Western Football Netball League

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Western Football Netball League
FormerlyFootscray District Football League, Western Region Football League
SportAustralian rules football
Founded1931; 93 years ago (1931)
No. of teams24
CountryAustralia
Most recent
champion(s)
  • Werribee Districts (Div 1)
  • Parkside (Div 2)
  • Suns (Div 3)
Most titlesSpotswood (16)
Official websitewrfl.org.au

The Western Football Netball League is an Australian rules football semi-professional league, based in the western suburbs of Melbourne, for both seniors and juniors.

History[edit]

The league was formed in 1931 as the "Footscray District Football League".

During the 1950s, the VFL club Footscray was financially backing the competition, so they decided to bar clubs that were inside the Essendon zone.[citation needed] This resulted in six clubs leaving. More changes occurred in 1952 as the league decided that clubs had to provide an under-18 competition; this action reduced the club numbers down to twelve.[citation needed] The next initiative was the introduction of an under-16 competition in 1954.

In 1988, the league absorbed clubs from the West Suburban Football League; and, in 2000, to reflect the fact that the league had expanded across the western suburbs, it changed its name to the Western Region Football League. The league's headquarters are at Whitten Oval, which is the home of current AFL club Western Bulldogs.

In 2002, the league, in particular its second Division, found itself a national audience when a Seven Network reality TV show, The Club, followed the performance of a team called the Kensington Hill Hammerheads throughout the season. The players, coach and president were chosen on the show, and after finishing third in the regular season, went on to win the flag.

In 2006, the league suspended the Central Altona Football Club for attempting to re-register a player, and they suspended Brunswick Power after the club was found guilty of playing unregistered players.[1] In addition, Central Altona also had a variety of on-field violence and abuse issues, and they were also in trouble for re-registering banned players.

In 2013, Manor Lakes and Sanctuary Lakes entered the Division Two of the senior competition.[2] In 2014, Werribee Districts transferred from the VAFA, and Tarneit entered a senior team.[3] The league then announced that a third division will form midway through 2014.[4]

In 2015, the Wyndham Suns were admitted to the third division. Parkside, which won the second division premiership in 2014, suffered a bitter internal division and lost most of the players and committee. Instead of being promoted to first division, Parkside staved off recess and were permitted to rebuild the club in the third division.

The league changed its name to the Western Football Netball League in early 2024. Division Three was abolished following the 2023 season. Eynesbury and the Western Rams joined the competition from the Riddell District Football Netball League for the 2024 season.

Clubs[edit]

Participating clubs for the 2023 season:

Map
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
5km
3miles
none
Wyndham
Tarneit
Sunshine
Heights
North Sunshine
Laverton
Glen Orden
Braybrook
Albanvale
Yarraville-Seddon
Wyndhamvale
West Footscray
Point Cook
Centrals
Parkside
North Footscray
Newport
Manor Lakes
Werribee
Districts
Sunshine
Spotswood
Point Cook
Hoppers
Crossing
Caroline Springs
Altona
.
Albion
Locations of the 2023 WRFL clubs. Red pogs represent teams in Division One, orange pogs represent teams in Division Two, and yellow pogs represent teams in Division Three.

Division One[edit]

Colours Club Nickname Location Home ground Founded Years in comp WFNL Premierships Most Recent
Altona Vikings Altona JK Grant Reserve 1918 1933–1937, 1945–1951,
1977–1979, 1988–present 		7 2022
Caroline Springs Lakers Caroline Springs Town Centre Oval 2002 2011–present 1 2016
Hoppers Crossing Warriors Hoppers Crossing Hogans Road Reserve 1972 1988–present 3 2004
Parkside Magpies Footscray Henry Turner Reserve 1897 1931–present 17 2023
Point Cook Centrals Sharks Point Cook Featherbrook Reserve 2012 2013–present 2 2022
Point Cook Bulldogs Point Cook Saltwater Reserve 2003 2018–present 0 -
Spotswood Woodsmen Spotswood Donald W McLean Reserve 1927 1935–present 17 2011
Werribee Districts Tigers Werribee Soldiers Reserve 1995 1995–1997, 2014–present 1 2023
Yarraville Seddon Eagles Yarraville Yarraville Oval 2006 2007–present 2 2019

