Federal Football League

Federal Football League
FormerlyFederal Football Association (1909−32)
Federal District Football League (1932−62)
SportAustralian rules football
Founded1909[1]
Ceased1981; 43 years ago (1981)
CountryAustralia
Most titlesMoorabbin (12)

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]

It is said that, in the mid-1960s, Channel 7 was seeking to telecast FFL games on a Sunday.[3]

History

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Formation

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Formed 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

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In 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

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Source: [11]

Final clubs

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Nine 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 South East Suburban FL in 1982
Clayton
Clays Clayton Reserve, Clayton DDFA 1908 1954–1981 2 1980, 1981 Moved to South East Suburban FL in 1982
Highett
Bulldogs Highett Reserve, Highett – 1929 1934–1981 4 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979 Moved to South East Suburban FL in 1982
Mentone
Tigers Mentone Reserve, Mentone – 1900s 1909; 1913–1914;
1920–1981 		5 1928, 1956, 1967, 1968, 1976 Moved to South East Suburban FL in 1982
Moorabbin (II)
Kangas McKinnon Reserve, McKinnon – 1979 1979–1981 0 - Moved to South East Suburban FL in 1982
Noble Park
Bulls Pat Wright Senior Oval, Noble Park SESFL 1918 1964–1981 1 1972 Moved to South East Suburban FL in 1982
Oakleigh District
Districts Princes Highway Reserve, Oakleigh East SESFL 1950 1964–1981 0 - Moved to South East Suburban FL in 1982
Parkdale
Seagulls Gerry Green Reserve, Parkdale VAFA 1934 1930-1932, 1955–1981 1 1978 Moved to South East Suburban FL 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

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Club 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
Koornang Park, Carnegie VFLSD 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 VFLSD 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 VFLSD 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

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A. Grade Football Premiers / Runners Up

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The Agar Wynne Shield. The Honourable Agar Wynne, MHR was the Federal Football Association's Patron from 1909 to 1915.[19]

Best and Fairest Awards

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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 M.Plant Noble Park
1951 C.Mudge Mentone 1981 T.Quinn Moorabbin

References

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  1. ^ "Cheltenham". Brighton Southern Cross. Victoria. 6 February 1909. p. 4. Retrieved 4 March 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "Federal League: Its Value to the Game". The Age. 24 April 1936. p. 9. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  3. ^ "Cheltenham Football Club hosts reunion of Federal league". Herald Sun. Moorabbin Glen Eira Leader. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  4. ^ "1909 - Federal Association". Mornington and Dromana Standard (Vic). 27 March 1909. p. 3. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "Events in the Past: The Federal Football League Launched in 1909". City of Kingston. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  7. ^ "Federal Association". Mornington and Dromana Standard (Morning. ed.). Victoria. 27 March 1909. p. 3. Retrieved 4 March 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "1915 - Football". Brighton Southern Cross (Vic). 3 April 1915. p. 3. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  9. ^ "1925 - Federal football". Sporting Globe. 8 August 1925. p. 6. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  10. ^ "1937 - Federal League". The Age. 3 April 1937. p. 43. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ "1922 - Junior Football". Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic). 19 August 1922. p. 5.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ "1920 - Football". The Age. 19 March 1920. p. 12. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  15. ^ "1921 - Metropolitan Semi Finals". The Age. 15 August 1921. p. 11. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  16. ^ "1913 - Football: Federal Association". Brighton Southern Cross (Vic). 27 September 1913. p. 7. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  17. ^ "1915 - Football". Brighton Southern Cross (Vic). 24 July 1915. p. 2. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  18. ^ "1913 - Federal Football Association". Brighton Southern Cross (Vic). 29 March 1913. p. 6. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  19. ^ "1910 - Football: Federal Association". Mornington & Dromana Standard (Vic). 5 March 1910. p. 4. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  20. ^ "1909 - Football: Federal Association - Cheltenham Premiers". Mornington and Dromana Standard (Vic. 11 September 1911. p. 2. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  21. ^ "1910 - Federal Association". Brighton Southern Cross (Vic). 13 August 1910. p. 9. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  22. ^ "1911 - Federal Association". Brighton Southern Cross (Vic). 2 September 1911. p. 9. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  23. ^ "1911 - News of the Week: Cheltenham". Brighton Southern Cross (Vic). 7 October 1911. p. 6. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  24. ^ "1912 - Football: Federal Association". Brighton Southern Cross (Vic). 28 September 1912. p. 3. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  25. ^ "1913 - Football: Federal Association". Brighton Southern Cross (Vic). 11 October 1913. p. 9. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  26. ^ "1914 - Football: Federal Association". Brighton Southern Cross (Vic). 26 September 1914. p. 8. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  27. ^ "1915 - Football: Final Match". Seaside News (Cheltenham, Vic). 21 August 1915. p. 8. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  28. ^ "1915 - Football: Final Match, Brighton Districts Premiers". Moorabbin News (Vic). 21 August 1915. p. 8. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  29. ^ "1919 - SECOND JUNIOR SEMI-FINAL TO-MORROW". Geelong Advertiser (Vic). 3 October 1919. p. 6. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  30. ^ "1920 - Cadet Premiership". The Age. 4 October 1920. p. 8. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  31. ^ "1921 - Preparing for Football". The Herald. 2 April 1921. p. 4. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  32. ^ "1921 - Federal Association". The Age. 19 September 1921. p. 14. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  33. ^ "1922 - Sporting Life: Federal Association". Frankston & Somerville Standard (Vic). 30 August 1922. p. 1. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  34. ^ "1923 - Federal Football Association". Frankston & Somerville Standard (Vic). 22 August 1923. p. 2. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  35. ^ "1923 - That Fair Dinkum Football Team". Frankston & Somerville Standard (Vic). 14 September 1923. p. 4. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  36. ^ "1924 - Federal Association". The Argus. 15 September 1924. p. 5. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  37. ^ "1922 - Other Matches: Federal Association". The Age. 21 September 1925. p. 15. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  38. ^ "1926 - Football: Federal Association". The Argus. 27 September 1926. p. 7. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  39. ^ "1927 - Football: Federal Association Final". The Argus. 26 September 1927. p. 6. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  40. ^ "1928 - Football: Federal Association". The Argus. 24 September 1928. p. 17. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  41. ^ "1929 - Football: Federal Association". The Argus. 9 September 1929. p. 16. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  42. ^ "1925 - Federal FA". Malvern Standard (Vic). 25 September 1925. p. 8. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  43. ^ "1931 - Football". Frankston & Somerville Standard (Vic). 17 October 1931. p. 8. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  44. ^ "1932 - Federal Districts". The Age. 26 September 1932. p. 12. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  45. ^ "1933 - Federal District League". The Age. 25 September 1933. p. 6. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  46. ^ "1938 - Federal First Grade". The Argus. 12 September 1938. p. 14. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  47. ^ Alan Maher & Ross McCulloch. "Federal FL - Best & Fairest Awards". Federal FL - 1909 to 1981. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  48. ^ "1954 - Bill Campbell Dande's "Best & Fairest"". The Dandenong Journal (Vic). 8 September 1954. p. 24. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  49. ^ "1937 - V.F.L. FEDERAL DISTRICT". Frankston & Somerville Standard (Vic). 29 October 1937. p. 8. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  50. ^ "1938 - BEST & FAIREST DISTRICT PLAYERS". The Herald. 16 September 1938. p. 8. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  51. ^ "1942 - Federal League - Annual Meeting". Standard (Frankston, Vic). 10 April 1942. p. 3. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
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