Club History 1906 - 2008
Lovett 1906
The Early Years 1906-1919
Lovett joined the Huon Football Association in 1906, playing at Mr J. Harvey's property and competed against the Kermandie and Franklin Football Clubs finishing the season in third position. Lovett left the HFA in 1907 and played against sides on the Cygnet side of the river. When the HFA reformed in 1912, Lovett was included and went on to win the 1912 and 1913 premierships, after which they changed the name of the club to Cygnet and their home ground to the site of the current Cygnet Primary School Oval. Clarrie Burton who captained the 1912-13 Premierships had a career spanning 30 years. He once kicked 17 goals in a game and kicked 1000 goals in his career. Nichols Rivulet joined the HFA in 1914 but the season was disrupted by the start of World War 1. However Cygnet defeated Kermandie in 1915 for the premiership.
1928 Premiers
The Roaring 20s and 30s 1920-1939
In 1922 the Cygnet side was so superior that the season was abandoned and the premiership awarded to Cygnet. Cygnet defeated Kermandie by 6 points, despite not kicking a goal in the final term to win the 1923 premiership. Both the 1925 and 1926 Premierships went to Cygnet and the sides were captained by W. Wills and Doc Cradoc respectively. The 1928 premiership was also won by Cygnet when a shot after the final siren by the Kermandie captain failed to register a score. A goal would have given Kermandie the Premiership. The thirties seen premierships won in 1931 under coach W. Wills, 1935 under Tony Johnstone and 1938 under Athol Paul. W. Henley won the first Huon Best & Fairest in 1935. Ken Fraser from Collingwood took over as a coach in 1939. Then Word War 2 broke out.
Bill Welsh
Post War Football 1945-1959
After the war four clubs competed in the HFA, a combined side of Franklin and Huonville, known as the Huon Football Club, a team from Kingborough, Kermandie and of course Cygnet, who were coached by Bill Welsh and assisted by Horrie Gorringe. They were succesful in winning the 1945 flag. In 1946 the Kingborough team dropped out and Franklin and Huonville reformed. It was 1947 and 1948 under Jack Rogers as Coach that Cygnet won the HFA Premiership as well as beating the Kingborough Association Premiers and the NWFU Premiers Ulverstone to take the State Country Championship for both years as well. The 1950 and 1951 flags also belong to the Magpies under coaches Alby Andrews and Paddy Williams. Cygnet were also Southern Country Champions in 1950 as well as winning the juniors title. In 1952 the Juniors were played at the same venue as the Seniors for the first time, and that first official Juniors Premiership was won by Cygnet and won again in 1953. Leon Synnott returned to Cygnet from Hobart to coach in 1954, runner up that year, but they were premiers in 1955. In 1956 the Juniors side coached by Byron Howard won the Premiership. The Under 19s joined the Seniors and Juniors that year with the flag coming Cygnet's way. Leon Synnott was again successful in 1957 with both the Seniors and Juniors winning the Premiership. The Under 18s were succesful in 1959 under coach Bill Stewart. The fifties was also the time the Club relocated to it's present home.
Newspaper clipping from the Huon News in 1968 of Lyle Graham
after coaching his third Premiership in a row
The Golden Age of Football 1960-1979
The 1960s got off to a great start, when Jim Blackaby's Senior side and Bill Stewart's Under 18s side both winning the Premiership for Cygnet. Cygnet's Danny Reardon won the HFA's Under 18s Best and Fairest in 1961. His side also won their third premiership in a row but this time under coach Kevin Miller. All three Premierships were won by Cygnet in 1962. The Seniors comfortably under Brian Bowden. The Juniors under Captain/Coach Doug Batchelor by six points, and the Under 18s winning their fourth consecutive under Ned Garth. Cygnet also won all three Best and Fairest with Brian Bowden the Seniors, Doug Batchelor the Juniors and M. Direen the Under 18s, as well as having the leading goal kickers in all three grades. In 1963 the Juniors went back to back again under Doug Batchelor, while the Under 18s won their fifth consecutive premiership under the guidance on E. "Boysie" Direen. George Fleming won the HFA Juniors best and Fairest. Alf Cook was Cygnet's new coach in 1964 and he succesfully won the flag, while his Centreman Ally Fletcher won the Ivan Short Medal. George Tozer coached the now Under 17s to the flag in 1965, while Cygnet's Marty Brereton was Senior Best and Fairest winner for the HFA. Lyle Graham's appointment in 1966 signalled a period of domination with the Magpies winning the Seniors, Juniors and Under 17s for three consecutive years of 1966, 1967 and 1968 to be the first club to win a hatrick. Graham coached both the Seniors and Juniors, while George Tozer was in charge of the Under 17s. The 1967 bush fires changed the HFA with inclusion of Kingston and Channel and the introduction of boundaries. After no success in 1969, Cygnet bounced back to win all three Premierships in 1970. This time George Tozer was the succesful coach in the Seniors and Reserves while Jack Synnott was coach of the Under 17s. In 1971 Ray Gordon tied for the Ivan Short Medal and Tony Dance won the HFA Reserves Best & Fairest. Jack Synnott went on to coach the seniors to victory in 1972, with John Bone winning the Ivan Short Medal as well as the Under 17s under Phil Spinks direction claimimg the flag. In 1974 the Senior under Ray O'Rourke won the Premiership while Laurence Jarrett won the Ivan Short Medal. Vincent Oakford was coach of the Under 17s, who also won the flag. Maurice Jarrett was the HFA Under 17s Best and Fairest. In 1975 under the same coaches, both sides finished runners up. Cygnet's 25th Senior flag was won in 1976 defeating Channel by 5 points. they were coached by Brian Dillon. The clubrooms were offically opened in 1976 aswell. No team success but 1977 season seen Geoff Haughland win the HFA Best & Fairest in the Under 17s. John Thurley's Senior side were up by 72 points at three quarter time of the 1979 HFA Grand Final which they went on to win by thirty points. The Reserves under Greg Howard and the Under 17s under S. Davis put the 1979 Premiership tally to 3.
