Netball Code of Behaviour   Home Football Match Day Players Honour Boards Netball Match Day Players Honour Boards Social/News Juniors Club History Football Greats Netball Greats Sponsors Membership Merchandise Referral Partners Club Contacts   CLUB HISTORY Geelong West FC The Geelong West Football Club was one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australia up until its merger with St Peters in 1988. The club spanned the years 1838-1988; an even 150 years and along the way picked up 33 premierships across three separate competitions; Geelong & District, Ballarat & the VFA. The latter period perhaps the most famous for the club but the initial that which helped create an awesome record, the likes of which has not been seen since in Geelong. From 1881 through until 1944, the club won 25 flags in the GDFA, including a golden era from 1932-1944 where the club won nine premierships in 12 years; a remarkable achievement and one where the Geelong West club was literally unbeatable. Early stars for the club were Sam McKee and Geelong VFL stars Jack Williams, Norm Glenister and Ernest Newling. Pressure mounted within the Geelong competition and also from within the club to seek a more challenging competition and the Ballarat Football League welcomed the club with open arms in 1943, at a time where the Ballarat competition was markedly stronger than its bigger rival. The club underwent a name change to the 'Seasiders' and adapted well to the increased challenge and tougher competition. Geelong VFL star Joe Sellwood was appointed captain/coach for the landmark move up to Ballarat. After the transition period, the club landed the prize signature of dual Geelong FC VFL premiership player Terry Fulton to coach the side in 1955. Fulton then took the reins for six years as captain/coach and presided over another successful period in winning four successive premierships from 1956-1959. Fulton himself was a strong contributor on the field as well as off and was without doubt one of the stars of the era which also included the dashing Doug Stacey, dual best & fairest winner Keith Kerr, Graham Crook, the great Jack Burns, Sam Stein and BFL Henderson Medallists Brian Clegg & Bill James. Pressure once again mounted on a club that had began to outgrow its league and simply had become too good for its environs. The VFA had begun to beckon and after negotioations, the way was clear for Geelong West to leave the Ballarat FL and join the big boys in 1963, commencing in VFA Division 2. It was not long before the tremendous form that had accompanied the now-named Roosters over the past decade began to again step it up a notch and after a solid start in 1963; in which dimunitive rover Richard Perry won the Field Medal for league best & fairest, Eric Nicholls led the club to its first VFA flag after a six point win over Caulfield. A period of promotion and relegation followed thereafter with more Division 2 premiership success to follow in 1968 and 1972 under Brian Brushfield and Geelong legend Bill Goggin respectively. Indeed, Goggin had been recruited straight out of his stint in the VFL which would later earn him AFL Hall of Fame status. He was a massive centre of influence and the quality of players that landed at West Oval under Goggin's guidance were unsurpassed. Peter Stephens, Greg Wells, Howard Smith, John Friend, Tony Gilmore and more became household names during the halcyon days of the VFA in Geelong's western suburbs whilst a sustained run of success also helped develop the careers of players such as Rex Deeath, David Manson, David Harris, Terry Bright and brothers Ricky and Mark Browne who would all be recruited to the VFL from West. The achievements culminated in Geelong Wests first and only VFA Division 1 premiership in 1975. A crowning achievement of Goggin's work and the crescendo of 137 years of success up to that point. Following on from the 1975 flag, the club sustained immense popularity throughout Geelong and turning up to West each Sunday to watch the VFA became a much enjoyed pastime for thousands of supporters each weekend. Though the club would not win any further flags, they did have some successful years and were Division 1 runners-up in both 1979 and 1983. Throughout the latter years the faithful would see such VFA stars strutting their stuff at West as the iconic Joe Radojevic, a flamboyant, strong and reliable full-forward, ruckman Warwick Yates, dual best and fairest winner Colin Chapman, stoic backman Sylvester Kranc, no-nonsense Andrew 'Jock' Evans, the talented Mark Dahlhaus who would later win two GFL Mathieson Medals, high-flying Mal Eddy, future Carlton star Fraser Murphy, young guns Stephen Sells and Ron Watt and courageous skipper