Federal Football League Explained

Federal Football League
Formerly:
Sport:	Australian rules football
Founded:	1909^[1]
Country:	Australia
Most Champs:	Moorabbin (12)

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

Nine clubs competed in the FFL's final season.

Club	Colours	Nickname	Seasons	Fate/current league
Bentleigh		Demons	1957–1978	Merged
Black Rock		Jets	1913–14; 1919–1926; 1931–1972	SFNL
Brighton Districts			1913-1915; 1919-1921	Merged^[11] ^[12]
Camden			1939–1956	Merged
Carrum		Lions	1911; 1913–1914; 1922–1927	SFNL
Chelsea		Seagulls	1919–1958	MPNFL
Cheltenham		Rosellas	1909–1928; 1930–1981	SFNL
Clayton		Clays	1954–1981	SFNL
Dandenong		Redlegs	1951–1957	Folded
Darling			1934–1940	Folded
Doveton		Doves	1972–1976	SFNL
East Burwood		Rams	1931–1938	EFNL
East Caulfield			1932–1976	Folded
East Malvern			1962–1973	Folded
Ellindale			1909–1910; 1912	Folded
Elsternwick		Wickers	1909–1910, 1913	VAFA
Exchange			1917	^[13]
Glen Orme			1946-1948	Folded^[14]
Glen Huntly		Hunters	1960–1974	Merged
Glen Waverley			1930–1931	Merged
Hampton			1920^[15]	Merged^[16]
Heatherton		Tonners	1913–1914; 1920–1921; 1927–1928; 1946–1952	SFNL^[17]
Highett		Bulldogs	1934–1981	SFNL
McKinnon			1954–1977	Merged
Mentone		Tigers	1909; 1913–1914; 1920–1981	Merged
Moorabbin (I)		Kangaroos	1909–1950	Folded
Moorabbin (II)		Kangas	1979–1981	Folded
Moorabbin Park			1913-1915	Folded^[18] ^[19]
Mordialloc		Bloodhounds	1909–1911; 1921–1957	SFNL
Noble Park		Bulls	1964–1981	SFNL
Oakleigh District		Districts	1964–1981	SFNL
Parkdale		Seagulls	1955–1981	Merged
South Caulfield			1957–1961	Merged
Springvale		Demons	1957–1981	VFL
University Reds		Reds	1971−1972	Merged
Vermont		Eagles	1936	EFNL
Victoria Brewery			1910–1912	Folded^[20]

Notes

• Bentleigh is not to be confused with the present-day Bentleigh Football Netball Club
• Brighton Districts was known as Middle Brighton until 1915^{[21] [22]}
• McKinnon was in recess for the 1978 season

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.^[23]

