The first of the last
Baldivis’ Josh O’Neill speaks to Cam Palmer
Through 100 years of history, the Perth Football League has continually evolved. One of the big parts of that evolution has been the coming and going of clubs.
In recent times there have been more arrivals to the league than departures, and it is fitting in the league’s centenary season, it would welcome a new senior club to the fold, the Baldivis Brumbies.
Baldivis represents a lot of the good things about community football. It has a proud recent history coupled with an exciting future. Situated on the rapidly expanding southern metropolitan outskirts, the suburb and by virtue the club of Baldivis has experienced significant growth.
With origins as a junior football club back to 1985, Baldivis commenced as a senior club in the Peel Football League in 2006. Throughout its 14 year run in the Peel Football League, they would develop into a strong contender and claimed a historic first senior premiership in 2016. Baldivis would back this win up, with a second league premiership in 2019.
With the club continuing to grow, the need to expand beyond its original country roots were apparent and in 2021, Baldivis moved to the Perth Football League.
For Baldivis that historic first Perth Football League game would take place on Saturday April 10 against Canning Vale at Clifton Park.
As Baldivis senior player and committee member Josh O’Neil recalled, the build up to their first Perth Football League game was one of excitement and anticipation.
“There was a general excitement among the senior playing group as we weren’t really sure what to expect,” O’Neil said.
“After spending years developing strong rivalries against consistent competition we were just really looking forward to getting out and testing ourselves against competition we hadn’t seen before and didn’t have much knowledge on.”
Despite the lack of opposition knowledge, Baldivis played their own attacking brand of football early on, as they kicked four goals to one in their opening quarter in the Perth Football League to build a 23 point quarter time lead over the home Canning Vale side. After extending the lead to 27 points at half time, inaccuracy would plague Baldivis in the second half, as they kicked eight consecutive behinds in the third quarter as Canning Vale close to within 15 points at the final change.
Despite this second half challenge, Baldivis would ensure that their first game was a memorable one for all the right reasons as a three goal to nil final quarter, saw the Brumbies power away to a 38 point win.
Reflecting on the first match in the Perth Football League, O’Neil was proud of his team, while also remaining confident that this first up win was just the start of things to come.
“Coming into a new league with some great opportunities for our club to grow, we were just rapt to get a good win on the board,” O’Neil said.
“It’s been a build up over the past few years as we knew we needed to move over to ensure our club grows and supports our juniors and internally we have big expectations on ourselves in the C1 as all clubs should do.”
Whatever this inaugural season does bring for the Baldivis Brumbies, it will be a memorable one, as the first season in a centenary year.
BALDIVIS FIRST PERTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE GAME RESULT
‘C1 GRADE’ ROUND 1, 2021
Saturday April 10 | Clifton Park, Canning Vale | 1.10pm start
CANNING VALE 1.0 3.6 6.8 6.9.45
BALDIVIS 4.5 7.9 7.17 10.23.83