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BENALLA ALL BLACKSCurrent Affiliation: Ovens and King Football League (OKFL) since 2005 Formed: 1934 Colours: Black and white Emblem: Panthers Senior Grade Premierships: Tatong and Thoona Football Association (TTFA) - 1934, 1936, 1939-40 (4 total); Benalla and District Football League (BDFL) - 1953-4, 1956, 1967-8, 1971, 1976 (7 total); Tungamah Football League (TFL) - 1981 (1 total) It has now been a long time between drinks for the Benalla All Blacks after the club enjoyed consistently high levels of success during the first half century of its existence. Established in 1934, the club entered the Tatong and Thoona Football Association and enjoyed premiership success at the first time of asking, as it did again two seasons later. Successive flags then followed in 1939 and 1940. After world war two the All Blacks competed in the Central Goulburn Valley Football League’s seconds competition for a single season before going into recess between 1947 and 1952. On resuming, the club affiliated with the Benalla and District Football League in which it enjoyed instantaneous success with an 11.16 (82) to 7.13 (55) defeat of Tatong in the 1953 grand final. A year later the achievement was repeated, this time at the expense of Glenrowan who also provided the All Blacks’ grand final victims in 1956. The 1960s brought another couple of premierships, as did the 1970s. The success continued in 1981 after the club crossed to the Tungamah Football League but it was at that point that the premiership drought set in. The 1995 season ought perhaps to have seen the drought broken but after topping the ladder heading into the finals the side succumbed to a more desperate Shepparton East in the grand final. Emphasising the club’s all round strength at this time both the reserves and thirds won their respective flags. Since 2005 the Panthers have competed in the Ovens and King Football League but performances so far have been undistinguished with the side finishing last every season except one. Where now? or
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