North Central Football League


The North Central Football League is an Australian rules football league based in North Central Victoria, Australia.

History

At a Delegate's meeting in April 1930 of the North Central District Football League, the following club's had withdrew from the competition - Birchip, Donald, St Arnaud and Watchem and it was decided to abandoned the NCDFL for 1930.
The North Central Football League was then formed around May 1930 from the following clubs - Birchip, Donald, St. Arnaud and Watchem.
In 1937, the North Central FL decided on playing their competition on the Wednesday afternoon half holiday day, which meant that Birchip and Woomelang clubs were forced to apply for admission to the Ouyen Football League. In 1937, Birchip ended up playing in the Wychproof Football league.
The North Central FL ended up with a three team competition in 1937 consisting of - Donald, St Arnaud and Watchem.
In 1938, Woomelang FC returned to the North Central FL after playing in the FL in 1937.
In 1940, the North Central FL comprised the following clubs - Charlton, Donald, Laen-Carron, St Arnaud, Watchem and Wooroonook.
;Early Local Football History
In May 1908, the North Western Football Association was formed, comprising Charlton, Glenloth, Wooroonook and Wycheproof.
In September 1913, the North Western Football Association defeated the Maryborough Football Association by 10 points at Princes Park, Maryborough.
In April 1915, the Birchip, Donald, St. Arnaud and Watchem Football Club's formed the North Western District Football Association. Then in early May 1915, Donald pulled out, due to their restricted radius imposed on them by the association. St. Arnaud then joined the Gower East Football Association.
In September 1926, the premiers of both the North Western Football Association and Wycheproof District Football Association played each other. Scores were - Charlton: 13.8 - 86 d St Arnaud: 5.5 - 35.
In 1929, the North Central District Football League comprised the following clubs - Birchip, Donald, St Arnaud, Watchem and Woomelang.
Some of the previous leagues in the area were the -
  • Birchip Football Association,
  • North-Western Football Association (1910–1912)
  • Donald & District Football Association
  • North-Western Football Association (1914)
  • North-Western District Football Association (1915–1925), and the
  • North Central District Football League

List of NCFL premiers

  • 1930 St Arnaud1931 No NCFL competition
  • 1932 St Arnaud
  • 1933 St Arnaud
  • 1934 St Arnaud
  • 1935 Woomelang
  • 1936 Donald
  • 1937 Donald
  • 1938 Watchem-Litchfield
  • 1939 Donald
  • 1940 Charlton1941 – 1944 > WWII
  • 1945 Laen-Litchfield
  • 1946 Charlton
  • 1947 Charlton
  • 1948 St Arnaud
  • 1949 Donald
  • 1950 Charlton
  • 1951 Wedderburn
  • 1952 Wycheproof
  • 1953 Watchem-Corack
  • 1954 Boort
  • 1955 Wycheproof
  • 1956 Narraport
  • 1957 Wycheproof
  • 1958 St Arnaud
  • 1959 Birchip
  • 1960 Watchem-Corack
  • 1961 Watchem-Corack
  • 1962 Watchem-Corack
  • 1963 Donald
  • 1964 Wycheproof-Narraport
  • 1965 Wycheproof-Narraport
  • 1966 Charlton
  • 1967 Wycheproof-Narraport
  • 1968 Wedderburn
  • 1969 Watchem-Corack
  • 1970 Wedderburn
  • 1971 Watchem-Corack
  • 1972 Wycheproof-Narraport
  • 1973 Charlton
  • 1974 Charlton
  • 1975 Wycheproof-Narraport
  • 1976 Wycheproof-Narraport
  • 1977 Wycheproof-Narraport
  • 1978 St Arnaud
  • 1979 Donald
  • 1980 Donald
  • 1981 Wycheproof-Narraport
  • 1982 Boort
  • 1983 Wycheproof-Narraport
  • 1984 Wycheproof-Narraport
  • 1985 Wycheproof-Narraport
  • 1986 Birchip
  • 1987 Donald
  • 1988 St Arnaud
  • 1989 Charlton
  • 1990 Charlton
  • 1991 Wycheproof-Narraport
  • 1992 Donald
  • 1993 Donald
  • 1994 Birchip
  • 1995 Wycheproof-Narraport
  • 1996 Wycheproof-Narraport
  • 1997 Wycheproof-Narraport
  • 1998 St Arnaud
  • 1999 St Arnaud
  • 2000 Wycheproof-Narraport
  • 2001 Birchip-Watchem
  • 2002 Donald
  • 2003 Charlton
  • 2004 Donald
  • 2005 Charlton
  • 2006 Donald
  • 2007 Wedderburn
  • 2008 Boort
  • 2009 Charlton
  • 2010 Wycheproof-Narraport
  • 2011 Wedderburn
  • 2012 Wedderburn
  • 2013 Wedderburn
  • 2014 Wedderburn
  • 2015 St Arnaud
  • 2016 Charlton
  • 2017 Wycheproof-Narraport
  • 2018 Wycheproof-Narraport
  • 2019 Sea Lake-Nandaly Tigers
  • 2020 NCFL in recess > COVID-19 pandemic
  • 2021 No Finals series > COVID-19 pandemic
  • 2022 Birchip-Watchem
  • 2023 Sea Lake-Nandaly Tigers
  • 2024 Sea Lake-Nandaly Tigers
  • 2025 Calder United Lions

