Federal Football League Explained

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.^[2]

It is said that, in the mid-1960s, Channel 7 was seeking to telecast FFL games on a Sunday.^[3]

History

Formation

Formed in 1909 as the Federal Football Association (FFA),^[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 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.^[10]

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

Clubs

Source:

Final clubs

Nine clubs competed in the FFL's final season.

Club	Colours	Nickname	Home Ground	Former League	Est.	Years in FFL			Fate
							Total	Years
Cheltenham		Rosellas	Cheltenham Recreation Reserve, Cheltenham	–	1895	1909–1928; 1930–1981	6	1909, 1911, 1913, 1922, 1925, 1934	Moved to South East Suburban FL in 1982
Clayton		Clays	Clayton Reserve, Clayton		1908	1954–1981	2	1980, 1981	Moved to South East Suburban FL in 1982
Highett		Bulldogs	Highett Reserve, Highett	–	1929	1934–1981	4	1971, 1973, 1974, 1979	Moved to South East Suburban FL in 1982
Mentone		Tigers	Mentone Reserve, Mentone	–	1900s	1909; 1913–1914; 1920–1981	5	1928, 1956, 1967, 1968, 1976	Moved to South East Suburban FL in 1982
Moorabbin (II)		Kangas	McKinnon Reserve, McKinnon	–	1979	1979–1981	0	-	Moved to South East Suburban FL in 1982
Noble Park		Bulls	Pat Wright Senior Oval, Noble Park	SESFL	1918	1964–1981	1	1972	Moved to South East Suburban FL in 1982
Oakleigh District		Districts	Princes Highway Reserve, Oakleigh East	SESFL	1950	1964–1981	0	-	Moved to South East Suburban FL in 1982
Parkdale		Seagulls	Gerry Green Reserve, Parkdale	VAFA	1934	1930-1932, 1955–1981	1	1978	Moved to South East Suburban FL in 1982
Springvale		Demons	Springvale Reserve, Springvale		1903	1957–1981	7	1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1975, 1977	Moved to VFA in 1982

