Is this the earliest merger of all time?

[Mobbenfuhrer]

I have just discovered that two tiny localities, just west of the Grampians, that no longer even figure on the map, are implicated in the earliest football club merger I am aware of.

Brim Springs FC merged with Rosebrook FC to become the Brim Springs-Rosebrook Football Club in 1909. The two areas had their own clubs, named after the areas, and the new club included the names of both towns, separated by a hyphen. That's as close to a real merger as you can get, especially in those less complicated footballing times.

Anyone know of an aussie rules merger that predates this?

The information comes from a local history of the locality of Lah Arum, whom I think still compete in the Horsham District Football League.

PS : The Brim Springs-Rosebrook merger brought some success, they won a flag in 1912, and were somewhat successful after WW1. The club finally disbanded in 1923.

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Hallowed be thy Roy

[Mobbenfuhrer]

Oh, and I might post this in the form of a poser on the main board (AFL), so if you've seen this, don't go a-blurtin' it out until a few folks have had a bash at it. This find is, mine, yer hear me, all mine!

Ahhr geeze, who am I kiddin' ... I can't stop yer.

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Hallowed be thy Roy

[Blues_Brat]

Yes I remember with great clarity the Unaglabie Stalwarts merging with the Bugerdup Bulls in the Outer South-West League in 1867

[Mobbenfuhrer]

You're probably stirring me up here ... but how am I to know that this didn't really happen. Even the town names could be real, country like this has some corkers of names.

Only pointer towards it being a stir is the comment that you remember it with great clarity!

Cheers.

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Hallowed be thy Roy