Red Hill Football & Netball Club is a Child Safe Organisation and acknowledges the Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nation as the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, play and work.
About The Red Hill Football Netball Club
Founded in 1929 The Red Hill Football Netball Club fields three men’s and one woman’s AFL teams as well as 5 Netball teams. Our mission is to ensure a sense of belonging within strong and competitive team environments as well as providing a supportive culture for our young adults, families and people of all ages.
We are a not for profit association which relies on the broader Mornington Peninsula community for support. Sponsorships, community fund raising and the hard work of our many volunteers ensure our continued growth to achieve our goals; which include developing our young players into leaders through competitive team environments.
The History of the Red Hill Football Netball Club
The inaugural meeting to found the club was held on Tuesday the 9th of February 1929 at the Mechanics Institute Hall. It was chaired by Mr George Heggens with the election of office bearers.
In the first year, coach Alf Hunt took the club to a final’s berth. The mercurial Fred Vollk led it to four consecutive finals (1932-5). Kicking 60 goals to win the league B Grade goal kicking and the Whitlock medal for the best and fairest in the League, Volk was instrumental in getting the club to its first Grand Final in 1935, losing to Somerville. A Preliminary final in 1939 followed by a 4-point loss to Dromana in the Grand Final of 1940, ended an eventful decade.
1920'sIn 1937 a Dromana/Rosebud District side containing fourteen (out of ninteen) Red Hill locals, including the captain Eric Pritchard, played and won the B Grade Grand Final against Frankston at Momington. This was celebrated by a Ball in the Red Hill Hall.
1930'sThe club saw its last final’s action for thirty-seven years in 1946 under coach Reuben Edwards (1929-1950), but by 1950 many players moved on and Red Hill disbanded.
1940'sAn U15 side coached by Allen Holmes entered the Nepean League in 1965, followed by second’s sides in 1966-7. Local legend Graeme Emond coached this side to two final’s series and won two League second XVIII best and fairest awards in the process. In 1968, the senior side under Noel Burrows made its debut in the Nepean League. Although producing many fine local players including League best and fairest winner Harry Reints (1975) the club struggled through the seventies, especially against the strong Frankston clubs.
1960's & 1970'sA revival followed under Michael Pierce, who coached the club to four successive final series (1982-1985), which led in 1984 to both senior sides playing off for the flag against Bonbeach. Unfortunately the ones lost, but the twos coached by Wayne Spence recorded the club’s first ever flag. 1985 was a year of great disappointment. Undefeated all season but out in straight sets.
Steven Trott and Mark Callaghan were stand out players in the late eighties, both winning League best and fairest awards.
1980'sOur first senior flag came in 1990. The Tim Luscombe coached side prevailed against Karingal. Captain Boyd Johnston lifted the cup at the Frankston ground amid scenes of wild euphoria. We also won the right to be promoted to Premier Division. Ruckman Les Saunders won two League best and fairest awards in this period.
Returning to the Nepean League in 1996, Andrew Brady later coached the seniors to finals (1999-2000).
1990'sThe new Millennium saw the advent of the netballers, who have already made their mark with finals appearances in all grades including a Grand Final win in ‘C grade, and a Grand Final appearance of the U17’s in 2017.
In 2012 Jason Watts coached the side to the Preliminary Final, and in 2013 Paul Jones took the reserves to the same final. Rover Daniel Smith added another League Best and Fairest to the club’s impressive list.
Our U18/U19’s footballers have made multiple final series in this period, under coaches Martin Hickey and Andrew Gilmour including three Grand Finals culminating in their first ever premiership in 2017. A number of our boys have been drafted to the ‘Stingrays’ system, and one, Alex Lee to Port Adelaide. In 2018 we have three at the ‘Stingrays’ and a similar number are on the Frankston V.F.L list. Not bad for a club in such a small catchment area!
A women's team joined the fold in 2017 tipping the gender balance of registered players in favour of the females.
2018 saw Jamie Mollo take over the senior coaching role and lead the club to a grand final in 2018 and to the Div 2 Premiership in 2019. Matt Hayden and Harry Byrt also coached the under 19’s to Premiership in 2019. The second flag in 3 years for the U 19 team.
In 2023 all netball teams made the finals with D Grade taking out the Premiership. The Development Squad played off in the grand final and the U19 team also made finals. The senior men’s team again finished the season well but early losses thwarted a finals appearance. The Women’s team made the finals for the first time and Jemma Lewis and Kristine Borderder were named in the 2023 league Team of the Year. Simon Allsop took out the league Development Squad B&F and the Club won the Best Conducted Club award for the women’s and the men’s teams. Our President’s Lunches continue to be favoured amongst our supporters and no wonder because 5 of our lunch restaurant caterers won hats in this year’s Age Good Food Awards. We installed 5 flag poles and have continued to promote Reconciliation and Pride rounds. The long-awaited Club Room changing room facilities upgrade has commenced and the Club continues to be in a sound financial position but like many clubs, we continue to suffer from the lack of volunteer support which compels fewer supporters to take on more responsibilities. Preseason training has commenced with all teams receiving strong player number attendees.
2000'sAbout The Red Hill Area
Red Hill is located on the Mornington Peninsula and is known as one of the premier regions in Victoria for producing fine wine, food, beer and fresh produce. The soil in and around Red Hill is where the town gets its name as the soil has a distinct red tinge and can be obviosuly seen in certain areas which is also the main reason for such fine produce made in the area due its high nutrient content. The town of Red Hill while being small and having a population less than 4,000 draws support from sorrounding country areas and towns including Flinders, Main Ridge, Shoreham, Merricks, Arthurs Seat, Somers and Balnarring reuslting in a relaxed atmosphere around the club and at games. These areas are known for rolling hills with forrests around the centre of town and scattered throughout the regions. These areas also border some of the best beaches and surf breaks in Victoria.