Perth Football League Explained

The Perth Football League is an Australian rules football competition based in Perth, Western Australia. It is the largest community Australian rules football competition in Western Australia.^[1]

History

The competition began in 1922 with five teams as the Mercantile Football Association (MFA). The MFA changed its name in 1924 to the Perth Districts Football Association and then, in 1929, to the Western Australian Amateur Football Association. It changed to Western Australian Amateur Football League (WAAFL) in 1971. In 2019, the league rebranded as the Perth Football League.^{[2] [3]} University are the most successful club, with 20 A-grade premierships and 96 overall, as of the conclusion of the 2020 season.

Sunday Football League (SFL) clubs, mostly based in the southeastern corridor, were merged into the general ranks of the amateurs.

The league continues to grow with new clubs joining in most years, and an A Reserves added to the women's competition for 2024.

Clubs

Current

Club	Colours	Nickname	Home Ground	Former League	Men's Grades	Women's Grades	Est.	Years in PFL	PFL Senior Premierships
									Total	Most Recent
Armadale		Demons	Gwynne Park, Armadale	PFL	E1	C4	1909	2010-	0	-
Baldivis		Brumbies	Baldivis Sports Complex, Baldivis	PFL	B, BR, C5, C5R, E3 South	B, C4	2005	2021-	1	2021
Ballajura		Royals	Kingfisher Oval, Ballajura	WAFA	B, BR, E3 North	C3	1995	2002-	3	2023
Bassendean		Swans	Jubilee Reserve, Eden Hill	–	B, BR	B		1973-	5	2019
Bayswater		Blues	Hillcrest Reserve, Bayswater	WAFA	C5, C5R	C2	1946	1946-2004, 2009-	5	1988
Belmont Districts		Bombers	Forster Park, Cloverdale	–	C2, C2R			1999-	4	2023
Brentwood Booragoon		Bulldogs	Karoonda Park, Booragoon	–	B, BR, E2	C3		1978-	2	2022
Bullcreek Leeming		Bombers	Beasley Park, Leeming	–	B, BR, E2	B, C4		1980-	7	2012
Canning South Perth		Tigers	Wyong Reserve, Bentley	SFL	C3, C3R	B, C4		2009-	1	2010
Canning Vale		Cougars	Clifton Reserve, Canning Vale	–	C1, C1R, E3 South	C2	2011	2011-	2	2012
Carlisle		Cougars	Carlisle Reserve, Carlisle	–	C1, C1R, E3 South	C3	1962	1962-	6	2013
Cockburn Cobras		Cobras	Davilak Reserve, Hamilton Hill	MFL	C2, C2R	C2		2012-	1	2019
Cockburn Lakes		Warriors	Anning Park, South Lake	WAFA	C1, C1R, E2			1980-2003, 2005-	11	2022
Collegians		Collies	David Cruickshank Reserve, Dalkeith	–	B, BR	C1	1961		11	2010
Coolbellup		Cats	Tempest Park, Coolbellup	–	C5, C5R	C1	1975	1975-	2	2008
Coolbinia		Falcons	Yokine Reserve, Yokine	–	C3, C3R, E3 North	C2		2003-	2	2018
Cottesloe		Roosters	Cottesloe Oval, Cottesloe	–	C3, C3R	C1	2014	2014-	0	-
Curtin University Wesley		Tigers	Curtin University South Oval, Bentley	–	A, AR, C4, C4R, E1	A, AR		1990-	6	2023
Dianella Morley		Raiders	Dianella Regional Open Space, Dianella	–	C5, C5R		1991	1991-	3	2017
ECU Jets		Jets	Emerald Park, Edgewater	–	C5, C5R, E3N	C3	2016	2016-	0	-
Ellenbrook		Eels	Ellenbrook District Open Space, Ellenbrook	WAFA	C2, C2R, E3 North	C3	2002	2007-	0	-
Forrestdale		Falcons	William Skeet Oval, Forrestdale	WAFA	C4, C4R, E3	C1	1993	1993-1998, 2009-	3	2024
Forrestfield		Rhinos	John Reid Oval, Forrestfield	–	C5, C5R		2015	2015-	0	-
Fremantle CBC			Morris Buzacott Reserve, Kardinya	–	A, AR, C4, C4R	C3	1933	1933-	7	2022
Gosnells		Hawks	Gosnells Oval, Gosnells	SFL	C2, C2R	C2	1914	1931-1933, 2009-	2	2024
Hamersley Carine		Hawks	Carine Regional Open Space, Carine	–	B, BR, E1	B		1974-	9	2022
High Wycombe		Bulldogs	Scott Reserve, High Wycombe	–	E2		1992	1992-	5	2021
Hills Rangers		Rangers	Sawyers Valley Oval, Sawyers Valley	–		C4	2018	2018-2022, 2024-	0	-
Jandakot		Jets	Atwell Reserve, Atwell	MFL	C1, C1R, E3 South		2009	2011-	3	2020
