Club History

Juniors History

The Manning Junior Football Club was established in 1957. Manning's foundations were built on the hard work of local football pioneers such as the Bushell, Quaife, and Robey Families. As a Junior club, Manning developed a reputation as one of the strongest and most formidable clubs in the playing district, with numerous premierships and the development of the WAFL/VFL players Brian Peake, Peter Spencer, Rob Wiley, Mark McLure, and Steve Hargreaves. 

Originally the Junior club was known as the Manning Lions, until the 1990's when it folded due to declining numbers. In 2004, junior football returned to the Manning area under the guardianship of Life Member Chris Lockyer. The Juniors adopted the Senior's brand of the "Manning Rippers".

Today, the Manning Rippers Juniors has over 400 participants ranging from Pre-Primary through to Youth with a strong parent volunteer base.

Seniors History

Early History

Senior football began at Manning in 1986 as the Manning Lions, with Syd Price as founding President. George Robey took over as President from 1988 to 1990 and continued to fundraise and help run the club until 1995 when he joined the Perth Football Club Board. For the first years, the Manning Lions played in the WAFA (1986-87), Sunday Div 2 League (1988-91), and Peel League (1992-93) propelled by the strong work of volunteers such as Guy Lovett (President 1992-93), Joel Gajic, and Sandy Murcott. On field highlights included the return of prodigal son Peter Spencer (1986-89) to coaching at James Miller Oval, and the on-field dominance of six times fairest and best Paul Murphy. In 1991, the Manning Colts narrowly missed out on premiership glory to Mundijong by 4 points. The Colts, coached by Rowan Carson (1990-92), would produce two future League Captains. 1994 was a dark year for the club, with both Reserves and Colts folding, however the emergence of a new group of young committee people saw the club battle through a losing streak that would reach 70 games.

1996-2003

In late 1996, club leaders Anton Ferrari and Scott Greer began negotiations with the Bankwest Football Club. This saw a merger that created a new side called the Manning Rippers, who began to play as a two team club in the WAAFL Saturday competition. The Presidencies of Anton Ferrari (1996-97) and Scott Greer (1998-2002) saw the club gain financial stability and some measure of on-field success, with the League side making finals in 1997 and 1998, and the Reserves finishing 3rd in 2001 and 4th in 2002. League stars during this time were Gary Peel and Trevor McAllister, Captain John Griffiths, and Fairest and Best winners Paul Murphy (record 7 times), Karl Edlinger, and Erwin Edlinger. 2003 saw a new President in Paul Masiello, a new coaching staff, and a new influx of players. The Rippers just missed out on a finals berth, and Ruckman Bob Braam won the Fairest and Best. 

2004

This year saw the return of club games record holder Nigel Wood as the League Coach and a new attitude to the club. Under the guidance of Woody and Reserves Coach Barry Chaplin, both sides made finals and for the first time, the league side won a final. Starts in 2004 were Fairest and Best winner Paul Vardy (3rd in League), Captain Erwin Edlinger, ruckman Bob Braam, and key forwards Luke Lovett and Brad Smith. At Reserves level, club stalwarts Paul Murphy (another Fairest and Best), Todd Harry, Craig Mulder, and Darren Christmass continued to impress.

2005

Without a doubt, 2005 was the most successful year in Rippers history up until this point both on and off the field. The redevelopment of the clubrooms, the continued success of the Juniors, and the Seniors promotion to C Grade are all defining moments in the club's history. Both Reserves and League team made the finals once again, with the League team just missing out on premiership glory after losing the Grand Final to Melville and Claremont Oval after leading at half time. The Reserves team was also unlucky not to make the Grand Final after bowing out in the preliminary final, also to Melville.

2006-2008

Manning's first attempt at C Grade in 2006 and 2007 was a hard campaign. Hindered by an incredible run of injuries and narrow losses, the winter winds blew extra cold. Every cloud has a silver lining though, and in this season we unveiled a new potential champion in Chris Swarts, who not only took out the club Fairest and Best, but finished second in the League overall in 2006. The club also blooded in excess of twenty new players and learned some valuable lessons about what it will take to win at a higher level. The Rippers returned to D Grade in 2008 and learned the hard way that a team of talented players who don't play as a team do not get far as a team. In the Reserves, the 2008 Rippers were able to finish fourth and this result led to John Chambers being promoted from Reserves Coach to League Coach for 2009. 

