The Southbank Football Club, nicknamed the Bankers, was an Australian rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of Southbank that competed in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA).
| Southbank Football Club | |
|---|---|
| Names | |
| Full name | Southbank Amateur Football Club |
| Former name(s) | State Commonwealth Bank Football Club (1990−1992) Commonwealth Bank Football Club (1992−1994) Southbank CBA Amateur Football Club (1994−1997) |
| Nickname(s) | Bankers[1] The Bank[2] Cobras[2] |
| 1998 D Section season | |
| After finals | 2nd |
| Home-and-away season | 2nd |
| Best and fairest | K. Walford |
| Club details | |
| Founded | Late 1990 |
| Dissolved | Late 1998 |
| Competition | Victorian Amateur Football Association |
| Ground(s) | Swan St, Southbank |
The club was formed in 1990 as State Commonwealth Bank following a merger of State Bank and Commonwealth Bank, before changing its name to Southbank in 1994.
In late 1998, the club merged with Prahran Football Club, although the name "Southbank Amateur Football Club" remains registered with the VAFA.[3]
History
editState Bank
edit
The State Bank Football Club was formed in 1927 as the State Savings Bank of Victoria Football Club, and entered the VAFA (then known as the MAFA) the same year. The club was sponsored by the State Savings Bank of Victoria.[4][5]
State Savings Bank won the C Section premiership in its first season, and was promoted to B Section. However, a second C Section premiership did not come until 1961, and a third premiership came in E Section in 1972.[6][7]
The club was one of several that opposed the VAFA executive's decision to curtail the 1940 season due to World War II, instead advocating for continuing the season until the government requested a cessation.[8][9]
When the State Savings Bank of Victoria was renamed to State Bank in 1977, the club also changed its name.[10]
In its final season in 1990, the club won the D Section premiership, defeating Whitefriars by 21 points.[11]
Commonwealth Bank
editThe Commonwealth Bank Football Club was formed in 1919 and sponsored by the Commonwealth Bank.
The club joined the Victorian Banks Football Association (VBFA) after its formation, however the VBFA was disbanded in 1931 and the club went into recess.[12]
In 1946, Commonwealth Bank was reformed and joined the VAFA the following year in 1947.[13] The club won the C Section premiership the same year, which was followed by a B Section premiership in 1950. However, the club would not win another grand final until its C Section premiership in 1969, which would turn out to be its final premiership.[6]
In its final season in 1990, the club made the F Section grand final but was defeated by St Mary's.[14]
Merger and new club
editIn late 1990, the State Bank of Victoria was sold to the Commonwealth Bank, and the respective clubs were forced to merge as a result.[10] The merged club entered the VAFA as the State Commonwealth Bank Football Club (also stylised as State/Commonwealth Bank) for the 1991 season, officially nicknamed the "Cobras".[2][14]
The club again changed its name in 1992, returning to simply "Commonwealth Bank".[15]
Ahead of the 1994 season, the Commonwealth Bank ended its sponsorship and the club was renamed to Southbank Football Club (officially known as Southbank CBA Amateur Football Club).[1][3]
Southbank won the E South Section premiership in 1997, going undefeated for the entire season. The reserves team also won the premiership, however they suffered a single defeat in the second semi-final.[3]
Amalgamation with Prahran
editAt the end of the 1994 Victorian Football Association (VFA) season, the Prahran Football Club left the VFA as part of the Victorian State Football League's efforts to reduce the size of the competition and align it with the TAC Cup.[16] However, the club did not immediately join a new competition, and instead went into recess. Around six Prahran players joined Southbank for the 1995 VAFA season.[3]
Following the 1998 VAFA season, in which Southbank had lost the D Section grand final, the club merged with Prahran, who subsequently returned to the playing field for the 1999 VAFA season.[17]
The merger followed works beginning at Southbank's home ground to build John Cain Arena, while Prahran was no longer in debt and sought to return to playing again.[3]
Honours
editSeasons
edit| Year | Division | Finish | W | L | D | Coach | Captain | Best and fairest | President | Secretary | Best Clubman |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | C Section | 5th | 11 | 7 | 0 | Craig Jackson | Craig Jackson | R. Gniel | |||
| 1992 | C Section | 4th | 12 | 6 | 0 | Craig Jackson | Craig Jackson | N. Short | |||
| 1993 | C Section | 10th | 4 | 14 | 0 | Craig Jackson | N. Wallmeyer | A. Pitts | |||
| 1994 | K. Bremner | J. McNamara | A. Corboy | P. Sparrow | T. Matherson | N. Roberts R. Roberts | |||||
| 1995 | Derek Hine | S. Melican | J. McNamara | K. Bremner | T. Matherson | K. Matherson T. Matherson | |||||
| 1996 | D Section | 8th | 9 | 9 | 0 | Derek Hine | S. Melican | C. Perry | K. Bremner | G. McNamee | K. Matherson |
| 1997 | E South | 1st | 18 | 0 | 0 | Derek Hine | S. Melican | C. Perry | K. Bremner | G. McNamee | R. Lucas |
| 1998 | D Section | 2nd | 14 | 3 | 1 | Derek Hine | A. Pitts | K. Walford | K. Bremner | T. Brain | B. Cleary K. Matherson |
References
edit- ^ a b "The Amateur Footballer Week 3 1995" (PDF). Victorian Amateur Football Association. 22 April 1995.
- ^ a b c "The Amateur Footballer, Week 19, 1991". Issuu. VAFA Media. 24 August 1991. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- ^ a b c d e "Southbank Football Club". Prahran Football Club. Archived from the original on 9 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ "STATE SAVINGS BANK". Australian Football. Archived from the original on 9 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ "Previous VAFA Clubs". Victorian Amateur Football Association. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Premier C Section Grand Finals". Victorian Amateur Football Association. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ "Division 2 Section Grand Finals". Victorian Amateur Football Association. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ "Wars at Home and Abroad". Victorian Amateur Football Association. For the Love of the Game. 23 April 2020. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024.
- ^ "AMATEURS DIVIDED". Trove. The Argus. 5 June 1940.
- ^ a b "VAFA club's history 1892-2007". GameDay. Victorian Amateur Football Association. Archived from the original on 9 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ "Division 1 Grand Finals". Victorian Amateur Football Association. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ VAFA Media (29 July 2020). "Retrospective: Round 15". Victorian Amateur Football Association. Archived from the original on 9 June 2024.
- ^ "COMMONWEALTH BANK". Australian Football. Archived from the original on 9 June 2024.
- ^ a b "The Amateur Footballer, Week 1, 1991". Issuu. VAFA Media. 6 April 1991. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- ^ "A BRIEF HISTORY" (PDF). Victorian Amateur Football Association. 9 April 2009. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ Adrian Dunn (13 October 1994). "Plan a 'victory' for VFA identity". Herald Sun (Afternoon ed.). Melbourne, VIC. p. 73.
- ^ "Landmarks". The Age. 30 July 2005. Archived from the original on 9 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.