Federal Football League

Last updated

Federal Football League
FederalFootballAssociation.png
FormerlyFederal Football Association (1909−32)
Federal District Football League (1932−62)
Sport Australian rules football
Founded1909 [1]
Ceased1981;44 years ago (1981)
CountryAustralia
Most titles Moorabbin (12)

The Federal Football League (FFL), also known simply as the Federal League, was an Australian rules football competition in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria. The competition was in existence from 1909 to 1981 and was regarded as one of the strongest metropolitan leagues in Melbourne. [2]

Contents

It is said that, in the mid-1960s, Channel 7 was seeking to telecast FFL games on a Sunday. [3]

History

Formation

Formed in 1909 as the Federal Football Association (FFA), [4] the competition's eight founding members were Cheltenham, Ellindale, Elsternwick, Frankston, Mentone, Mordialloc, Moorabbin, and Glen Huntly, [5] all from the southern/south eastern suburbs. [6]

Local Councillor F. T. Le Page was elected president. [7]

History

In 1915, the Federal football Association (FFA) A. Grade teams were - Brighton District, Moorabbin, Cheltenham, Moorabbin Park, Oakleigh and Elsternwick, whilst the B. Grade clubs were Sandringham, Mentone, Heatherton and Glenhuntly. [8]

In 1925, the FFA comprised 10 senior and 9 junior club's and had over 1,000 registered players. [9]

In 1937 the A Section competition teams were composed of - Black Rock, Mordialloc, Cheltenham, East Burwood, Moorabbin, Caulfield, Darling and Mentone, and in the B section, Chelsea, Highett, Mt. Waverley, Mordialloc, Black Rock and Edithvale-Aspendale. [10]

Middle Brighton FC kicked 50.40 - 340 v Heatherton: 0.0 - 0 in a match in 1914.

Clubs

Source: [11]

Final clubs

Nine clubs competed in the FFL's final season.

ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in FFLFFL senior premiershipsFate
TotalYears
Cheltenham
Cheltenham Football Club colours.jpg
RosellasCheltenham Recreation Reserve, Cheltenham 18951909–1928;
1930–1981
61909, 1911, 1913, 1922, 1925, 1934Moved to South East Suburban FL in 1982
Clayton
Montmorency Football Club.jpg
ClaysClayton Reserve, Clayton DDFA19081954–198121980, 1981Moved to South East Suburban FL in 1982
Highett
South Croydon Football Club colours.jpg
BulldogsHighett Reserve, Highett 19291934–198141971, 1973, 1974, 1979Moved to South East Suburban FL in 1982
Mentone
RichmondDesign.svg
TigersMentone Reserve, Mentone 1900s1909; 1913–1914;
1920–1981
51928, 1956, 1967, 1968, 1976Moved to South East Suburban FL in 1982
Moorabbin (II)
Moorabbin Football Club colours.svg
KangasMcKinnon Reserve, McKinnon 19791979–19810-Moved to South East Suburban FL in 1982
Noble Park
Mallee Eagles Football Club colours.jpg
BullsPat Wright Senior Oval, Noble Park SESFL 19181964–198111972Moved to South East Suburban FL in 1982
Oakleigh District
Oakleigh District Football Club.jpg
DistrictsPrinces Highway Reserve, Oakleigh East SESFL 19501964–19810-Moved to South East Suburban FL in 1982
Parkdale
Eaglehawk Football Club colours.jpg
SeagullsGerry Green Reserve, Parkdale VAFA 19341930-1932, 1955–198111978Moved to South East Suburban FL in 1982
Springvale
Springvale Football Club colours.jpg
DemonsSpringvale Reserve, Springvale CODFL19031957–198171960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1975, 1977Moved to VFA in 1982

