History
The Manly Warringah Wolves were formed in 1969 by Co Founders Harry Marston, George Klause and Bruce Hutton, sporting the iconic maroon and white of Sydney’s Northern Beaches. The club's first season was in the U/20 SFL competition, after which they joined the newly formed Sydney District Association.
The Wolves had to wait 17 seasons to taste any type of Premiership success but when we finally did we made it worth the wait with the club winning premierships in First Grade, Reserve Grade & U/20's in the 1985 season.
The club has now gone on to win 10 First Grade Premierships – nine from our Men’s teams 1985, 1990, 1995, 1996, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 rounded off in 2020 by our Women’s Premier Division team. The Wolves have also won four Reserve grade flags 1985, 1988, 1993 & 2002 and four Under 20's premierships (now U/19's) 1985, 1991, 1993 & 2013.
After winning back to back Premierships under coach Leigh Brain in 2011 and 2012 in Sydney's First Division, The Manly Warringah Wolves were accepted to play in Sydney's Premier Division against Sydney's elite clubs for the 2013 season. This opened the door for the Club to take home it’s first Premier Division flag, with a famous 8 point victory over Pennant Hills. Just to prove this feat
was no fluke, our boys went on to win the 2014 Premier Division flag.
Look to the 2020 season, and it was as though the Women’s squad was following the same path – after establishing our inaugural women’s team in 2013, the Division One side finished minor premiers in 2019 season and were promoted to the leagues top competition, Premier Division in 2020. Although a shortened season due to Covid-19 restrictions, the team executed a near perfect season under the tutelage of coach, Luke Slobin to finish as minor premiers again. The cherry on the top was their Grand Final winning performance, which saw them crowned 2020 Season Premiers in a 21 point victory against well-respected competitors, Inner West Magpies.
Other significant Club milestones include celebrating 50th Anniversary Season in 2018, and the election of the Club’s first female President in 2020.
The Manly Warringah Wolves are a unified Club – with all players, male and female, represented under the same single legal entity, club brand and governed by the one, unified club committee. Both female and male teams are integrated under the one banner of “Manly Warringah Wolves”. All players that run onto the field wear the same club uniform, showcasing the one club logo. At the beginning of each home game, each team proudly provides a guard of honour for the other.
The players themselves all refer to each other as “Wolves” – there are no Wolvettes or Wolverines here – just the one “Wolf Pack”. We believe we are ready for to take the Club to the next level in 2021 and continue to pave the path for future generations of footballers on the Northern Beaches.
"The Manly Wolves are a sporting community like no other on the Northern Beaches. They are fiercely loyal, yet welcoming; friendly yet competitive - my time as part of the Club has transformed my social and business network." Chris Donovan, Total Surveying Solutions
“The Manly Women’s team has breathed new life into the Club, and I truly believe with an elevation of our top Women’s Team to the Premier Division next year, it will only get stronger as women aspire to be with a Club having a women’s team in the Premier Division.” Greg Durbridge, former player, past President and Life Member of Manly Warringah Australian Football Club.