Division Two[edit]

Colours Club Nickname Location Home ground Founded Years in comp WFNL Premierships Most Recent
Albanvale Cobras Deer Park Robert Bruce Reserve 1978 1978–1988, 1993–present 1 2015
Albion Cats Sunshine JR Parsons Reserve 1961 1961–present 4 2010
Braybrook Brookers Braybrook Pennell Reserve 1874 1931–1990, 1990–1997, 1997–present 19 2022
Laverton Magpies Altona Meadows Laverton Park 1924 1988–present 1 1989
Newport Panthers Newport AW Langshaw Reserve 2005 2016–present [5] 1 2016
North Footscray Devils West Footscray Hansen Reserve 1934 1935–present 7 2017
North Sunshine Roadrunners Sunshine North Dempster Park 1967 1979–present 2 2003
Suns Suns Tarneit Goddard Street Reserve 2013 2015–present 1 2023
Sunshine Kangaroos Braybrook Kinder Smith Reserve 1959 1978–present 0 -
Sunshine Heights Dragons Sunshine West Ainsworth Reserve 1971 1988–present 3 2008
Tarneit Titans Tarneit Wootten Road Reserve 2014 2014–present 0 -
West Footscray Roosters West Footscray Shorten Reserve 1932 1932–present 7 2007
Western Rams Rams Rockbank Ian Cowie Recreation Reserve 2000 2024–present 0 -
Wyndhamvale Falcons Wyndham Vale Wyndham Vale South Oval 1979 1989–94, 1999–present 1 2015

Thirds Only[edit]

Colours Club Nickname Location Home ground Founded Years in comp WFNL Premierships Most Recent
Bacchus Marsh Cobras Maddingley Maddingley Park 1978 2024–present 0 -
Eynesbury Eagles Eynesbury Eynesbury Recreation Reserve 2016 2024–present 0 -
Glen Orden Hawks Werribee Heathdale Oval 1979 1976–2016, 2018–2022, 2024-present 4 2019


Former Clubs[edit]

In Recess[edit]

Colours Club Nickname Location Home Ground Founded Years in Comp WFNL Premierships Most Recent
Manor Lakes Storm Manor Lakes Howqua Reserve 2012 2013–2019 0 -

Folded[edit]

Club Years in Comp
6th Melbourne Scouts 1934–1952
Altona North Brooklyn Youth (ANBY) 1985–1989
Ascot Vale 1988–1997
Baptist Church of Christ/Combine 1934–1940
Bayview Road Methodists 1931–1931
Braybrook YCW ?
Brunswick Amateurs 1995–1998
Brunswick Power 2004–2007
Central Altona 1988–2006
CSR 1935–1939
Dark Blues 1932–1932
East Brunswick 1987–1993
Essendon ALP 1937–1937
Essendon Districts 1945–1949
Essendon High School Ex-Students/North Essendon 1983–1996
Flemington 1987–2000
Footscray & Yarraville (F&Y) Socials 1946–1975
Footscray Presbyterians 1934–1934
Footscray Scouts 1931–1933
Footscray Technical Old Boys 1931–1931
Gladstone Park 1998–2007
Harvester Socials 1944–1946
Kealba 1995–2002
Kensington Hill Hammerheads 2002–2002
Maribyrnong 1947–1949
Newells 1933–1938
Newport 1947–1949, 1952–1955 (moved to Werribee District FL), 1988–1999
Newport CYMS 1941–1946
Newport United 1935–1940
North Melbourne & Kensington 1986–1998
Old Essendon Grammarians 1983–1984
RAAF Laverton 1987–1987
RAAF Melbourne 1987–1987
Riverside 1932–1934
St Albans South
St John's Church of England/Paisley 1931–1938
Sandridge 1991–1992
South Footscray 1935–1949
Sunshine Methodists 1934–1934
Sunshine VRI ?
Victor Socials 1934–1951 Moved to the Sunday Suburban FL as Brooklyn
Waratah 1945–1952
West Newport 1957–1965 (moved to Western Suburban FL), 1988–1997
West Spotswood 1939–1939
Williamstown High School Old Boys 1950–1952
Williamstown Presbyterians
Williamstown United 1939–1940, 1947–1949, 1988–1994
Yarraville CYMS 1931–1932
Yarraville Rovers 1932–1932
Yarraville Old Boys (1950–1952) 1950–1952

