Our Club
About La Trobe University Football Club
Our Club has a rich 51-year history since its establishment in 1967 and our women’s football has continuously led the way over the past decade since being established in 2009.
We play in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) and in 2020 we will have five teams competing in the league. Senior, Reserve and Under 19 men, and Senior and Reserve women teams. With brand new state of the art community level football oval and facilities opened in 2019 we endeavor to play all five of our teams together at home fortnightly to continue to build what we believe is a inclusive, united football Club for all.
A founding member of the La Trobe University Sports and Recreation Association, the La Trobe University Football Club has achieved success throughout its years enjoying 7 Senior Men premierships (1969, 1976, 1988, 1989, 1999, 2009, 2010), 5 Reserve Men premierships, a Senior Women premiership in 2011, a Club XVIII Men premiership in 2014 and 4 Intervarsity Men championships.
Pre-Season Training Times
Our pre-season training for all our men’s and women’s players begins Monday 11th Nov 2019 and will continue through Monday and Wednesday nights 6pm at the Tony Sheehan Oval in the La Trobe University Sports Park.
Meet Our Committee
We pride ourselves as a student run Club and this is evident in our young and vibrant committee filled with recent alumni and current La Trobe University Students. With many of our committee members only joining the Committee in 2018 we are happy to see the majority are still with us in 2020 as they continue to grow and develop our Club.
Meet Our Coaches
Alan joined the Club in 2015 as Senior Coach for our men, reaching a preliminary final in 2016.
Alan played 10 seasons in the AFL/VFL with Essendon FC, playing in the Bombers’ back-to-back premierships in 1984 and 1985. Alan is a best and fairest winner (1991) and leading goal kicker (1986) at Essendon, and a five-time Victorian representative, which includes an EJ Whitten Medal as Victoria’s best player against South Australia in 1991.
His 20-year coaching record is equally impressive. Ezard has enjoyed stints as both head and assistant coach in the VFL, Ballarat FL, EDFL, WRFL and EFL; culminating in three premierships.
Jaryd joined the Club in 2017 as Senior Coach for our women, reaching the finals in 2018. Jaryd has an enthusiastic drive for development as a coach and for his players which has been evident in the consistent improvement over the past three seasons.
Jaryd played his junior football with the Mildura FC and Old Camberwell Grammarians before playing with Masala FC the past five seasons, where he won the reserve leading goal kicking (2017 & 2018), and reserve runners up best and fairest (2016, 2017 & 2018). Jaryd join La Trobe in 2019 where he won the Reserve Men leading goal kicking and third in the best and fairest.
Edward and Jake both joined the Club in 2013 as players and will now take on the Reserve Men’s Coaching role as joint coaches in 2019.
Edward played many of his juniors captaining the Wentworth District JFC before playing 81 games, including 29 senior games, and kicking 75 goals for La Trobe between 2013-17.
Jake played his junior football with Minyip Murtoa FC and Rupanyup FC, including captaining the U17s before playing 79 games with La Trobe between 2013-18. Jake was the LTUFC Reserve Men Co-Captain in 2018.
Hayden joined the Club in 2019 as the Reserve Women’s Coach, however unfortunately the team folded early in the season but Hayden picked up the role of senior assistant with a focus on the midfield.
Lachlan re-joins the Club in 2019 as Under 19 Coach for our men, after being a player with the Club between 2014-17.
Lachlan played his junior football with Wodonga FC as well as reserve football in 2013 and again in 2018. Lachlan began in the under 19 program with La Trobe in 2014, like many of our players, before playing both senior and reserve football with us between 2015-17, including two preliminary finals.
Meet Our Sponsors
Major Sponsors
O'Brien Accountants and Advisors
We understand everyone has differing needs and goals. We aim to create value for you by ensuring our team is able to look after all aspects of your affairs through their specialist skills and ability to work collaboratively to get the best outcome for you.
With our strategic advice and a documented plan you will have confidence about your future and will stay on track to turn your dreams into reality.
- obbc.com.au/
- Suite 2, 50 Upper Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe VIC 3079
- obrien@obbc.com.au
- (03) 8850 3333
Polaris 3083
Polaris is the social heart of Melbourne’s inner north, shining a new light on connected urban living. As part of our vision to build a connected community, Polaris are hosting a series of Spring community events for locals to check out the fantastic local amenities available at Polaris. A dynamic town centre surrounded by diverse residential architecture continues to evolve, combining contemporary and heritage designs and sustainable, connected living.
- polaris3083.com.au/
- 1056 Plenty Road, Bundoora VIC 3083
- polaris3083.com.au/contact-us/
- 0418 318 283
Support Sponsors
East Ivanhoe Physiotherapy
The clinic is a general and sports physiotherapy clinic with physiotherapists that are professionally trained in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of injuries relating to work, sports and recreational activities.
Physiotherapists at East Ivanhoe Physiotherapy have undergone extensive training in the management of injuries and are qualified in the safe and effective use of treatment techniques such as joint mobilisation, manipulation, massage, electrotherapy (ultrasound, interferential therapy), dry needling, rehabilitation exercise prescription (stretching, strengthening & stabilisation) and advice for the workplace (ergonomics), your sporting endeavours or just daily life.
- www.eastivanhoephysio.com.au/
- 223 Lower Heidelberg Road, East Ivanhoe VIC 3079
- reception@eastivanhoephysio.com.au
- (03) 9497 3098
- Book Appointments Online
Heidelberg Autoclinic
If you’re looking for automotive service and repairs that are fast, professional and reasonably priced, then contact us at Autoclinic. We love our cars and together with our team of qualified mechanics, we will look after yours. Our focus has always been to build great relationships through quality service to our loyal customers. With over 30 + experience, we service a range of clientele from private owners to large businesses, dealing with all vehicle makes and models.
- www.heidelbergautoclinic.com.au/
- 132 McEwan Road, Heidelberg Heights VIC 3081
- www.heidelbergautoclinic.com.au/contact-us/
- (03) 9457 5571
Our Logo
The Story Behind Larry La Trobe
A Great Logo for a Great Man
The Club logo is based on a real person, the one and only Graeme “Gus” Guppy.
It was created by one of Bob Segrave’s staff, artist Rosemary Sale, as part of marketing for La Trobe University hosting the intervarsity championships in 1973. An irrepressible, effervescent character, Gus was in many ways the epitome of a devil-may-care, authority-defying ethos prevalent at the time. Teammates turning up for pre-season training in 1976 were devastated to learn that Gus had taken his life over the summer, on 12 December of the previous year. He left us far too early, but is forever young.
“The logo is truly an amalgam of the spirit of the Club at the time,” said Jim McMillan. “For decades, he may have become somewhat dated but is very much back in hipster present”
Gus would be amused at that.
Gus was the heart and soul of the Football Club and, above all, he was gut-wrenchingly funny. Gus’s humour was never at anyone else’s expense and he was able to unite all university teams together with his goodwill and camaraderie. He never had a bad word for anybody and was a friend to us all.
Mind you, you can take goodwill and camaraderie a bit too far sometimes. Gus’s social leadership might have contributed to one or two losses!