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The Canadian Australian Football Association was established
in May 1989. Two teams were formed that year - the Mississauga
Mustangs and the Toronto Panthers.
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On October
12th 1989, during the half time of an exhibition match between
Melbourne and Geelong of the Australian Football League, football
jumpers were presented to the team Captains of the Mustangs
and Panthers. Two days later the Toronto Panthers defeated
the Mississauga Mustangs 65 to 48, winning the inaugural Conacher
Cup.
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In 1990 the
league doubled in size with the addition of the Scarborough
Rebels and the North York Hawks. That year the Panther went
undefeated and won their second straight Conacher Cup.
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In 1991 the
league saw the growth to the west with the creation of the
Hamilton Wildcats. The Toronto Panthers won their third straight
Premiership by defeating the Rebels.
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1992 saw expansion
again with the formation of the Balmy Beach Saints. The North
York Hawks relocated and became known as the Broadview Hawks.
The Scarborough Rebels defeated the Mississauga Mustangs in
a thrilling match to win their first Conacher Cup.
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The Brampton
Wolverines, the leagues seventh team, was formed in 1993.
The Scarborough Rebels relocated and became the Lawrence Park
Rebels. The Rebels won their second straight Premiership defeating
the heavily favoured Toronto Panthers. The Panthers had been
undefeated for the season.
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1994 was a
successful year with the Mississauga Mustangs finally winning
their first Premiership. The Mustangs win over the Rebels
ended their quest for a third straight Conacher Cup.
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1995 was the
year that the league received its greatest media coverage.
Two of Toronto's dailies and local radio stations carried
the leagues scores and several stories. Hamilton cable covered
several of the games played in Hamilton. On July 28th the
Hamilton Wildcats played a CAFA All-star line up in front
of 21,000 CFL fans at half time between the Hamilton Tiger
cats and the Edmonton Eskimos. The Toronto Panthers were reborn
as the Toronto Eagles, and they went on to be undefeated the
entire year and win their fourth Premiership.
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1996 saw the
Downtown Dingos form, proudly wearing the Essendon colours.
It is believed that 1996 was the best in CAFA history. It
was the most competitive season ever with six teams fiercely
contesting for four playoff spots. The season saw the seventh
ranked Balmy Beach Saints upset the Toronto Eagles in a close
match only to lose to the eighth ranked Brampton Wolverines
the next week. The Toronto Eagles went on to win their second
straight Premiership.
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1997 started
badly with the collapse of the Balmy Beach Saints. After many
meetings to discuss the future of the league the remaining
few players joined the Hawks and a few other teams. The Lawrence
Park Rebels dominated the ladder that season, they went undefeated.
The Toronto Eagles defeated the Lawrence Park Rebels for their
third straight Conacher Cup. The Eagles came back from a four-goal
deficit at the half to win by a single behind at the final
siren.
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1998 saw strong
competition from all teams. The Rebels once more dominated
the league in the early going. The Eagles came on strongly
in the second half of the season. The Grand Final was a repeat
match up from the previous year. The Rebels fought a hard
battle against the Eagles but could not match the Eagles depth.
The Eagles won their fourth straight Conacher Cup.
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TBC
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TBC |
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2001 was the kind of year that inspires movies to be made and legends to be born. The Rebels had an undefeated season and went on to win the Premiership after a few dry years. Rookie coach Michael Fabbri led a group of brilliant Australians and stellar Canadians (oh yeah, and one Kiwi just to mix it up). The key to their success was a dedicated team, pure talent and a desire to win.
In true Rebel form this team also had as much fun off the field as on it. Whether it was making weekly trips to the Weez bar or shaving Crispe's beard on the sideline (just after the Grand Final) the summer was full of unforgettable moments. |
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TBC |
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