Kalamunda		Cougars	Ray Owen Reserve, Lesmurdie	SFL	C, C1R, E2	C1	1965	2001-	4	2013
Kelmscott		Bulldogs	John Dunn Oval, Kelmscott	MFL	C5, C5R	C2	1897	2009-2017, 2021-	3	2014
Kenwick		Royals	Mills Park, Beckenham	SFL	C5, C5R	C1	1948	2009-	2	2024
Kingsley		Cats	Kinglsey Park, Kingsley	MFL	C2, C2R, E3 North	A, AR	1994	1998-	2	2018
Kingsway		Kangaroos	Kingsway Sporting Complex, Madeley	MFL	A, AR, E3			1977-1980, 2008-	4	2024
Koongamia		Crows	Koongamia Oval, Koongamia	MFL		C2	2000	2023-	0	-
Kwinana		Knights	Medina Oval, Medina	MFL	C2, C2R	B		2014-	0	-
Lynwood Ferndale		Panthers	Ferndale Park, Ferndale	–	C5, C5R		1979	1979-	3	2012
Maddington		Bulls	Harmony Fields, Maddington	SFL	C4, C4R		1923	2009-	2	2016
Manning Rippers		Rippers	James Miller Oval, Manning	–	C4, C4R, E3 South		1997	1997-	2	2023
Melville		Rams	Melville Reserve, Melville	,	C1, C1R, E2	A, AR		1939-1983, 1985-	7	2005
Mosman Park		Mozzies	Tom Perrott Reserve, Mosman Park	SFL	C1, C1R, E3 North	C4	1921	1939-1973, 1998-	5	2023
Mount Lawley		Hawks	Hamer Park Reserve, Mount Lawley	–	A, AR, C4, C4R, E2	C2	1963	1963-	19	2009
Nollamara		Roos	Des Penman Reserve, Nollamara	WAFA	E1		1964	1964-2003, 2008-	11	2016
Noranda		Hawks	Lightning Park, Noranda	MFL	C3, C3R	C3		2011-	2	2015
North Beach		Tigers	Charles Riley Reserve, North Beach	–	A, AR, C3, C3R, E2, E3 North	A, AR	1965	1965-	18	2022
North Fremantle		Magpies	Gil Fraser Reserve, North Fremantle		B, BR, C4, C4R	A, AR	1921	1939-	29	2024
North Mandurah		Magpies	Lakelands Reserve, Lakelands	–	C5, C5R	C4	2020	2020-	0	-
Ocean Ridge		Eagles	Heathridge Park, Heathridge	–	A, AR, E2	B		1979-	5	2023
Osborne Park		Saints	Robinson Reserve, Tuart Hill	MFL	C3, C3R, E3 North		2007	2012-	1	2023
Piara Waters		Falcons	Piara Waters Oval, Piara Waters	SFL	C2, C2R, E3 South	B		2009-	3	2021
Quinns District		Bulls	Ridgewood Park, Ridgewood	MFL	C2, C2R, E3 North	B, C3	2000	2001-	3	2019
Roleystone		Tigers	Cross Park, Roleystone	WAFA	C3, C3R	C2	1987	2009-	1	2021
Rossmoyne		Rhinos	Shelley Park, Shelley	WAFA	E1	A, AR	1996	1996-2003, 2009-	3	1998
Safety Bay		Stingers	Stan Twight Reserve, Rockingham	MFL	E2		1982	2010-2016, 2023-	0	-
Scarborough		Hawks	Millington Reserve, Karrinyup	–	A, AR, E1	C1, C4	1970	1970-	17	2020
Secret Harbour		Dockers	Rhonda Scarrott Park, Golden Bay	MFL	E3 South	C4	2011	2013-	1	2017
SNESA		Saints	Queens Park, Reserve, Queens Park	WAFA	C5, C5R			1978-2003, 2005-	2	1997
Stirling		Saints	Richard Guelfi Reserve, Balcatta	–	C4, C4R			1998-	3	2003
Swan Athletic		Swans	Swan Athletic Oval, Herne Hill	HFA	C1, C1R, E2	B		1979	9	2024
Swan Valley		Valley	Swan Valley Sporting Complex, Herne Hill	HFA	C2, C2R	C4		1973-1979, 2006-	5	1978
Thornlie		Lions	Berehaven Oval, Thornlie	SFL	C1, C1R	C3	1970	2009-	2	2017
Trinity Aquinas		Boomers	Bill Grayden Reserve, Como	–	A, AR, C4, C4R, E1	C1		1970-	12	2017
University			UWA Sports Park, Mount Claremont	–	A, AR, C4, C4R	A, AR	1928	1928-	47	2024
Wanneroo		Roos	Wanneroo Showgrounds, Wanneroo	–	B, BR, C4, C4R	C1	1985	1985-	10	2022
Warnbro Swans		Swans	Warnbro Recreation Oval, Warnbro		C3, C3R, E3 South	A, AR	1989	1991-	4	2018
Wembley		Magpies	Wembley Sports Park, Jolimont		A, AR, E2	A, AR	1927	1938-	30	2020
West Coast		Tigers	City Beach Oval, City Beach	–	B, BR, E1		1984		8	2021
Whitford		Warriors	MacDonald Park, Padbury	–	B, BR, C5, C5R	C2	1976	1976-	9	2016
Willetton		Blues	Burrendah Reserve, Willetton	SFL	C2, C2R, E3 South	C1	1976	1976-1978, 1999-	3	2007
Winnacott		Eagles	Winnacott Reserve, Willagee	–	C3, C3R			1939-1959, 1980-	5	2000
Yanchep		Red Hawks	Splendid Park, Yanchep	MFL	E1	C3	1997	2015-	0	-

