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Northern Bullants

For the VAFA club, see Preston Bullants Amateur Football Club.
"Northern Blues" redirects here. For other uses, see Northern Blues (disambiguation).

The Northern Bullants are a semi-professional Australian rules football club that currently competes in the Victorian Football League (VFL). The club, which is based in the Melbourne suburb of Preston, plays its home games at Preston City Oval.

Northern Bullants
Names
Full namePreston Football Club Inc., trading as Northern Bullants Football Club Inc.[1]
Former name(s)Preston Juniors Football Club (1920s)[2][3]
Preston Knights Football Club (1996−1999)[4]
Northern Blues Football Club (2012−2020)
Nickname(s)Bullants, Tonners, Ants
Former nickname(s)Knights, Blues, Prestonians[5]
2024 season
Home-and-away season21st
Leading goalkickerJohn Jorgensen (25)
Laurie Hill TrophyJean-Luc Velissaris
Club details
Founded1882; 142 years ago (1882)
Colours  Red   White
CompetitionVictorian Football League
PresidentWhitlam Malkoun
CoachRohan Welsh
Captain(s)Matthew King & Liam Mackie
PremiershipsVFA/VFL (D1) (4)
VFA (D2) (2)
VJFA (5)
Ground(s)Preston City Oval (10,000)
Uniforms
Home
Clash
Original
Other information
Official websitenorthernbullantsfc.com.au
Current season

The club was established in 1882 as the Preston Football Club, the name which the club is still legally registered under. The club participated in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) between 1903 and 1911, and then since 1926. After World War II, the club was known as the Bullants, and wore a plain red guernsey with a white monogram. The club later became the Northern Bullants. It was affiliated with the Carlton Blues in the Australian Football League (AFL) from 2003 to 2020, and from 2012 until 2020, the club adopted the colours and nickname of its AFL affiliate to become the Northern Blues.[6] The alignment was terminated in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and since 2021, the club has again operated as a stand-alone VFL club under the Northern Bullants name.[7][8]

The club has won four Division 1 premierships and two Division 2 premierships, all during its most successful period from the 1960s to the 1980s.

History

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The club was formed in 1882 but little is known of its first three years before the Shire of Jika Jika changed its name in September 1885 to Preston. Preston and another local club, Gowerville, then merged and competed at lower levels of the Victorian Junior Football Association (VJFA). After a battle with the council, the club was finally granted permission in 1887 to play on Preston Park, where it has remained with the exception of one year when it played at Coburg to allow the ground to be widened.

1890−1902: VJFA

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From 1890, the club played in the First Rate Division of the VJFA and despite its remote location compared with other clubs, was the only one of the 28 teams of 1890 to survive the decade, despite finishing last or second last in five consecutive seasons.

By the late 1890s, the district was starting to grow and the struggling club gathered depth and strength. It took out the first of three consecutive First-Rate premierships in 1900, defeating Collingwood Juniors (effectively the League team's Seconds) before 5,000 people at the Brunswick Street Oval. Further premierships followed in 1901 and 1902, with no finals being played as Preston finished the requisite two games clear of its nearest rivals to claim the title. After the 1902 premiership, "Bounce" in The Herald asked: "Will the [VFL] find room for [Preston]?"[9]

1903−1911: VFA entry

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With the VFA keen to expand, Preston was a logical choice to join the senior body in 1903. The uniform changed from a blue jumper with yellow sash (which would have clashed with Williamstown) to a plain maroon jumper with navy blue knicks. Despite a reasonable opening season where it won six games, the club struggled to find players and finished last in 1904 in the middle of what was to be a 27-game losing streak.

Several other bottom-of-the list results came before a brief resurgence in 1909 under former Collingwood champion Charlie Pannam, but with the loss of several key players to League clubs, Preston again went on a downward spiral and won just one game through 1910 and 1911.

1912−1925: Back to the juniors

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See also: Preston Districts Football Club
 
Preston City Oval, traditional home to the Preston Bullants.

With Northcote joining the Association in 1908, pressure was applied for the two neighbouring clubs to merge and the VFA forced the issue early in 1912. Preston officials encouraged their players to move, but diverted all the club's trophies and assets to the junior Preston Districts Football Club, which had acted as its reserves team. Northcote became known as the Northcote and Preston Football Club (or simply Northcote-Preston) for the next few years, but it played its games in Northcote, retained Northcote's colours, and its team in the VFA continued to be known as Northcote. The merged entity is considered a continuation of the Northcote Football Club.[10]

Preston was simply promoted before its time: by 1912, the district numbered just 4,800 people spread over 8,800 acres (an average of 0.6 persons per acre). Of the other suburbs represented in the VFA, the next smallest was Brighton with 11,000. Preston's leading player during the early VFA days was Sid Hall, a centre half-back regarded as the best high mark in the competition. Despite the lack of success, Preston managed to supply some fine players to League ranks in Percy Ogden (Essendon), Hedley Tomkins and Bill Hendrie (Melbourne), Hugh James (Richmond), Joe Prince (St Kilda, South Melbourne and Carlton), George Doull (Geelong) and Eric Woods (University). Preston's place was taken by Melbourne City which didn't win a game in the two years before it folded.

The junior club played as Preston Districts from 1912 to 1915, until the name changed to Preston prior to the start of the 1916 season, something that Preston officials may have always intended in 1912.[11] This effectively meant Preston Districts ceased to exist, replaced by Preston.[12]

The nucleus of Preston returned to the First-Rate Division of the Victorian Junior Football Association. Ogden returned to captain-coach the club in 1916 and 1917 while Essendon was in recess for the First World War and by 1919 Preston had re-established itself as one of the top teams in junior football. Young George Gough was recruited by Fitzroy as a rover. Premierships came in 1921 and again in 1923 with Preston, under the coaching of William "Bull" Adams, who had been refused a clearance to Fitzroy by his West Australian club, overrunning Yarraville in the final term despite playing one man short.

1926: Rejoining the VFA

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With the loss of North Melbourne, Footscray and Hawthorn to the League in 1925, the Association accepted Preston (just proclaimed a city) and Camberwell into its ranks for the 1926 season.

