West Gippsland Football League (1927–2001)
| Most recent season or competition: 2001 | |
| Sport | Australian rules football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1927 |
| First season | 1927 |
| Ceased | 2001 |
| No. of teams | 11 (1995), 28 (historical) |
| Country | Australia |
| Last champion | Beaconsfield (2001) |
| Most titles | Pakenham (22) |
| Related competitions | Gippsland League |
The West Gippsland Football League was an Australian rules football competition based in the West Gippsland region of Victoria. It ran every year between 1927 and 2001 except for 1936.
History
The West Gippsland Football Association was founded in 1927 and was fundamentally a continuation of the Cora Lynn & District Junior Football Association that had formed the previous year. The original 8 clubs included the 6 CL&DJFA clubs (Pakenham, Iona, Cora Lynn, Tynong, Bunyip and Catani) plus Longwarry from the Central Gippsland FL and Koo Wee Rup from the Southern Gippsland FL.[1]
The early years of the WGFA featured a rotating door of clubs. Catani left for the West Gippsland Junior Football Association in 1930. Koo Wee Rup Rovers played one season in 1928 before folding. Iona left for the CGFL after 1927 but returned in 1933. Tynong merged with Nar Nar Goon after the 1928 season, and Cora Lynn merged with Bayles in 1929 before spending time in recess during the 1930s. Koo Wee Rup left for the Beaconsfield Junior Football Association in 1932. Other clubs to spend time in the league included Officer-Toomuc (1932–33), Nar Nar Goon (joined in 1931), Warragul Rovers (1934–35) and Drouin (1931–32).[2]
Before the 1936 season Pakenham left for the Dandenong District Football Association, while Iona and Warragul Rovers both entered recess. This left the WGFA with only 3 clubs and it was decided to disband the Association for the season as a result.[3] The association was re-formed in 1937 as the West Gippsland Football League, with 8 clubs.[4]
The 1938 grand final was notable for being decided with a kick after the siren. Longwarry led Bunyip by 3 points deep into the final quarter, but Bunyip's Reidy took a mark 60 yards out from goal as the siren sounded and kicked the goal to give Bunyip a 3-point win.[5]
The 1939 grand final between Bunyip and Garfield was scheduled to take place at Nar Nar Goon on the 26th of August. A delegation from Garfield travelled to Bunyip to request that the final be delayed by a week as they considered the ground unfit for play due to being too wet. This was refused by Bunyip. Bizarrely, despite subsequent inspections revealing the ground to be in better condition than it had been during the season, Garfield announced that they would not play on the Friday before the game. Bunyip took the field on the 26th against zero opposition players, kicked a goal and were awarded the premiership. The only Garfield player to arrive at Nar Nar Goon had travelled from Melbourne but had not been informed of his team's decision to forfeit. He was, reportedly, baffled by his club's decision to forfeit the grand final.[6]
The WGFL was in recess between 1942 and 1943 due to WWII enlistments. It re-formed in 1944 with 8 clubs and expanded to 12 by 1948 as clubs re-formed after the war. Nyora played two seasons (1948–49) before returning to the Bass Valley Football Association, while Rythdale-Cardinia joined the Dandenong District FA in 1949 after finishing last in all but 2 of their 9 WGFL seasons.[7] Drouin briefly played in the Latrobe Valley Football League between 1960 and 1965, while Yarragon joined from the LVFL in 1961.[8]