Football Grand Finals

;North Central FL - Seniors
YearPremierGBPtsRunner UpGBPts
1930St. Arnaud11773Birchip7446
1931NCFL in recess
1932St. Arnaud141094Jeffcott91670
1933St. Arnaud1512102Laen91367
1934St. Arnaud121587Birchip12577
1935Woomelang121183Birchip8965
1936Donald11874Woomelang51141
1937Donald131492Watchem81462
1938Watchem - Litchfield121183Woomelang71658
1939Donald Woomelangby25pts
1940Charlton1516106Laen-Litchfield51343
1941-44NCFL in recess >WW2
1945Laen-Litchfield91064Corack51444
1946Charlton1616112Laen-Litchfield121183
1947Charlton111682Laen-Litchfield11874
1948St Arnaud131088Watchem-Corack12981
1949Donald91367Watchem-Corack61349
1950Charlton1810118Watchem-Corack111581
1951Wedderburn91266Watchem-Corack8755
1952Wycheproof1517107Donald4933
1953Watchem-Corack81159Narraport7345
1954Boort8856Wycheproof61753
1955Wycheproof91973Birchip101171
1956Narraport14892Charlton7648
1957Wycheproof71254St Arnaud5939
1958St Arnaud121385Narraport81361
1959Birchip101070Watchem-Corack6642
1960Watchem-Corack71153Birchip5535
1961Watchem-Corack14589Charlton10969
1962Watchem-Corack1511101Birchip71456
1963Donald51747Birchip6541
1964Wycheproof-Narraport61147Watchem-Corack3624
1965Wycheproof-Narraport1715117Donald1510100
1966Charlton12880Wycheproof-Narraport11672
1967Wycheproof-Narraport1819127Watchem-Corack8957
1968Wedderburn1610106Watchem-Corack141195
1969Watchem-Corack131088Birchip111884
1970Wedderburn1710112Charlton1511
1971Watchem-Corack8856Charlton3927
1972Wycheproof-Narraport199123St Arnaud111480
1973
Replay
Charlton
Charlton
17
12
8
13
110
85
St Arnaud
St Arnaud
15
9
20
11
110
65
1974Charlton9963Wedderburn4731
1975Wycheproof-Narraport13987Charlton101272
1976Wycheproof-Narraport1511101St Arnaud101575
1977Wycheproof-Narraport1511101St Arnaud10969
1978St Arnaud1611107Donald91973
1979Donald2014134Charlton5939
1980Donald131391Wycheproof-Narraport111278
1981Wycheproof-Narraport2014134Boort141397
1982Boort2614170Wycheproof-Narraport102282
1983Wycheproof-Narraport1517107Donald131795
1984Wycheproof-Narraport1614110Birchip15696
1985Wycheproof-Narraport2017137Charlton10767
1986Birchip1812120Wycheproof-Narraport1611107
1987Donald1912126St Arnaud121587
1988St Arnaud217133Charlton13987
1989Charlton141599Boort7749
1990Charlton91670St Arnaud91569
1991Wycheproof-Narraport121082St Arnaud91468
1992Donald131391St Arnaud12981
1993Donald141498Wycheproof-Narraport121385
1994Birchip111177Wycheproof-Narraport61551
1995Wycheproof-Narraport9559Birchip5434
1996Wycheproof-Narraport101171Donald8755
1997Wycheproof-Narraport15595Donald141094
1998St Arnaud131997Donald6844
1999St Arnaud141195Wycheproof-Narraport12981
2000Wycheproof-Narraport1615111Wedderburn21224
2001Birchip-Watchem1817125Wedderburn111278
2002Donald1522112Birchip-Watchem11571
2003Charlton1510100St Arnaud71254
2004Donald169105Wycheproof-Narraport131189
2005Charlton131189Wycheproof-Narraport8755
2006Donald1719121Boort121486
2007Wedderburn2015135Charlton111581
2008Boort111581Wedderburn10666
2009Charlton111177Donald91165
2010Wycheproof-Narraport13987Boort6743
2011Wedderburn1816124Wycheproof-Narraport1713115
2012Wedderburn1612108St Arnaud1517107
2013Wedderburn121385Charlton101373
2014Wedderburn111783Charlton121082
2015St Arnaud13886Charlton111278
2016Charlton101070Wycheproof-Narraport9963
2017Wycheproof-Narraport9963Birchip-Watchem7951
2018Wycheproof-Narraport8856Birchip-Watchem21022
2019Sea Lake-Nandaly Tigers101373Birchip-Watchem8654
2022Birchip-Watchem101878Donald8957
2023Sea Lake-Nandaly Tigers101676Nullawil9862
2024Sea Lake-Nandaly Tigers7547Birchip-Watchem41034
2025Calder United111480Birchip-Watchem101070

