WRFL Div 2 Discussion 2026

[pushtothecone]

Seniors just an ordinary club. Unless something changes they will continue to be ordinary. Think we all know what that something is.

 

[SeaSide]

I don't think any, although the old and new Newport wear similar colours. If any link, would be the old Newport but there was nearly 20 years between the old Newport ceasing and the new Newport starting. The new Newport now play at Langshaw Reserve in Altona North, a ground never used by any of the other Newport clubs (the old ANBY club used it 30 years ago). The current Newport began at the Martyn oval, the ground of the old Newport but they moved when they split with the Newport Power juniors a few years ago. Others may know of any links.

You are right again, Doggie Boy. Despite the Newport club’s perceived exclusivity, most people in the West hope they can overcome any hostility and achieve success.

However, on a different note, Newport didn’t come back.

A new club called Newport was established.

The new Newport club was created with similar colours, a redesigned guernsey, a different home ground, a completely new committee, and a fresh group of players—all with no ties to the former club or its personnel, whether in playing or management.

The original Newport Football Club, formed before 1900, disbanded after the 1996 season due to financial issues and poor on-field performance.

Once a club has been disbanded or dissolved, that’s it—finito! It cannot be brought back.

Any club that uses the name of the original is acceptable, but it cannot claim the history of the former club, including its founding year.

\Still, many people here in the West hope the new Newport Football Club will enjoy a successful future.

 

[Dogs till i die]

You are right again, Doggie Boy. Despite the Newport club’s perceived exclusivity, most people in the West hope they can overcome any hostility and achieve success.

However, on a different note, Newport didn’t come back.

A new club called Newport was established.

The new Newport club was created with similar colours, a redesigned guernsey, a different home ground, a completely new committee, and a fresh group of players—all with no ties to the former club or its personnel, whether in playing or management.

The original Newport Football Club, formed before 1900, disbanded after the 1996 season due to financial issues and poor on-field performance.

Once a club has been disbanded or dissolved, that’s it—finito! It cannot be brought back.

Any club that uses the name of the original is acceptable, but it cannot claim the history of the former club, including its founding year.

\Still, many people here in the West hope the new Newport Football Club will enjoy a successful future.

Yep, absolutely SS, the current Newport shouldn't be claiming the old Newport history. The only tenuous link I know of is through the Martyn family, Bryan Martyn, Mick's (ex North Melbourne) father. Bryan was a senior official at the old Newport club for a long time and the oval eventually named after him.

As a promise to his ageing father, after his (old) Newport club died, Mick went about resurrecting footy at BM oval and led to the current club being formed, leading its application to the WRFL and being its first president. Don't think Mick has been actively involved for a while though.

 

[Avg at best]

So who’s ground and which club is the current Newport team formally associated with, out of those previously mentioned?

Langshaw Reserve was the home of ANBY (Altona North Brooklyn Youth). Actually a pretty decent club back in the day whom folded probably mid 90's.

The ground sat idle in an aussie rules sense for about 25 years until the current Newport Senior team moved in.

Altona Roosters Cricket still use the ground and I think the rugby league club also under Altona Roosters played there but may have moved on elsewhere

 

[churner]

I don't think there could be a formal link with any of the old Newport sides. Surely they would have been liquidated / wound up soon after their demise.

On the one occasion I saw (current) Newport playing at Martyn Oval, there was a past players for blokes from the old Newport that wore maroon and yellow. This was before they split with the juniors. Mick Martyn was there on the day - think he was still the president (?) at the time. Think it was about 2015 or 2016, though it may have been earlier. Probably no formal link, just a bit of outreach to attract / regain old supporters.

Pretty much this. They still play once per year at Martyn Oval in the gold strips.

 

[Aucklander]

2026 thread

 

[Pies2526]

Seniors just an ordinary club. Unless something changes they will continue to be ordinary. Think we all know what that something is.

Where’d this come from? Your hatred for Newport is unbelievable. You can dislike them but to ridicule them every chance you get is low and sad. Get a life.

 

[Pies2526]

Where’d this come from? Your hatred for Newport is unbelievable. You can dislike them but to ridicule them every chance you get is low and sad. Get a life.

