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Polwarth Football League

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Polwarth Football League
FormerlyPolwarth Football Association (1922–1949)
SportAustralian rules football
Founded1922 (1922)
Ceased1970
CountryAustralia
Last
champion(s)		Winchelsea (1970)
Related
competitions		Bellarine FL
Colac & District FL

The Polwarth Football League (PFL) was an Australian rules football competition based in south-west rural Victoria. Named for the electoral district of Polwarth, which encapsulated numerous competing clubs, the league was established as the Polwarth Football Association (PFA) in 1922, before it was renamed as the Polwarth Football League in 1950.[1][2]

The league's final season took place in 1970; six of the league's eight teams then migrated to the newly formed Bellarine & District Football League for 1971, with the remaining two (Apollo Bay and Lorne) commencing in the Colac & District Football League.

History

[edit]

The first Polwarth Football Association season was conducted

The McDonald Cup, the trophy for which clubs were originally presented upon winning the premiership, was first introduced in 1929. The cup was initiated by and named after local politician James McDonald, who died in 1933; before his passing, he specified that no club could permanently hold the trophy until every club had held it at least once.[3] However, Winchelsea was given outright ownership of the cup after winning a trifecta of premierships from 1937 to 1939.

In September 1939, the association announced that teams would next year compete for the Marjorie Lawrence Cup, named for Australian soprano singer Marjorie Lawrence, a Deans Marsh local who had left the area to study music.[4]

However, by 1941, the Polwarth Association was put on hold due to Australia's increasing involvement in World War II.[5] The competition would not return until 1946.

In 1950 there was a mass exodus of clubs from the Colac & District Football League, the cause was that the Colac (Hampden league) team wanted to have the right to pick any player from the Colac DFL without needing a clearance. The result was Colac Imperials and Coragulac opted to leave and join the Polwarth FL and be away from Colac's reach. Beeac had a short stint in the Western Plains FL for two years before also joining the Polwarth FL.

After a couple of years the threat of Colac poaching their players had ceased, the Colac Imperials returned to the CDFL in 1955. Deans Marsh succumbed to player shortage and that was offset by the introduction of Queenscliff in 1957. Coragulac got permission to join the Hampden League in 1961 and Beeac returned to the Colac DFL.

Seeking new clubs, the league admitted Torquay in 1964 and then Leopold and Portarlington in 1965. Birregurra after a run of poor seasons went into recess after unsuccessfully applying to change to the Colac DFL. With the balance of the league shifting closer to Geelong the idea was floated to introduce more clubs closer to Geelong. Knowing that their little town didn't have the catchment to lure players as the other clubs did, Forrest transferred to the Colac DFL in 1969. The other clubs voted to form the Bellarine DFL and blocked Lorne and Apollo Bay from joining. These clubs were forced to join the Colac DFL making it the largest country football league at the time.

Clubs[6]

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Final Clubs

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Club Colours Nickname Home Ground Former League Est. Years in comp PFL Senior Premierships Fate
Total Years
Apollo Bay
Hawks Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve, Apollo Bay OFA 1900s 1929-1930, 1935-1970 0 - Moved to Colac & District FL in 1971
Leopold
Lions Leopold Memorial Park, Leopold GDFL 1955 1965-1970 0 - Formed to Bellarine FL in 1971
Lorne
Dolphins Stribling Reserve, Lorne WBFA 1896 1929-1970 8 1933, 1935, 1940, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950 Moved to Colac & District FL in 1971
Ocean Grove
Grubbers Shell Road Reserve, Ocean Grove GDFL 1964 1969-1970 0 - Formed the Bellarine FL in 1971
Portarlington
Demons Portarlington Recreation Reserve, Portarlington GDFL 1874 1964-1970 0 - Formed the Bellarine FL in 1971
Queenscliff
Coutas Queenscliff Recreation Reserve, Queenscliff GDFL 1928 1957-1970 7 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968 Formed the Bellarine FL in 1971
Torquay
Tigers Spring Creek Reserve, Torquay GDFL 1952 1964-1970 0 - Formed the Bellarine FL in 1971
Winchelsea
Blues Eastern Reserve, Winchelsea WBFA 1876 1923-1970 10 1924, 1926, 1932, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1951, 1957, 1960, 1969, 1970 Formed the Bellarine FL in 1971

