The Traralgon Football Netball Club, nicknamed the Maroons, is an Australian rules football and netball club based in the regional Victorian city of Traralgon.
Traralgon was formed in 1883 and has competed in the Gippsland League almost continuously since 1954. The club was briefly a member of the Victorian Football League (VFL) between 1996 and 1997, but withdrew after winning only four games in its two seasons.
Club history The first published football match was a game in Traralgon against Warragul in 1883, resulting in a win to Traralgon.
Mr. H West won the club's Best All-Round player in 1884 with 12 votes.
In 1885, Traralgon hosted Essendon Football Club in a game, but were soundly beaten.
Traralgon once again hosted Essendon in 1886, but this time Traralgon (8.12 - 60) defeated Essendon (3.5 - 23).
In 1890, Traralgon FC's home ground was the Recreation Reserve.
After being in recess in 1894, the "new"club was formed in May, 1895, with the club adopting the colours of red and white.
The Traralgon FC and the Rovers FC merged in 1907 to form the Traralgon United FC and played in the West Gippsland Football Association.
In 1911, the club's color's were red and black.
The Traralgon Junior FC was formed in 1918 to provide a form of recreation for the youth of the town. The club colours for 1919 "would be the same as last year, viz, a maroon guernsey, white shorts and maroon socks".
Traralgon also played in the Victorian Football League (VFL) from 1996 to 1997.
Football Competitions Timeline Gippsland Football Association 1889 to 1890 - (1890 - The Kennedy Cup) Robinson's Challenge Cup 1891 Pettit Challenge Cup 1892 No competition matches, but did play a number of friendly matches against other local towns. 1893 Traralgon FC in recess 1894 No competition matches, but did play a number of friendly matches against other local towns. 1895 Traralgon Football Association 1896 to 1898 Hall's Trophy 1899 Traralgon Football Association (Ord Trophy) 1900 to 1905 West Gippsland Football Association 1906 to 1907 ? Football Association 1908 Central Gippsland Football Association 1909 & 1910 Traralgon & District Football Association 1911 Morwell & District Football Association 1912 & 1913 North Gippsland Football Association 1914 & 1915. 1915 season abandoned in July due to WW1 Club in recess, due to WW1 1916 to 1918 North Gippsland Football Association 1919 & 1920 Gippsland Football League: (GFL) 1921 to 1935 Central Gippsland Football League: (CGFL) 1936 to 1940; Club in recess, World War II 1941 to 1943; Central Gippsland Wartime Football League 1944 & 1945 Central Gippsland Football League 1946 - 1953 LaTrobe Valley Football League 1954 - 1995 Victorian Football League: (VFL) 1996–1997 Gippsland LaTrobe Football League 1996 to 2001 West Gippsland LaTrobe Football League 2002 to 2004 Gippsland Football League 2005 to 2021
Senior Football Premierships Traralgon Football Association 1900 (Ord Trophy) 1904 (Tory Trophy) Traralgon & District Football Association 1911 (Mrs Kelly's Trophy) Morwell & District Football Association 1912 North Gippsland Football Association 1919 Gippsland FL 1923, 1925 Central Gippsland Football League 1946, 1947, 1949 Gippsland Latrobe Valley Football League (GLVFL) 1960, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1978, 1980, 1987, 1990, 1991,1992, 1994, 1998, 19999, 2000 West Gippsland Latrobe Football League 2005 Gippsland Football League 2011, 2015, 2024
League Best & Fairest Winners Senior Football Gippsland Football League (Trood Award) 1927 - Tom Standing 1928 - Tom Standing 1929 - Tom Standing 1930 - Tom Standing Central Gippsland Football League (Rodda Medal) 1938 - Jack Scott 1948 - Jack Collins Central Gippsland Wartime Football League (Rex Hartley Memorial Medal) 1944 - Dick King LaTrobe Valley Football League (Trood Award / Rodda Medal) 1956 - Noel Alford 1966 - Terry Hunter 1967 - George Brayshaw 1977 - Peter Hall 1984 - Peter Hall 1986 - Jim Silvestro 1987 - Jim Silvestro 1990 - John McDonald 1992 - Greg Morley Gippsland LaTrobe Football League 1997 - Neil Robertson 1998 - Greg Morley West Gippsland LaTrobe Football League 2003 - Greg Morley Gippsland Football League 2009 - Michael Geary
VFL / AFL Players The following footballers played with Traralgon FC prior to making their senior VFL / AFL debut. 1897 - David Adamson - South Melbourne 1908 - Ernie Abbott - St. Kilda 1923 - Bill Roberts - South Melbourne 1932 - Jack Anderson - Richmond 1933 - Ray Harry - Carlton 1939 - Jack Scott - Richmond 1940 - Kevin Curran - Hawthorn 1941 - Fred Jones - Hawthorn 1947 - Jack Roberts - Richmond 1950 - Keith McKee - Geelong 1955 - Alan Anton - Fitzroy 1955 - Barry Archbold - Carlton 1957 - Bob Turner - Melbourne 1961 - Max McMahon - Hawthorn 1963 - Paul Harrison - South Melbourne 1966 - Max Thomas - Carlton 1969 - Bernie Quinlan - Footscray 1972 - Ralph Thomas - Footscray 1974 - Geoff Jennings - Footscray 1974 - Kelvin Templeton - Footscray 1976 - Peter Munro - Footscray 1979 - Neil Cordy - Footscray 1982 - Allan Jennings - Footscray 1981 - Brian Cordy - Footscray 1981 - Rick Kennedy - Footscray 1985 - Graeme Cordy - Footscray 1988 - Adrian Campbell - Footscray 1988 - Jim Silvestro - Sydney Swans 1995 - Craig Biddiscombe - Geelong 2011 - Jordan Cunico - Geelong 2013 - Tim Membrey - Sydney Swans, St. Kilda
The following footballers came to Traralgon FC after playing senior VFL / AFL football, with the year indicating their first season with Traralgon FC. 1904 - Dr. Tom McLean - Collingwood & Geelong 1925 - Ted Brown - St. Kilda & Carlton 1927 - Jack Sherman - Footscray 1952 - Bill Welsh - Collingwood 1954 - Alf Callick - South Melbourne 1955 - Noel Alford - North Melbourne 1955 - Keith Schaefer - South Melbourne 1975 - Peter Hall - Carlton 1990 - Geoff Cunningham - St. Kilda 1997 - Greg Doyle - St. Kilda & Melbourne 1997 - Geoff Hocking - Carlton 2013 - Brendan Fevola - Carlton & Brisbane 2013 - Nick Stevens - Port Adelaide & Carlton
VFL Seasons 1996 Traralgon's first season in the VFL was unsuccessful. They finished in last place on the VFL ladder, having won only once for the season - defeating North Ballarat in round 4.
1997 Traralgon fared slightly better in their second season in the league, winning three matches for the year, and drawing once. Traralgon's win over Coburg in round 5 was their only victory away from their home ground during their short stint in the VFL.
VFA Honourboard Year Ladder position Coach Captain Best & Fairest 1996 11th Geoff Cunningham Greg Morley Craig Jennings 1997 10th Geoff Hocking Greg Morley Greg Doyle
References
External links Traralgon FNC official website Gippsland FNL Best & Fairest Winners 1915 - Traralgon FC team photo 1922 - Traralgon FC team photo 1928 - Traralgon FC team photo 1946 - Central Gippsland FL Premiers: Traralgon FC team photo 1949 - Central Gippsland FL Premiers: Traralgon FC team photo 1969 - La Trobe Valley FL Premiers: Traralgon FC team photo