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]
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Formerly | Federal Football Association (1909−32) Federal District Football League (1932−62) |
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Sport | Australian rules football |
Founded | 1909[1] |
Ceased | 1981 |
Country | Australia |
Most titles | Moorabbin (12) |
It is said that, in the mid-1960s, Channel 7 was seeking to telecast FFL games on a Sunday.[3]
History
editFormation
editFormed 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
editIn 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
editSource: [11]
Final clubs
editNine clubs competed in the FFL's final season.
Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in FFL | FFL senior premierships | Fate | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | Years | ||||||||
Cheltenham | Rosellas | Cheltenham Recreation Reserve, Cheltenham | – | 1895 | 1909–1928; 1930–1981 |
6 | 1909, 1911, 1913, 1922, 1925, 1934 | Moved to SESFL in 1982 | |
Clayton | Clays | Clayton Reserve, Clayton | DDFA | 1908 | 1954–1981 | 2 | 1980, 1981 | Moved to SESFL in 1982 | |
Highett | Bulldogs | Highett Reserve, Highett | – | 1929 | 1934–1981 | 4 | 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979 | Moved to SESFL in 1982 | |
Mentone | Tigers | Mentone Reserve, Mentone | – | 1900s | 1909; 1913–1914; 1920–1981 |
5 | 1928, 1956, 1967, 1968, 1976 | Moved to SESFL in 1982 | |
Moorabbin (II) | Kangas | McKinnon Reserve, McKinnon | – | 1979 | 1979–1981 | 0 | - | Moved to SESFL in 1982 | |
Noble Park | Bulls | Pat Wright Senior Oval, Noble Park | SESFL | 1918 | 1964–1981 | 1 | 1972 | Moved to SESFL in 1982 | |
Oakleigh District | Districts | Princes Highway Reserve, Oakleigh East | SESFL | 1950 | 1964–1981 | 0 | - | Moved to SESFL in 1982 | |
Parkdale | Seagulls | Gerry Green Reserve, Parkdale | VAFA | 1934 | 1930-1932, 1955–1981 | 1 | 1978 | Moved to SESFL in 1982 | |
Springvale | Demons | Springvale Reserve, Springvale | CODFL | 1903 | 1957–1981 | 7 | 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1975, 1977 | Moved to VFA in 1982 |
Former clubs
editClub | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in FFL | FFL senior premierships | Fate | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | Years | ||||||||
Aspendale | Aspendale Racecourse, Aspendale | – | 1924 | 1924-1930 | 0 | - | Merged with Edithvale to form Edithvale-Aspendale in 1931 | ||
Bentleigh | Demons | Bentleigh Reserve, Bentleigh | – | 1919 | 1920–1928, 1957-1978 | 0 | - | Merged with McKinnon to form Moorabbin in 1979 | |
Black Rock | Jets | Donald MacDonald Reserve, Beaumaris | – | 1908 | 1913–1914; 1919–1926; 1931–1972 |
3 | 1935, 1936, 1954 | Entered recess in 1973; re-formed in YCWFL in 1976 | |
Brighton Districts | Brighton Beach Oval, Brighton | – | 1913-1915; 1919-1921 |
3 | 1915, 1920, 1921 | Merged with Brighton in 1928[12][11] | |||
Brightonvale | Hurlingham Park, Brighton | – | 1929 | 0 | - | Senior team entered recess in 1930 | |||
Camden | Princes Park, Caulfield South | – | 1939–1956 | 0 | - | Merged with South Caulfield CYMS to form South Caulfield in 1957 | |||
Carnegie | Demons | Koornang Park, Carnegie | VSDFL | 1920s | 1932-1934 | 0 | - | Moved to VAFA in 1935 | |
Carrum | Keast Park, Seaford | – | 1909 | 1911; 1922–1927 |
0 | - | Folded in 1928; re-formed in Peninsula & District FA in 1932 | ||
Carrum-Chelsea | Paddock on Breeze St., Bonbeach | – | 1911 | 1912-1914 | 0 | - | Entered recess in 1915 | ||
Chelsea | Seagulls | Chelsea Recreation Reserve, Chelsea | – | 1919 | 1919–1958 | 1 | 1955 | Moved to Mornington Peninsula FL in 1959 | |
Dandenong | Redlegs | Dandenong Showgrounds, Dandenong | DDFA | 1874 | 1930, 1934, 1948, 1951–1957 | 1 | 1953 | Moved to VFA in 1958 | |
Darling | Darling Park, Malvern East | VSDFL | 1934–1940 | 2 | 1937, 1938 | Folded after 1940 season | |||
Doveton | Doves | Robinson Reserve, Doveton | SWGFL | 1959 | 1972–1976 | 0 | - | Returned to South West Gippsland FL in 1977 | |
