Hobart Football Club
Hobart Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Hobart, Tasmania. They play their home fixtures at the TCA Ground on the Queens Domain, in Hobart and from 2014, the club has been a member of the Southern Football League after voting to withdraw from the Tasmanian State League at the end of the 2013 season after five seasons in that competition.
History
The Hobart Football Club was formed at a meeting at The Continental in Hobart on 19 December 1944 and became a playing member of the Tasmanian Football League in 1945 as a direct continuation of the former Cananore Football Club which participated in the TFL from 1908-1941.The club was a playing member of the TFL from 1945-1997 when it had its licence cancelled by the TFL due its perilous financial position and ongoing poor onfield performances.
Hobart's finest era was from 1947-1966 when they made the finals in all bar three years, earned five minor premierships and took out six TFL premiership titles in 1950, 1954, 1959, 1960, 1963 and 1966 and the 1959 State Premiership from ten grand final appearances during that era.
From 1967-1985 Hobart would find success rare, taking out an incredible win in the 1973 decider against the previously unbeaten Sandy Bay and the 1980 Winfield Statewide Cup and TFL premiership in the same season, between 1967-1985 the club finished last on eleven occasions, second last on two other occasions.
In 1986 the TFL switched to a new Statewide format and this seemed to reinvigorate the club with strong recruiting and good junior players coming through the system, the Tigers were to enter another strong period in their history under legendary coaches Peter Hudson and Mark Browning, the Tigers participated in six finals series in seven years and participated in three grand finals and earned its last major premiership title in 1990 over North Launceston.
After losing the 1992 TFL Grand Final to North Hobart, Hobart would never again be a dominant force in Tasmanian football, the resignation of coach Mark Browning after the season ended saw the club have four senior coaches in twelve months and eventually Hobart were to announce in 1994 that they were servicing debts of $450,000 as the Tigers very future looked to be spiralling out of control.
After five consecutive poor seasons and with continuous financial losses and poor attendances and an exodus of forty players from the club, the TFL discontinued Hobart's playing licence in 1997 to participate in the competition after that season and attempted to force the club into a three-way merger with Sandy Bay and North Hobart which ultimately failed to materialise.
Hobart's final TFL match was on 23 August 1997 at North Hobart Oval when they were defeated by North Hobart by 48 points.
The Tigers' participated in 1,002 TFL games as well as 15 extra matches involving either Tasmanian State Grand Finals, State Preliminary Finals or matches in the 1980 Winfield Statewide Cup, giving the club a total of 1,017 all-time matches at the completion of their stint as a TFL club.
In 1998 Hobart were given approval to join the relatively new Southern Football League, a competition formed only two years earlier involving clubs from the defunct Southern Amateurs and Huon Football Association.
As a prerequisite of entering the competition Hobart were required to cease using their Tigers emblem and black and gold playing uniform, instead opting to wear a predominantly Old Gold strip with black numbers and simple "HFC" emblem on the chest.
After an initially tough start in their first season winning only four matches, Hobart were to sign former premiership player Steven Gillbee as playing coach and with a return of many former players in 1999, this would herald a return of the club as a power.
Hobart went on to record minor premierships in 1999 and 2000, winning their first, and to date, only SFL premiership in 1999 along with eight finals series appearances from 1999-2008 under Steven Gillbee, Michael McGregor, Andrew Lamprill and Todd Lewis but premiership success would continuously elude them.
After a fractious decision by the club to adopt the Brisbane Lions emblem, colours and playing strip for four seasons from 2005-2008, Hobart were accepted to join the new Tasmanian State League from 2009-2013 and began playing in their traditional Tigers playing strip once again but success was to elude Hobart both on and off the field in the TSL, with continuous financial losses, lack of on-field success and an AFL Tasmania decision to force a merger between them and North Hobart as a new Hobart City club, Hobart Football Club voted to withdraw from the TSL at the end of the 2013 season, the Tigers final match in the top tier of Tasmanian football saw them suffer a 35 point loss to Glenorchy in August 2013 at the TCA Ground.
As a result of the Tigers resignation from the TSL and return to the SFL the club lost almost its entire playing list to other TSL clubs. With the SFL also banning the club from recruiting other players from within the SFL during their first season it resulted in a player shortage which almost sent them into extinction.
After two difficult seasons returning to SFL level Hobart were able to rebound in 2016 and make their first finals appearance since 2008, attempting to win their first finals match since 26 August 2006, but were defeated by New Norfolk by 38 points in the Elimination Final at Boyer Oval, however that finals appearance proved to be a false dawn as the Tigers once again sank to the lower reaches of the SFL standings and suffered a winless 2019 season.
The club has had somewhat of a nomadic existence throughout its long history having played on three home grounds at various stages.
