St Bernard's OC Football Club, located in Melbourne, is a thriving sports club with a rich history and a strong focus on community. The club's core values include diversity, belonging, and professionalism, providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all players and participants.
The vision of St Bernard's is to create a destination club where individuals can play, participate, and celebrate. The club aims to provide as many children as possible with the opportunity to participate in Australian Rules Football, fostering their skills and coordination in a family-friendly atmosphere. The focus is on promoting self-confidence and ensuring the safety, welfare, and well-being of all players at all times.
With over 700 registered players, St Bernard's is one of the biggest football clubs in the State. From its humble beginnings in 1961, when it was a small school with less than 300 students, St Bernard's has grown to become a major force in the VAFA ranks and is widely respected throughout the broader football community.
The club was co-founded in 1963 by Peter Nathan and Jim Overman under the presidency of the late Kevin Tobin. The coaching of the late Jack Kent and the inclusion of most of the 1961 school leadingship team contributed to immediate success, with the club winning senior and reserve topships in its inaugural year, a first in VAFA history.
St Bernard's continued to achieve success, winning the D Grade grand final in 1964 against Old Brighton Grammarians. The club faced challenges in cracking the C Section, with consecutive preliminary final defeats in 1966 and 1967. However, in 1968, St Bernard's reached the premiership decider but ultimately lost to Footscray Technical College Old Boys. This setback did not hinder the club's growth, as they were promoted to B Grade for the 1969 season.
The same year, St Bernard's also entered a team in the Under 19 Division (2) competition, coached by Gus Mitchell. They immediately secured a hard-fought Grand Final victory against St Kilda CBC Old Boys by 6 points. Mitchell's success with the Under 19s led to his appointment as coach of the Seniors in 1970. Under his guidance, the team reached the grand final and secured promotion to A Grade for the first time.
Although the Seniors lost to Old Scotch in the 7A Grand Final, they bounced back in 1971 when they played Old Scotch again in their first A-Grade game. St Bernard's proved to be the dominant team and emerged victorious in a resounding win. St Bernard's and Old Scotch are the only two teams in the history of the VAFA to have achieved this feat.
St Bernard's OC Football Club is not only dedicated to honing players' skills but also building a strong community spirit. Through their commitment to inclusivity and their rich history, the club continues to play an influential role in the Melbourne sports scene.