Tullamarine

Formed in 1974 after a merger between Essendon Baptist St John’s and Ascot Vale Presbyterians, Tullamarine was a success from the outset, with its five successive A Grade flags between 1975 and 1979 establishing an Essendon District Football League record which still stands. More recently, the club has enjoyed intermittent success, with its most recent premiership coming in B Grade in 2003.\n\nEssendon Baptist Saint John’s was a noteworthy presence in the EDFL for many years, winning a B Grade premiership in 1956, and an A Grade flag two seasons later. Among the club’s products were no fewer than fourteen Essendon footballers including such luminaries as Ron Evans, Ted Fordham, Ken Fraser and Don McKenzie.\n\nIn 2006 Tullamarine qualified for the B Grade finals in fifth place, but bowed out of premiership contention at the first hurdle against Airport West. A year later the Demons got as far as the grand final, but lost by 34 points to Maribyrnong Park, a result that was repeated in 2008, this time at the hands of Glenroy by a slightly narrower margin of 32 points.\n\nExpected to be pace setters in 2009, the Demons suffered a succession of injuries that ultimately put paid to their chances, and in the end they had to be satisfied with a by no means discreditable fourth place.