Craigieburn Football Club Past Players

Craigieburn Football Club Past Players For past players & supporters to keep informed of upcoming events & share memories of the past.

What a fantastic day yesterday at our Premiership Reunions & Past Players Day !It was a wonderful atmosphere in the soci...
16/08/2026

What a fantastic day yesterday at our Premiership Reunions & Past Players Day !

It was a wonderful atmosphere in the social rooms, as we all reminisced about the day we won our Premierships !

Thanks again to everyone who attended. I hope you all enjoyed the day as much as I did ! 1976, 1986 & 2016
🦅🏆🏆🏆🤎🤍
Bails.

16/08/2026

Premiership Reunions 1976, 1986 & 2016 🦅🏆

We come to our final Hall Of Fame Inductee ! John “Sando” Sanderson #12who has also been elevated directly into ...
15/08/2026

We come to our final Hall Of Fame Inductee !

John “Sando” Sanderson #12
who has also been elevated
directly into

“ LEGEND STATUS “

John began his career in 1972
and was selected in the very first game for the Craigieburn Football Club, as a sixteen year old. That first season he won the Seniors Best & Fairest Award. An incredible achievement at such a young age.

John had an outstanding career playing in the centre.
He was a brilliant overhead mark, strong at every contest, a beautiful kick & an outstanding leader !

The first few years were extremely hard going, with the team losing its first twenty one games. In round 4 of 1973
the first victory came with a 22 point win over Romsey.

Two years later in 1975 John was able to experience the the feeling of playing in a winning finals team. He was always amongst the best players in the big games that mattered most.
More finals appearances came in 76,77,&78, but falling short of the ultimate success.

Come 1979 and the club recruited a couple of key players and also added more youth into the team. After losing the first two games, the Seniors started to get rolling, winning the remaining 16 games of the home & away season & finished on top of the ladder.

The brilliant form continued in the 2nd Semi Final & John played a major role in the big win. The club had finally made it to a Grand Final & were clear favourites to win.

After a tight & very physical first half the Eagles led by 4 points. The second half was brilliant & John & all his teammates dominated the game & won by 47 points to achieve the clubs first Senior Premiership !

John’s brilliant form continued over the years & in 1983 he was appointed Captain/Coach. John retired in 1989 after playing 230 games. To those of us who had the privilege to see you play & play with you. We would all agree. You had an outstanding career for the Craigieburn Football Club !

John “Sando” Sanderson #12
Played his first game in 1972 Retired as a player in 1989 Played 230 Games Premiership Player & Vice Captain 1979 Four Time Club Club Best & Fairest 1972, 77, 83 & 88 Captain/Coach 1983 Vice Captain Legends Team 1972 - 2002 Life Member

Congratulations John on your induction into the Hall Of Fame & your elevation to

“ LEGEND STATUS “

Our 3rd Premiership Reunion Team is our 2016 Seniors. What a fantastic season they had. Finishing on top of the ladder a...
14/08/2026

Our 3rd Premiership Reunion Team is our 2016 Seniors.

What a fantastic season they had. Finishing on top of the ladder at the end of the home & away, with 14 wins & 2 losses. With an incredible percentage of 247.66 That would have to be a club record !

The first final was against arch rival Tullamarine, with the Eagles absolutely dominating the game with a winning margin of 88 points.
Craigieburn 20.14.134
Tullamarine 6. 10.46

Confidence was at an all time high leading into the Grand Final, where once again the Eagles opponent was Tullamarine.

The game was a much closer this time. The Eagles got off to a great start & and at 1/4 time
led 5.3.33 to 2.2.14

Second quarter saw Tulla fight back & at halftime the Eagles led 7.3.45 to 6.5.41

The Third quarter ( Premiership Quarter ) saw the Eagles start to get control of the game, despite Tulla throwing everything they had at the Eagles. A four goals to two goals gave the Eagles a twenty point lead at 3/4 time.
Craigieburn 11.8.74
Tullamarine 8.6.54

The last quarter had the Eagles dominating most of the quarter to extend their lead. Tullamarine scored goals late in the game. The Eagles had landed once again to take out the Premiership, winning by 20 points.

Craigieburn 15.10.100
Tullamarine 12. 8 . 80

Best Players : G Heenan,
R Bongetti, J Cloke, J Page,
C McErlain, B Gordon
Goal Kickers : J Cloke - 4,
C Cloke - 3, S Laffan - 3,
G Robertson - 2, J Young,
R Bongetti, A Loizou 1 each.

2016 🦅🏆

Our second Premiership Reunion Team this Saturday is the 1986 Reserves. 40 Years ago they took on their arch rival in Su...
13/08/2026

Our second Premiership Reunion Team this Saturday is the 1986 Reserves.

40 Years ago they took on their arch rival in Sunbury, who were playing for their 4th Premiership in a row !

It was a low scoring arm wrestle all day. The backlines of both teams repelled many forward entries.

It came down to a cracking last quarter, where Sunbury got out to a seven point lead with just over 5 minutes remaining. The Eagles burst forward again with Jack Erman kicking truly to make it a one point ball game.

The Eagles went forward again immediately & Gary Houston pounced on a loose ball, snapped at goal & could only manage a point. With three minutes remaining the scores were level !

The pressure was incredible, with both teams giving their absolute everything & supporters going crazy !

The Eagles surged forward again & Gary Houston marked it deep in the forward pocket just beside the point post.

After his near miss a few minutes earlier, he calmly went back & kicked the winning goal in the Grand Final ! ( No doubt, everyone’s
dream )

The Eagles had taken down the might of The Sunbury Lions in the best way possible.

Mick Hussey was voted Best On Ground. Bryan Newman & Jack Erman were also amongst the best players.
Goalkickers were Gary Houston - 2 Jack Erman - 2
Ian Watt, Bill Boyd & Mark Usher 1 each.

