Federal Football League

The Federal Football League (FFL), also known simply as the Federal League, was an Australian rules football competition in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria. The competition was in existence from 1909 to 1981 and was regarded as one of the strongest metropolitan leagues in Melbourne.[1]

Federal Football League
FormerlyFederal Football Association (1909−32)
Federal District Football League (1932−62)
SportAustralian rules football
Founded1909
Ceased1981 (1981)
CountryAustralia
Most titlesMoorabbin (12)

It is said that, in the mid-1960s, Channel 7 was seeking to telecast FFL games on a Sunday.[2]

Formation

Formed in 1909[3] as the Federal Football Association,[4] the competition's eight founding members were Cheltenham, Ellindale, Elsternwick, Frankston, Mentone, Mordialloc, Moorabbin, and Glen Huntly,[5] all from the southern/south eastern suburbs.[6]

Local Councillor F. T. Le Page was elected president.[7]

History

In 1915, the Federal football Association (FFA) A. Grade teams were - Brighton District, Moorabbin, Cheltenham, Moorabbin Park, Oakleigh and Elsternwick, whilst the B. Grade clubs were Sandringham, Mentone, Heatherton and Glenhuntly.[8]

In 1925, the FFA comprised 10 senior and 9 junior club's and had over 1,000 registered players.[9]

In 1933, J Nolan kicked 116 goals for the Caulfield.[10]

In 1937 the A Section competition teams were composed of - Black Rock, Mordialloc, Cheltenham, East Burwood, Moorabbin, Caulfield, Darling and Mentone, and in the B section, Chelsea, Highett, Mt. Waverley, Mordialloc, Black Rock and Edithvale-Aspendale.[11]

Middle Brighton FC kicked 50.40 - 340 v Heatherton: 0.0 - 0 in a match in 1914.

Clubs

Nine clubs competed in the FFL's final season.

Club Colours Nickname Seasons Fate/current league
Bentleigh Demons 1957–1978 Merged
1979 with McKinnon to form Moorabbin (II)
Black Rock Jets 1913–14; 1919–1926;
1931–1972		 SFNL
Brighton Districts 1913-1915;
1919-1921		 Merged[12][13]
1928 with Brighton
Camden 1939–1956 Merged
1956 with South Caulfield CYMS to form South Caulfield
Carrum Lions 1911; 1913–1914;
1922–1927		 SFNL
Chelsea Seagulls 1919–1958 MPNFL
Cheltenham Rosellas 1909–1928;
1930–1981		 SFNL
Clayton Clays 1954–1981 SFNL
Dandenong Redlegs 1951–1957 Folded
1994
Darling 1934–1940 Folded
c. 1940
Doveton Doves 1972–1976 SFNL
East Burwood Rams 1931–1938 EFNL
East Caulfield 1932–1976 Folded
1976
East Malvern 1962–1973 Folded
1973
Ellindale 1909–1910;
1912		 Folded
c. 1913
Elsternwick Wickers 1909–1910, 1913 VAFA
Glen Orme 1946-1948 Folded[14]
c. 1948
Glen Huntly Hunters 1960–1974 Merged
1974 with Glen Huntly Amateurs
Hampton 1920[15] Merged[16]
1929 with various clubs to form Sandringham
Heatherton
(Freighters)		 Tonners 1913–1914; 1920–1921;
1927–1928; 1946–1952		 SFNL[17]
Highett Bulldogs 1934–1981 SFNL
McKinnon 1954–1977 Merged
1979 with Bentleigh to form Moorabbin (II)
Mentone Tigers 1909; 1913–1914;
1920–1981		 Merged
1993 with St Bedes
Moorabbin (I) Kangaroos 1909–1950 Folded
1965
Moorabbin (II) Kangaroos 1979–1981 Folded
1987
Moorabbin Park 1913-1915 Folded[18][19]
1915
Mordialloc Bloodhounds 1909–1911;
1921–1957		 SFNL
Noble Park Bulls 1964–1981 SFNL
Oakleigh District Districts 1964–1981 SFNL
Parkdale Seagulls 1955–1981 Merged
2004 with Mentone to form Parkdale Vultures
South Caulfield 1957–1961 Merged
1964 with Brighton
Springvale Demons 1957–1981 VFL
as Casey
University Reds Reds 1971−1972 Merged
2008 with Fitzroy
Vermont Eagles 1936 EFNL
Victoria Brewery 1910–1912 Folded[20]
1913

Notes

A. Grade Football Premiers / Runners Up

The Agar Wynne Shield. The Honourable Agar Wynne, MHR was the Federal Football Association's Patron from 1909 to 1915.[23]

Best and Fairest Awards
Senior Football / A. Grade Section[51]

Cr. J.W. ALLNUT MEDAL. (Allnut was President of the FFA from 1936 to 1945 & a life member).

YearPlayer's NameClubVotesYearPlayer's NameClubVotes
1927P GleesonChelsea1952C. MudgeMentone
1928P GleesonChelsea1953A. BeckwithMentone
1929Les Warren &Chelsea1954 [52]G MarchCamden22
W HughesMordialloc1955R GoodesParkdale
1930Les WarrenChelsea1956George AshmanMordialloc
1931A PerryBlack Rock1957Kevin PhillipsChelsea
1932B.KavanaghMordialloc1958Kevan HamiltonMcKinnon
1933J Ash &Caulfield1959K RobertsCheltenham
I CorryCheltenham1960I GardnerSpringvale
1934V HunterEast Burwood1961Kevan HamiltonMcKinnon
1935E RoffEast Burwood1962Kevan HamiltonMcKinnon
1936E MartinEast Burwood1963Kevan HamiltonMcKinnon
1937[53]J MitchellMentone1964K HamiltonMcKinnon
1938[54]P WitchellBlack Rock211965G GotchGlenhuntly
1939K DunnMentone1966W MorrisonHighett
1940E.McInernyMoorabbin1967J WardBlack Rock
1941[55]Laurie KellyCamden1968I HouseCaulfield
1942In recess. WW21969C HutchinsEast Malvern
1943In recess. WW21970K EllisGlenhuntly
1944In recess. WW21971J CallejaBentleigh
1945R.HockingCamden1972D. McGrathNoble Park
1946D.FankhauserMordialloc1973F.CliffordDoveton
1947C.Mudge &Mordialloc1974G.SkinnerParkdale
Alf EvansChelsea1975R.JohnstonMcKinnon
1948C.Coade &Glen Orme1976A.SierowkoskiMentone
G.Daley &Heatherton1977L.StudhamNoble Park
C.MudgeMordialloc1978T.QuinnBentleigh
1949R.FoxMoorabbin1979S.WattNoble Park
1950C.DawsonCaulfield1980D.BrooksNoble Park
1951C.MudgeMentone1981T.QuinnMoorabbin

References
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  2. "Cheltenham Football Club hosts reunion of Federal league". Moorabbin Glen Eira Leader. Herald Sun. 28 May 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  3. "Cheltenham". Brighton Southern Cross. Victoria. 6 February 1909. p. 4. Retrieved 4 March 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
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  5. "Position of the Clubs". Mornington and Dromana Standard (Morning. ed.). Victoria. 31 July 1909. p. 3. Retrieved 4 March 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
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