Southern Cats
Encyclopedia
The Southern Districts Football Club (also known as the Southern Cats) was an Australian rules football
club based in North Hobart
, Tasmania
, Australia
.
, Channel
and Kingston
Football Clubs in order to establish a football club to compete in the Kingborough and Huon region of southern Tasmania in the TFL Statewide League.
After a TFL-driven attempted merger between North Hobart
, Hobart
and Sandy Bay
Football Clubs was overwhelmingly rejected by both North Hobart and Hobart financial members, the Sandy Bay Football Club
, which had already announced that it would be going out of business in its own right at the end of the 1997 TFL season
was left with no other option but to close down, arrangements were put in place to establish the new club and play games out of both North Hobart Oval
and Huonville Recreation Ground, 35 kilometres south of Hobart in order to try and entice supporters from the Huon and Kingborough region into supporting a representative team from that region at the highest level of the sport within Tasmania.
After the 1997 TFL season
had ended Hobart
, South Launceston
and Launceston
all pulled out of the competition in favour of returning to regional football due to their already dire financial situations and the continually escalating costs of involvement with statewide football.
With New Norfolk
also in deep financial trouble and the expectation that they too would also face exclusion from the TFL on both financial and geographical grounds, it was greatly surprising to many in the football public when TFL Chief Commissioner Michael Kent announced in late 1997 that New Norfolk were to be retained and that a new club (Southern Districts) were to be admitted to the statewide competition in 1998.
The Southern Cats were able to garner most of their players from the recently defunct Sandy Bay team and also were able to draw players from Hobart (who had entered the SFL
) as well as other players from the Huon and Kingborough region, the club was presided over by former Kingston Football Club
president and prominent businessman in the region, Denis Fuller.
The club's first match was at North Hobart Oval
on 5 April 1998 when they lost to North Hobart by 5-points, they lost their first six TFL matches before recording a 134-point victory over New Norfolk at North Hobart Oval
on 23 May, kicking their club record score and highest winning margin in the process.
After recording only two victories by Round 12, the Cats then went on to record victories over Glenorchy, New Norfolk, North Hobart and Clarence to edge out Glenorchy by four premiership points and take fifth spot on the ladder at season's end to compete in the finals in their maiden season of football, the excitement was shortlived as dual reigning premier Clarence outclassed the Cats all day in the Elimination Final to win by 59-points.
Despite the general feeling of optimism at the on-field performance of the Southern Cats during their first season, their off-field position was not as strong, the club had no notable home base from which to generate revenue, had a supporter base which consisted largely of former Sandy Bay supporters and had failed to sway many supporters from the Kingborough and Huon region into supporting the club and had finished up in debt to the tune of $80,000 in 1998 with an average home attendance of just 1,055 spectators.
The 1999 season began optimistically for Southern Districts, in the pre-season the club won its only piece of silverware by taking out the Coca Cola Challenge, however by the early part of the season the vultures were circling on the club as crowd numbers began to sink as rumours of financial problems and discontent within the club began to surface.
The Cats home match on 29 May, which ultimately was to be the club's final match, saw just 447 people attend to see Southern Districts defeat Devonport
by 95-points at North Hobart Oval
.
Two days later, on the evening of Monday, 31 May 1999 a meeting was convened by the Southern Districts Football Club and Football Tasmania
whereby the club dropped a bombshell by announcing it would immediately cease operations after just 27 matches with debts of more than $100,000 which were continuing to increase (the League itself had a combined debt of $1.86 million at the time) and an average home of attendance for the season of only 864 people.
(1998-1999) & Huonville Recreation Ground (1998-1999)
Established – 1997
Playing Colours – White with Navy Blue hoops
Emblem – Cats
Club Theme Song – "We're the pride of Southern Districts!" (Tune: "Marine Hymn")
Affiliations – TFL Statewide League & TSFL
(1998-1999)
Matches Played – 27 (8-19-0)
Premierships
Tasmanian State Premiership
s
George Watt Medal winners
V.A Geard Medal winners
Leading Goalkickers
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
club based in North Hobart
North Hobart, Tasmania
North Hobart is a suburb of the city of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. As its name suggests, it lies directly north of the CBD.The main street of North Hobart is Elizabeth Street, which extends northward from the Elizabeth Street Mall in the city, through North Hobart, and then becomes the Main Road...