The team used the uniform from its junior days, a broad red stripe down the chest and back with white sides and sleeves. This time the club was ready for senior ranks, raising a few eyebrows when it won nine of the 18 games in its first season as well as supplying the Recorder Cup winner, William "Bluey" Summers. A finals appearance came the following year. Preston's first ever senior final finished in a draw with Brighton, which won the replay a fortnight later.

The club remained in the middle ranking of the Association up until the cessation of play during World War I, the highlight being a remarkable 1931 season under the legendary Roy Cazaly who sacked half the side mid-season and promoted youngsters. Needing to win 12 games straight to ensure a finals spot, Preston managed to sneak in with 11 wins and a draw, but was bundled out in the preliminary final due to several injuries (including Cazaly).

Despite its modest finals record (the semi-final win was the only finals match Preston won), the club provided the 1934 and 1936 Recorder Cup winners in Danny Warr and Bert Hyde respectively. Leading players up to World War 2 included Summers, Warr, "Bert" Smith, Frankie "Dickie" Dowling and Bill "Socks" Maslen, the latter pair being the club's record-holders for number of senior games played. Although he was never a star with Preston, 17-year-old Bert Deacon played his first match in 1940, later becoming Carlton's first Brownlow Medallist in 1947. With the abolition of clearance agreements between the League and Association in 1938, Preston snared Footscray champion Alby Morrison as captain-coach for 1939–40 (although Morrison did obtain a clearance), and in 1941 a young Geelong ruckman, Jack Lynch who was switched to full-forward early in the season and finished with 133 goals. Lynch, sadly, is the only known player to have been killed during the War.

The "Bullants" nickname was first mentioned in the Herald newspaper in 1938, with an article on Association clubs adopting new nicknames, noting that "Preston will be known as the 'Bullants', because they can sting".[13] 1930s radio commentator Wallace "Jumbo" Sharland referred to the small Preston team in its bright uniforms as "like a swarm of busy bullants".

Post-war, the uniform was changed to plain red with a PFC monogram, but finals appearances remained few and usually with little success. The club again was to the fore in the new Liston Trophy, providing the 1949 and 1953 winners in Jack Blackman and Ted Henrys. Henrys, a moderate utility player with Brunswick in previous years, switched to Preston at age 26 and moved to full-back in just his second match where he made the position his own, adding three consecutive club best-and-fairest awards to his Liston and becoming one of the first two Association players to be named in the All-Australian team.

Deacon returned as captain-coach in 1952 and other leading players through the 1950s including centre-half forward Pat Foley, Kevin Pritchard, rover George Bradford, back pocket Bob "Moggie" McLachlan, and the Chard brothers, Kevin and Fred, the latter leading the goal kicking on three occasions. Despite building a solid combination, the loss of several experienced players saw the club plummet to fifteenth in 1960 and forced into Second Division when the VFA opted for two levels. The club played second division finals in 1961 and 1962, but were beaten both times.

By 1963, Preston's all-time VFA finals record stood at just one win and one draw from 18 attempts, with 13 losses in succession. Again their premiership hopes looked doomed when the Bullants went down to Waverley in the second semi-final, but fate finally smiled when Preston beat Prahran comfortably in the Preliminary Final and then downed Waverley to take out a long-awaited premiership, and earn promotion to Division 1.

Preston was relegated back to Division 2 at the end of 1964, and ironically it was 1963 runners-up Waverley – who had been promoted to Division 1 only to replace Moorabbin after it was disqualified from the Association for being complicit in St Kilda's takeover of Moorabbin Oval – who defeated Preston in the final round to ensure their relegation. The return to Division 2 lasted only one year, with a minor premiership and Grand Final victory against Mordialloc seeing them promoted again. With substantially more depth and keen recruiting, Preston finishing third in Division 1 in 1966.

Bert Hyde, Preston's 1936 Recorder Cup winner, had lived in the area since his playing days and was an active official at Hawthorn, which was then rapidly emerging from years in the wilderness to become the power side of the 1960s. It was probably Hyde's influence that saw two Hawthorn players that were to become the cornerstone of Preston's success move to Association ranks – John McArthur, captain-coach of the 1965 premiership side was transferred to Western Australia on business and replaced by Alan Joyce, later to coach two AFL premiership sides. Joyce (with McArthur returning as a player) led Preston to back-to-back premierships in 1968 and 1969. Preston players won four out of six Liston Trophies between 1968 and 1971, with the award collected in 1968 by Dick Telford, in 1969 and 1971 by Laurie Hill, and in 1973 by Ray Shaw, who was then the youngest winner of the award.

Preston was beaten by Dandenong in the 1971 VFA Grand Final, which remains one of the most controversial in football history. Field umpire Jim McMaster awarded Dandenong full-forward Jim 'Frosty' Miller a free kick before the opening bounce, resulting in a goal; Dandenong ultimately won by six points. Preston protested, and despite several opinions from leading lawmakers that McMaster had no right to award the free kick because he had not officially started the game, Preston's protest proved to be of no avail.

Preston's fortunes slumped in the early 1970s, and the club narrowly avoided relegation at Coburg's expense in 1973, after defeating the Lions 171–154 in a famous high-scoring final round match.[14] It wasn't until 1976 that Preston again played a major role in the finals, finishing second on the ladder, then crashing out after losses in the second semi and preliminary finals.

The club enjoyed a resurgence under Harold Martin in 1978, reaching the Grand Final where a crowd of nearly 30,000 packed the Junction Oval for what is still rated by many as one of the greatest ever Grand Finals. After a tense opening, the crowd erupted late in the second term when Martin and another of football's legendary hard men, Sam Kekovich, went head-to-head in a wild brawl. Unfortunately for the Bullants, Prahran settled down much better in the second half and ran out comfortable winners.

1980s

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The club was one of the VFA's strongest in the 1980s, and it reached four Grand Finals in a row between 1981 and 1984. The team fell well short in the 1981 decider, unable to match Port Melbourne who inflicted a record Grand Final defeat (both score and winning margin) on the Bullants. The Borough kicked 23 goals to six in the second half to record its first score above 200 ever against the Bullants. The following season saw the return of Ray Shaw, captain of Collingwood in 1982 but disillusioned with bitter infighting at the club. Shaw's influence and a number of highly rated recruits had many believing that this would be Preston's year, but again Port Melbourne proved the nemesis with a seven-point win in the Grand Final.

