Lincoln City

Lincoln City remains one of the most recognisable and respected representative teams in the Bendigo Bank Mortlock Shield, carrying a proud Port Lincoln Football League identity into Eyre Peninsula’s premier country football carnival. Built from the city-based strength of Lincoln South, Tasman Imperial and Wayback, Lincoln City has long represented the speed, skill and competitive edge of Port Lincoln football on the interleague stage.

The Mortlock Shield itself dates back to 1936 and has grown into one of Eyre Peninsula football’s most important traditions, bringing the region’s best players together across the King’s Birthday long weekend at Centenary Oval, Port Lincoln. The 2026 carnival will be the 76th time the Shield has been contested, with four leagues and Port Lincoln’s two representative sides forming a five-team competition.

A proud championship history

Lincoln City has claimed eight Mortlock Shield championships, with premiership years listed as 1964, 1965, 1967, 1970, 2004, 2012, 2017 and 2024. That record places City among the carnival’s most successful modern sides and gives the team a strong historical standing in the competition.

The early Lincoln City era was especially powerful. Titles in 1964, 1965, 1967 and 1970 established City as a major force during a formative period of Port Lincoln’s split representative structure. The later successes in 2004, 2012, 2017 and 2024 show that Lincoln City’s competitiveness has carried across generations, with different groups of players adding their own chapter to the side’s history.

The 2024 breakthrough

Lincoln City’s 2024 championship was a major modern milestone. It ended a seven-year wait since the 2017 title and confirmed City’s ability to rise again in the current five-team carnival format. The official Mortlock Shield records list Lincoln City as the 2024 champion, before Western Eyre reclaimed the Shield in 2025.

That 2024 triumph also gave Lincoln City momentum and credibility heading into the next era of the carnival. In a format where every match matters and percentage can quickly shape the ladder, City’s ability to win the Shield recently makes them more than a historical name — they remain a current and genuine contender.

2025 team identity

The 2025 Lincoln City squad highlighted the team’s strong spread of talent from across its Port Lincoln Football League base. The selected side included players from Lincoln South, Wayback and Tasman Imperial, with Zane Montgomerie named captain, and Cooper Perham and Ian Jericho listed as vice-captains. Matthew Goodwin coached the side, supported by Levi McDonald as assistant coach and a large group of officials, trainers and volunteers.

That mix reflects what makes Lincoln City dangerous at Mortlock Shield level. It combines club rivalries into one representative program, asking players who compete fiercely against each other during the PLFL season to quickly become a united interleague side. When that blend works, Lincoln City has the depth, athleticism and football intelligence to match any team in the competition.

Award-winning talent

Lincoln City has also continued to produce standout individual performers. Ben Jarvis was listed as the most recent Bampton Medal winner in 2025, with the Bampton Medal awarded to the most outstanding player across the carnival.

Cody Duncan won the Don McSweeny Medal as the Best Under 21 player in 2023, while Rhys Kelsh was also listed as a Lincoln City winner of the same award in 2016.

Lincoln City has also featured strongly in the goal kicking records. Johann Wagner is listed among the leading Laurie Martin Trophy winners, having won the award in 2016 and again in 2024, while Rob Jackamarra is listed among the top goal kickers associated with Lincoln Districts and Lincoln City.

Waylon Miller added further recognition for City in 2024, being listed as the Wes Crosby Medal recipient, awarded to the runner-up best and fairest.

The Lincoln City v Lincoln Districts rivalry

One of the great features of the Mortlock Shield is the Port Lincoln split, with Lincoln City and Lincoln Districts giving the local competition two powerful representative identities. Lincoln City traditionally represents Lincoln South, Tasman Imperial and Wayback, while Lincoln Districts represents Boston, Mallee Park and Marble Range.

This gives the Lincoln City v Lincoln Districts match a special place in the carnival. It is more than another fixture — it is a showcase of Port Lincoln Football League depth, pride and bragging rights. For players, it is a chance to represent their side of the PLFL divide. For supporters, it is one of the most familiar and passionate matchups of the weekend.

2026 outlook

Lincoln City enters the 2026 Bendigo Bank Mortlock Shield chasing championship number nine. The official 2026 fixture gives City a major early test against Great Flinders on Saturday, followed by a clash with Eastern Eyre later the same day. Monday’s confirmed matchups include Lincoln City v Lincoln Districts and Lincoln City v Western Eyre, with exact Monday times to be finalised after Saturday results.

That draw gives Lincoln City no easy path. Great Flinders remains the most successful team in Mortlock Shield history, Western Eyre enters as defending champion, Eastern Eyre has a proud representative record, and Lincoln Districts will always lift for the Port Lincoln derby. But City’s recent championship success, strong PLFL base and proven award-winning talent make them one of the key teams to watch.

What Lincoln City brings to the carnival

Lincoln City’s strength has always been its ability to blend structure with attacking flair. The side often carries a strong midfield presence, mobile forwards and experienced players who understand the pressure of representative football. In the shorter Mortlock Shield format, clean ball use, fast starts and scoreboard pressure are critical, and City has shown across multiple eras that it can adapt to the demands of carnival football.

The 2026 campaign will again test Lincoln City’s depth, discipline and ability to perform across a demanding weekend. A strong result against Great Flinders would immediately announce City as a serious contender, while the matches against Lincoln Districts and Western Eyre could shape the final ladder.

Summary

Lincoln City is more than a participant in the Mortlock Shield — it is one of the competition’s great names. With eight championships, a proud Port Lincoln Football League identity, recent individual award winners and a 2024 title still fresh in memory, City carries both history and expectation into every carnival.

In 2026, Lincoln City will be looking to add another chapter to that story. Championship number nine is the target, and with the right mix of experience, youth, club pride and representative hunger, City has every reason to believe it can again be part of the final-day conversation at Centenary Oval.