Hall of Fame

Graham came to the club in 1963, playing with the reserves for a couple of seasons. After assisting on several sub-committees he joined the senior committee in 1967 looking after publicity, special efforts and the social club. He initiated organizing bingo in 1977, which at the time was to be the big money earner for the club. Graham was elected Vice President in 1978 and went on to be president in 1981-82. During this time, he wore many hats, he became player advocate at the tribunals from 1984 to 1989 and was elected as the director of the VFA in 1984-85. He was the club’s delegate to the VFA in 1984-89. Graham was Vice President from 1989-94 and 1996, and then became President in 1997 when the club was in great danger of folding. Graham then went onto a more relaxing job of ground announcing in 2003, finishing at the end of the 2014 season. He was elected as a life member in 1976 and received the Lloyd Moss award in 2008. Graham is one of the clubs greatest officials having given 50 years of his service. The best club person award is named after him in his honor, awarded annually at the end of each season.

Eric started his senior playing career in 1933 after playing in the reserves from 1926. Eric or as named “TIGER” saw his performances with the reserves rated so highly he was appointed captain of the seniors in 1939. But Eric’s contribution to our history is with the reserves, remembering that in the early days the club was split into two separate clubs ‘The firsts” and “reserves,” both with their own committees. Eric was part of our four in a row premierships up until 1930. He then captain & coached the side from 1931 to 1938 which the team finished runners up three times (1931, 1932 and 1936), and were premiers and champions four times (1934, 1935, 1937 and 1938). He also played in the 1939 premiership however would miss the 1940 premiership which was again the forth in a row due to the war. He enlisted in the army in World War II and went overseas. On his return, he came back and coached the reserves once again in 1946. He held the position of senior vice president from 1947 to 1949. For his services to the country he was awarded the MBF. Eric was awarded Life Membership in 1935.

Brad came to the club in 1979 from Essendon and fitted in perfectly into the side which went on to win the 1979 premiership. Brad was second in the best and fairest in 1980, and tried out at AFL level again with Essendon, Nth Melbourne and the Swans. On returning he finished 3rd best and fairest in 1985, he was appointed captain of the club in 1987, leading us to the 1988-89 premierships, reaching the 100 game milestone in 1988 and receiving the best player in the finals award in 1989. Retiring as a player in 1991, he stayed around helping as reserves runner and with senior selection. He was voted captain of the clubs team of the century. Brad was made a life member in 1990 and in his honor the club has named the Best & Fairest runner up award in his name.

Trevor came to us from West Essendon in 1969 and slotted into a defensive role earning him a place in the 1970 premiership team. He continued to improve and in 1972 he was awarded the most improved player award. He reached 50 games in 1973 and went on to play in his second premiership in 1974. Trevor reached 100 games 1978 and went on to play in the 1979 premiership team. He became only one of the two triple premiership players still with us today. He departed in 1980 to further his career at Werribee, he played several years there but was is remembered as Coburg man. Trevor was never a great poller of best and fairest votes but was a great inspiration with his aggressive style of play, which certainly kept apposing forwards looking over their shoulders. Whilst Trevor was around, the opposition were very wary of what they got up to. Trevor was made a life member of the club in 1978 and was selected in our team of the century. Trevor was inducted into the inaugural Hall of Fame in 2013 and elevated to legend status in 2014 his name and performances are always linked and associated with the great players of Coburg.

Jim came to the club in 1960 and played in the 3rds 16. He won the best and fairest and also the Gillon Medal (the VFA best and fairest award). He left and tried himself with Carlton and North Melbourne with little success. A casual approach to football the club talked him back in 1965 to try out in the seniors. In 1967 he found his way, winning the Liston Medal the VFA’s best and fairest award. Off again to Claremont for another crack at the big time, he returned to Coburg in 1969 still showing great form taking out the Fields Trophy, VFA’s 2nd Division best and fairest award. The following year played in the 1970 premiership team. Jim played 86 games mainly as a centreman and was made a life member in 1979. Strangely he did not win a senior club award. One of the clubs most decorated players Jim is a member of the clubs team of the century and the clubs Best & Fairest Award is named in honor of him.

Vin started with our third sixteen and won the best and fairest award in 1983 and came 3rd in 1984. He was to play his first senior game the same year. Vin was 4th in the reserves best and fairest in 1985 and played 4 more senior games. He reached the 50 game milestone in 1988 going on to play in the 1988-89 premierships. He was 2nd in the best and fairest in 1990. He was awarded best club person in 1984 and went on to retire at the end on 1999 becoming second in the clubs games record with 208. He stayed involved as our runner until 2003 and assisted the coaching panel in 2004 and 2005. He was awarded life membership in 1992 and the club has named the Best & Fairest Third place in honor of Taranto & his contribution to the club.