Further strong recruiting brought together probably the greatest depth of players ever at an Association club. Preston rewrote the record books in 1983 by becoming the first club to win the Senior, Seconds and Thirds premierships in the same year in Division 1, and repeated the achievement in 1984. Preston was a dominant force in the Seconds over that period, reaching eight of ten Grand Finals between 1978 and 1987, winning five. The club had been a perennial force in the Thirds competition since the 1950s, missing the Grand Final only nine times over a 37-season stretch between 1953 and 1989 and winning the premiership a VFA-record 13 times (eleven in Division 1 and two in Division 2); its 1980s form was particularly strong, missing only one Grand Final between 1978 and 1989.[15] Neil Jordon capitalised on the club's strong minor grade form, playing an astonishing 84 matches with the club across all three grades before ever playing in a losing side.[16]

Eight straight wins in 1985 extended Preston's winning stretch to a record 23, but with the loss of Shaw to the Diamond Valley, retirement of a few experienced players and the movement of several promising younger players to League ranks, Preston's period of dominance was at an end. The club reached a further four finals series between 1985 and 1990, winning the minor premiership in 1990, but was eliminated from the finals by Williamstown on all four occasions. During this time, the club unearthed a new legend in Jamie "Spider" Shaw who kicked 106 in his first season and followed up with an astonishing 146 in 1986 before an unsuccessful stint at Fitzroy.

1990s: Decline

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With the ethnic mix of the Preston area rapidly changing and the almost saturation coverage of the now Australian Football League, the club's off-field position deteriorated in the 1990s, and it was constantly battling for survival. Preston was not the only club struggling, and at the end of 1994, the VFA Board of Management merged with the Victorian State Football League (VSFL) (now controlling the elite under-18 competition that had effectively replaced both the League and Association Thirds), and plans gradually evolved for the development of a new competition, which became the Victorian Football League.

With a mounting debt, Preston entered into a merger with the Northern Knights under-18 team in 1996. The combined entity was known as the Preston Knights and adopted the Knights uniform of white with black and blue hoops. The move provided some financial stability off the field, but little success on the football front.

In October 1997, the VSFL executive announced that the Preston Knights' licence with the League had been withdrawn and that Preston, after 95 years, was effectively out of the competition. A number of protest meetings were organised and the club found a willing ally in Don Gillies, an administrator appointed by the State Government to replace the long-dysfunctional Preston Council, who through years of neglect had allowed the Preston Oval to degenerate to a standard well below that required for senior football. Gillies, in meeting with the VSFL, undertook to initiate significant drainage and lighting improvements at the ground and after around about a month of uncertainty, the Knights' license was reinstated when Traralgon announced its withdrawal from the VFL after an unsuccessful two-year trial.

Bullants revival

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The shaky alliance with the Knights continued until 1999 when the Board announced it could not recommend continuing. A new group approached the now VFL with a proposal to resurrect the club under the name of the Northern Bullants, market research having revealed that much of the club's support and player base no longer lay within the old Preston area. The revived club returned to a variation of the traditional red uniform, replacing the PFC monogram with a white bullant. The PFC initials were later added to the back of the guernsey below the collar.

At the same time, the AFL abandoned its reserves competition in favour of a restructured VFL comprising a number of AFL–VFL affiliations, AFL reserve teams and "standalone" VFL clubs. The Bullants opted not to pursue affiliation with an AFL club. 2000 and 2001 saw the stand-alone Bullants post six wins in each season, but the difficulty of having part-time players and coaching staff competing with full-time AFL counterparts was obvious in many games where the Bullants were highly competitive for much of the match but outgunned by fitter, bigger and stronger opposition late in the game.

2003−2020: Affiliation

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Just before the end of the 2002 season, proposals for affiliation were received from both Essendon and Carlton. Essendon's plans were virtual domination of the club with a jumper change, renaming as the Northern Bombers and playing several games each season at Windy Hill. Carlton's, on the other hand, was for a cooperative playing group with no change to traditional values and was accepted without major modification by the Bullants board.

The affiliated team continued under long-serving coach Mark P. Williams, but there was to be no instant success, the club coincidentally matching the 2001–02 result with six wins in 2003. With a few personal tensions emerging, Carlton announced its intention to withdraw from the two-year agreement at the end of the 2003 season, but subsequent negotiations between the two clubs and the VFL saw the problems resolved and a new arrangement established. Williams had already resigned, citing lack of time, (later accepting the role at Sandringham) and under the terms of the agreement, Carlton retained the right to nominate one of their assistant coaches, eventually Barry Mitchell, as his replacement.

Carlton at the time was struggling in the AFL due to the loss of National Draft picks because of salary cap infringements. This worked in the Bullants' favour in the mid-2000s, as Carlton opted to recruit a number of experienced mid-range AFL players recycled from other teams, who went on to provide a backbone of a very strong VFL team. The club surprised most by finishing third in 2005, then won the minor premiership with a club best 17–1 record in 2006, but suffered heavy losses in two finals to finish third.

Under coach David Teague, the Bullants managed to finish third on the ladder in 2009, then win through to the Grand Final for the first time since the 1984 victory; but, the team was comfortably beaten by North Ballarat. The Bullants reached a second consecutive Grand Final the following season, winning through to the Grand Final from sixth on the ladder, but again lost to North Ballarat. The club reached another preliminary final from sixth place in 2011.

In 2012, the club adopted many features of Carlton's identity. The club was renamed the Northern Blues, and the playing colours were changed to navy blue and white, featuring Carlton's CFC monogram but in a slightly different design to the AFL club's guernsey. Home games were split between Preston City Oval and Princes Park. The club retained a red and white guernsey for matches played in Preston, and when a clash guernsey was required.[17] The club never made VFL finals under the Northern Blues name.

