North Western Football Association

The North Western Football Association is an Australian rules football competition based on the North West Coast of Tasmania, Australia.

Origins The North Western Football Association was formed at a meeting at the Formby Hotel in 1894 and is the oldest continuously running football competition in the state of Tasmania. The first clubs were Devonport, Latrobe, Mersey and Ulverstone.

The NWFA was the senior football body on the coast until a break away group of teams formed the NWFU in 1910. The NWFA was then looked upon as a junior competition feeding the NWFU and later the TFL Statewide League until their demise and later the NTFL teams.

The competition has seen more than fifty teams participate in its history from all parts of the North West Coast indicating the rise and fall and changing fortunes of many towns throughout history. Clubs such as Burnie Tigers, Cooee, Penguin, Mole Creek, Wilmot, Barrington, Don, East Devonport, Moriarty, Sassafras, Melrose and Gowrie Park are among many to have played in the NWFA.

From mid-1938 until it went into recess during World War II, the NWFA played under VFA rules, a code of rules established by the Victorian Football Association as a rival to the national rules. This most notably meant that throwing the ball was legal during those years. The NWFA was one of the highest level competitions outside the VFA to play under those rules. Upon its resumption after World War II, the NWFA returned to playing under the traditional rules. The Association currently operates as an eight club competition and the medal awarded to the Association's Best & Fairest player is the Les Hicks Medal.

Clubs

Locations Club locations - Devonport, Ulverstone and surroundsClub locations - Rosebery-Toorak

Current ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in NWFANWFA PremiershipsTotalYearsEast UlverstoneCrowsHaywoods Reserve, Ulverstone–20002000-22002, 2025ForthMagpiesForth Recreation Ground, ForthNWFU, LFA1904211922, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1948, 1950, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1965, 1972, 1974, 1980, 2005, 2007, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2022Motton PrestonDemonsPreston Recreation Ground, PrestonLFA19671976-101985, 1986, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2020, 2021, 2023Rosebery-ToorakHawksRosebery Park Oval, RoseberyWTFA19871990-21998, 1999SheffieldRobinsSheffield Football Ground, SheffieldKFAc.19101939, 1956-81964, 1973, 1987, 1988, 1994, 2000, 2003, 2024SpreytonEaglesMaidstone Park, Spreyton–19211921-1925, 1945-91954, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1984, 1990, 2001, 2011Turners BeachSeagullsTurners Beach Football Ground, Turners BeachLFA19711976-51981, 1982, 1983, 1994, 2014Wesley Vale RoosPipers Park, Wesley ValeNWFU19031903-1906, 1908-1940, 1946-1949, 1951-211910, 1921, 1925, 1926, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1936, 1949, 1959, 1960, 1963, 1979, 1989, 1996, 1997, 2008, 2009, 2017, 2019