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Club History
The Southern Cats were formed under the guise of Project 2000, a brainchild of key football people from the Sandy BaySandy Bay Football Club
The Sandy Bay Football Club was an Australian rules football club based in Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia that participated in the Tasmanian Football League from 1945 to 1997.-Club History:...
, Channel
Channel Saints
The Channel Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently playingin the Old Scholars Football Association , also known as Old Scholars...
and Kingston
Kingborough Tigers
The Kingborough Football Club is an Australian rules football club, based at Kingston, Tasmania and currently playing in the Southern Football League in Tasmania, Australia.-Club Origins:...
Football Clubs in order to establish a football club to compete in the Kingborough and Huon region of southern Tasmania in the TFL Statewide League.
After a TFL-driven attempted merger between North Hobart
North Hobart Demons
The North Hobart Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently playing in the Tasmanian State League.Players to reach Australian Football League level include Paul Williams, Peter 'Percy' Jones, Daryn Cresswell, Chris Bond, James Manson, Jim Wright, Tony Pickett and several other big...
, Hobart
Hobart Football Club
Hobart Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Hobart, Tasmania. They play their home fixtures at the TCA Ground on the Queens Domain, in Hobart and from 2009, the club has been a member of the Tasmanian State League.- Club history :...
and Sandy Bay
Sandy Bay Football Club
The Sandy Bay Football Club was an Australian rules football club based in Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia that participated in the Tasmanian Football League from 1945 to 1997.-Club History:...
Football Clubs was overwhelmingly rejected by both North Hobart and Hobart financial members, the Sandy Bay Football Club
Sandy Bay Football Club
The Sandy Bay Football Club was an Australian rules football club based in Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia that participated in the Tasmanian Football League from 1945 to 1997.-Club History:...
, which had already announced that it would be going out of business in its own right at the end of the 1997 TFL season
1997 TFL Statewide League season
The 1997 TFL Statewide League premiership season was an Australian rules football competition, staged across Tasmania, Australia over twenty roster rounds and six finals series matches between 12 April and 20 September 1997....
was left with no other option but to close down, arrangements were put in place to establish the new club and play games out of both North Hobart Oval
North Hobart Oval
North Hobart Oval is a sports venue in North Hobart, Tasmania, used for Australian rules football.-History:North Hobart Oval started its existence as Hobart Town's brickfields in 1844 before becoming a convict women's housing site, an immigration depot and an invalid persons' depot before closing...
and Huonville Recreation Ground, 35 kilometres south of Hobart in order to try and entice supporters from the Huon and Kingborough region into supporting a representative team from that region at the highest level of the sport within Tasmania.
After the 1997 TFL season
1997 TFL Statewide League season
The 1997 TFL Statewide League premiership season was an Australian rules football competition, staged across Tasmania, Australia over twenty roster rounds and six finals series matches between 12 April and 20 September 1997....
had ended Hobart
Hobart Football Club
Hobart Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Hobart, Tasmania. They play their home fixtures at the TCA Ground on the Queens Domain, in Hobart and from 2009, the club has been a member of the Tasmanian State League.- Club history :...
, South Launceston
South Launceston Football Club
The South Launceston Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently competing in the Tasmanian Football League. They were formed through a merger between City-South and East Launceston in 1986, former Northern Tasmanian Football Association clubs...
and Launceston
Launceston Football Club
The Launceston Football Club is an Australian rules football club, located in the West Tamar suburb of Riverside, seven kilometres north of the Launceston CBD and currently play in the Tasmanian State League in Tasmania, Australia.-History:...
all pulled out of the competition in favour of returning to regional football due to their already dire financial situations and the continually escalating costs of involvement with statewide football.
With New Norfolk
New Norfolk Eagles
The New Norfolk District Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently playing in the Southern Football League, in Tasmania, Australia.-Origins:Entry to Southern District Football Assoc* 1934Entry to TANFL/TFL* 1947...
also in deep financial trouble and the expectation that they too would also face exclusion from the TFL on both financial and geographical grounds, it was greatly surprising to many in the football public when TFL Chief Commissioner Michael Kent announced in late 1997 that New Norfolk were to be retained and that a new club (Southern Districts) were to be admitted to the statewide competition in 1998.