By the end of their affiliation, the Northern Blues existence as a club was thought to be reliant on the Carlton Football Club's financial backing. When the start of the 2020 AFL and VFL seasons, along with all other football, were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Carlton was forced to cut its expenses, and this included withdrawing its financial support for Northern, and ending its reserves affiliation. The Northern Blues initially announced they would be wound up and dissolved, and they were not included in revised plans for the cancelled 2020 VFL season.[18][19] However, the club regrouped during the pandemic, and found a way to remain viable as a stand-alone senior club, earning a licence to return in that capacity for the 2021 season. The club returned to trading under the Northern Bullants name, and wearing its traditional red and white guernsey.[8]

2021−present: Standalone club

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Since returning as a standalone club, the Bullants have struggled in the VFL. The club only managed a single win in 2022, finishing last on the ladder. It included a loss to Werribee in round 22 where the Bullants only scored 0.10 (10) for the game, which set a new record as the heaviest loss in its history.[20]

The club appointed former Collingwood player Brodie Holland as their coach for the 2023 season.[21] The club had two wins early on in the season, but were unable to achieve anymore, finishing 20th. In round 18 they scored only 0.4 (4) against Footscray, equalling the lowest score in the club's VFA/VFL history and the lowest score by any club since 1919.[22] Holland resigned as coach effective immediately shortly after the club's final game of the season, and was replaced by former Carlton player Rohan Welsh.[23]

The club's identity is also present in the Preston Bullants Amateur Football Club, which is a separate entity that comepetes in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA), however the clubs use the same logo, colours and jumper design.[24] Preston AFC was formerly known as the Northern Bullants and later the Northern Blues, and by their current name since 2016.[25]

Honours

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Premierships

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League Division Level Wins Years won
Victorian Football League Division 1 Seniors 4 1968, 1969, 1983, 1984
Reserves 6 1957, 1978, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987
Under-19s 11 1954, 1959, 1960, 1964, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1989
Division 2 Seniors 2 1963, 1965
Reserves 2 1961, 1962
Under-19s 2 1961, 1962
Victorian Junior Football Association N/A Reserves 5 1900, 1901, 1902, 1921, 1923

Other Division 1 Awards

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  • Runners-Up (6): 1971, 1978, 1981, 1982, 2009, 2010
  • Minor Premierships (8): 1968, 1969, 1971, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1990, 2006
  • Wooden Spoons (7): 1904, 1905, 1907, 1910, 1911, 1964, 2022

Seasons

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Source: [4][26]

Premiers Grand Finalist Minor premiers Finals appearance Wooden spoon VFA/VFL leading goalkicker VFA/VFL best and fairest

Seniors

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The 1912 to 1915 seasons overlap with the season records for the Preston Districts Football Club.[11]

