Viv Markham, Tarrangower Times
No matter how many lattes are sipped in Main Street, the true, beating heart of Maldon lies up at the Bill Woodfull Recreation Reserve – it’s the Maldon Football Netball Club (MFNC). One of Maldon’s best-loved institutions, the MFNC celebrated its 150th anniversary in style last weekend.
The MFNC marked the important milestone with an invitation to past players, sponsors and supporters to come together for a day of football, followed by live entertainment and a dinner. There was also an exhibition of football memorabilia. On the field, it was a great day for Maldon, who won the lion’s share of the matches against Talbot.
Go Donners!
If you count players, committee members, volunteers and parents, well over 200 people are directly involved with the MFNC. Then there are the loyal supporters, who – throughout the long, cold winter – come to the Bill Woodfull and also travel further afield to watch their teams play. It is, without a doubt, the biggest club in town.
The Maldon Football Club was formed in 1873 as a way for Maldon Shire Cricket Club members to exercise in the winter months. In 1886, the Club was officially named and won its first premiership in 1894.
Maldon’s favourite son
Over the years, the Club has produced some outstanding footballers and continues to do so. One of the best, and certainly one of the most intriguing, footballers is the legendary Tom Baxter (1884-1959), who played as a rover for Collingwood (1907-1911) and St Kilda (1912) in the VFL.
While it’s difficult to separate fact from fiction: here’s a sample of what’s on record of Tom’s life:
Tom had courage – in 1905, he helped drag two of his brothers plus another worker from a mine to safety when they were overcome by fumes.
Tom attracted controversy – while playing football for Maldon in his early years, he was given a life suspension that was overturned by the VFL.
Tom didn’t walk away from a fight – in the 1910 Collingwood-Carlton grand final, Tom was banned for the entire 1911 season for striking a Blues player. Another Collingwood player (who was retiring at the end of the 1910 season) put his hand up to take the rap for the striking charge and Tom was free to continue playing.
Tom continued to be a controversial figure – in the 1911 Collingwood-Essendon grand final, he was accused, but cleared, of throwing the game by missing easy goals and kicking into the man on the mark.
And the controversy continued – after returning to Maldon to play football, Tom was charged with inciting a riot when he encouraged a number of spectators to jump the fence and rush the ground during a Maldon-Castlemaine game in 1921.
Tom continued to play for his beloved Maldon football team until he was 51. An extraordinary player who had an extraordinary career.
Footballing greats
Many family names have been associated with the MFNC over the years, and they were well represented at last Saturday’s 150th celebrations.Those in attendance included the Cox family (MFNC President Jamie Cox is still playing in the Reserves), leading League goal kicker Darren Rice (1987, 1988, 1989, 1991), Dean Brown (record holder for most games played, over 250), Kinga Roy (Berry Powell medal winner 1981) and the Kellys (including Hayden Kelly, Berry Powell medal winner 2015).
1981 Berry Powell medallist Kinga Roy at last Saturday’s MFNC 150th anniversary celebrations; The Kelly gang – L to R. netballer Claire, pictured with father Brian and cousin Hayden. Over the years, the Kelly family has produced some outstanding footballers and netballers, as well as contributing countless hours of service to the MFNC. Photos: Tarrangower Times
A conversation with ex-player Denis Cox is a reminder of just how hard it has been over the years to drum up a team. According to his brother Robert, Denis was a handy player – although Denis was too modest to admit to this fact.
“I played my first under-18 game when I was 13,” Denis said. “Club committee man Jimmy Taylor rounded me up when there weren’t enough players. I was 15 when I played my first Seniors game in 1962 – we played in a final in Maryborough against Talbot.”
Baptism by fire indeed!
And this writer would like to send an apology to all the amazing girls and women who play netball for the MFNC – this article deals only with the history of football at the Club, as netball didn’t become part of the MCDFNL until about 1990. Although netball is an integral part of the MFNC, in terms of making Club history, that’s early days.
Long may the MFNC prosper – it is truly the beating heart of Maldon.
This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 14 July 2023.
