South West Football League

Last updated

South West Football League
Established1957 (Bunbury/Collie league 1953)
Teams11
2023 premiersBusselton Magpies
Most premierships15 South Bunbury
website www.swfl.com.au

The South West Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the south-west of Western Australia. The league is affiliated to Country Football WA, formerly known as the West Australian Country Football League. [1]

Contents

History

The idea of creating a larger league was discussed early in 1951. [2] The idea that three clubs from the Collie Football Association and the three clubs from the Bunbury Football association would invigorate public interest in the South West region on the state. Talks continued into 1952 and it was finally agreed to trial a competition with all the two associations clubs for a two-year period. The associations administrations would remain separate. Sensing opportunity, Donnybrook left their local competition to become the seventh club. [3]

In 1953 the Bunbury-Collie League was founded with seven teams. South Bunbury, Bunbury Railways, Bunbury Pastimes, Mines Rovers, Collie Railways, Centrals and Donnybrook. The public response was evident, interest was up, attendances to games were up and the general standard of play improved greatly.

The trial was deemed so successful that it kicked off a series of consolidations of smaller leagues within the state of Western Australia.

Expansion

In 1993 a proposed submission from the new Harvey Football Club was rejected because the SWFL believed10 teams was a sufficient number. Harvey then put in a successful submission into the Peel Football League where they played their first season in 1994.

The start of the 2009 season saw the introduction of the Harvey Bulls, who made the move over from the expanding Peel Football League. This was different from their bid in 1993, as they had nowhere else to go. The SWFL were also looking for a tenth team (after the merger of Collie and Mines) to get rid of the dreaded bye and extended season. Harvey left the PFL because of the rumour of Perth teams entering the PFL for 2009 so therefore increasing travel commitments. This idea fell through but Harvey still joined the SWFL after an 8–1 vote by the SWFL clubs, with HBL the only club opposing the idea.

During January 2021, the Dunsborough Sharks, who field juniors teams in the South West put in an application to field a colts side ahead of the 2021 season. This was rejected. Post the 2021 season the Dunsborough Sharks put in an application for a Reserves, Colts and Women's team for the 2022 season. These applications were accepted with a 7–3 vote, allowing the Sharks to field a league team for the 2023 season.

Clubs

Current clubs

ColoursClubNicknameLocationHome groundFirst season in leaguePremierships
Augusta Margaret River Football Club colours.jpg
Augusta Margaret River Football Club
Hawks
Margaret River, Western Australia
Gloucester Park
19665
RichmondDesign.svg
Bunbury Football Club
formerly known as Bunbury Railways
Bulldogs
Bunbury, Western Australia
PC Payne Park
19539
Clunes Football Club colours.jpg
Busselton Football Club
Formed from a merger of East Busselton and West Busselton
Magpies
Busselton, Western Australia
Sir Stuart Bovell Park
19556
Calivil United Football Club colours.jpg
Carey Park Football Club
Formed in 1914; formerly known as Pastimes
Panthers
Bunbury, Western Australia
Kelly Park
19537
Collie Eagles Football Club colours.jpg
Collie Eagles Football Club
formed in 2002 from a merger of the Collie Saints and Mines Rovers
Eagles
Collie, Western Australia
Collie Recreation Ground
20022
Dunsborough Football Club Colours.jpg
Sharks
Dunsborough, Western Australia
Dunsborough Playing Fields
20220
Big V jumper.jpg
Dons
Donnybrook, Western Australia
VC Mitchell Park
19535
Kalkee Football Club colours.jpg
Eaton Football Club
formerly known as Boyanup Capel and as Boyanup Capel Dardanup
Boomers
formerly known as the Cardinals
Eaton, Western Australia
formerly played in Boyanup, Western Australia
Glen Huon Oval
formerly Boyanup Oval
19592
Harvey Bulls Football Club colours.jpg
Harvey Bulls Football Club
Bulls
Harvey, Western Australia
Harvey Recreation Ground
20090
Narembeen Football Club colours.jpg
Harvey Brunswick Leschenault Football Club
formerly known as Harvey Brunswick
Lions
Brunswick Junction, Western Australia
Brunswick Oval
19569
Ballarat Football Club colours.jpg
Tigers
South Bunbury, Western Australia 195316

Previous

ColoursClubJoined leagueLeft leagueFate
Collie Railways19531961Merged with Collie Centrals to become Collie Saints, no premierships
Collie Centrals Football Club colours.jpg
Collie Centrals19531961Merged with Collie Railways to become Collie Saints, no premierships
Cranbourne Eagles Colours.png
Mines Rovers19532002Merged with Collie Saints to become the Collie Eagles, 4 league premierships
Watsonia Football Club.jpg
Collie Saints19622002Merged with Mines Rovers to become Collie Eagles, 2 premierships

