The North Albury Football Netball Club, nicknamed the Hoppers, is an Australian rules football and netball club playing in the Ovens & Murray Football League (O&MFL). They are incorporated as part of the North Albury Sports Club licensed club at Bunton Park in North Albury, Albury, where they play their home matches. The club has won six O&MFL premierships. The Hoppers currently play in forest green guernseys with a gold vee and the "Hopper" logo on the right side. Previous guernsey designs included a dark green and gold design similar to the West Coast Eagles' classic wingtip design (up to 2008) and a gold design with two dark green vees over the yoke. The club song is a version of "Join in the Chorus" with some words altered from the AFL Kangaroos version.
History
The club was formed in 1937 as the North Albury Junior Football Club and played in the newly formed Albury and Border Junior Football League as an Under 21 side between 1937 and 1941 before a recess in local football between 1942 and 1944 due to World War Two.
In 1945, the North Albury senior team was first established and competed in the Albury & Border Football Association and lost their semi-final match to South Albury.
Hawthorn played a combined Albury & Border Football Association representative team on the Albury Sports Ground in September 1945, with Hawthorn winning in a high scoring match with a number of North Albury players participating.
Then in 1946, the club entered a senior team in the Chiltern & District Football Association (North Albury Premiers) and a Under 21 team in the Albury and Border Junior Football League.
In 1947, North Albury seniors moved into the Ovens & Murray Football League competition. Premiers in 1948, North Albury also defeated 1948 Wimmera Football League premiers, Stawell in late September 1948 at the Albury Sports Ground.
In 1951 and 1952 North Albury Reserves team played in the Hume Football League senior competition, prior to joining the O&MFL Reserves competition in 1953.
In 1953, the club trained at the Hovell Tree Reserve, which was flood lit and had use of the changerooms.
Bunton Park was established during the post-World War II period in an area that was quickly becoming established with housing and North Albury FC moved in as a tenant in 1960, after sharing the Albury Sports Ground with Albury FC between 1937 and 1959. Bunton Park is named after Cleaver Bunton, long-time mayor of Albury, rather than his famous footballing brother Haydn Bunton, although neither played for North Albury.
In the early 1980s the club was beset by financial difficulties causing it to fall in arrears in paying match payments to its players. In the meantime the club committee was endeavouring to establish a licensed club at its ground, which would allow it to serve alcohol outside of match times and house poker machines. With the establishment of the licensed club in 1984, the club's future in the O&MFL was secured.
A large number of North Albury players have gone on to play in the VFL/AFL, such as 1984 Morris Medallist Rudy Yonson, who played a number of games with the Sydney Swans, and most famously Brett Kirk, who played with North Albury up to the 1998 season and then joined the rookie list of the Sydney Swans on trial the following year, later being elevated to the main list and being an integral part of the Swans' 2005 premiership-winning side.
As many as 20 odd players have been recruited from North Albury to the VFL/AFL including Peter Curtis (North), Ross Henshaw (North), Don Ross (Footscray) and Brian Leahy (Melbourne) amongst others.Wilks, M. (2011) Australian football clubs in NSWBas Publishing. p. 36. Anthony Miles, the 2014 star recruit for Richmond from GWS, also played his junior football at North Albury and Howlong.
Other ex-VFL/AFL players to have coached the club to an O&MFL premiership include Keith Shea, Tim Robb and Martin Cross Snr.Wilks, M. (2011) Australian football clubs in NSWBas Publishing. p. 31
The three-time AFL premiership player Jason Akermanis coached the club in 2013 to 2016.
North Albury traditionally play an Anzac Day fixture against cross-town rivals, the Albury Tigers, with the venue alternating between the two clubs every year.
Football Timeline 1937 - 1941: Albury & Border Junior Football League 1942 - 1944: In recess due to World War Two 1945 - Albury Border Football Association 1946 - Chiltern & District Football Association 1947 - 2019: Ovens & Murray Football League 2020 - In recess > COVID-19 2021 - 2026: Ovens & Murray Football League
Football Premierships Seniors Chiltern & District Football Association 1946 O&MFL 1948, 1955, 1980, 1984, 1999, 2002. Reserves O&MFL 1954, 2000
Thirds O&MFL Nil
Juniors Albury & Border Junior Football League 1940, 1941 1949, 1950, 1954.