East Burwood | Rams | East Burwood Reserve, Burwood East | SDFA | 1910 | 1931–1938 | 1 | 1932 | Senior team entered recess in 1939; re-formed in Eastern Suburban FL in 1945 | |
East Caulfield | Fieldsmen | East Caulfield Reserve, Caulfield East | VSDFL | 1894 | 1932–1976 | 0 | - | Folded after 1976 season | |
East Malvern | Waverley Oval, Malvern East | CODFL | 1900s | 1962–1973 | 4 | 1964, 1966, 1969, 1970 | Folded after 1973 season | ||
Edithvale | Regents Park, Aspendale | – | 1900s | 1921-1930 | 0 | - | Merged with Edithvale to form Edithvale-Aspendale in 1931 | ||
Edithvale-Aspendale | Eagles | Regents Park, Aspendale | – | 1931 | 1931-1955 | 0 | - | Moved to Mornington Peninsula FL in 1956 | |
Ellindale | – | 1900s | 1909–1910; 1912 |
0 | - | Folded in 1913 | |||
Elsternwick | Wickers | Elsternwick Park, Elsternwick | – | 1906 | 1909–1910, 1913 | 0 | - | Moved to VAFA in 1914 | |
Exchange | 1917 | 0 | - | [13] | |||||
Frankston | Frankston Park, Frankston | – | 1909 | 0 | - | ||||
Glen Orme | Koornang Park, Carnegie | – | 1946 | 1946-1948 | 0 | - | De-merged into Ormond and Glen Huntly Amateurs in 1948 | ||
Glen Huntly | Hunters | Glen Huntly Park, Caulfield East | CODFL | 1900s | 1960–1974 | 0 | - | Merged with Glen Huntly Amateurs in 1974 to form St Anthony's Glen Huntly in ESCFL | |
Glen Huntly Amateurs | Koornang Park, Carnegie | – | 1900s | 1909, 1913–1915, 1920–1922 | 0 | - | Moved to Caulfield Oakleigh District FL in 1923 | ||
Glen Waverley | Central Reserve, Glen Waverley | 1930–1931 | 0 | - | Moved to Berwick District FL in 1932 | ||||
Hampton | Castlefield Reserve, Hampton | – | 1919 | 1920[14] | 0 | - | Merged with various clubs to form Sandringham in 1929[15] | ||
Heatherton | Tonners | Heatherton Recreation Reserve, Heatherton | CODFL | 1913 | 1913–1914; 1920–1921; 1927–1928; 1946–1954 |
0 | - | Moved to CYMSFA as Mentone CYMS in 1954 | |
McKinnon | Maccas | McKinnon Reserve, McKinnon | CODFL | 1954–1977 | 3 | 1957, 1958, 1959 | Entered recess in 1978; merged with Bentleigh to form Moorabbin in 1979 | ||
Moorabbin (I) | Magpies | Moorabbin Oval, Moorabbin | – | 1909 | 1909–1950 | 12 | 1914, 1926, 1927, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948 | Moved to VFA in 1951 | |
Moorabbin Park | Gardeners | Dane Road Reserve, Moorabbin | – | 1913-1915 | 0 | - | Folded in 1915[16][17] | ||
Mordialloc | Bloodhounds | Ben Kavanagh Reserve, Mordialloc | – | 1891 | 1909–1911; 1921–1957 |
7 | 1923, 1924, 1929, 1939, 1950, 1951, 1952 | Moved to VFA in 1958 | |
Mount Waverley | Mounts | Oval on corner of Springvale and High St Roads, Glen Waverley | SDFA | 1924 | 1934-1937 | 0 | - | Moved to Eastern Suburban FL in 1938 | |
Murrumbeena | Frogmore Estate, Carnegie | – | 1915 | 1915, 1921 | 0 | - | Moved to VAFA in 1923 | ||
Navy | Navy blue and light blue | HMAS Cerberus | MPFL | 1913 | 1959 | 0 | - | Moved to Nepean FL in 1960 | |
Oakleigh | Oaks | Warrawee Park, Oakleigh | – | 1906 | 1915 | 0 | - | Moved to VFL Sub-Districts in 1919 | |
Sandringham Amateurs | – | 1915–1920 | 0 | - | Moved to VAFA in 1921 | ||||
Sandringham Districts | 0 | - | |||||||
South Caulfield | Princes Park, Caulfield South | – | 1957 | 1957–1961 | 0 | - | Merged with Brighton in 1964 | ||
University Reds | Reds | VAFA | 1954 | 1971−1972 | 0 | - | Returned to VAFA in 1973 | ||
Vermont | Eagles | Vermont Reserve, Vermont | RDFA | 1920 | 1936 | 0 | - | Moved to Eastern Suburban FL in 1937 | |
Victoria Brewery | – | 1910–1912 | 2 | 1910, 1912 | Left league in 1913[18] | ||||
Wells Road | – | 1926 | 1926-1929 | 0 | - | Split from Chelsea in 1926, re-merged in 1930 |
Notes
edit- Bentleigh is not to be confused with the present-day Bentleigh Football Netball Club
A. Grade Football Premiers / Runners Up
editThe Agar Wynne Shield. The Honourable Agar Wynne, MHR was the Federal Football Association's Patron from 1909 to 1915.[19]
|
|
Best and Fairest Awards
edit- Senior Football / A. Grade Section[47]
Cr. J.W. ALLNUT MEDAL. (Allnut was President of the FFA from 1936 to 1945 & a life member).
