The Ballarat & Bacchus District Marsh Football League was the final name of an Australian rules football competition consisting of clubs based in and around Bacchus Marsh and Ballarat.
History The Bacchus Marsh Football Association was formed in 1912 from the following clubs - Bacchus Marsh, Deer Park, Maddingley, Melton and Parwan.
The Bacchus Marsh Football Association initially went into recess in 1928 due to Ballan pulling out, which left only four clubs, then Bacchus Marsh and Rockbank FC's joined the Werribee District Football Association, which then changed its name to the Bacchus Marsh & Werribee District Football Association.
The Bacchus Marsh District Football Association was reformed in April 1929, at their annual meeting.
In 1930, the BMDFA became the Bacchus Marsh & Melton District Football Association.
The BM&MDFA was revived in 1945, after being in recess since 1942 due to World War Two, the competition consisted of five teams, including one new club, the 2nd Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) Training Battalion Football Club.
In 1949, a 20 year old Lifeguard FC player received a heavy knock to the head and later died at a local Doctor's surgery.
In 1959, the BMMDFA changed their name to the Bacchus Marsh Football League.
The competition became known as the Ballarat & Bacchus Marsh District Football League in 1973 after it absorbed 5 clubs from the defunct Ballarat District Football League.
In 1979, the Ballarat & Bacchus Marsh District FL merged with the Clunes FL to form the Central Highlands Football League.
Clubs
Final ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years inBMFLBMFL Senior PremiershipsFateTotalYearsBacchus MarshTigersBacchus Marsh Showgrounds, Bacchus MarshGJFA18811912-1915, 1919-1928, 1933-1941, 1945-1978131912, 1920, 1924, 1925, 1928, 1933, 1937, 1940, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1962, 1974Moved to Ballarat FL in 1929. Merged with Maddingley in Ballarat FL in 1979.BallanBluesBallan Recreation Reserve, BallanBFA18811919-1927, 1932-1941, 1945-197831932, 1948, 1956Moved to Dunnstown & District FA in 1928. Formed Central Highlands FL in 1979BuninyongBombersBuninyong Recreation Reserve, BuninyongBDFL1920s1973-19780 -Formed Central Highlands FL in 1979DarleyMagpiesDarley Park, Darley–19191919-1927, 1929, 1931-1941, 1945-1978161923, 1926, 1934, 1938, 1939, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972Formed Central Highlands FL in 1979DunnstownTownersDunnstown Recreation Reserve, DunnstownBDFL18941973-197821976, 1978Formed Central Highlands FL in 1979GordonEaglesMount Egerton Recreation Reserve, Mount EgertonBDFL1890s1924-1925, 1934-1935, 1973-19780 -Moved to Dunnstown & District FA in 1926. Moved to Molesworth Competition in 1936. Formed Central Highlands FL in 1979
