Emerald Football Club was formed in 1905, one of the first teams in the Mountain District Football Association (renamed the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League in 1967). The club has changed its official colours three times, playing firstly under blue and white colours, then green and gold before adopting the red and black colours shown in the photograph and still used today. The club has also been known variously as the 'Emites', the 'Redlegs' and the current 'Bombers.' A joint Australian Football League (AFL) and La Trobe University Centre for Sport and Social Impact study discusses the importance of local football teams for fostering community cohesion and relationships and distributing information and health and social issues to local people. Local football and other sporting teams are integral to the economic and social development of an area and are therefore significant far beyond the immediate players or families associated with the club.The photograph is significant for its insights into the history of sports and recreation in the Emerald region in the 1970s. It depicts a key moment between the Emerald Football Club (the 'Bombers') and Wandin Football Club (the 'Bulldogs'). The Emerald Football Club is still active in the area; the Wandin Football Club appears to have been active until at least 2019. Australian Rules Football has a long history in the region and played a fundamental role in community life.Colour rectangular photograph printed on photographic paper. The photograph depicts four men playing Australian Rules Football at a suburban football oval, watched by seven spectators including a junior player in uniform. Three umpires are also featured in the image as the moment of play pictured involves a high tackle. Cars, trees and facilities such as spectator stands and club buildings are visible in the background. Notes on the reverse of the image indicate this photograph depicts the 1977 Preliminary Grand Final between the Emerald and Wandin teams. The reverse of the image lists players Kevin Spence and Syd Jinnette and umpires Ted Meyer and Stan Morris.Reverse: in / 8 / 8 / 1977 Preliminary Final Yea / Emerald V Wandin / Kevin Spence / Syd Jinnette / Umpires / Ted Meyer / Stan Morris /1970s, clubs, associations, societies, sports, australian rules football, bombers, wandin football club, bulldogs, umpiring, kevin spence, syd jinnette, ted meyer, stan morris