Grand Final Results: 1900 to 1929

Below is a list of grand final results from former local North Central Victorian football associations / leagues, who all played an important part in providing local football competitions prior to the formation of the North Central Football League in 1930.
;Wooroonook Football Association
  • 1900 - ?
;North Western Football Association
  • 1900 - Donald
  • 1905 - Charlton: 3.9 - 27 d Buckrabanyule: 2.3 - 15
  • 1908 - Charlton: 80 d Wooroonook: 26
  • 1909 - Charlton: 6.15 - 51 d Woosang: 3.2 - 20
  • 1910 - Charlton: 2.12 - 24 d Wooroonook: 1.5 - 11
;Birchip Football Association
  • 1909 - 1st: St. Arnaud: 2nd: Birchip:
;St. Arnaud Football Association
  • 1910 - 1st: St. Arnaud: 2nd: Birchip
;Woomelang District Football Association
  • 1911 - Woomelang
  • 1912 -
;Watchem Football Association
  • 1911 -
  • 1912 -
  • 1913 - 1st: Birchip: 2nd: Watchem
;Wycheproof and Charlton Football Association
  • 1904 - 1st: Corak
  • 1911 - 1st: Corak: 2nd Charlton
  • 1912 - Narraport: 6.13 - 49 d Charlton: 2.7 - 19
  • 1913 -
  • 1914 - Charlton: 4.14 - 38 d Narraport: 2.12 - 24
;Boort Football Association
  • 1913 - Marmal: 2.5 - 17 d Boort: 1.4 - 10
;Donald District Football Association
  • 1914 - Birchip: 14.16 - 100 d Donald: 4.13 - 37
;North Western Football Association
;Birchip District Football Association
  • 1918 - Whirily: 7.8 - 50 d Watchem: 2.5 - 17
;North Western Football Association
  • 1919 - St. Arnaud: 4.10 - 34 d Donald: 4.9 - 33
  • 1919 - St. Arnaud: d Donald:
;North Western District Football Association
  • 1920 - Donald:
  • 1921 - Watchem: d St. Arnaud:
  • 1922 - Watchem: 10.20 - 80 d Donald: 4.9 - 33
  • 1923 - St. Arnaud: 6.8 - 44 d Watchem: 4.6 - 30
  • 1924 - Donald: 10.8 - 68 d Birchip: 4.6 - 30
  • 1925 - Birchip: 15.12 - 102 d Donald: 10.7 - 67
;North Central District Football League
  • 1926 - St. Arnaud: 8.17 - 65 d Donald: 5.7 - 37
  • 1927 - St. Arnaud: 8.15 - 63 d Watchem: 5.8 - 38
  • 1928 - Birchip: 9.13 - 67 d Woomelang: 9.11 - 65
  • 1929 - Birchip: 15.19 - 109 d Woomelang: 12.16 - 88
;Wycheproof & District Football Association
  • 1909 - Corack: 4.5 - 29 drew with Wycheproof: 3.11 - 29
  • 1912 - Narraport: 6.13 - 49 d Charlton: 2.7 - 19
  • 1913 -
  • 1914 - Charlton: 4.14 - 38 d Narraport: 2.12 - 24
