Lower South West Football League
The Lower South West Football League is a country Australian rules football league incorporating teams from towns located within the South West and Great Southern regions of Western Australia.
History
Australian Rules Football in the lower south west region of Western Australia has been played since the early part of the 20th century. For the first half of the century, the two major leagues that existed in the region were the Nelson Football Association and the Warren Football Association.The Nelson Football Association included teams from the areas of Bridgetown, Greenbushes, Balingup, Nannup and Boyup Brook. The Warren Football Association was based in Manjimup and also included teams from the surrounding areas of Jardee, Pemberton, Northcliffe and Deanmill. Other smaller leagues such as the Bridgetown and Nannup Football Associations also existed, but only for short periods of time.
The Lower South West Football League was formed in 1959, as a result of a merger between the Nelson Football Association and the Warren Football Association. The merger of the two Associations was not easy with each league seeking to protect its interests and the clubs in each association were determined that they would not be overshadowed. After several meetings and lengthy discussions, the League was officially formed on 31 March 1959. The first league matches were scheduled for 26 April 1959, including reserves and colts matches.
Mr LW Gates, President of the Nelson Association prior to the merger, and one who played an important part in the merger, became the League's first President and Mr Joe Rowberry was elected Vice President.
The inaugural teams included Boyup Brook, Bridgetown, Deanmill, Royals, Imperials, Tigers, Nannup and Southerners. Several of these inaugural clubs resulted from mergers. Bridgetown resulted from the merger of Warriors and Rovers, Tigers resulted from the merger of Jardee and Fire Brigades, and Royals resulted from the merger of Greenbushes Centrals and Balingup. Southerners were formed by the amalgamation of Pemberton and Northcliffe, the two southern most towns in the district, thus the naming Southerners.
Nannup only competed for one year and Royals competed for five years, before both teams left to join the Blackwood Football Association. The league remained as a six-team league for the next 44 years, when Kojonup joined the league in 2008 after transferring from the Great Southern Football League. Kojonup were previously known as the Magpies and wore black and white, but were required to change their colours and adopt a new logo to avoid a clash with Manjimup Imperials.
The only changes to the league since then have been the changes of logos for Boyup Brook and Deanmill. In 1987, Boyup Brook changed from being known as the Tigers to the Roos. This was also accompanied by a change in colours. In 1997, Deanmill changed their nickname from The Mill to Hawks.
The official league colours were initially black and yellow, but have since changed to red, blue, green and yellow. The league has competed in numerous country carnivals, including the Mobil and Wesfarmers Country Carnivals and the Great Southern Carnival.
Current clubs
| Club | Nickname | Location | Entered | Colours | Jumper | Premiers | Premiership Years |
| Boyup Brook | Roos | Boyup Brook | 1959 | Green and white | Green vertical stripes and bouncing kangaroo on white | 2 | 1981, 2012 |
| Bridgetown | Bulldogs | Bridgetown | 1959 | Blue and gold | Blue and gold vertical stripes | 4 | 1984, 1986, 2003, 2019 |
| Deanmill | Hawks | Deanmill | 1959 | Maroon and gold | Maroon with gold yoke and gold hawk | 17 | 1963, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1980, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1997, 2002, 2008, 2009, 2015 |
| Kojonup | Cougars | Kojonup | 2008 | Navy blue and white | Navy blue with club logo in centre and four white stylised claw marks | 1 | 2014 |
| Manjimup Imperials | Magpies | Manjimup | 1959 | Black and white | Black and white vertical stripes with club logo in centre | 9 | 1961, 1982, 1983, 1989, 1993, 1998, 2004, 2007, 2018 |
| Southerners | Souths | Pemberton Northcliffe | 1959 | Red, white and blue | Red, white and blue vertical tri-panels | 20 | 1964, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1985, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2017 |