2009

With players returning from injury, three new floodlights, plans for new clubrooms, and a quickly developing Junior club, there remained an air of confidence at Ripperland that the worm was about to turn. First, both D Grade sides finished the qualifying rounds in second position, and the advent of H Grade saw the return of many old faces to the club. Chris Swarts won the Fairest and Best for all D Grade Gold. Finally, on Grand Final day, both Rippers sides triumphed to put the first flags on the wall and return the club to C Grade.

2010

In 2010, the Manning Rippers, despite the inspirational leadership of Co-Captains Ash Cripps (2010 League Fairest and Best) and Luke Lovett (Runner up Fairest and Best & 5 times leading goal kicker) learned the hard way how the additional depth a Colts side provides is a prerequisite for higher grade success. Demoted to the WAAFL's C3 Grade, the desire to play higher grade football remained strong.

2011

The club returned to the cots arena, where, under the tutelage of Dave Parker, the Under 19 Rippers battled through to the very last day of the season, where they went down to St Norberts. Justin Crouch was the club's Fairest and Best Colts player and Hayden Noordhoek the Ripper Rising Star. John Chambers engineered a revival that saw his League team also make a Grand Final, going down by only 9 points to Belmont. Chris Swarts once again secured the Rippers' Fairest and Best, chased hard by full forward Ash Bentley, who kicked 89 goals. The Reserves, coached by Craig Mulder and inspired on-field by WAAFL C3 Reserves Fairest and Best Erwin Edlinger, were also able to play finals football. Off-field the club achieved Quality Club Silver Accreditation, launched their inaugural girls Auskick competition, and were awarded the Best Senior Club award in the Perth Demons District.

2012

This was the year in which the Manning Rippers Football Club had to, at all costs, hold their ground. Maintaining a place in C2 rather than slipping back to C3 was the number one priority, followed closely by the need to further legitimise the club's Colts programme by making finals for the second year in a row. Under the experience of Richard Bewick, the League side managed to beat the two sides below it twice, sneak wins against Kenwick and Swan Valley, and significantly push top 3 sides Canning and Gosnells. Ash Cripps secured his second Fairest and Best for the club and Luke Lovett once again lead the goalkicking. At Reserves level, Veteran Todd Forknall not only won the club's Fairest and Best, but finished runner up for the whole competition. At Colts level, the dominance of club and competition Fairest and Best Aaron Holmes and competition runner up Jackson Chapman inspired the Colts to finals action once again, where unfortunately injuries lead to a final result below what this young team deserved. Other highlights for the season were the selection of Aaron Holmes, Jordan Strachan, and James Pinci in the Amateurs State Under 19s side, the induction of club icon Paul Masiello into the Hall of Fame, and the presentation of Life Membership to Juniors head honcho Brad Coopes.

2013-2014

Football is often cyclical and there is no doubt the club's senior sides struggled during this two year period as injuries and an exodus of players to WAFL and country clubs took their toll. Every year of the club has it's champions and the honour boards will proudly recognise Shaun Sullivan as 2013 League Fairest and Best. Shaun was promoted to League Captain in 2014. That year saw ruckman Adrian Preston secure his second Fairest and Best with the club. Other highlights were the 200th game of club champion Luke Lovett and a 100 point thrashing of East Fremantle by our League side in the last game of the year. 

2015

The appointment of ex Claremont player Clayton Gardiner as League coach saw the club's Seniors conduct their hardest pre-season in 4 years and the extra work done by the players in addition to a greater sense of camaraderie off the field saw the Rippers League team win six games and lose a further five games by less than 10 points, building a strong foundation for 2016. Season 2015 was closed by a magnificent 200 point victory against Secret Harbour in club stalwart Chris Dalton's 100th game. The club's Fairest and Best player for 2015 was Justin Crouch. Across the road construction began on the Manning Hub development, which would house the club's new rooms. 