  • 1915 - 1918: WDFA in recess > World War One
  • 1919 - Wycheproof: 4.10 - 34 d Narraport: 3.7 - 25
  • 1920 - Wycheproof: 6.10 - 46 d Charlton: 6.4 - 40
;Nullawili / Narraport Football Association
  • 1921 - Narraport: 9.17 - 71 d Whirily: 5.6 - 36
;Northern District Football Association
  • 1921 - Wycheproof: 6.10 - 46 d Sea Lake: 6.5 - 35
  • 1922 - Charlton
  • 1923 - Woosang: 6.11 - 47 d Wycheproof: 6.8 - 44
  • 1924 - Narraport: 8.13 - 61 d Woosang: 6.10 - 46
  • 1925 - Narraport: 9.5 - 53 d Wycheproof: 4.7 - 31
  • 1926 - Charlton: 8.9 - 57 d Narraport: 7.5 - 47
;Gladstone Football Association
  • 1925 - Boort:
;Northern Mallee Football Association
  • 1927 - Narraport: 6.13 - 49 d Nullawil: 6.8 - 44
  • 1928 - Nullawil: 7.5 - 47 d Charlton: 5.7 - 37
  • 1929 - Wycheproof: 12.21 - 93 d Nullawil: 7.4 - 46
  • 1930 - Wycheproof: 13.12 - 90 d Culgoa: 10.4 - 64
;Wycheproof / Sea Lake Football Association
  • 1931 - Nullawil: 4.8 - 32 d Wycheproof: 2.8 - 20
;Wycheproof Football Association
  • 1932 - Wycheproof: 5.9 - 39 d Narraport: 4.12 - 36
  • 1933 - Wycheproof
  • 1934 - Narraport
  • 1935 - Narraport
  • 1936 - Charlton: 18.7 - 115 d Narraport: 9.13 - 67
  • 1937 - Nullawil
  • 1938 - Culgoa
  • 1939 - Narraport
  • 1940 - Narraport
;Best & Fairest Award

Senior Football Best and Fairest / Feeney Medal Winners

When football resumed in the North Central FL after World War Two, Mr. J.J. Feeney, himself a former renown local footballer, made available a best and fairest award each year from 1947 onwards.
Feeney began his local football career in 1897, at the age of 17 and he played until he was in his mid forties. Feeney played for a number of local clubs including - Goorac, Sutherland, Saltwater, Donald, Traynors Island, Watchem, Coonooer Bridge, St. Arnaud and Cope Cope. Some of these clubs played football on a Wednesday afternoon and / or a Saturday, so at times he played twice a week.
After his retirement from playing, Feeney spent 33 years on the North Central FL Independent Tribunal.
;Seniors
;Reserves
  • 1974 - L Mulquiny lost on a countback, but has never received a retrospective medal.

Senior Leading Goal Kicking Winners

;Seniors - The Richmond Trophy
The Richmond trophy was donated by former Watchem player, Alf Richmond in 1947, who was the Watchem / Corack FC Vice President and club delegate.