Premierships

Men's

Year	A	B	C/C1	D/C2	E/C3	F/C4	G/D1/C5	D2/H	I	J	K	Sunday
2024	Kingsway	North Fremantle	Swan Athletic	Gosnells	Forrestdale	University	Kenwick	7 divisions (2018-)
2023	Curtin Uni Wesley	Ocean Ridge	Ballajura	Mosman Park	Belmont Districts	Osborne Park	Manning Rippers
2022	Fremantle CBC	Wanneroo	Hamersley Carine	Brentwood Booragoon	Cockburn Lakes	North Beach	Curtin Uni Wesley
2021	Kingsway	West Coast	Baldivis	High Wycombe	Piara Waters	Roleystone	North Beach
2020	Scarborough	Wembley	Ocean Ridge	Jandakot	Mosman Park	Piara Waters	University
2019	University	Curtin Wesley	Bassendean	Quinns District	Jandakot	Cockburn Cobras	University
2018	Scarborough	Kingsley	Ballajura	Warnbro Swans	Coolbinia	Jandakot	University
2017	Trinity Aquinas	Wanneroo	Thornlie	Bassendean	Dianella Morley	Secret Harbour	University	North Fremantle	8 divisions (2014-2017)
2016	Trinity Aquinas	Wembley	Maddington	Thornlie	Nollamara	Belmont Districts	Trinity Aquinas	Whitford
2015	University	Hamersley Carine	Quinns District	Noranda	Ballajura	Nollamara	Trinity Aquinas	Wembley
2014	University	Kelmscott	Kingsway	Bassendean	Kenwick	Southern River	Whitford	Scarborough
2013	Wesley Curtin	Kalamunda	Kelmscott	Quinns District	Carlisle	Brentwood Booragoon	Whitford	7 divisions (2013
2012	University	Wesley Curtin	Bullcreek Leeming	Lynwood Ferndale	Canning Vale	Noranda	Trinity Aquinas	Wembley	8 divisions (2009-2012)
2011	University	Hamersley Carine	Scarborough	Coolbinia West Perth	Belmont Districts	Canning Vale	North Fremantle	Wembley
2010	North Beach	Collegians	Kalamunda (Black), Wanneroo (Gold)	Canning Vic Park South Perth	North Fremantle	Fremantle CBC	Ocean Ridge	Warnbro Swans
2009	North Beach	Mount Lawley	Gosnells (Black), Maddington (Gold)	Kelmscott (Black), Manning Rippers (Gold)	North Fremantle	Bullcreek Leeming	Nollamara	North Fremantle
2008	North Beach	Collegians	Kingsley	Kingsway	Coolbellup	Trinity Aquinas	North Fremantle	7 divisions (2008)
2007	North Beach	West Coast Cowan	Willetton	Belmont Districts	University	5 divisions (2005-2007)
2006	North Beach	Hamersley Carine	West Coast Cowan	Beechboro	North Fremantle
2005	North Beach	Wembley	Bullcreek Leeming	Melville	North Fremantle
2004	North Beach	Scarborough	Kalamunda	Mosman Park	Swan Athletic	High Wycombe	6 divisions (2003-2004)
2003	North Fremantle	Whitford	High Wycombe	Swan View	Swan Athletic	Stirling
2002	North Beach	Collegians	Bassendean	Warnbro Swans	Swan View	Stirling	Melville	7 divisions (1997-2002)
2001	North Beach	Wanneroo	Cockburn Lakes	Ascot	Wonderers	Marangaroo	Kalamunda
2000	CBC	Nollamara	East Fremantle	Willetton	Ascot	Wonderers	Nollamara
1999	North Beach	Trinity Aquinas	Bullcreek Leeming	High Wycombe	Willetton	CBC	Wonderers
1998	Scarborough	Balcatta Osborne Park	Rossmoyne	East Fremantle	Innaloo	North Fremantle	Wesley Curtin
1997	Scarborough	Mount Lawley	Redcliffe	Rossmoyne	St Norberts	West Coast	Wembley
1996	University	CBC	Balcatta	University	Swan Athletic	High Wycombe	Rossmoyne	West Coast	Forrestdale	Innaloo	10 divisions (1995-1996)
1995	Scarborough	Swan Athletic	Wanneroo	CBC	University	University	Warnbro Swans	East Fremantle	North Fremantle	Forrestdale
1994	West Coast	CBC	Cockburn Lakes	Cowan University	Coolbellup	University	Forrestfield	Dianella Morley	Cowan University	Whitford	Cockburn Lakes	11 divisions (1985-1994)
1993	North Beach	North Fremantle	Wembley	Redcliffe	Brentwood	Wembley	Hamersley Carine	Forrestfield	Mount Lawley	Hamersley Carine	Innaloo
1992	Mount Lawley	Whitford	Mt Lawley	Hamersley Carine	Redcliffe	Redcliffe	North Fremantle	Rockingham	Cockburn Lakes	Wanneroo	Wembley
1991	Mount Lawley	Collegians Old Scotch	Whitford	Bullcreek	University	Wanneroo	Wembley	Ocean Ridge	North Beach	Cockburn Lakes	Ocean Ridge
1990	North Beach	North Fremantle	Wanneroo	W.A.C.A.E	Hamersley Carine	West Coast	Redcliffe	University	Swan View	Rockingham	Collegians Old Scotch
1989	North Beach	Maylands	Cockburn Lakes	Wembley	Bullcreek	John 23rd	Wanneroo	Wembley	Swan Athletic	Swan View	Rockingham
