1932 GRAND FINAL AT FERNTREE GULLY
FERNY CREEK 9.8.62 BORONIA 8.12.60
This pic features the 1932 team standing in front of the 1924 Premiership flag.
This is because the MDFA awarded the 1932 flag to Boronia after a protest. However Ferny Creek is listed as the 1932 Premier in MDFA history articles and Olinda-Ferny Creek has always regarded itself as the “moral victor” on the day.
The premiership is clouded in controversy because of an apparent error by the time keepers in the last quarter. Boronia claimed the bell was rung too early and consequently lodged a post match protest.
However by that time the Ferny Creek players were already celebrating at a Fern Tree Gully hotel and the flag had been awarded to us.
The League eventually bowed to Boronia pressure and ordered that the grand final be replayed. Many Ferny Creek players said they had work or cricket obligations and were unavailable for the replay, which never eventuated.
History shows this win brought to an end to a magnifent period of success for the strong Fenry Creek club which won two flags in eight years and played in six grand finals.
Within two years many of the older players had retired and the club disbanded. The local footy void allowed Olinda to re-establish itself in 1934.