The Ararat & District Football Association was an Australian rules football League based around Ararat in Western Victoria.
History The ADFA was the minor league in Ararat with clubs named after churches, mills and mines. The competition was regarded as the minor league of the area, whilst the major club in town, the Ararat Football Club played in the Wimmera Football League.
This association was founded in 1922 and was re-figured and calibrated several times in its first ten years of existence. 1922 Ararat & District Junior Football Association 1927 Dobie Football Association 1928 Ararat Inter-church Football Association
1931 Ararat & District Football Association
Until the mid 1990s, the nine club league had six clubs drawing players out of Ararat and three clubs with predominantly Stawell based players. However, during the 90s there was a population decline in Ararat. Aradale Mental Hospital was closed, alongside government bodies which supplied employment for the town, this forced clubs to merge due to low numbers.
The league finished in 1999 which saw teams splitting into the Horsham & District Football League and Mininera & District Football League.
Final clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in ADFAADFA Senior PremiershipsFateTotalYearsCaledonians-MinersSaintsArarat City Band Centre, Ararat–19961996-199911999Became Ararat United and moved to Mininera & District FL in 2000Great WesternDemonsGreat Western Public Park Reserve, Great WesternSWFL1880s1922-1925, 1933–1949, 1953–199931963, 1972, 1983Moved to Stawell & District FA in 1926 and 1950. Moved to Horsham & District FL in 2000MoystonTigersMoyston Recreation Reserve, Moyston–18901922-199951967, 1968, 1969, 1990, 1991Merged with Willaura to form Moyston-Willaura in Mininera & District FLPrestige-Trinity DragonsGordon Street Oval, Ararat–19961996-19990 -Merged with St Marys to form Ararat Eagles in Horsham & District FL in 2000St Marys Kangaroos Alexandra Oval, Ararat–1920s1928-1935, 1938-1999 91928, 1946, 1952, 1953, 1970, 1971, 1992, 1997, 1998Recess in 1936-37. Merged with Prestige-Trinity to form Ararat Eagles in Horsham & District FL in 2000SwiftsBaggiesNorth Park, StawellSWFL19131970-199951977, 1989, 1993, 1994Moved to Horsham & District FL in 2000
Previous clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in ADFAADFA Senior PremiershipsFateTotalYearsArarat Ex Students–19451945-19460 -Folded in 1947Ararat Juniors–1921192211922Folded in 1922Ararat Imperials–19221923-192721923, 1924Folded in 1927Armstrong–192319230 -Folded after 1923 seasonBuangor(1929)
(1946-65)RamblersDes Brennan Park, BuangorRFA1900s1927, 1931, 1937, 1946–19650 -Returned to Ripon FA in 1928 and 1938. Recess after 1931 season. Folded in 1966Caledonians DemonsArarat City Band Centre, Ararat–19281928-1995101931, 1933, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1975, 1985, 1986, 1987Merged with Miners to form Miners-Caledonians in 1996Cathcart19031922-19260 - Folded after 1926 seasonDobieDobie Recreation Reserve, DobieBDFA1927, 1930119271928-29 unknown, folded after 1930 seasonElmhurstElmhurst Recreation Reserve, ElmhurstLFL1900s1949-19500 -Folded in 1951GlenorchyGlenorchy Recreation Reserve, GlenorchySWFL18941970-1972, 19760 -Recess between 1973-75. Folded after 1976 seasonHalls GapHalls Gap Recreation Reserve, Halls GapSWFL19521970-19750 -Folded in 1976JoelRoversSWFL1890s1939-194011939Folded in 1941Lake BolacBombersLake Bolac Recreation Reserve, Lake BolacWFA1880s19260 -Moved to Willaura & District FA in 1927LandsboroughBurrasLandsborough Recreation Reserve, LandsboroughLFL, SWFL18961937-1939, 1950-1952, 1957–196421960, 1961Recess in 1940, re-formed in