Neil Gibson. The club, however like many other VFA clubs before and since fell upon hard times both financially and in their support and some heavy on-field losses soon resulted in crisis talks and the eventual withdrawal from the VFA and merger with local GFL club St Peters. Long may we remember the glory days of the VFA and the times when West Oval would see 10,000 people roll out on a Sunday to watch some great community football. St Peters FC The St Peters Football Club was borne out of the Ashby Catholic Church, in Mercer St, Geelong which is now known as Sts Peter & Paul’s Church. The original ideal of the club was to foster the Catholic youth of the parish and the original club, Geelong West YCW was established in 1948. The club was re-named St Peters FC in 1957 with the club fielding Under Age teams from 15s through to 18s and a Senior side. From this point through until the merger in 1989, the Saints wore royal blue and vertical striped jumpers. The club struggled through its early years in the Evelyn Hurst section of the Geelong & District Football League but throughout the period was able to churn out great junior sides with the high point being a championship in 1952. After 13 years as a club and after only two years with a senior side, St Peters entered the new decade in 1960 and began to make its mark in the then top flight of senior football in the Geelong region. Brian McCormick had coached the side for its establishment phase and he has been duly remembered as one of the founding fathers and an exceptional player in his own right. The great Ron Sells then took over in 1961 and embarked upon one of the great senior careers in country football. Over a 12 year career with the club, Sells won four league best & fairests; being just shy of a fifth, seven club best & fairests and tallied 250 games. During the 1960’s, he lead the club to three finals series, including their first grand final in 1967. He brought a new era of professionalism to Walker Oval and one that would last until the club merged and at the same time carved his own name into local footballing folklore. Ron Mann had held the presidency of the club during this establishment period and continued at the helm into the 1970’s. Mann and his army of volunteers were at this time responsible for making St Peters a fine family club and at all times fostered the junior programme which fast became the envy of nearby clubs and helped the Saints reap the benefit of their home-grown products for years to come. In Sells’ latter years the Hannan family was recruited to the club. Father Brian joined the committee with the eldest son Tony taking over the immediate mantle of one of the club’s finest players, winning the best and fairest in his first year of 1968 and taking over the coaching reins in 1972. That year, the club went from wooden spooners to grand finalists in one season, completing one of the more remarkable turnarounds in local football. Tony would go on to claim  four best and fairests himself whilst his cousin Terry Sanders also proved one of the club’s all-time greats by becoming a marquee CHF and winning the best and fairest in 1969. Other great players during this era were league best & fairest winner Phil Moran, Dennis More, Bill McCann and Simon Taylor. Tony’s younger brother Kevin then took over as the club’s superstar after he had began to develop as a player under his brother’s tutelage. During a period of consolidation in the mid-70’s in which Kevin Hannan won two club best & fairests, the club was relegated by the footballing powers to a lower league. Senior player Greg Welsh took over as president during the trying time and along with Hannan as coach, set their sights on a path towards the newly formed Geelong Football League. The dawn of the 1980s was St Peters Football Club’s finest hour with Hannan leading the club to its first senior premiership in 1980, a season that the Reserve grade also held silverware aloft. Dennis Davey then took over from Hannan in 1981 and continued his predecessor’s fine work by again leading the club to a flag, this one becoming a championship after a barnstorming undefeated year. The GFL then had no choice but to promote the club and in one of the more outstanding performances in modern-day football, St Peters, in their first GFL season marched all the way to the Grand Final before being beaten by Newtown in the big one. Davey would go on to coach the club for a further three years whilst Darryl Moreland took over the presidential role. One of the club’s favourite sons in Joe Radojevic filtered back to Walker Oval after a decorated VFA career with Geelong West and remained in charge until Michael Crutchfield coached the club in its final