Former clubs

Club	Colours	Nickname	Home Ground	Former League	Est.	Years in FFL			Fate
							Total	Years
Aspendale			Aspendale Racecourse, Aspendale	–	1924	1924-1930	0	-	Merged with Edithvale to form Edithvale-Aspendale in 1931
Bentleigh		Demons	Bentleigh Reserve, Bentleigh	–	1919	1920–1928,	0	-	Merged with McKinnon to form Moorabbin in 1979
Black Rock		Jets	Donald MacDonald Reserve, Beaumaris	–	1908	1913–1914; 1919–1926; 1931–1972	3	1935, 1936, 1954	Entered recess in 1973; re-formed in YCWFL in 1976
Brighton Districts			Brighton Beach Oval, Brighton	–		1919-1921	3	1915, 1920, 1921	Merged with Brighton in 1928[11] [12]
Brightonvale			Hurlingham Park, Brighton	–		1929	0	-	Senior team entered recess in 1930
Camden			Princes Park, Caulfield South	–		1939–1956	0	-	Merged with South Caulfield CYMS to form South Caulfield in 1957
Carnegie			Koornang Park, Carnegie	VFLSD	1920s	1932-1934	0	-	Moved to VAFA in 1935
Carrum			Keast Park, Seaford	–	1909	1911; 1922–1927	0	-	Folded in 1928; re-formed in Peninsula & District FA in 1932
Carrum-Chelsea			Paddock on Breeze St., Bonbeach	–	1911	1912-1914	0	-	Entered recess in 1915
Chelsea		Seagulls	Chelsea Recreation Reserve, Chelsea	–	1919	1919–1958	1	1955	Moved to Mornington Peninsula FL in 1959
Dandenong		Redlegs	Dandenong Showgrounds, Dandenong		1874	1930, 1934, 1948, 1951–1957	1	1953	Moved to VFA in 1958
Darling			Darling Park, Malvern East	VFLSD		1934–1940	2	1937, 1938	Folded after 1940 season
Doveton		Doves	Robinson Reserve, Doveton		1959	1972–1976	0	-	Returned to South West Gippsland FL in 1977
East Burwood		Rams	East Burwood Reserve, Burwood East		1910	1931–1938	1	1932	Senior team entered recess in 1939; re-formed in Eastern Suburban FL in 1945
East Caulfield		Fieldsmen	East Caulfield Reserve, Caulfield East	VFLSD	1894	1932–1976	0	-	Folded after 1976 season
East Malvern			Waverley Oval, Malvern East		1900s	1962–1973	4	1964, 1966, 1969, 1970	Folded after 1973 season
Edithvale			Regents Park, Aspendale	–	1900s	1921-1930	0	-	Merged with Edithvale to form Edithvale-Aspendale in 1931
Edithvale-Aspendale		Eagles	Regents Park, Aspendale	–	1931		0	-	Moved to Mornington Peninsula FL in 1956
Ellindale				–	1900s	1909–1910; 1912	0	-	Folded in 1913
Elsternwick		Wickers	Elsternwick Park, Elsternwick	–	1906	1909–1910, 1913	0	-	Moved to VAFA in 1914
Exchange						1917	0	-	[13]
Frankston			Frankston Park, Frankston	–		1909	0	-
Glen Orme			Koornang Park, Carnegie	–	1946	1946-1948	0	-	De-merged into Ormond and Glen Huntly Amateurs in 1948
Glen Huntly		Hunters	Glen Huntly Park, Caulfield East		1900s	1960–1974	0	-	Merged with Glen Huntly Amateurs in 1974 to form St Anthony's Glen Huntly in
Glen Huntly Amateurs			Koornang Park, Carnegie	–	1900s	1909, 1913–1915, 1920–1922	0	-	Moved to Caulfield Oakleigh District FL in 1923
Glen Waverley			Central Reserve, Glen Waverley		1908	1930–1931	0	-	Moved to VFL Sub-District FL in 1932
Hampton			Castlefield Reserve, Hampton	–	1919	1920[14]	0	-	Merged with various clubs to form Sandringham in 1929[15]
Heatherton		Tonners	Heatherton Recreation Reserve, Heatherton		1913	1913–1914; 1920–1921; 1927–1928;	0	-	Moved to as Mentone CYMS in 1954
McKinnon		Maccas	McKinnon Reserve, McKinnon			1954–1977	3	1957, 1958, 1959	Entered recess in 1978; merged with Bentleigh to form Moorabbin in 1979
Moorabbin (I)		Magpies	Moorabbin Oval, Moorabbin	–	1909	1909–1950	12	1914, 1926, 1927, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948	Moved to VFA in 1951
Moorabbin Park		Gardeners	Dane Road Reserve, Moorabbin	–		1913-1915,, 1930	0	-	?
Mordialloc		Bloodhounds	Ben Kavanagh Reserve, Mordialloc	–	1891	1909–1911; 1921–1957	7	1923, 1924, 1929, 1939, 1950, 1951, 1952	Moved to VFA in 1958
Mount Waverley		Mounts	Oval on corner of Springvale and High St Roads, Glen Waverley		1924	1934-1937	0	-	Moved to Eastern Suburban FL in 1938
Murrumbeena			Frogmore Estate, Carnegie	–	1915	1915, 1921	0	-	Moved to VAFA in 1923
Navy	Navy blue and light blue		HMAS Cerberus		1913	1959	0	-	Moved to Nepean FL in 1960
Oakleigh		Oaks	Warrawee Park, Oakleigh	–	1906	1915	0	-	Moved to VFL Sub-Districts in 1919
Sandringham Amateurs				–		1915–1920	0	-	Moved to VAFA in 1921
Sandringham Districts							0	-
South Caulfield			Princes Park, Caulfield South	–	1957	1957–1961	0	-	Merged with Brighton in 1964
University Reds		Reds		VAFA	1954	1971−1972	0	-	Returned to VAFA in 1973
Vermont		Eagles	Vermont Reserve, Vermont		1920	1936	0	-	Moved to Eastern Suburban FL in 1937
Victoria Brewery				–		1910–1912	2	1910, 1912	Left league in 1913[16]
Wells Road				–	1926	1926-1929	0	-	Split from Chelsea in 1926, re-merged in 1930

