AJAX Football Club: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Australian football club |
{{Infobox Australian football club |
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| clubname = AJAX |
| clubname = AJAX Football Club |
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| image = Ajax australia logo.png |
| image = Ajax australia logo.png |
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| fullname = AJAX Football Club |
| fullname = AJAX Football Club |
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| formernames = |
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| nicknames = ''Jackas'' |
| nicknames = '''Men's''': ''Jackas'' <br/> '''Women's''': ''Jackettes'' |
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| colours = {{colorbox|#ff0000}} {{colorbox|#ffffff}} {{colorbox|#000000}} |
| colours = {{colorbox|#ff0000}} {{colorbox|#ffffff}} {{colorbox|#000000}} |
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| league = Victorian Amateur Football Association |
| league = '''[[Victorian Amateur Football Association|VAFA]]''': Premier C |
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| owners = |
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| president = |
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| chairman = |
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| ceo = |
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| coach = |
| coach = |
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| captain = |
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| ground = Gary Smorgon Reserve, [[Albert Park |
| ground = Gary Smorgon Reserve, [[Albert Park, Victoria|Albert Park]] |
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The '''AJAX Football Club''' ('''Associated Judaean Athletic Clubs'''), nicknamed the '''Jackas''', is an [[Australian rules football]] club based in the [[Melbourne]] suburb of of [[St Kilda, Victoria|St Kilda]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Jordan Cohen kicks a huge 10 goals for Jackas |url=https://www.australianjewishnews.com/jordan-cohen-kicks-a-huge-10-goals-for-jackas/ |publisher=Australian Jewish News |access-date=22 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922122525/https://www.australianjewishnews.com/jordan-cohen-kicks-a-huge-10-goals-for-jackas/ |archive-date=22 September 2024 |date=29 August 2024}}</ref> |
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AJAX was formed by the local [[Australian Jews|local Jewish community]] in 1957, becoming Australia's first and only fully [[Jewish]] club competing in the sport of Australian rules football.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hente |first1=Corinna |title=Mark Williams on joining Ajax, his transition to amateur football and his immersion in Jewish culture |url=https://www.mojonews.com.au/page/mark-williams-on-joining-ajax-his-transition-to-amateur-football-and-his-immersion-in-jewish-culture |publisher=Mojo News |access-date=22 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922113524/https://www.mojonews.com.au/page/mark-williams-on-joining-ajax-his-transition-to-amateur-football-and-his-immersion-in-jewish-culture |archive-date=22 September 2024 |date=4 October 2017}}</ref> |
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The '''AJAX Football Club''' ('''Associated Judaean Athletic Clubs''') is an [[Australian rules football]] club sited in the inner suburb of [[St Kilda, Victoria|St Kilda]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]. The squad competes in the [[Victorian Amateur Football Association]] (VAFA).<ref name=markoff/><ref name=forlove>''For the Love of the Game: The Centenary History of the Victorian Amateur Football Association, 1892-1992'' by Joseph Johnson – Hyland House Publishing: South Yarra, 1992</ref> |
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As of 2024, the club's men's team competes in the Premier C division of the [[Victorian Amateur Football Association]] (VAFA). An affiliated junior team, the '''AJAX Junior Football Club''', fields teams in the [[South Metro Junior Football League]] (SMJFL).<ref>{{cite web |title=OUR HERITAGE |url=https://www.ajaxfootballclub.com.au/our-heritage |publisher=AJAX Football Club |access-date=22 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922122516/https://www.ajaxfootballclub.com.au/our-heritage |archive-date=22 September 2024}}</ref> |
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Having been established by the Melbourne Jewish community in 1957,<ref name=commun>Anthony Hughes, ''The Jewish Community'', in Richard Cashman, Philip Mosely, John O’Hara and Hilary Weatherburn (eds), Sporting Immigrants, Walla Walla Press, Crows Nest, 1997</ref> Ajax is notable as Australia's first and only fully [[Jewish]] club in the sport<ref>[https://www.mojonews.com.au/page/mark-williams-on-joining-ajax-his-transition-to-amateur-football-and-his-immersion-in-jewish-culture Mark Williams on joining Ajax] by Corinna Hente on Mojo News, 2017</ref><ref>''People of the Boot: The Triumphs and Tragedy of Australian Jews in Sport'' by Dashiel Lawrence, Ashley Browne – Hybrid Publishers, 2018</ref> The club has also a junior section, founded in 1974. Their junior teams compete in the South Metro Junior Football League (SMJFL). |
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==Club Presidents== |
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Maurice Ashkenazy (1980-1985) |
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==History== |
==History== |