The WGFL began to shift towards catering for clubs from larger towns and areas closer to Melbourne during the 1970s. Korumburra joined in 1970 from the defunct South Gippsland FL, while Tooradin-Dalmore and Rythdale-Officer-Cardinia joined from the South West Gippsland FL in 1976 and 1979 respectively.[9] The increasing competition from these large clubs saw long-term member clubs from small towns depart the WGFL. Catani joined the Ellinbank & District FL in 1976,[10] Bunyip in 1982, Longwarry in 1988,[11] and Lang Lang and Koo Wee Rup in 1999.[12] Yarragon left for the Mid Gippsland FL in 1977[8] and Korumburra for the Bass Valley Wonthaggi District FL in 1984. Beaconsfield joined in 1993 and along with Pakenham had become the two strongest clubs in the competition by the new millennium. A VCFL review in 2002 saw them moved to the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League,[13] while the West Gippsland FL would be merged with the Gippsland-Latrobe Valley FL to form the West Gippsland-Latrobe Valley FL before the 2002 season.[14]
Clubs
Final
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in WGFL | WGFL Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||||
| Beaconsfield | (1993–99)(2000–01) | Eagles | Perc Allison Oval, Beaconsfield | SWGFL | 1890 | 1993-2001 | 2 | 1999, 2001 | Moved to Mornington Peninsula Nepean FL after 2001 season |
| Cora Lynn (Cora Lynn Bayles 1929-33, 1939-41; Bayles 1937-38) | (1940s-60s)(1960s-92)(1993–2001) | Cobras | Cora Lynn Recreation Reserve, Cora Lynn | CL&DJFA, WGJFA | 1913 | 1927-1931, 1933, 1937–1941, 1945–2001 | 1 | 1986 | Entered recess in 1932 and 1934. Formed West Gippsland-Latrobe FL after 2001 season |
| Drouin | Hawks | Drouin Recreation Reserve, Drouin | CGFL, WGJFA | 1890 | 1931-1932, 1941, 1945–1959, 1966–2001 | 8 | 1941, 1946, 1949, 1958, 1967, 1978, 1991, 1992 | Played in Central Gippsland FL between 1933–38 and Latrobe Valley FL between 1960 and 1965. Formed West Gippsland-Latrobe FL after 2001 season | |
| Garfield (Garfield Stars 1937-40) | Stars | Garfield Recreation Reserve, Garfield | WGJFA | 1935 | 1937-1940, 1945–2001 | 6 | 1963, 1964, 1966, 1983, 1993, 1994 | Formed West Gippsland-Latrobe FL after 2001 season | |
| Kilcunda Bass | Panthers | Bass Recreation Reserve, Bass | BVWDFL | 1957 | 1996-2001 | 0 | - | Formed West Gippsland-Latrobe FL after 2001 season | |
| Nar Nar Goon (Tynong-Nar Nar Goon 1931) | (1921-1928,1932-1940, 1950-1952)(1931)(1945–49)(1953–92)(1993–2001) | Goons | Nar Nar Goon Recreation Reserve, Nar Nar Goon | WGJFA | c.1900 | 1931-1935, 1937–1940, 1945–2001 | 6 | 1933, 1934, 1937, 1965, 1970, 1980, | Played in West Gippsland Junior FA in 1936. Formed West Gippsland-Latrobe FL after 2001 season |
| Pakenham | (1950s-?)(?-2001) | Lions | Toomuc Reserve, Pakenham | CL&DJFA, DDFA | 1892 | 1927-1935, 1938–2001 | 22 | 1927, 1929, 1935, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1961, 1962, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1982, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1998, 2000 | Played in Dandenong Districts FA between 1936 and 1937. Moved to Mornington Peninsula Nepean FL after 2001 season |
| Phillip Island | Bulldogs | Cowes Recreation Reserve, Cowes | BVWDFL | 1932 | 1996-2001 | 0 | - | Formed West Gippsland-Latrobe FL after 2001 season | |
| Rythdale-Officer-Cardina | Kangaroos | Officer Recreation Reserve, Officer | SWGFL | 1882 | 1979-2001 | 2 | 1995, 1996 | Formed West Gippsland-Latrobe FL after 2001 season | |
| Tooradin-Dalmore | Seagulls | Tooradin Recreation Reserve, Tooradin | SWGFL | 1922 | 1976-2001 | 4 | 1977, 1984, 1985, 1997 | Formed West Gippsland-Latrobe FL after 2001 season | |
| Warragul | Gulls | Western Park Reserve, Warragul | GLVFL | 1879 | 2000-2001 | 0 | - | Formed West Gippsland-Latrobe FL after 2001 season | |
Former
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in WGFL | WGFL Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||||
| Bunyip (Bunyip Rovers 1935-37) | Bulldogs | Bunyip Recreation Reserve, Bunyip | CL&DJFA, WGJFA | 1879 | 1927-1933, 1935, 1937–1981 | 3 | 1938, 1939, 1945 | Played in West Gippsland Junior FA in 1934 and 1936. Moved to Ellinbank & District FL after 1982 season | |
