History

Early games of football in Caramut were played at the ground located on the corner of Gibson and Brown Sts (Hamilton Hwy), across the road from the Caramut Memorial Hall. It was on privately owned land, firstly by David Rea, then Mrs McBean, and later by George Hassell into the 1950's. 

During the late 1950's a new football ground was set up on part of the Caramut Common. It had cypress trees planted around the boundary, and the many quarry holes on it had to be filled before the oval was ready for football. The change-rooms were originally located at the north end behind the goals, and when the Caramut Basketball (netball) Club was formed in 1960, a court was built in the south-west corner of the football reserve, and it was later discovered this was on a Council road. 

One of the earliest matches played on this ground was between two teams of soldier settlers, one from the north and the other from the south of Caramut. This oval was very tight, and in the early 1960's six locals, Austin Howley, Keith Russell, John Bryce, Graeme Surkitt, Alby Sheppard and Albert Kosch each put in 100 pounds($200) to buy the four acre block next door from Garnet Garvey. This allowed the oval to be widened, new football change-rooms to be built and the netball court to be re-located to the north-west side of the oval.

The football ground had a hollow in the middle, and in the early 1980's it was upgraded when Chatsworth House donated 9000 metres of sand and sandy loam fill. Caramut Football Club President Dave Burrows was instrumental in organising this huge working bee, and all the cartage was completed by local volunteers, who contributed both time and machinery, and on one weekend alone, 27 trucks carted sand into the ground. To complete the job the Warrnambool Shire carted 1500 metres of top soil. 

Improvements at the reserve have continued, in the late 1980's joint netball and tennis courts were built. When Leon Cameron had chalked up his 50th game with Footscray, Caramut received $5000 from the Bulldogs, which the club used to erect light towers on the eastern side of the ground. Then in 1992 the Caramut Recreation Reserve Committee of Management, with funding from the Youth, Sport and Recreation Department, completed a multi-purpose pavilion, with modern and spacious club-rooms, canteen, netball change-rooms and toilets. 

A play-ground was installed in 2000, and then covered with a roof in in 2013. The Social Room was completed in 2008, providing the club and the community with a fantastic function room and bar. In the right spot, spectators can stand out the front of the canteen and be able to watch the football, netball and the kids at the playground. 

In 2013 to acknowledge their contributions to the Caramut Football Netball Club Inc, the social room, bar and score-box were named after Stephen Giles, Alan “Bones ” Edwards and Graeme “Nombo” Surkitt respectively. None of these facilities would be possible without support from the Moyne Shire and the previous Shire of Warrnambool, and the countless hours put in by the dedicated volunteers in the Caramut community. 

Like all club's, fund-raising is a necessary evil, initiatives carried out by Caramut over the decades have included rabbit drives, sheep drives, gate raffles, silver circle raffle draws, card nights, woolshed dances, dinner dances/cabarets, ladies football matches, the club canteen and bar, a boxing tournament in 1962 and growing a crop of potatoes on Keith “Bonny” Howlett's property in 1965, and since the late 1980's, the yabbie races held at the Caramut Western Hotel, the Golden Circle with 100 tickets sold for $100 each and the Swan Ball are regular events on the current fund-raising calendar. 

A large crowd attended a 1903 match against Hexham, and later enjoyed a “rough and tumble” game against Penshurst, both times Caramut were defeated, players during this season included J Rea, H Williams, J Brown, the Hill brothers, T Muir, A Sheppard and E.R Muir. 

The club continued playing mainly social matches into the 1920's, other matches being played against Woolsthorpe and Woorndoo. 

The club became more formally organised and in 1921 Caramut, Hexham and two Penshurst teams joined for that season in what was known as the Caramut and District Football Association. 

In 1928 Caramut played in the Mortlake District Association against Mortlake, Hexham and Ellerslie, whilst around this time the Caramut State School students played for the Cumming Cup against Chatsworth, Hexham and Woorndoo State Schools. 

In 1929, Jim Slattery (snr) and Lawrence Duff (Caramut State School teacher) met with representatives from Hexham, Wickliffe and Woorndoo to form a football association. It was known as the Foley Cup Football Association, named after the Hexham publican Mr R Foley who donated the premiership trophy. Club boundaries were set, with Caramut's being – 7 miles towards Warrnambool, 5 miles to Hexham, 10 miles north, 5 miles towards Chatsworth and 6 miles west to Penshurst. Caramut's registered uniform was white with red sash, white knicks and red socks. Caramut easily defeated Woorndoo to become premiers, the grand final played at Hexham. 

