The Official Website of the Sydney Magpies

The Club

The Club

History

The original incarnation of the Western Suburbs participated in the top tier of organised football in Sydney between 1926 and 1929. This club reached the grand final in its debut year, losing to Eastern Suburbs. However, it was forced to disband at the end of the 1929 season when it was unable to meet its running costs.

The club was reformed in November 1947 and took its bows in the NSWANFL the following year, when it finished sixth in an eight team competition, as well as providing the Phelan Medallist in the shape of its captain-coach Keith Champion, who had won the same award the previous year with North Shore.

Western Suburbs' improvement in the 'big time' was gradual. The side finished 5th in 1949 and, in 1950, reached the major round for the first time before going out in the 1st semi final. In 1951, however, the Magpies came of age with a 12 point grand final defeat of an Eastern Suburbs side that would go on to dominate most of the remainder of the decade. Western Suburbs reached four further grand finals during the 1950s, losing them all.

During the 1960s and 1970s Western Suburbs was far and away the strongest club in Sydney. Between 1963 and 1969 it was an ever present in the NSWANFL grand final, winning four times and losing three. After dropping to 3rd in 1970 the Magpies eked out a similar tale of supremacy in the '70s, missing only one further grand final for the decade (that of 1976) to annex another four flags. However, since the last of these, in 1977, the club's fortunes have declined alarmingly, with an isolated premiership in 1996 the only cause for celebration.

Over the years Western Suburbs has fielded a large number of high quality players, with AFL star Greg Stafford arguably the cream of its recent products. It reached the finals in 2002, giving cause for tentative optimism about the immediate future, but then slipped back into the field the following year, finishing second from last, a result that was repeated in 2004.

The 2005 season brought a marked improvement as the Magpies lost only 1 of 16 minor round matches to secure the minor premiership. This was followed by a comfortable 43 point 2nd semi final defeat of Pennant Hills, earning the side warm favouritism going into its grand final clash with North Shore. Inexplicably, however, when the pressure intensified during the second half, the Magpies found themselves unable to cope, and ended up slumping to a humiliating 41 point loss, thereby completely undoing almost an entire season's good work.

The side again qualified for the finals in 2006, but hopes of a flag were dashed at the preliminary final stage by Pennant Hills, who won with disconcerting comfort by 86 points. The 2007 season was even more disappointing for the Magpies who managed just 6 wins and a draw from their 18 matches to finish 7th (of 10). 2008 saw the side continue to inhabit the wrong end of the ladder with just

Season 2009 saw many changes for the Magpies. A new board brought in a desire to return the Magpies to the top where they belong. An aggressive off season player recruitment campaign and the aquiring of the coaching services of Craig Tognolini saw the Magpies come ever so close to winning a long awaited premiership. Unfortunately the preliminary final was the final stop for the Magpies that year. To rub further salt into the wounds, 2010 mirrored 2009, with hope dashed once again in the preliminary final.

2011 has seen the Magpies lose some of their stars with a new focus on rebuilding. The Magpie faithful however can feel excited for what lies ahead with many talented youngsters coming through from the junior ranks.

Western Suburbs Supporters Club

Why Sponsor Wests

Western Suburbs Australian Football Club is a non profit organization providing a healthy and positive environment to the Inner West. Your sponsorship dollars will enable the club to continue to compete in grassroots sport tackling the growing problems of obesity and general health and welfare issues. Sponsorship dollars allow us to attract the best coaches, players and support staff so we can continue to provide these services at the highest possible levels.

WEBSITE
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
FACEBOOK FAN PAGE
WEEKLY CLUB NEWSLETTER
ADVERTISING WITHIN LICENCED CLUB
HOME GROUND NAMING RIGHTS
HOME GROUND SIGNAGE
JUMPER OR SHORTS SPONSORSHIP
FOX SPORTS TELEVISED GAME FRIDAY NIGHTS
CATERED BOX AT DESIGNATED SWANS HOME GAME
OPPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO 10 GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS TO SWANS HOME GAMES
POSSIBLE ENTRY INTO THE NORTH EAST AFLCOMPETITION IN 2012 COMPETING AGAINST SWANS, GWS, GOLD COAST SUNS, BRISBANE LIONS AND CLUBS FROM CANBERRA, BRISBANE AND THE N.TERRITORY
EXPOSURE TO CLUBS WITHIN THE WESTERN SUBURBS UMBRELLA
WESTERN SUBURBS JUNIOR AFC
WESTERN WOLVES WOMENS AFC
WESTERN SUBURBS TOUCH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
WESTERN SUBURBS NETBALL CLUB
MAGPIE SPORTS LICENCED CLUB MEMBERS

Sponsorship Packages

WE ARE BUILDING A NETWORK OF CORPORATE PARTNERS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES. COME AND JOIN OUR TEAM, IMPROVE YOUR OUTREACH TO PROSPECTIVE CUSTOMERS AND INVEST IN A GRASSROOTS CLUB THAT PROVIDES A POSITIVE, HEALTHY BENEFIT TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY

BRONZE SPONSOR - $300
Bronze sponorship includes the following:
Player sponsorship (sponsor logo/name on players website profile, sponsor name on player photo in club)
Sponsorship package (club shirt, cap, stubby holder, free entry to home grounds)

SILVER SPONSOR - $1500
Silver sponsorship includes the Bronze sponsorship package PLUS:
Match day sponsorship (PA announcements on game day, advertising on website and game day record)
2 tickets to a Sydney Swans game
Invitation to all club functions

GOLD SPONSOR - from $3000
Gold sponsorship includes the Bronze and Silver sponsorship packages PLUS:
Home ground signage (permanently displayed at home ground, two sizes to choose from)

PLATINUM SPONSOR - from $10000
Platinum sponsorship includes the Bronze, Silver and Gold sponsorship packages PLUS:
Apparel sponsorship (shorts and jumper logo positions availble)

For more details or enquiries in relation to sponsorship, please call Andrew Taylor on 0411 859 834

Awards

Ken Champion Trophy

Peter Berecz Trophy

Daniel Coughlin Medal

Directors

About

Western Suburbs Australian Football Club is an Australian rules football club competing in the Sydney AFL league. The club is based in the inner west of Sydney, New South Wales, and its senior teams played their home games at Henson Park in 2009 and 2010 but will return to their spiritual home of Picken Oval, next door to their social club, in 2011. The club, which became the first licensed Australian rules football club in New South Wales in 1962, is located in Croydon Park, next to Picken Oval.

Magpie Sports

Under the chairmanship of Mr C. Stephens, the Licensed Club was officially opened in November 1962 adjacent to the oval at 40 Hampton St, Croydon Park.

The Club was the first Australian Rules Football Club to have fully licensed premises in NSW and is still the only surviving licensed AFL Club in Sydney today. Unfortunately other clubs have opened but fallen on hard times and struggled to maintain their identity.

WSAFC Ltd has helped many clubs to promote and propagate the game in NSW and even helped keep the Sydney Swans alive when the threat of closure was immanent. The football team was a powerhouse during the 1960’s and 1970’s playing in 15 Grand Finals in 17 years winning 8 more premierships.

Today, WSAFC Ltd trading as Magpie Sports prides itself on being an integral part of such a diverse and thriving community as Croydon Park. The Club now has affiliated sporting clubs such as cricket, golf, junior AFL, women’s AFL, netball, touch football, darts and through its work and support of local charities, schools and organizations we hope to continue being a much valued identity for many years to come.

Affiliate Clubs

Cricket Club

Wests Juniors Club

Western Wolves

Contacts