Mortlock Football League


The Mortlock Football League is an Australian rules football competition based around 8 clubs in the south-west region of Western Australia. It is one of a number of football leagues in the wheat-belt region of WA. The eight teams represent the towns of Calingiri, Dalwallinu, Dowerin, Gingin, Goomalling, Toodyay, Wongan-Ballidu. Wyalkatchem played until the end of 2010.
Mortlock League also includes a hockey competition which involves all clubs mentioned above. Teams compete in a home and away season of 14 rounds with a number of byes and one week during the season dedicated to playing country week football against other south-western country leagues. The season ends with a finals campaign including the top 4 teams from the home and away rounds. Notable players that have been recruited from their respected towns to AFL teams include; Josh and Matthew Carr, Lance Franklin, Willie Dick, Brendan Fewster, Mal Brown. Retired AFL players to have previously/currently played in the Mortlock Football League are; Michael Pettigrew, Ashley Sampi, Antoni Grover, Kepler Bradley, Greg Broughton.

History

The Mortlock Football League's origins date back to the formation of the Goomalling-Dowerin Association in 1923, although organised football had been played in the district since 1904.
The Goomalling Football Association was formed at a meeting held in the Goomalling Agricultural Hall on 28 May 1904. Representatives from Dowerin, Goomalling and Mumberkine were present and the district was divided into three wards from which the teams would select their players. E. F. Edwardes was elected as President and H. Slater took on the role of Secretary. Mumberkine were premiers in the Association’s inaugural season. The Oak Park club was formed in 1905, but their lifespan proved to be a short one.
Goomalling were premiers in 1905 and 1906, before hotel proprietor T. F. Elliott provided a cup for the premier side in the Association. The 1907 season saw Dowerin, Goomalling and new side Rovers compete for the Elliott Cup. Rovers, donning the colours of yellow and black, drew their players from the north side of the Goomalling-Dowerin Railway line and played at the Oak Park ground.
The known results for the 1907 season saw Goomalling defeat Rovers before Rovers later exacted revenge with a 34-point win, Goomalling overcame Dowerin, 6.9 to 3.6, Rovers outclassed Dowerin, 6.13 to 1.3, Dowerin beat Goomalling by 6.7 to 5.8 and Goomalling edged out Rovers, 5.8 to 4.6.
At the end of the season, Goomalling and Rovers were equal on points, so a play-off was scheduled, with Rovers triumphant by 13 points, 4.10 to 3.3. Captain Herb Slater and Black Tommy, both outstanding players and goal scorers, played key roles in Rovers taking out the premiership.
In 1908, Rovers were premiers once again when they defeated Goomalling by five points to retain the Elliott Cup. A derby match in July saw some 500 people in attendance as Rovers defeated Goomalling by 11 points.
In 1909, W.A.F.L. club East Perth were the guests of the Goomalling Association for a match in the region on August 21, with the visitors running out narrow 4.10 to 3.15 winners. The local competition saw Rovers achieve a hat-trick of premierships after a solid 9.10 to 4.9 win over Goomalling in the decider.
Despite good coverage of football throughout the state, the West Australian provided virtually no coverage of the 1910 Goomalling Association season. It is known, however, that Rovers won their fourth consecutive flag.
The Goomalling Association made the journey to Perth for a return fixture with East Perth in 1910. In a one-sided contest played at Loton Park, East Perth were comfortable 44 point winners, 12.12 to 5.10. Later in the season, the Goomalling Association met the Eastern Districts Association at Northam and, in wet conditions, the home side prevailed 5.8 to 1.3.
The 1911 season was rocked by the disqualification of the Rovers club on 20 July, following the off-field actions of some members of the club, including a clique supposedly led by Herbert Slater and ‘Gunner’ Hills, who ‘attempted to run the Goomalling Football Association and endeavoured to bully members of the committee into letting them have their sweet way.’ The season continued with just two clubs, with Goomalling proving far too strong for Dowerin and were crowned premiers.