+ an ordinary club I’d say is one that hasn’t achieved success. The club just won the under 18 division 1 flag and the senior team won half a dozen games and beat hoppers crossing (reigning premiers) in their first ever season in division 1. I’d say that’s better than ordinary, hater.

 

[pushtothecone]

+ an ordinary club I’d say is one that hasn’t achieved success. The club just won the under 18 division 1 flag and the senior team won half a dozen games and beat hoppers crossing (reigning premiers) in their first ever season in division 1. I’d say that’s better than ordinary, hater.

Winning a few games doesn’t make you a good club or get you respect across the league. That’s where you’ve got it all wrong.

 

[trucka]

+ an ordinary club I’d say is one that hasn’t achieved success. The club just won the under 18 division 1 flag and the senior team won half a dozen games and beat hoppers crossing (reigning premiers) in their first ever season in division 1. I’d say that’s better than ordinary, hater.

+ an ordinary club I’d say is one that hasn’t achieved success. The club just won the under 18 division 1 flag and the senior team won half a dozen games and beat hoppers crossing (reigning premiers) in their first ever season in division 1. I’d say that’s better than ordinary, hater.

Paying U18 players and having a Jets rep at the club promising kids from other clubs to transfer to their club and they will get them on the jets list, after not being selected by jets at their home club is a concern.

You would want to win a premiership with that going on

 

[Pies2526]

Winning a few games doesn’t make you a good club or get you respect across the league. That’s where you’ve got it all wrong.

I’d say winning more than 5 games in their first ever year in division 1 is more than ordinary, no? Especially since they were only established 7 ish years ago?

 

[Pies2526]

Paying U18 players and having a Jets rep at the club promising kids from other clubs to transfer to their club and they will get them on the jets list, after not being selected by jets at their home club is a concern.

You would want to win a premiership with that going on

You would. And they did. If they didn’t we would be ridiculing them, but they got it done so good on them I say. Do you say deer parks 7 premierships don’t count? Or Keilor’s dynasty means nothing? A flag is a flag, jog on.

 

[trucka]

You would. And they did. If they didn’t we would be ridiculing them, but they got it done so good on them I say. Do you say deer parks 7 premierships don’t count? Or Keilor’s dynasty means nothing? A flag is a flag, jog on.

Why would anyone ridicule a team for not winning a premiership? Not sure comparing U18s and Deer Park & Keilor dynasty are the same.

My main issue is a club rep using his position at the jets to ‘entice’ kids from other clubs to come and play there based on him getting them on the jets list, even after already being overlooked. This is why the Jets are sitting at the bottom of the u18 comp.

 

[Pies2526]

Why would anyone ridicule a team for not winning a premiership? Not sure comparing U18s and Deer Park & Keilor dynasty are the same.

My main issue is a club rep using his position at the jets to ‘entice’ kids from other clubs to come and play there based on him getting them on the jets list, even after already being overlooked. This is why the Jets are sitting at the bottom of the u18 comp.

Fair call about the jets. But I can assure you other clubs are doing or have done the same - so let’s call them all out when they do it.

Wasn’t comparing the under 18s flags and those dynasties in terms of value or importance. Was just saying a flag is a flag, many teams pay top dollar to get one, some actually suceed and others don’t

 

[SeaSide]

Go to 'Conversation'.

I'm waiting for you on the 'secret' line.

 

[Turbos mail]

Why would anyone ridicule a team for not winning a premiership? Not sure comparing U18s and Deer Park & Keilor dynasty are the same.

My main issue is a club rep using his position at the jets to ‘entice’ kids from other clubs to come and play there based on him getting them on the jets list, even after already being overlooked. This is why the Jets are sitting at the bottom of the u18 comp.

The western jets are a joke of an organisation and have been for years. When they see or hear of this type of behaviour and find it to be true then get rid of that person straight away. They need to look outside the circle for jets players instead of being manipulated by people only on it for their own benefit and not that of the kids coming up.
I still am yet to hear a statement from either WRFL, Newport or Western Jets on that behaviour of a player post the 18.5 GF. To me that’s very poor club management and displays poor culture. Pretty simple!

