Smithton Football Club
Smithton Football Club was an Australian rules football team that last played in the North West Football League. Known throughout most of its history as the Smithton Saints, the club competed in the North West Football Union in two different stints, from 1949 to 1951 and then 1980 to 1986, then in the NWFL since 1987. The club was based in the town of Smithton, and last competed as the Circular Head Giants from 2015 to 2019.
| Smithton Football Club Circular Head Giants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Names | ||
| Full name | Smithton Football Club | |
| Nickname(s) | Giants | |
| Club details | ||
| Founded | 1919 | |
| Dissolved | 2019 | |
| Colours | ||
| Competition | NTFL/NWFL (1987-present) | |
| Ground(s) | Smithton Football Ground | |
| Uniforms | ||
| ||
On 19 February 2019 the club went into recess due to a lack of player numbers, and ultimately folded following an AGM held on 2 October 2019.[1][2]
History
Leagues
The club has participated in several Australian leagues, such as:
Identity
The Smithton Football Club participated in the C.H.F.A. competition as the 'Magpies', wearing a jumper similar to that of the Collingwood Football Club. The Smithton Saints colours (red, white and black) and jumper design (similar to that of the St Kilda Football Club and almost identical to the jumper worn by the Forest-Stanley Under-17s prior to the two senior clubs, Forest and Stanley, merging) were instituted when for the very first time, a team from Circular Head was admitted to the N.W.F.U. in 1980. Three teams from Circular Head, Smithton (1949), Stanley (1950) and Forest (1951) participated in the N.W.F.U. finals from 1949 to 1951. The finals system in place in the N.W.F.U. over these three seasons involved the top 5 from the N.W.F.U. plus[3] the C.H.F.A. Premiers for that season. In North Western Tasmanian football in seasons 1947 and 1948, the C.H.F.A. Premiers (Stanley on each occasion) participated in a three-way tussle for the N.W. Coast Premiership with the respective winners of the N.W.F.U.'s Eastern and Western Divisions.
In 2016, the club was rebranded, still known formally as the Smithton Football Club, but changing its playing and trading name from the Smithton Saints to the Circular Head Giants.[4] The Smithton board had many years of discussions to change the identity, in an attempt to return the club to being a power in the North-West. NWFL president Andrew Richardson said, "You hear that Smithton doesn't represent Circular Head – well, this gives everybody the opportunity to jump on board the club." The club adopted the charcoal, orange and white guernsey of the AFL's Greater Western Sydney Giants, replacing the club's traditional red, white and black guernsey.[5]
Honours
Premierships
B&F League Medalists
Baldock Medallists (formerly Ovaltine & Wander Medal)
- 2016 - Matt Elliott
- 2011 - Clint Riley
- 1994 - Tony Crennan
- 1991 - Darren Denneman
- 1989 - Dean Tuson
- 1988 - Mark Thorp
- 1984 - John Korporshoek
- 1983 - Stephen Parsons
Records
Record Attendance
- ― 11,722 ― Smithton v Cooee ― 1983 NWFU Grand Final at West Park Oval
References
- https://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/5913857/player-number-woes-see-circular-head-giants-go-into-recess/
- "Giant disappointment". Circular Head Chronicle. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
- Advocate newspaper, several editions; personal participation
- http://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/3302756/reactions-mixed-as-saints-become-giants/?cs=88
- http://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/3294224/giant-move-saints-go-marching-off-into-new-era/?cs=88