WA Country Football

[errant bounce]

Hi guys, I have been sitting, waiting, hoping that someone would make this thread, but alas no one has. So I'll try get is started. I would love to see some results, good players, new players and the like put in this thread. I love following all of country footy in WA even if I only play in one league.

Currently I play in the Ongerup Football Association for Jerramungup, we are 5-0 so far this year having just beaten reigning premiers Lake Grace by 8 goals last week, so we are pretty stoked. Prior to this I played for Quairading in the Avon Football Association for three years which I enjoyed... mainly for the amount piss drinking we did.

So share what you are up to/teams you are in and get the ball rolling.

Shit, I wonder if I knew you? we definitely would have known a few of the same people, did you have much to do with Claremont?

 

[errant bounce]

Esperance Districts FA
Condingup - Red, blue and gold panels
Newtown - Melbourne
Norseman - 80s Footscray
Munglinup - Perth

Ravensthorpe FA
Lakes - Red with viking logo on top of yellow and royal blue bands around bottom half
Lakes Districts
Lake King

Does anyone know why Ravensthorpe insist on having their own competition? there are only two sides operating currently and it's what, 30 minutes from Esperance (which has lost about two-thirds of its clubs in the last 30 years).

The region doesn't particularly produce many players, either. Busselton / Great Southern are some of the most fertile country areas in Australia but Esperance is a reasonably sized place but they've barely produced an AFL player. even back in the day, weren't they zoned to South Fremantle? cannot recall anyone of note coming from Esperance.

 

[jumperfan]

Does anyone know why Ravensthorpe insist on having their own competition? there are only two sides operating currently and it's what, 30 minutes from Esperance (which has lost about two-thirds of its clubs in the last 30 years).

The region doesn't particularly produce many players, either. Busselton / Great Southern are some of the most fertile country areas in Australia but Esperance is a reasonably sized place but they've barely produced an AFL player. even back in the day, weren't they zoned to South Fremantle? cannot recall anyone of note coming from Esperance.

It's a good 4 hour round trip from Ravensthorpe-Hopetoun to Esperance according to Google Maps, so probably travel reasons. I think if it were to finish up the Ongerup League would make more sense as a destination given Newdegate and Jerramungup are a bit closer and that would get rid of the bye in that league.

Koltyn Tholstrup is from Esperance I believe. Obviously not the biggest name but still a pretty high draft pick.

 

[pacemaker]

Does anyone know why Ravensthorpe insist on having their own competition? there are only two sides operating currently and it's what, 30 minutes from Esperance (which has lost about two-thirds of its clubs in the last 30 years).

The region doesn't particularly produce many players, either. Busselton / Great Southern are some of the most fertile country areas in Australia but Esperance is a reasonably sized place but they've barely produced an AFL player. even back in the day, weren't they zoned to South Fremantle? cannot recall anyone of note coming from Esperance.

2 hour drive to Esperance from Ravensthorpe. It's a great friendly community league that I hope keeps going for many years to come. 14 v 14 a true outback country league.

If the 2 clubs were to merge and join Esperance FL or Ongerup FL they would go under as they wouldn't be able to consistently get the league, resys and colts numbers every week. Both are farming and mining communities so very difficult to get players but they do a great job to make it all work.

That being said they do play a one off Ravensthorpe FL vs Munglinup. Most of the Munglinup team would be Esperance based players.

 

[errant bounce]

2 hour drive to Esperance from Ravensthorpe. It's a great friendly community league that I hope keeps going for many years to come. 14 v 14 a true outback country league.

If the 2 clubs were to merge and join Esperance FL or Ongerup FL they would go under as they wouldn't be able to consistently get the league, resys and colts numbers every week. Both are farming and mining communities so very difficult to get players but they do a great job to make it all work.

That being said they do play a one off Ravensthorpe FL vs Munglinup. Most of the Munglinup team would be Esperance based players.

How does the league work, do they genuinely just play one another ten times a season?

Is a two hour drive really that difficult? I remember regularly driving an hour for after school footy matches even in primary school. it wasn't every week but it happened enough.

 

[MortlockWatcher]

They play each other 10 times, usually fortnightly, and then a grand final at the end. It is possible for a team to lose all 10 home and away matches then win the flag.

The issue with footy in the region is that the format for RDFA matches are rather ad hoc. Some are 18 on 18, some are 16 on 16, some are 14 on 14 and some have even been played as AFL 9s because numbers are far from plentiful. The format is sometimes decided on how many people turn up at the ground on the day. There is no way that the Ravensthorpe-Hopetoun-Munglinup region could support an EDFA or OFA club playing weekly.

 

[errant bounce]

They play each other 10 times, usually fortnightly, and then a grand final at the end. It is possible for a team to lose all 10 home and away matches then win the flag.

The issue with footy in the region is that the format for RDFA matches are rather ad hoc. Some are 18 on 18, some are 16 on 16, some are 14 on 14 and some have even been played as AFL 9s because numbers are far from plentiful. The format is sometimes decided on how many people turn up at the ground on the day. There is no way that the Ravensthorpe-Hopetoun-Munglinup region could support an EDFA or OFA club playing weekly.

Interesting, how do the two clubs get along then, how do guys choose which club they'll play for?

 

[MortlockWatcher]

Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun are something like half-an-hour apart.
I believe they work out how many players they can muster from their towns for match day and work out the format from there.

 

[MortlockWatcher]

The first Grand Final of the 2025 season was played on the weekend.

Exmouth defeated Ramblers in the Gascoyne grand final.

Ramblers had a chance to regain the title of most premierships won by a WA club, but missed out.

They remain equal with South Bunbury on 45 premierships.

 

[MortlockWatcher]

Buddy Franklin playing for Dowerin in April against Gingin.

The club is organising buses for spectators from Perth.
Pre-matchday online ticket sales only - no walk-ups on the day.

The money raised on the day is going towards improving the lighting at the oval at Dowerin.