Sydney University Students AFC
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| Full name | Sydney University Australian National Football Club |
| Nickname | The Students |
| Strip | Gold and Blue |
| Founded | 1863 |
| Sport | Australian rules football |
| League | Sydney AFL |
| Ground | No 1 Oval, Sydney University, Parramatta Road, Camperdown |
| Club song | ' |
| President/Chair | Jason McLennan |
| Coach | Daniel Archer |
| Captain | |
| 2005 | 1st |
Formed in 1863, the Sydney University Australian National Football Club is the oldest Australian rules football club in New South Wales. During the 143 years of its existence it has developed a culture of active participation by members. The club is run by the players for the players.
Sydney University currently fields four teams: firsts and reserves in SFA Division One and two teams in Division Two Uni Reds and Uni Blues. The Students won the Sydney AFL division 1 premiership in 2005.
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[edit] Post War Period
All told, the Students have participated in Sydney football's elite competition for a total of 24 seasons, in 3 separate stints. In the 10 seasons from 1948 to 1957 the side managed the ignominious 'achievement' of 4 wooden spoons and 2 second last finishes, with 7th place out of 10 clubs in 1954 its best return.
[edit] 60s and onwards
The next stint between 1962 and 1968 was scarcely any more auspicious, but the Students' involvement in the Sydney District Football Association (the word 'District' was later dropped from the title) between 1971 and 1987 served to bring their simmering potential to the boil. In the competition's inaugural season, the side contested an 'all student' grand final against the University of New South Wales, but despite managing the same number of scoring shots as the opposition went under by 25 points. Another grand final appearance against the same adversaries in 1977 brought a similar result.
[edit] Modern era
Sydney University's first SFA premiership arrived in 1981 after a 10.14 (74) to 9.12 (68) grand final defeat of St Ives, but the following year brought disappointment with a 42 point defeat at the hands of the same opponents.
After consecutive flags in 1986 (a 16 point defeat of Manly-Warringah) and 1987 (by 62 points over Bankstown Sports) the side was ready for a 3rd stab at the SFL, but initially at least its performances only produced a sense of déja vu. After a wooden spoon in 1988, however, the Students began to make steady progress.
By 1992, under the expert guidance of former Sydney stalwart Rod Carter, the Students were ready to take a serious tilt at the flag, and after finishing as minor premiers they qualified to meet reigning premiers North Shore in the premiership decider. A close, hard fought match was expect, but someone forgot to tell the Students, who ultimately bolted in by 65 points. Final scores were Sydney University 18.16 (124) to North Shore 8.11 (59), but sadly for the Students their success would prove to be fleeting. After dropping to 5th in 1993, the side nose-dived to 8th position (out of 10) in 1994, before returning to the somewhat less intense - and, in premiership terms, significantly more lucrative - environment of the SFA. After taking a couple of season to find their feet, the Students contested every grand final bar one between 1997 and 2006, although the fact that they were only ultimately able to secure 2 premierships will have been a source of some disappointment.
[edit] Intervarsity
In addition to its SFA exploits, the club also participates in inter-varsity football at both regional and national level, managing top 6 finishes at each of the last 3 Australian University Games.
[edit] League affiliations
Affiliated: NSWANFL 1948-57 & 1962-68; SFA 1971-87; SFL 1988-94; SFA 1995-present
Premierships: SFL - 1992 (1 total); SFA - 1981, 1986-87, 1997, 2003, 2005 (6 total)
Phelan Medallists: Geoff Davidson 1953; Michael Davis 1990 (2 total)
Snow Medallists: Peter Sadler 1971; Peter Moggach 1979; Tim Driscoll 1987 (3 total)
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Sydney University Students AFC Official Site
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Clubs in the Sydney AFL |
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| Premier Division |
Balmain | Campbelltown | East Coast | North Shore | Pennant Hills | St George | UNSW-Eastern Suburbs | Western Suburbs | Wollongong |
| Sydney Football Association |
Holroyd-Parramatta | Macquarie University | Manly-Warringah |Penrith | South-West Sydney | Southern | Sydney University | University of Technology Sydney | St Clair |
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