Kevin came to the club as a junior and played in the thirds in 1971, he finished 3rd in the best and fairest that year. Continuous improvement won him the 1972 best and fairest award for the thirds and also the Gillon Medal for the VFA thirds competition best and fairest. He was placed on the senior list and in 1973 was runner-up in the reserves best and fairest in the same year. Taking out the most improved player award in 1974, he cemented a spot in that years premiership team. Kevin left in 1975 to try out at East Fremantle but was to return to us during 1976 and went on to on to win the reserves best and fairest in 1977. In 1978 he won the clubs outstanding services award and also reached his 50th VFA Senior game. Kevin continued on through 1979, missing out on the selection in the premiership side and as a result he moved on to Werribee in 1980 after 66 senior games with the club. He returned to the club as senior runner for seasons 1988-91 including the back to back premiership sides. He coached the reserves in 1992-93 then took the senior job in 1994-95. In 1996-99 he would serve as an Assistant Coach with Hawthorn, but would return to Coburg in late 2012 to join the Board as its Football Director, an important role as the Lions returned to its stand alone originality. ‘Skippy’ was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014, and was elected President later that year, taking over from Bill Balakis. In September 2018, Breen was awarded VFL Life Membership for his services to the competition, & subsequently would also be elevated to club Legend status. He finished as president in 2019 after five years of dedicated service in the role and seven years on the board.

“Patchy” came to us in 1947, the club was struggling in those years after the war. He and his brother Henry were regular players with the club, Patchy played his 100th game during the 1953 season going on to reach 137 games. A very consistent performer on the field winning best utility player awards on three occasions and the best team player awards. After retirement as a player Patchy took on the task as a trainer and acted in that capacity for some 17 years and was also working for the council as groundsman of the city oval, he just couldn’t keep away. Patchy was awarded life membership in 1960.

Rae came to the club in 1992 just to help her brother out; she took on the job of secretary and remained until the end of 2000. These years were tough and the club was in a gradual slide, new insurance rules were invoked and Rae had the job of sorting out the best program and to get all the players registered and signed. All claims for this had to come back through her. She was basically working full time at the club as a volunteer. In 1993 she organised a ladies committee which ran shopping sprees’ chocolate drives and a fashion parade using player’s girlfriends and players. Rae organised most of the printing, even used her own paper and computer when needed. She also handled all the advertising as well as assisting in the running events. With the amount of work involved with the Fitzroy connection, the job was getting too much for a part time person and so the club went on to hire a full time manager. She stayed on working on the committee before calling it a day in 2001. Rae was made a life member of the club in 1998.

Norm came to the club in 1946. He had the task as 1st aid attendant which he carried out until 1948, he was then appointed head trainer and held that position for the next 18 years in a voluntary role. Norm was awarded life membership in gratitude for his long service in 1951.

Linton came to the club in 1973 with good credentials as an accountant and took up the role as treasurer. During this time he had great pleasure running functions to draw money from anyone who came along. He drew the nickname “scrooge” as he wouldn’t part with the club money unless there was a good reason which he believed was true. He was a major contributor to the organizing of Bingo in 1977 when it was first legalised. After standing down for a few years he was enticed back to the job in 1992 until 1995. A lapse occurred through to 1998 / 99 and acted as an assistant treasurer in between. He was an inaugural member of our coterie group and was awarded the Lloyd Moss award in 2011, and was made a life member of the club in 1994.

Ken joined the club playing as a junior in our 3rd 16 winning and placed 2nd in their best and fairest in 1984. He was awarded the best team player award in 1985, which he was then rewarded with a spot on the senior list in 1986. Fortunately he gained a spot in the grand final team, and then was voted as the most improved player in 1987. Ken went on to play in the 1988-89 premiership teams, and became runner up in the 1989 best and fairest. In 1990, Ken won the best and fairest (his first of two) and in 1992-3 came 3rd. Reaching his 100th game in 1992, he was awarded with the clubs captaincy, setting a great example for the other players coming through. Ken won the best and fairest in 1996. He then reached his 150th game that same season, which we saw the last of the “bear” playing for Coburg. Ken was awarded with life membership in 1993 and was selected in our clubs team of the century.

