The Western Border Football League is an Australian rules football competition based in the Lower South East region of South Australia, and south-western border region of Victoria. It is an affiliated member of the South Australian National Football League. The league used to be regarded as the premier country football league in South Australia, and a leading country Victorian league, however the number of clubs and standard has declined in recent years.
| File:Western Border Football League logo.png | |
| Sport | Australian rules football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1964 |
| President | Darren Philps[1] |
| Motto | Slammin Sam |
| No. of teams | 6 |
| Country | Australia |
| Most recent champion(s) | Millicent Football Club |
| Most titles | South Gambier Football Club (12 premierships) |
| Sponsor(s) | Bendigo Bank[2] |
| Related competitions | SANFL |
| Official website | http://www.wbfl.com.au/ |
Brief history
In 1964, after almost a decade of discussions, the Western District Football League in Victoria and the South-East & Border Football League in South Australia merged to form the Western Border Football League. The founding 12 clubs were Casterton, Coleraine, East Gambier, Hamilton, Hamilton Imperials, Heywood, Millicent, North Gambier, Penola, Portland, South Gambier and West Gambier.[3][4]
Hamilton and Millicent both had jumpers similar to the Collingwood, an agreement was made that the team that finished lower on the ladder for 1964 had to change jumpers. Hamilton finished ninth while Millicent finished 11th of 12 so Millicent was forced to change to the St Kilda strip.
Penola left and joined the Kowree-Naracoorte Football League in 1988, Coleraine left and joined the South West District Football League in 1995.
In 2011 the Heywood Football Club left the Western Border Football League due to the club struggling to compete with the larger town clubs in the league. Their first application to leave was rejected, so they were forced to go to higher levels at the VCFL to resolve issues between the League and the Heywood Football Netball Club.
In 2012 the Hamilton and Hamilton Imperials club merged upon recommendation from the VCFL and competed in the Hampden Football Netball League from 2013. Portland also transferred to the Hampden Football Netball League for 2013, leaving just 6 teams in the competition today. Casterton merged with neighbouring club Sandford (from the South West District Football League) in 2014. When the VFL had zoning from 1968 to 1986 the league was allocated to Collingwood.
Some famous players that have played in the Western Border Football League have been Billy Picken, Matthew Clarke, Nick Daffy, Nathan Lovett-Murray, Mal Michael, John Mossop, Wally Lovett.
Current
| Jumper | Club | Nickname | Years in comp | WBFL Premierships | Premiership Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Casterton - Sandford | Cats | 1964- | 1969, 1990 | |
 |
East Gambier | Bulldogs | 1964- | 1965, 1972-3, 1975-6, 1982-3, 1988, 2017 | |
 |
Millicent | Saints | 1964- | 1984, 2018 | |
 |
North Gambier | Tigers | 1964- | 1964, 1979, 1987, 1989, 2012-13-14, 2016, 2019 | |
| South Gambier | Demons | 1964- | 1974, 1992, 1994, 1996-97-98-99-2000, 2002, 2005, 2009, 2015 | ||
| West Gambier | Roos | 1964- | 1971, 2010, 2011 |
Previous
| Jumper | Club | Nickname | Years in comp | WBFL Premierships | Premiership Years | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Coleraine | Maroons | 1964 - 1994 | 1967 | Transferred in the South West District Football League in 1995 | |
 |
Hamilton | Magpies | 1964 - 2012 | 1968, 1970, 1981, 2004 | Merged with the Imperials and moved to the Hampden Football League in 2013 | |
 |
Hamilton Imperials | Bulldogs | 1964 - 2012 | 1977, 1978, 1980, 1993, 1995, 2001 | Merged with the Magpies and moved to the Hampden Football League in 2013 | |
| Heywood | Lions | 1964 - 2011 | Transferred in the South West District Football League in 2012 | |||
_jumper.png){kind=small} |
Penola | Blues | 1964 - 1987 | transferred to the Kowree Naracoorte FL in 1988, now in the KNTFL | ||
 |
Portland | Tigers | 1964 - 2012 | 1966, 1985, 1986, 1991, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008 | Transferred to the Hampden Football League in 2013 |
Timeline
Win/loss record
