Murchison-Toolamba Football Netball Club

Last updated

Murchison-Toolamba FNC
Murchisontoolambahoppers.jpg
Names
Full nameMurchison-Toolamba Football Netball Club
NicknameGrasshoppers
Club details
Founded1881;144 years ago (1881)
Colours   
Competition Kyabram DFNL
Premierships11 (1897, 1904, 1910, 1914, 1945, 1964, 1966, 1982, 2013, 2024, 2025)
GroundMurchison Recreation Reserve
Uniforms
Kit body goldrightsash.png
Kit body sleeveless.png
Kit shorts goldsides.png
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks goldtop.png
Kit socks long.svg
Home

Murchison-Toolamba Football Netball Club, nicknamed the Grasshoppers, is an Australian Rules Football and Netball club that plays its home games in the small north eastern Victoria town of Murchison. Its name also recognises the initial 1952 merger with nearby town of Toolamba. [1]

Contents

It now competes in the Kyabram District Football League, where they field four grades of football (Seniors, Reserves, Under 18's & Under 15's) and Goulburn Murray Junior League, where they field two grades of football (Under 12s & Under 9s), and 8 grades of Netball (KDNL; A-Grade, B-Grade, C-Grade, C Reserve, Under 17's, Under 15's, Under 13's and Under 11's).

History

The Murchison Football Club was established in 1881 and first competed in the Goulburn Valley Football League, the club transferred to the Upper Goulburn Football Association in 1897. [2]

Throughout the early 20th century, Murchison competed in a range of regional competitions including the Waranga North East Football Association and later returned to the Goulburn Valley Football League following World War II. During its time in the GVFL, the club regularly played against strong regional sides such as Shepparton, Tatura, Rushworth, and Kyabram. Murchison moved to the Kyabram District Football League in 1964, where it continues to compete.

The nearby township of Toolamba also had its own football club during the first half of the 20th century, competing in various district leagues. The two clubs eventually merged [3] in 1952 to form the Murchison-Toolamba Football Club [4] , participating in the GVL. Upon joining the KDFL in 1964, the Toolamba name was dropped, and for the next five decades it was known simply as Murchison. Following a member vote on 14 April 2016, the Murchison-Toolamba name was officially reinstated. [5]

The club’s colours have been bottle green with a gold sash since 1910, with minor design variations introduced over time. Earlier colours included:

White trim was added to the jumper in 2012 to reduce colour clashes with neighbouring clubs Rushworth and Lancaster. The club also wears a gold clash jumper with vertical green stripes.

Murchison-Toolamba has recently been one of the leading clubs in the Kyabram District Football Netball League, winning the past two Senior Premierships in 2024 and 2025.

Football 1st XVIII Premierships

1st XVIII

Premierships 2nd XVIII

Premierships 3rd XVIII

Premierships 4th XVIII

Netball Premierships

KDL 1st XVIII Football Best & Fairest - McNamara Medal Winners

KDL 2nd XVIII Football Best & Fairest - Wade Medal Winners

KDL 3rd XVIII Football Best & Fairest - Inch Medal Winners

KDL 4th XVIII Football Best & Fairest - Medal Winners

KDL A Grade Netball Best & Fairest Winners

KDL B Grade Netball Best & Fairest Winners

KDL C Grade Netball Best & Fairest Winners

KDL C Reserve Netball Best & Fairest Winners

KDL 17 & Under Netball Best & Fairest Winners

KDL 15 & Under Netball Best & Fairest Winners

KDL 13 & Under Netball Best & Fairest Winners

References

  1. ↑ Oliver Caffrey. "History spanning 100 years". The Press Reader. Shepparton News. pp. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  2. ↑ "Club History - Murchison-Toolamba Football Club". SportsTG.
  3. ↑ "Toolamba-Murchison Amalgamation Solution". Kyabram Free Press. 14 February 1952. p. 9. Retrieved 4 November 2025– via Trove.
  4. ↑ "Murch.-Toolamba would be strong G.V. team". Riverine Herald. 29 February 1952. p. 2. Retrieved 23 March 2024– via Trove.
  5. ↑ McNicol, Adam (14 May 2016). "Grass Boots: It started as a hoot, but neglected Toolamba reclaims its history". The Age.
  6. ↑ "1897 – The Final – Won by Murchison by 1 Point". Nagambie Times (Vic). 10 September 1897. p. 3. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  7. ↑ "1904 – Concentrates". Nagambie Times (Vic). 5 August 1904. p. 2. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  8. ↑ "1910 – Football Premiership". Kyabram Free Press and Rodney and Deakin Shire Advocate (Vic). 16 September 1910. p. 3. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  9. ↑ "1914 – WNEFA Grand Final Review". Murchison Advertiser and Murchison, Toolamba, Mooroopna and Dargalong Express. 2 October 1914.
  10. ↑ "1945 – Football Final a "Fizzle"". The Violet Town Sentinel (Vic). 18 September 1945. p. 3. Retrieved 17 March 2024.

Sources

Grass Boots: It started as a hoot, but neglected Toolamba reclaims its history

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