History of Mitcham Juniors

Mitcham Football Club, has entered Junior teams over various decades of the clubs history.

One interesting fact is Mitcham Gymnasium entered an under age side in the Suburban Association, in 1908, and whilst it is regarded that the Mitcham Football team and the Gymnasium had a very close association, and same membership base, the Gymnasium side appeared to be under that separate entity.

Mitcham entered a junior side in 1925 in the South Suburban Colts Association, and was based in Ocky Barrens paddock (now Barren Reserve), in Wattlebury Road. Lower Mitcham, as Hawthorn Oval was unavailable. It is not know how long this side lasted, but folklore has the team going for several years, as a social team, in later years up until the start of the Depression.

Mitcham had a junior colts side in 1951, and also, entered junior sides from 1957 to 1967 in the Sturt Association, and produced four association medalists, and this junior representation, provided a terrific breeding ground for future Mitcham players, in the 1950-70’s

Mitcham entered a junior side in 1984 (and had to obtain permission to use the oval on Sundays), and whilst this was successful for the club, had player and committee shortages, and the Juniors only lasted this one year.

Mitcham’s big break into Junior teams establishment was in 1998, when A grade coach, Colin Welsh, started up the juniors, coached by Garry Muggleton and Ray O’Hara, and assisted by Mick Aitkin, and Terry Thain, in the South Junior football league, and the juniors have been very successful in winning 7 premierships over 14 years, and presently field 9 teams from under 16 to U8 (Grasshoppers). This annexure of junior teams has been pivotal in shoring up the Mitcham player base, as a community based representation, of players coming through the ranks.

In 2007, former Mitcham juniors, Kieran Flanigan and Paul Cahill respectively won the SANFL under 19 and under 17 medals at Sturt Football Club, so Mitcham is proud to be able to produce these young players of the future.

Over the recent history of the Mitcham juniors, four players have been drafted to the AFL; 2004 Benet Copping (Fremantle); 2008 Paul Cahill (St Kilda); 2010 Sam Day (Gold Coast) & Mitch Curnow (Port Adelaide).