Former ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years inBMFLBMFL Senior PremiershipsFateTotalYears2nd AAMC BattalionMaddingley Park, Maddingley–194519450 -Folded after 1945 seasonBacchus Marsh secondsTigersBacchus Marsh Showgrounds, Bacchus Marsh–18811929-19310 -Entered recess after 1931 seasonBalliangBalliang Recreation Reserve, Balliang–191419140 -Folded after 1914 seasonBalliang-RowsleyBalliang Recreation Reserve, Balliang–19291929-1932, 1935-1939, 1947-19480 -Recess between 1933-34 and 1940-46. Folded after 1948 seasonDeer ParkJohn McLeod Reserve, Deer Park1912, 1923-19240 -Moved to Werribee & Lara FA in 1925Exford StarsStarsMelton Recreation Reserve, Melton–191519150 -Folded after 1915 seasonIrish National ForestersChirnside Park, WerribeeWDFA192219280 -Moved to Werribee Shire District FA in 1929LavertonLaverton Park, Altona MeadowsWDFA192419280 -Moved to Werribee Shire District FA in 1929Lifeguard Milk FactoryDarley Park, Darley–19481948-19510 -Folded in March 1952MaddingleySpidersMaddingley Park, Maddingley–19091912-1915, 1931-1941, 1946-197781936, 1951, 1954, 1958, 1967, 1968, 1973, 1977Recess between 1916-40 and 1942-45. Moved to Ballarat FL in 1978MeltonBloodsMelton Recreation Reserve, Melton–18791912-1915, 1919-1927, 1929-1940, 1945-197291913, 1914, 1915, 1919, 1921, 1922, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1935, 1963Recess between 1941-44. Moved to Riddell District FL in 1973.MeredithSwansMeredith Recreation Reserve, MeredithBDFL1890s1973-19750 -Moved to Geelong & District FL in 1976Metro FarmHerefordsCocoroc Recreation Reserve, CocorocWDFA191919280 -Moved to Werribee Shire District FA in 1929ParwanParwan Recreation Reserve, Parwan–19121912-19140 -Folded after 1915 seasonRockbankRamsIan Cowie Recreation Reserve, Rockbank–19201920-1928, 1931-1936, 1949-197271927, 1953, 1960, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1966Recess between 1937-48. Folded after 1972 seasonSebastopolBurrasMarty Busch Reserve, SebastopolBDFL18931973-197711975Moved to Ballarat FL in 1978Toolern Vale-CoimadaiToolern Vale Receation Reserve, Toolern Vale–19291929-19300 -Folded in early 1931WerribeeChirnside Park, WerribeeWDFA191919280 -Moved to Geelong & District FL in 1929
Premierships
Seniors SENIORS - Grand Final ScoresYearPremiersScoreRunner upScoreVenueGate / CommentsBacchus Marsh District FA1912Bacchus Marsh8.12 - 60Melton5.6 - 36Maddingley Park£17/12/131913Melton6.16 - 64Bacchus Marsh3.3 - 21Maddingley ParkCrowd: 8001914Melton10.14 - 74Bacchus Marsh6.7 - 43Maddingley Park1915Melton1stBacchus Marsh2ndSeason abandoned in July'151916-18BMDFA In recess > WW11919Melton5.7 - 37Bacchus Marsh3.4 - 22Maddingley ParkCrowd: "large"1920Bacchus Marsh6.3 - 39Melton4.7 - 31Maddingley Park£21/14/61921Melton4.7 - 31Bacchus Marsh2.9 - 21Maddingley Park1922Melton5.9 - 39Darley1.6 - 12Darley Reserve1923Darley10.8 - 68Bacchus Marsh7.10 - 52Maddingley ParkCrowd: 12001924Bacchus Marsh10.17 - 77Melton2.5 - 17Maddingley ParkCrowd: 12001925Bacchus Marsh4.3 - 27Rockbank3.5 - 23BM Showgrounds£69/9/-1926Darley7.5 - 47Rockbank6.8 - 44BM ShowgroundsCrowd: "large"1927Rockbank6.7 - 43Bacchus Marsh2.5 - 17BM ShowgroundsCrowd: "fair"Bacchus Marsh & Werribee District FA1928Bacchus Marsh10.6 - 66Werribee9.6 - 60Chirnside Park, WerribeeBacchus Marsh District FA1929Melton9.13 - 68Toolern Vale Coimadal6.6 - 42Maddingley Park£12Bacchus Marsh & Melton District FA1930Melton6.11 - 47Toolern Vale Coimadal5.8 - 38Maddingley ParkCrowd: "good"1931Melton7.11 - 53Rockbank7.10 - 52Melton£12/2/31932Ballan13.6 - 84Maddingley9.15 - 69Maddingley Park£40/1/1933Bacchus Marsh10.23 - 83Maddingley11.8 - 74Maddingley Park£481934Darley13.15 - 93Maddingley7.6 - 48Maddingley Park£351935Melton15.13 - 103Darley14.7 - 91Maddingley Park£46/7/1936Maddingley10.12 - 72Rockbank7.10 - 52Maddingley Park£431937Bacchus Marsh9.10 - 64Maddingley6.22 - 58Maddingley Park£411938Darley13.16 - 94Maddingley12.12 - 84Maddingley Park£331939Darley15.7 - 97Ballan12.10 - 82Maddingley Park£351940Bacchus Marsh14.9 - 93Darley10.14 - 74Maddingley Park£261941Bacchus Marsh9.10 - 64Ballan7.14 - 56Maddingley Park£22/13/61942-44In recess > WW21945Bacchus Marsh14.8 - 92Darley13.12 - 90Maddingley Park£35/18/61946Bacchus Marsh11.7 - 73Darley8.20 - 68Maddingley Park£421947Darley8.16 - 64Ballan6.11 - 47Maddingley Park£55/8/61948Ballan8.12 - 60Darley8.9 - 57Maddingley Park1949Darley12.15 - 87Maddingley9.13 - 67Maddingley Park£1231950Darley19.12 - 126Lifeguard14.16 - 100Maddingley Park£981951Maddingley14.13 - 97Rockbank8.12 - 60Maddingley Park£1121952Darley15.12 - 102Rockbank9.8 - 62Maddingley Park£1401953Rockbank17.6 - 108Maddingley13.5 - 83Maddingley Park£149/10/-1954Maddingley17.11 - 113Darley12.15 - 87Maddingley Park£1351955Darley18.15 - 123Maddingley16.12 - 1081956Ballan12.13 - 85Darley11.16 - 821957Darley13.19 - 97Melton9.21 - 751958Maddingley13.10 - 88Melton12.14 - 86Bacchus Marsh District FL1959Darley15.10 - 100Ballan8.19 - 671960Rockbank12.18 - 90Melton5.11 - 611961Rockbank14.17 - 101Bacchus March8.13 - 611962Bacchus Marsh13.11 - 89Ballan10.8 - 681963Melton11.15 - 81Darley9.11 - 651964Rockbank15.19 - 109Bacchus Marsh6.17 - 531965Rockbank29.21 - 195Melton8.8 - 561966Rockbank11.9 - 75Bacchus Marsh9.14 - 681967Maddingley19.12 - 126Rockbank17.15 - 1151968Maddingley14.4 - 88Ballan9.9 - 631969Darley19.17 - 131Maddingley12.12 - 841970Darley11.14 - 80Melton7.18 - 601971Darley14.13 - 97Melton11.23 - 891972DarleyBacchus Marsh & Ballarat District FL1973Maddingley20.13 - 133Bacchus Marsh20.11 - 1311974Bacchus Marsh1975Sebastopol1976Dunnstown1977Maddingley15.21 - 111Sebastopol12.15 - 851978Dunnstown1979 - Bacchus Marsh & Ballarat District FL merged with Clunes FNL to form the Central Highlands FLYearPremiersScoreRunner UpScoreVenueGate / Comments
Reserves RESERVES - Grand Final ScoresYearPremiersScoreRunner upScoreVenueGate / CommentsBacchus Marsh & Melton District FA1947Ballan5.7 - 37Darley3.8 - 26Darley£619481961Maddingley4.0 - 24Ballan2.8 - 201966Maddingley7.12 - 54Bacchus Marsh4.6 - 301969Maddingley8.2 - 50Melton6.4 - 401971Melton12.12 - 84Darley10.7 - 67
League Best & Fairests
Seniors BM&MDFA - Best & FairestYearWinnerClubVotesB&F Award1933Clive Bodycoat &Darley4Stan MullaneBallan41934Stan MullaneBallan61935Stan MullaneBallan81936Jack RichardsBallan3Leo RyanMelton3Laurie SheaMaddingley3Jack SkinnerDarley3Jim WhelanDarley31937Mick VallanceMaddingley41938Jack Skinner &Darley6Walter WhelanMaddingley61939Ron DurhamBacchus Marsh71940Wally RussellBacchus Marsh41941Ron DurhamBacchus Marsh71942-44BM&MDFA inrecess > WW21945Fred RobertsonBallan141946Gordon ButlerMelton191947Leon JongebloedMelton191948Frank LenaghanBallan251949Les CarrDarley191950Kevin SpainRockbank281951Kevin SpainRockbank231952Jack CooperMaddingley171953Jack CooperMaddingley261954Les CarrDarley18&1/21955Les CarrDarley2519561957195819591960196119621963196419651966196719681969197019711972197319741975197619771978
References