| Club | Active | Won | Lost | Drawn | Percentage wins | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casterton | 1964-2020 | 0 | 10056 | 9 | 41.60 | 0 |
| Millicent | 1964-2021 | 20366 | 4 | 43.64 | 10000 | |
| North Gambier | 1964-2021 | 711 | 411 | 9 | 62.86 | 8 |
| South Gambier | 1964-2021 | 736 | 381 | 5 | 65.60 | 12 |
| West Gambier | 1964-2021 | 0 | 648 | 7 | 38.03 | 0 |
2013 Ladder
| Western Border FL | Wins | Byes | Losses | Draws | For | Against | % | Pts | Final | Team | G | B | Pts | Team | G | B | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Gambier | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1643 | 845 | 194.44% | 56 | 1st Semi | West Gambier | 20 | 12 | 132 | Casterton | 10 | 10 | 70 | |
| South Gambier | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1411 | 983 | 143.54% | 52 | 2nd Semi | North Gambier | 20 | 15 | 135 | South Gambier | 7 | 6 | 48 | |
| West Gambier | 7 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1134 | 1228 | 92.35% | 28 | Preliminary | West Gambier | 11 | 13 | 79 | South Gambier | 10 | 13 | 73 | |
| Casterton | 5 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1015 | 1328 | 76.43% | 20 | Grand | North Gambier | 18 | 12 | 120 | West Gambier | 10 | 15 | 75 | |
| East Gambier | 4 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 968 | 1300 | 74.46% | 16 | ||||||||||
| Millicent | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 904 | 1391 | 64.99% | 8 |
2014 Ladder
| Western Border FL | Wins | Byes | Losses | Draws | For | Against | % | Pts | Final | Team | G | B | Pts | Team | G | B | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Gambier | 13 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1929 | 1035 | 186.38% | 54 | 1st Semi | West Gambier | 18 | 15 | 123 | Casterton Sandford | 12 | 11 | 83 | |
| North Gambier | 13 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1800 | 1053 | 170.94% | 54 | 2nd Semi | North Gambier | 12 | 15 | 87 | South Gambier | 11 | 12 | 78 | |
| West Gambier | 8 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1364 | 1391 | 98.06% | 32 | Preliminary | West Gambier | 12 | 7 | 79 | South Gambier | 10 | 16 | 76 | |
| Casterton Sandford | 8 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1297 | 1411 | 91.92% | 32 | Grand | North Gambier | 17 | 13 | 115 | West Gambier | 12 | 14 | 86 | |
| East Gambier | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1154 | 1541 | 74.89% | 28 | ||||||||||
| Millicent | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 767 | 1880 | 40.80% | 4 |
2015 Ladder
| Western Border FL | Wins | Byes | Losses | Draws | For | Against | % | Pts | Final | Team | G | B | Pts | Team | G | B | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Gambier | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2057 | 837 | 245.76% | 64 | 1st Semi | East Gambier | 12 | 12 | 84 | West Gambier | 8 | 10 | 58 | |
| South Gambier | 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1908 | 861 | 221.60% | 60 | 2nd Semi | South Gambier | 15 | 12 | 102 | North Gambier | 11 | 13 | 79 | |
| West Gambier | 10 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1338 | 1354 | 98.82% | 40 | Preliminary | North Gambier | 28 | 12 | 180 | East Gambier | 5 | 5 | 35 | |
| East Gambier | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1222 | 1253 | 97.53% | 28 | Grand | South Gambier | 14 | 12 | 96 | North Gambier | 12 | 10 | 82 | |
| Casterton Sandford | 3 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 954 | 1844 | 51.74% | 12 | ||||||||||
| Millicent | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 696 | 2026 | 34.35% | 0 |
2016 Ladder
| Western Border FL | Wins | Byes | Losses | Draws | For | Against | % | Pts | Final | Team | G | B | Pts | Team | G | B | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Gambier | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1660 | 755 | 219.87% | 56 | 1st Semi | East Gambier | 11 | 10 | 76 | Casterton Sandford | 7 | 7 | 49 | |
| North Gambier | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1595 | 830 | 192.17% | 56 | 2nd Semi | South Gambier | 9 | 5 | 59 | North Gambier | 6 | 5 | 41 | |
| Casterton Sandford | 7 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1163 | 1119 | 103.93% | 28 | Preliminary | North Gambier | 17 | 5 | 107 | East Gambier | 6 | 9 | 45 | |