Premierships

League
ClubYears wonTotal
South Bunbury 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1966, 1968, 1971, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1993, 2002, 2016, 202416 (+3 B/C league)
Bunbury1956, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1970, 1982, 1983, 2001, 2017, 20209 (+1 B/C league)
Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault 1960, 1974, 1975, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2007, 2010, 20199
Carey Park1963, 1973, 1986, 2003, 2006, 2008, 20097
Busselton1964, 1967, 1978, 1996, 2012, 2015, 20237
Donnybrook1977, 1998, 1999, 2000, 20185
Mines Rovers1965, 1969, 1979, 19974
Augusta Margaret River1994, 1995, 2011, 2021, 20225
Collie Saints1972, 19872
Collie Eagles2004, 20052
Eaton Boomers2013, 20142
Harvey Bulls0
Dunsborough0

Grand Finals 2009–24

YearPremierScoreRunner upScorePike MedalistField Umpires
2009 Carey Park8.7(55)South Bunbury4.9 (33)Scott Roche (CP)Anthony Raudino, Mike Hearne, Kane Whittaker
2010 Harvey Brunswick Leschanult9.11 (65)South Bunbury6.11(47)Daniel Houghton (HBL)Anthony Raudino, Mike Hearne, Kane Whittaker
2011 Augusta Margaret River13.11 (89)South Bunbury9.7(61)Cody Miller (AMR)Mike Hearne, Kane Whittaker, Cam Edmonds (EMG Jodi Maisley)
2012 Busselton9.14 (68) (Draw), 11.8 (74)(Replay)Collie Eagles10.8 (68) (Draw) 5.9 (39) (Replay)Dan McGinlay (BSN), Louis Davies (BSN)Paul Matthews, Peter Franklin, Anthony Raudino (Draw), Scott Jones (EMG Draw, Main Replay), (EMG Replay Matt Carpenter)
2013 Eaton Boomers9.13 (67)Collie Eagles6.7 (43)Gino Catalano/]osh Bowe/Michael Battaglia (EB)Paul Matthews, Scott Jones, Matt Carpenter (EMG Aaron Andrews)
2014Eaton Boomers10.9 (69)South Bunbury5.8 (38)Chris Atthowe (EB)Aaron Andrews, Scott Jones, Glen Omodei (EMG Peter Franklin)
2015Busselton15.13 (103)Carey Park7.16 (58)Brent Hall (BSN)Adam Hauswirth, Glen Omodei, Kevin Hutchins (EMG Bernie Stokes)
2016South Bunbury12.14 (86)Collie Eagles4.7 (31)Dylan Harper (SB)Adam Hauswirth, Aaron Andrews, Zak Shurko (EMG Matt Stewart)
2017Bunbury10.8 (68)Harvey Brunswick Leschanult2.6 (18)Aidan Clarke (BB)Adam Hauswirth, Aaron Andrews, Shane Miller (EMG Kevin Hutchins)
2018Donnybrook16.16 (112)Bunbury11.7 (74)Brett Eades (DBK)Mike Hearne, Aaron Andrews, Kevin Hutchins (EMG Darren Browne)
2019Harvey Brunswick Leschanult9.11 (65)Eaton Boomers4.12 (36)Jack Fletcher (HBL)Greg Rolfe, Matt Carpenter, Damien O'Donoghue (EMG Kevin Hutchins)
2020Bunbury Bulldogs11.8 (74)Busselton Magpies10.9 (69)Jesse Gribble (BB)Greg Rolfe, Aaron Andrews, Scott Jones (EMG Paul Davey)
2021Augusta Margaret River10.6 (66)Busselton Magpies3.8 (26)Simon Moore (AMR)Scott Jones, Greg Rolfe, Mike Hearne (EMG Cam Edmonds)
2022Augusta Margaret River5.7 (37)South Bunbury4.9 (33)Jace Cormack (SB)
2023Busselton8.13 (61)Carey Park8.10 (58)Cooper Sparks (CP)
2024South Bunbury15.9 (99)Bunbury8.9 (57)Tyson Lane (SB)

Notable players

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References

  1. "Country Football Affiliated Leagues". West Australian Football Commission. Archived from the original on 8 June 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  2. "Football". Blackwood Times. 10 August 1951.
  3. "Bunbury Discussion". Blackwood Times. 1952 via Trove.
  4. "About the league". South West Football League. Retrieved 12 May 2009.