Coach Greg Watson and prolific Association Best & Fairest winner
Greg "Ducky" Gordon after 1992 Reserves Premiership
The Modern Era 1980-1997
Cygnet were Runners-up in the Seniors and Reserves in 1980, with Geoff Haughland sharing the Ivan Short Medal and Tony Dance winning the HFA Reserves Best & Fairest. Cygnet's first premiership of the eighties was the 1984 Senior Premiership coached by Colin Bellchambers. In 1985 the Under 17s were beaten in the Grand Final by 20 points, but Ian Fletcher won the HFA Best and Fairest. 1987 seen one Premiership, that being in the Under 17s who were coached by Brendan Connell. HFA Best and Fairests went to Greg Gordon in the Seniors and his brother Phillip in the Reserves. The Under 17s went back-to-back in 1988 again coached by Brendan Connell, with Brendon Polley kicking 100 goals and winning the Under 17s HFA Best & Fairest, while Phillip Gordon won another HFA Reserves Best & Fairest award. 1989 seen the Reserves win the Premiership with Greg Watson as coach. Phillip Gordon again HFA Best & Fairest winner. The Under 17s who were undefeated all season went down in the Grand Final, but Matthew Brereton was named HFA Best & Fairest in the Under 17s. In 1990 the Under 17s won the Premiership, Greg Gordon the Ivan Short Medal and Phillip Gordon another HFA Reserves Best & Fairest. In 1991 the Under 17s went back-to-back and Phillip Gordon won his fifth consecutive HFA Best & Fairest. Greg Watson coached the Reserves to the Premiership in 1992, with Greg Gordon winning the HFA Best & Fairest, but this time in the Reserves.
Garry Williamson after the 1994 Premiership.
Former William Leitch Medalist Garry Williamson took over as coach in 1993 and won the Ivan Short Medal. Greg Gordon was the Reserves HFA Best & Fairest. In 1994 the drought was finally broken after ten years without a Senior Premiership, Garry Williamson's side came through with a win. Cygnet also won the Colts Premiership that year under Adrian Tatnell's coaching and Greg "Ducky" Gordon won another HFA Reserves Best & Fairest. Adrian Tatnell coached a second Colts Premiership in 1995 in a year that seen the Franklin club go into recess. Franklin returned in 1996, but its abscence had convinced Kingston and Channel to join the STFL leaving the HFA with four teams. The Reserves won the Premiership that year under Brett Direen's coaching, while the Colts under Stuart McCallum were Runners-up, with Tony Madigan named the Ivan Short Medalist. 1997 was Cygnet's last year as the Magpies in that year the Colts under Mick Garth won the flag with Heath Dillon winning a HFA Best & Fairest. The Reserves also won the flag under Brett Direen with Greg Gordon and Jason Doyle joint winners of the Reserves HFA Best & Fairest. The Seniors under Vincent Synnott were unlucky Runners-up, but managed to get two Cygnet players, Trad Page and Michael Darcy to be joint winners of the Ivan Short Medal.
The 2004 Premiership team after equaling the three in a row record.