1988	Mount Lawley	Innaloo	?	Rockingham	Trinity Aquinas		Bayswater	Swanbourne	University	Scarborough	Bayswater
1987	Mount Lawley	West Coast	Swan Athletic	Cockburn Lakes	Mundaring	Trinity Aquinas	Nollamara	Girrawheen	Navy	University	Mt Hawthorn West Perth
1986	Mount Lawley	North Fremantle	Whitford	Nollamara	Cockburn Lakes	University	Innaloo	Dianella	East Fremantle	North Fremantle	Innaloo
1985	Mount Lawley	Innaloo	Mount Lawley	Swan Athletic	Coolbinia Yokine	Cockburn Lakes	Whitford	Innaloo	Bassendean	Wanneroo	North Fremantle
1984	Wembley	North Fremantle	Mount Lawley	Lynwood Ferndale	W.A.C.A.E	Scarborough	Cockburn Lakes	Scarborough	Girrawheen	Hellenic	W.A.I.T	Sunday (1973-1983)
1983	Mount Lawley	Scarborough	Carlisle	Dianella	University	Churchlands	Applecross	Mount Lawley	A.I.C.A	ANZ	Dianella	A.I.C.A
1982	Old Scotch	Bayswater	Mt Hawthorn West Perth	Hellenics	Dianella	Trinity Aquinas	University	Applecross	Nollamara	City of Perth	Mt Hawthorn West Perth	A.I.C.A
1981	University	Scarborough	City Beach	Osborne Park	North Beach	Forrestfield	Scarborough	Coolbinia Yokine	Bullcreek	Mount Lawley	Maylands	A.I.C.A
1980	Nollamara	N.S.T.C	University	Perth	Bayswater	North Beach	Forrestfield	St Norberts	Lynwood Ferndale	Scarborough	Osborne Park	Swan Athletic
1979	Mount Lawley	Collegians	N.S.T.C	Wembley	Floreat Marist	Innaloo	Muresk	Swanbourne	Forrestfield	TC Mount Lawley	11 divisions (1979)	Fire Brigade
1978	Wembley	Wembley	Collegians	Commonwealth Bank	TC Mount Lawley	Nollamara	Mount Lawley	Muresk	National Bank	10 divisions (1978)		Swan Valley
1977	University	Maylands	Mount Lawley	Hamersley	TC Churchlands	Osborne Park	East Perth	TC Churchlands	9 divisions (1977)			Swan Valley
1976	Wembley (A), Scarborough (A2)	Maylands	Trinity Old Boys	TC Churchlands	R & I Bank	University	East Perth	8 divisions (1976)				Swan Valley
1975	University	Melville	Commonwealth Bank	TC Churchlands	City Beach	6 divisions (1974-1975)						Swan Valley
1974	Wembley	Nollamara	TC Claremont	TTC Mount Lawley	Midland							Swan Valley
1973	Wembley	Mosman Park	Graylands TC	Collegians	5 divisions (1973)							Hellenic
1972	Wembley	University	Graylands TC	Trinity Old Boys	4 divisions (1972-1973)
1971	Wembley	Nedlands TTC	Swanbourne	Carlisle	Marist Old Boys	Scarborough	6 divisions (1969-1971)
1970	University	University	Collegians	TTC Claremont	Innaloo	Carlisle
1969	University	Collegians	Floreat Park	North Fremantle	Mount Lawley	Innaloo
1968	Wembley	Wembley	Mt Hawthorn West Perth	Bassendean	North Fremantle	5 divisions (1967-1968)
1967	C.B.C	Palmyra	Bayswater	Teachers Training College	Bassendean
1966	University	University	University	Old Wesley	4 divisions (1964-196)
1965	University	University	Carlisle	Collegians
1964	University	TTC Claremont	University	Carlisle
1963	Wembley	TTC Claremont	Mount Lawley	3 divisions (1963)
1962	University	Maylands	2 divisions (1957-1962)
1961	University	Fremantle CBC
1960	North Fremantle	Victoria Park
1959	Wembley	South Fremantle
1958	Wembley	Midland Junction
1957	East Perth	Victoria Park
1956	East Perth	Midland Junction	Palmyra	3 divisions (1947-1956)
1955	North Fremantle	University	Fremantle
1954	North Fremantle	Osborne Park	South Fremantle
1953	South Perth	West Perth	Victoria Park
1952	South Perth	Inglewood Mount Lawley	South Fremantle
1951	Mosman Park	Claremont Nedlands	Commonwealth Bank
1950	Midland Junction	East Perth (B)	Maylands
1949	North Fremantle	Palmyra	Palmyra
1948	University	Victoria Park	Swanbourne
1947	North Fremantle	South Perth	Swanbourne
1946	North Fremantle	Midland Junction	2 divisions (1939-1946)
1942-1945	No competition due to WWII
1941	North Fremantle	Maylands
1940	Wembley	East Fremantle
1939	Wembley	North Fremantle
1938	Wembley	1 division (1922-1938)
1937	Sandovers
1936	Sandovers
1935	Sandovers
1934	University
1933	University
1932	Postals
1931	Postals
1930	Postals
1929	University
1928	Sandovers
1927	Commonwealth Bank
1926	Teachers College
1925	Teachers College
1924	Teachers College
1923	Commonwealth Bank
1922	Mallochs-Brennans

