Mines Rovers Football Club

Mines Rovers Football Club is an Australian rules football team playing in the Goldfields Football League, a league based in the Goldfields region of Western Australia. Founded in 1898 as Mines Football Club, the club has enjoyed a long-standing involvement in the league. It was one of the first clubs in the region to play Australian football and help popularise the sport over rugby. The GFL was known as the Goldfields Football Association (GFA) from 1901 to 1907 and 1920–25, and as the Goldfields National Football League (GNFL) from 1926 to 1987. Mines Rovers play home games at Digger Daws Oval, one they are co tenants with other GFL member, Boulder City Football Club. Mines Rovers currently hold the record for most premierships in the GFL with 43.

History The club was formed on Thursday 30 March 1898 during a meeting held at Powell's Hotel in Kalgoorlie. The club was originally simply known as 'Mines' and wore the colours of black and white. The club tasted early success, winning the last Hannans District Football Association premiership in 1900 and the inaugural Goldfields Football Association premiership in 1901.

Song

Good old Diorites forever, Good old mighty white and blue. No matter what the situation, Mines Rovers will win through. Never mind the opposition, Our tradition gives us might. Stick at the task and never falter, For you're a Diorite.

ClubNicknameLocationHome ground (capacity)First seasonPremiershipsPremiership yearsMines Rovers Football ClubBoulder, Western Australia1898431900, 1901, 1902, 1906, 1914, 1915, 1918, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1926, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1951, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1961, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2018

Grand final appearances The list of grand final appearance including premiership teams and runners-up is detailed below.

YearPremiersRunners-up1900Mines Rovers1901Mines Rovers1902Mines Rovers1906Mines Rovers1914Mines Rovers1915Mines Rovers1916–171918Mines Rovers1921Mines Rovers1922Mines Rovers1923Mines Rovers1926Mines RoversKalgoorlie Railways1928Boulder CityMines Rovers1932Boulder CityMines Rovers1934Mines RoversKalgoorlie City1935Boulder CityMines Rovers1936Mines RoversKalgoorlie City1937Mines RoversKalgoorlie City1938Mines RoversBoulder City1939Kalgoorlie RailwaysMines Rovers1940Mines RoversBoulder City1942–441945Kalgoorlie RailwaysMines Rovers1946Mines RoversKalgoorlie Railways1947Mines RoversBoulder City1949Mines RoversBoulder City1950Boulder CityMines Rovers1951Mines RoversKalgoorlie Railways1953Kalgoorlie CityMines Rovers1954Kalgoorlie CityMines Rovers1955Mines RoversKalgoorlie City1956Mines RoversKalgoorlie Railways1957Mines RoversKalgoorlie City1960Kalgoorlie RailwaysMines Rovers1961Mines RoversBoulder City1964Kalgoorlie RailwaysMines Rovers1965Mines RoversKalgoorlie Railways1967Mines RoversKalgoorlie Railways1968Mines RoversBoulder City1969Mines RoversBoulder City1970Mines RoversKalgoorlie Railways1971Kalgoorlie RailwaysMines Rovers1972Mines RoversKalgoorlie Railways1973Kalgoorlie RailwaysMines Rovers1975Kalgoorlie RailwaysMines Rovers1979Kalgoorlie RailwaysMines Rovers1981KambaldaKalgoorlie City1985KambaldaMines Rovers1987Kalgoorlie RailwaysMines Rovers1988Kalgoorlie CityMines Rovers1991Mines RoversBoulder City1992Kalgoorlie CityMines Rovers1993Mines RoversKambalda1994Boulder CityMines Rovers1995Mines RoversBoulder City1996Mines RoversBoulder City1999Kalgoorlie CityMines Rovers2000Kalgoorlie RailwaysMines Rovers2001Mines RoversKalgoorlie Railways2002Kalgoorlie RailwaysMines Rovers2003Mines RoversBoulder City2004Mines RoversBoulder City2007Mines RoversKalgoorlie Railways2008Mines RoversKambalda2009Mines RoversKalgoorlie Railways2010Mines RoversKalgoorlie Railways2015Mines RoversKalgoorlie Railways2016Boulder CityBoulder City2017Kalgoorlie RailwaysMines Rovers2018Mines RoversBoulder City

Western Australian state premiership During early periods of West Australian football, the Western Australian state premiership was contested intermittently between 1903 and 1924 between the winners of the Western Australian Football Association and Goldfields Football Association. Mines Rovers competed on 3 occasions but were unsuccessful on their attempts. Their closest match was a draw with East Fremantle but were beaten in the replay.

Matches played YearWinnerScoresLoserResultVenueRefWinnerLoser1906(replay)The 1906 match, at East Fremantle Oval, ended in a draw, with both teams locked at 47 points. The match was replayed the following weekend at the same ground, with East Fremantle winning by 19 points.6.11 (47)7.5 (47)Mines RoversMatch drawnEast Fremantle Oval7.5 (47)3.10 (28)Mines RoversEast Fremantle won by 19 pointsEast Fremantle Oval192216.15 (111)5.4 (34)Mines RoversEast Perth won by 77 pointsPerth Oval"STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. A WRETCHED GAME." – The Western Mail. Published Thursday, 5 October 1922. Retrieved from Trove, 7 September 2011.192310.10 (70)6.4 (40)Mines RoversEast Perth won by 30 pointsKalgoorlie Oval"EAST PERTH VICTORIOUS." – Western Argus. Published Tuesday, 16 October 1923. Retrieved from Trove, 7 September 2011.

Notable players Albert Paterson – Carlton Player (1897). Fred Hiskins – premiership player (1901), VFL Leading Goalkicker (1901), Essendon leading goalkicker (1901). Hugh Gavin – captain 1904. John Woollard – Port Adelaide captain 1910. William "Nipper" Truscott – Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee (1996), W.A. Football Hall of Fame inductee (2004). Bill Cooke – Collingwood Player (1912). Tom Outridge – Inaugural winner of the Sandover Medal (1921). Lou Daily – 1935 Sandover Medalist for Subiaco. Joe Fanchi – Premiership player for West Perth kicked the winning goal for WA against Victoria 1961 National Carnival. Brian MacGregor – East Perth Player and Life Member. Alec Epis – Premiership Player (1962, 1965), Hall of Fame, 4 x Victorian State Representative. Luke Toia – Fremantle Player (1996-2003), AFL Rising Star nominee (1996). Jaymie Graham – South Fremantle Premiership Player (2005, 2009), West Coast Player & Interim Coach (1 Game), Fremantle Interim Coach (2 Games). Dion Fleay – Breckler Medallist (2006, 2007, 2011) for West Perth. Hayden Kennedy – Subiaco Premiership Player. Eddie Betts – 3× All-Australian: (2015, 2016, 2017). Dom Sheed – 2018 West Coast Premiership Player, AFL Rising Star nominee (2015). McKenzie Dowrick – Brisbane Player (2019), Inaugural West Coast Player (2020–21), Adelaide Player (2022-Current). Abbey Dowrick – Port Adelaide Player (2022-Current), AFL Women's Rising Star nominee (2022). Tyrell Dewar – West Coast Player (2023) Robert Hansen Jr – North Melbourne Player (2023)

See also

Australian rules football in the Goldfields region of Western Australia

References Notes

Footnotes