South West Football League
The South West Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the south-west of Western Australia. The league is affiliated to the West Australian Country Football League.
History
The idea of creating larger league was discussed early in 1951. 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 agree 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.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 was an obvious improvement.
The trail was deed so successful that it kicked off a series of consolidation of smaller leagues within the state of Western Australia.
- 1954 Eastern and Western Districts Busselton commenced from Busselton FA.
- 1955 Eastern and Western Districts Busselton amalgamated to become Busselton
- 1956 Harvey Brunswick admitted, Bunbury Pastimes becomes Carey Park
- 1957, the league changed names to the South West National Football League.
- 1959 Boyanup-Capel-Dardanup joins
- 1961 Collie Railways and centrals amalgamate to become Collie
- 1966 Augusta-Margaret River joins
- 1990 Harvey Brunswick become Harvey Brunswick Leschenault
- 1991 the name changed again, to the current South West Football League
- 2000 Boyanup-Capel-Dardanup relocates to Eaton and changes name to Eaton Boomers.
- 2001 Collie and Mines Rovers amalgamated to become Collie Eagles
- 2009 Harvey Bulls commence, transferred from Peel Football League.
Expansion
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 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.
Clubs
Current clubs
Previous
Club | Joined League | Left League | Notes |
Collie Railways | 1953 | 1961 | Merged with Collie Centrals to become Collie Saints, no premierships |
Collie Centrals | 1953 | 1961 | Merged with Collie Railways to become Collie Saints, no premierships |
Mines Rovers | 1953 | 2002 | Merged with Collie Saints to become the Collie Eagles, 4 league premierships |
Collie Saints | 1962 | 2002 | Merged with Mines Rovers to become Collie Eagles, 2 Premierships |
Premierships
;LeagueClub | Years Won | Total |
South Bunbury | 1953,1954, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1966, 1968, 1971, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1993, 2002, 2016 | 15 |
Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault | 1960, 1974, 1975, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2007, 2010, 2019 | 9 |
Bunbury | 1956, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1970, 1982, 1983, 2001, 2017 | 8 |
Carey Park | 1963, 1973, 1986, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009 | 7 |
Busselton | 1964, 1967, 1978, 1996, 2012, 2015 | 6 |
Mines Rovers | 1965, 1969, 1979, 1997 | 4 |
Donnybrook | 1977, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2018 | 5 |
Collie Saints | 1972, 1987 | 2 |
Augusta Margaret River | 1994, 1995, 2011 | 3 |
Collie Eagles | 2004, 2005 | 2 |
Eaton Boomers | 2013, 2014 | 2 |
Grand Finals 2009-19
Notable players
- Syd Jackson
- Adam Hunter
- Phil Matson
- Leon Baker
- Michael Warren
- David Hollins
- Phil Kelly
- Michael Christian
- Ben Stratton
- Peter Miller
- Lewis Jetta
- Neville Jetta
- Kyle Reimers
- Anthony Morabito
- Paul Barnard
- Aaron Black
- Kristin Thornton
- Connor Blakely
- Troy Ugle