Cliffford notches up 300 senior games for the Eagles

Josh Clifford from the New Norfolk District Football Club played his 300th senior game for the Eagles against Lindisfarne or the "Two Blues" at Boyer Oval on Saturday. 

Clifford, a home grown "Eagle" has bled "red, white and black" since he played his first game back in 2007 and since then he's won six senior premierships, a senior best and fairest award in 2022 and he coached the senior men's team in 2019-2020-2021 and co coached the side in 2022. Josh also coached the women's New Norfolk senior football side in 2024 and has been awarded life membership of both the Southern Football League and New Norfolk Football Club. 

The NNDFC released a statement prior to Clifford's 300th game saying " Josh is a selfless teammate through and through, he represents everything the NNDFC club stands for - courage, determination, resilience and pride in the jumper every single time he steps onto the field. 

"Cliffy is not only highly respected within the inner walls of our club but throughout the greater football community."

Clifford is also set to break the men's senior games played record for the New Norfolk District Football Club in the coming weeks overtaking another club legend in Roger Belcher who played 301 senior games for the Eagles.

Clifford is in great company in relation to overall games played for New Norfolk sitting currently in third position on 315 games (300 senior-15 reserves) behind the great Michael Eiszele on 340 games with Luke Joseph out in front on 387 games. Following Clifford is Robert (Boy) Wilton on 314, Chris Sproule on 309 and Roger Belcher on 308 games.

After a tough start to the 2026 SFL Community League season and a narrow loss at the TCA ground against Hobart a week before, the Eagles lifted on home turf in Clifford's milestone match  ,taking down top four side Lindisfarne 15.7.97 to 10.16.76. The Eagles dominated the highly regarded "Two Blues" with Captain/Coach Josh Farrow setting the example by kicking four goals backed by Blake Mayne with three and Clifford also with two goals. Best players for the Eagles on the day were Rowan Thomason, Caleb Mayne, Jye and Jake Bearman and Mikel Blundell.