Eltham Football Club

The Eltham Football Club began playing social matches at nearby Kangaroo Ground, Diamond Creek and Greensborough from around 1904. Phil McGavin was listed as Secretary in 1904.

In 1907, Police Constable "Ike" Stephens convened a meeting with the idea of providing entertainment for the lads and an outlet for their surplus energy. .

Eltham continued to play social games however World War One saw these stop. After the return of the men in 1918-19, Eltham returned to the football field.

In 1920, the Eltham Football Club joined the Heidelberg District Football League. The team travelled by train to Ivanhoe to play their first game. Home games were played at Eltham Park, now called Eltham Lower Park.

In 1922, Eltham joined other nearby clubs Greensborough, Diamond Creek, Templestowe, Warrandyte, and Kangaroo Ground in establishing the Diamond Valley Football League.

Eltham made their first finals appearance in 1928 and won their first premiership in 1930 by defeating Heidelberg.

In 1930, Eltham Central Park was opened, although this was only used by the footballers for training until 1935, when the club formally moved their home games there and this has been the club's home ever since.

In 1935, Eltham defeated Epping in the Grand Final, but Epping lodged a protest over the eligibility of an Eltham player. A tribunal in Melbourne upheld the protest and ordered a replay. Eltham forfeited the replay and Epping was awarded the premiership.

Eltham left the DVFL to play in VFL Sub Districts League for seasons 1936 & 1937 before returning in 1938.

After five consecutive wooden spoons during the early 1960s, the club went through a golden period of four premierships in six seasons between 1969 and 1974.

Eltham Football Club was relegated to the new DVFL Second Division for Season 1981, but quickly responded with the 1982 premiership and subsequent return to the First Division. This began a trend with Eltham "yo-yoing" between the two divisions – six Second Division premierships and five First Division wooden spoons.

The 2002 Second Division premiership was the Panthers last success. After relegation in 2017 the Panthers went into the season strong favourites and won their first 15 games. On a blustery, raining day the seniors gave up a 3/4 time lead to lose on the siren to Lower Plenty. The reserves, coached by 2017 U/19 Premiership winning coach Tom Snell held on in a tough game to defeat Diamond Creek and only their 5th reserves premiership.

Season 2020 was called off due to the COVID19 Pandemic.

Other highlights:

• Most no. 'A' Grade games at Eltham Football Club Harry Barrett (dec.) (263)
• Most no. Open Age games at Eltham Football Club David Brown 308
• Most no. 'A' Grade games as a player/umpire Eddie Mapperson (843).
• Winner of VFL / AFL Brownlow Medal Peter Moore 1979, 1984

• Nick Coffield – Current St.Kilda Footballer
• Patrick Lipinski – Current Western Bulldogs Footballer
• Lauren Brazzale – Current AFLW Carlton Footballer
• Marcus Bontempelli – Current Western Bulldogs Footballer
• Josh Caddy – Current Richmond Footballer
• David Zaharakis – Current Essendon Footballer
• Nick Vlastuin – Current Richmond Footballer
• Daniel Currie – Former Sydney Swans North Melbourne and Gold Coast Suns
• Adam Simpson – North Melbourne. Captain 2004 -09, Premiership's 1996 & 1999. Currently Coach of West Coast Eagles Football Club
• Andrew Dale – Melbourne in 1980s
• Matthew Ryan - Collingwood, Sydney, Brisbane
• Stephen Easton – North Melbourne & Carlton in late 1970s, early 1980s
• Darren McLaine – Collingwood in 1980s
• Alexander "Sandy" Hyslop – Collingwood in 1980s
• Peter Moore – Collingwood & Melbourne & dual Brownlow Medallist, AFL and Collingwood Hall of Fame
• John Caulfield - Richmond 1963
• Tom Butherway - Fitzroy 1937
• Jack Twyford - South Melbourne, Richmond (1932 Premiership side) & Collingwood
• Don Fraser - Richmond 1920s

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eltham Football Club.

• Official club website
• Northern Football League
• Footypedia