Meet Our Founders
The history of the Spotswood Netball Football Club began in 1927 when a team was entered in the Sub District League. After a couple of near misses, our first flag was won in 1933. This was the start of things to come. This team was coached by Parkin Krygger. Joining the Footscray District League in 1935, the club had a “hat trick” of “runners up” before being successful in 1938 coached by Ron Richards.During the war years and immediately after, flags were won in 1944 coached by W. Williams and 1948 undefeated premiers coached by W. “Bill” Couch. These premierships were in “B” division as our club, like many others, found players hard to come by owing to war duties etc. 1942 saw Lyle “Spike” Tandy become Treasurer, a position that he held for 40 years. 1949 saw us back in “A” division and Brian Brown tied for the FDL Best and Fairest.
OUR BEGINNIGS
Several lean years followed until 1958, when Lou Barker coached and set the tone for many successful years ahead. Len Rowley became Secretary, a position he held for 20 years. During the sixties, Alan McAsey came to the club and after winning the FDL Best and Fairest in 1967, coached the 1968 team to win the flag. (This side had 19 of the premiership players come through the junior teams.) 1971 saw another flag coached by Terry McGarrity followed by another flag in 1972 coached by Ken Barnes. The next three years, the club missed playing in the finals. In 1976 Alan McAsey and Len “Spud” Murphy decided to start up a supporters group and start to pay the players. Over the next 20 odd years, the club was very successful. Ron Fenton coached the 1977 side to a flag. During the era, W. “Bill” Couch was president and had the satisfaction of a job WELL DONE.
1984 was Geoff Bebend’s year, followed in 1987 with Brian Harvey in charge. 1990 saw Ken Barnes return to the club and win another flag and Shane Keogh was successful in 1993 and again in 1995.After 12 years, Luke Theodore coached our 2007 Premiership and Ben Kelly followed up the following 2 years. Chris O’Keefe led the team to Premiership Victory in 2011. While all this was going on, we had FDL/WRFL Best & Fairest winners in Peter Mindenhall (1985), Paul Eudey (1987), Grant Brown (1989), Drew Pevitt (1992), Mark Kriehn (1993) Aaron Thege (1999) and Dean Galea (2004).
Since 1990 the club has been particularly successful managing to play off in 16 A Grade Grand Finals , winning 8 and only missing the finals once in that period of time
The Club has had 161 players advance to play AFL, VFL or VFA.
Bill Deller and Dennis Rich both umpired in the AFL.
Eleven players played interstate football including Charlie Sutton, Fred Goldsmith, Bill Williams, John Heriot and Reg Harley. Additions to this list is Bachur Houli to Essendon in 2007 and Callan Ward to Western Bulldogs in 2008. Of late, Spencer White to St Kilda in 2013 and Connor Menadue to Richmond in 2015. Michael Fogarty played in Footscray’s new VFL Premiership team in 2014 and Jack Charleston is a regular senior Player with Williamstown since 2013.
Brownlow Medal winner: Fred Goldsmith
Liston Trophy winners: John Martin, Don McKenzie, Brett McTaggart and Anthony Eames.
Stawell Gift winner: Bill Williams
Australian Test Cricketer: Ray Bright
Added to this were many premierships (60) by Junior teams and Senior “Reserves”. FDFL/WRFL Best & Fairest winners in all grades totalling 50 to give the club a very successful past 80+ years.
A lot of credit to all players, committee people, trainers and other workers around the club, last but not least, our hard working Ladies Committee. To sum up 80+ years YOUNG. Sixty-five years of football finals, a wealth of good fellowship – on and off the field. Be proud to think and say – I’ve played a part in the SPOTSWOOD FOOTBALL NETBALL CLUB.
Lets now all look forward to the following years ahead.
Our AFL Legends
John Heriot
John Heriot is a former South Melbourne AFL champion, renowned for his toughness, leadership, and consistency at the highest level of the game. A respected figure in football, his legacy is defined by commitment, resilience, and an enduring impact on the club and its supporters.