Mt Violet (Darlington) replaced Wickliffe in 1930, with the premiership cup donated by Mr Hunt, of Caramut. Woorndoo defeated Caramut in the grand final to win the Hunt Cup. 

In 1931 the Caramut and District Football Association was formed comprising at different times Caramut, Penshurst Seconds, Hexham, Mortlake Seconds, Darlington, Woorndoo, Chatsworth and Wickliffe. Caramut played in the finals from 1932 to 1939, winning five premierships, 1933-1936- 1937-1938-1939. 

The 1936 president was J Slattery with L Duff sec-treasurer. The club presented trophies for the best players during the 1937 finals series, won by J de Little, S Haase and J Templeton. The Argus reported in 1938 “While travelling to a Darlington match in extremely wet conditions, a motor car overturned and Jim Slattery (jnr) suffered a broken collar bone.” Caramut defeated Hexham 14-11 to 7-8 to win the 1938 flag. Caramut defeated Woorndoo 5-8 to 4-3 in the 1939 second semi-final, the Melbourne Age reported on the grand final “In the Caramut Association grand final, Caramut 8-14 d Mortlake Seconds 4-7. This is the fourth year in succession Caramut has won the premiership. Towards the end of the third quarter two players commenced to fight. Onlookers joined in, and it was fifteen minutes before the umpire was able to restart play.” 

The association folded after the 1939 season, and in 1940 Caramut joined the Penshurst and District Junior League. Caramut then went into recess for the duration of the war. 

In 1946 Caramut joined as a founding member of the Quarry Hill (Kirkstall) League, comprising Caramut, Penshurst, Minhamite, Hawkesdale, Tarrington and Kirkstall. Caramut won the 1946 premiership, defeating Penshurst at Tarrington. 

The Hopkins District Football Association reformed in 1947, and Caramut entered joining Hexham, Darlington-Dundonnell and Woorndoo, losing the grand final to Darlington-Dundonnell, 10-5 to 7-14, goals J Kelly 2, S Surkitt 2, J Slattery 2, J Hansey 1. Caramut gained revenge in 1948 by defeating that club in the grand final by two points. Around this time, following a muddy season, a proposal was put forward to change the club jumper to that of Carlton, which included the CFC emblem, however the returned soldiers amongst the club rallied passionately and quickly scuttled the idea, noting that to them the red and white represented the Cross of St George under which they had fought, and the arid land which they transformed with blood, sweat and tears after the war. 

Following the 1949 season, Caramut sought to play a better standard of football and joined the Port Fairy Football League. During this period the team travelled to away games in Eddie Smith's truck with a canvas shelter and stools bolted to the tray. Caramut remained in this league up to the end of the 1964 season. 

Between 1948 and 1959, the Soldier Settlement Scheme was established in the district, with up to 158 WW2 Soldier Settlers and their families taking up land on 15 estates surrounding Caramut. This had a huge impact on the community, the town thrived, and the football club benefited greatly from an influx of quality players. This was the beginning of another golden era for the club. 

In 1952 under president Dan Hassett, captain-coach Stan Kidman and vice-captain Ken Keilar, Caramut were defeated in the grand final by Koroit, and again in 1953 Koroit had the better of Caramut in the decider, winning 13-9 to 8-8, with the gate £229/0/0. 

The 1954 season was Caramut's turn, winning their first premiership since 1948, defeating Macarthur in the grand final 10-11 to 6-16. A report read “Caramut used the wind to gain a 12 point lead in the first quarter, then Macarthur dominated the second but their kicking for goal was shocking. The third quarter produced the best football of the match and Caramut piled on 6 goals, five points, and Macarthur three straight goals to thrill the big crowd. By the fourth quarter, Caramut was the better team on the day. Caramut coach Joe Toleman led the team well, and Stan “Blue” Kidman and Dave Burrows were stand out players in a fairly even team. Caramut goal kickers were Billy McKenzie and Wayne Waixel 3 each, Noel Collins, Stan Kidman, Joe Toleman and Max Surkit one each.” 