Former Clubs

[edit]
Club Colours Nickname Home Ground Former League Est. Years in comp PFL Senior Premierships Fate
Total Years
Beeac
Magpies Beeac Recreation Reserve, Beeac WPFL 1919 1952-1961 1 1956 Moved to Colac & District FL in 1962
Birregurra
Saints Birregurra Recreation Reserve, Birregurra WBFA 1883 1922-1965 5 1927, 1928, 1930, 1935, 1955 Entered recess in 1966, re-formed in Colac & District FL in 1967
Colac Imperials
Cats Western Reserve, Colac CDFL 1922 1950-1954 0 - Returned to Colac & District FL in 1955
Colac Memorial Rooms Diggers Colac Showgrounds, Colac 1922 1922-1923 1 1923 Folded
Colac Rovers Rovers Colac Showgrounds, Colac CFL 1900s 1922-1924 1 1922 Returned to Corangamite FL in 1925
Coragulac
Hawks Coragulac Recreational Ground, Coragulac – 1940s 1950-1960 3 1953, 1958, 1959 Moved to Hampden FL in 1961
Deans Marsh The Marsh Deans Marsh Recreation Reserve, Deans Marsh WBFA 1922-1957 1 1929 Folded
Forrest
Lions Forrest Recreation Reserve, Forrest – 1891 1922-1969 6 1925, 1931, 1934, 1952, 1954, 1966 Moved to Colac & District FL in 1970
Inverleigh
Hawks Inverleigh Recreation Reserve, Inverleigh WBFA 1926 0 - Moved to Mathieson Trophy competition
Mount Moriac Mount Moriac Recreation Reserve, Mount Moriac FCDFA 1878 1922-1926 0 - Moved to Geelong Athletic Society FL in 1927, now known as Modewarre

Premiers

[edit]
Season Premiers Runners-up Score Ref.
1922 Colac Rovers Birregurra 4.6 (30) d. 3.2 (20) [7][8]
1923 Memorial Rooms Colac Rovers 9.20 (74) d. 1.5 (11) [9]
1924 Winchelsea Colac Rovers 5.8 (38) d. 3.6 (24) [10]
1925 Forrest Deans Marsh 9.9 (63) d. 4.5 (29) [11]
1926 Winchelsea (2) Inverleigh 6.8 (44) d. 3.4 (24) [12]
1927 Birregurra Forrest 7.14 (56) d. 8.6 (54) [13]
1928 Birregurra (2) Deans Marsh 13.9 (87) d. 12.13 (85) [14]
1929 Deans Marsh Birregurra 3.10 (28) d. 3.6 (24) [15]
1930 Birregurra (3) Deans Marsh 7.16 (58) d. 8.8 (56) [16]
1931 Forrest (2) Lorne 9.7 (61) d. 6.10 (46) [17]
1932 Winchelsea (3) Forrest 16.16 (112) d. 5.8 (38) [18]
1933 Lorne Deans Marsh 16.9 (105) d. 6.8 (44) [19]
1934 Forrest (3) Deans Marsh 12.14 (86) d. 7.10 (52) [20]
1935 Birregurra (4) Forrest 20.19 (139) d. 14.10 (94) [21]
1936 Lorne (2) Winchelsea 13.16 (94) d. 13.13 (91) [22]
1937 Winchelsea (4) Lorne 12.16 (88) d. 12.7 (79) [23]
1938 Winchelsea (5) Deans Marsh 15.13 (103) d. 14.13 (97) [24]
1939 Winchelsea (6) Deans Marsh 9.13 (67) d. 6.6 (42) [25]
1940 Lorne (3) Forrest 8.15 (63) d. 5.8 (38) [26]
No competition 1941–1945 due to World War II
1946 Lorne (4) Winchelsea 16.11 (107) d. 7.6 (48) [27]
1947 Lorne (5) Winchelsea 21.12 (138) d. 8.16 (64) [28]
1948 Lorne (6) Deans Marsh 9.5 (59) d. 7.4 (46) [29][30]
1949 Lorne (7) Winchelsea 6.15 (51) drew 6.15 (51) [31]
9.22 (76) d. 7.7 (49) [32]
Polwarth Football League name adopted
1950 Lorne (8) Winchelsea 15.8 (98) d. 10.7 (67) [2]
1951 Winchelsea (7) Birregurra 9.12 (66) d. 6.8 (44) [2]
1952 Forrest (4) Lorne 15.19 (109) d. 7.6 (48) [2]
1953 Coragulac Forrest 14.8 (92) d. 10.11 (71) [2]
1954 Forrest (5) Winchelsea 7.10 (52) d. 7.8 (50) [2]
1955 Birregurra (5) Coragulac 6.9 (45) d. 4.9 (33) [2]
1956 Beeac Birregurra 5.7 (37) d. 3.4 (22) [2]
1957 Winchelsea (8) Forrest 11.15 (81) d. 10.17 (77) [2]
1958 Coragulac (2) Winchelsea 9.16 (70) d. 8.16 (64) [2]
1959 Coragulac (3) Queenscliff 9.16 (70) d. 8.7 (55) [2]
1960 Winchelsea (8) Lorne 17.16 (118) d. 16.10 (106) [2]
1961 Queenscliff Winchelsea 9.24 (78) d. 9.6 (60) [2]
1962 Queenscliff (2) Apollo Bay 8.16 (64) d. 8.9 (57) [2]
1963 Queenscliff (3) Apollo Bay 12.8 (80) d. 10.14 (74) [2]
1964 Queenscliff (4) Torquay 10.14 (74) d. 1.4 (10) [2]
1965 Queenscliff (5) Winchelsea 9.13 (67) d. 6.8 (44) [2]
1966 Forrest (6) Queenscliff 8.13 (61) d. 5.14 (44) [2]
1967 Queenscliff (6) Torquay 9.23 (77) d. 5.12 (42) [2]
1968 Queenscliff (7) Winchelsea 11.16 (82) d. 10.9 (69) [2]
1969 Winchelsea (9) Queenscliff 21.15 (141) d. 6.16 (52) [2]
1970 Winchelsea (10) Leopold 14.9 (93) d. 8.12 (60) [2]

