Past greats reflect as Coburg Football Club celebrates 100 years

Times have been tough for Coburg in recent seasons. But as the Lions celebrate their 100th year in the VFA/VFL, optimism abounds at the City Oval about what the future could hold.

Paul Amy

@paulamy375

8 min read

August 5, 2025 - 11:30AM

News Sport Network

Coburg is celebrating its 100th year in the VFA/VFL.

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In its 100th year in the VFA/VFL, it’s as if Coburg has been reborn, Phil Cleary says.

Supporters are again filling the terraces at the City Oval.

The Lions are winning games under young coach Jamie Cassidy-McNamara.

And there’s a stability and energy about the administration.

Cleary, an official Coburg legend for his playing and coaching career, believes the club has finally emerged from the wilderness it was driven into when it aligned with Richmond from 2001 to 2013 to form the Coburg Tigers.

As much as the alliance was necessary for financial reasons, it set Coburg back years, he says.

“We lost connection with our history, our community and our former players,’’ Cleary says.

But Coburg is a club revitalised. “Born again,’’ is how Cleary puts it.

At this season’s Vicki Cleary Day, an annual event to highlight the issue of violence against women, he watched the Lions defeat Carlton before about 3000 people and later said he was “mesmerised’’ by the performance and the trajectory of the Lions.

“I’ve admired the way Jamie and other key people have embraced Coburg’s past and turned it into a force as they redefine themselves as a genuinely competitive football team,’’ he says.

“If they could recruit a couple of marquee players, they would be a genuine power side. They’ve got spirit and skill. They seem to be well coached and organised, and they play to win.’’

Prime Minister Bob Hawke and Coburg coach Phil Cleary after the 1988 grand final.

This Sunday, the Lions will mark their 100th year in the VFA/VFL with a major function in the social club at the City Oval.

It will tie in with the match against one of their great rivals, Port Melbourne. A win will lift them into the top 10 and in line for the wildcard round of finals.

Cleary – who began playing with Lions in 1975 – will host the milestone celebration, and premiership players Ron Beattie, Vin Taranto, Brian Allison and Brett Weatherald among the guest speakers.

The Lions became a dominant team almost immediately after entering the VFA in 1925: they were premiers in 1926, 1927 and again in 1928.

Former league player Henry “Harry’’ Kerley was at the heart of the early triumphs.

“He had served on the western front, where some of the men he played an exhibition game with in London in 1916 died,’’ Cleary says.

“He was a towering figure, physically and spiritually, in Coburg’s history.’’

A long wait for more premierships followed, despite Coburg having players of the calibre of Lance Collins, Bob Pratt, Jack “Skinny’’ Titus and Doug Bigelow.

Coburg’s next flags were in division two of the VFA, in 1970 and ’74.

But in 1979 the team coached by Colin Kinnear defeated Geelong West in the grand final to again have the Burgers enjoying the view from the top.

Anthony Alessio counts as a Coburg great.

Prominent players included Laurie Burt, Terry Dohnt, Gary Milroy, Brad Nimmo, Beattie and Cleary.

The bearded and bold Cleary took on the coaching position in 1984 and held it for nine years, a period that took in his retirement as a player after 205 games and 318 goals, and the 1988-89 grand final victories over Williamstown.

The 1989 premiership is the club’s most recent.

In 2007 Coburg Tigers reached the grand final under former Hawthorn star Andy Collins, losing to Geelong.

When the Richmond alignment is removed from the equation, Coburg last made the finals in 1990, when Cleary still shook the reins.

After splitting with the Tigers at the end of 2013, the Lions were competitive for three seasons under the experienced Peter German.

But the period from 2017 to 2024 was particularly bleak, producing only 17 victories. In 2023, Cassidy-McNamara’s first year at the City Oval, the Lions’ win column did not break from zero, but they picked up five victories last season.

This year they’ve made it eight – and it would be nine if not for an umpiring howler against Frankston.

*****

In its 100th year in the VFA/VFL, Coburg has its first female president.

Michelle Johnston became involved in the Lions in 2022 through her daughter Kirra, who joined the club as a media volunteer (and now works for SEN).

For Lions GM Seb Spagnuolo, hearing that Johnston was a senior executive with the Kangan Institute, asked if she was interested in joining the board.

As a lifetime football follower, she agreed, and after a short time was made vice-president.

She became president last year.

Coburg FC president Michelle Johnston.

“It’s one of those clubs that, from the time I walked in, I found a really positive culture and a real commitment to getting better,’’ she says.

“I think we just needed some fresh blood to reinvigorate everyone. Running a footy club is no different to running any other organisation. You have the same challenges. The same financial challenges, people challenges. But if you can get a good bunch of people around that are all committed to the same thing, which for us is trying to win a flag, you can do some good thing together.’’

She says the Lions are about “thriving, not just surviving’’.

Johnston agrees with Cleary’s assertion that the club suffered for its Richmond alignment.

Few of the Richmond fans who followed Coburg Tigers stayed around when Coburg when it regained its independence. And many rusted-on Lions dropped off when the club linked with Richmond.

“I’ve always thought the whole VFL set-up of clubs being merged with AFL reserves teams meant the loss of a whole generation of supporters,’’ Johnston says.

“It’s definitely something we’re focused on, trying to build those numbers and that community spirit again.’’

Coburg key forward Mitch Podhajski has been a terrific goalkicker this season. Photo: Craig Dooley/craigdooleyphotography.com

It appears they’re succeeding.

Beaconsfield is a long way from Coburg, but when the Lions played Richmond in Round 1 at Holm Park Reserve, navy blue and red could be seen all around the ground.

Cleary notes “the young middle-class supporters’’ getting to the City Oval terraces.

