Australian Football

Seville

Seville Football Club - the Blues - have achieved much in their comparatively short history. In 1982 they won the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League’s first division premiership unbeaten, a rare accomplishment, and the following year they almost made it two flags in succession, but lost out on grand final day to Gembrook.

The 1990s commenced with the Blues in Division Two, where they flirted with success several times before breaking through for a flag in 1995. There was nothing remotely flirtatious about it either, as they lost just once all year, by 10 points to Yarra Junction in woeful weather conditions. Most of their matches were won by substantial margins, but on grand final day they had to battle hard to fend off the challenge of Kinglake, with the result in doubt almost to the end of the match. Seville eventually won by 14 points, 11.19 (85) to 10.11 (71).

With many of the same players to call on in 1996, including skipper Tim Bailey, the Blues became the first and so far only team in YVMDFL history to win a Division One premiership the season after going top in Division Two. Just as in 1995, there could be no doubt that they were deserving premiers, a fact they emphasised with emphatic wins over Upwey Tecoma in both the second semi final and grand final.

Among the stars of Seville’s Division Two premiership win in 2003 was former WAFL and V/AFL player Nicky Winmar whose superb performance in the preliminary final against Powelltown was a critical factor in the Blues’ stirring come from behind win. Winmar ran second in the club’s best and fairest voting that year, behind the man who captain-coached the side as well as winning the Wandin Medal, Jason Leeds.

Competing in Division Two of the Yarra Ranges Football Netball League the Blues' performances of late have generally been quite strong, with the highlights being losing grand final clashes with Emerald in 2011, Healesville in 2013, Yarra Glen in 2014 and Yarra Junction in 2018.