History of the Club
The Collendina Junior Football Club (CJFC) was established in 2002, based out of Collendina Reserve on Minerva Close, Ocean Grove. Two U/12 sides were entered into the Eastern Colts Little League (ECLL). The following season, the CJFC conducted a merger with the junior section (U/14 and below) of the Ocean Grove Football Netball Club (OGFNC), which was then ratified in January 2003. The Ocean Grove Collendina Cobras Junior Football Club was born.
This saw the club swell from having two Cobras teams compete in 2002 to eight Cobras teams compete in 2003 (four U/12, four U/14). The first piece of recognition for the club came in 2004, when star junior Jordan Jones won the league best and fairest award in the U/14 Division 1. Jones would later go on to play AFL for the West Coast Eagles.
The trophy cabinet got its first lot of silverware in 2005 when the Cobras won the prestigious U/14 Division 1 premiership, defeating much fancied teams from around the Geelong metropolitan area under the tutelage of coach Dave Farrell.
The U/12s also staked their claim with back-to-back Lightning Premierships in 2005 and 2006. By now the club was fully established, having entered its first U/10 team into the ECLL in 2006. This provided a pathway directly from Auskick – at this stage, still based at Shell Road oval on a Saturday morning – to competitive junior football.
In the decade since, the club has gone from strength to strength, catering for the growing population of Ocean Grove and surrounds. The club has inducted two life members for their contributions: Neale 'Wal' Walter (2011) and Brett Pearson (2014). The Cobras have also produced four AFL draftees, one of whom – Zaine Cordy – became a premiership player for the Western Bulldogs in 2016.
With the recent introduction of U/9s football and AFL Barwon's restructure of junior football age groups, the Cobras now have a huge presence in the local area with 12 teams set to compete in 2018. The continued support of club stalwarts, volunteers, parents and friends has allowed the club to thrive and grow exponentially across its short history.
This saw the club swell from having two Cobras teams compete in 2002 to eight Cobras teams compete in 2003 (four U/12, four U/14). The first piece of recognition for the club came in 2004, when star junior Jordan Jones won the league best and fairest award in the U/14 Division 1. Jones would later go on to play AFL for the West Coast Eagles.
The trophy cabinet got its first lot of silverware in 2005 when the Cobras won the prestigious U/14 Division 1 premiership, defeating much fancied teams from around the Geelong metropolitan area under the tutelage of coach Dave Farrell.
The U/12s also staked their claim with back-to-back Lightning Premierships in 2005 and 2006. By now the club was fully established, having entered its first U/10 team into the ECLL in 2006. This provided a pathway directly from Auskick – at this stage, still based at Shell Road oval on a Saturday morning – to competitive junior football.
In the decade since, the club has gone from strength to strength, catering for the growing population of Ocean Grove and surrounds. The club has inducted two life members for their contributions: Neale 'Wal' Walter (2011) and Brett Pearson (2014). The Cobras have also produced four AFL draftees, one of whom – Zaine Cordy – became a premiership player for the Western Bulldogs in 2016.
With the recent introduction of U/9s football and AFL Barwon's restructure of junior football age groups, the Cobras now have a huge presence in the local area with 12 teams set to compete in 2018. The continued support of club stalwarts, volunteers, parents and friends has allowed the club to thrive and grow exponentially across its short history.