year in 1988. From 1979 to the mid-80's the club had an enviable Under 17 programme and won five premierships in six years including a championship in 1979. The club reaped the benefit of this period with players such as Rod Young, Todd McKenzie, John Pickering, Ash Connoley, Alan Pollard, Nick Walsh, Michael Robinson and Andrew Gribble remaining loyal to the cause and becoming outstanding senior footballers in their own right. During this time Michael Gurrie and Gribble were also drafted to the Geelong Football Club whilst Stephen Sells was recruited by WAFL club Subiaco and made a name for himself in WA. Geelong West, pressured to leave the VFA under the weight of mounting financial debt sought to affiliate locally but with numbers also an issue, they approached St Peters with the prospect of a merger after being told that under their current guise they would not be accepted into the GFL and the two clubs announced the partnership in October of 1988.   Geelong West-St Peters FC   The Geelong West-St Peters Sports Club was borne out of the merger between the Geelong West and St Peters Football Clubs in 1989.  The Geelong West club, possibly one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian Football with a history dating back over 120 years, participated in the Geelong competition before moving to the Ballarat Football League and later a storied period in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) where amongst other achievements, they registered three senior premierships.  St Peters itself also has a proud history through the Geelong & District and Geelong Football Leagues, having been born in the mid 1960’s with their proudest moment being back-to-back premierships in the GDFL in 1980/81 before rising through promotion to the GFL and playing in the Grand Final the following season. Both clubs decided on a merger when foundering support both socially and financially resulted in an amalgamation before the 1989 season.  West were able to provide a first class venue and a handful of talented players and committee members and top-flight GFL players when their time was up.  Early on, the club wore the red and white of Geelong West but now the blue of St Peter’s has also been incorporated into the playing strip and the club has adopted the nickname of ‘The Roosters.’ The club has yet to win a senior GFL premiership but has made a grand final appearance in 1995 and finals appearances in 1995, 1997 & 2007.  The Roosters have also established a very successful netball program and their senior sides currently are amongst the best in the region with the club participating in two of the four senior grand finals last season.  The thriving junior competition in both football and netball sections is also a huge boon for the club with many quality players emerging from the age groups. Geelong West-St Peters has had many stars come through its ranks with Ron Watt and Jeremy Dyer perhaps the two leading lights.  Watt, a former VFA star with West won the club’s first four senior best and fairest before departing for North Shore where he helped form a dynasty by steering the Seagulls to an enviable patch of senior premierships.  He later went on to be a key part of the Geelong coaching personnel in the AFL.  Dyer had played 100 VFL games for Werribee as a marshalling half-back flanker before he landed at West Oval.  He claimed three straight best & fairest and a runners-up award as well as representing Victoria Country at a national carnival.  Other great players to have graced the turf include former AFL draftees Andrew Gribble & Nick Faull, ex-Sydney Swan Sean Drennan, former Werribee VFA skipper Michael McMaster, Current CHF and ex-Bulldog Nathan Saunders, former AFL great Peter Riccardi, ex Cat & Swan Paul Chambers & ruck-rover Paul Carson, who claimed the 2008 GFL Best & Fairest; the Mathieson Medal,  a first for the club and his brother Dale who won the GFL goalkicking award in 2007.   The Premierships St Peters Geelong & District Football League   1980 The First Flag 1979 had been the inaugural year of the Geelong Football League and St Peters had competed and though they did not set the world on fire their results were credible. The league executive had decided that the competition in its current format would transform from a 12 team league into a 10 team league and that two teams would be relegated to the Geelong & District FL which the GFL had recently broken away from. East Geelong and St Peters were the two clubs designated to be demoted and though what seemed as though sufficient reasoning could not be given for the move, the Saints were relegated; despite not finishing in the bottom two. Legal avenues were exhausted and protests dismissed as