The Southern Cats were able to garner most of their players from the recently defunct Sandy Bay team and also were able to draw players from Hobart (who had entered the SFL
Southern Football League (Tasmania)
The Southern Football League is an Australian rules football league which is based in Tasmania, Australia.- History :The Southern Tasmanian Football League was founded in 1996 with the league's original clubs being those of the recently defunct Tasmanian Amateur Football League – Southern Division...
) as well as other players from the Huon and Kingborough region, the club was presided over by former Kingston Football Club
Kingborough Tigers
The Kingborough Football Club is an Australian rules football club, based at Kingston, Tasmania and currently playing in the Southern Football League in Tasmania, Australia.-Club Origins:...
president and prominent businessman in the region, Denis Fuller.
The club's first match was at North Hobart Oval
North Hobart Oval
North Hobart Oval is a sports venue in North Hobart, Tasmania, used for Australian rules football.-History:North Hobart Oval started its existence as Hobart Town's brickfields in 1844 before becoming a convict women's housing site, an immigration depot and an invalid persons' depot before closing...
on 5 April 1998 when they lost to North Hobart by 5-points, they lost their first six TFL matches before recording a 134-point victory over New Norfolk at North Hobart Oval
North Hobart Oval
North Hobart Oval is a sports venue in North Hobart, Tasmania, used for Australian rules football.-History:North Hobart Oval started its existence as Hobart Town's brickfields in 1844 before becoming a convict women's housing site, an immigration depot and an invalid persons' depot before closing...
on 23 May, kicking their club record score and highest winning margin in the process.
After recording only two victories by Round 12, the Cats then went on to record victories over Glenorchy, New Norfolk, North Hobart and Clarence to edge out Glenorchy by four premiership points and take fifth spot on the ladder at season's end to compete in the finals in their maiden season of football, the excitement was shortlived as dual reigning premier Clarence outclassed the Cats all day in the Elimination Final to win by 59-points.
Despite the general feeling of optimism at the on-field performance of the Southern Cats during their first season, their off-field position was not as strong, the club had no notable home base from which to generate revenue, had a supporter base which consisted largely of former Sandy Bay supporters and had failed to sway many supporters from the Kingborough and Huon region into supporting the club and had finished up in debt to the tune of $80,000 in 1998 with an average home attendance of just 1,055 spectators.
The 1999 season began optimistically for Southern Districts, in the pre-season the club won its only piece of silverware by taking out the Coca Cola Challenge, however by the early part of the season the vultures were circling on the club as crowd numbers began to sink as rumours of financial problems and discontent within the club began to surface.
The Cats home match on 29 May, which ultimately was to be the club's final match, saw just 447 people attend to see Southern Districts defeat Devonport
Devonport Football Club
Devonport Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Devonport, Tasmania. The club previously competed in the Northern Tasmanian Football League but from 2009 it joined the newly reformed Tasmanian State League....
by 95-points at North Hobart Oval
North Hobart Oval
North Hobart Oval is a sports venue in North Hobart, Tasmania, used for Australian rules football.-History:North Hobart Oval started its existence as Hobart Town's brickfields in 1844 before becoming a convict women's housing site, an immigration depot and an invalid persons' depot before closing...
.
Two days later, on the evening of Monday, 31 May 1999 a meeting was convened by the Southern Districts Football Club and Football Tasmania
AFL Tasmania
AFL Tasmania is the governing body for Australian rules football in Tasmania.The organisation is responsible for game development in the state. The organisation recently became affiliated with the Australian Football League and was formerly known as Football Tasmania.The body is responsible for...
whereby the club dropped a bombshell by announcing it would immediately cease operations after just 27 matches with debts of more than $100,000 which were continuing to increase (the League itself had a combined debt of $1.86 million at the time) and an average home of attendance for the season of only 864 people.
History
Home Ground – North Hobart OvalNorth Hobart Oval
North Hobart Oval is a sports venue in North Hobart, Tasmania, used for Australian rules football.-History:North Hobart Oval started its existence as Hobart Town's brickfields in 1844 before becoming a convict women's housing site, an immigration depot and an invalid persons' depot before closing...
