The Tarneit Football Club is an Australian rules football club, based in the western Melbourne suburb of Tarneit, which have competed in the Western Region Football League (WRFL) since 2014.Western Region Football League, "Annual Report 2013", Western Region Football League, 2014
Operating out of Wootten Road Reserve in Tarneit.
As of the 2019 season, Tarneit is represented by seven junior teams, ranging from under 10s to under 16s;Western Region Football League, "2019 Annual Report", Western Region Football League, 2020 a senior women's team; and senior men's and reserves teams.
History
2014 - 2015: Formation and early years The formation of the Tarneit Football Club was officially announced by the WRFL in 2013, following the recognition of the rapidly increasing population in the outer west and the recent development of an Australian Rules facility on Wootten Road.
Tarneit was ultimately established in 2014, and in its inaugural year the club were able to field two senior and three junior teams, alongside successfully hosting local football finals at the Wootten Road venue.Western Region Football League, "Annual Report 2014", Western Region Football League, 2015 Starting initially in Division 2 grading, the club made history with its first senior men's victory in Round 1, scoring a 79 point win over the North Sunshine Roadrunners.
The 2015 season consisted of lukewarm success for Tarneit; aided by the introduction of a Division 3 competition, the senior men's team increased their win tally to five games and the reserves men's side winning thirteen games and playing in the club's first final. Tarneit was also able to sustain its junior program in 2015, fielding three junior teams.Western Region Football League, "Annual Report 2015", Western Regional Football League, 2016
2016 - 2017: Increased participation and drastic improvement After two inaugural years of limited success, 2016 marked a drastic improvement in the club's on-field performances following the appointments of Mark Elso and Cam Evans as senior and reserves men's coach respectively. The senior men's side was able to secure its first ever finals victory after finishing the season in third position, whilst the reserve side featured in the club's first men's Grand Final - ultimately succumbing to Parkside by eight points. Similarly, the club experienced its first success in the junior ranks, with the Under 12s side playing in the club's first junior Grand Final.
The success of the previous year resulted in significant growth for the club in 2017, reflected by the introduction of Tarneit's first senior women's team and junior girls sides; contributing to a total of nine teams for the season.Western Region Football League, "2017 Annual Report", Western Region Football League, 2018 Although the women's team finished on the bottom of the table, another milestone for the club was achieved with the side securing their first ever victory against the Glen Orden Football Club
Tarneit's senior men also made history, with their qualification into the Division 3 Grand Final representing the club's first ever - an achievement that was soured by a loss to rivals Parkside by 41 points.
2018: Tarneit's first taste of success Following the performances of 2017, expectations for the men's teams were high, particularly following the re-signing of Elso and Evans for 2018. After finishing the season in second place - in a season where they scored a victory against each team - Tarneit's senior men's side could not improve on the previous year, crashing out of finals in straight sets following losses to Point Cook Centrals and the Wyndham Suns respectively.
Conversely, the reserves side were able to bounce back from a straight sets knockout in 2017 and finish the 2018 season as Minor Premiers en route to winning the club's first ever Premiership, with a one point victory over the Point Cook Centrals.
Tarneit also were able to maintain their junior numbers, with six junior sides representing the Titans alongside the senior men's, senior women's and reserve's sides.Western Region Football League, "2018 Annual Report", Western Region Football League, 2019
2019: Reserves back-to-back and continued growth Tarneit's senior sides aimed to build on the momentum of their 2019 campaigns, and after five rounds looked strong with both sides undefeated at the top end of the ladder. This served to be a sliding doors moment for the teams; with the senior men going at a record of seven wins, six losses before crashing out in finals, while the reserves ultimately backed up their 2018 campaign with a 32 point victory in the Grand Final against the Albanvale Football Club.
The club's senior women's side also reveled in their own successes, with four wins for the season representing their strongest performance in Tarneit's short history.
