Heidelberg Football Club
| Heidelberg Football Club | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Names | |
| Full name | Heidelberg Football Club |
| Nickname(s) | The Tigers, Bergers |
| 2016 season | |
| Leading goalkicker | Daniel Connors (41) |
| Club details | |
| Founded | 1876 |
| Colours | Yellow and Black |
| Competition | Northern Football League |
| Chairman | Trevor Barrett |
| Coach | Charles Gaylard |
| Captain(s) | Michael Brunelli |
| Ground(s) | Warringal Park |
| Other information | |
| Official website | heidelbergfc.com.au |
Heidelberg Football Club is an Australian rules football club in Heidelberg, Victoria, currently competing in the Northern Football League.
History
Established in 1876, Heidelberg Football Club is one of the oldest Australian rules football clubs in the country. The club initially competed in the Melbourne Football League against other suburban clubs such as Northcote, Waverley, South Melbourne and Sandridge. Heidelberg's original guernsey was blue and white until adopting the current strip of yellow and black during the 1880s.
Heidelberg has competed in many different football leagues during its history. Commencing in the Melbourne Football League, the club was a founding member of Bourke-Evelyn Football League in 1890. Between 1900 and 1902, Heidelberg competed in the VFA before transferring to the Northern Suburban Football League. The club was a founding member of Heidelberg District Football League in 1909 before transferring to the fledgling Diamond Valley Football League in 1923.
Heidelberg's dominance of the DVFL led to the club moving temporarily to VFL Sub-Districts League in 1925 whilst still successfully fielding a second team in the DVFL (known as Heidelberg Juniors at the time). The club returned exclusively to the DVFL in 1930 and has remained in this league since with considerable success. The junior club now resides in the YJFL.
The Club has won a total 27 senior premierships including a record 19 in the Northern Football League, the first being in 1890, and the most recent in 2009.
The original home ground was at Heidelberg Park, but after a recess during the World War 2, the club moved across Beverley Road to the current address at Warringal Park.
At the end of the 1980 season the bottom four clubs were to be relegated to a newly formed Second Division in 1981 so Heidelberg having finished 13th (third last) was relegated. After three seasons in Division Two the club earned promotion with a breakthrough Grand Final victory over Northcote Park in 1983. After two respectable years in 1984/85 the club then went on to achieve Division one success in 1986 and then again in 1990.
Heidelberg became the inaugural Northern Football League Premier and Champion in 2007, going through the season undefeated. Heidelberg were the last Diamond Valley Football League Premier in 2006 after a formal audit by Football Victoria forced the league to change its name, this was initially caused by concerns expressed by the club while attempting to transfer to the Eastern FL. In 2009 Heidelberg completed a four peat of Premierships defeating Bundoora in the Grand Final, (equaling the League record of 4 in a row) and making it five wins from the past six Grand Finals.
Heidelberg defeated Macleod to win the 2016 premiership. Their first premiership since 2009.
Heidelberg holds the record for the longest winning sequence in DVFL/NFL history with 48 wins in a row (round 3 2008 to round 10 2010)
Premierships
Northern Football League (Formerly Diamond Valley Football League)
Division 1
- Seniors: (18)
1923, 1928, 1929, 1937, 1938, 1948, 1950, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1964, 1986, 1990, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2016.
- Reserves: (13)
1950, 1951, 1953, 1956, 1960, 1963, 1967, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2016.
- Thirds: (1)
1980
Division 2
- Seniors: (1)
1983
- Reserves: (1)
1981
Bourke-Evelyn Football League
- Seniors: (1)
1890
Northern Suburban Football League
- Seniors: (2)
1905, 1908
Heidelberg District Football League
- Seniors: (5)
1910, 1911, 1912, 1919, 1920
Notable players
- Fred Clarke (Richmond)
- John Murphy (Fitzroy, North Melbourne & South Melbourne)
- Brian Wilson (Footscray, North Melbourne, Melbourne & St Kilda)
- Jim Edmond (Footscray, Sydney & Brisbane Bears)
- Geoff Austen (Fitzroy & Collingwood)
- Bill Twomey, Sr. (Collingwood)
- Pat Twomey (Collingwood)
- Shane Kerrison (Collingwood)
- John Wise (Collingwood)
- Pasi Schwalger (Samoan National Soccer Player)
- Ty Zantuck (Richmond & Essendon)
- Jess Sinclair (Fremantle & North Melbourne)
- Justin Murphy (Richmond, Carlton, Geelong & Essendon)
- Brad Miller (Melbourne & Richmond)
- Anthony Franchina (Carlton)
- Renato Serafini (Fitzroy & Carlton)
- Blair McDonough Television personality