Former ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in NWFANWFA PremiershipsFateTotalYearsAberdeen–19361936-19370 -Folded after 1937 seasonAlbion19030 -Folded after 1903 seasonBarringtonBarrington Football Ground, BarringtonKFA18951895-1897, 1901, 1956-196221895, 1896Formed Roland FA in 1904. Merged with Sheffield in 1963Barrington RoversBarrington Football Ground, Barrington–190919090 -Moved to Wilmot FA after 1909 seasonBurnie West Park, Burnie18851901, 19070 -Moved to East Wellington FA in 1902 and 1908DevonportBluesDevonport Oval, Devonport–18811894-19082 1894, 1898Formed NWFU in 1910Devonport Cadets1921-19230 -Folded after 1923 seasonDevonport Cobbers19450 -Moved to Devonport JFA in 1946Devonport Juniors1906-1909, 1926-1928, 1930-193311933Left leagueDonTigersDon Football Ground, Don19101902-1903, 1906, 1909, 1924-1925, 1927-1928, 1931-1936, 19390 -Folded after 1939 seasonEast Devonport (1931-32) (1933-40)19011931-1936, 1938-19400 -Moved to NWFU in 1945Elizabeth-RailtonEaglesRailton Recreation Reserve, RailtonEDFA19251986-19890 -Folded after 1989 seasonEugenanaDJFA1950-19510 -Folded after 1951 seasonEx Servicemen–19501950-?3 1951, 1952, 1953FoldedFederal1903-19040 -FoldedGowrie ParkSaintsGowrie Park Football Ground, Gowrie Park–19651965-19704 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970Folded after 1970 season due to the completion of the Mersey-Forth Hydro projectHarford–190519050 -Moved to East Devon JFA in 1906.High School1921-1931, 1936-19370 -Folded before end of 1937 seasonKindredKindred Football Ground, KindredLFA19101920-19210 -Folded after 1921 season, re-formed in West Devon JFA in 1924LatrobeDiehardsLatrobe Football Ground, Latrobe–18811894-1897, 1903-190811907Formed NWFU in 1910Latrobe RoversLatrobe Football Ground, Latrobe–19391939-194911945Became seconds team of Latrobe in 1950Latrobe YCWLatrobe Football Ground, Latrobe–193819380 -Folded after 1938 seasonMelroseDark with light stripesMelrose Football Ground, Melrose–19201907, 1920-1923, 1925-1926, 1929-193211920Folded after 1932 seasonMerseyDevonport Oval, Devonport–18941894-1909, 1920-1940, 1948-194913 1898, 1899, 1901, 1902, 1904, 1905, 1908, 1909, 1923, 1924, 1927, 1928, 1932Formed NWFU in 1910, returned in 1919, recess in 1940, re-formed in 1948 and folded after 1949 season.Mole CreekBulldogsMole Creek Recreation Ground, Mole CreekEDFA19201998-20030 -Moved to Leven FA after 2003 seasonMoriarty(1905)(1945-50)Spudpickers MoriartyEDJFA19041905, 1922-1923, 1945-19500 -Moved to East Devon JFA in 1906. Moved to Latrobe FL in 1951North Devonport19040 -FoldedOld Devonians–19351935-19390 -Folded after 1939 seasonPenguinTwo BluesPenguin Recreation Ground, Penguin–189019070 -Formed NWFU in 1910RailtonTigersRailton Recreation Reserve, RailtonLFL18911939-1940, 1946-19826 1933, 1946, 1947, 1955, 1961, 1966Folded after 1982 season. Re-formed in Leven FA in 1990Sassafras(1905)(1946-50)Sassafras Reserve, SassafrasLFL19051905, 1946, 1948-19500 -Moved to East Devon JFA in 1906. Moved to Latrobe FL in 1951Spreyton ShamrocksShamrocksMedcraft's Paddock, Lower Barrington–19061906 0 -Folded after 1906 seasonSprentTigersSprent Recreation Ground, SprentDFA19081997-20000 -Merged with Ulverstone Districts to form East Ulverstone in 2000UlverstoneRobinsUlverstone Football Ground, Ulverstone–18881894, 1900-1904, 1906-190831900, 1903, 1906Formed NWFU in 1910Ulverstone DistrictRebelsHaywoods Reserve, UlverstoneLFA19521971-199941971, 1991, 1992, 1993Merged with Sprent to form East Ulverstone in 2000West UlverstoneLionsWest Ulverstone Football Ground, West UlverstoneDFA19732002-20230 -Entered recess following 2023 seasonWilmotRobinsWilmot Football Ground, WilmotKFA18961956-19740 -Moved to Leven FA in 1975

Premiers List of NWFA Seniors Premiership teams.

1894 Devonport 1895 Barrington 1896 Barrington 1897 Devonport 1898 Mersey 1899 Mersey 1900 Ulverstone 1901 Mersey 1902 Mersey 1903 Ulverstone 1904 Mersey 1905 Mersey 1906 Ulverstone 1907 Latrobe 1908 Mersey 1909 Mersey 1910 Wesley Vale 1911 no details 1912 Don 1913 no details 1914 no details 1915 Competition in Recess Due to WWI 1916 Competition in Recess Due to WWI 1917 Competition in Recess Due to WWI 1918 Competition in Recess Due to WWI 1919 Competition suspended due to Influenza Epidemic 1920 Melrose 1921 Wesley Vale 1922 Forth 1923 Mersey 1924 Mersey 1925 Wesley Vale 1926 Wesley Vale 1927 Mersey 1928 Mersey 1929 Wesley Vale 1930 Wesley Vale 1931 Wesley Vale 1932 Mersey 1933 Devonport Juniors 1934 Wesley Vale 1935 Forth 1936 Wesley Vale 1937 Forth 1938 Forth 1939 Forth 1940 Forth 1941 Competition in Recess Due to WWII 1942 Competition in Recess Due to WWII 1943 Competition in Recess Due to WWII 1944 Competition in Recess Due to WWII 1945 Latrobe Rovers 1946 Railton 1947 Railton 1948 Forth 1949 Wesley Vale 1950 Forth 1951 Ex Servicemen 1952 Ex Servicemen 1953 Ex Servicemen 1954 Spreyton 1955 Railton 1956 Forth 1957 Forth 1958 Forth 1959 Wesley Vale 1960 Wesley Vale 1961 Railton 1962 Sheffield 1963 Wesley Vale 1964 Sheffield 1965 Forth 1966 Railton 1967 Gowrie Park 1968 Gowrie Park 1969 Gowrie Park 1970 Gowrie Park 1971 Ulverstone District 1972 Forth 1973 Sheffield 1974 Forth 1975 Spreyton 1976 Spreyton 1977 Spreyton 1978 Spreyton 1979 Wesley Vale 1980 Forth 1981 Turners Beach 1982 Turners Beach 1983 Turners Beach 1984 Spreyton 1985 Motton Preston 1986 Motton Preston 1987 Sheffield 1988 Sheffield 1989 Wesley Vale 1990 Spreyton 1991 Ulverstone District 1992 Ulverstone District 1993 Ulverstone District 1994 Sheffield 1995 Turners Beach 1996 Wesley Vale 1997 Wesley Vale 1998 Rosebery Toorak 1999 Rosebery Toorak 2000 Sheffield 2001 Spreyton 2002 East Ulverstone 2003 Sheffield 2004 Motton Preston 2005 Forth 2006 Motton Preston 2007 Forth 2008 Wesley Vale 2009 Wesley Vale 2010 Motton Preston 2011 Spreyton 2012 Motton Preston 2013 Motton Preston 2014 Turners Beach 2015 Forth 2016 Forth 2017 Wesley Vale 2018 Forth 2019 Wesley Vale 2020 Motton Preston 2021 Motton Preston 2022 Forth 2023 Motton Preston 2024 Sheffield 2025 East Ulverstone

