UNSW has it's own proud history, with the 'Wallies' formed in 1962, and going on to win 9 First Grade premierships in the SFA, during which time it produced it's own list of stars, including Cliff Matson and Stuart Cadzow (who both won University 'Blues', and both went on to play with East's).
The University of New South Wales Australian National Football Club was formed on 22 March 1962. The club intended on sending a team to Adelaide for intervarsity that year but did not because only 18 players were available instead of the required 22. 1963 was the club's first year of active participation. The club came fifth at intervarsity, which was held in Sydney, and Denis Aitken and Ian Sharpe were selected to play in an All Australian Universities side against NSW. Ian was unfortunate enough to be injured after five minutes in that game but Denis spearheaded the Combined Universities win with eight goals. We also defeated Sydney University in an inaugral match for a perpetual trophy donated by Shell.
In 1964, UNSW's players competed in regular competition for the first time in a combined Universities side with Sydney University. The club also fielded a team at intervarsity in Perth, which created headline stories. Some unnamed players almost depressurised their plane by puncturing holes in the window seals and many players jumped from one side of the plane to the other trying to get it to roll.
From 1965, it was decided that the combined Universities side be separated and the club commenced regular competition for the first time as the University of New South Wales in first division, with a team in reserve grade only. In 1966, the club played its first game under lights against Sydney University in the annual Shell Cup game. We won this game for the fourth year in a row. 1966 was also the club's first premiership year. The team was promoted to first grade in 1969 after four consecutive grand final appearances from 1965-68, which included two premierships. The 1968 premiers won by 97 points.
In 1970, the leagues were restructured and the club fielded two sides in the second division competition. The leagues in Sydney have changed many times since then, expanding to three small divisions in 1971 and consolidating to two large divisions in 1994. Since 1970, the club has always competed in second division with at least two grades.
After the season of 1987 the club officially folded. A meeting of the committee was held and the proposal was put to the vote. It was carried with two dissenters. The vote was later determined to be unconstitutional, however the two dissenters left the meeting and agreed to take on the organisation of the club and to field two teams in 1998 and the rest is history.
The club has produced many representative players. In 1964, John Ward was selected in the State side and he and Cliff Matson were selected in the Australian Universities side. In 1966, Graham McKenzie was selected in the Australian Universities side. Cliff Matson won the League best & fairest three years in a row from 1966-68 and, in 1969, was elected captain of the State side and awarded best player in a match against a Victorian side.
In 1968, Cliff Matson, Kevin Williams, Chris Herbert and Ron Haley represented the club in the State second grade team. In 1970, Brian Lawn kicked over 100 goals and in 1971 kicked 94. In 1973, Lyn Davis represented the club in the State Second Division team and was adjudged the best & fairest player in the series against Newcastle and South Coast. In 1976, when UNSW hosted intervarsity, Albert Suidgeest, Andy Collins, Peter Hurst, Alan Abbot, Ian Geddes and Col Kay were all selected in the intervarsity representative side. Ian Geddes was runner-up best & fairest for the carnival.
In 1985, Dale Rolfe was equal 1st in the League's Reserve grade best & fairest after the club lodged an appeal. Apparently R Dale was awarded best on ground in one game, which was eventually awarded to Dale Rolfe. In 1988, Beres Dowdle was selected in the All Australian university side. In 1989, Richard Beissel was selected in the All Australian university side and Paul Annett won the League's best and fairest. Paul then won a Ben Lexcen Scholarship the following year.
In 1990, John O'Dwyer won the League reserve grade best and fairest award. In 1994, Steve Driscoll won the League Reserve grade best & fairest. In 1995, the club had five players selected in Australian University Games' Green and Gold team. They were Matt Hern, Merrick Kingston, Justin Loveridge, Shayne McKenzie, and Alex Opie. In 1995 and 1996, Stephen Byrns won the League best & fairest and Dan Hupfau won the League's reserve grade best & fairest award. In 1996, the club recruited a very talented player in Stuart Cadzow and he was awarded the Ben Lexcen Scholarship, which was renewed in 1997. Also in 1996, Andrew Chaplin was selected in the Australian Universities Green and Gold team.
The club has won five first grade premierships in 1971, 1972, 1977, 1993 and 1994 and won nine reserve grade premierships in 1966, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1990, 1995 and 1996. The club's most successful year at the University Games was in 1995, winning a bronze medal by defeating Monash University in Darwin.
In 1985, the club set an Australian record for the highest score recorded by a senior grade team in an Australian National Football game with a score of 69 goals and 32 behinds (446 points) against Baulkham Hills who didn't score a single point. The record had been beaten but the club recaptured the record in 1994 with a score of 81 goals and 49 behinds (535 points) against Blacktown who scored only one point, which was scored by Rod Bordignon's man.