the club was resigned to the fact that the only way towards promotion to the top flight was to become a powerhouse of the GDFL and put the issue beyond doubt. The Kevin Hannan-lead force then set about demolishing the rest of the competition, losing just one game (to St Josephs by one point), on their way to a dominant premiership victory. One of the stars of the season was new full-forward Wayne Ford, who had been recruited from GDFL club Corio and in his debut season for his new club, kicked 105 goals, becoming the first St Peters player to do so. The club had steeled itself after the knock back it received from the GFL and with the players forming a great sense of ownership of their tighly-knit group, they were simply unbeatable on Grand Final day; running out 35-point winners over Lara. Ford was a huge presence out of the square with seven majors whilst hard man Pat McFadden was best-on-ground aided by Gary Walsh, Peter Gilmore, Mick Robinson and KJ Taylor. The barnstorming result, the first flag in St Peters’ 32 year history to that point. Final Scores: St Peters 22.18.150 d Lara 18.17.115.   1981 Premiers & Champions Kevin Hannan stepped aside as Captain/Coach and concentrated on his playing role and leading the side on the field. New coach Dennis Davey, a former leader at Meredith had been coaxed out of retirement to lead the reigning premiers. The club failed in its bid to re-join the GFL and once again all legal avenues were closed. The great Under 17 side of 1979 that finished premiers & champions had begun to filter into senior ranks and the players who had played a smattering of senior football had now become an important part of the 1st XVIII. Rod Young, John Pickering, Todd McKenzie, Allan Pollard and others had now found their place in senior football and coupled with the existing stars as well as some inspired recruiting which netted John Friend and Greg Wells from Geelong West’s VFA side, the Saints again set about disposing of their opposition. The club’s performance of losing just one game in season 1980 was bettered this year as they steamrolled their way through all comers and powered their way to back-to-back titles with an easy win against Corio by 40 points. The Devils had earlier been competitive in the second semi final but the mix of class and ferocity that was enjoyed at Walker Oval that year was insurmountable for the rest of the GDFL. John Boekel, who would go on to play VFA at West was best-on-ground in a dominant display along with Peter Gilmore, Friend, McKenzie and winger Mark Rintoul. Gilmore (6) and Boekel (5) booted 11 goals between them as 3326 saw the Saints record their second flag and what surely would be the exclamation point on their re-admittance to the GFL. 1982 One Step from a Football Fairytale….. Such was St Peters’ dominance in losing just one game in two seasons, the Victorian Country Football League had then instructed the GFL to re-admit the Saints into Geelong’s premier competition. It was no secret that the remainder of the GFL clubs were far from impressed with the decision and as such would begin to take the new boys lightly. Full forward Bill Higgins from Heyfield had replaced Wayne Ford in the square, while Terry Cahill was headline amongst other recruits. The club would win their first seven games in succession which soon had the GFL taking notice as Higgins proved a tower of strength at the key forward post and would go on to kick 108 goals for the year. The boys from Walker Oval would continue to set the competition alight after their early hot streak and would finish second on the table behind a strong Newtown outfit. That same rival however, would prove too strong for the rest of the competition. After the Saints lost to the Eagles in the second semi, they eclipsed North Shore in the preliminary by two points before running into Newtown again in the big one. The Eagles were primed and were clearly the best side in the league that season and registered their fourth win over our boys for the season by a comfortable margin with final score being 12.9.81 – 19.21.135. The St Peters Football Club in just three short years had gone from being an outfit relegated to the GDFL to going within one win from completing a Cinderella story of being promoted to GFL premiers in one year; a remarkable performance and one that is still spoken about today. The club would again make the finals in 1983 and 1984 with a preliminary appearance in 1983 standing as their best result before the merger in 1989.   