But last Monday, the club soared above the pack when it was recognised as the City of Monash's club of the year for 2007.

The club was recognised for its recent successes, including its seniors premiership in the Southern Football League in 2006 and reserves flags in 2005 and 2006.

For the past three years, the club has also given spectators with a disability and their carers free admission and hospitality to home games.

The Magpies, who celebrate their centenary season this year, have battled for much of their history, winning their first flag in 1980.

Club secretary Royce Deckker, who as a 10-year-old trained with the club's under-16 side in the 1960s, said the club had survived on the back of its volunteers rather than paying "big money" for players.

The club had a brief big-spending period in the 1980s, buying VFA greats such as Sandringham centreman Barry Burke. Between 1980-84, the club won four flags.

By 1998, with the money dried up, it was unable to pay the asking rate for key players in the Eastern Football League, and shifted to the SFL.

"We've never paid a lot for players. We've always built up through the juniors," Deckker said.

"Unlike [SFL sides] St Kilda City and Balwyn, we haven't gone out and bought players, but since we joined we've had equal success."

Deckker says the club is looking for a big year on and off the field, recruiting former Carlton midfielder Darren Hulme as coach and luring back former club best-and-fairest winner Victor Currie from Noble Park.

"One hundred years is pretty special. Not many get to 100 years, and a lot have closed down in the meantime."

The Magpies will stage a reunion for past and present players at Springvale Town Hall on June 7.

At selected games this year, the players will wear heritage guernseys featuring a green and gold-vee design worn by the club 100 years ago.