2016-2019

Under the guardianship of League coach Clayton Gardiner, the Rippers were able to build on the efforts of 2015 and make finals in the 2016 season. A key factor influencing this was the marvellous season by League Fairest and Best Ryan Quinn-Schofield. Unfortunately, the season ended in the rain and mud at Ellenbrook, but optimism for the future remained. Off the field, the club committee, led by President Michael Tindall, prepared our membership for its move to our new clubrooms for the 2017 season. Unfortunately, the 2017 and 2018 Senior seasons were characterised by significant injuries, which prevented us from being competitive in C3 in 2017 and saw us just miss finals in C4 the following year. These two years saw the club's Fairest and Best won by 2011 Colts player Mitchell Gibbs in 2017 and Justin Crouch in 2018. The club fielded a Colts team in 2018 and 2019, which would pay dividends in the years to come. 2019 was a tough year for the club on the field, with another Fairest and Best for Justin Crouch and a 10 Year reunion of our 2009 Premiership sides being the highlights.

2020-2021

In 2020 the club appointed Tony Wootton as its new League coach and his enthusiasm and hard work allow the Seniors to avoid extinction from lack of numbers. Just when it was looking like we might be able to field two competitive sides, the COVID pandemic struck, and survival by socially distanced communication became the goal. The club managed to get two sides up for an abbreviated 8 game season and recommenced preparations for the club's Inaugural Women's side. Michael Watson won the club's Fairest and Best and off-field, a plan to reignite Colts football in 2021 began. The start of 2021 saw country football return and FIFO work amplified and, once again, numbers were an issue. The club's Senior Operating Committee worked hard to get an E4 Seniors side up, as well as a new Colts side coached by Juniors coaching legend Mat Bateman. Our Inaugural Women's side did not have to wait too long for their first win. The Seniors and Colts were dominant on the field, with the League side (Captained again by Luke Lovett) marching through to a Grand Final undefeated, where after a few flutters, they ran out winners by 50 points. The Colts were cruelled by a controversial umpiring decision that halted their finals run one week short of the big dance in overtime, but no doubt steeled them for higher honours in 2022. The club's champions in 2021 were Tyler Lehner (League), Yvonne Kelly Osborne (Women), and Tom Settineri (Colts). Tyrese Pickett Miller won the PFL E4 Fairest and Best ahead of Tyler and Yvonne Kelly Osborne finished second in the Women's C3 competition.

2022-2023

The following season saw our Senior Men's League team promoted up 3 grades and this, plus the loss of several stars and a coach, saw a much tougher season unfold. However, coach Bill Scibilia's group fought hard and kept their heads up and a returning Juniors player in Griffin Bateman secured the Men's League Fairest and Best. At Colt's level, the club's future unfolded as our Colts marched through undefeated. In the Grand Final, they held on against a very physical Armadale side. Our Women's League defied a slow start to the season to rack up wins when they were needed and snuck into a historic first final, where they gave their all but just fell short. Shakaya Smith took the top gong for the Women and there was an exciting 3 way tie for the Colts Fairest and Best between Tom Settineri, Fionn Neeson, and leading goalkicker Nik White. Season 2023 saw the return of Reserves football to James Miller Oval and the arrival of a new group of Colts as many of the premiership stars of 2022 moved up to the Men's League side. All four Senior teams made finals, with the Women's League and the Men's League making it all the way to the Grand Final. The Women's League had their chances before falling just short, despite many meritorious performances. The following weekend, the Men's League side, with a decimated midfield, produced arguably the greatest win of the club's history running all over Wanneroo. The following weekend saw the club crown four new champions: Roc Hughes (Men's League), Ashley Muzava (Women's League), Ian Kapinga (Reserves), and Ace Tinlin (Colts). Off the field the club committee, led by Alan Mulvaney, secured a long term lease for the clubrooms and prepared for night football in 2024.