Toronto Eagles
Encyclopedia
The Toronto Eagles Australian Football Club (commonly known as the Toronto Eagles) is an amateur Australian rules football
club competing in the Ontario Australian Football League
.
The club is based at Humber College (North Campus) in Toronto
, Canada
and was formed in 1989 when the then Canadian Australia Football Association (now known as the Ontario Australian Football League
) began. Since entering the competition, the Eagles have become the most successful club in the OAFL history, winning the 1989, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2009 premierships, being runners up in 2008, and competing in finals constantly over the years.
Soon after forming the OAFL, the pioneers of the league formed an affiliation with teams from the Australian Football League (AFL.) this affiliation brought forward the formation of two teams - the Toronto Panthers and the Mississauga Mustangs.
1989 was a trying year for the Toronto Panthers as they lost every game that season until the inaugural Grand Final which saw the Toronto Panthers begin a legacy of winning football. The Panthers would defeat the Mississauga Mustangs 65 to 48 in the grand final, winning the inaugural Conacher Cup. The Panthers would then go on to win the next two Premierships, capturing three in a row amidst increasingly difficult competition.
At the end of 1991, amongst pressures of league expansion, many core Panthers left the club to form other teams. During these years, the team was pressured to recruit Canadian born players and introduce them to the game. In the next three years Toronto would fare well with one undefeated season, losing only by disqualification in the play-offs and another, which saw the Panthers once again make it all the way to the Grand Final.
By 1994, the Panthers were attracting many traveling or newly resided Australian players of top quality. That, combined with an exceptional base of talented Canadians players completed the rebuilding of their Championship squad.
1995 was a turning point for the Toronto Panthers football club as their new membership brought with it a new affiliation. The West Coast Eagles football club of the Australian Football League (AFL) would become the new sister club to the Toronto Panthers. That year the Toronto Panthers were reborn as the Toronto Eagles, trading their white with blue stripes for the blue and yellow colors of the West Coast Eagles. To assist the Club with the transformation the West Coast Eagles would help by providing team uniforms and footballs, a gesture that was greatly appreciated by the club.
Regenerated as the Toronto Eagles, they would then go on to be undefeated the entire 1995 season, winning their fourth premiership in six years. Toronto’s high flying Eagles would then go on to capture the next four premierships in a row, establishing themselves as the dominant team in the OAFL. The Eagles would then fare well in the following two seasons but wouldn't get their hand on the cup until 2002 when they would win their 9th premiership.
2006 and 2007 once again saw the Toronto Eagles tasting premiership glory as they would win back to back flags in impressive style. In 2009 the Eagles secured their 12th OAFL title in 21 seasons, firmly establishing the Toronto Eagles as the only true dynasty in OAFL history.
OAFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
OAFL LEADING GOAL KICKER
TORONTO EAGLES WOMENS BEST & FAIREST AWARD
TORONTO EAGLES MARK BLOCK CLUBMAN AWARD
TORONTO EAGLES ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
TORONTO EAGLES COACHES AWARD
TORONTO EAGLES WOMENS COACHES AWARD
TORONTO EAGLES DEFENDER OF THE YEAR
TORONTO EAGLES COOLERS CUP
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
club competing in the Ontario Australian Football League
Ontario Australian Football League
The Ontario Australian Football League is the largest Australian Football league in North America. It is currently composed of teams from the Greater Toronto Area, Southwestern Ontario and the National Capital Region, who play off for the Conacher Cup , presently awarded to the winner of the annual...
.
The club is based at Humber College (North Campus) in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and was formed in 1989 when the then Canadian Australia Football Association (now known as the Ontario Australian Football League
Ontario Australian Football League
The Ontario Australian Football League is the largest Australian Football league in North America. It is currently composed of teams from the Greater Toronto Area, Southwestern Ontario and the National Capital Region, who play off for the Conacher Cup , presently awarded to the winner of the annual...
) began. Since entering the competition, the Eagles have become the most successful club in the OAFL history, winning the 1989, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2009 premierships, being runners up in 2008, and competing in finals constantly over the years.
History
In 1989, members of the local Australian community in Toronto, Canada congregated to play a number of Australian Rules football matches. Sighting some growing enthusiasm, the Ontario Australian Football League (OAFL) which was then known as the Canadian Australian Football League, was established in later that year.Soon after forming the OAFL, the pioneers of the league formed an affiliation with teams from the Australian Football League (AFL.) this affiliation brought forward the formation of two teams - the Toronto Panthers and the Mississauga Mustangs.
1989 was a trying year for the Toronto Panthers as they lost every game that season until the inaugural Grand Final which saw the Toronto Panthers begin a legacy of winning football. The Panthers would defeat the Mississauga Mustangs 65 to 48 in the grand final, winning the inaugural Conacher Cup. The Panthers would then go on to win the next two Premierships, capturing three in a row amidst increasingly difficult competition.
