Kew won its first flag in 1880 in the 3rd Rate Ranks of the Hawthorn Division and another flag followed in 1886 in 2nd Rate ranks. With this success the club believed it was ready for the senior ranks of the Victorian Junior Football Association (VJFA). The VJFA ranks were attained for season 1889 after two building seasons of Second (2nd) Rate competition. Club President His Worship The Mayor Councillor Charles Staples also convinced the VJFA that Kew was ready for First (1st) Rate ranks and that Park St Reserve (now Victoria Park) would be the home ground and not the distant O’Shaunessy’s Paddock (corner of High St South and Barkers Rd), which, though handy to the Victoria Bridge Horse Tram terminus which was transport for the earlier inner suburban teams of Hawthorn, Richmond and East Melbourne, was distant from the heart of Kew.
Although performances were modest in the higher VJFA the club held its own. However, bad times weren’t faraway when the ravages of the 1890’s depression hit and the gold rush in Western Australia at the same time. Players of all clubs, senior, junior and lower rate ranks all suffered with players seeking employment elsewhere or off to make their fortune in Western Australia.
After a winless 1891 season the club dropped to 3rd Rate ranks of the VJFA. The private Kew High School team had been admitted to the Schools Amateur Athletic Football Association (now Associated Grammar Schools) and the Kew based Orlinda club (home ground was Hyde Park) played games against Collegians (ex Wesley College) one year before the VAFA was formed as the Metropolitan Junior Football Association.
When the VJFA passed a resolution that all clubs must play on an enclosed ground, and as Cemetery Reserve was unfenced, it was decided Kew would go into recess. A revival occurred in 1899 when Kew re-emerged and joined the Fourth Grade of the Suburban FA. After four games a vacancy occurred in the Metropolitan Juniors (now VAFA) of which Kew quickly applied to fill, and was accepted, taking the place of St Francis Xavier College (now Xavier College).
After two modest seasons Kew returned to the 3rd Rate ranks of a new Metropolitan Junior association.