Hobart began playing at the North Hobart Oval from 1945, moving to the TCA Ground part way through the 1946 season until it moved back to North Hobart in 1955 owing to a major disagreement with the Hobart Greyhound Racing Club over exorbitant rent costs and did not return until 1961.
From 1961-1982 Hobart played the vast majority of its home matches back at the TCA Ground until the TFL's ground rationalisation plans of the early 1980s saw the club forced to relocate from a by-then sub-standard facility to Glenorchy's KGV Football Park for the start of the 1983 season and they would stay there until late in the 1986 season when the club made moves to resume playing matches at North Hobart in an effort to improve flagging attendance figures.
From the latter part of 1986 until the Tigers' final match in TFL football in 1997, the club resumed playing its home matches at North Hobart again, with the exception of four specially staged home matches back at the TCA Ground in 1995 and 1996 against North Hobart, Sandy Bay, Launceston and finally South Launceston in order to raise urgent funds for the then cash-strapped club.
When Hobart were accepted into the SFL in 1998, the club resumed playing matches at the TCA Ground on a full-time basis and remains so to present.
Information
Affiliations
TFL Statewide League
SFL/SFL Premier League
TSL
SFL/SFL Premier League
Honours
Joined STFL/Premier League/SFL● 1998
SFL Premierships
● 1999
SFL Runner Up
● 2003
TFL Premierships
● 1950, 1954, 1959, 1960, 1963, 1966, 1973, 1980, 1990
TFL Runner Up
● 1947, 1949, 1952, 1955, 1989, 1992
Tasmanian State Premierships
● 1959
Winfield Statewide Cup Champions
● 1980
Attendance records
Record Home Attendance – TANFL● 8,760 v New Town on 14 June 1949 at North Hobart Oval
● 5,675 v North Hobart on 5 July 1947 at TCA Ground
Record Home Attendance – TFL Statewide League
● 3,344 v Clarence on 5 May 1990 at North Hobart Oval
Record Finals Attendance – TANFL
● 17,111 v Glenorchy on 22 September 1980 at North Hobart Oval
Record Finals Attendance – TFL Statewide League
● 16,528 v North Hobart on 16 September 1989 at North Hobart Oval
Record Finals Attendance – Southern Football League
● 4,289 v North Hobart on 20 September 2003 at North Hobart Oval
Club Record Scores
Club Record Score● TFL 31.17 v Sth Launceston 15.21 on 25 August 1990 at York Park
● SFL 36.14 v Channel 10.6 on 22 April 2000 at TCA Ground
● TSL 25.13 v Devonport 11.5 on 7 May 2011 at TCA Ground
Club Record Quarter
● TFL 13.3 v North Launceston on 19 July 1986 at York Park
● SFL 14.3 v Channel on 22 April 2000 at TCA Ground
● TSL 10.1 v Devonport on 7 May 2011 at TCA Ground
Most Goals In A Match
● 15.3 – Bernie Waldron – Hobart v Clarence on 30 August 1952 at TCA Ground
Club Record Games Holder
● 321* – Justin Harvey
● 287 – D. K. "Kerry" Wilson
Individual
Medal Winners
William Leitch Medal Winners● 1947 – Jack Sullivan
● 1957 – Trevor Leo
● 1959 – Mal Pascoe
● 1964 – David Sullivan
● 1965 – Burnie Payne
● 1966 – Burnie Payne
● 1984 – Scott Wade
Darrel Baldock Medal Winners
● 1990 – Michael Winter
George Watt Medal Winners
● 1952 – Joe Whittle
● 1972 – Garry Rogers
● 1982 – Steven Strong
Major V. A. Geard Medal Winners
● 1944 – Don Foster
● 1945 – Max Walker
● 1946 – Alan Hughes
● 1947 – Alan Hughes
● 1953 – A. Unsworth
● 1961 – Ian Stewart
● 1972 – Garry Whittle
● 1978 – Jamie McIntyre
● 1984 – Craig Randall
● 1989 – Damian Goss
● 1991 – Justin Goc
● 1992 – Alan Bond
● 1996 – Brent Dickson
D. R. Plaister Medal Winners
● 1986 – Simon Sproule
Weller Arnold Medal Winner
● 1953 – John Golding
● 1959 – Mal Pascoe
● 1962 – Dennis Powell
● 1969 – Burnie Payne
● 1975 – Malcolm Bugg
● 1979 – Murray Dickson & Scott Brain
Lipscombe Medal Winners
● 2017 – Lachlan Plummer
● 2018 – Angus Evans, Will Stadler
● 2019 – Brock Daniels.