Notes

• Bentleigh is not to be confused with the present-day Bentleigh Football Netball Club

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.^[17]

• 1909 – Cheltenham 6.6.42 d Ellindale 2.12.24^[18]
• 1910 – Victorian Brewery 10.12.72 d Mordialloc 5.9.39^[19]
• 1911 – Cheltenham 12.14.86 d Moorabbin 4.7.31^{[20] [21]}
• 1912 – Victorian Brewery 6.10.46 d Moorabbin 2.12 - 24^[22]
• 1913 – Cheltenham 9.9.63 d Middle Brighton 7.10.52^[23]
• 1914 – Moorabbin 5.10.40 d Cheltenham 2.7.19^[24]
• 1915 – Brighton Districts 9.8.62 d Cheltenham 6.8.44^{[25] [26]}
• 1916 to 1918 - Federal FL in recess due to World War I
• 1919 – Sandringham Amateurs 6.13.49 d Black Rock 6.10.46 ^[27]
• 1920 – Brighton Districts 7.7.49 d Hampton 6.10.46^[28]
• 1921 – Brighton Districts 8.12.60 d Black Rock 7.9.51 ^{[29] [30]}
• 1922 – Cheltenham 5.10.40 v Mordialloc 4.14.38 ^[31]
• 1923 – Mordialloc 10.9.69 d Black Rock 2.9.21 ^{[32] [33]}
• 1924 – Mordialloc 6.16.52 d Mentone 4.7.31 ^[34] (Mordialloc undefeated premiers)
• 1925 – Cheltenham 9.6.60 d Mordialloc 5.21.51^[35]
• 1926 – Moorabbin 13.11.89 d Mordialloc 9.17 - 71^[36]
• 1927 – Moorabbin 9.11.65 d Middle Brighton 6.9.45^[37]
• 1928 – Mentone 6.14.50 d Moorabbin 5.15.45^[38]
• 1929 – Mordialloc 13.12.90 d Mentone 7.3.45^[39]
• 1930 – Moorabbin 6.11.47 d Mordialloc 5.16.46 ^[40]
• 1931 – Moorabbin 9.9.63 d Mordialloc 8.7.55^[41]
• 1932 – East Burwood 13.14.92 d Mentone 11.4.70^[42]
• 1933 – Moorabbin 10.26.86 d Mordialloc 10.18.78^[43]
• 1934 – Cheltenham 13.12.90 d Mordialloc 8.13.61
• 1935 – Black Rock 14.11.95 d East Burwood 11.12.78
• 1936 – Black Rock 14.9.93 d Darling 12.14.86
• 1937 – Darling 9.14.68 d Moorabbin 7.12.54
• 1938 – Darling 9.17.71 d Mordialloc 9.13.67^[44]
• 1939 – Mordialloc 14.9.93 d Moorabbin 12.13.85
• 1940 – Moorabbin 11.15.81 d Cheltenham 7.14.56
• 1941 – Moorabbin 18.16.124 d Cheltenham 11.11.77
• 1942 to 1944 - Federal FL in recess due to World War II
• 1945 – Moorabbin 14.19.103 d Camden 10.5.65
• 1946 – Moorabbin 18.17.125 d Cheltenham 9.17.71
• 1947 – Moorabbin 15.16.106 d Mordialloc 11.13.79