Merged[edit]

Club Club Year Resultant Club
Brooklyn Kingsville YMCA 1981 Wembley Park (reverted to Brooklyn in 1998)
Fawkner Amateurs Moomba Park (RDFL) 1997 Fawkner Park (DVFL)
Yarraville Seddon 2007 Yarraville Seddon Eagles

Moved to CYMS Football Association[edit]

Club Years in Comp Status
Williamstown CYMS 1965–1968 VAFA Premier B

Moved to Essendon District Football League[edit]

Club Years in Comp Status
Coburg Districts 1988–2012 EDFL Div 2
Deer Park 1935–1941, 1947–1951, 1967–2022 EDFL Div 1
St Albans 1947–1953, 1958–2022 EDFL Div 1

Moved to Southern Football League[edit]

Club Years in Comp Status
Brooklyn 1981–2002 Folded
Port Melbourne Colts 1983–2015 SFL Div 1 [6]

Moved to Victorian Football Association[edit]

Club Years in Comp Status
Newlands Coburg 1987–1993 Folded (1997)
Sunshine Districts 1938–1939, 1941–1958 Folded (1989)

Moved to Western Suburban Football League[edit]

Club Years in Comp Status
Maidstone 1947–1964 Folded

Moved to Werribee District Football League[edit]

Club Years in Comp Status
Williamstown Rovers 1945–1951 Folded (1958)

Premiers[edit]

Division One[edit]

