Welshpool Football Club was an Australian rules football club that participated in the Alberton Football League from 1946 up until 1994. With the continual struggle to entice outside players to the club and a constant strain in retaining local juniors due to lack of employment opportunities, the club ventured into amalgamation talks with neighbouring football clubs Devon and Toora. The outcome would eventually see the club join forces with the Devon Football Club prior to the start of the 1995 Alberton League season.Foster Mirror 1946–1994 The newly formed Devon-Welshpool Football Club would experience immediate success by claiming the 1995 Alberton League premiership with a six-point triumph over Won Wron-Woodside, winning 11.8 (74) to 10.8 (68) in the last Grand Final played at Yarram.
Early history Welshpool's earliest history dates back to 1895 but an official date of when the club was formed is not known but there are reports that the club was active during this period. In fact, Welshpool's first known premiership came when it defeated Foster for the 1912 South Gippsland Football Association premiership.
However, the club withdrew from competing in random seasons on numerous occasions and a true gathering of the early history is hard to report on. After a very poor start to the 1911 season and only four wins, Welshpool withdrew from the Association. Even after winning the 1912 premiership, Welshpool again withdrew from the 1913 season and many of the club's leading players joined neighboring rivals. Much of the local football played between 1915 and 1917 was junior matches due to World War I."Tigers on the prowl" 1890–1990
1946: Entry to the AFL At the club's annual general meeting in 1946, the WFC decided to join the reforming Alberton Football League, and was a part of the competition up until its independent demise in 1994. The team became known as the "Tri-colours" and was later changed to become the Bulldogs.Foster Mirror 1946–1994
In the early season upon the reformation of the league, Welshpool were a regular finalist and made it to the 1949 Grand Final. However, the dominant Woodside combination of this era would deny the Bulldogs of a premiership by 16 points and two years later would again prevent the club from attaining the ultimate success by claiming another AFL flag, this time by nine points.Welshpool Football Club Year Book 1993
Welshpool's great players of these earlier years of the AFL were Robert "Bob" Roberts, Alec Grossman, Keith Forbes, Ken Macphail, Robert Sutherland and Les Murray to name a few. Roberts, who came close to winning the League Best & Fairest award in 1950, would win the club's top honour an unprecedented four times during his illustrious career with the Bulldogs.
1969–1971: Premiership years With former North Melbourne player Adrian Beer taking over as coach, Welshpool went 15–3 in 1969, finishing as the minor premiers for a second consecutive year. Rover, Paul Sutherland claimed what no other Welshpool player had been able to do since the re-formation of the AFL in 1946 and that was to win League Best & Fairest award. Ron Tibballs was the club's leading goalkicker for the sixth time with 99 goals, also winning his second AFL goalkicking award. The Bulldogs then went on to win their first premiership in seven years and inflict their second Grand Final defeat over Fish Creek in as many years.Foster Mirror 1946–1994
Welshpool again dominated throughout 1970 and were able to produce what no other club has been able to do and that was sustain an unblemished record for the duration of the home and away season with 18 wins and 0 losses in an extraordinary accomplishment. The season included their greatest ever comeback from three-quarter time as the Bulldogs reeled in a 31-point deficit to eventually prevail over Devon by the narrowest of margins, winning 13.9 (87) to 13.8 (86). This time Ron Tibballs was able to achieve 100 goals in the home and away season, which he reached in round 17 against Won Wron before finishing the year with 117 – surpassing Won Wron's Ben "Sonny" Davis' record of 105 in 1957.
1979: Our last premiership A heavy recruiting campaign saw Welshpool throw themselves in the mix as a finals contender, something they had not been a part of since the 1975 season under Laurie Rippon. Former Melbourne and Foster player, Chris Aitken, was appointed coach in 1978 and returned for the 1979 season with a bold plan to make the final four. Chris Hayes, Billy Lynch jnr., Mark James, and Glen James were a number of newcomers to the Bulldogs while Neil Chandler and Bruce Pickering were both enticed to rejoin the club mid-season in an attempt to attain the ultimate success.
