EDFL 2019: Northern Saints open Hall of Fame display

Northern Saints have unveiled an eye-catching Hall of Fame which could be the envy of their EDFL rivals.

EDFL club Northern Saints has unveiled their Hall of Fame. Picture: Supplied

Northern Saints have unveiled an eye-catching Hall of Fame which could be the envy of their EDFL rivals.

The display at Charles Mutton Reserve was officially opened last month and features premiership photos, pennants and old jumpers while also recognising past officials, players and club founders.

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Club president Joe Antonetti said some were moved to tears as they got their first look at an exhibit six months in the making.

“You don’t realise it can have that sort of effect when you do something,” Antonetti said.

“You just think, ‘This will be nice.’ To see it have that impact on people and see that many people come and thank me … was well worth the effort.”

Northern Saints were formed in 2007 after a merger between North Coburg Saints and Fawkner Park.

The Hall of Fame comprises six cabinets choc-full of memorabilia and pays tribute to all clubs connected to the Saints.

“I was told we’re probably the only club in the EDFL that has something like this,” Antonetti said.

“It was just about paying homage to our past, which probably hasn’t been done. There’s a lot of clubs who were involved in our merger that a lot of people probably didn’t even know about.

“It’s good to put it all on display so the young kids can see where our club started from.

“Our club being such a young club as Northern Saints, it’s important that we do embrace our past.

“I think with something like the Hall of Fame, I had a lot of people come up to me and say, ‘Thanks for giving us recognition.’ It’s a little thing we could do to make them feel a part of something they are a part of, but it was probably just not recognised.”

While more pieces continue to come in as awareness of the Hall of Fame grows, a value cannot be placed on some items.

“One of our favourite pieces was a handwritten scorecard from 1961 from a St Mark’s game,” Antonetti said.

“These are things that money can’t buy.”

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