| Tigers | Tigers | Manjimup | 1959 | Black and yellow | Black with yellow sash | 8 | 1959, 1960, 1962, 1977, 1978, 1996, 2010, 2013 |
Former clubs
| Club | Nickname | Location | Years in League | Colours | Jumper | Premiers |
| Royals | Royals | Greenbushes | 1959-1963 | Blue and black | Blue with black yoke | 0 |
| Nannup | Redlegs | Nannup | 1959 | Black and red | Black with red sash | 0 |
Club information
Boyup Brook - Competed in the Nelson Football Association from 1938 to 1958. They were originally known as the Boyup Brook Tigers wearing yellow and black, but changed their nickname to the Roos and their colours to green and white in 1987. It took 22 years before Boyup would play in their first league Grand Final, where in 1981 they took on Southerners. They won the match by 132 points, which still remains the biggest winning margin in a LSWFL Grand Final. Boyup would go on to play in the 1982, 1989, 1999, 2000 and 2002 Grand Finals, however they would not taste success in any of them. After a 31-year drought, Boyup won their second league premiership in 2012, defeating Deanmill by 25 points. Boyup has also won two reserves premierships in 1976 and 2004.Bridgetown - The Bridgetown Rovers and Bridgetown Warriors both competed in the Nelson Football Association from 1921 to 1958. The two clubs merged prior to the commencement of the LSWFL in 1959 to form the Bridgetown Bulldogs. A single Bridgetown Football Club had existed since 1904 in the Nelson Football Association wearing blue and red until the club split in the 1920s into the two clubs, Rovers and Warriors. Bridgetown played in 6 losing Grand Finals before they won their first league premiership in 1984. They won another premiership two years later in 1986, before a 17-year wait for their third title in 2003. Bridgetown have won 7 Reserves premierships, as well as 3 Colts premierships.
Deanmill - Founded in 1920 as No 1 Mill, changed to Deanmill in 1937. Deanmill later adopted the Hawks mascot. Deanmill have won 17 league premierships, winning their first title in 1963. Deanmill won three premierships in the 1960s, four in the 1970s, two in the 1980s, four in the 1990s and three in the 2000s, with their most recent in 2015.
Kojonup - Moved to the LSWFL from the Great Southern FL in 2008, also changing their name and colours from the Kojonup Magpies, wearing black and white, due to Manjimup Imperials already possessing both the Mascot and Colours. Kojonup originally came from the now defunct Central Great Southern FL before it was merged with the Southern Districts FL in 1990 to become the Great Southern FL. Kojonup won 10 premierships in the Central Great Southern FL and one premiership in the Great Southern FL. Kojonup won their first League Premiership in the LSWFL in 2014.
Imperials - Imperials have won 9 league premierships. After tasting success in 1961, it would be another 21 years later in 1982 that Imperials would win their second premiership. Imperials won three premierships in the 1980s, two in the 1990s and two in 2000s, with their most recent league premiership coming in 2018.
Southerners - Originally Pemberton Warriors and Pemberton Jayes merged to become Pemberton FC. Prior to the commencement of the LSWFL in 1959 Pemberton FC and Northcliffe FC Merged to become Southerners FC. Southerners are the most successful club with 20 league premierships, having never gone more than six years without winning a premiership. Southerners won three premierships in a row from 1999-2001. Their most recent premiership was in 2017.
Tigers - Prior to the commencement of the LSWFL in 1959, Jardee FC and Fire Brigades FC merged to become the Tigers FC. At the start of the LSWFL Tigers were the most successful club, winning three of the first four league premierships. It wasn't until 1977 they would win their fourth premiership, and then won their fifth title the following year in 1978. It was another 18 years before they won their sixth premiership in 1996. Fourteen years later in 2010 they won their seventh title. Tigers won the 2013 league premiership.
Royals - Founding club from the Nelson FA. Played 5 years in the LSWFL before later forming the Central Districts FA with Kirup FC, Nannup FC and Balingup FC. The Central Districts FA was later renamed the Blackwood FA sometime in the 1970s. Now defunct.