| Catani | Cats | Catani Recreation Reserve, Catani | CL&DJFA, WGJFA | 1923 | 1927-1929, 1937, 1948–1975 | 2 | 1953, 1954 | Moved to West Gippsland Junior FA in 1930. Recess after 1937 season. Moved to Ellinbank & District FL after 1975 season | |
| Cora Lynn-Catani | – | 1944 | 1944 | 1 | 1944 | De-merged into Cora Lynn and Catani after 1944 season | |||
| Drouin Imperials | WGJFA | 1937 | 0 | - | Moved to Ellinbank & District FL after 1937 season | ||||
| Garfield (1) | Garfield Recreation Reserve, Garfield | CGFL | 1929 | 0 | - | Moved to Central Gippsland FL after 1929 season. | |||
| Iona (Iona Rovers 1935) | Garfield Recreation Reserve, Garfield | CL&DJFA | 1927, 1932–1935 | 0 | - | Moved to Central Gippsland FL after 1927 season. Folded after 1935 season | |||
| Koo Wee Rup | Demons | Koo Wee Rup Recreation Reserve, Koo Wee Rup | SGFL | c.1900 | 1927-1931, 1934, 1937–1939, 1944–1999 | 4 | 1931, 1969, 1979, 1981 | Played in Beaconsfield Junior FA in 1932–33. Recess in 1935 and 1940–41. Moved to Ellinbank & District FL after 1999 season | |
| Koo Wee Rup Rovers | Koo Wee Rup Recreation Reserve, Koo Wee Rup | SGFL | 1928-1929 | 0 | - | Folded after 1929 season | |||
| Korumburra | Bullants | Korumburra Recreation Reserve, Korumburra | SGFL | 1911 | 1969-1983 | 3 | 1971, 1975, 1976 | Moved to Bass Valley Wonthaggi District FL after 1983 season | |
| Lang Lang | (1940s-50s)(1982–99) | Tigers | Lang Lang Showgrounds, Lang Lang | SGFL, LLKFA, BVWDFL | 1900 | 1928-1934, 1944–1966, 1982–1999 | 1 | 1928 | Formed Lang Lang Korumburra FA after 1934 season. Played in Bass Valley Wonthaggi District FL between 1967 and 1981. Moved to Moved to Ellinbank & District FL after 1999 season |
| Longwarry | Blues | Longwarry Recreation Reserve, Longwarry | WGJFA | 1900s | 1927-1935, 1937–1988 | 7 | 1930, 1932, 1940, 1950, 1959, 1960, 1968 | Played in West Gippsland Junior FA in 1936. Moved to Ellinbank & District FL after 1988 season | |
| Officer-Toomuc | Officer Recreation Reserve, Officer | – | 1932 | 1932-1933 | 0 | - | Moved to Cardinia & District FA after 1933 season | ||
| Nyora | Nyora Recreation Reserve, Nyora | BVFA | 1880s | 1948-1949 | 0 | - | Returned to Bass Valley FA after 1949 season | ||
| Rythdale-Cardinia | The Dale | Cardinia Recreation Reserve, Cardinia | – | 1938 | 1938-1949 | 0 | - | Moved to Dandenong District FA after 1949 season | |
| Tynong | Tynong Recreation Reserve, Tynong | CL&DJFA | 1927-1928 | 0 | - | Merged with Nar Nar Goon after 1928 season | |||
| Warragul Rovers | NJFA | 1934-1935 | 0 | - | Folded after 1935 season. Re-formed in Ellinbank & District FL in 1938 | ||||
| Yarragon | Magpies | Dowton Park Reserve, Yarragon | LVFL | 1895 | 1961-1976 | 0 | - | Moved to Mid Gippsland FL after 1976 season | |
Premierships
| Year | Premiers | Score | Runners-up | Location | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | Pakenham | 13.13 (91) - 7.9 (51) | Catani | Longwarry | [15] | |
| 1928 | Lang Lang | 11.13 (79) - 5.12 (42) | Koo Wee Rup | [16] | ||
| 1929 | Pakenham | Margin "over 5 goals" | Lang Lang | Bunyip | [17] | |
| 1930 | Longwarry | 13.12 (90) - 5.8 (38) | Lang Lang | [18] | ||
| 1931 | Koo Wee Rup | 8.10 (58) - 7.10 (52) | Lang Lang | Nar Nar Goon | [19] | |
| 1932 | Longwarry | 8.12 (60) - 6.9 (45) | Pakenham | Garfield | [20] | |
| 1933 | Nar Nar Goon | 9.8 (62) - 8.10 (58) | Pakenham | Bunyip | [21] | |
| 1934 | Nar Nar Goon | 11.13 (79) - 10.13 (73) | Pakenham | [22] | ||
| 1935 | Pakenham | 17.12 (114) - 8.10 (58) | Warragul Rovers | [23] | ||
| 1936 - WGFL in recess | ||||||
| 1937 | Nar Nar Goon | 8.14 (62) - 8.11 (59) | Bunyip | Bunyip | [24] | |
| 1938 | Bunyip | 9.7 (61) - 5.11 (41) | Longwarry | Garfield | Won with a kick after the siren | [5] |
| 1939 | Bunyip | N/A | Garfield | Nar Nar Goon | Match forfeited by Garfield | [6] |
| 1940 | Longwarry | 17.18 (120) - 10.16 (76) | Pakenham | Garfield[25] | [26] | |
| 1941 | Drouin | 10.13 (76) - 10.6 (66) | Pakenham | Bunyip | [27] | |