• 1948 – Moorabbin 19.11.125 d Camden 10.5.65
• 1949 - Caulfield 11.15.81 drew Moorabbin 11.15.81
• 1949 – Caulfield 14.10.94 d Moorabbin 11.10.76 (Grand Final Replay)
• 1950 – Mordialloc 9.9.63 d Moorabbin 7.14.56
• 1951 – Mordialloc 21.17.143 d Freighters 6.8.44
• 1952 – Mordialloc 14.7.91 d Camden 10.13.73
• 1953 – Dandenong 11.20.86 d Caulfield 9.6.60
• 1954 – Black Rock 16.17.113 d Dandenong 15.12.102
• 1955 – Chelsea 10.17.77 d Dandenong 7.12.54
• 1956 – Mentone 11.8.74 d Mordialloc 9.11.65
• 1957 – McKinnon 13.9.87 d Mordialloc 12.13.85
• 1958 – McKinnon 8.12.60 d Springvale 6.9.45
• 1959 – McKinnon 8.13.61 d Mentone 8.9.57
• 1960 – Springvale 14.9.93 d McKinnon 8.16.64
• 1961 – Springvale 12.8.80 d Glen Huntly 10.11.71
• 1962 – Springvale 14.13.97 d Glen Huntly 7.12.54
• 1963 – Springvale 17.16.118 d Mentone 8.13.61
• 1964 – East Malvern 8.18.66 d Glen Huntly 7.9.51
• 1965 – Springvale 15.13.103 Glen Huntly 3.12.30
• 1966 – East Malvern 13.13.91 d Springvale 11.13.79
• 1967 – Mentone 14.10.94 d Glen Huntly 11.9.75
• 1968 – Mentone 6.17.53 d Oakleigh District 5.13.43
• 1969 – East Malvern 8.10.58 d Oakleigh District 6.20.56
• 1970 – East Malvern 20.12.132 d Springvale 15.21.111
• 1971 – Highett 17.10.112 d Springvale 12.7.79
• 1972 – Noble Park 15.16.106 d Highett 14.9.93
• 1973 – Highett 17.19.121 d Noble Park 16.14.110
• 1974 – Highett 11.15.81 d Cheltenham 11.14.80
• 1975 – Springvale 20.14.134 d Parkdale 16.13.109
• 1976 – Mentone 12.17.89 d Cheltenham 12.11.83
• 1977 – Springvale 18.19.127 d Oakleigh District 17.13.115
• 1978 – Parkdale 22.19.141 d Oakleigh District 15.17.107
• 1979 – Highett 14.12.96 d Clayton 11.13.79
• 1980 – Clayton 17.30.132 d Springvale 13.14.92
• 1981 – Clayton 16.9.105 d Oakleigh District 11.13.79

Best and Fairest Awards

Senior Football / A. Grade Section^[45] Cr. J.W. ALLNUT MEDAL. (Allnut was President of the FFA from 1936 to 1945 & a life member).

