Juniors History

Mitcham Football Club has entered Junior teams over various decades of the Club’s history.

One interesting fact is Mitcham Gymnasium entered an under-age side in the Suburban Association in 1908, and whilst it is regarded that the Mitcham Football team and the Gymnasium had a very close association and a similar membership base, the Gymnasium side appeared to be under that separate entity.

Mitcham entered a Junior side in 1925 in the South Suburban Colts Association, and was based in Ocky Barrens paddock (now Barren Reserve), in Wattlebury Road, Lower Mitcham, as Hawthorn Oval was unavailable. It is not known how long this side lasted, but folklore has the team going for several years as a social team up until the start of the Depression.

Mitcham had a Junior Colts side in 1951, and also entered Junior sides from 1957 to 1967 in the Sturt Association. These teams produced four Association Medallists, and this Junior representation provided a terrifi c breeding ground for future Mitcham players in the 1950-70s.

Mitcham entered a junior side in 1984 and 1985 (and had to obtain permission to use the Oval on Sundays) and whilst this was successful for the Club, there were player and committee shortages, and the Juniors only lasted two years.

Mitcham’s big break into the Junior team’s establishment was in 1998 when the Club, under the guidance of A Grade Coach, Colin Welch, established the Juniors. The Juniors were coached by Garry Muggleton and Ray O’Hara, and assisted by Mick Aitkin, and Terry Thain, in the South Junior Football League. Our Juniors have been very successful in winning six Premierships over ten years, and presently field seven teams from under 16 to U8 (Grasshoppers). This annexure of Junior teams has been  pivotal in shoring up the Mitcham player base for future generations.

In 2007, former Mitcham Juniors, Kieran Flanigan and Paul Cahill respectively won the SANFL under 19 and under 17 medals at Sturt Football Club, so Mitcham is proud to be able to produce these young players of the future.