St Bernard's Football Club

For the former Scottish soccer (association football) club, see St Bernard's F.C.

St Bernard's Football Club
Names
Full name	St Bernard's Old Collegians Football Club Inc [1]
Nickname(s)	Snowdogs
2025 season
Home-and-away season	7th
Club details
Founded	1963;62 years ago (1963)
Colours	Gold   Black   Blue
Competition	VAFA : Premier Division
President	Steve Perrett
Coach	Steven Alessio
Premierships	VAFA (10) 1963 1964 1975 1984 1987 1991 2002 2015 2018 2023
Ground(s)	St Bernard's College Oval
Uniforms
Home
Other information
Official website	stbernardsfc.com.au

The St Bernard's Football Club (officially known as the St Bernard's Old Collegians), nicknamed the Snowdogs, is an Australian rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of Essendon West. ^{[2] [3]} The club is closely associated with its namesake, St Bernard's College, and plays its home matches at the school's oval. ^{[4] [5]}

As of 2025, St Bernard's competes in the Premier Division of the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) men's competition. ^[6] It is the only Premier Division club without a senior women's team, although there are junior girls teams competing in the Western Football Netball League (WFNL). ^[7]

Since 1971, St Bernard's has been one of only two VAFA clubs to have not been relegated below B Section/Premier B after reaching the top division for the first time (the other being Old Scotch). ^{[8] [9]}

History

After St Bernard's College fielded a strong premiership side in the 1961 Associated Catholic Colleges (ACC) First XVIII competition, a senior club was formed in 1963 (composed largely of players from the 1961 team). ^[8] The newly-formed St Bernard's Football Club entered the VAFA's E Section, becoming the first club in VAFA history to win a senior premiership in their inaugural season after defeating Glen Huntly by 20 points in the grand final. ^[10] The club went back-to-back with a D Section premiership victory over Old Brighton in 1964. ^[8]

St Bernard's gained promotion to B Section for the first time in 1969, followed by promotion to A Section the following season. ^[8] The club made four consecutive finals series between 1973 and 1976, including winning the 1975 A Section grand final. ^[8] The remainder of the 20th century saw the club alternate between A Section and B Section, with them winning three B Section flags in 1984, 1987 and 1991. ^{[8] [11]}

The club faced Old Xaverians in three A Section grand finals in four seasons between 2000 and 2003, winning the 2002 grand final. ^[12] Under the leadership of senior coach Anthony Rock, the club won a third top division premiership in 2015 and saw the drafting of two players to the AFL, Mitch Hannan and Ben Ronke. ^{[13] [14]}

Throughout its history, St Bernard's College has maintained ties to the Essendon Football Club that have also been reflected in the football club, with former Essendon premiership ruckman Steven Alessio serving as the coach of St Bernard's senior team since the 2023 season. ^{[15] [16]}

Club symbols

The club is nicknamed the "Snowdogs" because its namesake college's patron saint is also named for the alpine dog breed, the St. Bernard. ^[17] The club brandishes gold and black on their guernseys and wear blue shorts, and have done so since the club was formed. ^[8]

Honours

Premierships

Competition	Division	Wins	Years won
Victorian Amateur Football Association	Premier A	3	1975, 2002, 2015
	Premier B	5	1984, 1987, 1991, 2018, 2023
	Division 1	1	1964
	Division 2	1	1963

VFL/AFL players

• Nick Mitchell
• Andrew Merrington
• Mitch Hannan
• Jake Riccardi
• Lachlan Sholl
• Xavier O'Halloran
• Lachlan Gollant
• Ben Ronke ^[18]

References

1. "Current details for ABN 78 614 348 568". ABN Lookup. 24 May 2000. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
2. Ractliffe, Damien (1 July 2020). "VAFA clubs on brink of withdrawing, Therry Penola first to go". The Age. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
3. May, Brayden (30 April 2024). "VAFA: St Bernard's make statement in win over St Kevin's". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
4. "Sharpshooters keep St Bernard's in hunt". The Age. 16 June 2002. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
5. "Xavs go into final as underdogs". The Age. 22 September 2002. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
6. May, Brayden (25 September 2023). "VAFA: St Bernard's back into Premier after grand final win". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
7. May, Brayden (4 April 2024). "St Bernard's invest in junior girls footy". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
8. "History". St Bernard's Football Club. Archived from the original on 13 March 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
9. Leonard, Andrew (5 December 2013). "SECTIONAL CHANGE". VAFA. Archived from the original on 14 April 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
10. "Division 2 Men's Grand Finals". VAFA. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
11. "The Amateur Footballer Week 23 1987" (PDF). VAFA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 June 2024.
12. "St Bernard's win flag and bury finals hoodoo". The Age. 23 September 2002. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
13. Leonard, Andrew (18 September 2015). "William Buck Premier: T's to create history". VAFA. Archived from the original on 20 December 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
14. Beitzel, Brad (20 December 2024). "St Bernards bag third VAFA premier flag with eight-point win against Old Trinity". The Age. Archived from the original on 20 December 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
15. "Bombers join forces with St Bernard's College for exciting new program". Essendon Football Club. 8 July 2024. Archived from the original on 16 May 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
16. Pignataro, Joe (10 November 2022). "Is Don Is Good for the Snowdogs". VAFA. Archived from the original on 24 April 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
17. Bennett, Jason (25 June 2024). "Snowdogs find their snarl in William Buck Premier Men's". VAFA. Archived from the original on 11 August 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
18. Gates, Zachary (27 April 2018). "Ronke: A dream come true". Sydney Swans. Archived from the original on 2 September 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.