Eagles Touch Club (Brisbane)

The Brisbane based Eagles Touch Football Club was one of the most influential touch clubs in Brisbane, Queensland and Australia. In the 1980s, Brisbane touch consisted of some large multi-team clubs including both men’s and women’s teams, of which the Eagles were one. The club won many local, state, and national titles over the years. Many Eagles players were NTL, state or Australian players, including Australian hall of fame inductees Terry Jacks, Donna Jacks, Greg Young and Peter Bell. Both Terry and Donna captained Australia open teams for many years in the 1980s.

Eagles Touch Football Club was first established in 1976, playing their first game in Men’s Division 2 of the Metropolitan Touch Association competition on 29th February 1976 (defeated 8-4 by Octal 10).

The Eagles Touch Football Club was started by a group of youth players from Brisbane wanting to make their mark on the game. Eagles were an extremely successful club in the Metropolitan Competition. Eagles Touch Football Club has won 11 Divisional titles since establishment in 1976.

The club’s emblem of the “Eagle” was derived from St Columban’s College and that the club was set up by old boys of the college like Colin Hunt and Paul Hodge.

1976
Eagles played their first game on 29th February 1976 against Octal 10 and lost 8 – 4.
They played in 2nd division, The season went for 22 games and finished on the 15th August 1976.
(Paul Hodges was listed as the contact for Eagles in 1976.)
Eagles came 5th out of 12 teams.

1977
Eagles played in the 2nd division and came 9th out of 11 teams.

1978
Eagles played in the 2nd division and came 4th out of 12 teams.
Eagles won their semi-final but lost the preliminary final to Villaroos 6-3

1979
Eagles played in the 2nd division and came 1st out of 12 teams.
Eagles won their first grand final, beating Nudgee Nobs 3-2

1980
Eagles are now in the 1st division and have a reserve grade team.
They win the 1st Division, beating Untouchables in the grand final.
Eagles are also minor premiers and club champions.

1981
Eagles have teams in the 1st division and as well as in Reserve grade and B grade, and now have a women’s team.
After being unbeatable all year (Eagles scored 79 tries to 13 against during 18 round games), Eagles lost the Grand Final 1-0 to Country Club, after beating them 2-0 in the semi-final.

Eagles reserve grade win their grand final.
The B grade lost their grand final.

Eagles are also club champions again.

1982
Eagles have teams in the 1st division and as well as in Reserve grade and B
grade, and The women’s team.
While being minor premiers in A grade, Eagles get knocked out on the semi-final.
Eagles reserve grade win their grand final. 
The B grade lost their grand final.

Eagles are also club champions, again.

1983
Eagles have four men’s teams and two women’s teams.
Eagles win both the men’s A grade and women’s A grade premierships!
In the National club championships, Eagles women win, and the men are
runners up.

1984
Eagles Mens 1st Division Win Premiership

1985
Eagles Mens 1st Division Win Premiership, Defeating Cavaliers in the Grand Final.

1987
Eagles defeated by Rebels in the Mens & Womens 1st Division MTA Grand Finals.

2009 

Ryan Jacks and others re-starts Eagles.

Eagles T.F.C join the Brisbane City Championships (Starting 14th August).
Men’s Open, Men’s and Women’s Division 2, Women’s Under 18’s and Men’s Over 30’s.

Men’s 30’s win premiership by going undefeated throughout the season. Men’s Open, Men’s D2 & 18’s make Finals.

U/16 girls entered into Whites Hill Junior Competition.

2010

Mens & Womens Open, Mens and Womens Div 2, Mens Over 30’s & Womens U/18’s Teams for 2010 BTC.

U/12’s & U/18’s Eagles Academy Introduced to Whites Hill Junior Summer Competition.

ETFC Presentation Evening- 67 attendees.

Video from the Presidents Award Evening:

2011
Eagles teams competing in the BMTA Junior competition and in the re-named Cobras Cup (formerly SEQTL/BTA)
Eagles Academy 18’s win Premiership, defeating a strong All Hallows team.

Off-field activities are strongly supported. Biggest ever turnout to a President’s Award evening at the Irish Club.

2012

Muster days for the 2012 season draw huge numbers. Over 50 people attend the first at Shaw Rd, and over 70 attend the second at Whites Hill. Mens Open make the finals. Women’s D2 make the Grand Final but lose narrowly to Southern Storm.

2013

Eagles nominate 6 teams in the re-named Metro Cup. Men’s & Women’s Open, D2 & D3. Eagles TFC also has teams in the Whites Hill Junior competition.

1980s Eagles jersey
1990s Eagles jersey

Refer also: Facebook page for later years Brisbane Eagles Touch Football Club