Runner up Seniors 1950, 1956, 1973, 1975, 1986, 2000, 2004, 2007
Reserves 1955, 1981, 1985, 1987, 2003
Thirds 1993
Juniors 1939
Football Coaches Seniors
1945 - Alec Bishop 1946 - Ted Beaumont 1947 - Alec Bishop 1948 - 1949: Keith Shea 1950 - Don Wilks 1951 - 1953: Bill King 1954 - 1956: Tim Robb 1957 - 1958: Kevin Wylie 1959 - 1962: Don Ross 1963 - 1965: Graeme MacKenzie 1966 - Ian Aston 1967 - 1968: Ralph Rogerson 1969 - 1970: John Sharrock 1971 - Tim Robb 1972 - Stan Sargeant 1973 - 1974: Mike Porter 1975 - 1977: Vern Drake 1978 - 1979: John Smith 1980 - 1981: Col Trevaskis 1982 - 1991: Martin Cross 1992 - Merv Neagle 1993 - 1994: 1995 - 1996: Martin Cross 1997 - 2001: Ernie Whitehead 2002 - 2006: Corey Lambert 2007 - 2010: Travis Hodgson 2011 - 2012: Bob Craig 2013 - 2016: Jason Akermanis 2017 - Clint Gilson / Dan Leslie 2018 - Clint Gilson / Chris Schmidt 2019 - 2020: Isaac Muller 2021 - 2022: Luke Norman 2022 - Clint Gilson / Corey Lambert 2023 - 2026: Tim Broomhead
North Albury - Hall of Fame Inductees 2016 - Martin Cross, Ralph Marks, Arthur Pickett, Stan Sargeant, John Smith 2017 - Paula Cary, Travis Hodgson, Don Ross, Keith Shea, Kevin Weule 2018 - Les Braunack, Roly Hines, Jason Kerr, Corey Lambert, Rogers Peters 2019 - Fiona Boyer, Ken Bruce, Ron James, Robert Murray, Brent Piltz 2020 - No Inductees due to COVID-19 2021 - Clint Eckhardt, Brett Kirk, Brandon Ryan, Peter Westland, Lester Yensch 2022 - ? 2023 - Bill Barton, Vern Drake, Simon Kenny, Dan Leslie, Rudy Yonson 2024 - ? 2025 - Bob Baker, Terry Farrell, Mark Hilton, Breda O'Kane, Tim Robb
Ovens & Murray FNL - Hall of Fame Inductees 2006 - Stan Sargeant, John Smith 2015 - Don Ross 2017 - Paula Cary, Stan Sargeant (Legend) 2018 - Travis Hodgson 2019 - Peter Westland 2023 - Dan Leslie, John Smith (legend) 2025 - Fiona Boyer 2026 - Corey Lambert
Football Best & Fairest Awards
North Albury FNC - Best & Fairest Award WinnersYEAR SENIORSCommenced 1945 RESERVESCommenced 1951 UNDER 18'sCommenced 1973 JUNIORSCommenced 1937 1937 1938 1939 1940 Ted Washington 1941 1942-44In recess >World War 2 1945 1946 Eric Allen 1947Ted Washington Jack Galvin 1948Wally Geier 1949 Bob Morrow1950Lester Yensch Keith Shea Memorial Trophy 1951Don RossAlbert Farrah Wally Geier Memorial Trophy 1952Lester YenschAlbert Farrah 1953Les Braunack A Grant 1954Ivan Smith Noel Gould 1955Les Braunack 1956Ivan Smith 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967John Maddock 1968Bob Barker 1969John Maddock 1970 1971 1972John Danckert Gerald Stakelum 1973John Smith 1974John Danckert 1975 1976Vern Drake 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981John Smith 1982John Smith 1983 1984 1985 1986Roger Peters 1987 1988Roger Peters 1989Jason Kerr 1990Jason Kerr 1991Daryl Butler 1992Daryl Butler 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999Corey Lambert 2000Travis Hodgson 2001Travis Hodgson Ben Taylor Nick McDonald 2002Travis Hodgson Lucas Mellier Adam Prior 2003 2004Ash Eames Joel Mackie Luke Rhodes 2005 2006Brad Horn 2007Brandon Ryan 2008Brandon Ryan James Paton Chris Taylor 2009Matt McDonald & Chris Taylor Charlie Graeber Brad Horn 2010Brandon Ryan Charlie GraeberRory Feltwell 2011Brandon Ryan Sam Hodges Brodie Smith 2012Matt McDonald Campbell Wylie Brodie Smith 2013Dan Leslie Adam Elias Charlton Hindle 2014Jarrah Maksymow Jack Muldoon Joel Escott 2015Dan Leslie 2016Dom Brew Clint Gilson 2017Dan Leslie Clint Gilson 2018David Miles 2019George Godde 2020O&M in recess > COVID-19 2021Jackson WeidemannConnor Clarke Luke Boothy 2022George Godde Clint Gilson Jackson Carey2023Josh Minogue Connor Bradbury 2024Tim Broomhead 2025Julian Hayes Zach Graham 2026 YEAR SENIORSCommenced 1945 RESERVESCommenced 1951 UNDER 18'sCommenced 1973 JUNIORSCommenced 1937 Bold Red indicates a senior premiership. Bold green indicates a reserves premiership.
