Murrabit Football Club
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Club History
Football matches involving teams from the district were played for many years before the Murrabit and Myall Football Club was formed in 1919, with red, yellow and black as the club colours. The first matches were played in Mr Jim Troy's paddock at Myall. In 1920 a vote was taken on the choice of three sites, and in 1921 the game was played near the old hall at Hannah Lane. There were plenty of footballers at that time as many young men had come to the district as soldier settlers. Murrabit played in what was then known as the Kerang District Football Association.
In 1925 the ground was where the golf links now are and a junior club was formed in 1927, and the colours changed to green. Murrabit became one of the leading teams in the area at that time. In 1930 the Club moved to its present ground and played in the Barham League. Murrabit's first flag was won in 1932.
During the war years no football was played. When the Kerang District Football League was formed in 1945 Murrabit joined, changing their colours to the present blue and white. At this time coaching was done voluntarily. One of the first coaches was Reg Henry, who was also captain. Geoff Cox and Kevin Parkes were also coaches for the club during this era. Geoff won the club's Best and Fairest seven times - a record which has not since been broken.
Murrabit won their first premiership with the new Kerang District Football League in 1949. It was a nine year drought before they were again successful in 1958 under the guidance of non-playing coach Keith Dickson.
Murrabit's premiership years of 1963, 65, 66, 67, 68 69 were the most successful years that the Murrabit Football Club has ever enjoyed - six premierships in seven years and, at one stage, forty-five games on end without being defeated.
Flags were harder to get in the 70's, although the Reserves upheld the honour of the Club in 1974, 75 & 76. To that date the Blue and Whites had the unique distinction of having made the "four" 20 times out of a period of 24 years.
The most notable of the club's life members was Mr George Vistarini, who was the club's only league life member. George had been involved in Murrabit football for over 60 years. He has been Club President many times and is the longest serving committee man. He was also the official delegate to the league and Murrabit's advocate on tribunals for many years.
On 29 April 1989 a reunion of players, committee and supporters of the "Golden Era" of the 60's gathered to witness their beloved Blues take contest with Appin and the official opening of their new Community Complex. This was also the year that David Scott coached the KDFL Seniors interleague team against Heathcote District Football League. David started his football with Murrabit Seniors at the age of 15 and represented the KDFL at the age of 16. He won Murrabit's Best & Fairest award in 1969 and 1971 before playing further afield. During 1975 to 1977, he played with Geelong before moving to Narranderra from 1978 to 1982 where he represented the Riverina League eight times, NSW State side four times, played in two premierships, won two club and one League Best and Fairest. In 1983 he returned to the district as the Geelong Zone Promotion Officer and coached Cohuna and Koondrook in the NDFL before returning to coach Murrabit in 1986/87, and again winning the club Best & Fairest in 1987.
In recent years Murrabit has strived to regain the level of achievement of the 60's with high profile recruitment. Carl Ditterich has played and coached at AFL level. 1994 was the most successful year for the club since 1969 when the Seniors played in the Grand Final. A feature of this period has been the development of junior players with a significant number going on to higher grade competitions. The most recent being Simon Morton (1994) and Brendan Hope (1995) being selected to play with Bendigo Pioneers in the Victorian State Under 18 Competition.