Myrtleford Football Club
 | |
| Full name | Myrtleford Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Alpine Saints |
| Sport | Australian rules football |
| Founded | 1886 |
| League | Ovens & Murray Football League |
| Home ground | McNamara Reserve |
| Colours | Black, white and red |
| Anthem | "Oh When The Saints Go Marching In" |
| President | Bill O'Donohue |
| Head coach |
1sts - Leigh Corcoran & Brad Murray 2nds - Peter Purgess / Blair Jose |
| Captain | Matthew Spencer |
| Website | alpinesaints.com.au |
| Myrtleford | |
|---|---|
| Names | |
| Full name | Myrtleford Football Netball Club |
| Nickname(s) | Alpine Saints |
| Motto | The Saints Way |
| Club details | |
| Founded | 1886 |
| Colours | black red white |
| Competition | Ovens & Murray Football League |
| Premierships | 1 |
| Ground(s) | Mcnamara reserve |
The Myrtleford Football Club, nicknamed the Alpine Saints, is an Australian Rules Football club playing in the Ovens & Murray Football League (OMFL). The club is based in the town of Myrtleford, in north east Victoria on the Ovens River. The club is the most losing club in OMFL history, it holds the record for the longest losing streak of 62 games.
The club was initiated into the Bright League in 1886, which later became the Myrtleford Bright District Football League. The club joined the OMFL in 1950. Myrtleford's only premiership triumph was against Wangaratta Rovers in 1970.[1] The Saints were runners-up in 2001, 2005 and 2006.
Myrtleford has produced VFL/AFL players including Len Ablett, Sam Kekovich, Steve McKee, Guy Rigoni, Frazer Dale, Jack Crisp and Matthew Taberner. Other VFL/AFL footballers who have played with Myrtleford include Albert Rodda, Jim Deane, 1970 premiership coach Martin Cross, Gary Ablett, Sr. and Ben Beams.
In 2008 the Myrtleford Saints under 18s merged with the Bright under 18s to become the Alpine Eagles. The Eagles field a side in both the OMFNL and the Ovens and King Football Netball League. The Eagles have been relatively successful under coach Michael Quirk, reaching the OMFL grand final in 2010.
The 2010 season saw an overhaul of the board and coaching staff, with Adrian Villella becoming president and former Collingwood player Stan Magro appointed senior coach. Despite the changes, Myrtleford failed to win a senior match in the 2010 season.
Myrtleford broke through for its first win in 62 matches on 2 April 2011 when the Saints defeated Corowa-Rutherglen. Long-suffering supporters crammed into the changerooms and the team song was belted out with gusto after the victory, which Magro described as "bloody good".[2]
In 2013 the club committee announce the club would change its name to the Alpine Saints for the 2014 season.[3]
Premierships
- Myrtleford Bright District Football League 1895
- Ovens Valley Association 1914
- Myrtleford District Football Association 1923
- Ovens & King Football League 1936, 1945, 1949
- Ovens & Murray Football League 1970