Jim was a 6’4 ruckman who originated from Tasmania. Jim started playing for St. Kilda in the early 20’s before joining Coburg in 1925. He was a major player in the hat-trick of the 1926-7-8 premierships. He won the best and fairest award in 1928 and again in 1931. He was awarded captain in 1929 serving that position until 1931. Jim played 184 games as a ruckman and was selected in our team of the century in his preferred position.

Clarrie, came to the club from East Brunswick, in 1925 when the club was admitted. He was one of the first players to represent the club to the VFA. Clarrie won the best and fairest award in 1925-6 and played in our first premiership team in 1926. Unfortunately he missed out on the 1927 premiership due to injury. Back in the side in 1928 he went on with 25 goals in the season to again play for Coburg, winning the premiership. Clarrie was made a life member in 1935, being one of the first players to ever receive that distinction. On retirement in 1936 Clarrie had played 160 games and kicked 278 goals. Clarrie was recently honoured by being selected in our team of the century, an all time champion rover for the club.

Brian came across from Essendon in 1981 as a hard at it rover, opposition players soon found out how hard. He missed quite a few games at the wrath of the umpires but whilst he was around other players seemed to grow another leg. He won the most determined award in 1983 and reached his 50th game in 1984. Was selected on many occasions to represent the VFA in carnival matches. He played his 100th games in 1989 and went on to play in the premiership side in 1988 and 1989. His ability was recognized when he was selected in our team of the century; Brian played in 174 games and kicked 150 goals in his long tough career. Brian was made a life member in 1990 a great club person.

George spent a lifetime at the club. In 1954 he would take race results and other game scores to the scoreboard for display which was done in those days. In 1960 he was involved with the 3rds taking on timekeeping for the next 23 years. He joined the senior committee in 1976 and was involved in helping run the bingo at the town hall two nights a week. Just to keep busy on Sundays he worked in the kiosk for 33 years. In the last few years George had a more relaxing role selling footy records at the gate. He was awarded the Lloyd Moss Trophy 2010 and awarded life membership in 1982. In recognition of his service the club has named the boardroom, “The George Parry Boardroom”. George sadly passed away in February 2013, a clubman that will surely be missed.

Fred first joined the committee in 1949 and was elected to the position of Vice President in 1951-57 and was chairman of the kiosk committee. In 1952 Fred became chairman of the social club. He had a target of L1300 to find, being a well organised group they attained that amount. In the following seasons, the group raised an enormous amount to assist the club. Fred among other tasks took up the role of assistant secretary in 1956-8, he didn’t see a lot of the football the tasks of raising funds took priority, working the gates until ¾ time and helping the kiosk when required. When we were sold out to North Melbourne he came on deck as assistant secretary in 1965 and put he many hours walking the streets letter box dropping leaflets to rid us of the council members that gave the grounds away. Fred held that position until 1976. Fred was made a life member in 1952, he basically retired with over 50 years services to the club.

The club was fortunate to get Bryon on board in 1965, the year the council sold us out to North Melbourne which was a big coup at the time. In 1966 he stood and won a seat on council which gave the club great representation where it counted. 1972 he was elected mayor of Coburg which strengthened our position. Bryan held the position of secretary right through to 1979, which saw us win 3 premierships. He was the clubs delegate on the VFA board and was eventually made a life member of the VFA, he was awarded with the Order of Australia for services to the community and made a life member of our club in 1970.

Jack began his career in 1924-5 with South Melbourne before coming to Coburg in 1926. A wise choice as the club won the premiership and then went on to win the 1927 and 28 flags giving him a hat-trick of premierships. Unfortunately he also suffered three consecutive grand final losses in 1932-3-4 runner-up all three times to Northcote; he was captain of the 1934 grand final team. But history has Jack as the most capped grand final player for our club (6). Jack played 191 games being the now 4th highest on record for our club. For his services he was awarded life membership in 1936 and was elected to our team of the century. He went on to coach West Coburg in 1937 capping off a brilliant and outstanding career.

Clarrie came to the club in 1961, winning the best clubman award and the best utility player for the reserves that season. In 1961 Clarrie was elected as captain of the VFA reserves team to play a combined team from the mountain districts. He went on to win the reserves best & fairest in 1962. His playing career finished with 23 senior games but many more in the reserves. He joined the club committee in 1979 serving through to 1990 and he organised various half time events to amuse the crowd such as kicking contests and junior games consisting of local schools. He was our clubs junior development officer and took on running the 3rds as coach, assistant coach and team manager for 10 years. As junior development officer he coached under age teams and organised the VFA night series. The VFA took him on to select the North V South 3rds representative teams. Clarrie was a selector of the team of the century and he was made a life member in 1984. Clarrie unfortunately passed away in February, 2020.

