After season 1948 and a summary of the season’s operations plus player meetings, it was unanimously agreed that the club should transfer to the Amateurs (VAFA). It was found that young boys and their parents were not attracted to the rough style of the VFL Sub District football. Also, no player from the 1947 U18 team had trained or played with the seniors in 1948. The driving force behind the transfer was former champion player Alf Perrin who had played with and captained Sandringham Amateurs (1930-32) before transferring to Kew. He had convinced the popular former Melbourne player and Kew Captain/Coach Jim Davidson to be non-playing coach.
The application to join VAFA ranks was warmly received by VAFA Executive Committee and the club was placed in C Grade instead of the lower D Grade. The transfer of competitions bore fruit instantly with the recruiting of talented youngsters Ken Rogers, Ken Rees, Alby Searl and Vic Wallace. A strong first season saw fifteen (15) wins, which placed the club in top position and the Minor Premiership and automatic promotion to B Grade. However, disaster was to strike when after the Round 18 away victory against East Caulfield an “anonymous” complaint was lodged at VAFA Headquarters that Kew was playing a professional boxer in their team. The charge was found to be correct and the punishment decreed that the four points would be lost for each game that the player had participated. It was proven to be the final seven games and Kew were now 8th on the ladder with East Caulfield moving into the four to play finals.
Under the rules in force at the time any player who had played professional sport, not only football, and received payment was in-eligible to play in the VAFA competition. The Kew player, Harry Ricketts, had fought as Young Arthur during his Army Service during and after World War Two. Despite Kew officials pleading ignorance, VAFA decreed that the rules must be enforced and reluctantly withdrew Ricketts’ permit and stripped the club of the points.
Season 1950 saw Alf Perrin and Jim Davidson swapping positions; Alf was now coach and Jim assistant and on the committee. It proved to be a bumper season with cricket like scores and eighteen (18) wins during the home and away rounds. A century score was recorded in all games bar two, both against State Savings Bank. The first non-century score occurred in the away game at Brighton and the second in the Grand Final at Ivanhoe. A double century, and 183-point victory was scored against the hapless East Caulfield during the Round One victory. East Caulfield finished 8th and two seasons later changed its name to Caulfield Amateur FC. After a strong semi final victory, the club’s first premiership in 16 years, and first in the VAFA, was achieved with a dominant victory over State Savings Bank – 11.14.80 to 2.10.22. With promotion to B grade achieved as C grade Premiers and Champions, and after 73 years across multiple football competitions, Kew had found its home in the VAFA, where it continues today!