Leading Football Goalkicking This list of senior football goal kickers below was compiled by O&MFNL Historian, Neil Barter.
North Albury FNC - Leading Goal KickersYEAR SENIORSCommenced 1945 GOALS RESERVESCommenced 1951 GOALS UNDER 18'sCommenced 1973 GOALS 1945 1946Ted Beaumont 36 (48) 1947Ted Washington 47 1948Jack Wood 37 (43) 1949Norm Benstead58 1950Norm Benstead 48 (57) 1951Norm Benstead 51 1952W "Bill" Orme 38 1953 1954Tim Robb 51 1955Norm Benstead57 1956Lester Yensch* 71 1957John Star 23 1958Stan Sargeant 33 1959Stan Sargeant 51 1960Stan Sargeant 45 1961Stan Sargeant 58 1962K Bruce & 28 James 28 1963Stan Sargeant*54 1964Stan Sargeant 78 1965Stan Sargeant*65 1966Stan Sargeant* 76 1967Stan Sargeant 75 1968Stan Sargeant* 72 1969Stan Sargeant 61 1970Elliott 35 1971Stan Sargeant* 87 1972Stan Sargeant 65 1973Stan Sargeant 62 1974Stan Sargeant* 104 1975Vern Drake 111 1976Vern Drake* 79 1977Vern Drake 37 1978Vern Drake 58 1979Vern Drake 72 1980Brian Parks109 1981Brian Parks 59 1982Peter Westlands75 1983Peter Westlands86 1984Peter Westlands91 1985Bert Hollards 39 1986Peter Westlands46 1987Paul Ross38 1988Steve Paton 26 1989Graeme Cook 52Peter Westlands*58 1990S Stamp 34 1991S Stamp 30 1992David Gould 37 1993Adam Butler 15 C Conboy 15 Mark Eyers 15 1994Matt Chilcott 78Jason Vildovas67 Gary Elliott*62 1995Matt Chilcott 75Garry Elliott 39 1996Gerard Butts24 1997R Smith 61 1998S Barker 23 1999Matt Warry*54 2000Brett Jukawicz50 2001Brendan Hehir* 82M Sefton Rowston 25 2002Brett Piltz50M Sefton Rowston 39 2003C Parsons 29 2004D Murray 52 2005B Argus 18 2006Adam Pierri 37 2007Adam Prior* 67 2008Luke Sims 38 2009Dan Leslie 67Liam Scammell 31Jesse Johnson 25 2010Dan Leslie 55Luke Antone 25 2011Dan Leslie 29Josh Land 38Aaron Bauerle 21 2012Dan Leslie 40Josh Land 40 2013Adam Prior* 71 (74)Phil Prior14Charlton Hindle 16 2014Jarrah Maksymow 59Zac Gallaway & 14 Kris Milosta 14 2015Kristian Cary 34Alec Sullivan 19Alex Paech28 2016Ricky Whitehead 41Mark Wilde 36 2017Shaun Mannagh 19Clint Gilson 10Jack Penny 12 Connor Smith 10 Liam Williams 10 2018Josh Lloyd 27Danny Warren 27 2019Josh Lloyd 23Daniel Jackson16Sam Azzi 30 2020O&M in recess > COVID-19 2021Flynn Gardner 15Mitchell Eyers8 Coby Fitzsimmons &5 Declan Thiele 52022Carter Norman 27Jackson Carey &5 Kirk Wilson 5 2023Josh Minogue 33Jamieson Bouffler 10 Jackson Carey 30 2024Josh Minogue* 61 (72)Alex Kohne 20 2025Josh Murphy 59 (64)Kade Brown 23Tynan Wiesner Milham26 2026 YEAR SENIORSCommenced 1945 GOALS RESERVESCommenced 1951 GOALS UNDER 18'sCommenced 1973 GOALSBold Red indicates a senior premiership. Bold green indicates a reserves premiership.* - Also won the O&MFL Goalkicking award. *() Figure in brackets includes goals kicked in finals
O&MFNL Best & Fairest Winners Seniors - Morris Medal 1964 - David Sykes 1973 - John Smith 1984 - Rudy Yonson 1999 - Corey Lambert 1974 - John Smith (most votes, but ineligible) Reserves 1972 - Gerry Stakelum 1985 - Bill Mulraney 1991 - Mick Thorneycroft 1994 - Bill Mulraney 1999 - Ben Kerr 2000 - Shane Wardrop 2013 - Ashleigh Sibraa 2016 & 2017 - Clint Gilson
Thirds / Under 18's 1977 - Anthony McIntosh 1980 - Anthony McTavish 1993 - Phil Jones 1994 - Dean Taylor 2004 - James Weavers 2005 - Todd Birch
VFL / AFL Players