Year Premier Score Runner up
1931 Parkside 11.19.85 – 7.5.47 Braybrook
1932 Riverside 11.15.81 – 10.12.72 Parkside
1933 Parkside 19.22.136 – 10.10.70 Riverside
1934 West Footscray 9.10.64 – 8.7.55 Parkside
1935 West Footscray 12.12.84 – 10.8.69 Spotswood
1936 Parkside 11.8.74 – 5.8.38 Spotswood
1937 Parkside 15.11.101 – 8.13.61 Deer Park
1938 Spotswood 15.15.105 – 12.16.88 Deer Park
1939 Deer Park 14.14.98 – 8.13.61 Parkside
1940 Deer Park 8.8.56 – 7.12.54 North Footscray
1941 Deer Park 17.5.107 – 12.10.82 Parkside
1942 Braybrook 17.21.123 – 8.12.60 West Footscray
1943 Kingsville 6.12.48 – 3.8.26 Parkside
1944 Braybrook 7.7.49 – 5.18.48 West Footscray
1945 Braybrook 15.9.99 – 10.6.66 West Footscray
1946 Braybrook 9.12.66 – 8.15.63 West Footscray
1947 West Footscray 10.12.72 – 8.13.61 Braybrook
1948 Parkside 10.7.67 – 6.6.42 Braybrook
1949 Parkside 9.7.61 – 7.8.50 Sunshine Districts
1950 Seddon 12.5.77 – 3.9.27 Spotswood
1951 Parkside 14.8.92 – 12.9.81 West Footscray
1952 Braybrook 7.9.51 – 7.2.44 Seddon
1953 Seddon 5.8.38 – 2.7.19 Newport
1954 Braybrook 9.10.64 – 8.5.53 Newport
1955 Braybrook 8.15.63 – 7.11.53 Seddon
1956 Braybrook 11.7.73 – 9.9.63 Parkside
1957 Parkside 10.21.81 – 6.7.43 Kingsville
1958 Spotswood 10.7.67 – 9.9.63 Parkside
1959 F & Y Socials 11.6.72 – 3.5.23 Spotswood
1960 F & Y Socials 15.9.99 – 4.12.36 Spotswood
1961 F & Y Socials 12.7.79 – 5.11.41 Parkside
1962 Parkside 5.10.40 – 2.6.18 F & Y Socials
1963 F & Y Socials 11.17.83 – 6.9.45 Seddon
1964 Kingsville 10.21.81 – 9.7.61 Spotswood
1965 Albion 14.11.95 – 12.12.84 Parkside
1966 St Albans 11.22.88 – 8.9.57 Kingsville
1967 Parkside 16.9.105 12.14.86 Spotswood
1968 Spotswood 9.7.61 – 7.12.54 St Albans
1969 St Albans 13.6.84 – 11.16.82 Albion
1970 West Footscray 14.8.92 – 11.14.80 Spotswood
1971 Spotswood 15.12.102 – 14.15.99 Parkside
1972 Spotswood 10.15.75 – 9.13.67 North Footscray
1973 Braybrook 15.12.102 – 9.8.62 Albion
1974 Braybrook 11.10.76 – 9.9.63 Albion
1975 Braybrook 14.13.97 – 15.7.97 West Footscray
1975 Braybrook 10.16.76 – 9.10.64 West Footscray
1976 Seddon 9.12.66 – 7.14.56 Albion
1977 Spotswood 12.6.78 – 8.15.63 Kingsville
1978 North Footscray 10.12.72 – 9.9.63 Albion
1979 Braybrook 6.13.49 – 5.18.48 St Albans
1980 North Footscray 13.12.90 – 13.6.84 Spotswood
1981 Parkside 15.15.105 – 7.12.54 North Footscray
1982 West Footscray 16.8.104 – 9.15.69 St Albans
1983 North Footscray 12.14.86 – 12.11.83 Parkside
1984 Spotswood 16.16.112 – 7.12.54 Wembley Park
1985 Albion 15.10.100 – 11.19.85 Sunshine YCW
1986 Albion 14.22.106 – 10.7.67 Wembley Park
1987 Spotswood 18.8.116 – 11.11.77 Sunshine YCW
1988 St Albans 10.4.64 – 7.4.46 Albion
1989 St Albans 11.12.78 – 5.16.46 Deer Park
1990 Spotswood 21.17.143 – 8.8.56 Deer Park
1991 Seddon 18.15.123 – 12.15.87 Spotswood
1992 Seddon 12.3.75 – 8.7.55 Spotswood
1993 Spotswood 23.13.151 – 5.11.41 Seddon
1994 Deer Park 17.9.111 – 11.7.73 Spotswood
1995 Spotswood 17.7.109 – 10.12.72 Deer Park
1996 Parkside 17.11.113 – 16.10.106 Yarraville
1997 Yarraville 19.10.124 – 15.12.102 Parkside
1998 Port Melbourne Colts 13.8.86 – 10.7.67 Spotswood
1999 Port Melbourne Colts 8.21.69 – 8.4.52 Parkside
2000 Parkside 9.13.67 – 7.8.50 St Albans
2001 St Albans 15.19.109 – 10.7.67 Hoppers Crossing
2002 Hoppers Crossing 18.11.119 – 18.5.113 Parkside
2003 Parkside 11.8.74 – 10.9.69 Spotswood
2004 Hoppers Crossing 10.6.66 – 8.12.60 Port Melbourne Colts
2005 Port Melbourne Colts 12.16.88 – 6.7.43 Parkside
2006 Port Melbourne Colts 14.12.96 – 14.10.94 Hoppers Crossing
2007 Spotswood 13.10.88 – 11.16.82 Port Melbourne Colts
2008 Spotswood 13.15.93 – 11.17.83 Port Melbourne Colts
2009 Spotswood 13.13.91 – 10.13.73 Port Melbourne Colts
2010 Albion 14.11.95 – 11.12.78 Spotswood
2011 Spotswood 12.18.90 – 7.13.55 Albion
2012 Altona 14.7.91 – 12.18.90 Spotswood
2013 Deer Park 15.10.100 – 14.15.99 Spotswood
2014 Deer Park 22.26.158 – 12.9.81 Spotswood
2015 Deer Park 23.17.155 – 2.7.19 Werribee Districts
2016 Deer Park 25.21.171 – 8.9.57 Hoppers Crossing
2017 Deer Park 9.12.66 – 9.9.63 Sunshine
2018 Deer Park 12.17.89 – 6.7.43 Hoppers Crossing
2019 Deer Park 9.13.67 – 9.10.64 Altona
2020 Season not played (COVID-19 pandemic)
2021 Season not completed (COVID-19 pandemic)
2022 Altona 10.21 (81) – 9.4 (58) Werribee Districts
2023 Werribee Districts 9.11 (65) – 5.13 (43) Point Cook