Year League Finish W L D Coach Captain Best and fairest Leading goalkicker Goals Ref
1890 VJFA 7th 11 4 3 [27]
1891 VJFA 14th 6 7 1 [28]
1892 VJFA
1893 VJFA Robert Paterson Robert Smart 7
1894 VJFA Robert Paterson
1895 VJFA 12th 1 18 3 Robert Paterson J. Henry 11 [29]
1896 VJFA
1897 VJFA 10th 2 16 0 [30]
1898 VJFA 7th 7 11 0 Archie "Joe" White [31]
1899 VJFA Archie "Joe" White
1900 VJFA 1st 16 2 1 Andy Allen[11] E. Burnell 14 [32]
1901 VJFA 1st 20 2 0 Andy Allen Jackso 17 [33]
1902 VJFA 1st 15 3 0 Andy Allen I. "Tiny" Gilbert [34]
1903 VFA 7th 6 12 0 - W. Gates - Dick Knell 14
1904 VFA 10th 0 18 0 - William Dickens - Bob Wawn or Prideaux[a]
1905 VFA 10th 1 17 0 - Claude Stanlake - R.D. Landells 19
1906 VFA 9th 5 13 0 - Tod Collins;
Parry Hall		 - R.D. Landells 27
1907 VFA 10th 1 17 0 Percy Ogden Arthur Hollis;
Percy Ogden		 - Bill Punch 29
1908 VFA 8th 4 13 1 Percy Ogden Fred Howard;
Percy Ogden		 - Bill Punch 27
1909 VFA 8th 5 13 0 Charlie Pannam Charlie Pannam - Bill Punch 22
1910 VFA 10th 0 18 0 - Bill Punch - Louie "Lon" Smith 20
1911 VFA 10th 1 17 0 George Sparrow;
Billy McGee		 George Sparrow;
Billy McGee		 -
1912 VJFA George La Franchi
1913 VJFA 5th 8 9 0 George La Franchi [35]
1914 VJFA 6th 4 10 1 George La Franchi [36]
1915 VJFA 7th 6 12 0 Bill Punch [37]
1916 VJFA 1st 14 2 0 Percy Ogden Percy Ogden Les Punch T. A. Jacobs 68 [38]
1917 VJFA 2nd 14 3 1 Percy Ogden Percy Ogden H. Brendell Bill Eade 69 [39]
1918 VJFA 5th 7 9 0 George Walker George Walker H. Brendell T. A. Jacobs 26 [40]
1919 VJFA Sid Hall;
William Billett 		H. Brendell Harry Bell J. Piper 44 [41]
1920 VJFA William Thorpe;
Tommy Downs 		William Hills 35
1921 VJFA 1st 15 3 0 "Toodly" McDonald "Toodly" McDonald[2] Vic. Davis 79 [42]
1922 VJFA 3rd 14 4 0 Les Punch[43][44] Archie Dickens Vic. Davis 56 [45]
1923 VJFA 2nd 17 2 0 Bill Adams William "Bull" Adams Les Punch W. Routley 50 [46]
1924 VJFA (D1) 2nd 14 2 0 Percy Ogden Percy Ogden Danny Warr Vic. Davis 98 [47]
1925 VJFA Percy Ogden Percy Ogden George Surtees Hugh Moffatt 59
1926 VFA 6th 9 9 0 Gus Dobrigh Gus Dobrigh Walter "Bolla" White Dave Hume 30
1927 VFA 4th 12 6 0 Gus Dobrigh Gus Dobrigh Walter "Bolla" White Dave Hume 61
1928 VFA 4th 11 7 0 Bill Adams Bill Adams Hec Bridgeford Rupert Dodd 40
1929 VFA 3rd 16 6 0 Jimmy Goonan Jimmy Goonan William "Bull" Adams William Adams 69
1930 VFA 6th 10 9 1 Jimmy Goonan Jimmy Goonan Gilbert "Bert" Taylor Jack McCormack 52
1931 VFA 3rd 12 5 1 Roy Cazaly Roy Cazaly Jack Monoghan Harry Davie 40
1932 VFA 4th 14 6 0 Harry Hunter Harry Hunter George Smith Danny Warr 54
1933 VFA 6th 12 9 1 Charlie McSwain Charlie McSwain Robert Cameron Danny Warr 37
1934 VFA 2nd 14 4 0 Charlie McSwain Charlie McSwain Danny Warr Danny Warr 57
1935 VFA 6th 10 7 1 Danny Warr Danny Warr Aub Robinson Danny Warr 42
1936 VFA 6th 10 8 0 Bert Hyde Bert Hyde Noel Fisher Noel Fisher 62
1937 VFA 11th 4 12 0 Bert Hyde Bert Hyde Wyn Murray Ed Latham 28
1938 VFA 6th 8 8 0 Wyn Murray; Bob Muir Wyn Murray Jack Clarke Alf Roach 52
1939 VFA 8th 9 11 0 Alby Morrison Alby Morrison Frank "Dickie" Dowling Albie Morrison 33
1940 VFA 4th 14 6 0 Alby Morrison Alby Morrison Bill Maslen Albie Morrison 72
1941 VFA 4th 14 6 0 Frank Dowling Frank Dowling Jack Connelly;
Jack Norman		 Jack Lynch 133
1942 VFA (No season due to World War II)
1943 VFA (No season due to World War II)
1944 VFA (No season due to World War II)
1945 VFA 5th 11 9 0 Frank Anderson Frank Anderson Bill Maslen Jack Connelly 72
1946 VFA 11th 5 15 0 Frank Anderson Frank Anderson Syd Stewart Jack Connelly 26
1947 VFA 10th 7 14 1 Jack Blackman Jack Blackman Ron Leishman Ray Potter 46
1948 VFA 6th 12 8 0 Jack Blackman Jack Blackman Jack Blackman Ray Potter 84
1949 VFA 9th 8 13 0 Jack Blackman Jack Blackman Kollen Bryce Bill Nathan 41
1950 VFA 11th 3 16 0 Hugh Thomas Charlie Stewart Len Walker George Bradford 38
1951 VFA 10th 8 10 2 Reg Ryan; Ray Riddell Reg Ryan;
Dick Goldin		 Ted Henrys Bill Harvey 53 [48]
1952 VFA 11th 7 12 1 Bert Deacon Bert Deacon Ted Henrys George Bradford 38
1953 VFA 9th 8 12 0 Bert Deacon Bert Deacon Ted Henrys Pat Foley 35
1954 VFA 5th 13 7 0 Bert Deacon Ted Henrys Pat Foley Fred Chard 84
1955 VFA 2nd 17 3 0 Bert Deacon Fred Lalor George Bradford Fred Chard 75
1956 VFA 5th 14 6 0 Bert Deacon Fred Lalor Les Sweet Fred Chard 49
1957 VFA 4th 13 7 0 Les Foote Les Foote Clem Cooper Fred Chard 84
1958 VFA 12th 6 11 1 Les Foote Les Foote Jim Cusack Laurie Rymer 44
1959 VFA 11th 8 12 0 Pat Foley Claud Howard Ron Dangaard Gerry Walsh 45
1960 VFA 14th 4 14 0 Pat Foley Claud Howard Bob McLachlan Kevi Bergin 17
1961 VFA (D2) 3rd 11 7 0 Bert Edmonds Bob McLachlan George Hancock Ray Murnane 35
1962 VFA (D2) 1st 14 2 0 Bert Edmonds John O'Keefe Graham Pinfold Jim Lambie 38 [49]