2020: COVID-19 and new senior coach Due to the impact of COVID-19, the 2020 WRFL senior and junior seasons were cancelled respectively.
Following the cancellation of the senior season, Justin Palmer was announced as senior coach for 2021.
Club Song Sung to the tune of Keep Your Sunny Side Up
See the Titans fire up, up. To win the premiership flag. Our boys who bring their hardened game. Are always striving for glory and fame. See the Titans fire up, up. The other teams they don't fear. Tarneit are the best. We will beat the rest. As the Titans fire up!
Honour Roll +Senior Men's Honour BoardSeasonCoachCaptain (s)Best & FairestLeading GoalkickerDivisionFinishing Position2014Max de GrootAsh FletcherThomas RobertsonJason Seduikis (13)WRFL - Div. 36/62015Max de GrootAsh FletcherCorey MackeyAaron Doughty (20)WRFL - Div. 36/72016Mark ElsoTodd LawrieTodd LawrieTodd Lawrie (32)WRFL - Div. 33/92017Mark ElsoTodd LawrieTodd LawrieChris Benson/Aaron Molivas (44)WRFL - Div. 33/8; Runners Up2018Mark ElsoTodd LawrieTom WeyburyJohn Zangari (41)WRFL - Div. 32/82019Mark ElsoAdam MiriklisTodd LawrieJohn Zangari (37)WRFL - Div. 34/82021Justin PalmerZac Gillard Ty PriestMichael JubbRyan Potter (22)WRFL - Div. 35/72022Brent SheeanZac GillardLuke TimmsWRFL - Div. 32023Brent SheeanZach Thornton Joshua StoneZach Thornton Micheal Naawi +Reserves Men's Honour BoardSeasonCoachCaptain (s)Best & FairestLeading GoalkickerDivisionFinishing Position2014Danny AndjelkovicAnthony WhyteReece DimechBrad Lancaster (9)WRFL - Div. 36/62015Neil DutsonCory Desira Joseph MalliaReece FrostTyson Szkudlarski (23)WRFL - Div. 33/72016Cameron EvansZach ThorntonCody EbbelsTroy Whiting (57)WRFL - Div. 32/9; Runners Up2017Cameron EvansReece FrostMatthew LawrenceSamuel Ingham (52)WRFL - Div. 32/82018Cameron EvansReece FrostReece FrostJason Seduikis (50)WRFL - Div. 31/8; Premiers2019Heath HunterZac Gillard Sean TaylorSean TaylorHeath Hunter (53)WRFL - Div. 31/8; Premiers2021Arthur ArabitSean TaylorNick WilliamsJames di Blasi (8)WRFL - Div. 36/72022Arthur ArabitJosh WattersonJordan DepetroDeclan DrummondWRFL - Div. 35/72023Arthur ArabitNick WilliamsCory DesiraNick WilliamsWRFL - Div.34/72024Max de Groot +Senior Women's Honour BoardSeasonCoachCaptain (s)Best & FairestLeading GoalkickerDivisionFinishing Position2017Brandon StoneSuzzanne HillisMadeline JohnsonMadeline JohnsonWRFL & EDFL Women's11/112018Brandon StoneMadeline JohnsonEmma QuinnEmma QuinnWRFL - Women's8/92019Brandon StonePaige van HulstMadeline JohnsonMadeline Johnson (8)WRFL - Women's11/13 +WRFL League Best & Fairest WinnersSeasonBest and Fairest WinnerDivision2016Jayden SmithersUnder 11 - West2016Monique GavriliadisUnder 12 - Division 32016Todd LawrieDivision 3 - Senior2017Dakodah CottUnder 15 Girls - Division 12017Jamie CowlishawDivision 3 - Reserves2018Reece FrostDivision 3 - Reserves2019Sarah PoniUnder 15 Girls - Division 12019Todd LawrieDivision 3 - Senior2023Aaron CampbellDivision 3 - Reserves
References
External links
Official website of the Tarneit Titans Football Club