The South West District Football League is an Australian rules football league based in South-western Victoria, with clubs located in the vicinity of Hamilton, Heywood and Portland. The league is a minor country league, with teams drawn from smaller localities within part of the area of the major Western Border Football League.
History 1969 as three leagues come together
Portland DFL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Tyrendarra 16 0 2 0 1828 993 184.09% 64 Winnap 13 0 5 0 1338 1254 106.70% 52 Branxholme 10 0 7 1 1326 1244 106.59% 42 Heathmere 9 0 8 1 1554 1303 119.26% 38 Dartmoor 9 0 9 0 1380 1275 108.24% 36 Merino-Digby 6 0 11 1 1537 1634 94.06% 26 Wallacedale 4 0 14 0 1130 1734 65.17% 16 Westerns 3 0 14 1 965 1621 59.53% 14
Finals
Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts 1st Semi Branxholme 17 12 114 Heathmere 10 9 692nd Semi Tyrendarra 13 13 91 Winnap 8 11 59Preliminary Winnap 11 9 75 Branxholme 9 9 63Grand Tyrendarra 8 12 60 Winnap 4 4 28
Port Fairy FL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Penshurst 12 0 2 1 1664 706 235.69% 50 Macarthur 12 0 3 0 1457 842 173.04% 48 Hawkesdale 9 0 6 0 1113 909 122.44% 36 Yambuk 7 0 7 1 1197 1081 110.73% 30 Bessiebelle 4 0 11 0 1131 1182 95.69% 16 Port Fairy 0 0 15 0 491 2333 21.05% 0
Finals
Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts 1st Semi Yambuk 15 5 95 Hawkesdale 7 7 492nd Semi Penshurst 15 11 101 Macarthur 12 3 75Preliminary Macarthur 17 15 117 Yambuk 16 5 101Grand Penshurst 10 13 73 Macarthur 6 12 48
Glenelg FL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Cavendish 17 3 1 0 2580 737 350.07% 68 Sandford 14 3 4 0 1831 1084 168.91% 56 Pigeon Ponds 13 3 5 0 1696 1090 155.60% 52 Harrow 10 3 8 0 1385 1066 129.92% 40 Wando Vale 5 3 13 0 1177 1594 73.84% 20 Bahgallah 3 3 15 0 946 2211 42.79% 12 Dergholm 1 3 17 0 571 2404 23.75% 4
FINALS
Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts 1st Semi Pigeon Ponds 7 9 51 Harrow 2 8 202nd Semi Cavendish 14 15 99 Sandford 5 6 36Preliminary Pigeon Ponds 11 8 74 Sandford 10 4 64Grand Cavendish 15 15 105 Pigeon Ponds 8 8 56
The league was formed in 1970 under the name Portland Port Fairy Football League.
Of the 14 founding clubs, eight came from the Portland and District Football League, three from the Port Fairy Football League and three from the Glenelg Football League.
The league was renamed the South West District Football League in 1983.
Clubs Locations
Current Six of the current 8 teams were present in the league on formation in 1970 (Branxholme and Wallacedale as separate teams). Coleraine joined from the Western Border Football League in 1995, and Heywood commenced in 2012.
ClubJumperNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in SWDFNLSWDFNL Senior Premierships Total Years Branxholme-Wallacedale SaintsBranxholme Recreation Reserve, Branxholme–1982 1982– 1 1983 Cavendish BloodsCavendish Recreation Reserve, CavendishGFL1900s 1970– 6 1973, 1974, 1992, 1993, 2022, 2025 Coleraine MaroonsColeraine Recreation Reserve, ColeraineWBFL1900s 1995– 8 1996, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2023 Dartmoor Dartmoor Recreation Reserve, DartmoorPDFL1920s 1970– 7 1979, 1980, 1982, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2026 Heathmere MagpiesHeathmere Recreation Reserve, HeathmerePDFL1920s 1970– 3 1989, 1990, 2002 Heywood LionsHeywood Recreation Reserve, HeywoodWBFL1920s 2012– 4 2012, 2015, 2018, 2019 Tyrendarra DarrasTyrendarra Recreation Reserve, TyrendarraPDFL1900s 1970– 10 1971, 1972, 1975, 1986, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2016, 2024 Westerns RoosAlexandra Park, PortlandPDFL1949 1970– 8 1984, 1985, 1987, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
Former clubs ClubJumperNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in SWDFNLSWDFNL Senior PremiershipsFateTotalYearsBalmoral BombersBalmoral Recreation Reserve, BalmoralWWFL1900s1982–199611991Merged with Douglas-Harrow-Miga Lake to form Harrow Balmoral in Horsham & District FL in 1997Bessiebelle TigersBessiebelle Recreation Reserve, BessiebellePFFL1900s1970–1995, 1997–1998 0 -Went into recess for 1996, returned playing games in Portland and folded in 1999BranxholmeRamblersBranxholme Recreation Reserve, BranxholmePDFL19191970–1981 0 -Merged with Wallacedale in 1982 to form Branxholme-WallacedaleMacarthurDemonsMacarthur Recreation Reserve, MacarthurPFFL1890s1970–199741970, 1981, 1988, 1995Merged with Hawkesdale in 1998 and moved to Mininera & District FLMerino-Digby (1970–89)(1990)Merino Recreation Reserve, MerinoPDFL19541970–1990 0 -Folded in 1991Pigeon PondsPigeon Ponds Recreation Reserve, Pigeon PondsGFL1920s1970–1983 0 -Folded in 1984Sandford VillagersSandford Recreation Reserve, SandfordGFL1900s1970–2013 0 -Merged with Casterton to form Casterton-Sandford in Western Border FL in 2014WallacedaleSwamp HawksWallacedale Oval, WallacedalePDFL1900s1970–1981 0 -Merged with Branxholme in 1982WinnapWinnap Recreation Reserve, WinnapPDFL1920s1970–1975 0 -Folded in 1976YambukBluesYambuk Recreation Reserve, YambukPFFL1920s1970–198031976, 1977, 1978Moved to Warrnambool District FL in 1981
Timeline
Premierships 1970 Macarthur 14 11 95 defeated Cavendish 7 14 56 1971 Tyrendarra 14 13 97 defeated Macarthur 11 10 76 1972 Tyrendarra 16 22 118 defeated Heathmere 11 16 82 1973 Cavendish 15 11 101 defeated Bessiebelle 14 11 95 1974 Cavendish 13 8 86 defeated Westerns 6 6 42 1975 Tyrendarra 10 16 76 defeated Westerns 8 12 60 1976 Yambuk 16 12 108 defeated Tyrendarra 10 11 71 1977 Yambuk 7 12 54 defeated Westerns 6 10 46 1978 Yambuk 17 12 114 defeated Wallacedale 10 13 73 1979 Dartmoor 16 14 110 defeated Yambuk 12 9 81 1980 Dartmoor 16 25 121 defeated Bessiebelle 12 4 76 1981 Macarthur 16 15 111 defeated Cavendish 8 15 63 1982 Dartmoor 22 16 148 defeated Heathmere 10 10 70 1983 