Western Region Football League

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

Western Region Football League
FormerlyFootscray District Football League
SportAustralian rules football
Founded1931 (1931)
No. of teams26
CountryAustralia
Most recent
champion(s)
Most titlesSpotswood (16)
Official websitewrfl.org.au

History

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. 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. 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.

Clubs

Participating clubs for the 2023 season:

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

Club Colours Nickname Location Home ground Founded Years in comp
Altona
VikingsAltonaJK Grant Reserve19181933–37, 1945–51, 1977–79, 1988–present
Caroline Springs
LakersCaroline SpringsTown Centre Oval20022011–present
Hoppers Crossing
WarriorsHoppers CrossingHogans Road Reserve19721988–present
Point Cook Centrals
SharksPoint CookFeatherbrook Reserve20122013–present
Point Cook
BulldogsPoint CookSaltwater Reserve20032018–present
Spotswood
WoodsmenSpotswoodDonald W McLean Reserve19271935–present
Werribee Districts
TigersWerribeeSoldiers Reserve19951995–97, 2014–present
Yarraville Seddon
EaglesYarravilleYarraville Oval20062007–present

Division Two

Club Colours Nickname Location Home ground Founded Years in comp
Albion
CatsSunshineJR Parsons Reserve19611961–present
Braybrook
BrookersBraybrookPennell Reserve18741931–1990, 1990–1997, 1997–present
Newport
PanthersNewportAW Langshaw Reserve20052016–present [5]
North Footscray
DevilsWest FootscrayHansen Reserve19341935–present
Parkside
MagpiesFootscrayHenry Turner Reserve18971931–present
Sunshine
KangaroosBraybrookKinder Smith Reserve19591978–present
Wyndhamvale
FalconsWyndham ValeWyndham Vale South Oval19791989–94, 1999–present

Division Three

Club Colours Nickname Location Home ground Founded Years in comp
Albanvale
CobrasDeer ParkRobert Bruce Reserve19781978–1988, 1993–present
Laverton
MagpiesAltona MeadowsLaverton Park19241988–present
North Sunshine
RoadrunnersSunshine NorthDempster Park19671979–present
Sunshine Heights
DragonsSunshine WestAinsworth Reserve19711988–present
Tarneit
TitansTarneitWootten Road Reserve20142014–present
West Footscray
RoostersWest FootscrayShorten Reserve19321932–present
Suns
SunsTarneitGoddard Street Reserve20132015–present

Former Clubs

In Recess

Club Colours Nickname Location Home Ground Founded Years in Comp
Glen Orden
HawksWerribeeHeathdale Oval19791976–2016, 2018–2022
Manor Lakes
StormManor LakesHowqua Reserve20122013–2019

Folded

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

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

Club Years in Comp Status
Williamstown CYMS 1965–68 VAFA Premier B

Moved to Essendon District Football League

Club Years in Comp Status
Coburg Districts 1988–2012 EDFL Div 2
Deer Park 1935–41, 1947–51, 1967–2022 EDFL Div 1
St Albans 1947–53, 1958–2022 EDFL Div 1

Moved to Southern Football League

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

Moved to Victorian Football Association

Club Years in Comp Status
Newlands Coburg 1987–1993 Folded (1997)
Sunshine Districts 1938–39, 1941–58 Folded (1989)

Moved to Western Suburban Football League

Club Years in Comp Status
Maidstone 1947–64 Folded

Moved to Werribee District Football League

Club Years in Comp Status
Williamstown Rovers 1945–51 Folded (1958)