Lexton FL in 1947. Returned to Lexton FL in 1953 and 1965MaroonaMaroona Recreation Reserve, Maroona–19221922-19240 -Folded after 1924 seasonMiners MinersKokoda Park, Ararat–19281928-1995101934, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1949, 1958, 1959, 1973, 1974, 1976Merged with Caledonians to form Caledonians-Miners in 1996Prestige Maroona–19451946-199541951, 1956, 1966, 1988Merged with Trinity to form Prestige-Trinity in 1996Trinity BulldogsGordon Street Oval, Ararat–19251925-1995101929, 1930, 1932, 1936, 1947, 1948, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1979Merged with Prestige to form Prestige-Trinity in 1996WarrakWarrak Recreation Reserve, WarrakRFA1900s1931-19370 -Folded in 1937WarriorsWarriors North Park, StawellSWFL1890s1970-199781940, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1995, 1996Absorbed by Stawell in the Wimmera FL in 1998WillauraSaintsWillaura Recreation Reserve, WillauraWFA1900s1925-192621926, 1927Moved to Mininera & District FL in 1927
Association Football Records
+ Notable Records Record Details Year Highest Score 414 Points St Marys.65.24.414 (v Moyston 3.0.18) 1998 Most Goals in a Match 27 Goals Geoff LePoidevin - St Marys (v Moyston) 1998 Most Goals in a Season 155 Goals Danny Aldersea – Caledonians FC 1975 Most Consecutive Premierships 3 Moyston FC 1967–1969 Warriors FC 1980–1982 Caledonians 1985–1987 Most Consecutive Wins 38 Wins Swifts FC 1993–1995 Most Consecutive Losses 56 Losses Moyston 1996–1999
Premiers
1922 Ararat Juniors 6 10 46 Vs Moyston 4 3 27 1923 Ararat Imperials 7 5 47 Vs Cathcart 4 5 29 1924 Ararat Imperials 7 8 50 Vs Maroona 5 10 40 1925 Willaura 8 8 56 Vs Cathcart 4 6 30 1926 Willaura 10 15 75 Vs Cathcart 8 5 53 1927 Dobie 8 15 63 Vs A Imperials 5 10 40 1928 St Marys 8 2 50 Vs Trinity 6 4 40 1929 Trinity 9 12 66 Vs St Marys 7 14 56 1930 Trinity 6 5 41 Vs St Andrews 4 9 33 1931 St Andrews 11 13 79 Vs Trinity 8 8 56 1932 Trinity 7 5 47 Vs Moyston 5 7 37 1933 St Andrews 9 15 69 Vs Methodists 6 9 45 1934 Methodists 9 16 70 Vs Trinity 5 8 38 1935 Methodists 12 12 84 Vs Trinity 10 8 68 1936 Trinity 12 11 83 Vs Methodists 7 9 51 1937 Methodists 9 16 70 Vs Trinity 7 9 51 1938 Methodists 12 11 83 Vs Great Western 3 17 35 1939 Joel Joel 9 15 69 Vs Methodists 6 7 43 1940 Warriors 15 8 98 Vs St Marys 11 9 75 1946 St Marys 12 14 86 Vs Ararat Ex-students 10 9 69 1947 Trinity 11 10 76 Vs Methodists 7 9 51 1948 Trinity 11 9 75 Vs Prestige 7 15 57 1949 Methodists 13 7 85 Vs St Marys 8 7 55 1950 St Andrews 12 11 83 Vs Methodists 7 6 48 1951 Prestige 10 11 71 Vs Methodists 3 9 27 1952 St Marys 12 17 89 Vs Trinity 10 8 68 1953 St Marys 6 11 47 Vs Caledonians 6 8 44 1954 Caledonians 7 14 56 Vs St Marys 6 9 45 1955 Caledonians 8 14 62 Vs Prestige 8 3 51 1956 Prestige 10 9 69 Vs Caledonians 6 9 45 1957 Caledonians 9 11 65 Vs St Marys 7 12 54 1958 Methodists 9 8 62 Vs Great Western 8 5 53 1959 Methodists 9 10 64 Vs Caledonians 8 8 56 1960 Landsborough 13 14 92 Vs Caledonians 2 3 15 1961 Landsborough 13 10 88 Vs Great Western 6 12 48 1962 Great Western 12 10 82 Vs Landsborough 8 12 60
1963 Trinity 6 13 49 Vs Great Western 5 7 37 1964 Trinity 5 6 36 Vs Great Western 3 12 30 1965 Trinity 13 10 88 Vs Moyston 8 14 62 1966 Prestige 10 12 72 Vs Trinity 7 10 52 1967 Moyston 14 12 96 Vs St Marys 11 6 72 1968 Moyston 11 12 78 Vs St Marys 6 16 52 1969 Moyston 15 10 100 Vs St Marys 15 9 99 1970 St Marys 18 9 117 Vs Great Western 7 10 52 1971 St Marys 9 14 68 Vs Great Western 7 3 45 1972 Great Western 14 13 97 Vs Methodists 11 15 81 1973 Miners 19 16 130 Vs Great Western 10 7 67 1974 Miners 10 12 72 Vs Caledonians 10 11 71 1975 Caledonians 13 28 106 Vs Miners 8 10 58 1976 