In 1955 Caramut won back to back flags, defeating Tower Hill by 10 points, 8-9 to 7-5, in the grand final, then losing the 1956 decider to Penshurst by just one point, 6-7 to 5-12. This loss would deny Caramut winning four successive premierships, as in 1957 Caramut defeated Koroit by 19 points to win the flag, under coach Don Grossman, recruited from Warrnambool. Max Surkitt took out the league best and fairest award. Caramut were defeated by Bessiebelle by 12 points in the 1958 grand final. This was Caramut's seventh successive grand final appearance, yielding three premierships. 

The club then went into a re-building phase, as the 1961 team, under coach Graeme Kosch, only had four members old enough to go to the pub for the traditional drink to celebrate wins. The rest of the team went to Molly Slattery's shop for milkshakes! The 1963 U-17 team were runners-up, before going one better in 1964, winning the premiership easily over Port Fairy, 7-3 to 2-2, with Ron Waixel coaching. Best players were Bernie Waixel, Peter Slattery, John Martin, Trevor Keilar, Geoff Howley, Ron Keilar, Mick Cameron. 

Initial discussions regarding joining the Mininera Football League began in 1963, the main grounds being travelling, better gates, possible mergers between the Port Fairy League with either of two other nearby leagues and that the transfer would eliminate the bye in both leagues. Caramut officially applied to join the Mininera Football League in November 1964, with R Renkin and R Mason presenting their case for admittance, which was initially refused by the Port Fairy League. The club then appealed to the VCFL Appeals Board, consisting of three members from each of the two Districts involved, Ballarat and Western, who upheld the appeal. Under coach Graeme Kosch, Caramut had a successful first season, finishing fourth on the ladder with a 9-7 winning ratio, but were eliminated in the first semi final at Glenthompson by Willaura, 10-18 to 4-10. 

The club returned to finals action in 1969, defeating Tatyoon by 41 points in the first semi, then accounting for Rovers by 9 points in a slogging preliminary final. The grand final against Glenthompson was an entertaining high scoring match, where despite trailing by just one goal with only minutes remaining, Caramut were over-run by Glen in the closing stages, going down by 24 points. Richard Coghlan was joint winner of the league goal kicking with 58 majors. He would again win this award in 1971 with 88, as Caramut finished third on the ladder with 12 wins under coach Brian O'Neill. The Swans won a close semi final over Tatyoon by six points, in a match where less than a goal separated the teams at each break. Caramut then upset top team Penshurst in the preliminary final, hanging on to win by just seven points. The grand final was against Lake Bolac at Willaura, where Caramut, although ahead at each break, only held a narrow six point lead going into the last term, and although kicking 2-6 for the quarter won their first MDFL premiership by 15 points. When the team arrived back at Caramut, they were loaded onto Ken Slattery's truck at the Chatsworth turn-off, and paraded through town. The town didn't sleep that weekend! 

The U-13 team were runners up in 1973, losing 1-5 to 2-0, then in 1974, gun forward David Wynd won both the league best and fairest with 26 votes, and the league goal kicking with 88, the first player to achieve the double in the one season. In 1979, with the introduction of the reserves, the club used red knicks for the first time. 

The U-15's reached the 1981 play-off but were no match for Hawkesdale, going down by 64 points. Wayne Burrows took out the inaugural Collingwood trophy in 1983, and Richard Barr made it back to back wins for the club in 1984, while also finishing third in the league best and fairest, three votes behind the two joint winners. The U-15 team reached the grand final, but went down to Penshurst by 39 points. 

With Hexham going into recess, Caramut was bolstered by the addition of many former Hexham players for the 1985 season. Remarkably, Bill Stapleton gave Caramut a hattrick of wins in the Collingwood trophy in 1985, and Jason Hassett won the league U-15 best and fairest, polling a massive 44 votes. The U-15 team again reached the grand final, but once more found their opponents too good, losing by 38 points. Leon Cameron was named best player and kicked two goals for the Swans. This was his 111th match for Caramut, having played his first match at just seven years of age. He would play the following two years at East Warrnambool U-14's, then a season in the U-18's and the senior team, including the grand final, before going to on to play 256 AFL matches, 172 with the Western Bulldogs and 84 with Richmond. In 2014 he was appointed coach of the Sydney based GWS Giants, and has coached the club in 149 matches over seven seasons with a winning strike-rate of 55.4%. 

