VFA a couple of weeks prior to the start of the season.

The club hoped to regroup and rejoin the VFA in 1992, but this did not eventuate. The club joined the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) as Camberwell Amateurs in 1992, and permanently folded in the summer of 1995, with the 1994 VAFA season being the last competitive competition that the club would ever participate in.

Over the course of their sixty-two season involvement in the VFA, the Cobras/Tricolours achieved a success rate of 40.9%.

Football Competition Timeline

 * (1889–1894) – Victorian Junior Football Association
 * (1895) – Club in recess
 * (1896–1898) – Camberwell Juniors active, but not playing in a formal competition
 * (1899–1904) – Eastern Suburbs Football Association
 * (1905–1911) – Reporter Football Association
 * (1912) – club was in recess
 * (1913–1914) – Victorian Junior Football Association
 * (1915) – In recess ?
 * (1916–1919) – Victorian Junior Football Association
 * (1920–1925) – Melbourne District Football Association
 * (1926–1941) – Victorian Football Association
 * (1942–1944) – VFA in recess due to World War II
 * (1945–1960) – Victorian Football Association
 * (1961–1979) – Victorian Football Association: Division Two. In 1961, the VFA was partitioned into two divisions.
 * (1980) – Victorian Football Association: Division One
 * (1981) – Victorian Football Association: Division Two
 * (1982–1986) – Victorian Football Association: Division One
 * (1987–1988) – Victorian Football Association: Division Two
 * (1989–1990) – Victorian Football Association: In 1989, the VFA recombined to a single division.
 * (1991) – Club in recess
 * (1992) – Victorian Amateur Football Association: G Section North
 * (1993) – Victorian Amateur Football Association: F2 Section
 * (1994) – Victorian Amateur Football Association: G Section North

Premierships
Eastern Suburbs Football Association Reporter District Football Association Melbourne District Football Association
 * 1899: Camberwell: 2.6 – 18 defeated Albion: 1.2 – 8
 * 1907
 * 1908
 * 1909
 * 1911 – A. Section: Camberwell: 14.15 – 99 defeated Burwood: 2.9 – 21
 * 1921 – Camberwell defeated Brunswick Junior by 10 points
 * 1922 – Camberwell: 8.9 – 57 defeated Moreland: 7.9 – 51
 * 1923 – Camberwell: 9.12 – 66 defeated Fairfield: 8.8 – 56

Camberwell's 1923 MDFA premiership team that triumphed on the MCG:
 * Backs:	Harley,	Killen,	Amery
 * Half backs: Whitecross,	Syd Reeves, Alway
 * Centres: Birchall,	Hardie,	Price
 * Half forwards: Gil Hendrie,	Aisbett,	 Carswell
 * Forwards: Smith, Reg Whitehead,	 Bill Yole
 * Followers: Wal Tuck, Dimond, Les Woodford

Victorian Football Association
 * 1979 – Second Division
 * Camberwell: 18.13 – 121 defeated Oakleigh: 12.11 – 83.

Grand Final Side
 * B:	Rob McFee	Greg Spithill	Mick Alexeeff
 * HB:	Greg Cook	Ross Wright	Colin Judd
 * C:		Neil Chamberlain
 * HF:	Peter Slacik	Peter Oliver	Andy Moore
 * F:	Scott Cowley	Gary Hammond	Geoff Simpson
 * Foll:	Phil Neilson	Mark Davidson	Peter Hirst
 * Interchange:	Kerry Haywood	Steve Teakel
 * Coach – Graeme Phillips; Assistant Coach – Gordon Duff; Captain – Peter Oliver; Vice-Captain – Neil Chamberlain.
 * 1981 – Second Division
 * Camberwell: 15.16 – 106 defeated Waverley: 11.8 – 74.

Grand Final side
 * B: Rob McFee Roy Cahill Greg Spithill
 * HB: Colin Judd Ross Wright Mark Hipworth
 * C: Neil Chamberlain
 * HF: Drew Pevitt Gary Hammond Leon Rice
 * F: Peter Oliver Peter Stevenson Peter Howard
 * Foll: Phil Neilson Mark Davidson Peter Hirst
 * Interchange: Greg Cook Steve Teakel
 * Coach: Leon Rice

VFA Club Records

 * Most goals in a season: 141 - Laurie Nash in 1941
 * Most Consecutive games in a row: Harry Jones - 133

Victorian Football Association – Best & Fairest Honours

 * J. J. Liston Trophy winners
 * 1950 – Frank Stubbs
 * 1957 – Ken Ross
 * J. Field Medal winner
 * 1971 – Rodney Evans

