Fraser to Coach the Ants in 2021
An excited Josh Fraser met with us recently and explained what it was like to finally be back with the Ants. Josh said that “ there were a lot of emotions being back with the Bullants. It was [...]
The Bullants have represented the City Of Darebin as a working class club and have shaped so many lives and the community for nearly 14 decades. It is our responsibility to not let this die.
The Bullants are engrained as part of football history, and proud of what we have been able to achieve to date but it’s now time to shape the future and create new history
The History of the ‘Ants’
The Northern Bullants’ history began as early as 1882, but it was not until 1885 – following the naming of the surrounding area – that the club was born as the Preston Football Club.
Since then, it has called Preston City Oval – then known as Preston Park and Cramer Street Oval – home, and claimed five premierships in the VJFA including three consecutive flags between 1900 and 1902.
After brief spells in the VFA, Preston joined the competition full time in 1926 and in 1930, the “Bullants” nickname was adopted following the footballing consensus that the team’s playing style saw them “swarm” like a bunch of “busy bullants”.
The Bullants not only enjoyed team success, claiming six premierships in the VFA (four in Division 1 and two in Division 2), but became the breeding ground for many Victorian football champions. This includes Carlton’s first Brownlow Medalist, Bert Deacon, Hawthorn premiership coach, Alan Joyce, two-time VFA Grand Final coach, Harold Martin and former Collingwood captain and Bullants Hall of Fame inductee, Ray Shaw.
Following a merge a few years earlier with the Northern Kinghts under-18 team to become the Preston Knights, in 1999, the name of the Northern Bullants was created and the current red uniform with a white bullant was adopted. The PFC letters representing the Preston Football Club remained on the rear of the jumper. Initially, the Northern Bullants were formed as a “standalone” VFL club.
From 2002, an affiliation was formed with Carlton Football Club to develop younger players and provide mentoring opportunities for the senior players. In the VFL, the club came within a breath of the ultimate success – two consecutive Grand Final appearances against North Ballarat in 2009 and 2010 – under the tutelage of current-day Carlton coach, David Teague.
In this time, the Northern Bullants – who re-branded to the Northern Blues in 2012 – have been represented by some of the best names of the VFL including: former captains Adam Iacobucci, Andre Gianfagna and Brent Bransgrove, current captain Tom Wilson and former Sydney Swans Premiership player, Alex Johnson. The bullants also saw Kane Lambet and Amhed Saad become AFL listed players, at Richmond and St Kilda respectively.
The alignment with Carlton also saw development and flourishing of careers at the top level of Blues players Heath Scotland, Dennis Armfield and current-day players, Levi Casboult and Liam Jones.
What the bullants mean to Ray Shaw
Red and white colours have been in my blood as far back that I can remember. Growing up in Reservoir a Sunday bike ride with my mates to Cramer street oval made our weekend. Collingwood on a Saturday and Preston on a Sunday. Not much homework done during the footy season. Prestons full forward John Walker was the player we wanted to see, moving from one end of the ground to the other to watch him kick goals.leading goal kicker 4 years in a row, 1965 he kicked 116 goals. He brought people through the gates, the colours of the bullants, red and white beamed energy, enthusiasm and gave the community a breath of fresh air.
Great VFA days toughskilful and never say die attitudes.I dreamed of playing for Preston and Collingwood. I loved the footy. Never thinking that in 1973 I would be given a chance to join Preston and play with some of my heroes. A Skinning 70kg player playing against men, hard nosed senior players. It was tough but the way the senior group of players looked after me was incredible.
The Bullants spirit, the supporters and community backed the Bullants by having big crowds every week, yes they travelled far and wide. Returning in 1982 for 3 successful years, 2 premierships the Preston Football Club continued to support their followers, sure success helps, but the area around Preston was alive.
The community had a centrepiece-cramer street oval. By playing or coaching for only 4 years, it feels like a life time, it was, it was all a local boy wanted. The Bullant name, a huge part of the VFA/VFL history. Lets get the club up and running, the community need to see the red & white jumper back to where it belongs. Cheers up the Ants,
Ray Shaw.
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