Former clubs

ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in FFLFFL senior premiershipsFate
TotalYears
AspendaleAspendale Racecourse, Aspendale 19241924-19300-Merged with Edithvale to form Edithvale-Aspendale in 1931
Bentleigh
Bentleigh Football Club colours.jpg
DemonsBentleigh Reserve, Bentleigh 19191920–1928, 1957-19780-Merged with McKinnon to form Moorabbin in 1979
Black Rock
EssendonDesign.svg
JetsDonald MacDonald Reserve, Beaumaris 19081913–1914; 1919–1926;
1931–1972
31935, 1936, 1954Entered recess in 1973; re-formed in YCWFL in 1976
Brighton Districts
Bridgewater Football Club colours.jpg
Brighton Beach Oval, Brighton 1913-1915;
1919-1921
31915, 1920, 1921Merged with Brighton in 1928 [12] [11]
BrightonvaleHurlingham Park, Brighton 19290-Senior team entered recess in 1930
Camden Princes Park, Caulfield South 1939–19560-Merged with South Caulfield CYMS to form South Caulfield in 1957
Carnegie
RichmondDesign.svg
Koornang Park, Carnegie VFLSD 1920s1932-19340-Moved to VAFA in 1935
Carrum
Carrum Football Club colours (FFL).jpg
Keast Park, Seaford 19091911;
1922–1927
0-Folded in 1928; re-formed in Peninsula & District FA in 1932
Carrum-Chelsea
Carrum-Chelsea Football Club colours.jpg
Paddock on Breeze St., Bonbeach 19111912-19140-Entered recess in 1915
Chelsea
Albion Football Club.jpg
SeagullsChelsea Recreation Reserve, Chelsea 19191919–195811955Moved to Mornington Peninsula FL in 1959
Dandenong
Bentleigh Football Club colours.jpg
RedlegsDandenong Showgrounds, Dandenong DDFA18741930, 1934, 1948, 1951–195711953Moved to VFA in 1958
Darling
Darling Football Club colours.jpg
Darling Park, Malvern East VFLSD 1934–194021937, 1938Folded after 1940 season
Doveton
Doveton Football Club colours.jpg
DovesRobinson Reserve, Doveton SWGFL19591972–19760-Returned to South West Gippsland FL in 1977
East Burwood
East Burwood Football Club.jpg
RamsEast Burwood Reserve, Burwood East SDFA19101931–193811932Senior team entered recess in 1939; re-formed in Eastern Suburban FL in 1945
East Caulfield
East Caulfield Football Club colours.jpg
FieldsmenEast Caulfield Reserve, Caulfield East VFLSD 18941932–19760-Folded after 1976 season
East Malvern
East Malvern Football Club colours (FFL).jpg
Waverley Oval, Malvern East CODFL1900s1962–197341964, 1966, 1969, 1970Folded after 1973 season
EdithvaleRegents Park, Aspendale 1900s1921-19300-Merged with Edithvale to form Edithvale-Aspendale in 1931
Edithvale-Aspendale
Edithvale-Aspendale Football Club colours.jpg
EaglesRegents Park, Aspendale 19311931-19550-Moved to Mornington Peninsula FL in 1956
Ellindale1900s1909–1910;
1912
0-Folded in 1913
Elsternwick
Essendonsymbol.png
WickersElsternwick Park, Elsternwick 19061909–1910, 19130-Moved to VAFA in 1914
Exchange19170- [13]
FrankstonFrankston Park, Frankston 19090-
Glen OrmeKoornang Park, Carnegie 19461946-19480-De-merged into Ormond and Glen Huntly Amateurs in 1948
Glen Huntly
Watsonia Football Club.jpg
HuntersGlen Huntly Park, Caulfield East CODFL1900s1960–19740-Merged with Glen Huntly Amateurs in 1974 to form St Anthony's Glen Huntly in ESCFL
Glen Huntly AmateursKoornang Park, Carnegie 1900s1909, 1913–1915, 1920–19220-Moved to Caulfield Oakleigh District FL in 1923
Glen Waverley
Blackburn Football Club colours.svg
Central Reserve, Glen Waverley BDFA19081930–19310-Moved to VFL Sub-District FL in 1932
HamptonCastlefield Reserve, Hampton 19191920 [14] 0-Merged with various clubs to form Sandringham in 1929 [15]
Heatherton
Montmorency Football Club.jpg
TonnersHeatherton Recreation Reserve, Heatherton CODFL19131913–1914; 1920–1921;
1927–1928; 1946–1954
0-Moved to CYMSFA as Mentone CYMS in 1954
McKinnon
McKinnon Football Club colours.jpg
MaccasMcKinnon Reserve, McKinnon CODFL1954–197731957, 1958, 1959Entered recess in 1978; merged with Bentleigh to form Moorabbin in 1979
Moorabbin (I)
Montmorency Football Club.jpg
MagpiesMoorabbin Oval, Moorabbin 19091909–1950121914, 1926, 1927, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948Moved to VFA in 1951
Moorabbin ParkGardenersDane Road Reserve, Moorabbin 1913-1915, 1920-1928, 19300- ?
Mordialloc
Freshwater Creek Football Club colours.svg
BloodhoundsBen Kavanagh Reserve, Mordialloc 18911909–1911;
1921–1957
71923, 1924, 1929, 1939, 1950, 1951, 1952Moved to VFA in 1958
Mount Waverley
Mount Waverley Football Club colours (SESFL).jpg
MountsOval on corner of Springvale and High St Roads, Glen Waverley SDFA19241934-19370-Moved to Eastern Suburban FL in 1938
MurrumbeenaFrogmore Estate, Carnegie 19151915, 19210-Moved to VAFA in 1923
Navy   HMAS Cerberus MPFL191319590-Moved to Nepean FL in 1960
Oakleigh
OakleighColours.png
Oaks, DevilsWarrawee Park, Oakleigh 190619150-Moved to VFL Sub-Districts in 1919
Sandringham Amateurs1915–19200-Moved to VAFA in 1921
Sandringham Districts0-
South Caulfield
Morphettville Park Football Club colours.jpg
Princes Park, Caulfield South 19571957–19610-Merged with Brighton in 1964
University Reds
Fitzroy Football Club colours.jpg
Reds VAFA 19541971−19720-Returned to VAFA in 1973
Vermont
Port Fairy Football Club colours.jpg
EaglesVermont Reserve, Vermont RDFA192019360-Moved to Eastern Suburban FL in 1937
Victoria Brewery1910–191221910, 1912Left league in 1913 [16]
Wells Road19261926-19290-Split from Chelsea in 1926, re-merged in 1930

