Australian Football

Newtown and Chilwell Football Club was established in 1934 when erstwhile local rivals Newtown and Chilwell merged, retaining Newtown’s colours of black and red. Both Newtown and Chilwell had been successful clubs of long standing, with the former having won premierships in 1897-8, 1900 and 1910, and the latter in 1903, 1915, 1922 and 1923.

Initially nicknamed the Combine, the merged club achieved its first grand final victory in 1937 at the expense of Geelong West but then had to endure a premiership drought lasting a quarter of a century. As if to make up for lost time, the side then promptly claimed four flags on end, defeating St. Mary’s in three grand finals and East Geelong in the other.

Newtown and Chilwell next contested a grand final in 1977, but went down to North Shore by 15 points. The following season’s grand final involving the same two clubs was similarly closely contested, but on this occasion victory went to the men in black and red, who triumphed by 10 points, 13.12 (90) to the Seagulls’ 11.14 (80). Captain- coach of the side in 1977 and 1978 was Hugh Strahan who had played junior football at the club before embarking on a six season, 88 game VFL career with Geelong.

In 1979 the top division of the Geelong and District Football League, in which Newtown and Chilwell had competed since 1946, broke away to form a new and separate competition, the Geelong Football League. Newtown and Chilwell proved to be a force in the new league, contesting five grand finals between 1981 and 1987, and emerging triumphant from three of them.

There have been no further senior flags since 1986, but the Eagles went close in 2005 when, under the coaching of former Geelong West and Geelong player Terry Bright, they made it through to the grand final, only to lose by 21 points to South Barwon.

In 2007 the Eagles qualified for the finals in fourth place but were then beaten in the elimination final by Bell Park. Their fortunes slumped in 2008 when they could only manage 6 wins and a draw from their eighteen home and away matches, which was only good enough for ninth place on the twelve team premiership ladder. The following season brought marginal improvement as the Eagles rose to seventh position after managing 7 wins for the year.

The ensuing decade started slowly before the side earned finals qualification in 2011, an achievement which was duplicated in four of the next seven seasons, albeit without any grand final appearances.