Premiers

Division One

Year Premier Score Runner up
1931Parkside11.19.85 – 7.5.47Braybrook
1932Riverside11.15.81 – 10.12.72Parkside
1933Parkside19.22.136 – 10.10.70Riverside
1934West Footscray9.10.64 – 8.7.55Parkside
1935West Footscray12.12.84 – 10.8.69Spotswood
1936Parkside11.8.74 – 5.8.38Spotswood
1937Parkside15.11.101 – 8.13.61Deer Park
1938Spotswood15.15.105 – 12.16.88Deer Park
1939Deer Park14.14.98 – 8.13.61Parkside
1940Deer Park8.8.56 – 7.12.54North Footscray
1941Deer Park17.5.107 – 12.10.82Parkside
1942Braybrook17.21.123 – 8.12.60West Footscray
1943Kingsville6.12.48 – 3.8.26Parkside
1944Braybrook7.7.49 – 5.18.48West Footscray
1945Braybrook15.9.99 – 10.6.66West Footscray
1946Braybrook9.12.66 – 8.15.63West Footscray
1947West Footscray10.12.72 – 8.13.61Braybrook
1948Parkside10.7.67 – 6.6.42Braybrook
1949Parkside9.7.61 – 7.8.50Sunshine Districts
1950Seddon12.5.77 – 3.9.27Spotswood
1951Parkside14.8.92 – 12.9.81West Footscray
1952Braybrook7.9.51 – 7.2.44Seddon
1953Seddon5.8.38 – 2.7.19Newport
1954Braybrook9.10.64 – 8.5.53Newport
1955Braybrook8.15.63 – 7.11.53Seddon
1956Braybrook11.7.73 – 9.9.63Parkside
1957Parkside10.21.81 – 6.7.43Kingsville
1958Spotswood10.7.67 – 9.9.63Parkside
1959F & Y Socials11.6.72 – 3.5.23Spotswood
1960F & Y Socials15.9.99 – 4.12.36Spotswood
1961F & Y Socials12.7.79 – 5.11.41Parkside
1962Parkside5.10.40 – 2.6.18F & Y Socials
1963F & Y Socials11.17.83 – 6.9.45Seddon
1964Kingsville10.21.81 – 9.7.61Spotswood
1965Albion14.11.95 – 12.12.84Parkside
1966St Albans11.22.88 – 8.9.57Kingsville
1967Parkside16.9.105 12.14.86Spotswood
1968Spotswood9.7.61 – 7.12.54St Albans
1969St Albans13.6.84 – 11.16.82Albion
1970West Footscray14.8.92 – 11.14.80Spotswood
1971Spotswood15.12.102 – 14.15.99Parkside
1972Spotswood10.15.75 – 9.13.67North Footscray
1973Braybrook15.12.102 – 9.8.62Albion
1974Braybrook11.10.76 – 9.9.63Albion
1975Braybrook14.13.97 – 15.7.97West Footscray
1975Braybrook10.16.76 – 9.10.64West Footscray
1976Seddon9.12.66 – 7.14.56Albion
1977Spotswood12.6.78 – 8.15.63Kingsville
1978North Footscray10.12.72 – 9.9.63Albion
1979Braybrook6.13.49 – 5.18.48St Albans
1980North Footscray13.12.90 – 13.6.84Spotswood
1981Parkside15.15.105 – 7.12.54North Footscray
1982West Footscray16.8.104 – 9.15.69St Albans
1983North Footscray12.14.86 – 12.11.83Parkside
1984Spotswood16.16.112 – 7.12.54Wembley Park
1985Albion15.10.100 – 11.19.85Sunshine YCW
1986Albion14.22.106 – 10.7.67Wembley Park
1987Spotswood18.8.116 – 11.11.77Sunshine YCW
1988St Albans10.4.64 – 7.4.46Albion
1989St Albans11.12.78 – 5.16.46Deer Park
1990Spotswood21.17.143 – 8.8.56Deer Park
1991Seddon18.15.123 – 12.15.87Spotswood
1992Seddon12.3.75 – 8.7.55Spotswood
1993Spotswood23.13.151 – 5.11.41Seddon
1994Deer Park17.9.111 – 11.7.73Spotswood
1995Spotswood17.7.109 – 10.12.72Deer Park
1996Parkside17.11.113 – 16.10.106Yarraville
1997Yarraville19.10.124 – 15.12.102Parkside
1998Port Melbourne Colts13.8.86 – 10.7.67Spotswood
1999Port Melbourne Colts8.21.69 – 8.4.52Parkside
2000Parkside9.13.67 – 7.8.50St Albans
2001St Albans15.19.109 – 10.7.67Hoppers Crossing
2002Hoppers Crossing18.11.119 – 18.5.113Parkside
2003Parkside11.8.74 – 10.9.69Spotswood
2004Hoppers Crossing10.6.66 – 8.12.60Port Melbourne Colts
2005Port Melbourne Colts12.16.88 – 6.7.43Parkside
2006Port Melbourne Colts14.12.96 – 14.10.94Hoppers Crossing
2007Spotswood13.10.88 – 11.16.82Port Melbourne Colts
2008Spotswood13.15.93 – 11.17.83Port Melbourne Colts
2009Spotswood13.13.91 – 10.13.73Port Melbourne Colts
2010Albion14.11.95 – 11.12.78Spotswood
2011Spotswood12.18.90 – 7.13.55Albion
2012Altona14.7.91 – 12.18.90Spotswood
2013Deer Park15.10.100 – 14.15.99Spotswood
2014Deer Park22.26.158 – 12.9.81Spotswood
2015Deer Park23.17.155 – 2.7.19Werribee Districts
2016Deer Park25.21.171 – 8.9.57Hoppers Crossing
2017Deer Park9.12.66 – 9.9.63Sunshine
2018Deer Park12.17.89 – 6.7.43Hoppers Crossing
2019Deer Park9.13.67 – 9.10.64Altona
2020Season not played (COVID-19 pandemic)
2021Season not completed (COVID-19 pandemic)
2022Altona10.21 (81) – 9.4 (58)Werribee Districts

Premiers by club (Div One)

Club Titles Years won
Spotswood151938, 1958, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1977, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1995, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
Parkside141931, 1933, 1936, 1937, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1957, 1962, 1967, 1981, 1996, 2000, 2003
Braybrook121942, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1979
Deer Park111939, 1940, 1941, 1994, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
West Footscray51934, 1935, 1947, 1970, 1982
St Albans51966, 1969, 1988, 1989, 2001
F & Y Socials41959, 1960, 1961, 1963
Albion41965, 1985, 1986, 2010
Port Melbourne Colts41998, 1999, 2005, 2006
North Footscray31978, 1980, 1983
Yarraville31943, 1964,[note 1] 1997
Hoppers Crossing22002, 2004
Altona22012, 2022
Notes
  1. As "Kingsville FC".

