The Western Suburbs AFL Club has existed in many forms since its original incarnation in the top-tier of organised football in NSW in 1926.
The club reached the Grand Final in its debut year but was forced to disband at the end of 1929.
The club was reformed in November 1947 in the NSWANFL, finishing sixth in an eight-team competition the following year, with captain-coach Keith Champion taking out the Phelan Medal for the competition’s Best and Fairest player.
The side finished fifth in 1949 and reached finals for the first time in 1950 before going out in the first Semi-Final. In 1951 the Magpies came of age with a 12-point Grand Final defeat of an Eastern Suburbs side that would go on to dominate most of the remainder of the decade. Western Suburbs reached four further Grand Finals during the 1950s, losing them all.
During the 1960s and 1970s Western Suburbs was far and away the strongest club in Sydney. The club made every Grand Final between 1963 and 1969, winning four times and losing three.
After dropping to third in 1970 the Magpies eked out a similar tale of supremacy in the 1970s, missing only one Grand Final for the decade, winning another four flags. However, since the last of these, in 1977, the club's fortunes have declined alarmingly, with the 1996 Premiership the only cause for celebration.
Over the years Western Suburbs has fielded a large number of high quality players, with AFL stars Greg Stafford and Paul Bevan arguably the cream of its recent products. It reached the finals in 2002, giving cause for tentative optimism about the immediate future, but then slipped back into the field the following year, finishing second from last, a result that was repeated in 2004.
The 2005 season brought a marked improvement as the Magpies lost only one of 16 matches to secure the minor Premiership. This was followed by a comfortable 43-point second Semi-Final defeat of Pennant Hills, however they slumped to a humiliating 41-point loss in the Grand Final.
The side again qualified for the finals in 2006, but hopes of a flag were dashed at the Preliminary Final stage by Pennant Hills. The 2007 season was even more disappointing for the Magpies who managed just six wins and a draw from their 18 matches to finish seventh.
Season 2009 saw many changes for the Magpies. Unfortunately the Preliminary Final was the final stop for the Magpies that year with 2010 mirroring 2009, with hopes dashed once again in the Preliminary Final.
2011 saw the Magpies lose some of their stars with a new focus on rebuilding, which continued into 2012.
In 2013 Western Suburbs fields teams in AFL Sydney Premier Division (coached by Kevin Eynaud and captained by Stephen Hudson), Division 2 (coached by Lee Urquhart), Division 3 (coached by Daniel Coughlin), Under-18s Division 1 (coached by Warwick Polley) and the Western Wolves in the Women’s Division 1.
The Wolves were founded in 2000 and have won three Premierships. In 2013 they are coached by Andrew Taylor, with Kate Lawson the captain.
The Western Suburbs Juniors reformed in 1998 and have gone from strength to strength with over 200 players from ages five to 16 playing in the AFL Greater Sydney Juniors (GSJ) Sydney Harbour competition.
The three clubs are integral to football in AFL Sydney and GSJ as well as a vital part of the Croydon Park and surrounding community. The history of these clubs are on display at Magpie Sports – with photos, trophies and honour boards.
Nick Miller has been involved in the club since 2000, with his family beginning at the Auskick level. He has held a number of committee roles including President of the Juniors from 2004 to 2009 as well as being on the GSJ Board.
He is now President of the seniors and said it is a great honour to help lead an iconic local AFL club.
"The club is special primarily because of its people, many who have become great friends over the years, its rich history and the working together of the seniors, juniors and women – along with the licenced club – to build a great AFL community in the inner-west," Miller said.
"Western Suburbs Magpies AFL club is special because you can start Auskick at five years of age and still be playing our great game many years later with the same jumper in AFL Sydney men’s and women’s competitions."
This Thursday will see the annual AFL Sydney ANZAC Day match between the Western Suburbs Magpies and Balmain Dockers at Picken Oval. The game has been part of AFL Sydney’s fixtures since 2007 and is an important feature of the season.
The Premier Division match starts at 2pm and for the first time the winning team will be presented with a perpetual trophy, and the best on ground with a medal.
The game will be preceded by an Under-16s match at 11.30am between Western Suburbs Junior AFC and Glebe.
This year the ANZAC Day ceremony at Picken Oval will be enhanced by the presence of Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL, who are amalgamating with Magpie Sports (Western Suburbs Australian Football Club Ltd) – the licenced club next to Picken Oval.
The service from 1.30 pm will be led by MC Mr Ken McIntyre, Canterbury-Hurlstone-Park RSL Sub-Branch President and feature a youth band, laying of wreaths and a bugler playing the Last Post.
"It is a privilege that the club is involved in ANZAC Day activities and is part of this important national occasion," Miller said.
For more information, visit:
Seniors – www.sydneymagpies.com.au
Wolves - www.facebook.com/WesternWolvesAFL
Juniors - www.westsjuniorsafl.com.au/index.html