At the end of 1991, amongst pressures of league expansion, many core Panthers left the club to form other teams. During these years, the team was pressured to recruit Canadian born players and introduce them to the game. In the next three years Toronto would fare well with one undefeated season, losing only by disqualification in the play-offs and another, which saw the Panthers once again make it all the way to the Grand Final.
By 1994, the Panthers were attracting many traveling or newly resided Australian players of top quality. That, combined with an exceptional base of talented Canadians players completed the rebuilding of their Championship squad.
1995 was a turning point for the Toronto Panthers football club as their new membership brought with it a new affiliation. The West Coast Eagles football club of the Australian Football League (AFL) would become the new sister club to the Toronto Panthers. That year the Toronto Panthers were reborn as the Toronto Eagles, trading their white with blue stripes for the blue and yellow colors of the West Coast Eagles. To assist the Club with the transformation the West Coast Eagles would help by providing team uniforms and footballs, a gesture that was greatly appreciated by the club.
Regenerated as the Toronto Eagles, they would then go on to be undefeated the entire 1995 season, winning their fourth premiership in six years. Toronto’s high flying Eagles would then go on to capture the next four premierships in a row, establishing themselves as the dominant team in the OAFL. The Eagles would then fare well in the following two seasons but wouldn't get their hand on the cup until 2002 when they would win their 9th premiership.
2006 and 2007 once again saw the Toronto Eagles tasting premiership glory as they would win back to back flags in impressive style. In 2009 the Eagles secured their 12th OAFL title in 21 seasons, firmly establishing the Toronto Eagles as the only true dynasty in OAFL history.
League Awards
OAFL BEST AND FAIREST- 2009 - Ajit Alister
- 1997 - Arnie Korpela
- 1995 - Rod Cutler
- 1992 - Mark Block
- 1990 - Mark Block
- 1989 - Tim Maud
OAFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
- 1997 - Luke Davies
- 1994 - Arnie Korpela
- 1990 - David Kerr
- 1989 - Patrick Grant
OAFL LEADING GOAL KICKER
- 2008 - Troy Marsh (59)
- 1999 - Troy Marsh (44)
- 1994-97 - Mick Pearson
- 1990-93 - Peter Vitolis
- 1989 - Glen Walker (9)
Club Awards
TORONTO EAGLES TROY MARSH BEST & FAIREST AWARD- 2011 - Ralph Koens
- 2010 - Kevin Minaker
- 2009 - Troy Marsh
- 2008 - Tarquin Netherway
- 2007 - Aaron Falcioni
- 2006 - Troy Marsh
- 2005 - Troy Marsh
- 2004 - Troy Marsh
- 2003 - Troy Marsh
- 2002 - Troy Marsh
- 2001 - Troy Marsh
- 2000 - Troy Marsh
- 1999 - Troy Marsh
- 1998 - Troy Marsh
- 1997 - Arnie Korpela
- 1996 - John Law
- 1995 - Rod Cutler
- 1994 - Mick Pearson
- 1993 - Dave Nelson
- 1992 - Graeme Hewitt
- 1991 - David Kerr
- 1990 - David Letch
- 1989 - Peter Vitols
TORONTO EAGLES WOMENS BEST & FAIREST AWARD
- 2011 - Erin Loughane
TORONTO EAGLES MARK BLOCK CLUBMAN AWARD
- 2011 - Tom Hammond
- 2010 - Nick Eddy
- 2009 - Tom Hammond
- 2008 - Marc Nord
- 2007 - David Heward
TORONTO EAGLES ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
- 2011 - Nick Nesbitt
- 2010 - Samuel Rivett
- 2009 - Chris Grey/Brent Jensen
- 2008 - Sukhjinder Bhangu
- 2007 - Aaron Lunadello
- 2006 - Frank Luisser
- 2005
- 2004 - Kevin Minaker
- 2003 - Matt Bachinski
- 2002 - Taylor Hayward
- 1999 - Marc Nord
TORONTO EAGLES COACHES AWARD
- 2011 - Leslie Husar
- 2010 - Salvatore Capoferri
- 2009 - Kevin Minaker
- 2008 - Matt Bachinski
- 2007 - Kevin Minaker
TORONTO EAGLES WOMENS COACHES AWARD
- 2011 - Gillian English
TORONTO EAGLES DEFENDER OF THE YEAR
- 2011 - Tasos Dimacakos
- 2010 - Sean Kennedy
- 2009 - Matt Bachinski
- 2008 - Tasos Dimacakos
TORONTO EAGLES COOLERS CUP
- 2011 - Adam Farr
- 2010 - Tom Hammond
- 2009 - Tom Hammond
- 2008 - Tom Hammond
- 2007 - Tom Hammond