Premierships2005 U/14 Division 1
OGCC 1 ? 2009 U/14 Division 2 Buckley's Cup OGCC 1: 4.11 (35) Lara 1: 2.5 (17) Goals: Z. Cordy 2, P. Dreher, E. Taylor Best: K. King, A. Lindkvist, B. Warren, N. Holland, Z. Cordy, E. Taylor 2009 U/14 Division 6 Visy Cup OGCC 2: 8.3 (51) Newtown & Chilwell Black: 7.3 (45) *after extra time Goals: D. McManus 2, C. Balshaw 2, B. Fendyk, R. Procter, S. Dedini, J. Gravener Best: P. Malone, B. Sanders, C. Balshaw, C. Bowers, B. Fendyk 2010 U/14 Division 3 Geelong Advertiser Cup OGCC 1: 19.12 (126) North Geelong: 5.6 (36) Goals: N. Anastassiou 5, C. West 4, L. Bastiaan 3, J. Kehagias 2, Z. Cordy 2, J. Evans, Z. Dynes, N. Gravener Best: Z. Cordy, J. Stirling, M. Caldow, N. Holland, C. West, N. Anastassiou 2012 U/14 Division 6 Red Onion Cup OGCC 2: 6.8 (44) Bannockburn: 5.7 (37) Goals: J. Caliguiri 3, T. Smith, R. Symonds, H. Drake Best: T. Smith, L. Warren, H. Drake, H. Morris, B. Allan AFL Draftees
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League Best & Fairests2004 U/14 Division 1
Jordan Jones, OGCC 1 2006 U/12 Eastern Colts Little League Jak Evans, OGCC ? 2008 U/14 Division 6 Sean Dedini, OGCC 2 2012 U/14 Division 2 Buckley's Cup Byron Taylor, OGCC 1 2013 U/14 Division 2 Buckley's Cup Michael Smith, OGCC 1 UniformThe Cobras' initial identity took cues from that of the Carlton Football Club, with the theme song derivative of "We Are The Navy Blues" and the jumper all navy with a CCFC monogram. With the merger occurring in 2003, the decision was made to adopt a new identity. Orange was chosen instead of the red of the Grubbers as many other teams already wore the red, white and blue colour combination, and orange was the closest colour to red. The old navy jumpers were retained for clash purposes if any two Cobras teams were scheduled to play each other in a derby match.
The orange, white and navy tri-panel guernsey featured a distinctive Cobra logo in the middle, the new sublimated technique of manufacturing allowing the Club to have one of the most modern identities in the region. Paired with navy shorts and tri-colour socks, it was one of the most recognisable brands across junior football.
By 2014, the old navy jumpers had been through thousands of spin cycles and were due for a refresh – the sheer number of Cobras teams entered into the competition meant that derbies were becoming quite a regularity. As part of a revitalised partnership with the OGFNC, a new clash guernsey was designed based off the Grubbers' home guernsey of the time, with the Cobra logo in place of the Grubber. The jumper continues to be used to this day. The red and white colourway provides greater distinction in local derbies and has reinforced the connection between the Cobras and the OGFNC.
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Teams Entered
Note: Orange denotes a premiership-winning team
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Under 9 |
Under 10 |
Under 12 |
Under 14 |
2002 |
N/A |
none |
Blue, White |
none |
2003 |
N/A |
none |
(four teams) |
Div. 1, Div. 3, Div. 4, Div. 5 |
2004 |
N/A |
none |
Blue, Orange, White |
Div. 1, Div. 3, Div. 5 |
2005 |
N/A |
none |
Blue, Orange, White |
Div. 1, Div. 4, Div. 6 |
2006 |
N/A |
OGCC (one team) |
Blue, Orange, White |
Div. 2, Div. 4, Div. 6 |
2007 |
N/A |
OGCC (one team) |
Blue, Orange, White |
Div. 1, Div. 3, Div. 6 |
2008 |
N/A |
OGCC (one team) |
Blue, Orange, White |
Div. 2, Div. 4 |
2009 |
N/A |
Blue, Orange |
Blue, Orange, White |
Div. 2, Div. 6, Div. 7 |
2010 |
N/A |
Blue, Orange, White |
Blue, Orange, White |
Div. 3, Div. 4, Div. 7 |
2011 |
N/A |
Blue, Orange, White |
Blue, Orange, White |
Div. 2, Div. 5, Div. 7 |
2012 |
N/A |
Blue, Orange, White |
Blue, Orange, White |
Div. 2, Div. 6, Div. 7 |
2013 |
N/A |
Blue, Orange, White |
Blue, Orange, White |
Div. 2, Div. 6 |
2014 |
N/A |
Blue, Orange, White |
Blue, Orange, White |
Div. 2, Div. 4, Div. 7 |
2015 |
N/A |
Blue, Orange, White, Red |
Blue, Orange, White |
Div. 2, Div. 4, Div. 7 |
2016 |
Blue, Orange, White, Red |
Blue, Orange |
Blue, Orange, White |
Div. 2, Div. 6, Div. 7 |
2017 |
Blue, Orange, White, Red |
Blue, Orange, White |
Blue, Orange, White |
Div. 1, Div. 4, Div. 6 |
AFL Barwon refreshed the junior football age groups ahead of the 2018 season.
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Under 9 |
Under 10 |
Under 11 |
Under 13 |
2018 |
Blue, Orange, White, Red |
Blue, Orange, White |
Blue, Orange |
(three teams) |