The Old Collegians Football Club traces its origins back to an Under-21 competition team known as YCW.

In March 1951, YCW was officially admitted into the Warrnambool & District Football League (WDFL), becoming the sixth team in a league that eventually expanded to 12 sides.

Much of our club’s early history has been pieced together from archives of the Warrnambool Standard Newspaper. Unfortunately, records from the 1950s and 60s are limited, and details about WDFL teams and lineups were often inconsistent. When Old Collegians did not make the finals, team selections published in the newspaper were sometimes chosen at random.

At the end of the 1952 season, the club made a significant change, renaming itself from YCW to Old Collegians Football Club. This was done to preserve the strong connection between YCW and the Christian Brothers College. In the club’s early years, players were required to be Catholic. That changed in 1953, when Mick Patten became the first non-Catholic player to join. This shift was further reinforced when Alf Seare signed with the club, playing 168 gamesand earning Life Membership.

Old Collegians has experienced many highs and lows throughout its history. The 1960s were a golden era, but by the 1970s, the club faced serious challenges, nearly disbanding in 1977. A dedicated group of supporters and volunteers stepped in, reviving the club and leading it to a Premiership after a 14-year drought. The momentum continued, with the Seniors making the finals every year for the next 12 seasons.

In 1991, Old Collegians expanded into netball, a move that proved to be a resounding success. Since then, our netball teams have won multiple Premierships across all grades.

The club continued to grow, making history in 2017 by fielding its first female football team in the Western Victorian Female Football League.

From humble beginnings to a club rich in tradition and success, Old Collegians continues to thrive, driven by passion, resilience, and a strong community spirit.