The 1912 season saw the admission of the Wanderers to restore a three-team competition. The Wanderers players were chiefly Karranadgin settlers, and the team chose to wear the colours of red, white and blue. Dowerin won the premiership in this season, which by now was the F. L. Rose Cup.
In 1912, The Goomalling Association wrote to the W.A.F.L. in 1912, suggesting the staging of a Country Week competition. Unfortunately, the Association was unable to raise a representative side, leaving Avon, Bunbury, Geraldton, Moora and Nelson as the first teams to participate in this competition.
In 1913, Goomalling lost only two matches all season en route to securing the premiership, ‘icing the cake’ with a 5.16 to 4.4 win over Dowerin in the Final.
In 1914, the Country Week competition included eight teams – Bunbury, Forrest, Geraldton, Goomalling, Moora, Quairading, South Suburban and Warren. The Final saw an upset six point victory for Forrest over Goomalling, 6.12 to 6.6.
The W.A.F.L. affiliated associations in 1914 were Albany, Arthur West, Bunbury, Central District, Central Murchison, Collie, Forrest, Geraldton, Goomalling, Katanning, Moora, Meekatharra, Narrogin, Nelson, South Suburban, Upper Chapman, Warren and the W.A.F.A.
There was virtually no reference to the Association in the West Australian in 1914, but it is known that Dowerin were premiers after a comprehensive 13.25 to 3.2 win over Goomalling.
The onset of the First World War meant that football was set aside until later in the decade.
In the first five seasons after World War I, five different associations were formed
1919: Central Districts FA
1920: Goomalling-Dowerin-Jennacubbine FA
1921: Goomalling FA
1922: Central Districts FA
The Goomalling-Dowerin Association was formed in 1923 and has remained intact since then. Jennacubbine won the first two premierships.
The Association was renamed as the Goomalling & Districts Association in 1925 and this competition was conducted until 1941, when World War 2 forced the cessation of the competition for three seasons from 1942 to 1944.
The competing clubs from 1923 to 1941 were: Dowerin, Goomalling, Goomalling Australs, Goomalling Country, Goomalling Rovers, Goomalling Town, Jennacubbine, Konnongorring, Mumberkine, North Goomalling, Toodyay Rangers and Wongan Hills. Rovers were the standout performers with 6 premierships, Australs, Dowerin and Jennacubbine all won 4 premierships and Wongan Hills were premiers in the inaugural season in 1925.
  • 1923 Jennacubbine
  • 1924 Jennacubbine
  • 1925 Wongan Hills
  • 1926 Jennacubbine
  • 1927 Rovers
  • 1928 Australs
  • 1929 Rovers
  • 1930 Australs
  • 1931 Rovers
  • 1932 Rovers
  • 1933 Australs
  • 1934 Jennacubbine
  • 1935 Australs
  • 1936 Rovers
  • 1937 Dowerin
  • 1938 Dowerin
  • 1939 Dowerin
  • 1940 Dowerin
  • 1941 Rovers
The G&DFA resumed in 1945, with five clubs affiliating. In 1973, the league changed its name to the Mortlock National Football League.
The affiliated clubs since World War 2 have been: Ballidu, Bolgart, Cadoux, Calingiri, Dalwallinu, Dowerin, Dowerin/Wyalkatchem, Ejanding, Gingin, Goomalling, Jennacubbine, Konnongorring, Toodyay, Wongan/Ballidu, Wongan Hills, Wyalkatchem and Yerecoin.
In 1973, with the inclusion of Gingin the association changed its name to the Mortlock National Football League.
The most well-known players to come out of the MFL are four-time All-Australian Jack Clarke and the legendary Mal Brown, as well as VFL/AFL players Eric 'Tarzan' Glass, Willy Dick, brothers Josh and Matthew Carr, Brendon Fewster and arguably today's highest profile player in four-time All-Australian Lance Franklin.
Seven players have played at VFL/AFL level and 95 players have been recruited to the WAFL from current MFL clubs. Players to have played 50 or more WAFL games are Laurence Watson, Mal Brown, Ronald Brown, Murray Couper and Ian Newman, Brendon Fewster, Gary Brookes, Willy Dick, Eric Glass and Charles Western, Jack Clarke, Anthony Beattie and Chester Mackean and Ron Bayens.
The League receives good promotion in the local media and season 2014 sees the return of live football broadcasts of MFL matches after an absence of many years, thanks to Frontier Sports Media. Their weekly 'Mortlock Matchday' broadcasts can be heard via www.frontiersportsmedia.com as a live audio stream and via the TuneIn radio app.