Honour roll Year Pos. Coach Captain Best & Fairest Leading Goalkicker Goals 1946 4 Hughie Marshall Hughie Marshall Harry Leach 26 1947 3 Keith Forbes Keith Forbes Keith Forbes 45 1948 6 Keith Forbes Keith Forbes Keith Forbes 32 1949 2 Alec Grossman Alec Grossman Alec Grossman Les Murray 34 1950 4 Alec Grossman Alec Grossman Robert Roberts Alec Grossman 20 1951 2 Alec Grossman Alec Grossman Robert Roberts Alec Grossman 30 1952 4 Jim Hall Jim Hall Bernie Cooper Bernie Cooper 18 1953 1 Jim Hall Jim Hall Russell McAlpine Robert Sutherland 33 1954 3 Harry Dewsnap Harry Dewsnap Robert Roberts Harry Dewsnap 16 1955 2 Len McCankie Len McCankie Alan James Len McCankie 23 1956 4 Len McCankie Len McCankie Robert Roberts Brian Heagney 40 1957 5 Les W. Jones Les W. Jones Les W. Jones Norm Tibballs 26 1958 7 Brian Heagney Brian Heagney Frank Roberts Brian Heagney 38 1959 4 Brian RogersWilliam Tibballs Brian RogersBernard Cunningham Jim Roberts William Hendrie 32 1960 2 David Morris David Morris Ken Macphail Ian Wood44 1961 5 Neville MorganKen May Neville MorganKen May Frank Roberts Ken May 28 1962 1 Ken May Ken May Brian Daff Norm Thomas 47 1963 4 Ken May Ken May Roger McNeill Ron Tibballs 39 1964 2 Peter Hillier Peter Hillier Arthur Roberts Ron Tibballs 44 1965 4 Peter Hillier Peter Hillier Peter Hillier Ron Tibballs 34 1966 5 Peter Hillier Peter Hillier Ray Warren Ron Tibballs 38 1967 2 Wally Mumford Wally Mumford Robert James Ian Wood 27 1968 2 Wally Mumford Wally Mumford Adrian Beer Ron Tibballs 37 1969 1 Adrian Beer Adrian Beer Paul Sutherland Ron Tibballs 99 1970 1 Adrian Beer Adrian Beer Bruce Rickard Ron Tibballs 117 1971 1 Adrian Beer Adrian Beer Claude Skvor Ron Tibballs 67 1972 5 Claude Skvor Claude Skvor Paul Sutherland Ron Tibballs 54 1973 8 Claude Skvor Claude Skvor Graeme Wiggins Ron Tibballs 44 1974 7 Michael Loughran Michael Loughran Graeme Wiggins Gary Allott 26 1975 3 Laurie Rippon Laurie Rippon Neil Chandler Ron Tibballs 59 1976 5 Adrian Beer Neil Chandler Paul Sutherland Ron Tibballs 28 1977 6 Neil Chandler Neil Chandler Russell Renhard Gary Allott 26 1978 7 Chris Aitken Chris Aitken Gary Allott Chris Aitken 21 1979 1 Chris Aitken Chris Aitken Chris Aitken Gary Allott 51 1980 7 David Clottu David Clottu Trevor Young Ron Tibballs 19 1981 7 Chris Aitken Chris Aitken David Clottu Gary Allott 34 1982 9 Lee FarrellNeil Chandler Lee FarrellRichard Edwards Gary Allott Gary Allott 33 1983 7 Neil Chandler Richard Edwards Robert Radd Terry Bishop 23 1984 8 Neil Chandler Glen Davey Glen Davey Richard Edwards 34 1985 7 Glen Davey Glen DaveyRussell Renhard Russell Renhard Frank Parry 30 1986 9 Glen Davey Glen Davey Rodney Paragreen Terry Bishop 26 1987 9 Ian Mills Paul Macphail Paul Macphail Chris Griffiths 12 1988 10 Lance Scott Lance Scott Rohan Burke Peter Sutherland 23 1989 6 Lance Scott Lance Scott David Riley David Riley 35 1990 6 Lance Scott Lance Scott Craig Allott David Riley 49 1991 8 Wayne Lynch Wayne Lynch Regan Ryan Wayne Lynch 36 1992 9 Wayne Lynch Paul Macphail Ben Ryan Ben Ryan 29 1993 6 Eric Peters Paul MacphailDwayne Tibballs Stephen Hill Kyron Rendell 41 1994 7 Eric PetersPeter Sutherland Regan Ryan Regan Ryan Regan Ryan 32
Match records