Branxholme-Wallacedale 20 10 130 defeated Dartmoor 18 11 119 1984 Westerns 12 8 80 defeated Tyrendarra 10 14 74 1985 Westerns 16 7 103 defeated Heathmere 11 18 84 1986 Tyrendarra 18 19 127 defeated Westerns 12 6 78 1987 Westerns 13 7 85 defeated Heathmere 11 18 84 1988 Macarthur 17 19 121 defeated Westerns 17 13 115 1989 Heathmere 18 14 122 defeated Balmoral 12 8 80 1990 Heathmere 19 17 131 defeated Cavendish 10 6 66 1991 Balmoral 17 14 116 defeated Heathmere 12 12 84 1992 Cavendish 14 10 94 defeated Westerns 5 21 51 1993 Cavendish 13 10 88 defeated Westerns 10 9 69 1994 Westerns 17 8 110 defeated Cavendish 12 10 82 1995 Macarthur 11 18 84 defeated Sandford 8 14 62 1996 Coleraine 12 9 81 defeated Sandford 9 4 58 1997 Westerns 13 9 87 defeated Coleraine 10 12 72 1998 Westerns 11 15 81 defeated Tyrendarra 9 8 62 1999 Westerns 14 16 100 defeated Heathmere 11 6 72 2000 Westerns 15 18 108 defeated Heathmere 9 6 60 2001 Tyrendarra 11 8 74 defeated Heathmere 9 18 72 2002 Heathmere 20 10 130 defeated Tyrendarra 14 11 95 2003 Tyrendarra 14 12 96 defeated Coleraine 5 3 33 2004 Tyrendarra 8 12 60 defeated Heathmere 7 12 54 2005 Coleraine 10 12 72 defeated Tyrendarra 4 6 30 2006 Tyrendarra 14 10 94 defeated Coleraine 7 4 46 2007 Coleraine 10 12 72 defeated Tyrendarra 10 11 71 2008 Coleraine 9 12 66 defeated Tyrendarra 5 11 41 2009 Coleraine 11 13 79 defeated Westerns 4 8 32 2010 Coleraine 11 13 79 defeated Westerns 9 10 64 2011 Dartmoor 9 12 66 defeated Tyrendarra 4 10 34 2012 Heywood 18 9 117 defeated Westerns 11 11 77 2013 Coleraine 15 6 96 defeated Heywood 9 10 64 2014 Dartmoor 12 13 85 defeated Heywood 10 9 69 2015 Heywood 8 17 65 defeated Tyrendarra 5 12 42 2016 Tyrendarra 8 11 59 defeated Coleraine 7 9 51 2017 Dartmoor 12 13 85 defeated Heywood 11 13 79 2018 Heywood 11 18 84 defeated Heathmere 8 6 54 2019 Heywood 10 11 71 defeated Tyrendarra 3 4 22 2021 Dartmoor Minor Premiers Awarded 2022 Cavendish 15 9 99 defeated Dartmoor 3 6 24 2023 Coleraine 9 7 61 defeated Cavendish 4 9 33 2024 Tyrendarra 9 6 60 defeated Dartmoor 7 9 51 2025 Cavendish 9 6 60 defeated Dartmoor 6 11 47 2026 Dartmoor 3 14 32 defeated Tyrendarra 1 2 8 League Awards
Year League Best & FairestLeading Goal Kicker H&A goals Finals goals Total Goals 1970 Merv Peters (Tyrendarra) Kevin Malseed (Macarthur) 106 9 115 1971 Trevor Krause (Branxholme) Kevin Malseed (Macarthur) 120 18 138 1972 Stan Foote (Dartmoor) Kevin Malseed (Macarthur) 137 11 148 1973 Trevor Krause (Wallacedale) Garry Johnston (Bessiebelle) 80 19 99 1974 Robert Sinnott (Yambuk) Graham Edwards (Winnap) 80 2 82 1975 Barrie Robinson (Heathmere) Kevin Saunders (Western) 74 5 79 1976 Pat Fallon (Cavendish) Garry McDonald (Tyrendarra) 64 8 72 1977 Greg Frost (Tyrendarra) Linton Smith (Tyrendarra) 75 0 75 1978 Anthony Bourke (Bessiebelle) Darryl Rose (Wallacedale) 83 4 87 1979 Peter Sharp (Dartmoor) P Atkinson (Branxholme) 76 6 82 1980 Daryl Watts (Bessiebelle) Ray Albert (Dartmoor) 81 0 110 1981 Kevin Radley (Heathmere) Ray Albert (Dartmoor) 76 0 76 1982 Brenton Primmer (Dartmoor) Greg Lipscombe (Dartmoor) 0 113 113 1983 Tony Curran (Tyrendarra) Ray Albert (Dartmoor) 0 129 129 1984 Barry Waight (Branxholme-Wallacedale) Paul Hunter (Balmoral) 129 2 131 1985 Phillip Doyle (Sandford) Wes Smith (Heathmere) 147 5 152 1986 Phillip Doyle (Sandford) C Jorgenson (Heathmere) 85 1 86 1987 Tony Hutchins (Balmoral) Tim Walkenhorst (Branxholme-Wallacedale) 85 15 100 1988 John Rooke (Sandford) Shane Dempsey (Balmoral) 107 0 107 1989 Colin Howe (Macarthur) Shane Dempsey (Balmoral) 145 23 168 1990 Mick Mahoney (Branxholme-Wallacedale) Luke Hampshire (Tyrendarra) 130 0 130 1991 Dale Sullivan (Sandford) Robert Harman (Branxholme-Wallacedale) 84 0 84 1992 Troy O'Callaghan (Balmoral) B Finck (Heathmere) 72 0 72 1993 John Herbertson (Westerns) Jeff Gill ( Sandford) 98 0 98 1994 Mark Brown (Cavendish) Robert Harman (Branxholme-Wallacedale) 87 0 87 1995 David Gould (Macarthur) Dale Hirst (Sandford) Troy Wilson (Tyrendarra) 68 0 68 1996 Richard Brown (Balmoral) D Wiley (Heathmere) 61 5 66 1997 Pat Farrant (Branxholme-Wallacedale) Pat Farrant (Branxholme-Wallacedale) 71 1 72 1998 Bevan Lipscome (Dartmoor) Pat Farrant (Branxholme-Wallacedale) 84 0 84 1999 Michael Harrison (Branxholme-Wallacedale) Craig Rhook (Branxholme-Wallacedale) 55 13 68 2000 Dale Hirst (Sandford) Jeremy Duncan (Westerns) 92 22 114 2001 Lachie McRae (Cavendish) Craig Rhook (Dartmoor) 67 2 69 2002 Michael Watts (Sandford) D Sandeman(Western) 71 5 76 2003 Andy Willis (Tyrendarra) Kym Eagleson (Sandford) 98 3 101 2004 Kaleb Sherwell (Tyrendarra) Lachlan McRae (Sandford) Nathan Bennett (Tyrendarra) 109 6 115 2005 Kaleb Sherwell (Tyrendarra) Danny Pridham (Dartmoor) 118 1 119 2006 Simon Bampfield (Westerns) Glen Fry (Coleraine) 135 0 135 2007 Richard Steele (Tyrendarra) Kym Eagleson (Sandford) 122 10 132 2008 Richard Steele (Westerns) Kym Eagleson (Sandford) 73 0 73 2009 Zac McDonald (Coleraine) Mick Wilson (Heathmere) 85 0 85 2010 Sam Anson (Westerns) Jason McCrae (Dartmoor) 102 0 102 2011 Jarryd Lewis (Coleraine) Jason McCrae (Dartmoor) 105 13 118 2012 Hayden Dyke (Westerns) Timothy Annett (Westerns) 68 9 77 2013 Stephen O'Brien (Heywood) Mick Wilson (Heywood) 110 3 113 2014 Stephen O'Brien (Westerns) Jason McCrae (Dartmoor) 100 0 100 2015 Nathan Curtis (Cavendish) Mick Wilson (Heywood) 76 1 77 2016 Korrey Smith (Dartmoor) Jason McCrae (Dartmoor) 66 3 692017Thomas Lambevski (Branxholme-Wallacedale) Jason McCrae (Dartmoor) 65 9 742018Tyson Hogan (Coleraine) Mick Wilson (Heathmere) 73 8 812019Josh Andrews (Heathmere)Christian Howlett (Dartmoor) Leon Davis (Heathmere)69 701 070 702021Jayden Polaski (Dartmoor) Patrick Sinnott (Coleraine) 37 - 372022Sam Gibson (Cavendish) Christian Howlett (Dartmoor) 56 14 702023Nyawi Moore (Heywood) Patrick Sinnott (Coleraine)58 4 622024Sam Anson (Tyrendarra) Jordi Withers (Tyrendarra) 78 13 91 2025 Ethan Murdock (Dartmoor) Jordi Withers (Tyrendarra) 70 6 76
Notable former players Despite some clubs not having junior sides, some former players have played at the highest level.
Wally Lovett - Tyrendarra
David Mitchell - Heathmere
Brett Gloury - Balmoral
Luke Hampshire Drafted in 1990 AFL draft - Tyrendarra
Marcus Picken - Macarthur
Jeremy Cameron - Dartmoor
Jamaine Jones - Heywood
Historical ladders 1970 (foundation season)