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West London Wildcats
The West London Wildcats is an Australian rules football and netball club based in London, England. The club fields teams in each of the three men's AFL London divisions – Premiership, Conference and Social and each of the two women's divisions - Premiership and Conference. The men's reserves team is known as the Shepherds Bush Raiders and wear a green and gold guernsey while the Social team is known as the Ealing Emus and wear a black, red and yellow guernsey. The Wildcats are regarded as the most successful Australian rule football club in Europe and outside of Australia tallying 42 premierships in its club's history. HistoryThe West London Wildcats were formed in 1990 as a foundation club of the British Australian Rules Football League, now known as the AFL London division of AFL Britain. They have played in a number of BARFL grand finals, finally winning their first premiership in 2000 against arch-rivals, the Wandsworth Demons, the team captained at the time by club stalwart, Chris Schleter. They have since followed this up with premierships in 2004, 2005 and 2006 all against BARFL heavy-weights the Wimbledon Hawks. 2004 saw fullback Rowan Bilkey captain the club. Chris Schleter again captained the premiers in 2005 while in 2006 Ruckman and Barclay Dixon lead his team to the BARFL premiership. The Wildcats stand as the only team to win the BARFL Premiership on three consecutive occasions. In 2004 the team achieved another first in BARFL history by claiming the BARFL 'Grand Slam', winning the Anzac Cup preseason tournament, the Brit Cup and both the Conference and Premier Division Premierships, a feat they repeated in season 2006. The Wildcats also field a second team, the Shepherds Bush Raiders, in the AFL London Conference competition, and a third side, the Ealing Emus in the AFL London Social division. The Shepherds Bush Raiders have won all but 4 of the 22 Conference premierships since the competition's inception in 2001. The West London Wildcats celebrated 25 years of existence in 2014. Capping off a fine year by winning the premiership in all 3 grades and securing a berth in the inaugural Champions League tournament held In Amsterdam. They went on to win this title in 2015 and have followed up with victories in 2016, 2017 & 2018. The Wildcats also competed in the Champions League in 2019, and were due to compete in the COVID cancelled 2020 edition. For the first time in Wildcats history, both Men's and Women's teams will compete in the 2023 tournament as champions of London. In season 2017, the Wildcats had their inaugural women's AFL team playing in the AFL London Conference Women's division, winning the premiership against the Wandsworth Demons. Due to an influx of interest from women wanting to play the great game, in 2018, the club expanded its women's team to two teams and now competes in the Premier and Conference division. In 2022, the Wildcats Women won the club's first premiership division premiership, bouncing back from defeat in the 2021 Grand Final. The Wildcats Women Premiership division team has now won 3 consecutive premierships from 2022 to 2024. In addition to Australian Rules Football, the Wildcats netball sides play in a number of competitions across London. Former Brisbane Bears player Rudi Frigo, recruited to the club by Justin "Dogga" Shannon, is probably the Wildcats best known player. Honour Board