Division Two

Division Three

Leading Goalkickers (Andrew Gibson Medal)

Year Player H&A goals Finals goals Total Goals
1947Walker (F&Y Socials)82082
1948Ted Ellis (Braybrook)741084
1949Wagborne (Parkside)61465
1950Yewers (Braybrook)66167
1951Wagborne (Parkside)67976
1952Hansen (Seddon)70070
1953Wallis (Parkside)73073
1954Paravicini (Newport)48048
1955G McDonald (Kingsville)78381
1956Jewell (Seddon)50050
1957Carlton (Parkside)48048
1958Coon (Parkside)70777
1959Coon (Parkside)57057
1960D Lown (F & Y Socials)431154
1961D Lown (F & Y Socials)59665
1962A Russell (Parkside)54054
1963A Russell (Kingsville)68472
1964B Saunders (Kingsville)61263
1965J McCalman (Albion)52052
19660000
19670000
19680000
19690000
19700000
19710000
19720000
19730000
19740000
19750000
19760000
19770000
19780000
19790000
19800000
19810000
19820000
1983Andrew Gibson (Spotswood)964100
1984Andrew Gibson (Spotswood)791695
1985Andrew Gibson (Spotswood)98098
1986Andrew Gibson (Spotswood)1000100
1987Andrew Gibson (Spotswood)88088
1988Andrew Gibson (Spotswood)83083
1989Chris Stulhdrieier (Sunshine YCW)79079
1990Brian Memedi (Kingsville)70070
1991Darren Scott (Spotswood)1150115
1992Sean Allan (Port Melbourne Colts)1020102
1993Wayne Duggan (Deer Park)9711108
1994Brian Memedi (Kingsville)99099
1995Brian Memedi (Kingsville)69069
1996Brian Memedi (Yarraville)1050105
1997Brian Memedi (Yarraville)82082
1998Stephen Nielson (Parkside)77077
1999Jason Clarke (Port Melbourne Colts)75075
2000Bill Ramsay (Braybrook)88088
2001Tim Traill (Spotswood)84084
2002Tim Traill (Spotswood)71071
2003Jason Clarke (Port Melbourne Colts)82082
2004Dean Galea (Spotswood)74074
2005Aaron James (Albion)70070
2006Jason Clarke (Port Melbourne Colts)95095
2007Mark Keenan (Spotswood)89089
2008Mark Keenan (Spotswood)1040104
2009David McGregor (Port Melbourne Colts)69069
2010Mark Keenan (Spotswood)1110111
2011Shaydon Bloomfield (Albion)93093
2012Jase Perkins (Port Melbourne Colts)929101
2013Jayden Post (Altona)65772
2014James Wong (Deer Park)81182
2015Jordan Mead (Hoppers Crossing)55863
2016Jase Perkins (Deer Park)61566
2017James Condos (Deer Park)65772
2018Patrick Rose (Altona)75479
2019Jase Perkins (Deer Park)71576

Women's competition

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.

Division 1

Club Colours Nickname Location Home ground Founded Years in comp
Caroline Springs
LakersCaroline SpringsTown Centre Oval20182018-
Parkside Spurs
Spurs Footscray Henry Turner Oval 1993 2023-
Point Cook Centrals
Sharks Point Cook Featherbrook Reserve 2018 2018-
Spotswood
Woodsmen Spotswood Donald W McLean Reserve 2018 2018-
Werribee Centrals
Centurions Werribee Galvin Park 2018 2018-
Yarraville Seddon
Eagles Yarraville Yarraville Oval 2019 2019-

Division 2

Club Colours Nickname Location Home ground Founded Years in comp
Braybrook
BrookersBraybrookPennell Reserve20212021-
Caroline Springs
Lakers Caroline Springs Town Centre Oval 2018 2018-
Laverton
Magpies Altona Meadows Laverton Park 2018 2018-
North Sunshine
Roadrunners Sunshine North Dempster Park 2018 2018-
Point Cook
Bulldogs Point Cook Saltwater Reserve 2019 2019-
Spotswood
Woodsmen Spotswood Donald W McLean Reserve 2018 2018-
West Footscray
Roosters West Footscray Shorten Reserve 2018 2018-
Wyndhamvale
Falcons Wyndham Vale Wyndham Vale South Oval 2019 2019-

Division 1

2018: Manor Lakes

2019: Spotswood

2022: Caroline Springs

Division 2

2022: Point Cook Centrals

Junior clubs

Juniors-Only Clubs

Club Colours Nickname Location Home ground
Aintree
GiantsAintreeFrontier 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

Book

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

References

  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.
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