At The Gurgler, we love to celebrate the forgotten and under-appreciated, so the return of AFL State of Origin and the All Stars reminded us of the AFL Allies, one of the best Forgotten Australian Sporting Teams, and so we thought it was time to head down memory lane to recall some of our favourites.
It’s not that these teams were crap, just that for one reason or another, usually finance, that they no longer exist in the top tier of Australian sport.
And not having these Forgotten Australian Sporting Teams is more the loss for Australian sport in general.
Perhaps if these teams were in marginal electorates they would win politicians support for a comeback. Speak to your nearest MP today.
After reading our Forgotten Australian Sporting Teams of course.
DAIKYO DOLPHINS – Baseball
In the first incarnation of the Australian Baseball League we remember a team backed by then Japanese Property gurus on the Gold Coast – Daikyo.
In addition to sponsoring the now defunct Palm Meadows Golf Tournament, they lent their name to one of the Gold Coast’s finest.
Like other Gold Coast teams it had a few incarnations, Gold Coast Dolphins, East Coast Cougars, and the Gold Coast Cougars.
Unlike most of the others listed here, the Daikyo Dolphins were actually good. Winning a title in 1991/92 before the league and themselves were given the sporting eviction notice.
NORTH SYDNEY BEARS – Rugby League
Is there a more loved former sporting team in Australia than the North Sydney Bears?
Whilst they are not completely forgotten, as they currently play in the second tier NSW Cup, their absence in the rugby league top flight is still missed.
Hard to think a team of so much heritage could simply disappear, even worse that it was at the hands of a selfish Manly (making them harder to like), but despite a few
The best chance of a revival appears to be on the Central Coast, and for some that will do. As long as the new Bears make a trip down memory lane to North Sydney Oval.
GOLD COAST – Various
Whilst on the Gold Coast, here’s our array of forgotten teams from the Glitter Strip, which really was a Graveyard for sporting teams back in the day.
Rugby League may have finally got it right on the 4th attempt with the Titans. Others not as successful or memorable, although the Chargers sure were memorable in the teal, black and purple. Probably most memorable for one of the better mascots of all time (Captain Charger) than any players or achievements.
We also remember the Brisbane Bears who resided on the Gold Coast instead of the city they were named for, the nickname Bears also match as it was actually a Koala. The “Gold Coast” “Bears” were a shambles that not even Warwick Capper could save. At one stage the Psychologist was left in charge to coach the side. Happily the Brisbane Bears woke up and realised that the team was named Brisbane for a reason and moved. Premierships and bandwagons followed.
Who knows if the Titans will become another.
CANBERRA COMETS – Cricket
Only the allure of the nation’s capital could convince the great Mike Veletta and legendary Merv Hughes out of retirement to come and play the blue ribbon Mercantile Mutual Cup for the Comets.
Mercantile Mutual is one of many former sponsor names for the domestic One Day competition. Its big drawcard was the shiny MM signs around points of the ground that rewarded batsmen with lots of money if stuck, and it jackpotted with every game.
Their record did not set the comp on fire, barely even an ember for the three years they resided with the big boys. Not even big Merv could help the Comets, however they did finish second last two of their three years in the comp.
Their participation can barely be remembered, with only Mike Veletta sparking the brain. Manuka Oval is now left to wait for its token tour clash.
ALLIES AFL REP SIDE
Despite the success of State of Origin in rugby league, it never quite caught on in AFL.
An Allies team comprising of Qld, NSW, NT and Tasmania is our pick of the AFL bunch.
Instead of leaving one state as the last one anyone wants to select in the schoolyard to play with, they merged them into an AFL Superteam. Ironically Qld and NSW are combined in AFL State of Origin.
They won too, beating Western Australia a few times. Take that Sandgropers
HUNTER MARINERS & ADELAIDE RAMS
Obvious Rugby League choices, and hard to choose between the two.
Both clubs are short lived – Adelaide two years and Hunter one, but they live on in the world of forgotten teams.
Adelaide now gets the rugby league showpiece State of Origin event in 2020. Fancy that.
Hunter finished a respectable 6th of 10 and Adelaide not embarrassing with 9th of 10 and 17th of 20.
Great Forgotten Australian Sporting Teams –
OTHER QUICK MENTIONS
GLEBE – Forgotten early 20th Century NSWRL team.
CANBERRA CANNONS – NBL side featuring Phiul “The General” Smyth”
MARCONI – Former Australian Soccer side before A League.
VALLEYS DIEHARDS – Dominant Queensland Rugby League in days of yore.
AUSTRALIAN A1GP MOTOR RACING TEAM – Remember A1GP – the summer series of motor racing to complement F!? If no, then you’d forget Alan Jones was massively involved and his son drove for them.
ANY FORMER WINTER OLYMPICS TEAM – The most quickly forgotten bunch of athletes in Australian Sport.
THE WALLABIES.
