Founded in 1960 — six decades of premierships, people and pride.
Chadstone Lacrosse Club was founded in 1960 by David Cohen and Bill Gray Snr as a feeder club for the Melbourne Cricket Club Lacrosse Division. Initially called the Cardinals, the club fielded teams in the men’s divisions of the Victorian Lacrosse Association.
In the late 1980s the club introduced a women’s program, which quickly found success in the Victorian Women’s Lacrosse Association, winning the B-Grade premiership. The men’s most successful period was also the late 1980s, with two State League grand final appearances — falling to Williamstown in 1985 and to Malvern by a single goal in 1987.
The club’s most recent success was the double premiership season of 2017, when both the Men’s Division One and Women’s B-Grade programs won grand finals, against Williamstown and Newport respectively.
Explore the full club history, season by season, at chaddyhistory.com.
The Green Jacket is the ultimate accolade in Australian lacrosse. Redbacks who have earned it by representing Australia include:
Bruce Freeman · Gordon Purdie · Andrew Whitbourn · Sam Akritidis · Michael Mullner · Michael Pendock · Rob Collis · Lennon Fowler · Callum Smythe · Kale Murfett
— plus Gus Ratje, our latest representative, selected in the 2023 Australian U18 Box Lacrosse side.
Arguably the club’s greatest player. After junior lacrosse at Surrey Park, Gordon found great success at Chadstone in the late 1980s — in 1987 he swept every major MVP trophy in the country. He played at Adelphi University from 1987–89 and represented Australia at seven World Championships, voted the best midfielder at the 1994 tournament, before playing 100+ games in the professional Major Indoor Lacrosse League for the NY Saints, New Jersey Storm and Anaheim Storm. He is now Head Coach at Adelphi University.
Chadstone was founded in 1960 by David Cohen and Bill Gray Snr, who took lacrosse into Melbourne’s south-east. Their names head an honour roll of Presidents, Secretaries and Treasurers stretching back six decades. Our full Life Member honour board is being confirmed with the club — if you can help fill in the record, we’d love to hear from you at info@chadstonelacrosse.com.au.
