Australian Football

Portarlington

Formed as early as 1874, the Portarlington Football Club competed without notable success in several different leagues and associations in the Geelong area for many years before finally ‘breaking the ice’ in the Geelong and District Football League’s second tier competition, the Woolworth Cup, in 1947. As if keen to make up for lost time the side won every match for the season, culminating in a 12.19 (91) to 9.8 (62) grand final defeat of East Geelong Seconds.

The 1950s proved to be Portarlington’s most successful decade to date as the seniors went top three times. All three flags were won in the GDFL’s Jarman Cup, or third division, competition.

Between 1964 and 1970 the Demons competed in the Polwarth Football League, but without adding to their senior flag haul. In 1971 they were among the nine foundation members of the Bellarine Football League.

Over the past forty-six seasons Portarlington has endured some tough times, most notably during the second half of the 1990s when it was beset with financial woes and a dramatic drop in both player and supporter numbers. However, there has also been much to cheer the soul, with the senior grade flags of 1978 and 1992 the obvious highlights. In 1992 the seniors were joined on the winners’ rostrum by the reserves, making it perhaps the greatest single season in the club’s history.

The nearest the Demons have come to claiming a third BFL premiership was in 1994 when they reached the grand final only to lose to Ocean Grove by 60 points.

Recent seasons have been a struggle involving perennial flirtation with the wooden spoon.