Year | Player's Name | Club | Votes | Year | Player's Name | Club | Votes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1927 | P Gleeson | Chelsea | 1952 | C. Mudge | Mentone | |||
1928 | P Gleeson | Chelsea | 1953 | A. Beckwith | Mentone | |||
1929 | Les Warren & | Chelsea | 1954 [48] | G March | Camden | 22 | ||
W Hughes | Mordialloc | 1955 | R Goodes | Parkdale | ||||
1930 | Les Warren | Chelsea | 1956 | George Ashman | Mordialloc | |||
1931 | A Perry | Black Rock | 1957 | Kevin Phillips | Chelsea | |||
1932 | B.Kavanagh | Mordialloc | 1958 | Kevan Hamilton | McKinnon | |||
1933 | J Ash & | Caulfield | 1959 | K Roberts | Cheltenham | |||
I Corry | Cheltenham | 1960 | I Gardner | Springvale | ||||
1934 | V Hunter | East Burwood | 1961 | Kevan Hamilton | McKinnon | |||
1935 | E Roff | East Burwood | 1962 | Kevan Hamilton | McKinnon | |||
1936 | E Martin | East Burwood | 1963 | Kevan Hamilton | McKinnon | |||
1937[49] | J Mitchell | Mentone | 1964 | K Hamilton | McKinnon | |||
1938[50] | P Witchell | Black Rock | 21 | 1965 | G Gotch | Glenhuntly | ||
1939 | K Dunn | Mentone | 1966 | W Morrison | Highett | |||
1940 | E.McInerny | Moorabbin | 1967 | J Ward | Black Rock | |||
1941[51] | Laurie Kelly | Camden | 1968 | I House | Caulfield | |||
1942 | In recess. WW2 | 1969 | C Hutchins | East Malvern | ||||
1943 | In recess. WW2 | 1970 | K Ellis | Glenhuntly | ||||
1944 | In recess. WW2 | 1971 | J Calleja | Bentleigh | ||||
1945 | R.Hocking | Camden | 1972 | D. McGrath | Noble Park | |||
1946 | D.Fankhauser | Mordialloc | 1973 | F.Clifford | Doveton | |||
1947 | C.Mudge & | Mordialloc | 1974 | G.Skinner | Parkdale | |||
Alf Evans | Chelsea | 1975 | R.Johnston | McKinnon | ||||
1948 | C.Coade & | Glen Orme | 1976 | A.Sierowkoski | Mentone | |||
G.Daley & | Heatherton | 1977 | L.Studham | Noble Park | ||||
C.Mudge | Mordialloc | 1978 | T.Quinn | Bentleigh | ||||
1949 | R.Fox | Moorabbin | 1979 | S.Watt | Noble Park | |||
1950 | C.Dawson | Caulfield | 1980 | D.Brooks | Noble Park | |||
1951 | C.Mudge | Mentone | 1981 | T.Quinn | Moorabbin |
References
edit- ^ "Cheltenham". Brighton Southern Cross. Victoria. 6 February 1909. p. 4. Retrieved 4 March 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Federal League: Its Value to the Game". The Age. 24 April 1936. p. 9. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ^ "Cheltenham Football Club hosts reunion of Federal league". Moorabbin Glen Eira Leader. Herald Sun. 28 May 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ "1909 - Federal Association". Mornington and Dromana Standard (Vic). 27 March 1909. p. 3. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "Position of the Clubs". Mornington and Dromana Standard (Morning. ed.). Victoria. 31 July 1909. p. 3. Retrieved 4 March 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Events in the Past: The Federal Football League Launched in 1909". City of Kingston. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ^ "Federal Association". Mornington and Dromana Standard (Morning. ed.). Victoria. 27 March 1909. p. 3. Retrieved 4 March 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "1915 - Football". Brighton Southern Cross (Vic). 3 April 1915. p. 3. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- ^ "1925 - Federal football". Sporting Globe. 8 August 1925. p. 6. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ "1937 - Federal League". The Age. 3 April 1937. p. 43. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ a b "FEDERAL FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION" (PDF). Southern Football Netball League. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ "1922 - Junior Football". Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic). 19 August 1922. p. 5.