“I think historically, Coburg, Merri-bek has had a strong sense of connectedness and community, and I think the football club is drawing on that,’’ he says.

“I am very impressed with the young trendies standing on the terraces under the old grandstand. They speak a more interesting version of English than the old guard!’’

Johnston says: “Our philosophy is, if we can get them to a game and get them interested, hopefully we can get them to stick.’’

The introduction of juniors and a women’s side has brought more families and friends to the City Oval.

The under-age section introduced in 2016 continues to flourish; next year the Lions will field an Under 18 team.

The Coburg women's team plays in the VAFA.

But it is a grind.

For all the diligent work of officials and volunteers – Johnston says GM Nick Byrne, operations manager Danial Caneva and director of coaching Jeremy Dickson do an “outstanding job’’ – Coburg remains on a financial edge.

Like the Northern Bullants and Frankston – and unlike Werribee, Williamstown and Port Melbourne – it makes no money from gaming machines.

Most of its revenue comes from sponsorship, events, membership and match-day revenue. The Islamic College of Sport also rents space from the Lions.

“We can’t underestimate how challenging it is,’’ Johnston says.

“We’re looking at how we can diversity our income, because it’s becoming harder and harder to get the dollars we need to run the club.’’

Some VFL observers wonder why an AFL organisation that preaches equalisation does not take the same approach with the VFL and help bring financial stability to Coburg, the Northern Bullants and Frankston. Their annual grants were removed during Covid and have not returned.

Cleary for one says it’s bewildering and disappointing.

But Jeremy Dickson says Coburg is more interested in thinking about possibilities than problems.

“The beautiful thing and the best thing that’s happened at Coburg is we no longer talk about what we don’t have,’’ he says.

“We just want to compete. That’s it. That’s the bottom line. We want to compete.’’

Acclaimed VFA writer Marc Fiddian’s classic history of Coburg, Of Lions and Liniment.

COBURG

THE LEGENDARY LIONS

Anthony Alessio: Few players marked the ball with more certainty or authority than Alessio; once it hit his hands, it stayed there. He had a superb career as a Lion, winning the 1992 best and fairest and captaining Coburg and the VFA representative team.

Brian Allison: Joining the Lions from Essendon in 1981, Allison went on to an outstanding career recognised with his selection in the team of the century and highlighted by the 1988-89 flags. His son Matt is now with the Burgers.

Laurie Burt: The great centreman featured in the 1979 premiership side, won three best and fairests, and was named in the team of the century.

Former Coburg captain Nick Carnell. Picture: Carmelo Bazzano

Nick Carnell: The courageous and committed left-footer captained Coburg for seven years and played 168 games before retiring in 2015.

Phil Cleary: A clever forward with a splash of speed, a touch of aggression and a nose for the goals, the bearded Cleary played 205 games, booted 318 goals and achieved greatness as a coach with the back-to-back flags of 1988-89. He’s an official Coburg life member and an enduring figure from a VFA that attracted large and passionate crowds in the 1970s.

Lance Collins: Widely regarded as greatest player to wear a Coburg jumper. Joined the club in the 1930s, booted two centuries of goals, served as captain-coach and represented the VFA against the VFL.

Jess Corigliano: The left-footer has been Coburg’s captain since 2023 and played his 100th game last year. He made his debut in 2016, was best and fairest in 2022 and has showed money-can’t-buy loyalty to the Lions.

Robbie Evans: Evans, who died last year at age 63 after a battle with cancer, won the best and fairest in 1985, played in the 1989 premiership (suspension cost him a flag in 1988) and later served as president at a testing time for the Lions.

Ken Ingram: Ingram – nicknamed “Bear’’ – gave long and excellent service to Coburg as a powerful and versatile player across 150 games. His honours included the 1988-89 premierships, two best and fairests, the club captaincy and elevation to the hall of fame.

Henry Kerley: Kerley linked with Coburg after stints at Collingwood, St Kilda and Port Melbourne and kicked five goals in its first VFA game. He was a big figure the 1926-27-28 premierships and was a two-time best and fairest.

Brad Nimmo: the top defender was selected as captain of Coburg’s team of the century, recognition for his contribution to the 1979, 1988 and 1989 premierships. He also played 13 league games for North Melbourne.

Brad Nimmo at Coburg City Oval in 2019, promoting a membership campaign. Picture: Hamish Blair

Bob Pratt: The legendary forward kicked an astonishing 183 goals in the 1941 season, including a haul of 22.4 against Sandringham.

Trevor Price: Playing for keeps as a key defender, Price figured in the 1970, 1974 and 1979 flags, was picked in the club’s team of the century and made an official legend in 2014. “Trevor Price was, with Laurie Birt, the best player I ever coached at the Coburg Football Club,” Colin Kinnear once said.

Gary Sheldon: Another of the 1988-89 premiership heroes, Sheldon shared the JJ Liston Trophy in 1988, the year he also won the best and fairest (he also topped the count in 1982). Life membership and selection in the team of the century were other highlights of his superb 160-game career.

Coburg’s 1989 VFA premiership team.

Dave Starbuck: Starbuck holds the club games record with 219 appearances and after his retirement in 1956 he coached the Under 19s for five seasons, including the 1961 premiership.

Jim Sullivan: Coburg’s best and fairest is named after Sullivan, who won both the VFA’s top individual awards, the JJ Liston Trophy (1967) and the J Field Medal (1969).

Vin Taranto: Rising from the thirds and reserves, the popular Taranto played 208 senior games for the Burgers, including the premierships of 1988-89. The third placegetter in Coburg’s best and fairest receives the Vin Taranto Medal.

Daniel Venditti: The tenacious onballer, a former WAFL player, won three consecutive best and fairests and was a much-respected VFL player until work forced him to leave the Lions on the eve of the 2016 season.