Geelong West Geelong & District Football Association: 1881, 1882, 1884, 1885, 1887, 1889, 1890, 1892, 1894, 1896, 1909, 1914, 1915, 1918, 1927, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1944. Ballarat Football League: 1956   Former Geelong VFL star Terry Fulton, a member of the Cats’ 1951 and 1952 premiership sides had been appointed to coach West at the commencement of the 1955 season. The Seasiders had made the finals in his first year on the back of the dramatic mid-season recruitment of Geelong spearhead George Gonnion, who had lead the VFL goalkicking at the time of his signing. The team steamrolled its way into the finals but dipped out in the preliminary to Golden Point. The great form and cohesion that the team had shown in the latter half od the season spilled over into the next season with Fulton’s continual moulding of a feared combination. The Seasiders dropped just two games on their way to a triumphant season. They hit the finals on a 13 game winning streak and on the eve of the successful campaign, Brian Clegg claimed the Henderson Medal for league Fairest and Best by one vote; seven years after his brother Ron had won the VFL’s Brownlow for South Melbourne. In a successful year all-round for West, Max Fitch won the Reserves award and gun full-forward Mick O’Bierne won BFL goalkicking honours with 67. A 32 point win over Maryborough in the second semi propelled the side into the Grand Final against Ballarat. Little separated the sides in the first half with only five points the margin at the long break. After the main interval however, speedster Graham Crook provided some damaging run off half-forward and lead an assault built on pace and system which drove the Seasiders to a 38 point lead at the final change. Crook kicked two goals himself in the third and Fulton also dominated a forward line that proved too quick for their rivals. A further five goals to two were posted in the last with Crook the undoubted star in the 64 point win; 15.13.103 – 5.9.39. Jim Roberts, Wal Roberts, Terry Welsh and Brian Clegg also heavy contributors in the club’s first Ballarat FL flag.   1957   John Goldsmith, Doug Davies and Fred LeDeux from Geelong and the cult-hero Lance Prior from the GDFL were the headline recruits for the reigning premiers in 1957. Davies in particular a quality signing as he had won the VFL’s Gardiner Medal in 1955 and 1956 for the Reserve Grade. After a 75 point hiding at the hands of Ballarat towards the mid-season point the club began to spiral and after 11 rounds, West was second last with only four wins. It then re-grouped and won every game but one for the remainder of the year with Fulton marshalling his troops superbly. The winning streak had pushed the club to fourth on the table despite being just two wins from top spot. Demonstrating the evenness of the season was the fact that Daylesford finished last despite claiming six wins. A 30 point win against last year’s runner-up Ballarat in the first semi was followed by an even better 39 point triumph over Maryborough in the preliminary. East Ballarat then awaited in the big one and in front of a crowd of 9012 at City Oval, the Seasiders replicated their major effort from 1956 with a barnstorming display in the third quarter on their way to a 46 point win after a narrow gap at the main break. Final score 18.8.116 d 10.10.70 Davies was the stand out player on the ground and coupled with his superb roving, he slotted five majors. Roberts once again came to the fore at the right time to dominate his wing and Clegg again solid in the ruck.   1958 West again started the season slowly and once again Fulton met the challenge and rallied the side. For the third year in succession, the Seasiders embarked on a memorable streak to make finals, this time grabbing 11 straight victories to get to September. A 14 point win over Maryborough in the second semi pushed the side into the grand final but Maryborough was able to back-up and knock over the improved Daylesford to earn another crack at their nemesis. A rain-marred day met the big one and in a war of attrition, West gradually powered their way to a 42 point win with Maryborough kicking a solitary goal. West had taken a five goal lead into half time and during the break the heavens opened and the resulting deluge made the borough’s assignment even more difficult. The game was over at three quarter time with the vanquished held scoreless in the final term. Terry Welsh continued his habit of big game performances with a best afield display whilst Sam Stein and club legend Keith Kerr also starred. 