Team of the Century
CAMBERWELL FOOTBALL CLUB
 * Backline: Colin Judd, Jim Bohan, Ken Ross
 * Half back: Geoff Mason, Harry Jones, Marcus Boyall
 * Centre: Reg Horkings, Lloyd Holyoak, Charlie Clamp
 * Half forward: Ian Whitten, Laurie Nash, Roy Williams.
 * Forward: Bill Luff, Garry Hammond, Geoff Simpson
 * Followers: Frank Stubbs, Godon Duff, R.J. 'Nipper' Bradford
 * Interchange: Brendan Budge, Mark Davidson, Peter Oliver, Peter Stevenson, George Stone, Ross Wright
 * Coach: A 'Horrie' Mason
 * Captain Jim Bohan
 * Vice Captain Colin Judd

VFL / AFL Players
The following footballers, played with Camberwell prior to making their VFL / AFL debut, with the year indicating their VFL / AFL debut.


 * 1911 – Ben Main: South Melbourne
 * 1915 – Bill Amery: Richmond
 * 1919 – Harry Weatherill: Richmond
 * 1922 – Doug Hayes: Richmond
 * 1925 – Gil Hendrie: Hawthorn
 * 1925 – Reg Whitehead: Hawthorn
 * 1925 – Les Woodford: Hawthorn
 * 1926 – Alby Millard: Hawthorn
 * 1928 – Wally Lathlain: Hawthorn
 * 1928 – Keith Parris: Essendon
 * 1929 - Richard Greenwood: Footscray
 * 1930 - Leon Bazin: Footscray
 * 1930 – George Bennett: Hawthorn
 * 1930 – Roy Williams: Footscray
 * 1932 – Les Harvey: Collingwood
 * 1934 – Alec Fyfe: Collingwood
 * 1934 – Bill Luff: Essendon
 * 1934 – Len Wallace: Essendon
 * 1935 – Clarrie Shields: Footscray
 * 1935 – Vin Smith: Hawthorn
 * 1935 – Ray Wartman: Melbourne


 * 1937 – Tommy Laskey: Fitzroy
 * 1939 – Arthur Davidson: Hawthorn
 * 1940 – Jack Bennett: Carlton
 * 1940 – Jack Kenny: North Melbourne
 * 1941 – George Lenne: Melbourne
 * 1941 – Albert Prior: Hawthorn
 * 1942 – Frank Anderson: North Melbourne
 * 1942 – Bob Austen: Hawthorn
 * 1942 – Barney Jorgensen: Hawthorn
 * 1943 – Don Wilks: Hawthorn
 * 1944 – Tom Spear: Hawthorn
 * 1946 – Ken Munro: Hawthorn
 * 1946 - Alan McDonald: Richmond
 * 1946 – Billy Winward: St. Kilda
 * 1951 – Jack MacDonald: Hawthorn
 * 1959 – Brian Coleman: Hawthorn
 * 1959 – Peter Rice: South Melbourne
 * 1978 – Terry Wallace: Hawthorn
 * 1990 – Dean Greig: St.Kilda
 * 1991 – Darron Wilkinson: Fitzroy

VFL / AFL footballers came to play / coach at the Camberwell FC
The following footballers came to play & / or coach with Camberwell FC, with senior football experience from an VFL / AFL club. The year indicates their first season at Camberwell FC.


 * 1909 – Reuben Holland South Melbourne
 * 1919 – Jim Cowell: St.Kilda
 * 1921 – Clarrie Calwell – Carlton
 * 1921 – Reg Hede: Richmond
 * 1922 – Reg Whitehead: Richmond
 * 1923? – George Robbins: St. Kilda
 * 1926 – Dave Elliman: Melbourne
 * 1926 – Lew Gough: Hawthorn
 * 1926 - Harry Harrison: Essendon
 * 1926 – George Rawle: Essendon
 * 1926 – W. H. Billy Stone Carlton
 * 1926 – Jack Vale: Carlton
 * 1927 – Jack Boothman: Hawthorn
 * 1927 – Carl Watson: Richmond
 * 1927 – Bert Calwell: Hawthorn
 * 1928 – Harry Brown: St. Kilda
 * 1928 – Wally Gunnyon: St. Kilda
 * 1928 – Harry Lakin: St. Kilda
 * 1929 – Ted Brewis: Carlton
 * 1929 – Jim Shanahan: Collingwood
 * 1930 - George Bayliss: Richmond
 * 1930 – Ron Black: Hawthorn
 * 1930 – Frank Whitty: Hawthorn
 * 1930? - Eric Poole: South Melbourne
 * 1930 - Percy Wilson: Collingwood
 * 1932?- Alex Clarke: North Melbourne
 * 1932 – Horrie Mason: St.Kilda
 * 1934 – Maurie Hunter: Richmond
 * 1934 - Clive McCorkell: Essendon
 * 1934 - Joe Meehan: South Melbourne
 * 1934 – Dick O'Shea: North Melbourne