| 1942-43 - WGFL in recess due to WWII | ||||||
| 1944 | Cora Lynn-Catani | 11.11 (77) - 7.7 (49) | Garfield | Garfield | [10] | |
| 1945 | Bunyip | 10.6 (66) - 9.10 (64) | Longwarry | Garfield | [28] | |
| 1946 | Drouin | 10.7 (67) - 9.6 (60) | Pakenham | [29] | ||
| 1947 | Pakenham | 15.15 (105) - 2.11 (23) | Drouin | Garfield | [30] | |
| 1948 | Pakenham | 12.8 (80) - 3.7 (25) | Drouin | Nar Nar Goon | [31] | |
| 1949 | Drouin | Pakenham | Nar Nar Goon | |||
| 1950 | Longwarry | 8.9 (57) - 6.14 (50) | Pakenham | [32] | ||
| 1951 | Pakenham | Cora Lynn | ||||
| 1952 | Pakenham | 8.10 (58) - 8.10 (58) | Garfield | Drawn grand final | [33] | |
| Pakenham | Garfield | Replay | ||||
| 1953 | Catani | 3.5 (23) - 2.9 (17) | Pakenham | Bunyip | [10] | |
| 1954 | Catani | 9.15 (69) - 9.8 (62) | Drouin | [10] | ||
| 1955 | Pakenham | Cora Lynn | ||||
| 1956 | Pakenham | Bunyip | ||||
| 1957 | Pakenham | Drouin | ||||
| 1958 | Drouin | Pakenham | ||||
| 1959 | Longwarry | Nar Nar Goon | ||||
| 1960 | Longwarry | Garfield | ||||
| 1961 | Pakenham | Nar Nar Goon | ||||
| 1962 | Pakenham | Garfield | ||||
| 1963 | Garfield | Pakenham | ||||
| 1964 | Garfield | 6.14 (50) - 6.5 (41) | Nar Nar Goon | |||
| 1965 | Nar Nar Goon | 15.14 (104) - 12.13 (85) | Garfield | |||
| 1966 | Garfield | Drouin | ||||
| 1967 | Drouin | Longwarry | ||||
| 1968 | Longwarry | Nar Nar Goon | ||||
| 1969 | Koo Wee Rup | Longwarry | ||||
| 1970 | Nar Nar Goon | Korumburra | ||||
| 1971 | Korumburra | Nar Nar Goon | ||||
| 1972 | Pakenham | Koo Wee Rup | ||||
| 1973 | Pakenham | Koo Wee Rup | ||||
| 1974 | Pakenham | Koo Wee Rup | ||||
| 1975 | Korumburra | Nar Nar Goon | ||||
| 1976 | Korumburra | 16.8 (104) - 9.9 (63) | Cora Lynn | |||
| 1977 | Tooradin-Dalmore | 14.10 (94) - 10.13 (73) | Korumburra | |||
| 1978 | Drouin | 19.23 (123) - 8.15 (63) | Cora Lynn | |||
| 1979 | Koo Wee Rup | Nar Nar Goon | ||||
| 1980 | Nar Nar Goon | 12.14 (86) - 9.12 (66) | Koo Wee Rup | |||
| 1981 | Koo Wee Rup | 11.13 (79) - 10.16 (76) | Drouin | |||
| 1982 | Pakenham | Drouin | ||||
| 1983 | Garfield | Drouin | ||||
| 1984 | Tooradin-Dalmore | Longwarry | ||||
| 1985 | Tooradin-Dalmore | 14.11 (95) - 9.8 (62) | Pakenham | |||
| 1986 | Cora Lynn | 14.7 (91) - 8.12 (60) | Pakenham | |||
| 1987 | Pakenham | 13.14 (92) - 9.4 (58) | Lang Lang | |||
| 1988 | Pakenham | 11.7 (73) - 8.7 (55) | Cora Lynn | |||
| 1989 | Pakenham | 12.9 (81) - 10.8 | Drouin | |||
| 1990 | Pakenham | 15.15 (105) - 12.16 (88) | Drouin | |||
| 1991 | Drouin | 24.23 (167) - 8.7 (55) | Cora Lynn | |||
| 1992 | Drouin | 9.9 (63) - 5.6 (36) | Garfield | |||
| 1993 | Garfield | 21.11 (137) - 11.9 (75) | Rythdale-Officer-Cardinia | |||
| 1994 | Garfield | 10.16 (76) - 7.13 (55) | Rythdale-Officer-Cardinia | |||
| 1995 | Rythdale-Officer-Cardinia | 21.12 (138) - 13.9 87) | Beaconsfield | |||
| 1996 | Rythdale-Officer-Cardinia | 13.13 (91) - 11.11 (77) | Garfield | |||
| 1997 | Tooradin-Dalmore | 17.12 (114) - 12.15 (87) | Rythdale-Officer-Cardinia | |||
| 1998 | Pakenham | 14.14 (98) - 11.12 (78) | Garfield | Nar Nar Goon | [34] | |
| 1999 | Beaconsfield | 16.11 (107) - 9.10 (64) | Tooradin-Dalmore | |||
| 2000 | Pakenham | 7.13 (55) - 2.0 (12) | Beaconsfield | |||
| 2001 | Beaconsfield | 16.11 (107) - 6.13 (49) | Garfield | Cora Lynn | ||
References
- ^ "FOOTBALL". The Argus. 5 March 1927. p. 21.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Drouin Football Club (Vic)". www.footypedia.info. Archived from the original on 2024-10-02. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