The 1988 reserves won the second semi final against Hawkesdale by a comfortable 32 points, and again faced the Cats in the grand final. This time Caramut had to pull out all stops to take the flag, trailing by three points at the last break in a low scoring match, but in a nail-biting final quarter, out-scored their opponents by a goal, taking out the premiership by three points, 5-7 to 5-4. Mark Murphy finished second in the 1989 Lewis Medal, one vote behind the winner. The reserves lost the preliminary final by just four points to Hawkesdale, in hindsight this loss preventing the Swans reserves from playing in four successive grand finals.

The club held a hugely successful reunion in April 1991, with over 300 people attending to commemorate 60 years of registration. 1991 was also a big year for the reserves, Bill Stapleton winning the league B & F, and the team premiers, their second flag in three years. A 13 point victory in the second semi saw the Swans advance to the grand final, where again Hawkesdale were the foes. After holding a slender four point lead at the long break, Caramut overwhelmed the Cats in the second half, outscoring their opponents by seven goals in recording a 46 point victory, 11-15 to 5-7. 

The reserves again reached the grand final in 1992, defeating Dunkeld in the first semi by three points and Penshurst by eleven in the preliminary, before fronting Hawkesdale in the decider, the Cats proving too strong in winning by 28 points. 

The decade beginning 1993 was the most successful in the club's history in the MDFL. Mick Soulsby was appointed coach at the age of 36, but would still go on to play 189 games for the Swans, and he led the club into the finals, but eliminated in the first semi. The club then appointed joint coaches Darren Bradshaw and Jason Mifsud for the 1994 season, leading the club into the grand final. Caramut won the first 17 matches, before suffering defeat to Wickliffe-Lake Bolac in the final round. The Magpies would again have the better of the Swans in the second semi, kicking accurately in winning by 13 points 15-3 to 11-14. Caramut then had a commanding victory over SMW Rovers in the preliminary final, 20-16 to 6-7, to again face WLB in the grand final at Penshurst. Despite trailing by 15 points at quarter time, Caramut dominated the second quarter to take a decisive 26 point lead into the long break. The second half saw Caramut restrict WLB to just one goal, while adding 4 goals in damp conditions to record a comfortable 42 point victory, clinching the club's first senior flag since 1971. Jason Mifsud's 4 goals gave him the VCFL Medal, and a record 205 goals for the year. He had earlier taken out the Lewis Medal with 37 votes, also a record. Robert Mann gave the Swans the double when he was announced the league reserves best and fairest. 

The U-16 team were also premiers in 1994, defeating Hawkesdale 4-7 to 2-1, with Tim Clarke awarded the Brown Medal for best player. Caramut, bolstered by the inclusion of Tony Russell,who would finish the season kicking 157 goals, again reached the grand final in 1995 under Jason Mifsud. After suffering a 13 goal defeat at the hands of the unbeaten Tatyoon in the second semi, the Swans recovered to oust Penshurst in the preliminary final, 18-5 to 9-20. However, Tatyoon again were too strong, winning the grand final 25-16 to 10-4, with Tony Russell kicking six goals. The U-16 team again reached the grand final, but lost narrowly to Hawkesdale, 6-8 to 5-4, with Matthew Bell taking home the Brown Medal. 

Caramut again made the final four in 1996 but lost the first semi to Penshurst. 

The seniors finished the 1997 season second on the ladder behind Tatyoon, who won the second semi by 37 points. Caramut then played Wickliffe-Lake Bolac in the preliminary final at Penshurst, but lost a tight affair by eleven points, 10-13 to 9-8. U-16 player Steven Bickers was joint winner of the league best and fairest. The Swans finished on top of the 1998 ladder, and played Tatyoon in the second semi, but lost the match by six goals. The team then accounted comfortably for Glenthompson,17-9 to 9-15 in the preliminary, to again reach a grand final. The match proved a tight affair from the beginning and at three quarter time was wide open, Caramut having a four point advantage. However, Tatyoon came home with a wet sail kicking six goals to three in recording a 14 point victory. Caramut, under Wayne Aitken, finished the 1999 season third and comfortably defeated Glenthompson by 46 points in winning the qualifying final, to face top team Tatyoon in the second semi. Again the Hawks had the Swan's measure in winning by 58 points. Caramut regrouped for the preliminary final against Glenthompson, booting away in the last term to win by 31 points, keeping the opposition scoreless in the last term, while adding four goals, winning 8-9 to 3-8. This gave the Swans another grand final berth against nemesis Tatyoon. A six goal opening term and resultant 22 point lead was reduced to just a three point half-time advantage. Caramut then set up the premiership victory keeping Tatyoon scoreless in the third term, while adding 5-4, taking a decisive 37 point advantage into the last quarter. The Swans were never under threat for the remainder of the match, running out 31 point victors in bringing home Caramut's third MDFL flag. Steven Rowe won the VCFL medal, and Roger Mifsud was awarded the Jim Knight medal, having taken out the league reserves leading goal kicking through the season. 

Wayne Aitken finished runner-up in the 2000 Lewis Medal vote count, while the senior team was defeated in the 2000 elimination final. Caramut, with spear-head David Bell booting 117 goals to take the goal kicking award, headed the ladder in 2001. Up against Wickliffe-Lake Bolac in the second semi, the Swans were no match for the Magpies, going under to the tune of 71 points. Caramut then won a hard slogging preliminary final against Hawkesdale-Macarthur at Dunkeld, 5-4 to 3-4. This set up a re-match with Wickliffe-Lake Bolac in the grand final at Willaura, but again they proved too strong, winning comfortably. 

Caramut finished second in 2002 and defeated Woorndoo-Mortlake by 47 points in the qualifying final, but then found Wickliffe-Lake Bolac too strong in the second semi, losing by 27 points. The preliminary final was against the Tigers again, and despite taking a 14 point advantage into the last quarter, the Swans were over-run in the last term, going down 10-11 to 9-8. Tim Chatfield won the league goal kicking with 88, while Phil Chatfield took out the reserves title with 54 goals. 

Caramut had now played finals in each of the ten previous seasons, winning two premierships, being runners-up on three occasions and reaching two other preliminary finals. 

In 2007 the Swans returned to finals action again. Todd O'Sullivan was a runaway winner of the Lewis Medal, polling 28 votes to win by ten. The seniors finished third, but lost the qualifying final to Hawkesdale by 60 points. They then won a high scoring cliffhanger against Glenthompson, prevailing by just three points, 17-17 to 17-14. The preliminary final was against the Cats who again had the wood on the Swans in winning by 54 points. The reserves also finished third, but were eliminated in straight sets, suffering heavy defeats in both finals matches. 

In 2008 the Caramut Football and Netball clubs merged to form the Caramut Football Netball Club Inc. The club again made a finals appearance, but were defeated by nine points at the hands of Moyston-Willaura. A highlight for the club was Lachie Barr being a joint winner of the Lewis Medal. 

The reserves made the 2009 elimination final, winning over Moyston-Willaura, by 15 points, but then lost the first semi to Lismore-Derrinallum by 16 points. 

In 2011, Nathan Jones finished second in the Lewis Medal, but received some consolation by taking out the Paul's Dairy Award. Nathan then came out in 2012, going one better by taking home the coveted Lewis Medal with 24 votes. 

Andrew Calvert was recognised by the league in 2017 by taking out the Reserves Umpire of the Year Award. 

Over 1000 people attended a late July 2018 home game against Woorndoo-Mortlake to see former AFL great, Warwick “The Wiz” Capper make a one-off appearance in the red and white, courtesy of the Footy Show's “spin the wheel” segment. While the club didn't get a much needed win, a sportsman's night held in the social rooms featuring Capper and AFL player manager Ricky Nixon proved a huge financial bonus. 

Adam Lehmann played his 400th MDFL match during the 2019 season, and holds the club record of 333 senior games. He had previously played with Woorndoo from 2002-06. 

When Stephen Giles was awarded life-membership of the club, he followed in the footsteps of his father Tom, and grand father Sid, making three generations of the Giles family. Both Stephen and Tom were appointed club patrons, and No. 1 ticket holders. A Melbourne lawyer, Stephen has returned to Caramut to play footy for the past 22 seasons, a 500 km and six hour return trip.