Future of the WRFL

[SeaSide]

When I was first involved from around 1990, I was surprised at the Spotty v Parkside rivalry which I was told had originated in the 60's.

St.Albans / Spotty and St.Albans / Albion were big too as was Port Colts / Spotty.

Currently Werribee Dists and Hoppers are the biggest, I think over time Newport v Spotty will intensify.

The dislike and pure odium during the late 80s between all clubs in the former Western Suburbs Football League led to three (not so nasty) clubs jumping ship to other Leagues: -
Port Colts to the (then) Footscray DL.
Werribee Centrals to Geelong
Willy CYs to the VAFA

Since then, only the following WSFL clubs have survived: -
Altona (City)
Hoppers Crossing
Laverton
Sunshine Heights

Most, if not all of the former FDFL clubs are now members of the WFNL, along with Altona, Hoppers, Sunshine Heights and Laverton from the former WSFL. There are many new teams that have been admitted to the WFNL, (and more to come) thus enhancing football in the Western Suburbs.

 

[random observer]

The dislike and pure odium during the late 80s between all clubs in the former Western Suburbs Football League led to three (not so nasty) clubs jumping ship to other Leagues: -
Port Colts to the (then) Footscray DL.
Werribee Centrals to Geelong
Willy CYs to the VAFA

It worries me that Port Colts were one of the not so nasty clubs. The rest must have been completely savage.

Think it was around 2007 or 08 Port Colts vs Spotty grand final. The punch ons that started after the final siren and spilled into the crowd was a remarkable sight. From memory the spotty president copped a touch up from a colts player straight after the final siren

I remember Hoppers and Colts had a solid rivalry too. Do I recall Colts coming back in a grand final after being down by 50 points or so? Might’ve been at the Western Oval

Think it was the other way around - hard to recall, as Colts and Spotty played off two or three years running.

My memory (I think it was in the last one) is that the Colts got out to a fairly big lead. Some Colts fans got cocky and started mouthing off. Spotty came back hard, took the lead in the last few minutes, then held on for a win. Celebrating Spotswood players and fans then gave it to the Colts spectators. Stroppy Colts fan then pelted a beer can - near full - at someone's head. Copper then waded into the crowd and gave the can thrower a toot of capsicum spray. Golden days of footy, WRFL-style.

 

[SeaSide]

Great however, it would need to be policed by WFNL. Can see it being like parents enrolling there kids at friends houses to get into a particularly school, but this time to get to a certain club.

Maybe it could be worked the school the child is enrolled? Just see it being messy and in the end unworkable, you just know if restricted players to a certain club it would end up in court. The bigger clubs would not like any restrictions on players.

The points system is workable the further away from the club you play for the more points are allocated but still clubs and parents may use a false address.

That's a good response, ITT.

Perhaps your idea of using local schools combined with a points system would even the competition.

Students attending colleges on the other side of town could create complications, but the League could always use their former primary schools as a point of reference.

 

[Dogs till i die]

Had cause to visit Willy Juniors on Sunday, what a fabulous set up and club, 2 grounds full of kids playing all day.

Shocked how good the 2 grounds' surfaces were after playing footy for the old Willy Tech there a "few" years ago. Electronic scoreboards, fabulous kiosk and rooms. Thing that struck me the most was the abundance of volunteers with their bibs on doing all sorts of jobs. Seems the Nick Maxwell

Nick Maxwell

Age

42

Ht

193cm

Wt

93kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.5

4star

K

7.8

3star

HB

6.7

4star

M

4.6

4star

T

3.4

5star

No current season stats available

D

14.0

4star

K

8.4

4star

HB

5.6

4star

M

4.8

5star

T

3.0

5star

factor is attracting a lot of kids there.

Willy CYMS are a fabulous club in the Ammos and many Willy Juniors end up there - good pathway there to a good club but it would be interesting to see how many WJ end up at the CYS and how many end up elsewhere including WFNL clubs.

The Ammos' Achilles heel is the travel and lack of $ for playing and that wouldn't suit everybody.

 

[SeaSide]

Had cause to visit Willy Juniors on Sunday, what a fabulous set up and club, 2 grounds full of kids playing all day.

Shocked how good the 2 grounds' surfaces were after playing footy for the old Willy Tech there a "few" years ago. Electronic scoreboards, fabulous kiosk and rooms. Thing that struck me the most was the abundance of volunteers with their bibs on doing all sorts of jobs. Seems the Nick Maxwell factor is attracting a lot of kids there.

Willy CYMS are a fabulous club in the Ammos and many Willy Juniors end up there - good pathway there to a good club but it would be interesting to see how many WJ end up at the CYS and how many end up elsewhere including WFNL clubs.

The Ammos' Achilles heel is the travel and lack of $ for playing and that wouldn't suit everybody.

 

[SeaSide]

I think you will find that 90+% of junior footballers who graduate to U18 or U19 clubs and leagues will join the clubs and leagues where they played with their friends in junior football.

Juniors who have played locally and in their college teams, can be torn, with most choosing to play with their closest clubs.

Last Saturday, Willy CYs played against St Mary's Salesian [from Chadstone]. The CYs included former students from several colleges across the Bridge. The local CYs boys said that more than half of the Salesian boys were from the Chadstone area, their former classmates at Skevs.

The Skevs boys from the Chadstone area have gone to StMS, whereas their Willi classmates have gone to the CYs.

It seems that geography plays a major role, as almost 20 of the players, from both teams, have chosen not to play with their Old Boys.