Club History
Nestled in the heart of Melbourne's Mordialloc, the Mordialloc Redbacks Junior Football Club & Mordialloc AusKick call state of the art Ben Kavanagh Reserve & H.A. Droop pavilion home. A fairly young club in the most northern pocket of the Frankston & District Junior Football League, we are the closest club to the city, for the league which spans along the coast from Mordialloc to Mornington, and then inland.
The club lived out of shipping containers until the pavilion was rebuilt in 2018, just in time for the pandemic to hit not long after, with Melbourne plunged into lockdown for 2 years. The club overcame the disrupted 2020 season, and with help from the community, the volunteers, and support from the AFL South East, the Mordialloc Redbacks Junior Football Club and Mordialloc AusKick stands with its own offering in one of the strongest football leagues in the country.
2013
Mordialloc Junior Football Club is a twinkle in the eyes.
Jan Mildenhall assumes the role of Secretary at the Mordialloc Sporting Club and, along with former Secretary Jacqui Millar, begins gauging interest in establishing a new junior football team in the area, located in the heart of Mordialloc. Flyers are produced with the support of seven local schools, promoting the vision for the new club, and strong support for an alternative offering.
2014
A club is born.
Mordialloc Redbacks Junior Football Club is officially established with 19 players for its inaugural season.
2018
A pivot for venue redevelopment.
The club runs its season out of shipping containers while awaiting approval for the construction of a new pavilion.
2019
A new pavilion and redeveloped reserve opens,
The new state-of-the-art H.A. Droop pavilion at Ben Kavanagh Reserve is handed over to the club (read press release). The new double-storey Ben Kavanagh Reserve and pavilion provides a home base for local sporting clubs and St Johns Ambulance in the City of Kingston. The new facility features quality facilities that are suitable for both male and female athletes, and accessible to all. It is a fully gated reserve with arguably the best facilities and view of ground in the entire region, making it a sought-after hosting venue for various football matches across the state, across many ages.
2020
2023 and beyond
A disruptive twist.
As the covid-19 pandemic entered the world, the disruption was wide-spread, including the sports industry. Like others in the state of Victoria, the junior football season was cancelled in 2020, and went on to be disrupted again the following year. Many community sports did their very best to stay connected with families during the course of this challenging time.
Club growth.
The Mordy Redbacks Junior Football Club has grown to over 100 junior football players. Impressively, half of our teams have advanced to the league's finals, and we've received nominations for seven league awards.
🏆🌟 Notably, our first four U13 players trialled for St Kilda Generation Inter-League positions in 2023. We also proudly saw our first two players have risen through the juniors program and entered the senior competition. In 2024, we have had our first junior player to have played at the club be selected for the Victoria State Team through School Sports Victoria (SSV), going on to winning the National Championships.
Acknowledgments
Founding years - Special thanks to Braden Williams, Danny Forbes, Steve Jeffreys, Terry Evans, Simon Payne, Brendan Swifte, and Ally McCormick, who played integral roles in the club's presidency, secretary and supporting positions since its beginnings.
Operational years - Gratitude is extended to the current President, Keeghan Williams, and the dedicated committee members for their leadership and commitment to the club's values: Purpose, Passion, and Belonging.
Venue information
Ben Kavanagh Reserve & H.A. Droop Pavilion
-
Surface: Grass, Turf (cricket pitch)
-
Additional Features: Bar, Function Room
-
Parking: Ample street parking, Ample on-site
-
Dogs Allowed: On-Leash