References

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  1. ^ "Polwarth Football League / Polwarth Football Association (Vic)". Footypedia. 21 November 2008. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Roberts, Kirsty, ed. (2015). Polwarth League Reunion 1950–1970. Birregurra Football Netball Club.
  3. ^ "POLWARTH PEOPLE KEEN ON FOOTBALL". Weekly Times. No. 3753. Victoria, Australia. 9 September 1939. p. 62 (FIRST EDITION). Retrieved 15 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "MARJORIE LAWRENCE PRESENTS CUP". Weekly Times. No. 3756. Victoria, Australia. 23 September 1939. p. 66. Retrieved 15 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "No Football At Colac". Weekly Times. No. 3751. Victoria, Australia. 10 May 1941. p. 40. Retrieved 15 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Australian Football - PFL Premiership season - Season 2022B". australianfootball.com. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  7. ^ "DEANS MARSH". Geelong Advertiser. No. 23, 475. Victoria, Australia. 24 August 1922. p. 9. Retrieved 14 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "COLAC AND DISTRICT". Advocate. Vol. LIII, no. 2602. Victoria, Australia. 10 August 1922. p. 33. Retrieved 14 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia. Colac are in the lead for the Polwarth competition.
  9. ^ "COUNTRY NEWS". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 24, 039. Victoria, Australia. 23 August 1923. p. 14. Retrieved 14 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "POLWARTH ASSOCIATION". Geelong Advertiser. No. 24, 094. Victoria, Australia. 25 August 1924. p. 8. Retrieved 14 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "POLWARTH ASSOCIATION". Geelong Advertiser. No. 24, 386. Victoria, Australia. 5 August 1925. p. 2. Retrieved 14 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Winchelsea Wins Premiership". Weekly Times. No. 2702. Victoria, Australia. 14 August 1926. p. 79. Retrieved 14 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "POLWARTH ASSOCIATION". Geelong Advertiser. No. 25036. Victoria, Australia. 12 September 1927. p. 8. Retrieved 14 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "FINALS AND SEMI-FINALS". The Age. No. 22892. Victoria, Australia. 20 August 1928. p. 7. Retrieved 14 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "Other Matches". The Age. No. 23, 190. Victoria, Australia. 5 August 1929. p. 7. Retrieved 14 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "OTHER GAMES". The Age. No. 23, 524. Victoria, Australia. 1 September 1930. p. 7. Retrieved 14 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "FINALS AND SEMI-FINALS". The Age. No. 23, 834. Victoria, Australia. 31 August 1931. p. 13. Retrieved 14 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "Winchelsea Premiers". Weekly Times. No. 3387. Victoria, Australia. 27 August 1932. p. 62 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved 14 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Lorne Win McDonald Cup". Weekly Times. No. 3440. Victoria, Australia. 2 September 1933. p. 70. Retrieved 14 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "Forrest Successful". Weekly Times. No. 3491. Victoria, Australia. 25 August 1934. p. 66 (FIRST EDITION). Retrieved 14 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "Other Games". The Age. No. 25, 068. Victoria, Australia. 19 August 1935. p. 7. Retrieved 14 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ "Other Games". The Age. No. 25, 402. Victoria, Australia. 14 September 1936. p. 4. Retrieved 14 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "Winchelsea Win". Weekly Times. No. 3650. Victoria, Australia. 11 September 1937. p. 77 (FIRST EDITION). Retrieved 14 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ^ "RESULTS OF OTHER GAMES". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 28, 722. Victoria, Australia. 12 September 1938. p. 14. Retrieved 14 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ "GEELONG". The Age. No. 26328. Victoria, Australia. 4 September 1939. p. 6. Retrieved 15 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ^ "Lorne Win Premiership". Weekly Times. No. 3711. Victoria, Australia. 3 August 1940. p. 39. Retrieved 15 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  27. ^ "COUNTRY SPORT RESULTS". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 31, 208. Victoria, Australia. 9 September 1946. p. 14. Retrieved 15 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. ^ "SPORT IN THE COUNTRY". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 31, 525. Victoria, Australia. 15 September 1947. p. 37. Retrieved 15 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ^ "History". Lorne Football Club. 15 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  30. ^ "V.F.L. Umpires". The Age. No. 29127. Victoria, Australia. 2 September 1948. p. 8. Retrieved 15 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  31. ^ "Football in the Country". The Age. No. 29440. Victoria, Australia. 5 September 1949. p. 6. Retrieved 15 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  32. ^ "SALE TOO STRONG IN FINAL". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 32, 145. Victoria, Australia. 12 September 1949. p. 17. Retrieved 15 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
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