Women's

Year	A	B	C/C1	C2	C3	C4	C5
2024	Wembley	Bullcreek Leeming	Trinity Aquinas	Kelmscott	Ballajura	Swan Valley	6 divisions (2024)
2023	Wembley	Melville	Baldivis	Trinity Aquinas	Kelmscott	Koongamia	Gosnells
2022	Warnbro Swans	Wembley	North Fremantle	Wanneroo	Scarborough	Cockburn Cobras	Bassendean
2021	Curtin Uni Wesley	Cottesloe	Wembley	North Fremantle	Hamersley Carine	West Coast	6 divisions (2021)
2020	Curtin Uni Wesley	Piara Waters	Kingsley	Swan Athletic	West Coast	5 divisions (2020)
2019	Curtin Uni Wesley	Nollamara	Piara Waters	3 divisions (2019)
2018	University	Cottesloe	2 divisions (2018)

Source: WAAFL.com.au

External links

• Official WAAFL website
• WAAFL at australianfootball.com
• Western Australian Football: The Clubs, Competitions and Premiers (1885-1945) - Derek Mott

Notes and References

1. Web site: WAAFL History . WAAFL.com . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20120211204323/http://www.waafl.com.au/history . 11 February 2012.
2. Web site: Yearbooks - Downloads . WAAFL.com.au . 13 September 2016.
3. Web site: WAAFL Rebrand to the Perth Football League . 14 January 2019 . Perth Football League . 16 January 2019.