Final Scores
Craigieburn - 7 . 10 . 52
defeated
Sunbury - 6 . 10 . 46

What A Win ! 🦅
What A Feeling ! 🏆

With our three Premiership Teams celebrating their milestone Reunions on Saturday. We are highlighting them all. Beginni...
13/08/2026

With our three Premiership Teams celebrating their milestone Reunions on Saturday. We are highlighting them all. Beginning with the 1976 Reserves Team, who 50 years ago won the clubs first Premiership.
Apart from a very lifelike AI image of Greg Sandilands,
we don’t have any photos from the game, but we have a couple of action photos of Geoff Challons & Ronnie Sandilands that were taken a few years later.
We also have copies of the pages from the R.DF.L. Match Day Review. The player profiles are an interesting read, some of the nicknames
are “ Gold “ 1976 🦅🏆

Our next Hall Of Fame Inductee is Jason PappinJason “ Papps” Pappin #43Jason began his career at Craigieburn in 1998 in...
11/08/2026

Our next Hall Of Fame Inductee is Jason Pappin

Jason “ Papps” Pappin #43

Jason began his career at Craigieburn in 1998 in the
U/16’s. A highly skilled midfielder, who was a ball magnet & a brilliant mark.

1999 resulted in a Grand Final loss, followed by another Grand Final loss in his first season with the U/18’s.
On a personal note Papps won
the Club Best & Fairest & was Runner Up the following season.

His Senior debut in 2002 was outstanding, with another Runner Up Club Best & Fairest
He went one better in 2003, winning the Club Best & Fairest.

An opportunity to play at the highest level in the E.D.F.L.
came in 2004 where he played with the powerhouse
Oak Park Football Club.

He was back at the Eagles for season 2005 & what a season it was for Papps. On an individual note, after missing 5 games through injury, he was awarded the E.D.F.L.
Best & Fairest Medal. Polling 31 votes, winning by a clear margin of 7 votes & also winning the Club Best & Fairest.
In Papps own words, his dream season came true when the Eagles won the
Premiership, defeating arch rivals West Coburg at Windy Hill.

Jason went on to play another 3 seasons, winning another
Club Best & Fairest in 2006 & Runner Up in 2007.
He retired in 2008.

Congratulations Jason on your induction into the
Hall Of Fame ! 🦅
Jason “Papps” Pappin #43
Played his first game in 1998
In the U/16’s Senior Debut 2002 Retired in 2008 Played 160 Games Premiership Player in 2005 E.D.F.L. Best & Fairest 2005 Club Best & Fairest 2003,
2005 & 2006 Runner Up
2002 & 2007 Under 18’s Best & Fairest
2000 & Runner Up 2001

Our next inductee into our Hall Of Fame is Greg Sandilands. Greg began playing in 1972 & in 1976 he was part of the 1976...
10/08/2026

Our next inductee into our
Hall Of Fame is Greg Sandilands.

Greg began playing in 1972 & in 1976 he was part of the
1976 Reserves Premiership Team, no doubt the highlight of his playing career over
135 games.

Greg’s greatest legacy for the club, was as Club Secretary, a position he held for 18 years.
Greg was also a qualified trainer for many years, which included R.D.F.L. Representative Games.

A active member of the club’s supporter group, The Golden Eagles since it began.
Greg was also awarded life
membership of the R.D.F.L.

Greg is without doubt, the clubs most passionate supporter. He tells us that since he began playing in 1972, he has only missed about 20 games over 56 years. An incredible effort !

Greg Sandilands #47
Played his first game in 1972 Retired as a player in 1979 Played 135 games Premiership Player Reserves
1976 Club Secretary for 18 years Club Trainer for many years R.D.F.L. Life Member Craigieburn Life Member
Congratulations Greg on your induction into the
Hall Of Fame ! 🦅

Our next inductee is Peter “Skeeta” Sanderson Peter began playing in the Juniors in 1975 & made his Senior debut in 1983...
09/08/2026

Our next inductee is

Peter “Skeeta” Sanderson

Peter began playing in the Juniors in 1975 & made his Senior debut in 1983.

Like his elder brothers, Skeeta was blessed with talent. He read the play well, was a great kick & had a fantastic pair of hands. He would often be flying high in the packs & taking fantastic one grab marks.

A wonderful consistent player, many would agree, he very rarely played a bad game.

In a fantastic career, in which he played 325 games. No doubt the highlight being part of the 1993 Premiership Team.

Individual awards included a Senior Runner Up Best & Fairest & Reserves Best & Fairest.

After retiring in 2003 Skeeta then went on to play a further six years with the Super Rules. Which also included a coaching stint. He also coached in the juniors.

Peter”Skeeta” Sanderson #11
Played his first game in 1975 Retired as a player in 2003 Played 325 games Premiership Player 1993 Runner Up Senior Best & Fairest Reserves Best & Fairest Life Member

Congratulations Peter on your Hall Of Fame Induction ! 🦅

09/08/2026

Less than a week to go now for our Past Players Day &
Premiership Reunions for our 76 & 86 Reserves and our
2016 Seniors.

If anyone has contact details for any of the following players, please let me know.
1976 - Mick Holder, Trevor Harper, Graham Taylor, Fred Rademaker, Geoff O’Connor

1986 - Rob McDonald, Mick Dymond, Marty Brown,
Dervis Duradbegovic, Gin Zaffina, Ian Watt, Doug McGinley, Ray Stokan, Jack Erman.

2016 - It looks like we will have a good number of the players attending. Thanks
Tucky for your input.

Looking forward to seeing everyone next Saturday !
Bails 🦅🏆🏆🏆

Address

Wallan, VIC
3756

Telephone

+61419509256

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