Nannup - Founding club from the Nelson FA. Played only one year in the LSWFL before later forming the Blackwood DFA with Kirup FC, Greenbushes FC and Balingup FC. The league folded in the mid-1970s and Nannup went into recess. Re-formed in 1993 and joined the Onshore Cup competition.
Grand Final results
| Year | League | Reserves | Colts |
| 1959 | Tigers 13.17 d Deanmill 13.4 | Tigers 8.6 d Bridgetown 6.13 | Deanmill 2.4 d Southerners 1.7 |
| 1960 | Tigers 11.7 d Bridgetown 4.9 | Southerners 6.8 d Tigers 3.12 | Deanmill 4.5 d Imperials 3.3 |
| 1961 | Imperials 6.14 d Deanmill 7.7 | Imperials 14.10 d Tigers 10.5 | Deanmill 9.12 d Bridgetown 3.8 |
| 1962 | Tigers 11.20 d Southerners 7.8 | Deanmill 6.18 d Tigers 7.10 | Imperials 15.13 d Bridgetown 4.6 |
| 1963 | Deanmill 10.13 d Tigers 6.9 | Deanmill 8.12 d Tigers 4.5 | Bridgetown 6.5 d Imperials 5.6 |
| 1964 | Southerners 7.7 d Deanmill 6.11 | Tigers 10.11 d Southerners 5.4 | Imperials 7.5 d Bridgetown 6.6 |
| 1965 | Southerners 8.11 d Bridgetown 7.11 | Deanmill 8.6 d Bridgetown 6.11 | Imperials 7.11 d Tigers 6.3 |
| 1966 | Deanmill 11.15 d Bridgetown 11.3 | Southerners 10.8 d Imperials 7.13 | Imperials 2.10 d Tigers 2.8 |
| 1967 | Southerners 15.11 d Bridgetown 8.16 | Southerners 15.11 d Bridgetown 8.16 | Imperials d Tigers |
| 1968 | Deanmill 8.16 d Imperials 4.13 | Deanmill 6.8 d Southerners 5.11 | Tigers 13.17 d Deanmill 3.4 |
| 1969 | Southerners 16.19 d Deanmill 7.4 | Southerners 9.11 d Tigers 7.15 | Tigers 11.12 d Bridgetown 4.9 |
| 1970 | Deanmill 8.6 d Southerners 6.10 | Imperials 7.5 d Deanmill 3.8 | Tigers 6.6 d Imperials 1.8 |
| 1971 | Southerners 7.14 d Tigers 6.6 | Bridgetown 5.5 d Tigers 3.10 | Tigers 4.4 d Imperials 3.5 |
| 1972 | Deanmill 17.10 d Bridgetown 9.5 | Tigers 6.13 d Deanmill 5.17 | Southerners 10.16 d Tigers 4.1 |
| 1973 | Deanmill 7.12 d Southerners 7.5 | Southerners 11.6 d Imperials 8.10 | Southerners 9.8 d Imperials 3.5 |
| 1974 | Deanmill 17.4 d Southerners 16.4 | Southerners 11.8 d Boyup Brook 6.13 | Tigers 15.16 d Bridgetown 12.5 |
| 1975 | Southerners 15.13 d Imperials 9.22 | Deanmill 7.9 d Southerners 6.5 | Southerners 11.9 d Tigers 6.8 |
| 1976 | Southerners 16.8 d Imperials 8.20 | Boyup Brook 14.10 d Tigers 10.8 | Tigers 9.9 d Southerners 7.9 |
| 1977 | Tigers 10.5 d Deanmill 6.15 | Southerners 16.18 d Tigers 10.9 | Imperials 5.10 d Southerners 5.7 |
| 1978 | Tigers 16.18 d Deanmill 16.10 | Deanmill 14.12 d Southerners 9.7 | Southerners 17.8 d Bridgetown 6.9 |
| 1979 | Southerners 18.8 d Bridgetown 7.12 | Deanmill 11.17 d Southerners 11.7 | Imperials 12.10 d Southerners 7.4 |
