The Belconnen Magpies Football Club is an Australian rules football club which competes in the AFL Canberra.[1][2] They previously played in the now defunct North East Australian Football League competition.[3]
History
Originally known as the Turner Football Club, the club became known as Belconnen in 1970 and was admitted to the Canberra Australian National Football League in 1971.[4] Wearing a navy blue guernsey with a white monogram, the club was known as the "Bees" from 1971 until 1979, then as the "Blues" following the ANU Blues' withdrawal from the league during 1979.[5]
Before the 1986 season, the Belconnen club merged with the West Canberra Football Club to become the "Belconnen Magpies".[6] The team began to wear the traditional magpie black and white stripes and in 1991 the club moved its headquarters to Kippax.[7] In 1998 the colour teal was added to the existing black and white jumper.[8]
The newly formed team did not taste premiership success until 2002 when they won three consecutive premierships.[7] The club also clinched the 2009 premiership, with a six-point grand final win over Ainslie.[9] The Magpies then went on to win their fifth premiership in 2023, defeating Ainslie by 39 points.[10]
AFL players
The following Belconnen players have played in the AFL:
- Brett Allison (North Melbourne and Sydney)
- Logan Austin (Port Adelaide and St Kilda)
- Matthew Lokan (Collingwood)
- Don Pyke (West Coast)
- Jack Steele (Greater Western Sydney and St Kilda)
Honours
Club
AFL Canberra (5): 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2023
Premierships
| Year | Opponent | Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Queanbeyan Tigers | 24.19 (163) – 14.6 (90) | Manuka Oval |
| 2003 | Queanbeyan Tigers | 11.14 (80) – 11.8 (74) | Manuka Oval |
| 2004 | Queanbeyan Tigers | 14.20 (104) – 8.9 (57) | Manuka Oval |
| 2009 | Ainslie Tri-Colours | 11.13 (79) – 10.13 (73) | Manuka Oval |
| 2023 | Ainslie Tri-Colours | 10.11 (71) – 4.8 (32) | EPC Solar Park |
Individual
Mulrooney Medalists
- 2023 – Thomas Simpson
- 2022 – Luke Wharton
- 2019 – Beau Walker
- 2017 – Beau Walker
- 2016 – James Bennett
- 2015 – Isaac Taylor
- 2013 – James Bennett
- 2012 – Shane Harris
- 2005 – Jared Ilett
- 2003 – Steve Hazelman
- 2001 – Steve Mahar
- 1999 – Shane Clarke
- 1991 – Brent Smith
- 1984 – Geoff Hocking (Belconnen)
- 1978 – Greg Eaves (West Canberra)
- 1976 – Mike Demaine (West Canberra)
- 1975 – Robert White (Belconnen)
References
- ^ "2014 NEAFL sides finalised". Brisbane Lions website. 16 August 2013.
- ^ "Soaring Magpies closer to dream season". Sydney Morning Herald. NSW. 8 September 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
- ^ Main, Jim (2008). Aussie Rules for Dummies (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-7314-0595-4.
- ^ "Three-club monopoly in rules contest". The Canberra Times. ACT. 10 April 1971. p. 24. Retrieved 28 March 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Barry Rollings (1 July 1979). "Grim struggle for Bees". The Canberra Times. Canberra, ACT. p. 20.
- ^ "Belconnen needs a captain-coach". The Canberra Times. 8 October 1986. p. 40. Retrieved 28 March 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b Devaney, John (2009). The Full Points Footy Encyclopedia Of Australian Football Clubs. Full Points Publications. ISBN 978-0-9556897-3-4.
- ^ "Club History". Fox Sports Pulse.
- ^ "Ainslie Falls Short in Tense Grand Final". Ainslie Football Club.
- ^ "Flagpies: Belconnen's 14-year wait finally over". The Canberra Times. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
Recent Comments