South West Football League


The South West Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the south-west of Western Australia. The league is affiliated to the West Australian Country Football League.

History

The idea of creating larger league was discussed early in 1951. The idea that three clubs from the Collie Football Association and the three clubs from the Bunbury Football association would invigorate public interest in the South West region on the state. Talks continued into 1952 and it was finally agree to trial a competition with all the two associations clubs for a two-year period. The associations administrations would remain separate. Sensing opportunity, Donnybrook left their local competition to become the seventh club.
In 1953 the Bunbury-Collie League was founded with seven teams. South Bunbury, Bunbury Railways, Bunbury Pastimes, Mines Rovers,Collie Railways,Centrals and Donnybrook. The public response was evident, interest was up, attendances to games were up and the general standard of play was an obvious improvement.
The trail was deed so successful that it kicked off a series of consolidation of smaller leagues within the state of Western Australia.
In 1993 a proposed submission from the new Harvey Football Club was rejected because the SWFL thought 10 teams was a sufficient number. Harvey then put in a successful submission into the Peel Football League where they played their first season in 1994.
The start of the 2009 season saw the introduction of the Harvey Bulls, who made the move over from the expanding Peel Football League. This was different from their bid in 1993, as they had nowhere else to go. The SWFL were also looking for a tenth team to get rid of the dreaded bye and extended season. Harvey left the PFL because of the rumour of Perth teams entering the PFL for 2009 so therefore increasing travel commitments. This idea fell through but Harvey still joined the SWFL after an 8–1 vote by the SWFL clubs, with HBL the only club opposing the idea.

Clubs

Current clubs

Previous

ClubJoined LeagueLeft LeagueNotes
Collie Railways19531961Merged with Collie Centrals to become Collie Saints, no premierships
Collie Centrals19531961Merged with Collie Railways to become Collie Saints, no premierships
Mines Rovers19532002Merged with Collie Saints to become the Collie Eagles, 4 league premierships
Collie Saints19622002Merged with Mines Rovers to become Collie Eagles, 2 Premierships

Premierships

;League
ClubYears WonTotal
South Bunbury1953,1954, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1966, 1968, 1971, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1993, 2002, 201615
Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault 1960, 1974, 1975, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2007, 2010, 20199
Bunbury1956, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1970, 1982, 1983, 2001, 20178
Carey Park1963, 1973, 1986, 2003, 2006, 2008, 20097
Busselton1964, 1967, 1978, 1996, 2012, 20156
Mines Rovers1965, 1969, 1979, 19974
Donnybrook1977, 1998, 1999, 2000, 20185
Collie Saints1972, 19872
Augusta Margaret River1994, 1995, 20113
Collie Eagles2004, 20052
Eaton Boomers2013, 20142

Grand Finals 2009-19

Notable players