Alan came on board with the club in 1984 assisting with our 3rds team, where his son was a member of the playing group at the time. He joined the senior committee in 1987, but his main interests remained with our younger players. He was manager in the 3rds in 1988 premiership as well as looking after their property, also to raise funds for the thirds the club gave the kiosk to them so they could find finance themselves, Alan took a large part of this. Alan took on the role of property steward in 1990 until he officially retired from the role on the eve of the 2015 season. He was elected vice president of the club in 1995-6 and was awarded with life membership of the club in 1993. In 2007 he was awarded the Lloyd Moss Trophy. He returned to the board for the 2008 season, going on to become vice-president in 2009 and served as president for a brief period, before resigning from the board in December 2014.

Colin came to the club in 1975 to coach a reserve team that had come off winning the second division premiership. He set about the task introducing his own style and in his first season won a premiership making Coburg the first and only club to win back to back premierships having come up from second division. He went on to win again in 1976. Being successful in his first two years saw Colin promoted to the senior coaching role in 1977, bring a fast play on style of football which was proving to be a winner, unfortunately the club lost out in the preliminary final. Recruiting some fresh young players locally, the ideas and hard work paid off and the premiership was won in 1979 and looked good for a second one in 1980 after leading all day but were unable to defeat Port Melbourne. Colin moved on to coach North Melbourne reserves then to the senior coaching job at Sydney Swans. After his time at Sydney ended, he returned to Melbourne with Carlton where he served as their Chairman of Selectors, General Manager of Football and General Manager of Special Projects for over a decade. Colin was made a life member of our club in 1980 leaving a great contribution to our clubs history.

The former Collingwood footballer spent several years at the Coburg City Oval culminating in an impressive resume including the Best & Fairest awards in 1983 & 1987, a member of the 1988 & 98 Premiership sides, & representation of the VFA State Side on five occasions, where he once Captained the side. A dual A.Todd Medallist, Eade was also a club vice captain & was named in Coburg’s Team of the Century as an emergency.

Kerion came to the club in 1970 from Carlton. Success in his first season followed, with a 4th placing in the best and fairest and playing in the premiership team, kicking 52 goals for the season. Another premiership was won in the 1974 reserves competiton who were undefeated for the season, as he won the best and fairest for the club and also the VFA competition. After 42 senior games for 67 goals, he moved on to finish his career in the VFA with Camberwell but would return to coach the reserves team in 1994. He joined the past players committee and eventually took on the role of president in 2003, a position he still holds to this day. Kerion stood down for a couple of years, but would remain as vice president in an endeavor to attract more people to get involved. He has been the main drive behind reunions for all the premiership teams. He was made a life member of the club in 2010 for his years of service in an effort to keep the club on top.

After finishing his underage football with the Northern Knights at the end of 2005, Carnell bypassed the Knights aligned Northern Bullants & found himself at the Coburg City Oval. After sporadic senior appearances in 2006, Carnell was elevated to the Leadership Group & established himself as a regular in 2007, & would play in the clubs disappointing Grand Final loss to Geelong, its first in 18 years. Notching up his 50th game in 2008, Carnell was awarded the Captaincy in for the 2009 season. As the clubs fortunes started to fade following the promising results from seasons 2006-08, Carnell’s loyalty shone through it all. Despite the departures of many of his teammates, Carnell was credited with holding the club together through the final years of the Richmond alignment. His leadership was important as ever during the aligned-stand alone transition, and notched up game 150 in 2014. Awarded Life Membership in the same season, Carnell would retire in 2015 with 168 games and 124 goals to his name, & was elevated to the Hall of Fame in April 2016. On five occasions, he was awarded the Jeff Angwin Most Courageous Player Award.

After 41 WAFL games with Perth from 2006-2011, Daniel Venditti moved to Melbourne in 2012 having doubted if he would even make the grade at VFL level having mainly played WAFL reserves football. After starting in the development league, Venditti then established himself as a key midfielder finishing 4th in that seasons best and fairest. With a few key departures ahead of 2013, he would step up and go on to win the best and fairest again, and would do it again in 2014 and 2015 when the club returned to stand alone status in a tie with Adam Saad and Michael Hartley respectively. Venditti retired at the start of 2016 to take up an overseas work opportunity.