Premiers by club (Div One)[edit]

Club Titles Years won
Spotswood 15 1938, 1958, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1977, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1995, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
Parkside 14 1931, 1933, 1936, 1937, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1957, 1962, 1967, 1981, 1996, 2000, 2003
Braybrook 12 1942, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1979
Deer Park 11 1939, 1940, 1941, 1994, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
West Footscray 5 1934, 1935, 1947, 1970, 1982
St Albans 5 1966, 1969, 1988, 1989, 2001
F & Y Socials 4 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963
Albion 4 1965, 1985, 1986, 2010
Port Melbourne Colts 4 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006
North Footscray 3 1978, 1980, 1983
Yarraville 3 1943, 1964,[note 1] 1997
Hoppers Crossing 2 2002, 2004
Altona 2 2012, 2022
Werribee Districts 1 2023
Notes
  1. ^ As "Kingsville FC".

Division Two[edit]

Division Three[edit]

Leading Goalkickers (Andrew Gibson Medal)[edit]

Year Player H&A goals Finals goals Total Goals
1947 Walker (F&Y Socials) 82 0 82
1948 Ted Ellis (Braybrook) 74 10 84
1949 Wagborne (Parkside) 61 4 65
1950 Yewers (Braybrook) 66 1 67
1951 Wagborne (Parkside) 67 9 76
1952 Hansen (Seddon) 70 0 70
1953 Wallis (Parkside) 73 0 73
1954 Paravicini (Newport) 48 0 48
1955 G McDonald (Kingsville) 78 3 81
1956 Jewell (Seddon) 50 0 50
1957 Carlton (Parkside) 48 0 48
1958 Coon (Parkside) 70 7 77
1959 Coon (Parkside) 57 0 57
1960 D Lown (F & Y Socials) 43 11 54
1961 D Lown (F & Y Socials) 59 6 65
1962 A Russell (Parkside) 54 0 54
1963 A Russell (Kingsville) 68 4 72
1964 B Saunders (Kingsville) 61 2 63
1965 J McCalman (Albion) 52 0 52
1966 0 0 0 0
1967 0 0 0 0
1968 0 0 0 0
1969 0 0 0 0
1970 0 0 0 0
1971 0 0 0 0
1972 0 0 0 0
1973 0 0 0 0
1974 0 0 0 0
1975 0 0 0 0
1976 0 0 0 0
1977 0 0 0 0
1978 0 0 0 0
1979 0 0 0 0
1980 0 0 0 0
1981 0 0 0 0
1982 0 0 0 0
1983 Andrew Gibson (Spotswood) 96 4 100
1984 Andrew Gibson (Spotswood) 79 16 95
1985 Andrew Gibson (Spotswood) 98 0 98
1986 Andrew Gibson (Spotswood) 100 0 100
1987 Andrew Gibson (Spotswood) 88 0 88
1988 Andrew Gibson (Spotswood) 83 0 83
1989 Chris Stulhdrieier (Sunshine YCW) 79 0 79
1990 Brian Memedi (Kingsville) 70 0 70
1991 Darren Scott (Spotswood) 115 0 115
1992 Sean Allan (Port Melbourne Colts) 102 0 102
1993 Wayne Duggan (Deer Park) 97 11 108
1994 Brian Memedi (Kingsville) 99 0 99
1995 Brian Memedi (Kingsville) 69 0 69
1996 Brian Memedi (Yarraville) 105 0 105
1997 Brian Memedi (Yarraville) 82 0 82
1998 Stephen Nielson (Parkside) 77 0 77
1999 Jason Clarke (Port Melbourne Colts) 75 0 75
2000 Bill Ramsay (Braybrook) 88 0 88
2001 Tim Traill (Spotswood) 84 0 84
2002 Tim Traill (Spotswood) 71 0 71
2003 Jason Clarke (Port Melbourne Colts) 82 0 82
2004 Dean Galea (Spotswood) 74 0 74
2005 Aaron James (Albion) 70 0 70
2006 Jason Clarke (Port Melbourne Colts) 95 0 95
2007 Mark Keenan (Spotswood) 89 0 89
2008 Mark Keenan (Spotswood) 104 0 104
2009 David McGregor (Port Melbourne Colts) 69 0 69
2010 Mark Keenan (Spotswood) 111 0 111
2011 Shaydon Bloomfield (Albion) 93 0 93
2012 Jase Perkins (Port Melbourne Colts) 92 9 101
2013 Jayden Post (Altona) 65 7 72
2014 James Wong (Deer Park) 81 1 82
2015 Jordan Mead (Hoppers Crossing) 55 8 63
2016 Jase Perkins (Deer Park) 61 5 66
2017 James Condos (Deer Park) 65 7 72
2018 Patrick Rose (Altona) 75 4 79
2019 Jase Perkins (Deer Park) 71 5 76