1963 VFA (D2) 2nd 12 4 0 Charlie Stewart George Hancock Bob Stewart Bruce Waddell 38
1964 VFA (D1) 10th 3 14 1 Charlie Stewart Graham Pinfold Bob Treloar John Walker 50 [50]
1965 VFA (D2) 1st 13 3 0 John McArthur John McArthur Ray Murnane John Walker 116
1966 VFA (D1) 4th 12 6 0 Alan Joyce Alan Joyce Bob Treloar John Walker 84
1967 VFA (D1) 4th 10 8 0 Alan Joyce Alan Joyce Denis Dalton John Walker 83
1968 VFA (D1) 1st 15 3 0 Alan Joyce Alan Joyce Dick Telford Alan Joyce 41
1969 VFA (D1) 1st 17 1 0 Alan Joyce Alan Joyce Dick Telford Alan Joyce 69
1970 VFA (D1) 6th 11 7 0 Alan Joyce Alan Joyce Laurie Hill Alan Joyce 62
1971 VFA (D1) 1st 13 4 1 Kevin Wright Laurie Hill Laurie Hill Bob Baird 46
1972 VFA (D1) 4th 11 7 0 Kevin Wright Laurie Hill Len Clark Len Clark 107 [51]
1973 VFA (D1) 9th 6 12 0 Ken Greenwood Ken Greenwood Ray Shaw Len Clark 85
1974 VFA (D1) 6th 9 9 0 Bob Syme Harold Martin Noel Zunneberg Len Clark 40
1975 VFA (D1) 5th 8 10 0 Dick Telford Noel Zunneberg Gary Grainger Noel Zunneberg 37
1976 VFA (D1) 2nd 13 5 0 Dick Telford Gary Grainger George Shickert Craig Stewart 51
1977 VFA (D1) 9th 5 13 0 Graeme Renwick Graeme Renwick Craig Stewart Leigh Carlson 44
1978 VFA (D1) 2nd 12 5 1 Harold Martin Harold Martin Harold Martin Bruce Gonsalves 50
1979 VFA (D1) 7th 8 10 0 Harold Martin Harold Martin Paul Bolger Kalev Vann 50
1980 VFA (D1) 7th 6 12 0 Harold Martin Harold Martin Brett Cooper John Frazer 52
1981 VFA (D1) 2nd 12 6 0 Harold Martin Peter Marshall Adrian Marcon Shane Halas 69
1982 VFA (D1) 1st 16 2 0 Ray Shaw Ray Shaw Geoff Austen Shane Halas 76
1983 VFA (D1) 1st 15 3 0 Ray Shaw Ray Shaw Geoff Austen John Bourke 51
1984 VFA (D1) 1st 16 2 0 Ray Shaw Ray Shaw David Brine Shane Halas 58
1985 VFA (D1) 3rd 14 4 0 Peter Weightman David Brine Gratz Salvador Jamie Shaw 106
1986 VFA (D1) 4th 12 6 0 Peter Weightman David Brine Jamie Shaw Jamie Shaw 145
1987 VFA (D1) 8th 8 9 1 Peter Weightman David Brine Glenn Reeves Darren Murphy;
Shane Halas		 31
1988 VFA (D1) 2nd 12 6 0 Peter Weightman David Brine Rod Dunbar Jamie Shaw 105
1989 VFA 7th 9 9 0 Len Thompson Neil Jordan Rod Dunbar Jamie Shaw 60
1990 VFA 1st 13 4 1 Neil Jordan Neil Jordan Joe Lumicisi Jamie Shaw 103
1991 VFA 11th 3 15 0 Neil Jordan Neil Jordan Joe Lumicisi Max Graziano 37
1992 VFA 9th 8 10 0 Neil Jordan Neil Jordan Matt Burrows Jamie Shaw 73
1993 VFA 10th 7 11 0 David Dickson Glenn Reeves Paul King Jamie Shaw 81
1994 VFA 9th 5 13 0 Peter Weightman Glenn Reeves Simon Taylor Shane Dupuy 39
1995 VFA 7th 5 11 0 Peter Weightman Simon Taylor Jamie Dobbs Craig Shearer 37
1996 VFL 9th 6 12 0 Peter Weightman Simon Taylor Matt Dobell Tony Wilson 27
1997 VFL 7th 7 11 0 Peter Weightman Phillip Plunkett Robert Maiorana Paul Eccles 52
1998 VFL 5th 10 8 0 Mark Williams Phillip Plunkett Kristian Pascoe Dean Grainger 33
1999 VFL 10th 1 15 2 Mark Williams Phillip Plunkett Kristian Pascoe Shannon Gibson 29
2000 VFL 16th 4 15 0 Mark Williams Shannon Gibson Brett Zorzi Scott Grainger
2001 VFL 14th 6 14 0 Mark Williams Shannon Gibson Brett Zorzi Shane Watson 45
2002 VFL 13th 6 14 0 Mark Williams Shannon Gibson Cameron Ramsay Scott Grainger 34
2003 VFL 11th 6 12 0 Mark Williams Shannon Gibson Shane Watson Nick Sautner 82
2004 VFL 12th 5 13 0 Barry Mitchell Brett Zorzi Brett Zorzi;
Jarrod McCorkell		 Ricky Mott 19
2005 VFL 2nd 13 4 1 Barry Mitchell Frankie Raso Glen Bowyer
2006 VFL 1st 17 1 0 Barry Mitchell Frankie Raso Daniel Harford
2007 VFL 9th 8 10 0 Barry Mitchell Frankie Raso Adam Iacobucci
2008 VFL 8th 8 8 0 David Teague Josh Vansittart Jason Saddington
2009 VFL 3rd 12 6 0 David Teague Adam Iacobucci David Ellard
2010 VFL 6th 10 8 0 David Teague Adam Iacobucci Jarrod McCorkell
2011 VFL 6th 10 8 0 Darren Harris Adam Iacobucci Brock McLean
2012 VFL 10th 6 12 0 Robert Hyde;
Darren Harris		 Brent Bransgrove;
Andre Gianfagna		 Adam Marcon
2013 VFL 9th 8 10 0 Luke Webster Brent Bransgrove;
Andre Gianfagna		 Kane Lambert
2014 VFL 11th 7 11 0 Luke Webster Brent Bransgrove Tom Wilson
2015 VFL 14th 4 14 0 Luke Webster Brent Bransgrove Brad Walsh
2016 VFL 13th 6 12 0 Josh Fraser Tom Wilson Tom Wilson
2017 VFL 9th 8 10 0 Josh Fraser Tom Wilson Cam O'Shea
2018 VFL 12th 6 12 0 Josh Fraser Tom Wilson Tom Wilson
2019 VFL 10th 7 11 0 Josh Fraser Tom Wilson Hugh Goddard
2020 VFL (No season) Josh Fraser Tom Wilson (No season)
2021 VFL 18th 3 7 0 Josh Fraser Tom Wilson Tynan Smith 13 [52]
2022 VFL 21st 1 17 0 Ben Hart Tom Wilson Tom Wilson Jack Boyd 24 [53]
2023 VFL 20th 2 16 0 Brodie Holland Matthew King;
Liam Mackie 		Jean-Luc Velissaris Brandon Ryan 18 [54]
2024 VFL 21st 2 16 0 Rohan Welsh Matthew King;
Liam Mackie 		Jean-Luc Velissaris[55] John Jorgensen 25

