Historical information
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.
Significance
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 South Belgrave Football Club (the 'Wolves'); both clubs are still active in the area. Australian Rules Football has a long history in the region and played a fundamental role in community life.
Physical description
Colour rectangular photograph printed on photographic paper. The photograph depicts seven men playing Australian Rules Football at a suburban football oval; fifteen spectators including a junior player in uniform are visible in the background of the photograph. Cars and sports field netting can also be seen. Notations on the reverse of the photograph indicate that the match shown is the second semi-final of the 1977 season, held in Marysville, between the Emerald Football Club (wearing red and black) and South Belgrave. Three names are written on the reverse in different hand-writing, these are Geoff 'Digger' Dolan, Tony Greenwell and Dave Sands.
Inscriptions & markings
Reverse:
1977 /
7. /
Second Semi Final /
V SOUTH BELGRAVE /
Marysville /
GEOFF 'DIGGER' DOLAN /
TONY GREENWELL /
DAVE SANDS /
VEMUP 417 /