Women's competition[edit]

In 2018 the WRFL held a stand-alone women's competition for the first time as the number of women's clubs in the region grew large enough to allow this. In 2021 the competition expanded to two divisions. As of 2022 there were 14 women's teams across the two divisions, although by 2024 this number had dropped to 9 teams across 1 division.

Club Colours Nickname Location Home ground Founded Years in comp WFNL Premierships Most Recent
Caroline Springs
Lakers Caroline Springs Town Centre Oval 2018 2018- 1 2022
Laverton
Magpies Altona Meadows Laverton Park 2018 2018- 0 -
North Sunshine
Roadrunners Sunshine North Dempster Park 2018 2018- 0 -
Parkside Spurs
Spurs Footscray Henry Turner Oval 1993 2023- 0 -
Spotswood
Woodsmen Spotswood Donald W McLean Reserve 2018 2018- 2 2023
West Footscray
Roosters West Footscray Shorten Reserve 2018 2018- 1 2023
Werribee Centrals
Centurions Werribee Galvin Park 2018 2018- 0 -
Wyndhamvale
Falcons Wyndham Vale Wyndham Vale South Oval 2019 2019- 0 -
Yarraville Seddon
Eagles Yarraville Yarraville Oval 2019 2019- 0 -

Premiers[edit]

Division 1[edit]

2018: Manor Lakes

2019: Spotswood

2022: Caroline Springs

2023: Spotswood

Division 2[edit]

2022: Point Cook Centrals

2023: West Footscray

Junior clubs[edit]

Juniors-Only Clubs[edit]

Club Colours Nickname Location Home ground
Aintree
Giants Aintree Frontier Recreation Reserve
Flemington Juniors
Colts Kensington JJ Holland Park
Newport Power
Power Newport Bryan Martyn Oval
PEGS Juniors
Bombers Keilor Park PEGS Sports Fields
St Bernards
Snowdogs Essendon West St Bernards College
Truganina Thunder
Thunder Truganina Mainview Oval
Williamstown Juniors
Seagulls Williamstown Bayside College

Sources[edit]

Book[edit]

  • History of the WRFL/FDFL – Kevin Hillier – ISBN 9781863356015
  • History of Football in Melbourne's North West – John Stoward – ISBN 9780980592924

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Footy clubs out | Williamstown StarWilliamstown Star". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  2. ^ "New teams line up | Werribee Star". Archived from the original on 26 April 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  3. ^ "Tarneit joins WRFL | Werribee StarWerribee Star". Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ Ractliffe, Damien (9 December 2015). "Former Hawthorn star to put stamp on Power". Herald Sun.
  6. ^ Ractliffe, Damien (22 September 2015). "Port Colts head from West to South". Herald Sun.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Western_Football_Netball_League&oldid=1220896078"