2013 was a hallmark year for Marysville. The year that saw the club come so tantalisingly close to its first football premiership in 40 years.

A remarkable achievement considering it was only our third year back competing in the League after an absence of more than 3 decades.
Even more remarkable when one considers that Marysville was wiped off the map as a result of Black Saturday, including all facilities at Gallipoli Park.

As recovery efforts took shape, a group of locals felt that bringing footy back would be a huge boost to the community’s morale. Football, they believed, was a cement that binds many disparate individuals and groups together as one. So under the leadership of the inaugural President, John Phillips together with a small team of passionate “Marysvillains”, some who’d played for the “Green and Gold”, they set about the reformation of the club.

Anyone who has been involved in getting a footy team onto the ground will know how large the challenge was, but with the combined and united efforts a great many people and organisations from all over Australia, the dream became reality.

Watching the ‘green and gold’ take to the field after an absence of more than 30 years was a big moment in the town’s recovery, and community pride was on full display last year as our team of ‘Villains Vets’ came so close to premiership glory in only its third season.

Looking to the future there is still much to be done.

Our objectives to see the fostering of junior footy and cheering on a netball team are still to be realised, but as AFL legend Tom Hafey, a wonderful supporter of the club, said in an inspiring pre match address to our team “it’s amazing what simple hard work and tenacity can achieve”.

Graeme Haycraft – President

For more information and to watch a video of the community restoring the ground to celebrate the return of footy on the Marysville Oval – http://www.gomarysville.com/video/footy.htm