- ^ "West Gippsland League". 4 April 1936.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Umpires Chosen". The Argus. 27 May 1937. p. 12.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "BUNYIP WINS PREMIERSHIP". Bunyip and Garfield Express : Nar-Nar-Goon, Tynong, Pakenham and Bunyip South Representative. 9 September 1938. p. 2.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "GRAND-FINAL AND PREMIERSHIP WON BY BUNYIP". Bunyip and Garfield Express : Nar-Nar-Goon, Tynong, Pakenham and Bunyip South Representative. 1 September 1939. p. 2.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "West Gippsland Football League". Footypedia. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Club History - Yarragon Football Netball Club". GameDay. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
- ^ "http://officerfc.com.au/history/roc/". Officer Football Club. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
{{cite web}}: External link in|title= - ^ a b c d "HISTORY/AWARDS". Mysite. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
- ^ McNicol, Adam (2014-05-23). "It's been a Longwarry since a flag". The Age. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
- ^ "Brief History - Lang Lang Football Club". GameDay. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
- ^ "Detailed History - Beaconsfield Football Club". GameDay. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
- ^ "History". Gippsland League. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
- ^ "FOOTBALL". The Argus. 31 August 1927. p. 17. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "DANDENONG-BERWICK ASSOCIATION". The Age. 10 September 1928. p. 7.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "5 September 1929". The Dandenong Journal. p. 4.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "COUNTRY FOOTBALL". The Age. 25 August 1930. p. 7.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "West Gippsland Association". The Age. 7 September 1931. p. 5.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Longwarry's success". Weekly Times. 24 September 1932. p. 68.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Wet Weather Spoils Country Football Finals". The Sun News-Pictorial. 18 September 1933. p. 26.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Nar-Nar-Goon Premiers". Weekly Times. 8 September 1934. p. 74.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "END OF SEASON COUNTRY FOOTBALL MATCH SCORES". The Sun News-Pictorial. 2 September 1935. p. 30.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Geelong League". The Argus. 6 September 1937. p. 7.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "23 August 1940". Bunyip and Garfield Express : Nar-Nar-Goon, Tynong, Pakenham and Bunyip South Representative. p. 2.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "RESULTS OF COUNTRY SPORT". The Sun News-Pictorial. 26 August 1940. p. 25.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "WEST GIPPSLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE - DROUIN WIN PREMIERSHIP FOR YEAR 1941". Bunyip and Garfield Express : Nar-Nar-Goon, Tynong, Pakenham and Bunyip South Representative. 8 August 1941. p. 2.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "West Gippsland League". Bunyip and Garfield Express : Nar-Nar-Goon, Tynong, Pakenham and Bunyip South Representative. 28 September 1945. p. 3.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "BENDIGO LEAGUE FINAL". The Argus. 23 September 1946. p. 18.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Pakenham Takes Premiership With Brilliant Win Over Drouin". Bunyip and Garfield Express : Nar-Nar-Goon, Tynong, Pakenham and Bunyip South Representative. 19 September 1947. p. 5.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "PAKENHAM Premiers AGAIN!". Bunyip and Garfield Express : Nar-Nar-Goon, Tynong, Pakenham and Bunyip South Representative. 17 September 1948. p. 5.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "COUNTRY FOOTBALL". The Argus. 11 September 1950. p. 12.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Country football". The Sun News-Pictorial. 15 September 1952. p. 22.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Rivalry's legend lives on". Pakenham Gazette. 2020-05-06. Retrieved 2026-01-21.