- ^ Umpire (14 September 1917). "The Juniors". The Herald. p. 3. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
The first semi-final watch of the Federal Football Association, between Parkside and Exchange, was won by Exchange by 9.10 to 6.9.
- ^ "1920 - Football". The Age. 19 March 1920. p. 12. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ "1921 - Metropolitan Semi Finals". The Age. 15 August 1921. p. 11. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ "1913 - Football: Federal Association". Brighton Southern Cross (Vic). 27 September 1913. p. 7. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ "1915 - Football". Brighton Southern Cross (Vic). 24 July 1915. p. 2. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "1913 - Federal Football Association". Brighton Southern Cross (Vic). 29 March 1913. p. 6. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "1910 - Football: Federal Association". Mornington & Dromana Standard (Vic). 5 March 1910. p. 4. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "1909 - Football: Federal Association - Cheltenham Premiers". Mornington and Dromana Standard (Vic. 11 September 1911. p. 2. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "1910 - Federal Association". Brighton Southern Cross (Vic). 13 August 1910. p. 9. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "1911 - Federal Association". Brighton Southern Cross (Vic). 2 September 1911. p. 9. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "1911 - News of the Week: Cheltenham". Brighton Southern Cross (Vic). 7 October 1911. p. 6. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "1912 - Football: Federal Association". Brighton Southern Cross (Vic). 28 September 1912. p. 3. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "1913 - Football: Federal Association". Brighton Southern Cross (Vic). 11 October 1913. p. 9. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "1914 - Football: Federal Association". Brighton Southern Cross (Vic). 26 September 1914. p. 8. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "1915 - Football: Final Match". Seaside News (Cheltenham, Vic). 21 August 1915. p. 8. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "1915 - Football: Final Match, Brighton Districts Premiers". Moorabbin News (Vic). 21 August 1915. p. 8. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- ^ "1919 - SECOND JUNIOR SEMI-FINAL TO-MORROW". Geelong Advertiser (Vic). 3 October 1919. p. 6. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "1920 - Cadet Premiership". The Age. 4 October 1920. p. 8. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ "1921 - Preparing for Football". The Herald. 2 April 1921. p. 4. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- ^ "1921 - Federal Association". The Age. 19 September 1921. p. 14. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "1922 - Sporting Life: Federal Association". Frankston & Somerville Standard (Vic). 30 August 1922. p. 1. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "1923 - Federal Football Association". Frankston & Somerville Standard (Vic). 22 August 1923. p. 2. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "1923 - That Fair Dinkum Football Team". Frankston & Somerville Standard (Vic). 14 September 1923. p. 4. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "1924 - Federal Association". The Argus. 15 September 1924. p. 5. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "1922 - Other Matches: Federal Association". The Age. 21 September 1925. p. 15. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "1926 - Football: Federal Association". The Argus. 27 September 1926. p. 7. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "1927 - Football: Federal Association Final". The Argus. 26 September 1927. p. 6. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "1928 - Football: Federal Association". The Argus. 24 September 1928. p. 17. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "1929 - Football: Federal Association". The Argus. 9 September 1929. p. 16. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "1925 - Federal FA". Malvern Standard (Vic). 25 September 1925. p. 8. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "1931 - Football". Frankston & Somerville Standard (Vic). 17 October 1931. p. 8. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "1932 - Federal Districts". The Age. 26 September 1932. p. 12. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "1933 - Federal District League". The Age. 25 September 1933. p. 6. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "1938 - Federal First Grade". The Argus. 12 September 1938. p. 14. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ Alan Maher & Ross McCulloch. "Federal FL - Best & Fairest Awards". Federal FL - 1909 to 1981. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- ^ "1954 - Bill Campbell Dande's "Best & Fairest"". The Dandenong Journal (Vic). 8 September 1954. p. 24. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ^ "1937 - V.F.L. FEDERAL DISTRICT". Frankston & Somerville Standard (Vic). 29 October 1937. p. 8. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ "1938 - BEST & FAIREST DISTRICT PLAYERS". The Herald. 16 September 1938. p. 8. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "1942 - Federal League - Annual Meeting". Standard (Frankston, Vic). 10 April 1942. p. 3. Retrieved 22 May 2021.