(1998-1999) & Huonville Recreation Ground (1998-1999)
Established – 1997
Playing Colours – White with Navy Blue hoops
Emblem – Cats
Club Theme Song – "We're the pride of Southern Districts!" (Tune: "Marine Hymn")
Affiliations – TFL Statewide League & TSFL
Tasmanian Football League
Tasmanian State League is the highest ranked Australian rules football league in Tasmania, Australia.The league has a long and convoluted history which dates back to its founding on 12 June 1879 Tasmanian State League (TSL) (formerly known as the Tasmanian Football League (TFL), Tasmanian...
(1998-1999)
Matches Played – 27 (8-19-0)
Premiership Titles
TANFL/TFL Statewide League/TSFLTasmanian Football League
Tasmanian State League is the highest ranked Australian rules football league in Tasmania, Australia.The league has a long and convoluted history which dates back to its founding on 12 June 1879 Tasmanian State League (TSL) (formerly known as the Tasmanian Football League (TFL), Tasmanian...
Premierships
- Nil
Tasmanian State Premiership
Tasmanian State Premiership
The Tasmanian State Premiership was an Australian rules football tournament which was competed originally between the reigning TFL/TANFL and NTFA premiers, with the NWFU joining in from 1954....
s
- Nil
Individual Medal Winners
William Leitch Medal winners- Nil.
George Watt Medal winners
- Nil.
V.A Geard Medal winners
- Nil
Competition Leading Goalkickers
TFL Statewide LeagueTasmanian Football League
Tasmanian State League is the highest ranked Australian rules football league in Tasmania, Australia.The league has a long and convoluted history which dates back to its founding on 12 June 1879 Tasmanian State League (TSL) (formerly known as the Tasmanian Football League (TFL), Tasmanian...
Leading Goalkickers
- Nil.
Senior Coaches
- 1998 – Troy ClarkeTroy Clarke (Australian rules footballer)Troy Clarke is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Brisbane Bears in the Australian Football League during the 1990s....
- 1999 – Troy ClarkeTroy Clarke (Australian rules footballer)Troy Clarke is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Brisbane Bears in the Australian Football League during the 1990s....
Senior Captains
- 1998 – Shayne StevensonShayne Stevenson (footballer)Shayne Stevenson is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy and Hawthorn in the Australian Football League during the 1990s....
- 1999 – Shayne StevensonShayne Stevenson (footballer)Shayne Stevenson is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy and Hawthorn in the Australian Football League during the 1990s....
Club Record Finals Match Attendance
- 2,243 – Southern Districts v ClarenceClarence Football ClubThe Clarence Football Club, nicknamed the Kangaroos , is an Australian rules football club playing in the Tasmanian State League, based in Bellerive, Tasmania.Before 1903, they existed as Bellerive Football Club....
at North Hobart OvalNorth Hobart OvalNorth Hobart Oval is a sports venue in North Hobart, Tasmania, used for Australian rules football.-History:North Hobart Oval started its existence as Hobart Town's brickfields in 1844 before becoming a convict women's housing site, an immigration depot and an invalid persons' depot before closing...
on 29 August 1998.
Club Record Roster Match Attendance
- 2,251 – Southern Districts v Burnie Dockers at West Park OvalWest Park (Burnie)West Park Oval is an Australian Rules football, cycling and athletics venue located on the shores of Bass Strait in Burnie, Tasmania.It is the current home of the Burnie Dockers in the Tasmanian State League and previously in the NTFL and in the original TFL Statewide League.-History:West Park...
on 18 April 1998.
Club Record Home Attendance
- 2,038 – Southern Districts v GlenorchyGlenorchy Football ClubThe Glenorchy District Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently playing in the Tasmanian State League and the Southern Football League in Tasmania, Australia.-Origins:...
at Huonville Recreation Ground on 17 May 1998.
Club Record Score
- 27.20 (182) – Southern Districts v New NorfolkNew Norfolk EaglesThe New Norfolk District Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently playing in the Southern Football League, in Tasmania, Australia.-Origins:Entry to Southern District Football Assoc* 1934Entry to TANFL/TFL* 1947...
6.12 (48) at North Hobart OvalNorth Hobart OvalNorth Hobart Oval is a sports venue in North Hobart, Tasmania, used for Australian rules football.-History:North Hobart Oval started its existence as Hobart Town's brickfields in 1844 before becoming a convict women's housing site, an immigration depot and an invalid persons' depot before closing...
on 23 May 1998