Champions League2018 Grand Final West London Wildcats 5.4.34 defeated Amsterdam Devils 2.2.14 2017 Grand Final West London Wildcats 5.7.37 defeated Amsterdam Devils 2.2.14 2016 Grand Final West London Wildcats 5.13.43 defeated Manchester Mosquitos 2.1.13 2015 Grand Final West London Wildcats 8.6.54 defeated Rhineland Lions 1.1.7 Finals2018 Grand Final Premiership Division West London Wildcats 9.6.60 defeated by Wandsworth Demons 8.13.61 Goals: TBC Best: Cam Linford, Hugh Sandilands, David Rattenbury, Simon Thomas, Rhett Kerr, Robbie Gore 2018 Grand Final Conference Division Shepherds Bush Raiders 7.9.51 defeated Wandsworth Demons 4.5.29 Goals: TBC Best: Scott Michell, Matthew Ness, Nathan Costley, Kade Rowbotheram, Tom Donnelly, Josh Morrison, Taylor Mckenzie AFL London GF Best on Ground Award: Nathan Costley 2017 Grand Final Conference Division Shepherds Bush Raiders 7.8.50 defeated Wandsworth Demons 3.5.23 2017 Grand Final Women's conference Division West London Wildcats 4.8.32 defeated Wandsworth Demons 0.1.1 2016 Grand Final Premiership Division West London Wildcats 14.10.94 Defeated Wandsworth Demons 7.1.43 2015 Grand Final Premiership Division West London Wildcats 8.8 (56) Defeated by North London Lions 8.9 (57)[1] Goals: TBC Best: TBC 2014 Grand Final Premiership Division West London Wildcats 14.13 (97) Defeated Wandsworth Demons 8.10 (58) Goals: David Abernethy 5, Matt Abraham 2, Todd Pfeiffer 2, Brad Collins, Keith Della-Vedova, James Ford, Clint Johnson, Brad Wedgwood Best: Brad Wedgwood, David Abernethy, Sam Wood, Billy Oswell, Matt Shannon AFL London GF Best on Ground Award: Brad Wedgwood 2014 Grand Final Conference Division Shepherds Bush Raiders 14.9 (93) Defeated Clapham Demons 2.4 (16) Goals: David Emerson 4, Kevin Upton 3, Evan Scicluna 2, Nathan Costley 2, Tom Gillard, Nick Graham-Bowman, Dave Little Best: Ben McCrorey, David Emerson, Nathan Costley, Dan Jeffreys, Adrian Brown, Evan Scicluna AFL London GF Best on Ground Award: Nathan Costley 2014 Grand Social Premiership Division Ealing Emus 4.7 (31) Defeated South London Demons 4.6 (30) Goals: Andrew Mann 2, Brad Tinker, Froggy Triplett Best: Sean Fenney, Scott Fedrici, Brad Tinker, Markus Rees, Sam Furber 2013 Grand Final Premiership Division West London Wildcats 10.10 (70) Defeated North London Lions 9.6 (60) 2013 Grand Final Conference Division Shepherds Bush Raiders 9.5 (59) Defeated Regents Park Lions 5.12 (42) 2012 Grand Final Conference Division Shepherds Bush Raiders 11.11 (77) Defeated Regents Park Lions 12.3 (75) 2011 Grand Final Premiership Division West London Wildcats 13.1(89) Defeated Wandsworth Demons 8.9 (57) 2011 Grand Final Conference Division Shepherds Bush Raiders 17.4 (106) Defeated Clapham Demons 9.13 (67) 2010 Grand Final Conference Division Shepherds Bush Raiders 12.9 (81) def Clapham Demons 7.3 (45) 2010 Grand Social Premiership Division Ealing Emus 7.1 (43) def South London Demons 2.5 (17) 2009 Grand Final Premiership Division 2009 Grand Final Conference Division 2009 Grand Social Premiership Division 2008 Grand Final Premiership Division West London Wildcats 13.8 (86) defeated Putney Magpies 4.3 (27) Best: Justin 'Maca' McCallion, Ross 'Rosco' Dillon, Leigh 'Burki' Burke, Warrick 'Bloodnut' Fenner, Damien 'Sticky' Lyon, Eoin O'Connor, Xavier 'XMan' McKinnon, Barry 'Baz' Malone Goals: Leigh Burke, Eoin O'Connor 3, Justin McCallion 2, Sam Miles 1 (others TBC) Norm Smith Medal: Justin 'Maca' McCallion 2008 Grand Final Conference Division Shepherds Bush Raiders 7.12 (54) defeated Clapham Demons 6.11 (47) Best: Kade 'Giggz' Nichols, Matty Barr, Pete O'Connel, Marcus 'Willo' Wilson, Shane 'Abbo' Albon, Paul 'Chopper' Donahoo Goals: Marcus 'Willo' Wilson 3, Kade Nichols 3, Paul Donahoo 1 2008 Grand Final Social Division Ealing Emus 18.17 (125) defeated Nottingham Scorpions 1.5 (11) Best: Al Carlson, Lucas 'Doof' Cullen, Darryl 'Daz' Dissisto, Pete Kasby, Matt Neville, Ryan 'Rhino' Lapish, John Houston, Simon 'Simmo' Berry Goals: Al Carlson 4, Wes White 3, Casey Ratcliffe, Ryan 'Rhino' Lapish 2, Darryl 'Daz' Dissisto, Lucas 'Doof' Cullen, Jeremy 'Jez' Lanberg, Paul 'Cutts' Cutler 1 (others TBC) Norm Smith Medal: Doof International Tour MatchesThe Wildcats have played a number of pre-season tour matches across Europe.
Best & Fairest
1997 Matt Lloyd End of Season Football Trips
Photos
See alsoReferences
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