Club History

The Old Carey Football Club plays in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA). The Senior team is in Premier A section whilst our Under 19's are in North 1 and the Club 18 are in North.

We play all home matches at the Carey Sports Complex, Bulleen Rd, Bulleen and train every Tuesday and Thursday night from 6pm. New players and supports are always welcome.

Brief History of Old Carey Football Club

The Club was actually formed in 1953 but did not play in the VAFA until 1954 when, along with other newcomers, Old Geelong, Old Trinity, and ANZ Bank, it commenced in E Section, which was then the entry level. The sides fielded were immediately competitive, but it was not until 1961, when it was the outstanding team all year, that it won promotion and its first flag by beating Preston in the Grand Final. We finished on top of the ladder in D Section the following year, but injuries and absences during August took their toll and we lost to Fairfield in the Grand Final, but still received promoted.

1963 was also a good year for the Club, when it finished 3rd in C Section, being beaten by Caulfield Grammarians' in the 1st Semi. 1963 was also the first year we played at Bulleen on the newly developed School ovals. Prior to that our home grounds were at Rathmines Rd and Victoria Rd in Hawthorn East.

1964 was a shocker, and 1965 saw us back in ‘D’, where the team regrouped to finish 5th. After finishing on top in 1966, we lost the GF to Old Geelong due to average goal shooting. Back in ‘C’ for 1967 we knocked on the door of the final four until 1970 when we again made it to a GF, but were beaten by a very hot UHSOB outfit.

All through the 1970’s the Club turned in solid years without ever going that one next step into A Section, and the effect of having talented players playing with other VAFA ‘A’ clubs was taking its toll. The 1980’s saw us drop rapidly down the Sections, until the ‘crunch’ year of 1986 saw us reduced to G Section because we couldn’t raise a Reserves team. The heroes on and off the field in that year saved the Club from oblivion. We won the Flag that year and for the next six years saw finals action in F Section (excl. 1990, when we played in E Section due to a temporary promotion), but couldn’t crack a spot in the Granny. 1993 and '94 were awful and we sank back to ‘G’ level, though this time it was equivalent to D4 as it is now, and we did not have the numbers to field a Reserves team. From 1995 to 1999 we finished 4th, 3rd, 3rd, 1st, at ‘E’ level and 5th (in a 12 team D Section), with the triumph of 1998 and the E White Flag being the pinnacle.

Recent years have seen the club continue to grow and build a strong core group of young players. The team, through great sponsors and a committed playing and coaching group has seen the senior, reserves and under 19 teams all play finals football in 2003 and 2004. With consecutive Grand Final appearances to the Under 19 team in '03 and '04, a Grand Final appearance to the Senior side in '04 along with promotion to D1. The club experienced further Grand Final excitement in 2007 where it gained promotion from C grade to B grade as runner up to local rival, Old Camberwell.

History was created in 2010, not only did the club finish top of B grade, it won its 1st every B grade final and in doing so gained promotion the VAFA's Premier A grade in 2011. A 1st ever achievement for the club, underlining the commitment and hard work done by the entire club in recent years to realise a dream.

So in season 2011 Old Carey can stand tall in the knowledge that it will for the very 1st time play in A grade and test itself against the likes of powerhouse clubs in Old Xav's, Collegians, Uni Blues and De La Sal.

Today we continue to instil into our players our club's history and unwavering determination. We are well placed both on and off the field to final take on A Grade. Whilst our underlying goal will always be to aim high and to do our best we are very focused on ensuring we are able to remain competitive and develop a fierce reputation as a strong club with sound values.