History
The Southern Cats are embarking on a project to recovery their history, much of which has been lost since the early 2000s. If you have any information, photos, records, or memories please send them to history@southerncats.com.au.
This page will continue to be updated as we learn more about our history.
We are indebted to Peter Carter for the generous donation of his book "Twenty Five Years of Amateur Football", which chronicles the results and history of the Monaro Australian Football League from 1970-1995. Without this resource, we would have lost a large part of our history.
Cats History
The Cooma Australian Football Club was born through the frustration of one man, Bill Bartling, who wanted players outside of Melbourne to have a chance to play top class footy. Bill believed footballers across Australia should be given the chance to compete at top level if they were good enough, no matter where they lived.
Bill had a chance encounter with a journalist from Canberra which led to Bill meeting with Merv Lindsay, then president of the Monaro Australian Football League, who also wanted ‘bushies’ to be given a chance. By 1976, Cooma had a team in the Monaro competition and in 1977 they played in the grand final. The first premiership was achieved in 1984 when the Cats played the Weston Creek Wildcats at a neutral ground in Yass.
1975
The Club was formed through the determination of Bill Bartling to see an Aussie Rules club in the Snowy region. He had met with the President of the Monaro Australian Football League and a proposal for a Cooma based team was raised.
The first meeting was held on the 29th of October at the Alpine Hotel which unanimously agreed that a club should be formed. Les Nancarrow was elected the interim President and the club was officially formed on November 11 1975.
1976
1977
The Cats played in their first ever Grand Final in the MAFL 2nd Division, losing to Queanbeyan 12.12.84 to 10.12.72.
A small consolation for the Cats was Peter Ohlin winning the Tom Moore Medal for Best and Fairest in the division.
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
The Cats' first premiership. A game that was expected to be won easily by Weston Creek was played in Yass for the MAFL 2B Division.
According to Coach Maurie Hore "We weren't expected to win this game. The premiership medallions were in the colours of the opposition. The runner up medallions were in our colours. The league committee then wanted to swap the medals and I told him there was no way that would happen."
Richard "Ziggy" Johnson also capped off a successful year for the club, taking out the Jim Branchi Trophy for Best and Fairest in the League.
1985
1986
The Cats transferred from the MAFL to the Sapphire Coast Football League. We are still unsure why the Club changed leagues.
1987
1988
1989
1990
The Cats returned to the MAFL from the Sapphire Coast Football League.
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
The Cats win their 2nd Premiership under Coach Adam Asanovski. After failing to beat Yass in the home and away season the Cats blew them away in the Grand Final 16.7.103 to 3.5.23.
Captain Taylor Lee booted seven goals to cap off a spectacular season and ruckman Sean Allen was judged Best on Ground.
2019
2020
The Cats looked to season 2020 with high hopes. A return to AFL Canberra 4th Grade and more consistent game locations meant that players could recommit much easier. However, the COVID-19 pandemic put the season, and the future of the club, in doubt.
The Cats rallied behind Coach Damien Asanovski, found some new players, and managed to make the finals for the 8th year in a row and their 4th preliminary in a row.