THE EARLY DAYS
The Caulfield Grammarians Football Club (CGFC) boasts a rich and proud history, founded in 1920. Originally part of the Metropolitan Amateur Football Association (MAFA), CGFC has been a continuous competitor in the VAFA, making it one of the longest-running teams in the competition. Before 1920, "Old Boys" teams played occasional matches, with the first recorded game against the students in 1889. Regular fixtures began in 1907 and continued until 1914, interrupted by World War I. The modern CGFC tradition started with the 1920 formation, joining teams like Old Melburnians and Teachers’ College in the MAFA.
CGFC won its first premiership in 1925, with Eric Dakin kicking 123 goals that season. The club continued to thrive, with notable achievements including George Cassidy winning the MAFA B Section best and fairest in 1928, and the team reaching the A Grade in subsequent years.
The club experienced further success in the post-war years, with premiership victories in 1949 and 1953. Star players like Irving Davidson, Ron Ashbolt, and Ian Felsenthal played key roles, and their lasting connection to CGFC remains a testament to the club's enduring spirit.
THE GOLDEN ERA
In 1955, CGFC returned to C Section but remained competitive throughout the '50s, with multiple finals appearances. Robin Harrison won the competition best and fairest in 1959, and the club claimed a D Section premiership in 1961. After a grand final loss to Parkside in 1963, the team earned promotion to B Section and reached A Section in 1966.
The pinnacle came in 1970, with a thrilling 2-point victory over Coburg in the A Section premiership. John Wilson coached, and Tony Pyman captained. In 1971, CGFC set a record score of 32.16-208 and celebrated Wilson's retirement after 11 years. The '70s saw the club fluctuate between A and B Sections, but it remained a respected force.
In 1979, the Tootell Pavilion was named in honor of the Tootell family’s contributions. That same year, CGFC set another record score in a game against Trinity but missed finals. The club moved up to B Section in the early '80s, with David Matthews kicking 114 goals in the 1981 premiership season. However, by 1991, the club had dropped to D Section. Despite a brief return to C Section in 1993, CGFC struggled after relocating to East Malvern and fell back to D Section by 1995. Richard Harris played his 200th game in 1994.
THE MODERN ERA
After a strong rally in 1996 under coach George Voyage, CGFC reached the finals but missed promotion to C Section. The club set a record score of 38.25-253 in D Section. Geoff Reilley took over in 1997, but after losing key players, the team dropped to E Section by 1998. A successful season followed with a premiership win, earning promotion back to D Section. In 2000, Dean Anderson led the club to another premiership, rising to C Section.
The club continued to thrive with notable performances in 2001 and 2002, and in 2003, Merv Keane led the team into finals. After a tough period in the mid-2000s, including relegation in 2005, former AFL star Steve Wright brought the team back into B Section, reaching finals in 2006. By 2011, under coach Steven Lawrence, the senior team won the B Section premiership, earning a return to A Section.
Despite challenges in 2012, Steve Lawrence’s successful tenure ended, and Tim O'Shaughnessy took over in 2013. The club remained in Premier B but faced difficulties in 2014. In 2015, lack of numbers led to relegation to Premier C, though the U19s won a premiership. In 2016, under new coach Simon Williams, the club showed signs of resurgence with increased player numbers and the reintroduction of the thirds team.