Why, you may wonder, were VFL teams Williamstown and North Ballarat playing in Keilor last year? Williamstown had a nomadic 2011, playing here, there and everywhere while its home ground, and grandstand, were being resurfaced and rebuilt.
The one-off game at Keilor, home to the Bulldogs in the Essendon & District Football League, was won by the rural visitors, North Ballarat, who jumped the ‘home’ team in the first quarter. Williamstown fought back in the last quarter but it was a tale of too little too late.
The Frank Elliot Memorial Scoreboard did its job, though the numbers were hard to read from the far side of the ground.The timekeepers’ box, on the right, was pretty cosy. Just enough room to press the buttons.
I wonder if the hand-painted team signs for the game have been retained for posterity or painted over.
Keilor finished seventh in the ten-team EDFL this year. Two of its junior teams won flags and another five played in grand finals. Former Keilor players include Essendon premiership players Mark Harvey and Rick Olarenshaw and current cult-figure Richmond ruckman Ivan Maric.
Scoreboard pressure 
G’day Vin
My name is Scott Elliott, and the scoreboard at Keilor is named after my grandfather who manned it for many years before he passed away. The current scoreboard replaced the original one which used to be a bit further down the pocket towards the clubrooms end of the ground. I live in Port Fairy in the south west now and played for the mighty Seagulls here but I remember many a Saturday standing up there with my grandfather helping him with clunky plates with the numbers on them and his car sitting next to the scoreboard with my grandmother inside. Both my dad, mum and younger brother are life members of the club. Cheers, Scott
Thanks Scott, for these terrific memories and history about the Keilor scoreboard. I’d be happy to re-do this page if you have any photographs of the old scoreboard and, especially, of your grandparents. (A family photograph of Frank and his wife would be lovely.) Thanks again.
Hi again Vin
I know dad has a photo of Frank (my grandfather) on the old scoreboard with another couple of people (don’t know how they got up there as Frank was very selective in who he allowed up there) so I will try to track it down for you. Also, in relation to Port Fairy scoreboard I will send some info through about Bernie Baxter. Regards, Scott