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In 1955, football enthusiast Daryl Cohen proposed the formation of a new club composed of Jewish people. After several months of discussions, the '''Associated Judaean Athletic Clubs''' ('''AJAX''') was formally established in January 1957 and admitted into the VAFA the same year.<ref name="origins">{{cite web |title=Origin of the Club |url=https://www.seniors.ajaxfootballclub.com.au/the-club/premiership-teams/history |publisher=AJAX Football Club |access-date=22 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922121043/https://www.seniors.ajaxfootballclub.com.au/the-club/premiership-teams/history |archive-date=22 September 2024}}</ref> |
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Jewish presence in Australia dates back to 1788, with the arrival of Jewish convicts during the penal era. Melbourne's Jewish community embraced Australian Rules football as a way to be integrated into Australian society and share a common activity.<ref name=rules>Bob Stewart, Rob Hess and Chris Dixon, ''Australian Rules Football'', in Richard Cashman, Philip Mosely, John O’Hara and Hilary Weatherburn (eds), Sporting Immigrants, Walla Walla Press: |
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Crows Nest, 1997</ref> |
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AJAX adopted the red, white and black colours of the [[St Kilda Football Club]], which also donated a set of jumpers for AJAX players.<ref name=markoff>Barry Markoff, ''The Road to A Grade: A History of the Ajax Football Club'', Brownhall Printing: Clayton South, 1980</ref> The [[Christian cross]] in the St Kilda logo was replaced by a [[star of David]].<ref name=rules>Bob Stewart, Rob Hess and Chris Dixon, ''Australian Rules Football'', in Richard Cashman, Philip Mosely, John O’Hara and Hilary Weatherburn (eds), Sporting Immigrants, Walla Walla Press</ref><ref name=forlove>''For the Love of the Game: The Centenary History of the Victorian Amateur Football Association, 1892-1992'' by Joseph Johnson – Hyland House Publishing: South Yarra, 1992</ref> The club won its first premiership in E Section in [[1966 VAFA season|1966]]. |
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In [[1975 VAFA season|1975]], AJAX made the E Section grand final against [[Elsternwick Football Club|Elsternwick]]. However, the date of the grand final clashed with [[Rosh Hashanah]] (Jewish new year) and, after the VAFA refused to change the date of the game, AJAX forfeited the grand final.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Browne |first1=Ashley |title=CRITIC IS DESTRUCTIVE |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/261464449 |website=Trove |publisher=Australian Jewish News |access-date=22 September 2024 |page=6 |date=21 August 1987}}</ref> The VAFA ultimately reversed their decision and moved the grand final to 13 September 1975, with AJAX going onto win the grand final.<ref name="origins"/> Following this, the VAFA agreed to move any games that fell on a [[High Holy Days|Jewish High Holiday]] to a more suitable date at the club's request.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Burstin |first1=David |title=FACTS AND RELATIONS |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/261465020 |website=Trove |publisher=Australian Jewish News |access-date=22 September 2024 |page=37 |date=28 August 1987}}</ref> |
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AJAX introduced a women's team in 2015, entering Division 5 East in the [[Victorian Women's Football League]] (VWFL).<ref>{{cite web |title=AJAX women wreak havoc on debut |url=https://www.australianjewishnews.com/ajax-women-wreak-havoc-on-debut/ |publisher=Australian Jewish News |access-date=22 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922122424/https://www.australianjewishnews.com/ajax-women-wreak-havoc-on-debut/ |archive-date=22 September 2024 |date=23 April 2015}}</ref> When the VWFL was disbanded, the club moved to the [[VAFA Women's]] (VAFAW) and fielded a team in the competition's [[2017 VAFA Women's season|inaugural season in 2017]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Women's Development Division 3 2017 |url=https://websites.mygameday.app/comp_info.cgi?c=0-3232-0-454314-0&a=LADDER |website=GameDay |publisher=VAFA Results Archive |access-date=22 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524123644/https://websites.mygameday.app/comp_info.cgi?c=0-3232-0-454314-0&a=LADDER |archive-date=24 May 2024}}</ref> |
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Most of Melbourne's Jewish community initially lived in the inner suburbs of [[Carlton, Victoria|Carlton]] and [[Fitzroy, Victoria|Fitzroy]], although the Jewish community then spread to [[St Kilda, Victoria|St Kilda]] and [[Caulfield, Victoria|Caulfield]]. |
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Former [[Australian Football League]] (AFL) player and coach [[Mark Williams (Australian footballer, born 1958)|Mark Williams]] joined AJAX in 2016 to serve as its senior men's coach, starting in [[2017 VAFA season|2017]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shevelove |first1=Marty |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/afl-premiership-coach-williams-inks-deal-with-premier-b-club-ajax/news-story/f93d8c59ff71d44fa30f81de78a2cf29 |title=AFL premiership coach Mark Williams signs with Premier B club AJAX |website=Herald Sun |publisher=Caulfield Glen Eira Leader |access-date=22 September 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.md/1qzVZ |archive-date=22 September 2024 |date=7 October 2016}}</ref> He served as coach for a total of two seasons, departing at the end of [[2018 VAFA season|2018]] after the club finished second-last in Premier B and was consequently [[Promotion and relegation|relegated]] to Premier C.