Canberra Wildcats

Formed from the dying embers of a Weston Creek Football Club that had struggled valiantly, but increasingly vainly, for a decade, the Canberra Wildcats took their bows in AFL Canberra’s top division in 2007. Former Weston Creek Football Manager Geoff Bartley was the man holding the reins of the new concern, and, prior to the commencement of the season, he was realistic about its short-term aims. “Success wouldn’t realistically be winning a premiership,” he recently declared. “Success would be winning two or three games, and being able to put in place the recruitment contacts for next year.”

As things turned out, however, the Wildcats were unable to achieve even this modest aim. They ended up enduring something of a nightmare start to their existence, losing all 18 of their 2007 fixtures to finish last.