| East Gambier | 7 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1086 | 1302 | 83.41% | 28 | Grand | North Gambier | 8 | 16 | 64 | South Gambier | 8 | 4 | 52 | |
| West Gambier | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 916 | 1534 | 59.71% | 12 | ||||||||||
| Millicent | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 843 | 1723 | 48.93% | 12 |
2017 Ladder
| Western Border FL | Wins | Byes | Losses | Draws | For | Against | % | Pts | Final | Team | G | B | Pts | Team | G | B | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Gambier | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1598 | 905 | 176.57% | 52 | 1st Semi | Casterton Sandford | 9 | 15 | 69 | Millicent | 7 | 5 | 47 | |
| East Gambier | 11 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1413 | 965 | 146.42% | 46 | 2nd Semi | North Gambier | 17 | 17 | 119 | East Gambier | 12 | 15 | 87 | |
| Casterton Sandford | 9 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1203 | 993 | 121.15% | 38 | Preliminary | East Gambier | 15 | 10 | 100 | Casterton Sandford | 7 | 7 | 49 | |
| Millicent | 7 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1024 | 1163 | 88.05% | 28 | Grand | East Gambier | 10 | 13 | 73 | North Gambier | 4 | 12 | 36 | |
| South Gambier | 4 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 799 | 1320 | 60.53% | 16 | ||||||||||
| West Gambier | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 727 | 1418 | 51.27% | 12 |
2018 Ladder
| Western Border FL | Wins | Byes | Losses | Draws | For | Against | % | Pts | Final | Team | G | B | Pts | Team | G | B | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casterton Sandford | 12 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1348 | 770 | 175.06% | 50 | 1st Semi | East Gambier | 11 | 6 | 72 | West Gambier | 9 | 1 | 55 | |
| Millicent | 12 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1293 | 932 | 138.73% | 50 | 2nd Semi | Millicent | 14 | 11 | 95 | Casterton Sandford | 10 | 7 | 67 | |
| West Gambier | 9 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1117 | 1018 | 109.72% | 36 | Preliminary | East Gambier | 9 | 5 | 59 | Casterton Sandford | 5 | 10 | 40 | |
| East Gambier | 9 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1102 | 1124 | 98.04% | 36 | Grand | Millicent | 11 | 10 | 76 | East Gambier | 11 | 6 | 72 | |
| North Gambier | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 915 | 1363 | 67.13% | 12 | ||||||||||
| South Gambier | 2 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 894 | 1462 | 61.15% | 8 |
Notable WBFL Players
- John Gill, Barry Gill, Max Rooke, Alan Richardson, Russell Johnston, Don Whitten, Laurie Nash, Reg Burgess, David Robbie Casterton - Sandford
- Brian Gray, Les Kaine, John Vickery, Eric Moore, Barry McKenzie, Michael Horsburgh Coleraine
- Gary Lazarus, Simon Feast, Stephen Jankowicz East Gambier
- Phil Walsh, Alan Atkinson, Paul Cranage, Tony Russell, Shannon Watt, Adam Campbell, Marcus Picken, Liam Picken Hamilton
- Ian Ridley, John McMillan, Mark Orval, Josh Thurgood, Hamilton Imperials
- Denis Zeunert, Billy Picken, Wally Lovett, Justin Perkins, Nathan Lovett-Murray, Mal Michael, Courtney Johns, Justin Perkins Heywood
- Bob Clifford, Brian Roberts, Neil Sutherland, Mason Redman, Richard Nixon — Millicent
- Nick Daffy, Dwaine Kretschmer, Glen Keast, Lucas Herbert North Gambier
- John Mossop, Michael Graham, Colin Graham, Penola
- Stuart Spencer, Clyde Laidlaw, Peter Hogan, Leo King, Wayne Blackwell, Ian Hampshire, Winis Imbi, Brodie Atkinson, Portland
- Max James, Doug Long, Robin McKinnon, Nathan Stark - South Gambier
- John Yeates, Mark Yeates, Jason Walscgott, Tim O'Brien, Matthew Clarke, [[2003 AFL draft|Joshua Krueger]leon Kruger, Kevin Douglas, league medallist, John Beaton league medallist ] West Gambier
References
- ^ "WBFL Executive". WBFL. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ "Official League Sponsors". WBFL. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ Western Border Football League history at fullpointsfooty.net
- ^ Western Border FL at the Footypedia
External links
Books
- Encyclopedia of South Australian country football clubs / compiled by Peter Lines. ISBN 9780980447293
- South Australian country football digest / by Peter Lines ISBN 9780987159199