1959   The club recruited well again in 1959 after their third premiership on end despite losing the services of James, and star full-forward Mick O’Bierne. Graeme O’Donnell, a young rover from Geelong seconds would go on to star at the club and play with North Melbourne. Once again, the club started their season far from outstanding fashion and by the halfway point was sitting only on a 50/50 record. For a fourth year in a row though, a strong winning streak would push the club into the finals and the Seasiders triumphed in their last nine games. The hot streak saw them finish on top of the table and store enough form away to breeze through the finals. Daylesford fell short to the flag favourites in the second semi and after a close shave in the preliminary; North Ballarat earned their spot in the big one. The Grand Final at City Oval was again played in wet conditions just like the year before. West opened up a decisive 37 point lead at the first change after some scintillating play with a strong breeze. North failed to capitalise when it was their turn and the advantage became even greater with the big margin being built on throughout the last half with an eventual 83 point margin giving the club their fourth flag in succession. Physical confrontations marred the dominant win with five players reported after the siren. O’Donnell, Terry Fulton, Terry Welsh, Roger Bone and Keith Kerr again amongst the side’s best in the win. 16.8.104 d 2.9.21. Victorian Football Association: 1964   In 1962, the Ballarat league had recommended that Geelong West be given an open clearance to join another league. Pressure had mounted on the league to make the move by West’s poor crowd attendance, its lack of drawing power in Ballarat, the reluctance of Ballarat clubs to continue to travel the hour-long journey to Geelong and of course by the sheer dominance the club had exuded on the league, particularly after another grand final appearance that year. Formalities for the club’s entrance to the strong VFA competition were soon arranged after West requested the move. Geelong West were forced to changed their jumpers to the now familiar white with a red monogram as the white on red was the same as existing club Preston’s. The Seasiders moniker was also cast aside and the Rooster was adopted. The club had to wait only two years before they enjoyed success. Having to wait until Round 5 before enjoying their first win, the Roosters ran into some consistent form and powered their way into the finals where they demolished Brighton-Caulfield by 32 points and then snuck home against Mordialloc in the preliminary by just five points. The powerful Sunshine combination waited at Toorak Park. West however made a great start to the game with a 21 point lead at quarter time which the Crows closed but still trailed by 11 at the long interval. The lead went back out again to 25 at three-quarter time and just when it looked like the raw emotion of the side would see it march away, the fancied Sunshine outfit dug deep and slammed on four quick goals at the start of the last term to put the game back on an equal footing. The teams went goal-for-goal for the remainder of the contest until ruckman Max Croft stepped up for the Roosters and he gave his small men in Doug Stacey and Charlie Goggin some outstanding usage of the ball to help the side run out victors for the first time in the VFA by 21 points after CHF Geoff Hardiman also kicked it up a gear. Final Score 14.14.98 to 11.11.77.     1968   The club spent the next couple of years hovering between Div 1 & 2 after varying degrees of success and along the way made grand finals in both 1966 and 1967. The run of form saw them steel themselves in Div 2 and begin preparation for another shot at Div 1. Fourteen wins saw the club finish second on the ladder behind Williamstown. The finals were a dream for the league with these two sides meeting in the ultimate game with the Roosters accounting for Sunshine by 30 points in the preliminary. The big game see-sawed throughout and with the Seagulls missing their star Field Medallist Ian Nankervis, they lacked drive in the middle but still held swayed by three-quarter time with a five point margin holding narrow ascendency. Ruckman Rex Deeath, goaled twice early for West to help his club hit the front and after another, full-forward Bob Adams kicked his fifth and shortly after star ruckman Quirinus Tenabel slotted the sealer which would see his club victors by 12 points. Captain/Coach Brian Brushfield amongst the best also in a solid display at CHF as well as emerging centreman David Harris and dashing forward flanker Terry Emond. Final Score 20.15.135 to 18.15.123. Geelong West had won its second VFA flag in just its sixth season in. 1972   West had recruited ex-Geelong champion and future AFL Hall-of-Famer Bill Goggin as Captain/Coach in 1972. From 1968-1971 the club had played in Division 1 after their great premiership in 1969. The recruitment of Goggin as a star player but also a major worker behind the scenes and recruiter of note was primarily