| 1980 | Deanmill 25.15 d Southerners 12.9 | Bridgetown 15.12 d Southerners 10.8 | Deanmill 9.12 d Bridgetown 8.5 |
| 1981 | Boyup Brook 24.28 d Southerners 4.16 | Southerners 16.17 d Boyup Brook 14.8 | Bridgetown 15.4 d Imperials 9.11 |
| 1982 | Imperials 19.13 d Boyup Brook 12.11 | Imperials 11.5 d Southerners 7.10 | Bridgetown 14.14 d Southerners 9.13 |
| 1983 | Imperials 12.18 d Deanmill 5.13 | Bridgetown 7.9 d Southerners 6.8 | Tigers 14.10 d Deanmill 13.9 |
| 1984 | Bridgetown 14.14 d Imperials 9.16 | Southerners 14.13 d Deanmill 11.6 | Deanmill 21.12 d Imperials 8.10 |
| 1985 | Southerners 14.13 d Bridgetown 10.5 | Southerners 16.11 d Deanmill 15.6 | Tigers 16.19 d Southerners 7.4 |
| 1986 | Bridgetown 13.11 d Southerners 9.11 | Southerners 10.9 d Deanmill 7.12 | Imperials 7.12 d Southerners 4.6 |
| 1987 | Deanmill 18.14 d Southerners 13.15 | Southerners 16.16 d Deanmill 12.13 | Imperials 15.15 d Deanmill 11.12 |
| 1988 | Southerners 16.15 d Deanmill 9.7 | Southerners 16.7 d Imperials 8.6 | Imperials 13.7 d Southerners 3.4 |
| 1989 | Imperials 16.6 d Boyup Brook 9.15 | Imperials 13.15 d Bridgetown 1.2 | Tigers 13.15 d Deanmill 3.5 |
| 1990 | Deanmill 15.10 d Southerners 9.12 | Imperials 11.13 d Deanmill 9.10 | Southerners 9.8 d Tigers 7.8 |
| 1991 | Deanmill 5.10 d Tigers 3.5 | Tigers 10.7 d Imperials 4.10 | Southerners 10.7 d Deanmill 5.4 |
| 1992 | Southerners 5.14 d Imperials 5.9 | Imperials 12.7 d Deanmill 11.8 | Southerners 8.8 d Tigers 3.4 |
| 1993 | Imperials 23.17 d Deanmill 8.6 | Southerners 11.15 d Deanmill 6.13 | Tigers 7.3 d Southerners 6.8 |
| 1994 | Deanmill 13.12 d Southerners 9.12 | Southerners 11.13 d Boyup Brook 5.4 | Southerners 6.18 d Imperials 4.10 |
| 1995 | Southerners 17.13 d Tigers 6.5 | Southerners 14.6 d Imperials 3.13 | Southerners 9.12 d Imperials 1.2 |
| 1996 | Tigers 7.13 d Deanmill 2.5 | Imperials 7.6 d Deanmill 5.9 | Southerners 13.6 d Bridgetown 1.2 |
| 1997 | Deanmill 13.17 d Southerners 8.7 | Imperials 10.10 d Southerners 5.8 | Southerners 7.8 d Imperials 7.5 |
| 1998 | Imperials 17.16 d Southerners 1.3 | Imperials 8.7 d Southerners 7.6 | Imperials 10.11 d Tigers 3.5 |
| 1999 | Southerners 9.10 d Boyup Brook 8.10 | Southerners 14.8 d Boyup Brook 13.7 | Southerners 7.13 d Bridgetown 4.8 |
| 2000 | Southerners 13.8 d Boyup Brook 11.8 | Tigers 15.8 d Boyup Brook 9.10 | Imperials 8.6 d Bridgetown 7.3 |
| 2001 | Southerners 12.7 d Deanmill 6.8 | Bridgetown 12.7 d Southerners 4.3 | Southerners 5.8 d Tigers 4.5 |
| 2002 | Deanmill 9.15 d Boyup Brook 6.9 | Southerners 8.5 d Imperials 5.13 | Southerners 7.12 d Tigers 0.9 |
| 2003 | Bridgetown 11.10 d Southerners 6.10 | Southerners 13.12 d Deanmill 7.9 | Southerners 7.9 d Deanmill 5.3 |