Grand final results

YearPremiersScoreRunners upScore
1923Jennacubbine11.14 Australs10.7
1924Jennacubbine5.20 North Goomalling6.11
1925Wongan Hills9.10 Country 4.6
1926Jennacubbine14.20 Wongan Hills8.15
1927Rovers 11.11 Australs7.8
1928Australs11.12 Jennacubbine10.11
1929Rovers 13.13 Jennacubbine8.7
1930Australs7.16 Rovers7.13
1931Rovers14.13 Australs11.14
1932Rovers9.14 Jennacubbine7.7
1933Australs14.11 Rovers14.10
1934Jennacubbine10.10 Rovers9.12
1935Australs14.11 Rovers8.13
1936Rovers9.20 Australs6.10
1937Dowerin10.8 Wongan Hills7.5
1938Dowerin13.26 Rovers11.15
1939Dowerin13.10 Rovers9.8
1940Dowerin12.6 Jennacubbine10.12
1941Rovers8.8 Australs5.9
1945Goomalling12.16 Dowerin7:9
1946Goomalling9.7 Dowerin4.20
1947Dowerin15.10 Goomalling9.7
1948Goomalling8.11 Dowerin7.7
1949Wongan Hills10.12 Dowerin7.12
1950Wongan Hills16.17 Goomalling8.8
1951Wongan Hills5.13 Dowerin5.5
1952Goomalling9.8
11.11 		Dowerin9.8
10.7
1953Wongan Hills7.16
11.12 		Ejanding8.10
8.14
1954Jennacubbine8.12 Ejanding4.10
1955Ejanding11.14 Dowerin11.7
1956Jennacubbine10.16 Goomalling8.9
1957Ejanding10.9 Goomalling8.12
1958Goomalling?
1959Konnongorring?
1960Bolgart?
1961Toodyay?
1962CalingiriBolgart
1963Goomalling?
1964Goomalling?
1965GoomallingJennacubbine
1966GoomallingBallidu
1967Goomalling16.22 Konongorring8.4
1968Goomalling17.20 Wongan Hills9.13
1969Bolgart18.16 Calingiri9.17
1970Goomalling23.17 Bolgart13.9
1971Goomalling15.15 Toodyay9.12
1972Dowerin11.18 Wongan Hills5.14
1973Toodyay15.19 Dowerin9.9
1974Toodyay21.21 Dowerin17.10
1975Calingiri15.19 Dowerin9.5
1976Calingiri9.7 Goomalling3.14
1977Goomalling15.12 Gingin8.14
1978Calingiri19.16 Gingin7.13
1979Wongan Hills24.11 Dowerin9.18
1980Toodyay13.4 Dowerin10.20
1981Ballidu13.24 Dowerin9.14
1982Dowerin13.16 Wongan Hills14.4
1983Calingiri19.14 Dowerin15.22
1984Calingiri16.23 Dowerin14.12
1985Dowerin19.3 Calingiri14.11
1986Calingiri15.14 Gingin9.6
1987Ballidu16.9 Wongan Hills11.11
1988Toodyay13.13 Dowerin11.17
1989Calingiri17.14 Wongan Hills9.8
1990Calingiri8.17 Goomalling8.13
1991Calingiri14.17 Goomalling10.10
1992Goomalling14.12 Wongan Hills14.6
1993Goomalling22.8 Dowerin14.8
1994Goomalling14.17 Wongan Hills10.6
1995Goomalling10.13 Toodyay9.11
1996Goomalling17.11 Toodyay6.8
1997Gingin14.17 Goomalling9.10
1998Goomalling14.11 Dalwallinu11.8
1999Goomalling13.12 Wyalkatchem13.11
2000Calingiri13.18 Wyalkatchem14.11
2001Wyalkatchem12.10 Calingiri11.12
2002Gingin13.9 Goomalling6.14
2003Wyalkatchem13.12 Toodyay6.7
2004Toodyay17.9 Calingiri14.8
2005Dowerin15.14 Calingiri9.7
2006Calingiri12.7 Gingin11.10
2007Goomalling27.10 Dowerin16.12
2008Dowerin15.9 Calingiri12.13
2009Wongan-Ballidu19.17 Goomalling16.8
2010Dowerin12.9 Gingin12.6
2011Gingin16.12 Toodyay9.9
2012Dowerin15.5 Toodyay10.14
2013Dowerin-Wyalkatchem16.9 Calingiri11.13
2014Toodyay12.14 Calingiri10.14
2015Calingiri18.18 Dalwallinu6.7
2016Wongan-Ballidu17.10 Dalwallinu6.8
2017Dalwallinu19.12 Toodyay11.10
2018Gingin23.7 Dalwallinu10.9
2019Toodyay11.11 Goomalling11.9
2021Dowerin-Wyalkatchem14.6 Goomalling8.13
2022Goomalling9.14 Gingin7.12
2023Gingin15.13 Goomalling9.14
2024Goomalling13.11 Dowerin-Wyalkatchem10.11
2025Goomalling7.5 Calingiri1.3

