The South Wimmera Football League was the final name of an Australian rules football league based in the Wimmera area of Western Victoria.
History The league began as the Stawell & District Football Association in 1912 and was contested by clubs based in Stawell itself. The first incarnation of the league was short-lived, only lasting until 1914 before entering recess due to WWI. The competition re-formed for two years in 1920 and 1921 before lapsing again until 1926. The SDFA was renamed to the South Wimmera Football League in 1929. Warriors won three premierships in a row from 1932 to 1934. The SWFL entered recess in 1940 due to WWII.
The league continued until the end of the 1969 season, all clubs apart from Marnoo moved to the Ararat & District Football Association.
Clubs
Final clubs in 1969 ClubJumperNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in compSWFL Senior PremiershipsFateTotalYearsGlenorchy(1914)(?-1969)Glenorchy Recreation Reserve, GlenorchyDFL1913–1914, 1927–196941914, 1930, 1946, 1969Formed a new association with unknown name in 1915. Moved to Ararat & District FA in 1970Halls GapHalls Gap Recreation Reserve, Halls Gap –19521952–196931957, 1963, 1964Moved to Ararat & District FA in 1970MarnooTigersMarnoo Recreation Reserve, MarnooAVFA, MTLFA, DFL1900s1927–1930, 1934–1938, 1946–196961935, 1937, 1953, 1956, 1966, 1967Formed Marnoo & District FA in 1931. Moved to Kara Kara FL in 1939. Moved to Lexton FL in 1970SwiftsBaggiesNorth Park, StawellET19141920–196991926, 1928, 1931, 1950, 1952, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962Moved to Ararat & District FA in 1970WarriorsWarriorsNorth Park, StawellET1890s1920–1969121932, 1933, 1934, 1939, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1954, 1955, 1961, 1965, 1968Moved to Ararat & District FA in 1970
Previous Clubs ClubJumperNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in compSWFL Senior PremiershipsFateTotalYearsFire Brigade19140 -Folded after 1914 seasonGreat WesternDemonsGreat Western Public Park Reserve, Great WesternA&DJFA, A&DFA1880s1926-1927, 1950-195121927, 1951Moved to Ararat & District FA after 1927 and 1951 seasonsIllawarra–1926-19280 -Folded after 1928 seasonJoel Rovers WVFA, MCFA1890s1926-1930, 1933-193811929Played in Mountain Creek FA in 1932. Moved to Ararat & District FA in 1939LandsboroughBurrasLandsborough Recreation Reserve, LandsboroughMCFA, LFL18961935-1936, 1955-19560 -Moved to Ararat & District FA in 1937 and 1957Minyip JuniorsBluesMinyip Recreation Reserve, MinyipEBFA1880s1947-1950, 1957-19680 -Moved to Wimmera FL reserves in 1969Murtoa JuniorsMagpiesMurtoa Recreation Reserve, MurtoaEBFA1880s1949-1950, 1957-19680 -Moved to Wimmera FL reserves in 1969NationalsFT1912-191311913Folded after 1921 seasonNavarreGrasshoppersNavarre Recreation Reserve, NavarreMCFA, KKFL19201929-1930, 19440 -Returned to Mountain Creek FA in 1931. Moved to Lexton FL in 1946North Western Woollen Mills–1934-1936, 194411944Folded after 1944 seasonPomonalOrchardists, Apple-EatersPomonal Cricket Ground, Pomonal–1931-19340 -Folded after 1934 seasonRailwaysHT1912-19140 -Moved to Glenorchy FA in 1919Rovers–1912-191411912Folded after 1914 seasonRupanyupPanthersRupanyup Recreation Reserve, RupanyupMWFL1880s1936-193911936Moved to Central Wimmera FL in 1940Rupanyup JuniorsRoversRupanyup Recreation Reserve, RupanyupDFL1880s1946-1950, 1957-19680 -Moved to Wimmera FL reserves in 1969StawellRedlegsCentral Reserve, StawellWFL187419440 -Moved back to Wimmera FL in 1946Stawell Imperials(?-1929)(1931-33)Lake Reserve, Stawell–1927-19330 -Folded after 1933 seasonStawell SecondsRedlegsCentral Reserve, Stawell187419540 -?
Grand Finals YearPremierScoreRunner-upVenueNotes1912Rovers1913Nationals1914GlenorchyRailwaysWon on forfeit1915-1919: Recess due to WWI1920?1921?1920-1925: No competition1926Swifts3.15 (33) – 3.8 (26)Joel Joel1927Great Western7.9 (51) – 3.15 (33)Stawell Imperails1928Swifts5.17 (47) – 3.6 (24)GlenorchyCentral Park, Stawell1929District Rovers12.14 (86) – 6.5 (41)MarnooCentral Park, Stawell1930Glenorchy8.13 (61) – 8.12 (60)SwiftsCentral Park, Stawell1931Swifts7.14 (56) – 6.7 (43)Warriors1932Warriors11.10 (76) – 10.8 (68)Pomonal1933Warriors15.16 (106) – 9.10 (64)PomonalCentral Park, StawellChallenge final. Pomonal won the original "final".1934Warriors10.8 (68) – 10.6 (66)SwiftsCentral Park, Stawell1935Marnoo11.15 (81) – 7.8 (50)Joel RoversCentral Park, Stawell1936Rupanyup13.11 (89) –11.14 (80)MarnooCentral Park, Stawell1937Marnoo15.12 (102) – 6.8 (44)RupanyupCentral Park, Stawell1938No premier. Marnoo drew with Rupanyup 7.26 (68) – 9.14 (68) however due to the death of a player as a result of an injury sustained during the match the final was never replayed.Central Park, Stawell1939Warriors8.4 (52) – 7.9 (51)Rupanyup1940-1943: Recess due to WWII1944North WesternNo grand final1945: Recess due to WWII1946Glenorchy5.5 (35) – 4.7 (31)Warriors1947Warriors9.9 (63) – 6.8 (44)SwiftsCentral Park, Stawell1948Warriors12.24 (96) – 8.8 (56)Marnoo1949Warriors6.11 (47) – 2.8 (20)Murtoa Juniors1950Swifts12.16 (88) – 2.4 (16)MarnooMinyip1951Great Western9.12 (66) – 8.10 (58)Swifts1952Swifts10.9 (69) – 8.6 (54)Marnoo1953Marnoo10.13 (73) – 8.8 (56)WarriorsGlenorchy1954Warriors8.9 (57) – 7.9 (51)MarnooGlenorchy1955Warriors12.10 (82) – 6.12 (48)Marnoo1956Marnoo13.9 (87) – 6.5 (41)Swifts1957Halls Gap10.15 (75) – 7.7 (49)Warriors1958Swifts7.10 (52) – 4.13 (37)Minyip Juniors1959Swifts8.15 (63) – 9.8 (62)GlenorchyMarnoo1960Swifts8.13 (61) – 4.11 (35)GlenorchyMarnoo1961Warriors15.10 (100) – 8.18 (66)SwiftsCentral Park, Stawell1962Swifts11.11 (77) – 9.9 (63)Glenorchy1963Halls Gap6.13 (49) – 6.11 (47)Warriors1964Halls Gap12.8 (80) – 11.12 (78)Warriors1965Warriors20.20 (140) – 15.12 (102)Marnoo1966Marnoo15.14 (104) – 14.17 (101)Swifts1967Marnoo14.12 (96) – 6.11 (47)Warriors1968Warriors11.17 (83) – 10.9 (69)Murtoa Juniors1969Glenorchy11.13 (79) – 10.14 (74)Warriors
References