Year	Player's Name	Club	Votes		Year	Player's Name	Club	Votes
1927	P Gleeson	Chelsea			1952	C. Mudge	Mentone
1928	P Gleeson	Chelsea			1953	A. Beckwith	Mentone
1929	Les Warren &	Chelsea			1954 [46]	G March	Camden	22
	W Hughes	Mordialloc			1955	R Goodes	Parkdale
1930	Les Warren	Chelsea			1956	George Ashman	Mordialloc
1931	A Perry	Black Rock			1957	Kevin Phillips	Chelsea
1932	B.Kavanagh	Mordialloc			1958		McKinnon
1933	J Ash &	Caulfield			1959	K Roberts	Cheltenham
	I Corry	Cheltenham			1960	I Gardner	Springvale
1934	V Hunter	East Burwood			1961	Kevan Hamilton	McKinnon
1935	E Roff	East Burwood			1962	Kevan Hamilton	McKinnon
1936	E Martin	East Burwood			1963	Kevan Hamilton	McKinnon
1937[47]	J Mitchell	Mentone			1964	K Hamilton	McKinnon
1938[48]	P Witchell	Black Rock	21		1965	G Gotch	Glenhuntly
1939	K Dunn	Mentone			1966	W Morrison	Highett
1940	E.McInerny	Moorabbin			1967	J Ward	Black Rock
1941[49]	Laurie Kelly	Camden			1968	I House	Caulfield
1942					1969	C Hutchins	East Malvern
1943					1970	K Ellis	Glenhuntly
1944					1971	J Calleja	Bentleigh
1945	R.Hocking	Camden			1972	D. McGrath	Noble Park
1946	D.Fankhauser	Mordialloc			1973	F.Clifford	Doveton
1947	C.Mudge &	Mordialloc			1974	G.Skinner	Parkdale
	Alf Evans	Chelsea			1975	R.Johnston	McKinnon
1948	C.Coade &	Glen Orme			1976	A.Sierowkoski	Mentone
	G.Daley &	Heatherton			1977	L.Studham	Noble Park
	C.Mudge	Mordialloc			1978	T.Quinn	Bentleigh
1949	R.Fox	Moorabbin			1979	S.Watt	Noble Park
1950	C.Dawson	Caulfield			1980	M.Plant	Noble Park
1951	C.Mudge	Mentone			1981	T.Quinn	Moorabbin

External links

• History of the Federal FL - 1909 to 1981
• Federal FL Premiership Lists
• 1909 - Federal Football Association Premiers: Cheltenham FC team photo
• Federal FL Premiership Photos