Grand finals

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Premiers Runners-up Drawn
Year League Grade Opponent Score Venue Attendance Date Report
1900 VJFA Seniors Collingwood Juniors 3.3 (21) d. 1.6 (12) 15 September 1900 [32]
1901 VJFA Seniors (No grand final required as Preston was at least two games clear of the second-placed club) [33]
1902 VJFA Seniors (No grand final required as Preston was at least two games clear of the second-placed club) [34]
1916 VJFA Seniors Collingwood Juniors 2.9 (21) d. 2.6 (18) East Melbourne Cricket Ground 5,000 14 October 1916 [56][57]
1921 VJFA Seniors Port Melbourne Railway United 9.8 (62) d. 6.15 (51) Dandenong 1 October 1921 [58]
1923 VJFA Seniors Yarraville 9.15 (69) 7.10 (52) Richmond Cricket Ground 5,000 27 September 1923 [59]
1957 VFA Reserves Moorabbin 11.12 (78) d. 5.12 (42) St Kilda Cricket Ground 5 October 1957 [60]
1963 VFA D2 Seniors Waverley 11.14 (80) d. 9.15 (69) Toorak Park 15,000 15 September 1963 [61]
1965 VFA D2 Seniors Mordialloc 15.12 (102) d. 9.10 (64) Toorak Park 10,000 12 September 1965 [62]
1968 VFA D1 Seniors Prahran 15.8 (98) d. 12.12 (84) Punt Road Oval 18,000 22 September 1968 [63]
1969 VFA D1 Seniors Dandenong 12.11 (83) d. 10.11 (71) Punt Road Oval 10,000 21 September 1969 [64]
1971 VFA D1 Seniors Dandenong 14.14 (98) d. 13.14 (92) St Kilda Cricket Ground 14,529 26 September 1971 [65]
1978 VFA D1 Reserves Port Melbourne 10.13 (73) d. 10.12 (72) Toorak Park 16 September 1978 [66]
1978 VFA D1 Seniors Prahran 21.15 (141) d. 17.17 (119) St Kilda Cricket Ground 29,595 24 September 1978 [67]
1981 VFA D1 Seniors Port Melbourne 32.19 (211) d. 15.8 (98) St Kilda Cricket Ground 20,180 20 September 1981 [68]
1982 VFA D1 Seniors Port Melbourne 21.15 (141) d. 20.14 (134) St Kilda Cricket Ground 20,732 19 September 1982 [69]
1983 VFA D1 Seniors Geelong West 14.10 (94) d. 12.15 (87) St Kilda Cricket Ground 14,719 18 September 1983 [70]
1983 VFA D1 Reserves Frankston 14.20 (104) drew 16.8 (104) Toorak Park 18 September 1983 [71]
Frankston 18.15 (123) d. 12.13 (85) Frankston Park 25 September 1983 [72]
1983 VFA D1 Thirds unknown unknown unknown September 1978 [71]
1984 VFA D1 Seniors Frankston 19.21 (135) d. 12.9 (81) St Kilda Cricket Ground 8,664 23 September 1984 [73]
2009 VFL Seniors North Ballarat 14.7 (91) d. 10.8 (68) Etihad Stadium 14,026 25 September 2009 [74]
2010 VFL Seniors North Ballarat 20.13 (133) d. 13.8 (86) Etihad Stadium 11,000 19 September 2010 [75]

Club song

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The club song is sung to the tune of "The Yankee Doodle Boy", which is also the basis for the Hawthorn/Box Hill and Sandringham club songs.

We’re from Northern, we’re the Bullants
The good old red and white, are we
All good stickers for the red and white
Always we fight for victory, at Northern
We’re the best in the competition,
We won’t give up while there’s a chance
We’re a team of champions, full of fighting spirit
That’s why they call us the Bullants

