Elmore

Between the wars Elmore competed in several different leagues and associations, with limited success. The club commenced in the Heathcote District Football League in 1948 and soon emerged as a force. The side reached its first grand final in 1954, downing Tooboorac by 38 points, 15.9 (99) to 7.19 (61). A second grand final appearance came the following year, but on this occasion Heathcote North proved too strong.

History repeated itself just under a decade later as the Bloods overcame Tooboorac in the 1963 grand final before losing to Heathcote North a season later. There were further losing grand final appearances in 1969 against Rushworth and 1970 against Heathcote before Elmore next emerged triumphant at Tooboorac’s expense in 1974. Mount Pleasant accounted for the Bloods in the grand finals of 1980 and 1984, with Elmore next going top in 1985. The last two decades have brought three further senior grade grand final appearances, but only in the last of these, against Colbinabbin in 2007, were the Bloods victorious. Mind you, the victory could scarcely have been more emphatic, as final scores of Elmore 26.29 (185) to the Grasshoppers’ 12.14 (86) make clear. The 2008 season saw the Bloods produce another fine home and away campaign, winning 16 of their 18 matches, but they failed to do themselves justice in the finals from which they bowed out in straight sets at the hands of Heathcote and Lockington Bamawm United.

The HDFL introduced a reserves competition in 1976 in which Elmore has enjoyed premiership success on three occasions.