One of the most exciting developments at the Brunswick Football Club this year is the return of a male Under 19s team as the first team to represent the BJFC in 2010 at Under 10s progresses from the Yarra Junior Football League to the VAFA.

Three former Dragons – Dom Sullivan, Daniel Mott and James Lockwood-Spence – played senior football for the Club in 2017, and while we expect that number to grow this season, the Club has long regarded re-establishing Under 19s as being vital to our future and has planned accordingly.

The players graduating have enjoyed plenty of success in their junior careers, as set out below, and we hope that continues in 2018.

In 2010, a team of 8-and-9-year-old boys from local primary schools St Joseph’s, North Brunswick and Brunswick South West came together for the first time in the YJFL Under 10s against Richmond under the coaching of then Senior (and Junior) Club president, Trevor Ludeman. The team won this game and another three that year.

The next year, in Under 11s, the team was promoted to a higher division and went on to win 10 games and make finals for the first time, which was a pre-cursor to 2012 and a first premiership for the Junior Club. This was achieved in a higher division again and with only one loss for the season. The grand final score was a memorable 11.17 to 0.0 against Bundoora.

In 2013 the team went back-to-back in Under 13s! After again being promoted up another division, the team picked up six new players and an assistant coach in Ross Coverdale. The premiership wasn’t the cakewalk of the previous year as the team dug deep to win two close finals, including the big one against Doncaster.

At Under 14s the team rose yet another division and made finals for the fourth year straight, winning the first semi-final before bowing out in the preliminary.

For 2015 the team was placed in Division 1 of Under 15s and the team looked set to challenge for another flag with six wins from the first eight games, but they were cruelled by injury and by the first semi-final were down to 19 players and finished fourth.

In 2016, the team’s first year of Colts was a successful one, finishing on top-of-the-ladder and winning the second-semi to make the grand final. Unfortunately, the team went down to Fitzroy by a narrow margin after storming home in the last quarter.

Last year, in the team’s second year of Colts they were joined by players progressing from the age group below, as some older players moved to the Senior Club. They finished in second place on the ladder before losing their two finals.

Over eight years the “Pioneers” of the BJFC enjoyed a win-loss ratio of 73%, played in 12 finals (including three grand finals) and won two premierships: a great achievement!

Of the players who started in 2010, those that will play Under 19s or Seniors this year include Daniel & William Mott, Will McKenzie, Francis Evans, Jack Ludeman, Jack Sabatino, Aden Van Gerrevick, Lennox Egan and Ziggy Ryan. The Under 19s will be coached by familiar faces in Trevor Ludeman and Ross Coverdale. Welcome to the BFC!