Competition Leading Goalkickers
TFL Leading Goalkickers● 1953 – Bernie Waldron
● 1959 – Mal Pascoe
● 1960 – Mal Pascoe
● 1977 – Col Smith
● 1980 – Paul Courto
● 1986 – Wayne Fox
● 1987 – Wayne Fox
● 1993 – Keith Robinson
SFL Leading Goalkickers
● 1999 – Dale Hall
Senior Coaches
The Hobart Football Club has had thirty-four senior coaches in its seventy four year history.The longest serving coach is Mal Pascoe, who coached the club for a period of nine seasons from 1959–1965 and again from 1978–1979.
Pascoe is also the leading premiership coach with Hobart, having coached the club to three flags in 1959, 1960 and 1963.
Jack Sullivan 1947, 1949 and 1950 along with Mal Pascoe 1959, 1960 and 1963 and Mark Browning 1989, 1990 and 1992 have all coached Hobart in three Grand Finals – the most by any Hobart senior coach.
Hobart Football Club: Senior Coaches
1945 – Cecil Geappen1946 – Ron Savage
1946 – Noel Gray Snr.
1947 – Jack Sullivan
1948 – Jack Sullivan
1949 – Jack Sullivan
1950 – Jack Sullivan
1951 – Bill Tonks
1952 – Bill Tonks
1953 – Bill Tonks
1954 – Bill Williams
1955 – Bill Williams
1956 – Bill Williams
1957 – Bill Williams
1958 – Bill Williams
1959 – Mal Pascoe
1960 – Mal Pascoe
1961 – Mal Pascoe
1962 – Mal Pascoe
1963 – Mal Pascoe
1964 – Mal Pascoe
1965 – Mal Pascoe
1966 – John Watts
1967 – John Watts
1968 – John Watts
1969 – Burnie Payne
1970 – Burnie Payne
1971 – Dennis Munari
1972 – Dennis Munari
1972 – Alan Appleton
1973 – Alan Appleton
1974 – Trevor Leo
1975 – David Harris
1976 – David Harris
1977 – Barry Grinter
1978 – Mal Pascoe
1979 – Mal Pascoe
1980 – Paul Sproule
1981 – Paul Sproule
1982 – Bruce Greenhill
1983 – Bruce Greenhill
1984 – Scott Wade
1985 – Scott Wade
1986 – Peter Hudson
1987 – Peter Hudson
1988 – Mark Browning
1989 – Mark Browning
1990 – Mark Browning
1991 – Mark Browning
1992 – Mark Browning
1993 – Simon Eishold
1993 – Greg Lane
1993 – Wayne Petterd
1994 – Wayne Petterd
1995 – Wayne Petterd
1996 – Wayne Petterd
1996 – Gary Williamson
1997 – Gary Williamson
1998 – Ray O'Rourke
1999 – Steve Gillbee
2000 – Steve Gillbee
2001 – Steve Gillbee
2002 – Steve Gillbee
2003 – Michael McGregor
2004 – Michael McGregor
2005 – Ian Wilson
2006 – Ian Wilson
2006 – Andrew Lamprill
2007 – Andrew Lamprill
2008 – Todd Lewis
2009 – Todd Lewis
2009 – Graham Fox
2010 – Graham Fox
2011 – Graham Fox
2012 – Anthony McConnon
2013 – Anthony McConnon
2014 – Steven Woods
2015 – Steven Woods
2016 – Steven Woods
2017 – Mark Beck
2018 – Mark Beck
2019 – Mark Beck
2019 – Nathan Hartnett
2020 – Alex Gilmour
Senior Best and Fairest Winners
● 1945 – Noel Atkins● 1946 – Harold Bailey
● 1947 – Jack Sullivan
● 1948 – Bob Verrier
● 1949 – Alan Hughes
● 1950 – Alan Hughes
● 1951 – Alan Hughes
● 1952 – Paddy Williams
● 1953 – Leon Synott
● 1954 – Terry Risely
● 1955 – John Golding
● 1956 – Kevin Free
● 1957 – Trevor Leo
● 1958 – Ray Hill
● 1959 – Dennis Powell
● 1960 – Trevor Leo
● 1961 – Dennis Powell
● 1962 – Dennis Powell
● 1963 – Burnie Payne
● 1964 – David Sullivan
● 1965 – Dennis Powell
● 1966 – Dennis Powell
● 1967 – Dennis Powell
