ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S OLDEST FOOTBALL CLUBS

RICH HISTORY & TRADITION

Established in 1881, just four years after the Victorian Football Association was formed, Canterbury Football Club stands as one of Australia's oldest Australian Rules Football clubs—predating even AFL powerhouses like Collingwood and Richmond. For over 140 years, the distinctive red, black, and yellow colors have been a fixture on Melbourne's football ovals, with a brief patriotic shift to green and gold during World War II.

  • 1881Club established

    Club formed in 1881

  • 1903Joined Box Hill Reported League

    Canterbury joined the Box Hill Reporter League in 1903 in the league’s second year.

  • 1919First known Grand Final

    Qualified for our first GF, though were unfortunately defeated by Mitcham.

  • 1920First premiership

    Redemption from the previous year, defeating Mitcham by a solitary point!

  • 1932Joined Eastern Suburban Football League

    One of the prime movers in the formation of the new league.

  • 1932Joined ESFL

    After struggling against the Sub-Districts' strongest clubs, Canterbury left to be part of the formation of the Eastern Suburban Football League. The club made the inaugural ESFL grand final, but was defeated by South Camberwell by four points.

  • 2003SFL Div 3 Premiership

    Victory over Black Rock.

  • 2009Move to Eastern Football League

    After an EGM was held, it was determined the club would move to the EFL.

  • 2014Move to VAFA

    After five seasons which yielded just 18 wins from 64 games, another EGM was held resulting in a move to the VAFA.

  • 2015Dual premierships

    In just our second year in the VAFA, the club saluted in style, with the Reserves inflicting Westbourne's first loss for the year on GF day, with the Seniors then defeating Parkside by 15 points.

  • 2017Women's team established

    Our women's program was established in 2017, joining the VAFA's newly created competition as a foundation club.

  • 2019Women's Reserves flag

    In their first (and only) year in existence, the women's reserves won a windy match down at Mentone by two points!

  • 2024Division 3 flag

    After spending nine years in Division 3, the seniors won that elusive flag, defeating St. John's

OUR SPONSORS