Notes

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  1. ^ ""The Bullants: a History of Preston Football Club" claims Bob Wawn led the 1904 goalkicking with 12 goals. Searches of records for 15 games show Wawn with 8 and Prideaux with 9. Given Preston kicked only five goals in the missing games (rounds 8, 16, 18), Wawn would almost certainly have not kicked 12, but may have led the list.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Current details for ABN 58 535 665 522 – PRESTON FOOTBALL CLUB INC". ABN Lookup. November 2014.
  2. ^ a b "SOME FOOTBALL". Labor Call. 1 September 1921. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  3. ^ "SOME FOOTBALL". Labor Call. 8 September 1921. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "PRESTON FOOTBALL CLUB". GameDay. Northern Bullants. Archived from the original on 28 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  5. ^ "JUNIOR SEMI-FINAL PROSPECTS ANALYSED". Trove. Winner. 19 September 1917. p. 7. The Prestonians have come on rapidly lately
  6. ^ Landsberger, Sam (29 July 2011). "Northern Bullants in with the Blues". Preston Leader. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  7. ^ "AFL 2020, financial crisis, Carlton, Northern Blues, VFL alignment, budget cuts, money". Fox Sports. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  8. ^ a b Paul Amy (13 October 2020). "Northern Bullants to return to VFL as a stand-alone club". Leader. Melbourne, VIC. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  9. ^ Bounce (29 August 1902). "With the juniors: Preston premiers again". Trove. The Herald. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Football". Weekly Times. Melbourne, VIC. 20 April 1912. p. 22.
  11. ^ a b c Membrey, Brian (28 June 2004). "Where We Come From – A History of the Preston Football Club, 1882 to 2002". GameDay. Archived from the original on 26 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Preston Districts Football Club". Darebin Libraries. City of Darebin. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  13. ^ [The Herald, 25 March 1938, Sports Section - "Harry Hopman Sees"]
  14. ^ Stephen Phillips (27 August 1973). "West waits, but in vain". The Sun News-Pictorial. Melbourne. p. 54.
  15. ^ Fiddian, Marc (2004); The VFA; A History of the Victorian Football Association 1877-1995; pp. 300-302
  16. ^ Dennis Jose (24 June 1985). "Brave Seagulls stop Preston". The Age. Melbourne. p. 30.
  17. ^ "Northern Blues". Carlton Football Club. 10 November 2011. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  18. ^ "Carlton and Northern Blues forced to cease alignment". Carlton Football Club. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  19. ^ Peter Ryan; Daniel Cherny (26 March 2020). "Heartbreak as Carlton call sees VFL club with 138-year history go under". The Age. Melbourne, VIC. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  20. ^ "Australian Football - Northern Bullants Football Club - Biggest Losses". AustralianFootball.com. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  21. ^ "Ex-Collingwood star Brodie Holland appointed as Northern Bullants VFL coach". ZeroHanger. 4 November 2022.
  22. ^ "Northern Bullants fail to score a single goal as they go down by 157 points in the VFL". 6 News Australia. 22 July 2023.
  23. ^ "Rohan 'Woosher' Welsh has been appointed senior coach of VFL club Northern Bullants". CODE Sports.
  24. ^ "Bullant Community Celebrate Luke Green's VFL Journey". Victorian Amateur Football Association. 15 April 2024. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024.
  25. ^ "Our History". Preston Bullants Amateur Football Club. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  26. ^ "2006 Senior Results". GameDay. Northern Bullants. Archived from the original on 28 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  27. ^ "1890 – Victorian Junior FA – Ladder". Trove Newspapers. The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic). 4 October 1890. p. 18. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  28. ^ "1891 – Victorian Junior FA – Final Ladder". Trove Newspapers. Sportsman (Melbourne, Vic). 22 September 1891. p. 6. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  29. ^ "Victorian Junior Football Association". The Age. Melbourne, VIC. 30 September 1895. p. 3.
  30. ^ "Victorian Junior Football Association". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 6 September 1897. p. 6.
  31. ^ "Victorian Junior Football Association". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 12 September 1898. p. 7.
  32. ^ a b "Football Notes and Comments". Weekly Times. Melbourne, VIC. 11 September 1900. p. 17.
  33. ^ a b "Victorian Junior Football Association". The Sportsman. Melbourne, VIC. 8 October 1901. p. 6.
  34. ^ a b "VICTORIAN JUNIOR ASSOCIATION". The Argus. 9 September 1902. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  35. ^ "VICTORIAN JUNIOR ASSOCIATION". Trove. The Argus. 18 August 1913. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  36. ^ "VICTORIAN JUNIOR ASSOCIATION". The Argus. 3 August 1914. p. 6. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  37. ^ "Footscray wins final". Winner. 22 September 1915. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  38. ^ "PREMIERSHIP LIST TO DATE". Winner. 13 September 1916. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  39. ^ "Football". Sporting Judge. 22 September 1917. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  40. ^ "JUNIOR MATCHES". The Age. 9 September 1918. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  41. ^ "ASSOCIATION PREMIERSHIP LIST". The Age. 1 September 1919. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  42. ^ "ASSOCIATION". The Age. 29 August 1921. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  43. ^ "V.J.F.A. Semi-Final". 6 September 1922. Retrieved 27 July 2024. The teams will be comprised as follows − Preston, Punch (capt.)
  44. ^ "North Melbourne Defeat Preston". The Age. 11 September 1922. p. 6. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  45. ^ "Junior Association". Labor Call. 7 September 1922. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  46. ^ "Association". The Age. 10 September 1923. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  47. ^ "ASSOCIATION". The Age. 25 August 1924. p. 15. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  48. ^ The Age, 20 September 1951
  49. ^ The Age, 17 September 1962
  50. ^ The Age, 22 September 1964
  51. ^ The Age, 3 October 1972
  52. ^ Rhodes, Brendan (13 October 2021). "Bullants name new coach as Fraser returns to Pies". AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 22 June 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  53. ^ Higgins, Ben (8 December 2021). "Ben Hart is excited by what the Northern Bullants can achieve in 2022". Herald Sun. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  54. ^ Kelly, Daniel (25 March 2023). "NEW LOOK ANTS BEGIN HOLLAND ERA". Northern Bullants. Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  55. ^ "JL goes back-to back!". Twitter. Northern Bullants FC. 8 September 2024. Archived from the original on 8 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024. After another impressive season where he led the VFL in disposals, Jean-Luc Velissaris is awarded the 2024 Laurie Hill Trophy as our Best and Fairest
  56. ^ "Football". Sporting Judge. Melbourne, VIC. 21 October 1916. p. 1.
  57. ^ Follower (21 October 1916). "Williamstown Premiers". The Prahran Telegraph. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  58. ^ "PRESTON PREMIERS". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 3 October 1921. p. 11.
  59. ^ "Preston wins by 17 points". The Age. Melbourne, VIC. 28 September 1923.
  60. ^ "Runaway win in seconds". The Sun News-Pictorial. Melbourne. 7 October 1957. p. 37.
  61. ^ Scot Palmer (16 September 1963). "Preston earns senior ranking". The Sun News-Pictorial. Melbourne. p. 46.
  62. ^ Bob Crimeen (13 September 1965). "Pennant for Preston". The Sun News-Pictorial. Melbourne. p. 44.
  63. ^ Noel Pascoe (23 September 1968). "Heard was star for Preston". The Sun News-Pictorial. Melbourne. p. 48.
  64. ^ Mike Smith (22 September 1969). "Preston wins final for second year". The Age. Melbourne. p. 29.
  65. ^ O'Halloran, Terry (27 September 1971), "Dandenong in dicey Grand Final win", The Age, Melbourne, p. 21
  66. ^ Marc Fiddian (11 September 1978). "Bullants nip Port". The Age. Melbourne. p. 29.
  67. ^ Marc Fiddian (25 September 1978). "Prahran steps on the Bullants". The Age. Melbourne. p. 27.
  68. ^ Marc Fiddian (21 September 1981). "Port storms to Grand Final record". The Age. Melbourne. p. 29.
  69. ^ Marc Fiddian (20 September 1982). "Port scores a hat-trick". The Age. Melbourne. p. 29.
  70. ^ Marc Fiddian (19 September 1983). "Bullants rally for first flag in 14 years". The Age. Melbourne. p. 23.
  71. ^ a b Marc Fiddian (19 September 1983). "Bullants rally for first flag in 14 years". The Age. Melbourne. p. 23.
  72. ^ "In brief". The Age. Melbourne. 26 September 1983. p. 23.
  73. ^ Michael Reid (24 September 1984). "Bullants win flag double". The Sun News-Pictorial. Melbourne. p. 75.
  74. ^ "Victorian Football League (VFL), 2009". Australian Football.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  75. ^ "Victorian Football League (VFL), 2010". Australian Football.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.

Further reading

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  • Fiddian, Marc The Bullants: a History of Preston Football Club Preston Football Club, Melbourne 1983.
  • Membrey, Brian Where We Come From – the History of the Preston Football Club , Vols 1 and 2, 2002
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