Fairest and best (Boekeman Medal)

League

Known as Jones Medal in the mid 1950's, Mortlock Medal in the 1970s and Boekeman Medal since 1991
YearWinner
1925P. Dick
1927Alf Smith
1931P. Dick
1935J. Patten
1936M. Curley
1938G. Stickland
1939Dick Leeson
1940Matt Clarke
1941N. Cunningham
1945Lionel Walley
1946Gilbert Jones
1947Richard Smith
1948Richard Smith
1949Arnold ‘Bud’ Byfield
1950Lionel Walley
1951Tony Leeson
1952Linton Smith
1953Paul White
1954Tony Leeson
1955D. Whalley
1956Bob Leeson
1957Alfie Powell
1958Bob Leeson
1959Aub King
1960Aub King
1961Vern Nylander
1962Doug Dick
1963Terry Bowen
1964Wally Brown
1965Ray Morrell
1966Bruce Stitt
1967Brian Westlake
1968Bruce Stitt
1969Bruce Stitt
1970Denis Lord
1971Brian Westlake
1972Brian Westlake
1973Stroud Dale
1974Phil Mincherton
1975Danny Jones
1976Phil Mincherton
1977Mark Foxon
1978Hedley Dewar
1979Dexter Davies
1980Phil Mincherton
1981Phil Mincherton
1982Phil Mincherton
1983Phil King
1984Derek Headland
1985Mal Bennett
1986Craig Watson
1987Chris Lee
1988Chris Lee
1989Bevan King
1990Craig Watson
1991Bevan King
1992Glen Fletcher
1993Damien Leeson
1994Mal Bennett
1995Dale Warren
1996Nick Howat
1997Cheyne Tourner
1998Robbie Dreghorn
1999Greg Wootton
2000Chad Boucher
2001Troy Foote
2002Michael Davey
2003Michael Davey
2004Nicholas Smith
2005Paul Fewster
2006Matthew Borgward
2007Greg Woods
2008Craig Wilson
2009Adam Pearce
2010Brad McNeill
2011Dean Trewhella
2012Dean Trewhella
2013Dean Trewhella &
Geoffrey Rouse
2014Kyle Martin
2015Corey Hutchings
2016Dane Crognale
2017Ben Jenkins
2018Ben Whitsed
2019Dylan Burgess

Reserves
YearWinner
2000Klint Hagboom
2001Blake Hagboom
2002Graeme Taylor
2003Joel Gomersall
2004Craig Whyte
2005Scott Flavel
2006Rhys Allsop &
Mark McComish
2007Kyhe McKenna
2008Corey Higgins
2009Garth King
2010Chad McKay
2011Chad Hagboom
2012Jason Gard

Player of the year (Bendigo Bank Award)

  • 2007 Craig Wilson
  • 2008 Dean Trewhella
  • 2009
  • 2010 Brad McNeill
  • 2011 Rheece Bartel
  • 2012 Rheece Bartel

Leading goalkicker (Lyndon Bird Award)

League
  • 2000
  • 2001
  • 2002
  • 2003 Justin Kiely 62 goals
  • 2004 Phil Brookes 62 goals
  • 2005 Daniel King
  • 2006 Michael Potts 83 goals
  • 2007 Samuel Stanton 76 goals
  • 2008 Jay Betts 87 goals
  • 2009 David Wilson 62 goals
  • 2010 David Wilson 56 goals
  • 2011 Geoffrey Rouse 83 goals
  • 2012 Geoffrey Rouse 99 goals
  • 2013 Geoffrey Rouse 101 goals

Ladders

2011 ladder

Finals

FinalTeamGBPtsTeamGBPts
1st semi Dowerin 17 7 109 Dalwallinu 12 6 78
2nd semi Gingin 18 16 124 Toodyay 9 12 66
Preliminary Toodyay 14 12 96 Dowerin 5 15 45
Grand Gingin 16 12 108 Toodyay 9 9 63