The Cerberus Football Club was formed in 1913 as the 'Flinders Navy Football Club', and then later known as Navy. It was a founding club of the Peninsular Football Association. Navy teams competed continuously on the Mornington Peninsular in its various leagues and associations until 1976.
The club withdrew from the Mornington Peninsular Nepean Football League (MPNFL) and was reformed to compete in the Suburban Mid-Week Competition playing Wednesday afternoons against police and emergency service teams. The aim of this league was to provide football for men who, by their employment, often worked weekends and shift work, and were not always able to play regularly on weekends. This competition folded in the 1990's, which left the Navy without a club for the first time since its formation.
During this time, although a club didn't exist, teams were formed to play against the Army and RAAF, visiting ship's teams, and a yearly Navy football competition known as the Father McDonald Cup which we won for the first time in 1987.
In 2002, under the leadership of CAPT Clinton Thomas (CO Cerberus) and CMDR Warren Bairstow (XO Cerberus) the club was reformed and named the Cerberus Football Club, and an application was made to the MPNFL for readmission. Despite support from the VCFL and from some clubs within the MPNFL, strong opposition from certain sectors saw the motion to readmit Cerberus defeated, and the club was left without a home.
The CFC was eventually admitted to the West Gippsland Latrobe Football League (WGLFC) on a 12 month trial and Cerberus competed in the 2003 season fielding both a seniors and reserves team. WO1 Brett Parsons coached the first grade and CPO Rohan Jennings the reserves. Check out the article on the back page of the 24April2003 ediaition of Navy News. This league proved to be far too strong for the fledgling club, and despite support from the WGLFL, it was decided not to seek a further year in that league. One of the highlights of the year was leading the Hawthorn Football Club's (a RANAFA associate club) "March to the G"
Playing as Navy the Cerberus Football Club has won ten premierships and been runners up also on eleven occasions.
Peninsula Football Association |
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|---|---|
| 1923 | Runner Up |
| 1924 | Premiers |
| 1925 | Premiers |
| 1926 | Premiers |
| 1930 | Premiers |
| 1931 | Runner Up |
| 1932 | Premiers |
| 1933 | Runner Up |
Peninsula District Football Association |
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| 1924 | Runner Up |
| 1925 | Premiers |
| 1926 | Runner Up |
Mornington Peninsula Football League 1st Grade |
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| 1936 | Premiers |
| 1938 | Runner Up |
| 1941 | Runner Up |
| 1955 | Premiers |
| Mornington Peninsula Football League 2nd Grade | |
| 1955 | Premiers |
| Mornington Peninsula Football League 3rd Grade | |
| 1958 | Runner Up |
Nepean Football League |
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| 1960 | Premiers |
| 1961 | Runner Up |
| 1965 | Runner Up |
| 1973 | Runner Up |
Application was made to the Southern Football League who welcomed Cerberus to its Third Division, and two teams, a seniors and reserves, has been fielded for the first time in this league for the 2004 season. Army national coach of the time WO2 Andrew Potter took up the reigns and LEUT Murray McAuliffe guided the reserves with both sides making the finals.
However, posting turbulance severely depleted the playing stock with both sides experiencing back to back defeats. Several players made the RANAFA represetative side including Dustin Roberts (Dutto), Joel Minichiello (Mini), Matt Rogers (B2) and Rohan Jennings (coaching staff). Some of the giirls from Cerberus also made the inaugural rep side including Olivia Brown, Kate Lawler and Roxanne Walker.
We didn't end 2004 empty handed however with the club taking out the SFL 3rd Division Champion Club by finishing the home and away on top in the first grade and second in the reserves.
2005 saw Murray coach the first grade with support from Stuart McCleish and Jenno the reserves. The club took 2 male and one female side to Kapooka and finished runner up despite Dutto kicking 23 goals in the 5 games the club played. The strong association with the Hawthorn Fotball Club continued with Geoff Ablett taking a training session and speakiing to the players.
Some strong performances throughout the season including a 40 goal win against Parkmore saw the first grade again make the finals. The only highlight of the preliminary final was the towering grab in the dying seconds by Alister Crook, with the side going down by over 10 goals. RANAFA rep players included Marc Rogers (B1), Michael Crawford (Crawf), Adam Key (Keysy), Joel Minichiello (Mini), Luke Skipper (Skip) and Jenno (coaching staff).
Ryan Cetnich took over as the senior coach in 2006 and was well supported by Stuy Mac as the reserves coach. Just the one side ventured to Kapooka finishing second to ADFA. Good wins were experienced throughout the season however they were too few and the side finished just outside the final 4. players to make the RANAFA rep side included Daniel Ludlow (Luds), Robert Bartorelli (Barto), Daniel Johnson (DJ), ? Krell (Krelly), Shane Ritchie (trainer) and Jenno (coaching staff). 3 females from Cerberus also made the rep side, Tash Wilson (co-captain), Kylie Schulstad and Tess Clark.
In 2007, Aaron Felmingham (Lushy) took on the coaching role as a player/coach with Glen Willats as the reserves coach. The season started off very well however with the side taking out the Kapooka 12s competition for the first time.
2007 Kapooka 12s Champions
This good form was taken into the home and away season however, after a strong first half of the season, posting turbulence again played a big part with the club dropping off the pace to miss out on a finals berth. Lushy made the RANAFA rep side along with Ryan Schweitzer (also the club Best and Fairest), Rawson Kirkhope (Dirty), Leon Noel (Bucky), Nathan Darvill (Darvs), Jenna Wilson (trainer) and Jenno (coaching staff). Tash Wilson and Kylie Schulstad again made the female rep side.
2008 saw Adam Bamford take control the senior side with Toby Wilson as the reserves coach. This was a difficult season finishing with only 2 wins and a draw and at one stage the reserves side had to forfeit 2 games due to lack of numbers and commitment. Despite finishing second to Albatross at Kapooka, lack of quality players and the ability to play consistent football was telling. Lushy, Gavin King (club captain and Best and Fairest) made the RANAFA rep side.
The side did manage to take out the community cup against the Westernport Warriors and remain undefeated in this local contest. The Navy News edition of July 10 2008 reported this win.
The 2008 Community Cup
