1909 The 1st Glorious Premiership
By 1909 football was firmly established as the main winter sporting recreation for men.
On Saturday 17 April 1909, a big crowd of interested persons attended the annual meeting of the Football Club, held at the Avoca Hotel.
The meeting was chaired by Mr. G.W. Redpath, who presented a "satisfactory" balance sheet from the previous season of one pound, 16 shillings and eight pence.
Office Bearers elected included:
President: E.S. Watts
Secretary: J. Price
Treasurer: S. Barrett
Vice Presidents: D. Larkins, F. Wiltshire, A. Mockett, G. Downton, T. McGoldrick
Committee: P. LaRoche, L. Yates, G. Beavis, F. Wiltshire, A. Rohde.
The Competition, known as the Avoca District Association, consisted of three teams, Avoca, Redbank and Homebush.
They competed for a trophy donated by R. W. Laidlaw and E. S. Watts, President of the Avoca Football Club and proprietor of the Avoca Hotel.
More than 800 spectators turned up at the Avoca Park on Saturday 18 September 1909 for the Grand Final between Avoca and Homebush.
The match was even until the third quarter when Avoca kicked four goals to nil.
Grand Final
Avoca 5.9.39
Homebush 0.5.5
The victory gave Avoca what is now recognised as the Bulldogs first premiership.
On 10 October 1909, a smoke social, to celebrate the achievement, was organised at the Albion Hotel.
A big crowd witnessed the presentation of the Premiership trophy to Avoca`s captain Augie Rhode.
Medals were presented to C. Hutchison Best Placed Man, P. Nicholson Best back man, G. Beavis Best Ruck and Augie Rhode Best All Round Player.
When accepting his medal, the captain Augie Rhode, said he felt that all of the players in the Premiership side deserved a medal, and would like to see that happen when the team won the Premiership again next year.
go to 1910