Notes and References

1. News: Cheltenham. . . Victoria . 6 February 1909 . 4 March 2015 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
2. News: Federal League: Its Value to the Game. 24 April 1936. The Age. 9. 4 March 2015.
3. Web site: Cheltenham Football Club hosts reunion of Federal league . Herald Sun . Moorabbin Glen Eira Leader . 15 October 2024 . 27 May 2014.
4. Web site: 1909 - Federal Association . Mornington and Dromana Standard (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 3 . 27 March 1909.
5. News: Position of the Clubs. . . Victoria . 31 July 1909 . 4 March 2015 . 3. Morning.. National Library of Australia.
6. Web site: Events in the Past: The Federal Football League Launched in 1909. City of Kingston. 4 March 2015.
7. News: Federal Association. . . Victoria . 27 March 1909 . 4 March 2015 . 3. Morning.. National Library of Australia.
8. Web site: 1915 - Football . Brighton Southern Cross (Vic) . 24 May 2021 . 3 . 3 April 1915.
9. Web site: 1925 - Federal football . Sporting Globe . 25 May 2021 . 6 . 8 August 1925.
10. Web site: 1937 - Federal League . The Age . 22 May 2021 . 43 . 3 April 1937.
11. Web site: 1922 - Junior Football . Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic) . 5 . 19 August 1922.
12. Web site: FEDERAL FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION . Southern Football Netball League . 17 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240225183440/https://sfnl.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/federal_history-converted.pdf . 25 February 2024 . 10.
13. Web site: Umpire . The Juniors . The Herald . 27 July 2024 . 3 . 14 September 1917 . The first semi-final watch of the Federal Football Association, between Parkside and Exchange, was won by Exchange by 9.10 to 6.9..
14. Web site: 1920 - Football . The Age . 25 May 2021 . 12 . 19 March 1920.
15. Web site: 1921 - Metropolitan Semi Finals . The Age . 25 May 2021 . 11 . 15 August 1921.
16. Web site: 1913 - Federal Football Association . Brighton Southern Cross (Vic) . 27 May 2021 . 6 . 29 March 1913.
17. Web site: 1910 - Football: Federal Association . Mornington & Dromana Standard (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 4 . 5 March 1910.
18. Web site: 1909 - Football: Federal Association - Cheltenham Premiers . Mornington and Dromana Standard (Vic . 22 May 2021 . 2 . 11 September 1911.
19. Web site: 1910 - Federal Association . Brighton Southern Cross (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 9 . 13 August 1910.
20. Web site: 1911 - Federal Association . Brighton Southern Cross (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 9 . 2 September 1911.
21. Web site: 1911 - News of the Week: Cheltenham . Brighton Southern Cross (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 6 . 7 October 1911.
22. Web site: 1912 - Football: Federal Association . Brighton Southern Cross (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 3 . 28 September 1912.
23. Web site: 1913 - Football: Federal Association . Brighton Southern Cross (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 9 . 11 October 1913.
24. Web site: 1914 - Football: Federal Association . Brighton Southern Cross (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 8 . 26 September 1914.
25. Web site: 1915 - Football: Final Match . Seaside News (Cheltenham, Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 8 . 21 August 1915.
26. Web site: 1915 - Football: Final Match, Brighton Districts Premiers . Moorabbin News (Vic) . 24 May 2021 . 8 . 21 August 1915.
27. Web site: 1919 - SECOND JUNIOR SEMI-FINAL TO-MORROW. . Geelong Advertiser (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 6 . 3 October 1919.
28. Web site: 1920 - Cadet Premiership . The Age . 25 May 2021 . 8 . 4 October 1920.
29. Web site: 1921 - Preparing for Football . The Herald . 24 May 2021 . 4 . 2 April 1921.
30. Web site: 1921 - Federal Association . The Age . 22 May 2021 . 14 . 19 September 1921.
31. Web site: 1922 - Sporting Life: Federal Association . Frankston & Somerville Standard (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 1 . 30 August 1922.
32. Web site: 1923 - Federal Football Association . Frankston & Somerville Standard (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 2 . 22 August 1923.
33. Web site: 1923 - That Fair Dinkum Football Team . Frankston & Somerville Standard (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 4 . 14 September 1923.
34. Web site: 1924 - Federal Association . The Argus . 22 May 2021 . 5 . 15 September 1924.
35. Web site: 1922 - Other Matches: Federal Association . The Age . 22 May 2021 . 15 . 21 September 1925.
36. Web site: 1926 - Football: Federal Association . The Argus . 21 May 2021 . 7 . 27 September 1926.
37. Web site: 1927 - Football: Federal Association Final . The Argus . 21 May 2021 . 6 . 26 September 1927.
38. Web site: 1928 - Football: Federal Association . The Argus . 21 May 2021 . The Argus . 17 . 24 September 1928.
39. Web site: 1929 - Football: Federal Association . The Argus . 21 May 2021 . 16 . 9 September 1929.
40. Web site: 1925 - Federal FA . Malvern Standard (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 8 . 25 September 1925.
41. Web site: 1931 - Football . Frankston & Somerville Standard (Vic) . 21 May 2021 . 8 . 17 October 1931.
42. Web site: 1932 - Federal Districts . The Age . 21 May 2021 . 12 . 26 September 1932.
43. Web site: 1933 - Federal District League . The Age . 21 May 2021 . 6 . 25 September 1933.
44. Web site: 1938 - Federal First Grade . The Argus . 22 May 2021 . 14 . 12 September 1938.
45. Web site: Alan Maher & Ross McCulloch . Federal FL - Best & Fairest Awards . Federal FL - 1909 to 1981 . 24 May 2021.
46. Web site: 1954 - Bill Campbell Dande's "Best & Fairest" . The Dandenong Journal (Vic) . 23 May 2021 . 24 . 8 September 1954.
47. Web site: 1937 - V.F.L. FEDERAL DISTRICT . Frankston & Somerville Standard (Vic) . 31 May 2021 . 8 . 29 October 1937.
48. Web site: 1938 - BEST & FAIREST DISTRICT PLAYERS . The Herald . 21 May 2021 . 8 . 16 September 1938.
49. Web site: 1942 - Federal League - Annual Meeting . Standard (Frankston, Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 3 . 10 April 1942.