• 1909 – Cheltenham 6.6.42 d Ellindale 2.12.24^[24]
• 1910 – Victorian Brewery 10.12.72 d Mordialloc 5.9.39^[25]
• 1911 – Cheltenham 12.14.86 d Moorabbin 4.7.31^{[26] [27]}
• 1912 – Victorian Brewery 6.10.46 d Moorabbin 2.12 - 24^[28]
• 1913 – Cheltenham 9.9.63 d Middle Brighton 7.10.52^[29]
• 1914 – Moorabbin 5.10.40 d Cheltenham 2.7.19^[30]
• 1915 – Brighton Districts 9.8.62 d Cheltenham 6.8.44^{[31] [32]}
• 1916 to 1918 - Federal FL in recess due to World War I
• 1919 – Sandringham Amateurs 6.13.49 d Black Rock 6.10.46 ^[33]
• 1920 – Brighton Districts 7.7.49 d Hampton 6.10.46^[34]
• 1921 – Brighton Districts 8.12.60 d Black Rock 7.9.51 ^{[35] [36]}
• 1922 – Cheltenham 5.10.40 v Mordialloc 4.14.38 ^[37]
• 1923 – Mordialloc 10.9.69 d Black Rock 2.9.21 ^{[38] [39]}
• 1924 – Mordialloc 6.16.52 d Mentone 4.7.31 ^[40] (Mordialloc undefeated premiers)
• 1925 – Cheltenham 9.6.60 d Mordialloc 5.21.51^[41]
• 1926 – Moorabbin 13.11.89 d Mordialloc 9.17 - 71^[42]
• 1927 – Moorabbin 9.11.65 d Middle Brighton 6.9.45^[43]
• 1928 – Mentone 6.14.50 d Moorabbin 5.15.45^[44]
• 1929 – Mordialloc 13.12.90 d Mentone 7.3.45^[45]
• 1930 – Moorabbin 6.11.47 d Mordialloc 5.16.46 ^[46]
• 1931 – Moorabbin 9.9.63 d Mordialloc 8.7.55^[47]
• 1932 – East Burwood 13.14.92 d Mentone 11.4.70^[48]
• 1933 – Moorabbin 10.26.86 d Mordialloc 10.18.78^[49]
• 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^[50]
• 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^[51] 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 ^[52]	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^[53]	J Mitchell	Mentone			1964	K Hamilton	McKinnon
1938^[54]	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^[55]	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	D.Brooks	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. News: Cheltenham Football Club hosts reunion of Federal league. 28 May 2014. Moorabbin Glen Eira Leader. Herald Sun. 3 March 2015.
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: 1946 - FIXTURES AND ENGAGEMENTS FOR TOMORROW . The Argus . 29 May 2021 . 13 . 26 April 1946.
15. Web site: 1920 - Football . The Age . 25 May 2021 . 12 . 19 March 1920.
16. Web site: 1921 - Metropolitan Semi Finals . The Age . 25 May 2021 . 11 . 15 August 1921.
17. Web site: 1914 - Federal Football . Brighton Southern Cross (Vic) . 25 May 2021 . 6 . 29 August 1914.
18. Web site: 1913 - Football: Federal Association . Brighton Southern Cross (Vic) . 26 May 2021 . 7 . 27 September 1913.
19. Web site: 1915 - Football . Brighton Southern Cross (Vic) . 27 May 2021 . 2 . 24 July 1915.
20. Web site: 1913 - Federal Football Association . Brighton Southern Cross (Vic) . 27 May 2021 . 6 . 29 March 1913.
21. Web site: 1913 - Middle Brighton Club . Brighton Southern Cross (Vic) . 23 May 2021 . 3 . 12 April 1913.
22. Web site: 1915 - Football . Sandringham Southern Cross (Vic) . 24 May 2021 . 8 . 20 March 1915.
23. Web site: 1910 - Football: Federal Association . Mornington & Dromana Standard (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 4 . 5 March 1910.
24. Web site: 1909 - Football: Federal Association - Cheltenham Premiers . Mornington and Dromana Standard (Vic . 22 May 2021 . 2 . 11 September 1911.
25. Web site: 1910 - Federal Association . Brighton Southern Cross (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 9 . 13 August 1910.
26. Web site: 1911 - Federal Association . Brighton Southern Cross (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 9 . 2 September 1911.
27. Web site: 1911 - News of the Week: Cheltenham . Brighton Southern Cross (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 6 . 7 October 1911.
28. Web site: 1912 - Football: Federal Association . Brighton Southern Cross (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 3 . 28 September 1912.
29. Web site: 1913 - Football: Federal Association . Brighton Southern Cross (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 9 . 11 October 1913.
30. Web site: 1914 - Football: Federal Association . Brighton Southern Cross (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 8 . 26 September 1914.
31. Web site: 1915 - Football: Final Match . Seaside News (Cheltenham, Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 8 . 21 August 1915.
32. Web site: 1915 - Football: Final Match, Brighton Districts Premiers . Moorabbin News (Vic) . 24 May 2021 . 8 . 21 August 1915.
33. Web site: 1919 - SECOND JUNIOR SEMI-FINAL TO-MORROW. . Geelong Advertiser (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 6 . 3 October 1919.
34. Web site: 1920 - Cadet Premiership . The Age . 25 May 2021 . 8 . 4 October 1920.
35. Web site: 1921 - Preparing for Football . The Herald . 24 May 2021 . 4 . 2 April 1921.
36. Web site: 1921 - Federal Association . The Age . 22 May 2021 . 14 . 19 September 1921.
37. Web site: 1922 - Sporting Life: Federal Association . Frankston & Somerville Standard (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 1 . 30 August 1922.
38. Web site: 1923 - Federal Football Association . Frankston & Somerville Standard (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 2 . 22 August 1923.
39. Web site: 1923 - That Fair Dinkum Football Team . Frankston & Somerville Standard (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 4 . 14 September 1923.
40. Web site: 1924 - Federal Association . The Argus . 22 May 2021 . 5 . 15 September 1924.
41. Web site: 1922 - Other Matches: Federal Association . The Age . 22 May 2021 . 15 . 21 September 1925.
42. Web site: 1926 - Football: Federal Association . The Argus . 21 May 2021 . 7 . 27 September 1926.
43. Web site: 1927 - Football: Federal Association Final . The Argus . 21 May 2021 . 6 . 26 September 1927.
44. Web site: 1928 - Football: Federal Association . The Argus . 21 May 2021 . The Argus . 17 . 24 September 1928.
45. Web site: 1929 - Football: Federal Association . The Argus . 21 May 2021 . 16 . 9 September 1929.
46. Web site: 1925 - Federal FA . Malvern Standard (Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 8 . 25 September 1925.
47. Web site: 1931 - Football . Frankston & Somerville Standard (Vic) . 21 May 2021 . 8 . 17 October 1931.
48. Web site: 1932 - Federal Districts . The Age . 21 May 2021 . 12 . 26 September 1932.
49. Web site: 1933 - Federal District League . The Age . 21 May 2021 . 6 . 25 September 1933.
50. Web site: 1938 - Federal First Grade . The Argus . 22 May 2021 . 14 . 12 September 1938.
51. Web site: Alan Maher & Ross McCulloch . Federal FL - Best & Fairest Awards . Federal FL - 1909 to 1981 . 24 May 2021.
52. Web site: 1954 - Bill Campbell Dande's "Best & Fairest" . The Dandenong Journal (Vic) . 23 May 2021 . 24 . 8 September 1954.
53. Web site: 1937 - V.F.L. FEDERAL DISTRICT . Frankston & Somerville Standard (Vic) . 31 May 2021 . 8 . 29 October 1937.
54. Web site: 1938 - BEST & FAIREST DISTRICT PLAYERS . The Herald . 21 May 2021 . 8 . 16 September 1938.
55. Web site: 1942 - Federal League - Annual Meeting . Standard (Frankston, Vic) . 22 May 2021 . 3 . 10 April 1942.