Country club in focus: Broadford Football Club

by PAUL DAFFEY

FORMED

THE Broadford Football Club was formed soon after a paper mill was built in the town in 1890. The club celebrated its centenary in 1990. The mill closed in 1997.

GROUND

Located in the centre of town, it was called Central Park until renamed the Harley Hammond Reserve, after football club stalwart Harley Hammond, in the 1970s. The renaming coincided with the unveiling of a new pavilion that was named after shire engineer Ottie Tuckett.

LEAGUES

Broadford played in the Waranga-North East Football League for almost 60 years before the league was disbanded in 1976. Broadford then moved on to the Riddell District league before going to the Heathcote District league a decade later.

GUERNSEYS

Broadford wore Essendon's black guernsey with a red sash before a jumper clash prompted the switch to North Melbourne's blue and white stripes in the Riddell league in 1977. The club is known as the Kangaroos.

PREMEIRSHIPS

1924-27, 1929-30, 1949, 60, 1971-74 (Waranga-North East league), 1996 (Heathcote District league).

VFL/AFL PLAYERS

Alan Ezard (Essendon 1983-93), Jack Green (Collingwood 1967-69), Barry Hall (St Kilda 1996-2001, Sydney 2002- ), Bob Suter (Essendon 1956-58).

SEYMOUR'S LAMENT

During its run of four consecutive flags from 1971 to 1974, Broadford defeated Seymour in the grand final on each occasion. The first premiership was won under Mike Howe; John Spargo, a roaming forward, coached the next three. In this era, the form of centreman John Bordignon took him to two league best-and-fairest awards, but in general Broadford's talent fell short of Seymour's talent. Broadford overcame its lesser skill through greater dedication. In the 1972 grand final, Seymour was leading by three goals almost halfway through the last quarter. Broadford ruckman Phil Boyce engineered a turnaround and his team rallied to a two-goal win.

ROUND THE MARK

Since joining the Heathcote District league, Broadford has often played finals but only once, in 1996, under former Collingwood player Barry Rist, has the club won the flag. Last year, under coach Paul Tilley, a ruckman with Fitzroy and St Kilda in the mid-1980s, Broadford lost the Heathcote District league grand final to Colbinabbin.

TROUBLED TIMES

Broadford has had a tumultuous season. Adrian Baker, a former renowned goalkicker with Euroa in the Goulburn Valley league, recently received a 12-match suspension for striking to add to his five-game suspension for striking earlier in the season. Paul Tilley was suspended until the 2006 season after facing a charge of striking North Bendigo opponent Travis Lomas during a reserves match on July 31. Lomas, who suffered a fractured cheekbone and multiple eye-socket fractures, was unable to provide evidence at the hearing. The case is under police investigation.

LEADERSHIP OVERHAUL

The Tilley suspension was among the reasons that Broadford president Bob Webster resigned earlier this month, to be replaced by Robert Chapman. Tilley then resigned, to be replaced by assistant coach Ray Heer. Tilley's resignation was among the stipulations put to Broadford after a meeting of league delegates on August 16. At the meeting, Broadford was given a code of conduct by which it must comply during this season's finals and disaffiliated from the competition next season. Under the code of conduct, Broadford players were banned from disputing umpires' decisions, among other things. Failure to abide by the code of conduct would result in the suspension of the club from the finals.

UNCERTAIN FUTURE

Broadford representatives must face league delegates on November 17 to state their case for re-affiliation into the Heathcote District league. Broadford officials say the club is keen to remain in the competition.

This article first appeared in The Age on August 28, 2004

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