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mark Williams - Head of Development |url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/afl/coaches/mark-williams |publisher=Melbourne Football Club |access-date=22 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311030603/https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/afl/coaches/mark-williams |archive-date=11 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Fetter |first1=Aaron |title=Siren sounds on Williams |url=https://www.australianjewishnews.com/ajax-sounds-siren-on-williams-reign/ |publisher=Australian Jewish News |access-date=22 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922124237/https://www.australianjewishnews.com/ajax-sounds-siren-on-williams-reign/ |archive-date=22 September 2024 |date=9 August 2018}}</ref> |
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In 1955, Daryl Cohen, a football enthusiast playing for Old Collegians, proposed a new team formed by Jewish members to compete in the VAFA. The club was named Associated Judaean Athletic Clubs (acronym "AJAX") and was admitted into the association in 1957. The club adopted the [[St Kilda Football Club|St Kilda FC]]'s red, white and black colors. St Kilda president donated a set of guernseys for the club.<ref name=markoff>Barry Markoff, ''The Road to A Grade: A History of the Ajax Football Club'', Brownhall Printing: Clayton South, 1980</ref> The [[Christian cross]] of the St Kilda badge would be replaced by a [[star of David]].<ref name=rules/> |
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In [[2024 VAFA Women's season|2024]], AJAX combined its women's side with [[Old Camberwell Football Club|Old Camberwell]] in order for both clubs to continue competing.<ref>{{cite web |title=AJAX Women's Jackettes/Old Camberwell v Old Haileybury |url=https://www.seniors.ajaxfootballclub.com.au/match-centre-1/jackettes-1/round-1-2024-ajax-jackettes-old-camberwell-v-match-report |publisher=AJAX Football Club |access-date=22 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922123359/https://www.seniors.ajaxfootballclub.com.au/match-centre-1/jackettes-1/round-1-2024-ajax-jackettes-old-camberwell-v-match-report |archive-date=22 September 2024 |date=13 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Seniors Women |url=https://www.oldcamberwellfc.com.au/football/seniors-women/ |publisher=Old Camberwell Football Club |access-date=22 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240317032259/https://www.oldcamberwellfc.com.au/football/seniors-women/ |archive-date=17 March 2024}}</ref> AJAX had won the Division 3 grand final in [[2023 VAFA Women's season|2023]] and was scheduled to be promoted to Division 2, but the combined side ultimately played in Division 1.<ref>{{cite web |title=Power House 2.3-15 def. by 5.12-42 AJAX |url=https://websites.mygameday.app/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=126697502&c=0-3232-0-622119-0&pool=1001 |website=GameDay |publisher=VAFA Results Archive |access-date=22 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922123125/https://websites.mygameday.app/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=126697502&c=0-3232-0-622119-0&pool=1001 |archive-date=22 September 2024 |date=3 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2024 Division 1 Women’s Fixture |url=https://www.vafa.com.au/news/2024/03/22/2024-division-1-womens-fixture/ |publisher=Victorian Amateur Football Association |access-date=22 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922123512/https://www.vafa.com.au/news/2024/03/22/2024-division-1-womens-fixture/ |archive-date=22 September 2024 |date=22 March 2024}}</ref> |
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AJAX would be embrace by the Jewish community as their own team, establishing as a strong team in the region.<ref name=forlove/> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 12:47, 22 September 2024
| AJAX Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Names | ||
| Full name | AJAX Football Club | |
| Nickname(s) | Men's: Jackas Women's: Jackettes | |
| Club details | ||
| Founded | 30 January 1957 | |
| Colours | ||
| Competition | VAFA: Premier C | |
| Ground(s) | Gary Smorgon Reserve, Albert Park | |
| Uniforms | ||
| ||
| Other information | ||
| Official website | ajaxfc.com.au | |
The AJAX Football Club (Associated Judaean Athletic Clubs), nicknamed the Jackas, is an Australian rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of of St Kilda.[1]
AJAX was formed by the local local Jewish community in 1957, becoming Australia's first and only fully Jewish club competing in the sport of Australian rules football.[2]
As of 2024, the club's men's team competes in the Premier C division of the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA). An affiliated junior team, the AJAX Junior Football Club, fields teams in the South Metro Junior Football League (SMJFL).[3]
History
In 1955, football enthusiast Daryl Cohen proposed the formation of a new club composed of Jewish people. After several months of discussions, the Associated Judaean Athletic Clubs (AJAX) was formally established in January 1957 and admitted into the VAFA the same year.[4]
AJAX adopted the red, white and black colours of the St Kilda Football Club, which also donated a set of jumpers for AJAX players.[5] The Christian cross in the St Kilda logo was replaced by a star of David.[6][7] The club won its first premiership in E Section in 1966.