● 1968 – Noel Mewett
● 1969 – D.K "Kerry" Wilson
● 1970 – Glenn Burrill
● 1971 – Malcolm Bugg
● 1972 – Robbie Claridge
● 1973 – Malcolm Bugg
● 1974 – John Emin
● 1975 – Michael Krause
● 1976 – Ross Wright
● 1977 – Kelvin Anderson
● 1978 – Murray Dickson
● 1979 – Warren Cripps
● 1980 – Scott Wade
● 1981 – Wayne Petterd, Chris Fagan & Kelvin Anderson
● 1982 – Tony Marchant
● 1983 – Greg Thirgood
● 1984 – Scott Wade
● 1985 – Scott Wade
● 1986 – Craig Hoyer
● 1987 – Craig Hoyer
● 1988 – Mark Browning
● 1989 – Jamie Shanahan
● 1990 – Geoff Keogh
● 1991 – Geoff Keogh
● 1992 – Peter Baldwin
● 1993 – Brenton Tapp
● 1994 – Rob Veale
● 1995 – Steven Gillbee
● 1996 – Steven Gillbee
● 1997 – Martin Free
● 1998 – Justin Harvey
● 1999 – Stephen Willis
● 2000 – Brent Quinn & Michael Graves
● 2001 – Mark Knott
● 2002 – Craig Haremza
● 2003 – Matthew Harvey
● 2004 – Shawn Sartori
● 2005 – Jamie DiIenno
● 2006 – Scott Dickson
● 2007 – Michael Cassidy
● 2008 – Trent Harvey
● 2009 – Blair Kean
● 2010 – Andrew Lemm
● 2011 – Todd Willing
● 2012 – Tarquin Netherway
● 2013 – Jamie Di Ienno
● 2014 – Tim Dennis
● 2015 – Luke Sullivan
● 2016 – Tim Langdale
● 2017 – Luke Sullivan
● 2018 – Jayden Charlton
● 2019 – Gerard Lynd
Hobart Football Club Past Presidents
● 1945 – Mr J.E Miller● 1946 – Mr J.E Miller
● 1947 – Mr W.E McIndoe
● 1948 – Mr W.E McIndoe
● 1949 – Mr W.E McIndoe
● 1950 – Mr W.E McIndoe
● 1951 – Mr W.E McIndoe
● 1952 – Mr C.N Allen
● 1953 – Mr C.N Allen
● 1954 – Mr C.N Allen
● 1955 – Mr R.A Whitney
● 1956 – Mr R.A Whitney
● 1957 – Mr C.N Allen
● 1958 – Mr C.N Allen
● 1959 – Mr C.N Allen
● 1960 – Dr Nigel Abbott
● 1961 – Mr E.K Daley
● 1962 – Mr E.K Daley
● 1963 – Mr Ron Pitt
● 1964 – Mr Ron Pitt
● 1965 – Mr Ron Pitt
● 1966 – Mr Ron Pitt
● 1967 – Mr Ron Pitt
● 1968 – Mr Ron Pitt
● 1969 – Mr Ron Pitt
● 1970 – Mr Ron Pitt
● 1971 – Mr Ron Pitt
● 1972 – Mr Ron Pitt
● 1973 – Mr Ron Pitt
● 1974 – Mr Ron Pitt
● 1975 – Mr Ron Pitt
● 1976 – Mr Lionel Bould
● 1977 – Mr Lionel Bould
● 1978 – Mr Michael Wade
● 1979 – Mr Michael Wade
● 1980 – Mr Michael Wade
● 1981 – Mr Michael Wade
● 1982 – Mr Joe Whittle
● 1983 – Mr Max Verrier
● 1984 – Mr Graeme Peck
● 1985 – Mr Graeme Peck
● 1986 – Mr Graeme Peck
● 1987 – Mr Graeme Peck
● 1988 – Mr Geoff George
● 1989 – Mr Geoff George
● 1990 – Mr Geoff George
● 1991 – Mr Russell Young
● 1992 – Mr Russell Young
● 1993 – Mr Russell Young
● 1994 – Mr Russell Young & Mr Greg Lane
● 1995 – Mr Greg Lane
● 1996 – Mr John Thurley
● 1997 – Mr Noel Gray Jr
● 1998 – Mr Noel Gray Jr & Mr John Blake
● 1999 – Mr John Blake
● 2000 – Mr John Blake
● 2001 – Mr John Blake
● 2002 – Mr John Blake
● 2003 – Mr Philip Baker
● 2004 – Mr Philip Baker
● 2005 – Mr Philip Baker
● 2006 – Mr Philip Baker
● 2007 – Mr Philip Baker
● 2008 – Mr Philip Baker
● 2009 – Mr Philip Baker
● 2010 – Mr Philip Baker
● 2011 – Mr Philip Baker
● 2012 – Mr Sean Sullivan
● 2013 – Mr Sean Sullivan
● 2014 – Mr Russell Young
● 2015 – Mr Russell Young
● 2016 – Mr Russell Young
● 2017 – Mr Russell Young
● 2018 – Mr Russell Young
● 2019 – Mr Callum Upchurch