Whyalla Football League
Encyclopedia
The Whyalla Football League is an Australian rules football
competition based around the town of Whyalla
on the east coast of the Eyre Peninsula
region of South Australia
. It is an affiliated member of the South Australian National Football League
(SANFL).
In 2006 Central Whyalla Football Club were premiers, defeating Roopena Football Club.
Champion past SANFL players from Whyalla include triple Magarey Medallist Barrie Robran
and inaugural Adelaide Crows
coach Graham Cornes
while 4 time SANFL Premiership coach Neil Kerley
spent two seasons as Captain-Coach of the North Whyalla Magpies, leading them to the premiership in both seasons (1954 and 1955).
Former Whyalla footballers who have reached the AFL
include Robert Shirley
, Brett Burton
Isaac Weetra
and Levi Greenwood
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
competition based around the town of Whyalla
Whyalla, South Australia
-Demographics:According to the 2006 Census the population of the Whyalla census area was 21,122 people, making it the second largest urban area in the state outside of Adelaide...
on the east coast of the Eyre Peninsula
Eyre Peninsula
Eyre Peninsula is a triangular peninsula in South Australia. It is bounded on the east by Spencer Gulf, the west by the Great Australian Bight, and the north by the Gawler Ranges. It is named after explorer Edward John Eyre who explored some of it in 1839-1841. The coastline was first explored by...
region of South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. It is an affiliated member of the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
(SANFL).
In 2006 Central Whyalla Football Club were premiers, defeating Roopena Football Club.
Current clubs
| Jumper | Club | Nickname | Joined league | WFL Premierships | Premiership Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Whyalla | Roosters | 1939 | 18 | 1940, 1945, 1947, 1953, 1956, 1974-5, 1980, 1982, 1989, 1999-00-1-2-3-4, 2006-7 | |
| North Whyalla | Magpies | 1939 | 13 | 1939, 1941-2-3, 1948, 1950-1, 1954-5, 1977-8-9, 2008 (Spencer Gulf FL Spencer Gulf Football League The Spencer Gulf Football League is an Australian rules football competition based at the head of the Spencer Gulf in South Australia. It is an affiliated member of the South Australian National Football League.... : 1966) |
|
| Roopena | Roos | 1970 | 8 | 1986, 1988, 1990-1-2, 1997, 2009-10 | |
 |
South Whyalla | Demons | 1939 | 9 | 1944, 1946, 1949, 1952, 1968, 1981, 1984, 1993-4 (Spencer Gulf FL Spencer Gulf Football League The Spencer Gulf Football League is an Australian rules football competition based at the head of the Spencer Gulf in South Australia. It is an affiliated member of the South Australian National Football League.... : 1961-2, 1964-5) |
 |
Weeroona Bay | Tigers | 1970 | 4 | 1985, 1987, 1995-6 |
| West Whyalla | Dragons | 1945 | 15 | 1957-8-9-60, 1963, 1967, 1969-70-1-2-3, 1976, 1983, 1998, 2005 | |
Brief history
The Whyalla Football Association was formed in 1939 with founding clubs including Central Whyalla, North Whyalla and South Whyalla, although competition has been noted to have occurred prior to this. In 1961 the Whyalla Football League (together with the Great Northern Football Association and the Port Pirie Football Association) formed the Spencer Gulf Football League. In 1967 the Whyalla-based clubs left the Spencer Gulf Football League and reformed the Whyalla Football League.Champion past SANFL players from Whyalla include triple Magarey Medallist Barrie Robran
Barrie Robran
Barrie Charles Robran MBE is a former Australian rules footballer in the South Australian National Football League , widely acknowledged as a champion in his sport....
and inaugural Adelaide Crows
Adelaide Crows
The Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, playing in the Australian Football League ....
coach Graham Cornes
Graham Cornes
Graham Studley Cornes OAM is a former Australian rules football player and coach, as well as a media personality with a weekday drivetime sports program that he hosts on Adelaide 5AA with Stephen Rowe....
while 4 time SANFL Premiership coach Neil Kerley
Neil Kerley
Donald Neil Kerley OAM is a former Australian rules football player and coach. Known to his mates as either Neil or Knuckles and to South Australian football fans as King Kerley or simply "Kerls", he is best known for taking three clubs to four SANFL premierships over three decades as both a...
spent two seasons as Captain-Coach of the North Whyalla Magpies, leading them to the premiership in both seasons (1954 and 1955).
Former Whyalla footballers who have reached the AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
include Robert Shirley
Robert Shirley
Sir Robert Shirley was an English traveler and adventurer, younger brother of Sir Anthony Shirley and of the adventurer Sir Thomas.-Diplomatic Activities:Robert went with his brother Anthony to Persia in 1598...
, Brett Burton
Brett Burton
Brett Burton is a retired Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League. He was picked up at Pick 16 in the 1998 AFL Draft by the Adelaide Football Club...
Isaac Weetra
Isaac Weetra
Isaac Weetra is a semi-professional Australian rules footballer.He is notable for his brief Australian Football League stint, playing with the Melbourne Demons and wearing the No...
and Levi Greenwood
Levi Greenwood
Levi Greenwood is an Australian rules footballer with the North Melbourne Football Club. Greenwood grew up in the small coastal town of Port Neill on the Eyre Peninsula, and moved to Whyalla in his teens....
.