Records

NWFA Record Score

Sheffield Seniors – 69.29 (443) vs Rosebery Toorak 0.0 in 2021. Rosebery-Toorak set an unfortunate new NWFA benchmark with an all-time low percentage in the 2021 season of 1.635% (68 points scored, 4160 points conceded in 15 games). 60% of their points were scored in one match against West Ulverstone, when they only lost by five goals. For the other 14 games, they kicked 1.0.6 four times, 0.1.1 three times, and went scoreless seven times. Their leading goalkicker was Nick McElwee with two goals, both against West Ulverstone. It was the only time he played for the club all year.

Forth Reserves – 66.24 (420) vs Spreyton 0.0 in 2013.

NWFA Individual Goalkicking Record (Match) Ben Holland – (36) – Wesley Vale v Rosebery Toorak in 2024. Note: This is a current Tasmanian state record.

Leading Goal Kickers

Year Player H&A goals Finals goals Total Goals 1975 Ron Mansfield (Spreyton) 0 0 0 1976 Royce Miles (Spreyton) 0 0 0 1977 Royce Miles (Spreyton) 76 0 76 1978 G Smith 66 0 66 1979 B Johnson 65 0 65 1980 Lloyd Dixon (Turners Beach) 110 0 110 1981 Brian Cole (Spreyton) 0 0 0 1982 Brian Hickey (Turners Beach) 122 0 122 1983 Brian Eade (Ulverstone District) 86 0 86 1984 Chris Reynolds (Spreyton) 72 0 72 1985 Brian Eade (Ulverstone District) 102 0 102 1986 David Frenshaw (Sheffield) 88 0 88 1987 Mike Brocksopp (Turners Beach) 102 0 102 1988 Shane Harris (Ulverstone District) 77 0 77 1989 Les Davidson (Spreyton) 49 0 49 1990 Michael Bramich (Spreyton) 58 0 58 1991 Les Davidson (Spreyton) 55 0 55 1992 Robert Cole (Forth) 60 0 60 1993 Robert Cole (Forth) 83 10 93 1994 Tom Honner (Rosebery Toorak) 66 3 69 1995 Iaon Drake (Rosebery Toorak) 80 0 80 1996 Iaon Drake (Rosebery Toorak) 110 11 121 1997 Paul Hampton (Sheffield) 100 0 100 1998 Paul Hampton (Sheffield) 81 3 84 1999 Jason Fellows (Rosebery Toorak) 75 15 90 2000 Craig Muir (Wesley Vale) 111 0 111 2001 Andrew Stretton (Sheffield) 57 0 57 2002 Jason Foley (East Ulverstone) 81 0 81 2003 Andrew Stretton (Sheffield) 0 0 0 2004 Jamie Auton (East Ulverstone) 0 0 0 2005 Jamie Auton (East Ulverstone) 96 2 98 2006 Jamie Auton (East Ulverstone) 127 4 131 2007 Paul Hampton (Spreyton) 101 0 101 2008 Todd Bryan (Spreyton) 120 0 120 2009 Jamie Auton (West Ulverstone) 79 0 79 2010 Jamie Auton (West Ulverstone) 101 0 101 2011 Mathew Smedley (Motton Preston) 70 0 70 2012 Shannon Mulvey (Sheffield) 104 0 104 2013 Claye Sculthorpe (Motton Preston) 137 0 137 2014 Nick Milbourne (Forth) 138 8 146 2015 Nick Milbourne (Forth) 108 0 108 2016 Brodie Dennis (Rosebery Toorak)) 113 0 113 2017 Nick Veal (Forth) 79 2 81 2018 Tristan Weeks (Wesley Vale) 112 8 120

Ladders

2009 North West FA Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts