The Mitcham Football Club Hall of Fame seeks to recognise and enshrine players, coaches and administrators who have made significant contributions to The Mitcham Football Club since the clubs inception in 1888.
The Mitcham Football Club Hall of Fame considers candidates on the basis of record, ability, integrity, sportsmanship and character. Also taken into account The number of games played, coached or years of service as an administrator plus the impact an individual has had on the club.
Peter “Dungo” Dungan
It’s fair to say Peter Dungan has done it all at the Mitcham Football Club. After joining the club in 1977, you would be hard pressed to find an individual that has achieved more for the club both on and off the field.
Dungo made his name as no nonsense hard nose straight running full back who played in 3 Senior Grand finals and 2 Premierships in Division 1 – 1979 & 1980. After finishing his playing career he went on the become A well respected Club Leader who used his enormous talents for the betterment of the Mitcham Football Club.
He served 10 years as President – 3 Years with the Senior Football Club and 7 years with The Mitcham Sporting Club. He then went on to give 10 years’ service to the Juniors, 2 years as Chairman, 4 years as Coach and a Team manager for 4 years
Tony “Rocket” Andrews
To many Tony Rocket Andrews still remains one of the best Mitcham players to ever pull on the jumper and brought so much joy to the Mitcham faithful. Goals win matches and Tony was clearly the League’s most dominate full forward kicking 601 goals over 6 years at an average 100 goals per season, with 132 goals season in 1982.
He played in 5 consecutive Division One Grand finals for 3 Premierships in 1979, 1980 & 1981 and was pivotal in the clubs dominance during that time.
Kenneth John
Ken first came to the Mitcham Football Club with his son Shaun, who started playing in the Juniors in 1978. Ken went on to be Mitcham’s consummate Clubman, being awarded 3 successive Best Clubman awards (1982-83-84).
Whilst he never played a game for Mitcham, Ken, happily took on a power of work in various roles over an extraordinary 34-year period in whatever he could best do for the well-being of the MFC. Ken continues his
service to the Club as one of the most valued volunteers in Mitcham’s history.
Lee “Yogi” Gale
Some people are natural leaders and Lee is certainly one of them. Lee is recognised as the
man who got Mitcham back on top again, as President in 1977, setting up a period of 6
consecutive Grand Final appearances from 1978, for 3 Premierships.
A strong leader Lee was well supported by his wife Bernice (Life Member) who did a power of work in her own right for the Club.
Ray Ireland
A Mitcham local boy, Ray was born in 1919. Ray was a key member of the famous Ireland ‘family dynasty’. The Irelands owned much of Mitcham with their orchards and were well-known for their involvement at the Mitcham FC. Ray’s father started one of the largest orchards in Mitcham, where Ray worked his whole life.
Ray worked hard and played even harder over a long and very distinguished playing career spanning 20 years from 1935 – 1955. Ray was a talented Centre Half Forward or Ruck Rover. Like the great Bob Pratt before him, Ray was a boy prodigy.
Gary ”Sammy” Dunkinson
A Mitcham local boy, Gary was born in 1955, There are not many past players ‘more local’ than the famous footballers, like Gary, who lived and played their first footy in Alexander Street Mitcham, close by to Walker Park. A leader from a young age, Gary was Team Captain of the MFC U15s (1970) and U17s (1972).
His leadership would progress in his senior football years and in his business career.
Garry Wathen
Garry is a Mitcham boy, born in 1953. In 1966 Garry walked into the Club as a 12-year-old, playing in the Under 16’s, proving to be a handy player (and team captain) at school and in junior football.
Predominately a Reserves player, Garry’s strengths lay in the Club’s off field needs, first working on the Senior Committee in 1977, while still a player. Garry had a lifetime of playing footy, but his greater contribution and interest would see him focus on Club administration
Ron Thomas
Ron is a Mitcham local boy, born in 1948. Whilst Ron was not at the Club as long as some other
Mitcham ‘greats’, the intensive impact Ron had was immense and like no other.
Ron was an inspirational leader and apart from his outstanding playing and coaching smarts, his extensive knowledge ‘of all things’ football certainly benefitted the MFC
Peter Wishart
Peter is a Mitcham local boy and the younger brother of Leo Wishart (fellow Life Member / Hall
of Famer). Like many local boys, Peter began his footy at the Nunawading Youth Club U16s
(before the Mitcham Football Club had set up their own U16s).
As Peter started very young,
around 9 years of age, he went on to play over 100 games in the U16s (including an U16’s Premiership).
Graham Cassidy
Graham was a Mitcham local boy. Whilst Graham played some of his junior football at both Whitehorse Rovers and Ferntree Gully, at 15 years of age he was enticed to Mitcham FC by the then Captain Coach Ken Herbert,
formerly from Hawthorn FC. Graham was a very quick and skillful player who later spent s short time
at South Melbourne FC. Some may say he was a ‘smarter businessman than a player’ as he started the Graham Cassidy Taxi Trucks. This business was a first of its time in the eastern suburbs, which he ran with
his wife Beverley with much success.
Leo Wishart
Leo’s extraordinary 33 years active service with outstanding distinction has been acknowledged with a Life Membership and later elevated into the MFC Hall of Fame. Leo was more than a handy senior player, he was one of the great proponents of the now extinct drop kick. Even in his 40 & 50`s he loved to occasionally come down to help the boys out at training and let rip with few long raking drop kicks, a skill he was extremely proud of.But it was the man that he was, that endeared him to all at Mitcham.
A very popular man who always looked for the positives.
As a senior coach he was a passionate orator, motivating not only his players but all who heard him. Loud and clear, no in close secret whispers back then. Standing above all else was his humility and respect for others.
Lionel “Sport” Sewart
Lionel ‘Sport’ Sewart was a local Mitcham boy. ‘Sport’ was head of the Sewart family … a famous name and family within the Mitcham Football Club (MFC).
His father Ephraim was a stable manager and moved to Mitcham to take up employment at Mr. Walker’s Australian Tesselated Tile Company (ATTC).
Edgar Edwardes Walker
Edgar E. Walker was a Mitcham local man. As Mitcham’s second ClubPresident, Edgar was a dominant figure of the broader community and certainly was the Godfather of the Mitcham Football Club (MFC). Edgar ushered in the most successful period under his 10-year Presidency and beyond. He was President from 1903 – 1913.
The Club was Premiers: 1903, 1904, 1914, 1915, (World War 1) 1919 and 1921.