to help the club again get the most out of themselves and back into the top flight. The arrival of Goggin at West Oval, coupled with the transference of most VFA games to a Sunday meant that crowd numbers swelled and a renewed interest in the competition was upon us. The Roosters thus swept all before them and carved out their most illustrious season in their long history by scything their way through the competition to finish season 1972 VFA Premiers & Champions; undefeated. The first time this feat had been achieved since North Melbourne had earned the same title in 1918. Caulfield was a strong challenger to West that season and even though the premiers pieced together 18 home and away wins on the trot, the Bears set about mounting a challenge to the top side by winning 15 games themselves. Caulfield was defeated twice by West and once by Brunswick and a closeness of the rivalry was no more evident than in the finals with a five point West win in the second semi bettered only by a narrow six point win in the big one. West had put together a miraculous season but not before a massive challenge from the second-best side. New star full-forward Graeme McLean had a big say in getting the club to their premiership by kicking 137 for the season (passing three figures in just Round 12). A crowd of 15,000 packed Toorak Park for the Grand Final, testament to the popularity the VFA was enjoying. An eight point lead at quarter time was transformed into an almost comfortable 29 point lead at the main change and all looked assured before the Caulfield side stormed out of the blocks in the third and stunned the West side to kick 10.2 to 3.3 in a stunning turnaround. Geelong West was then forced to dig as deep as they had in a very long time after now trailing by 12 points at the final change. The Roosters chipped away gradually lead by half-back Jamie Gillies but his side still trailed at the 20 minute mark. McLean then stepped up to the plate and kicked truly from a free kick to edge his side in front by five points, a rushed behind followed and then Caulfield raced the ball up to their end of the field where half-forward Baker received a free kick just 30m out from goal but his kick was marked on the line. The siren sounded just after. Brothers Ricky and Mark Browne were named best along with ruckmen Dave Manson and Rex Deeath with final scores; 14.16.100 – 14.10.95. Worth noting also that the U/18 side also went through as undefeated Champions the same year with Colin Arklay booting 130 goals for the season. 1975 The Roosters had become a feature act of the footballing ladscape in Geelong. Goggin’s leadership had inspired success on the field and his recruitment had also become legendary. A glut of players from the Cattery were lured across to West and all would become vital to the club’s success. Among them were Warwick Yates, Peter Stephens, Tony Gilmore, Greg Wells, and John Friend. Experienced full back Howard Smith had been enticed across from rival Northcote earlier and new gun full forward Joe Radojevic was starting to emerge as a star of Sunday football. From the ’72 flag, the club, with its swag of new recruits and previous stars had begun to adapt very quickly to the tempo of Div 1. They finished fifth in 1973 first year up before putting it all together to finish second after the home and away season in 1974 before dipping out in the preliminary. The recent run of form steeled the club in 1975, the centenary of the city of Geelong West. The side had become renowned for their blistering pace and fast handball and they carried their home and away form, where they lost just three games, into the finals campaign. The club’s final defeat of the season, against Port Melbourne was in front of 13,959 at West. An even bigger crowd of 16,928 saw the Roosters turn the tables on the Borough in the second semi to win by 32 points with rover Dizzy Lynch slotting three goals in the final term to stamp the victory. Dandenong then disposed of Port in the preliminary to front up against the highly fancied Rooster outfit in the grand final. An in-form midfield lead by the classy Gilmore and Lynch fronted the side ensured that the club would get their hands on their first and only Division 1 silverware and put the exclamation point on their finest hour as they lead all day to run out 28 point winners. Ruckman Dave Manson and half backs Ivan Russell and Rod Stokes also amongst the best. Full back Smith held Redlegs star full-forward Jim ‘Frosty’ Miller to just three goals as West lead by as many as 65 before Dandenong added some respectability in the last quarter. Radojevic finished with 119 goals for the season after kicking four majors. Final Scores 18.13.121 – 14.09.93.