Don Mckenzie
McKenzie played 137 games for Footscray but didn't get to play finals football. He kicked 128 goals with a best season tally coming in 1969 when he kicked 32 goals. McKenzie played his last game in 1970 before leaving Footscray and in 1972 won the J. J. Liston Trophy while captaining and coaching Sunshine in the Victorian Football Association.
Charlie Sutton
Charlie was Recruited from Spotswood, and was a tough, nuggety footballer who embodied the club's fighting spirit. He played as a rover and half-forward, but it was as a back pocket player that he made his name. In 1950, he finished equal third in the Brownlow Medal count and won the Con Weickhardt Trophy (as it was then known) as the Bulldogs' best and fairest player that season.[1]
He was captain-coach of the team from 1951 to 1955 including the 1954 premiership
Fred Goldsmith
Goldsmith as a 17 year old in 1950, kicked 140 goals for Spotswood to head the goalkicking table in the FDFL. He kicked 29 goals in a match for Spotswood against Kingsville. He then went on to play 119 Games for Sth Melbourne and claimed the 1955 Brownlow Medal. He was named in the Swans Team of the Century.
Our modern day hero's
Bachor Houli
In his first season of competitive junior football in 2000, Bachar won the under-12 best and fairest award while playing for Spotty in the WRFL. After that, he won two league best and fairest awards and earned selection to the local representative side, the Western Jets, in the TAC Cup. Bachar is a 3 time premiership player with Richmond in the AFL.
Logan Morris
Logan is the Grandson of club legend Len 'Spud' Murphy. He played in an Under 12 premiership at Spotswood, and was a part of the Western Jets in his later teen years. Taken with pick 31 in the 2023 AFL National Draft by the Brisbane Lions, he played his first game in the Rd 8 clash against the Gold Coast in 2024. Since that game he has played in 2 x AFL Premierships.
Jordan Boyd
Jordan Boyd was drafted by Carlton with pick 20 in the 2021 AFL mid-season rookie draft and made his AFL debut in 2022 after rising through local football and the VFL. As of the end of 2025 he has played 38 games for the Blues, establishing himself as a reliable defender with strong ball use out of the backline.
Lachy Fogarty
Lachie Fogarty was drafted at pick 22 in the 2017 AFL National Draft and, after debuting with Geelong, has gone on to play 90 AFL games including 67 for Carlton through the end of the 2025 season. He’s known as a pressure‑forward with strong defensive pressure and versatility across the forward line for the Blues
Callum Ward
Callan Ward retires as one of the most respected and courageous figures in AFL history, leaving a legacy defined by his fearless approach and his role as the foundational heartbeat of the GWS Giants. Over an 18-season, 327-game career that began at the Western Bulldogs, Ward became an inaugural co-captain for the Giants in 2012, setting the standard for the expansion club's culture and winning its first-ever Kevin Sheedy Medal. Though his playing days ended in 2025 due to a knee injury, his impact remains unmatched as the Giants' games record holder (267) and a celebrated winner of the AFL's Most Courageous Player award.
Isabella Grant
Isabella Grant has successfully carved out her own legacy at the Western Bulldogs as a premier intercept defender and the club's inaugural father-daughter selection. Overcoming early injuries, she has become a cornerstone of the Bulldogs' backline, reaching her 50-game milestone in 2025 while leading the team in intercept possessions. Known for her elite reading of the play and composure under pressure, Grant remains a vital leader for the club, having recently recommitted to the "red, white, and blue" through the 2026 season.
Isabella Pritchard
Isabelle Pritchard has rapidly ascended to become the Western Bulldogs' midfield powerhouse after joining her childhood club in the 2020 AFLW Draft. Originally a defender, she made a breakout transition to the on-ball brigade, culminating in her 2024 Club Best and Fairest win. In the 2025 season, Pritchard reached her 50-game milestone and earned her first All-Australian squad nomination while averaging career-highs of 21.6 disposals and 5.7 clearances. She remains a long-term pillar of the team, currently contracted until at least 2027.