Belgrave Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, compete in Division 2 of the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League

Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League

The Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League is an Australian rules football and netball competition based in Victoria to the east and northeast of Melbourne.-History:...

 (YVMDFL). Belgrave has competed in the YVMDFL since 1966 where it was a founder member. After losing the YVMDFL Division 2 grand final in 2007 the Magpies have achieved only modest success. In 2008, its centenary year, they narrowly missed the finals in the final round of the season losing away to eventual premiers Alexandra.

Humble Beginnings (1909-1944)

Belgrave enjoyed early success in the Evelyn Football Association (EFA) winning their first premiership in 1911. Despite finals appearances in the Scoresby District Football Association Belgrave had to wait more than three decades for their elusive second premiership.

Golden Era (1945-1965)

In 1945 Belgrave joined the Mountain District Football Association. This move proved to be the start of Belgrave's golden era. Between 1948 and 1954 Belgrave played in every grand final winning premierships in 1948, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953 and 1954. Among the key members of these premiership winning combinations were the Argoon brothers, Don and Keith, Alan Burt, Ted Fitton, Jack Graham

Jack Graham (footballer)

Jack Graham is a former Australian rules footballer who played for South Melbourne in the VFL during the 1930s and 40s.Graham was utility player but played mostly as a ruckman. Over the course of his career he was one of the few players who used the place kick and he played in losing grand finals...

, Les Hayes, Mick James, Jack McSween, Jack Needs, Denis O'Donohue, Jack Paterson, Don Pitts, Ron Prendergast, Harry Preston, Fred Rafton, Hugh Robertson, Jim Stump, Jack Hill and John Taylor.

YVMDFL (1966-2005)

Between 1990 and 1995 Belgrave won four Under 18's premierships. These successes ultimately culminated in a 1999 YVMDFL Division 2 Grand Final victory led by club Best and Fairest winner Ben "Fidgey" Fidge. This was followed with finals appearances in Division 1 and the Magpies remained in this division until 2007.

Recent History (2006-)

2008 saw Belgrave consider a move to the Eastern Football League

Eastern Football League (Australia)

The Eastern Football League is an Australian rules football League, based in the eastern suburbs of metropolitan Melbourne....

 beginning in the 2009 season. This followed local rivals Belgrave South's transition there after 2007. The EFL offered greater potential sponsorship income and more teams in closer proximity than the YVMDFL. The move was supported by a many players and stakeholders but fell through due to factors outside Belgrave's control. Since the failed move many of the club's most talented players have left the club. The exodus has however given many fringe and reserves players the chance to prove their talent.

Jumper

Traditionally wearing a black and white striped jumper, in 2008 converted to a black jumper featuring a magpie ensign with white and yellow trim.

Upwey-Tecoma

Undoubtedly Belgrave's most fierce rivalry is with their local nemesis, the Upwey-Tecoma Tigers. Upwey was originally formed by disgruntled ex-Belgrave players and have since gone on to become the most successful YVMDFL club winning 11 premierships to Belgrave's 2. Despite competing in different Divisions at senior level, players from these teams compete in junior competition thus continuing the hatred.

Belgrave South

Following Upwey is the rivalry with neighbors, the Belgrave South Saints. In 2008 Belgrave South moved to the stronger Eastern Football League

Eastern Football League (Australia)

The Eastern Football League is an Australian rules football League, based in the eastern suburbs of metropolitan Melbourne....

 thus no longer play Belgrave in competitive matches.

Notable former players

• Mick Dodson
  Mick Dodson
  Professor Michael James "Mick" Dodson, AM is an indigenous Australian leader, a member of the Yawuru peoples in the Broome area of the southern Kimberley region of Western Australia. His brother is Patrick Dodson, also a noted Aboriginal leader.Following his parents' death, he boarded at Monivae...
  
   (Australian of the Year)
• John Rombotis
  John Rombotis
  John Rombotis is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Fitzroy, Port Adelaide and Richmond in the Australian Football League ....
  
   (Richmond)
• Alan Dale
  Alan Dale (footballer)
  Alan Dale was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League .-External links:* -References:*...
  
   (Essendon, St Kilda)
• Jack Graham
  Jack Graham (footballer)
  Jack Graham is a former Australian rules footballer who played for South Melbourne in the VFL during the 1930s and 40s.Graham was utility player but played mostly as a ruckman. Over the course of his career he was one of the few players who used the place kick and he played in losing grand finals...
  
   (South Melbourne)
• John Taylor Jnr (West Adelaide, Glenelg)

Club Song

WE'RE A TEAM OF MAGPIES,

MAGPIES ARE WE,

WE PLAY FOR BELGRAVE,

AND WE'LL BRING HOME THE FLAG,

ONE AND ALL TO SEE,

WE STICK TOGETHER,

BLACK AND WHITE ARE WE,

WE'LL FIGHT ON FOR THE FLAG,

AND VIC-TOR-Y!

Club records

YVMDFL Division 1 Premierships

• 2 (1975, 1976)

YVMDFL Division 2 Premierships

• 1 (1999)

YVMDFL Division 2 Reserve Premierships

• 3 (1984, 1990, 1991)

YVMDFL Division 2 Under 18 Premierships

• 7 (1982, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995)

Evelyn Football Association Premierships

• 1 (1911)

Mountain District Football League Premierships

• 6 (1948, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954)

Individual records

MDFA Best and Fairest	3	| I. Gray (1934), T. Bourke (1954), B. Gillies (1958)
Ramage Medal	1	| P. Ferguson (2001)
Wandin Medal	3	| G. Meyers (1982), L. Ivanoff (1984), S. Fitzgerald (1990)
Cowley Medal	3	| A. Dean (1982), N. Fage (2007)

External links

• Official Website of the Belgrave Football Club