In 1975, AJAX made the E Section grand final against Elsternwick. However, the date of the grand final clashed with Rosh Hashanah (Jewish new year) and, after the VAFA refused to change the date of the game, AJAX forfeited the grand final.[8] The VAFA ultimately reversed their decision and moved the grand final to 13 September 1975, with AJAX going onto win the grand final.[4] Following this, the VAFA agreed to move any games that fell on a Jewish High Holiday to a more suitable date at the club's request.[9]
AJAX introduced a women's team in 2015, entering Division 5 East in the Victorian Women's Football League (VWFL).[10] When the VWFL was disbanded, the club moved to the VAFA Women's (VAFAW) and fielded a team in the competition's inaugural season in 2017.[11]
Former Australian Football League (AFL) player and coach Mark Williams joined AJAX in 2016 to serve as its senior men's coach, starting in 2017.[12] He served as coach for a total of two seasons, departing at the end of 2018 after the club finished second-last in Premier B and was consequently relegated to Premier C.[13][14]
In 2024, AJAX combined its women's side with Old Camberwell in order for both clubs to continue competing.[15][16] AJAX had won the Division 3 grand final in 2023 and was scheduled to be promoted to Division 2, but the combined side ultimately played in Division 1.[17][18]
References
- ^ "Jordan Cohen kicks a huge 10 goals for Jackas". Australian Jewish News. 29 August 2024. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ Hente, Corinna (4 October 2017). "Mark Williams on joining Ajax, his transition to amateur football and his immersion in Jewish culture". Mojo News. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ "OUR HERITAGE". AJAX Football Club. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Origin of the Club". AJAX Football Club. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ Barry Markoff, The Road to A Grade: A History of the Ajax Football Club, Brownhall Printing: Clayton South, 1980
- ^ Bob Stewart, Rob Hess and Chris Dixon, Australian Rules Football, in Richard Cashman, Philip Mosely, John O’Hara and Hilary Weatherburn (eds), Sporting Immigrants, Walla Walla Press
- ^ For the Love of the Game: The Centenary History of the Victorian Amateur Football Association, 1892-1992 by Joseph Johnson – Hyland House Publishing: South Yarra, 1992
- ^ Browne, Ashley (21 August 1987). "CRITIC IS DESTRUCTIVE". Trove. Australian Jewish News. p. 6. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ Burstin, David (28 August 1987). "FACTS AND RELATIONS". Trove. Australian Jewish News. p. 37. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ "AJAX women wreak havoc on debut". Australian Jewish News. 23 April 2015. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ "Women's Development Division 3 2017". GameDay. VAFA Results Archive. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ Shevelove, Marty (7 October 2016). "AFL premiership coach Mark Williams signs with Premier B club AJAX". Herald Sun. Caulfield Glen Eira Leader. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ "Mark Williams - Head of Development". Melbourne Football Club. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ Fetter, Aaron (9 August 2018). "Siren sounds on Williams". Australian Jewish News. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ "AJAX Women's Jackettes/Old Camberwell v Old Haileybury". AJAX Football Club. 13 April 2024. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ "Seniors Women". Old Camberwell Football Club. Archived from the original on 17 March 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ "Power House 2.3-15 def. by 5.12-42 AJAX". GameDay. VAFA Results Archive. 3 September 2023. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ "2024 Division 1 Women's Fixture". Victorian Amateur Football Association. 22 March 2024. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
