Australian Football

Football was played in Kyneton at least as long ago as the 1870s, and in all probability even earlier. However, it was not until after the first world war that the town’s football club commenced regular, organised competition.

For just over a decade Kyneton participated in district competitions, which effectively constituted the second tier of organised football in the area. Then, in 1932, the club was one of three newcomers to be admitted to the powerful Bendigo Football League, which was just beginning to find its feet after several cash-strapped seasons. The Tigers soon found their feet too, performing competitively, and claiming their first premiership in only their fifth season in the league.

In some respects, however, this proved to be a false dawn, and it would be two decades before the club again made a serious bid for the flag. The Tigers’ second grand final appearance came in 1957, but they were comfortably defeated by Eaglehawk, as indeed they were by Rochester a couple of seasons later. The 1960 season brought a second straight grand final clash with Rochester, and this time the Tigers got it right, edging home by 3 points after a tense, low scoring tussle.

Kyneton made it two flags in succession in 1961 when Rochester was again overcome on grand final day, this time by the rather more comfortable margin of 23 points.

The Tigers next emerged as a force during the 1990s, contesting three consecutive grand finals between 1995 and 1997, and winning the first and last of them.

Subsequent seasons were, on the whole, somewhat less memorable, however, with all grades tending to struggle in the lower half of the list. In 2008, 2009 and 2011 the Tigers finished last, and the team did not compete at all in 2013. However, since resuming in 2014 they have shown some improvement, with the seniors contesting the finals in 2015 and ultimately finishing fifth, a result that was replicated in both 2016 and 2017.