Australian Football

Rosebud

Formed in 1929, Rosebud commenced life as a member of the Peninsula District Football Association. The club reached its first grand final in 1932, but lost to Carrum by 18 points. A year later it had its revenge, downing Carrum on grand final day by 20 points, 8.12 (60) to 5.10 (40).

From 1959 until 1986 Rosebud competed in the Nepean Football League, winning one out of three senior grade grand finals contested. That was in 1970, against Pearcedale, with the Buds kicking badly but still winning comfortably in the end by 20 points, 13.23 (101) to 12.9 (81).

Since commencing in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League in 1987 Rosebud has been a member of the competition’s second tier, known at various times as the second division, southern division, Nepean division and Nepean League. The Buds were grand finalists in their very first season in the MPNFL, but went down by 24 points to Edithvale Aspendale. They atoned in 1988 with a 14.9 (93) to 12.15 (87) grand final defeat of Frankston YCW.

The 1990s produced five senior grade grand final appearances, but only in the last of these, against Devon Meadows in 1997, were the Buds successful. Mind you, it was a pretty emphatic success as the final scores of 24.20 (164) to 12.9 (81) affirm.

Rosebud have played off for the premiership twice since 1997, accounting for Frankston Bombers by 39 points in 2007, and downing Somerville by 20 points in 2015. Both of the last couple of seasons have seen them finish in third place on the ten team premiership ladder.