| 2004 | Imperials 14.9 d Bridgetown 11.8 | Boyup Brook 12.5 d Southerners 3.13 | Deanmill 15.8 d Bridgetown 3.6 |
| 2005 | Southerners 13.10 d Bridgetown 9.8 | Southerners 12.9 d Deanmill 7.11 | Tigers 8.12 d Deanmill 7.7 |
| 2006 | Southerners 8.8 drew Tigers 9.2 Southerners 17.13 d Tigers 8.4 | Deanmill 14.6 d Boyup Brook 7.6 | Tigers 11.7 d Deanmill 9.7 |
| 2007 | Imperials 9.13 d Deanmill 8.10 | Southerners 11.10 d Boyup Brook 3.3 | Deanmill 9.11 d Southerners 5.10 |
| 2008 | Deanmill 25.21 d Imperials 9.11 | Tigers 7.12 d Bridgetown 5.5 | Southerners 8.13 d Deanmill 2.6 |
| 2009 | Deanmill 14.10 d Imperials 8.7 | Bridgetown 5.9 d Kojonup 1.2 | Deanmill 6.11 d Tigers 6.8 |
| 2010 | Tigers 21.12 d Deanmill 13.9 | Southerners 11.13 d Kojonup 6.7 | Southerners 12.11 d Imperials 8.2 |
| 2011 | Southerners 14.11 d Tigers 11.5 | Southerners 9.10 d Deanmill 5.8 | Deanmill 13.7 d Kojonup 7.3 |
| 2012 | Boyup Brook 14.18 d Deanmill 10.17 | Southerners 14.9 d Boyup Brook 6.11 | Southerners 9.13 d Kojonup 9.10 |
| 2013 | Tigers 15.13 d Southerners 10.12 | Kojonup 9.11 d Deanmill 6.10 | Deanmill 7.8 d Bridgetown 4.12 |
| 2014 | Kojonup 21.17 d Tigers 10.11 | Deanmill 9.14 d Bridgetown 5.1 | Deanmill 12.12 d Imperials 4.16 |
| 2015 | Deanmill 6.9 d Southerners 4.8 | Bridgetown 5.7 d Deanmill 5.2 | Imperials 7.5 d Deanmill 5.7 |
| 2016 | Southerners 14.15 d Imperials 7.7 | Deanmill 10.10 d Southerners 4.8 | Deanmill 9.10 d Imperials 7.5 |
| 2017 | Southerners 14.10 d Imperials 9.11 | Southerners 10.11 d Imperials 5.2 | Deanmill 19.7 d Tigers 4.11 |
| 2018 | Imperials 14.6 d Deanmill 12.16 | Imperials 14.6 d Deanmill 10.5 | Southerners 11.10 d Bridgetown 3.7 |
| 2019 | Bridgetown 11.14 d Deanmill 9.7 | Bridgetown 12.9 d Deanmill 7.6 | Imperials 10.11 d Tigers 7.9 |
Records
The following records are current to the end of the 2019 season.| Category | Record | Information |
| Game Scores | ||
| Highest Score | 323 points | Tigers 48.35 vs Royals 1.5, 12 May 1963 |
| Lowest Score | 1 point | Royals 0.1 vs Deanmill 27.28, 29 July 1962 Royals 0.1 vs Bridgetown 18.23, 4 August 1963 Royals 0.1 vs Imperials 43.20, 25 August 1963 |
| Greatest Winning Margin | 312 points | Tigers 48.35 vs Royals 1.5, 12 May 1963 |
| Highest Losing Score | 154 points | Imperials 23.16 vs Southerners 28.23, 27 June 1976 |
| Lowest Winning Score | 18 points | Deanmill 2.6 vs Bridgetown 0.8, 14 July 1968 |
| Highest Aggregate Score | 345 points | Southerners 28.23 vs Imperials 23.16, 27 June 1976 |
| Lowest Aggregate Score | 26 points | Deanmill 2.6 vs Bridgetown 0.8, 14 July 1968 |