The Port 1998 —
After Special and Extraordinary General Meetings the hard decision was made and Cygnet were off to the SFL . The new 11 team competition already had a team known as the Magpies. So with that came a new jumper, new colours and a new identity. Top that off with a new coach, former Melbourne and Fitzroy player Wayne Lamb and a club with a new found enthusiasm. Cygnet suddenly found themselves playing in a Grand Final against a star studded Brighton side, after leading all day Cygnet had to be content with a draw. Cygnet couldn't match its effort in the rematch and finished Runners-up. Michael Darcy kicked 100 goals in the season to join Robbie Thorp as the only other player to have done so, while Greg "Ducky" Gordon chalked up 450 games. Over the next few years the SFL grew to 12 teams and then 15 teams. In 2001 Damien Dillon won the William Leitch Medal (called the Hodgman Medal at the time) as the Seniors Best & Fairest in the SFL. In 2002 the league split into two smaller league of eight teams, Cygnet found itself playing in the Regional League. The Port also regained the services of Garry Williamson, this time as a non-playing coach. Success was instant with a Grand Final win over Lauderdale at North Hobart Oval in 2002. 2003 seen the Seniors go back-to-back against the same opposition with Michael Darcy reaching the 100 goal mark for the second time, and the Reserves under Brett "Nifty" Direen finished Runners-up. The Seniors under Garry Williamson won the Three-peat in 2004 when they defeated Sorell in the Grand Final. Michael "Pud" Darcy brought up his third goal-kicking ton, while Jeremy Brereton was honoured with a Hodgman Medal. The Reserves brought up the double by also winning the flag, with Greg Howard again as coach. Todd Rider won the SFL Reserves Best & Fairest and the club won the Bibby Shield to top off a great year. In 2005 The Port celebrated it's Centenary and hoped to do so by breaking it's own record and winning it's forth consecutive Premiership. At the half way mark of the final term it look as though Anthony Cole's team had done it, but the game was some how pinched by Kermandie the same club who had ended our run in 1968.
Senior Premierships
1912, 1913, 1915, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1926, 1928, 1931, 1935, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1955, 1957, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1979, 1984, 1994, 2002, 2003, 2004.
The breakdown by decade is as follows: 1910’s – 3, 1920’s – 5, 1930’s – 3, 1940’s – 3, 1950’s – 4, 1960’s – 6, 1970’s – 5, 1980’s – 1, 1990’s – 1, 2000’s – 3
The Club was also the State Country Champions in 1947 & 1948
Since 1912, Lovett FC/Cygnet FC has won 34 Senior Premierships, (average 1 every 3 years), and approximately 20 Reserve and Under-age Premierships.
In the thirteen year period from 1945 to 1957, the Seniors played in 12 Grand Finals, winning 7 Premierships and finishing runners-up in 5 Grand Finals.
The Club has won 3 Senior premierships in successive years on only two occasions, 1966, 67 and 68 under Coach, Lyell Graham (incidently all 3 teams, Seniors, Reserves and Under-ages won premierships in each of these 3 years – a phenomenal achievement). More recently the Club has won successive premierships in 2002, 2003 and 2004 under Gary Williamson.
The Club has also won back to back premierships on 5 other occasions.
Multiple Premiership Coaches since 1945 include:
Gary Williamson - 4 Premierships (1994, 2002, 2003, 2004)
Lyell Graham - 3 Premierships (1966, 1967, 1968)
Leon Synnott - 2 Premierships (1955, 1957)
Jack Rodgers - 2 Premierships (1947, 1948)
Best & Fairest Winners
The club has had a number of notable Best & Fairest winners including Greg Gordon (6 times), the late Robbie Thorp (3 times), Marty Brereton (3 times), D Armstrong, R Dwyer, R Gordon, D O’Rourke, J Bone, Mick Garth and Gary Williamson (all dual winners).
Outstanding Servants of our Club
It is a very difficult task to pick out outstanding past players and officials given the number of people who have contributed significantly to our club over the years. However three that come to mind are Greg Gordon, Leon Synnott and Jack Synnott.
Greg Gordon
Club Game Record Holder – 450 games in total (310 Seniors, 110 Reserves, 30 Under-age)
Huon Football Association Best & Fairest – Seniors (1987 & 1990), Reserves (1992-94 & 1997)
Senior Best & Fairest Winner 6 times (1977, 1980, 1983-4, 1987, 1990)
Winner of 3 Synnott Brothers Awards (1980, 1983, 1990)
Reserve Best & Fairest Winner twice (1992 & 1993)
Under-age Best & Fairest Winner 1973
Coached Seniors 1988-89 and Reserves 1983
Awarded Life Membership in 1987
Leon Synnott (Deceased)
Senior Best & Fairest Winner in 1951 after returning from a short stint with Hobart FC
Senior Playing Coach 1954-58, including premierships in 1955 & 1957. Also runners-up in 1954 & 1956.
Club President 1983
Awarded Life Membership in 1982
Jack Synnott
Very good Senior footballer
Coached Seniors/Reserves 1971-73, including Senior Premiership in 1972
Coached Under-age team to a Premiership in 1970
Club President 1978-79 and 1990-91. Now in his seventies, Jack is still an active member and loyal worker around the Club
Jack was awarded Life Membership in 1973