Notes

A. Grade Football Premiers / Runners Up

The Agar Wynne Shield. The Honourable Agar Wynne, MHR was the Federal Football Association's Patron from 1909 to 1915. [17]

Best and Fairest Awards

Senior Football / A. Grade Section [45]

Cr. J.W. ALLNUT MEDAL. (Allnut was President of the FFA from 1936 to 1945 & a life member).

YearPlayer's NameClubVotesYearPlayer's NameClubVotes
1927P GleesonChelsea1952C. MudgeMentone
1928P GleesonChelsea1953A. BeckwithMentone
1929Les Warren &Chelsea1954 [46] G MarchCamden22
W HughesMordialloc1955R GoodesParkdale
1930Les WarrenChelsea1956George AshmanMordialloc
1931A PerryBlack Rock1957Kevin PhillipsChelsea
1932B.KavanaghMordialloc1958 Kevan Hamilton McKinnon
1933J Ash &Caulfield1959K RobertsCheltenham
I CorryCheltenham1960I GardnerSpringvale
1934V HunterEast Burwood1961Kevan HamiltonMcKinnon
1935E RoffEast Burwood1962Kevan HamiltonMcKinnon
1936E MartinEast Burwood1963Kevan HamiltonMcKinnon
1937 [47] J MitchellMentone1964K HamiltonMcKinnon
1938 [48] P WitchellBlack Rock211965G GotchGlenhuntly
1939K DunnMentone1966W MorrisonHighett
1940E.McInernyMoorabbin1967J WardBlack Rock
1941 [49] Laurie KellyCamden1968I HouseCaulfield
1942In recess. WW2 1969C HutchinsEast Malvern
1943In recess. WW2 1970K EllisGlenhuntly
1944In recess. WW2 1971J CallejaBentleigh
1945R.HockingCamden1972D. McGrathNoble Park
1946D.FankhauserMordialloc1973F.CliffordDoveton
1947C.Mudge &Mordialloc1974G.SkinnerParkdale
Alf EvansChelsea1975R.JohnstonMcKinnon
1948C.Coade &Glen Orme1976A.SierowkoskiMentone
G.Daley &Heatherton1977L.StudhamNoble Park
C.MudgeMordialloc1978T.QuinnBentleigh
1949R.FoxMoorabbin1979S.WattNoble Park
1950C.DawsonCaulfield1980M.PlantNoble Park
1951C.MudgeMentone1981T.QuinnMoorabbin

References

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