The Maryborough Football & Netball Club, nicknamed the Magpies, is an Australian rules football and netball club based in the town of Maryborough, Victoria.
The club is currently a member of the Bendigo Football Netball League. However, they have been in recess since 2025. In 2027 they will join the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League
Contents
History
An Australian Rules football club was tried to be formed in Maryborough in 1869, but was unsuccessful, then in 1872, the club was formed and three matches were played against Avoca.
In 1891, the Maryborough Albion Junior FC played 15 games, for 14 wins, one draw to be premiers of the Maryborough district.
Maryborough joined the Ballarat Football League in 1924 and were premiers on four occasions between 1924 and 1931 but missed both the 1929 and 1930 seasons as they were without a home ground. The council had decided to allocate Princes Park to the Maryborough District Football Association (MDFA).
In August, 1928, Marborough player, Charlie Backway kicked 18 goals against Ballarat Imperial FC.
After returning and winning the 1931 premiership, Maryborough applied to join the Bendigo Football League in 1932 and were suspended by the Ballarat Football League as a result, who refused to clear the club to the Bendigo Football League.
To get around the disqualification, a new club was formed, called Maryborough United FC and they participated in the Bendigo Football League, from 1932 to 1940, due to Maryborough FC's disqualification.
The original club reformed in 1945, spent a season in the Maryborough District Football Association (MDFA), before returning to the Ballarat Football League in 1946.
At the end of 1991 the club were successful in transferring to the Bendigo Football League.
Football Timeline
1872 - 1891: Maryborough FC formed in 1872, club active playing matches against local towns, but no competition football.
Football Premierships
Seniors
Maryborough Football Association (1892–1915, 1945):
1892 - Maryborough: 4.6 - 30 defeated Bowenvale: 2.8 - 20
1894 - Maryborough:
1908 - Maryborough: 7.9 - 51 d Carisbrook: 1.0 - 6
Ballarat Football League (1924–1931, 1946–1991):
1924 - Maryborough: 6.13 - 49 d Ballarat: 6.4 - 40
1925 - Maryborough: 11.12 - 78 d Ballarat: 10.9 - 69
1927 - Maryborough: 6.10 - 40 drew Ballarat: 6.10 - 40
1927 - Maryborough: 8.17 - 65 d Ballarat: 8.12 - 60 (Grand Final Replay)
1931 - Maryborough: 13.24 - 102 d Ballarat Imperial: 11.7 - 73
1960 - Maryborough: 8.12 - 60 d Daylesford: 6.14 - 50
1965 - Maryborough: 13.10 - 88 d Ballarat: 8.8 - 56
1968 - Maryborough: 21.18 - 124 d Ballarat: 9.13 - 68
1972 - Maryborough: 18.12 - 120 d North Ballarat: 9.14 - 68
1974 - Maryborough: 10.12 - 72 d East Ballarat: 9.16 - 70
Bendigo Football League (1932–1940, 1992–present):
Football Runners Up
Seniors
Bendigo Football League (1932–1940, 1992–present)
1933, 1939
Ballarat Football League (1924–1931, 1946–1991)
1946, 1948, 1949, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1964
Reserves
Ballarat Football League (1946–1991)
1965, 1974
League Best & Fairest Winners
Senior Football
Ballarat Football League (1924–1931, 1946–1991):
1948 - H Hubble
1953 - Don Nicholls (as a 16 year old)
1961 - Brian Coleman
1969 - Kevin Coleman
1971 - Colin Elliott
1982 - Rod Fehring
1990 - Geoff MacIlwain
1991 - Geoff MacIlwain
Bendigo Football League (1932–1940, 1992–present)::
1932 - Stan Nicol
1996 - Jamie Bond
2002 - Matt Aston
League Leading & / or Century Goalkicker
Ballarat Football League (1924–1931, 1946–1991)
1933 - (2nd:) S. Slater: 111 goals
1949 - Ken Yates: 61
1950 - Bill Wells: 73
1965 - Noel Bishop:
1967 - Noel Bishop:
Bendigo Football League (1932–1940, 1992–present)
1994 - Shane McCluskey: 100 (113)
Football Club Best & Fairest Award
Seniors
1924 - Walter Grose
G. F. Cuttle Memorial Gold Medal
The club's senior football best and fairest award, was initially called the G F Cuttle Memorial Award, who resurrected the club in 1924 and was Maryborough's first president when they joined the Ballarat Football League and was first awarded in 1926. Cuttle received a life membership of the Maryborough FC in April, 1926, just prior to his unfortunate death in June, 1926.
1926 - Ted Waugh
1927 - Colin Niven
1928 - Thomas Rowe
1932 - Stan Nicol
1935 - James Durbridge
Football Coaches
Seniors
1873 - Keast
1876 - Dood
1910 - A R Outrim (captain)
1924 & 1925 - Artie Wood
1926 - Les Johnson
1927 - Colin Watson
1928 - Maurie Beasy Appointed as captain-coach, but Carlton did not clear him.
1932 - Hugh Donnelly
1933 - Bob Makeham
1934 - Cecil Kerr
1935 - Les Dayman Dayman appointed but did not coach. Gordon Mackie was originally appointed as captain-coach in 1935, but Carlton refused to clear him.
1936 - Ted Llewellyn
1937 - 1939: Fred Coppock
1946 - 1948: Ernie Coward
1950 - Bill Wells
1951 & 1952 - Don Wilks
1953 & 1954: Vic Chanter
1967: Ralph Rose
1976 & 1977: Bryan Quirk
1993 - Brent Dyer
1994: Merv Neagle
1998 & 1999: Neville Massina
2000: Jamie Bond
Notable players
The following footballers played with Maryborough FNC, prior to playing senior football in the VFL/AFL, and / or drafted, with the year indicating their VFL/AFL debut.
The following footballers played senior VFL / AFL football prior to playing and / or coaching with Maryborough FNC with the year indicating their first season at MFNC.
Netball Premierships
Bendigo Football Netball League
B Grade
1996
Netball Runners Up
Bendigo Football Netball League
A Grade
2002
B Grade
1999, 2000, 2004
C Grade
1997, 1998, 2000
Under 17
2010, 2017