| Highest Aggregate of Goals | 51 goals | Southerners 28.23 vs Imperials 23.16, 27 June 1976 Tigers 29.17 vs Boyup Brook 22.7, 22 June 1980 |
| Highest Aggregate of Behinds | 48 behinds | Boyup Brook 11.32 vs Royals 9.16, 25 July 1961 |
| Lowest Aggregate of Goals | 2 goals | Deanmill 2.6 vs Bridgetown 0.8, 14 July 1968 |
| Lowest Aggregate of Behinds | 5 behinds | Deanmill 8.1 vs Imperials 5.4, 26 July 1964 Bridgetown 7.2 vs Southerners 3.3, 18 July 1999 Southerners 6.3 vs Bridgetown 2.2, 1 July 2007 |
| Ladders | ||
| Greatest Rise in Consecutive Seasons | 6 places | Tigers, Last 2012 to Premiers 2013 |
| Greatest Fall in Consecutive Seasons | 5 places | Bridgetown, Premiers 1986 to Last 1987 Southerners, Premiers 2011 to 6th 2012 Boyup Brook, Premiers 2012 to 6th 2013 |
| Finals | ||
| Most Consecutive Finals | 23 years | Southerners, 1985 to 2007 |
| Most Consecutive Grand Finals | 5 years | Southerners, 1997 to 2001 |
| Most Consecutive Premierships | 3 years | Deanmill, 1972 to 1974 Southerners, 1999 to 2001 |
| Longest Finals Drought | 10 years | Bridgetown, 1987 to 1996 |
| Longest Grand Final Drought | 22 years | Boyup Brook, 1959 to 1980 |
| Longest Premiership Drought | 31 years | Boyup Brook, 1981 to 2012 |
| Most Times as Opponents in Finals | 39 times | Deanmill vs Southerners |
| Most Times as Opponents in Grand Finals | 13 times | Deanmill vs Southerners |
| Premierships In All Three Grades | 3 times | Southerners, 1995 Imperials, 1998 Southerners, 1999 |
| Season Scores | ||
| Highest % in a Season | 324.8% | Southerners, 2017 |
| Lowest % in a Season | 12.3% | Royals, 1963 |
| Highest Average Score in a Season | 129.3 points | Tigers, 2013 |
| Lowest Average Score in a Season | 21.0 points | Royals, 1963 |
| Highest % of Wins in a Season | 94% | Southerners, 2005 |
| Lowest % of Wins in a Season | 0% | Boyup Brook, 1964, 1965, 1971, 1993, 1996, 2016 Bridgetown, 1987, 1990, 1991, 2007, 2015 Royals, 1963 Kojonup, 2008 Imperials, 2014 |
| Highest % of Wins to Miss Finals | 59% | Imperials, 1960 |
| Lowest % of Wins to Reach Finals | 27% | Boyup Brook, 1988 |
| Wins and Losses | ||
| Most Consecutive Wins | 16 wins | Boyup Brook, 2000 Round 3 to 2000 2nd Semi Final Southerners, 2005 Round 5 to 2005 Grand Final |
| Most Consecutive Losses | 38 losses | Bridgetown, 1989 Round 13 to 1992 Round 3 |
| Goals | ||
| Most Goals in a Game | 29 goals 23 goals 17 goals 17 goals | David Sewell, Imperials vs Royals, 25 August 1963 Barry Jackson, Tigers vs Royals, 12 May 1963 Clint Zabaznow, Imperials vs Kojonup, 17 May 2008 David Fall, Deanmill vs Boyup Brook, 2 August 2014 |
| Most Goals in a Season | 104 goals | David Sewell, Imperials, 1963 |