Highest ScoresScoreOpponentYearVenue 32.12 (204) Carrajung 1948 Welshpool 30.22 (202) Won Wron 1979 Welshpool 27.27 (189) Carrajung 1951 TBC 27.25 (177) Ramblers 1948 Welshpool 26.16 (172) Fish Creek 1970 Terrill Park 26.16 (172) Won Wron 1981 Won Wron 25.14 (164) Won Wron 1969 Welshpool
Lowest ScoresScoreOpponentYearVenue 0.3 (3) Fish Creek 1992 Terrill Park 1.2 (8) Toora 1952 Welshpool 1.4 (10) Yarram 1949 Welshpool 1.4 (10) MDU 1977 Welshpool 2.3 (15) MDU 1986 Welshpool 1.10 (16) MDU 1973 Welshpool 2.4 (16) MDU 1976 Dumbalk
Greatest Winning MarginsMarginOpponentYearVenue 162 pts Carrajung 1951 TBC 155 pts Carrajung 1948 Welshpool 155 pts Won Wron 1969 Welshpool 142 pts Won Wron 1979 Welshpool 140 pts Ramblers 1948 Welshpool 131 pts Carrajung 1952 Carrajung 122 pts Devon 1993 Welshpool
Final season: 1994 Saturday 20 August 1994 would prove to be the final time in the proud history of the Welshpool Football Club that a football team would wear the red, white and blue colours for the beloved Bulldogs. The very last match would be played against neighbouring rival, Toora, with Welshpool winning by two points, 16.10 (106) to 15.14 (104).
Welshpool Season 1994Round 1 Devon (A) 10.8 (68) – 18.15 (123) WinRound 2 Meeniyan-Dumbalk United (H) 10.7 (67) – 17.13 (115) LossRound 3 Yarram (A) 16.15 (111) – 14.14 (98) LossRound 4 Foster (H) 14.13 (97) – 12.7 (79) WinRound 5 Tarwin (A) 12.14 (86) – 10.9 (69) LossRound 6 Stony Creek (A) 4.5 (29) – 20.16 (136) WinRound 7 Won Wron-Woodside (H) 6.6 (42) – 11.13 (79) LossRound 8 Fish Creek (A) 16.16(112) – 13.10 (88) LossRound 9 Toora (H) 19.15 (129) – 9.9 (63) WinRound 10 Devon (H) 16.11 (107) – 16.7 (103) WinRound 11 Meeniyan-Dumbalk United (A) 14.12 (96) – 9.7 (61) LossRound 12 Yarram (H) 10.13 (73) – 17.13 (115) LossRound 13 Foster (A) 12.11 (83) – 8.15 (63) LossRound 14 Tarwin (H) 16.16 (106) – 14.20 (104) WinRound 15 Stony Creek (H) 14.16 (100) – 11.12 (79) WinRound 16 Won Wron-Woodside (A) 23.14 (152) – 9.9 (63) LossRound 17 Fish Creek (H) 3.3 (21) – 16.14 (110) LossRound 18 Toora (A) 15.14 (104) – 16.10 (106) Win
Individual awards
Moore Medal winners Paul Sutherland (1969, 1972) Wayne Lynch (1991)
AFL Leading Goalkicker winners Ron Tibballs (1964, 1969, 1970)
VFL players to come from Welshpool
Neil Chandler
Playing career: 1968–1974 (Carlton 1968–74, St Kilda 1974)
Games: 82 (Carlton 76, St. Kilda 6)
Goals: 25 (Carlton 22, St. Kilda 3)
A three time premiership player with Carlton, Chandler played 76 games for the Blues including the 1968, 1970 and 1972 premierships. He also played in the 1973 Grand Final team that lost to Richmond by 30 points. In 1974, Chandler played four games with the Blues before gaining a clearance to St Kilda where he added a further six games to his VFL career before returning home to Welshpool in 1975.
Laurie Rippon Playing career: 1969–1973 (Footscray)
Games: 45 (Footscray 45)
Goals: 4 (Footscray 4)
Another product that came out of the Welshpool juniors to make it to the VFL/AFL. Didn't quite reach the success of Chandler but still managed to be a premiership player for the Bulldogs after Footscray defeated Richmond for the 1970 Night Premiership. In 1975, Rippn returned to his native Bulldogs where he coached the club to a preliminary final loss to Woodside. Rippon eventually moved on to play at Woodside and Devon in later years.
Max Parker Playing career: 1971 (Footscray)
Games: 5 (Footscray 5)
Goals: 6 (Footscray 6)