 

[Pies2526]

The western jets are a joke of an organisation and have been for years. When they see or hear of this type of behaviour and find it to be true then get rid of that person straight away. They need to look outside the circle for jets players instead of being manipulated by people only on it for their own benefit and not that of the kids coming up.
I still am yet to hear a statement from either WRFL, Newport or Western Jets on that behaviour of a player post the 18.5 GF. To me that’s very poor club management and displays poor culture. Pretty simple!

I have it on good authority that the WRFL will be handing down a pretty hefty sanction onto Newport and Sunshine, very soon. While Newport seem to have instigated it, Sunshine also did have spectators join the brawl and attack players from the Newport side. Both are at fault and will be sanctioned.

 

[Turbos mail]

I have it on good authority that the WRFL will be handing down a pretty hefty sanction onto Newport and Sunshine, very soon. While Newport seem to have instigated it, Sunshine also did have spectators join the brawl and attack players from the Newport side. Both are at fault and will be sanctioned.

It’s too late now imo. They should have acted sooner. Club 18s get a suspension of 4 games or no finals for them in 2026 and surely the player gets a lengthy suspension as well.

 

[Dogs till i die]

It’s too late now imo. They should have acted sooner. Club 18s get a suspension of 4 games or no finals for them in 2026 and surely the player gets a lengthy suspension as well.

If the sanctions do arrive, I don't think it's too late, there hasn't been a game played since the GF. It would have taken time to properly identify who is who in that crowd, it's possible they were a once a year spectator and maybe even unknown to the clubs. Police investigations were being conducted too, the WFNL wouldn't want to jump the gun on the police.

Where the WFNL should have taken quicker action on is with the known players and officials and player / officials' action are within the WFNL's control. Seems the league have decided to announce all sanctions / suspensions in one announcement but I don't agree it's too late.

 

[ROOS77]

Nice find Churner.



I think you may be thinking of an earlier blue, SS. I have no memory of Newport East or Williamstown United - think they exited from the old WSFL in the 80s or early 90s.

I think Turbo may be on the money - I seem to remember some of the players being in maroon jumpers.

I had a look around but couldn't find any footage (searching 'Newport football fight / brawl / riot' on Google or Youtube throws up a lot of possibilities, but not the right one). Until Turbo replied I was thinking I may have been misremembering the North Melb Kensington brawl (also 1998/99). It is disturbing there were so many large fights / small riots to choose from...

The Newport game you are referring to, is the game where a boundary umpire suffered a broken jaw after being king hit way behind the play

 

[random observer]

The Newport game you are referring to, is the game where a boundary umpire suffered a broken jaw after being king hit way behind the play

I don't remember anything about an umpire being hit, but my memory of it is pretty vague.

Did the umpire get kinged by a player or a ground invader? Pretty wild even for the 90s if it was the latter.

 

[Turbos mail]

The Newport game you are referring to, is the game where a boundary umpire suffered a broken jaw after being king hit way behind the play

If true im bewildered the league allow this club to continue on or at best they are on final warning. That’s disgusting and cowardly behaviour. Seen it before and most are weak individuals that couldn’t fight to save themselves.

 

[Pies2526]

If true im bewildered the league allow this club to continue on or at best they are on final warning. That’s disgusting and cowardly behaviour. Seen it before and most are weak individuals that couldn’t fight to save themselves.

Newport Football Club have no affiliation to the Newport of old. No committee members, including the president, are connected to that club in the 90’s. Completely seperate.

 

[random observer]

If true im bewildered the league allow this club to continue on or at best they are on final warning. That’s disgusting and cowardly behaviour. Seen it before and most are weak individuals that couldn’t fight to save themselves.

No - we're a bunch of old farts talking about the olden days.

The game he is referring to was back in the 90s. Nothing to do with recent events.

 

[ROOS77]

I don't remember anything about an umpire being hit, but my memory of it is pretty vague.

Did the umpire get kinged by a player or a ground invader? Pretty wild even for the 90s if it was the latter.

It definitley happened, no one knows who did it, so nobody was ever held accountable.

The old Newport FC had form with supporters pulling knives and threatening oppostion players. Booting them from the leaugue was the right thing to do at the time.

From what ive been told, the new Newport dont suffer fools anymore, which is a good thing