 * 1934 - Charlie Stanbridge - South Melbourne
 * 1934 - Johnny Walker: Essendon
 * 1934 - Carl Watson: Richmond
 * 1934 – Albert "Jack" Williamson: Carlton
 * 1936 – Jack Kidd: Essendon
 * 1936 - Roy Selleck: South Melbourne
 * 1936 – Clete Turner: Geelong
 * 1937 – Roy Laing: Essendon
 * 1938 – Terry Brain: South Melbourne
 * 1938 – Frank Finn: Carlton
 * 1938 – Laurie Nash: South Melbourne
 * 1939 – Dick Abikhair: Hawthorn
 * 1939 – Monty Brown: Carlton
 * 1939 – Pat Farrelly: Carlton
 * 1939 – Alan Fitcher: Fitzroy
 * 1939 – Viv Randall: Hawthorn
 * 1939 – Ted Pool: Hawthorn
 * 1939 – Joe Rogers: North Melbourne
 * 1939 – Jim Toohey Junior: Fitzroy
 * 1940 – Bernie O'Brien: Footscray
 * 1941 – Roy Cazaly: St. Kilda
 * 1941 – Stan Spinks: Hawthorn
 * 1941 – Laurie Taylor: South Melbourne
 * 1945 – Jim Bradford: Collingwood
 * 1945 – Albert Collier: Collingwood
 * 1945 - Ken Dineen: South Melbourne
 * 1945 – Allan Jensen: Hawthorn
 * 1946 - Alf Benison: South Melbourne
 * 1946 - Dal Kennedy: Footscray
 * 1946 – Ivor McIvor: Essendon
 * 1947 – Marcus Boyall: Collingwood
 * 1947 – Jim Bohan: Hawthorn


 * 1948 – Ken Ross – Fitzroy
 * 1949 - Bob Milgate - Hawthorn
 * 1950 – Cec Ruddell: Essendon
 * 1951 – Jack Headley: North Melbourne
 * 1952 - Bob Bradley: Essendon
 * 1952 – Alan Thynne: Carlton
 * 1953 – Dick Harris: Richmond
 * 1953 - Keith McGuinness: South Melbourne
 * 1953 – Oscar Skalberg: North Melbourne
 * 1954 – Ted Jarrard: North Melbourne
 * 1955 – Ken McKaige: Melbourne
 * 1955 – Vin Sabbatucci: St. Kilda
 * 1958 – Peter Box: Footscray
 * 1959 – Terry Mountain: Geelong
 * 1967 – Mike Delanty: Collingwood
 * 1967 – Bill Serong: Collingwood
 * 1970 – Peter Brenchley: Melbourne
 * 1974 – Colin Judd: Hawthorn
 * 1977 – Neil Chamberlain: Melbourne
 * 1977 – Ray Smith: Essendon
 * 1978 – Ross Wright: Essendon
 * 1979 – Kerry Haywood: North Melbourne
 * 1980 – Rino Pretto: Fitzroy
 * 1980 – Leon Rice: Hawthorn
 * 1982 – Mordy Bromberg: St. Kilda
 * 1982 – Robert Wilkinson: Hawthorn
 * 1984 – Graeme Schultz: Essendon
 * 1984 – Mark Turner: Hawthorn
 * 1987 – John Frazer: North Melbourne
 * 1987 – Sam Kekovich: North Melbourne
 * 1988 – Rene Kink: Collingwood
 * 1989 – David Sullivan: Essendon
 * 1990 – Gary Brice: South Melbourne

Club Honourboard:Senior Football
Note:

100 Game Club
The following footballers played 100 plus senior games for Camberwell FC in the VFA.


 * Greg Spithill: 163
 * Gary Hammond: 162
 * Ken Freiberg: 151
 * Oscar Skalberg: 150
 * Harry Jones: 143*
 * Jim Bohan: 140
 * Phil Neilson: 139
 * Colin Judd: 134
 * Roy Williams: 133
 * Bill Hazlett: 128
 * Geoff Mason: 127
 * Geoff Simpson: 123
 * Kevin Johnson: 116
 * Gordon Duff: 114


 * Jack Seelenmeyer: 113
 * Charlie Clamp: 113
 * Reg Fletcher: 113
 * Ken Douglas: 112
 * Dennis Boyd: 112
 * Mark Davidson: 110
 * John Hook: 110


 * Reg Horkings: 108
 * Peter Fox: 106
 * Bob Gibson: 106
 * Keith McGuinness: 105
 * John Smith: 105
 * Ern Dyball: 104
 * Geoff Brayne: 103
 * Ken Benbow: 101


 * Harry Jones: Played his first 133 games in a row for Camberwell.