Miners 12 13 85 Vs Swifts 11 7 73 1977 Swifts 15 14 104 Vs Miners 10 8 68 1978 Warriors 8 14 62 Vs Moyston 4 10 34 1979 Trinity 16 7 103 Vs St Marys 7 11 53 1980 Warriors 11 9 75 Vs Caledonians 8 9 57 1981 Warriors 18 23 131 Vs St Marys 13 12 90 1982 Warriors 18 13 121 Vs St Marys 16 12 108 1983 Great Western 11 10 76 Vs Warriors 5 9 39 1984 Warriors 11 15 81 Vs Miners 11 9 75 1985 Caledonians 20 6 126 Vs Great Western 13 19 97 1986 Caledonians 15 12 102 Vs St Marys 13 9 87 1987 Caledonians 19 10 124 Vs Trinity 13 19 97 1988 Prestige 7 10 52 Vs Caledonians 6 10 46 1989 Swifts 14 7 91 Vs Moyston 13 9 87 1990 Moyston 14 19 103 Vs Warriors 10 14 74 1991 Moyston 15 9 99 Vs St Marys 12 6 78 1992 St Marys 11 13 79 Vs Caledonians 8 7 55 1993 Swifts 17 9 111 Vs St Marys 7 10 52 1994 Swifts 15 8 98 Vs Warriors 14 3 87 1995 Warriors 18 8 116 Vs St Marys 8 13 61 1996 Warriors 15 10 100 Vs Caledonians-Miners 11 10 76 1997 St Marys 25 12 162 Vs Great Western 11 4 70 1998 St Marys 13 10 88 Vs Great Western 10 9 69 1999 Caledonians-Miners 12 13 85 Vs Prestige-Trinity 6 11 47
League Best & Fairest YearPlayerClub1950Eric JamesTrinity1951Reg BatesMethodists1952Leon GibsonLandsborough1953Alan GrantMethodists1954Max CurranGreat Western1955Les LuggSt Marys1956Bruce DickersonMoyston1957Henry GunstoneGreat Western1958Leo KranzBuangor1959Bruce GrahamPrestige1960Neil FentonTrinity1961Peter StainsbyPrestigeStuart RobertsonLandsborough1962Barry SmartTrinity1963Barry SmartTrinity1964Ivan DunneSt Marys1965Doug BullenPrestige1966Les PeoplesSt Marys1967Alan SmithMethodists1968George DunnMethodists1969Terry DavisSt Marys1970Victor BarwickPrestige1971Peter KaczynskiMoyston1972Graeme TrickeyHalls Gap1973Kevin WestrupSt Marys1974Robert WilsonMoyston1975Lex PritchardCaledonians1976Ross JacksonWarriors1977Terry BradyGreat Western1978Wilf DickesonGreat Western1979Leo MooneyGreat Western1980Ian BrilliantWarriors1981Peter CordyGreat Western1982Ralph TullochSwifts1983Gary ToddMoyston1984Peter CodyGreat Western1985Des BeatonWarriors1986Brian JenkinsPrestige1987Brian JenkinsPrestige1988John CoolePrestige1989Glen JoinerSwifts1990Darren AustinWarriors1991Tim PurbrickSt MarysAnthony RedfordSwifts1992Anthony HarringtonCaledonians1993Andrew TaylorSwifts1994Peter ScottMiners1995Shane AllgoodCaledoniansNoel JacobsWarriors1996Rohan MaySt MarysCasper CossanWarriors1997Noel JacobsSt Marys1998Matt JacksonCaledonians-Miners1999Dale BlighGreat Western
Leading Goal Kickers
Year Player H&A goals Finals goals Total Goals 1940Gerald Lillis (St Marys)000 1953 B Carroll (St Marys) 0 0 0 1954 - 0 0 0 1955 - 0 0 0 1956 Alan Fiscalini (Prestige) 58 3 61 1957 - 0 0 0 1958 - 0 0 0 1959 R Hellyer (Caledonians) 44 5 49 1960 J Sandlant (Landsborough) 47 4 51 1961 Stewart Robertson (Landsborough) 60 3 63 1962 K McKinnis (Moyston) 35 0 35 1963 Fred Locke (Trinity) 58 7 65 1964 - 0 0 0 1965 - 0 0 0 1966 Gary Studd (Prestege) 52 2 54 1967 Gerard Brennan (St Marys) 66 2 68 1968 John Pola (Moyston) 38 7 45 1969 John Pola (Moyston) 31 10 41 1970 Don Sladdin (St Marys) 67 5 72 1971 Don Sladdin (St Marys) 67 8 75 1972 Russell Smyth (Methodists) 84 7 91 1973 David Watson (Caledonians) 68 4 72 1974 Warren Grant (Miners) 85 14 99 1975 Donny Aldersea (Caledonians) 139 16 155 1976 Warren Grant (Miners) 75 10 85 1977 Howard Dunn (Swifts) 58 12 70 1978 Bill Van Der Waal (Warriors) 76 13 89 1979 Leo Mooney (Prestige) 49 0 49 1980 Bill Van Der Waal (Warriors) 68 19 87 1981 Bill Van Der Waal (Warriors) 76 0 76 1982 Graeme Sladdin (St Marys) 126 8 134 1983 Wanye Ford (PrestIge) 109 0 109 1984 Les Brennan (Miners) 96 11 107 1985 Terry Croton (Great Western) 90 18 108 1986 Graeme Sladdin (St Marys) 79 14 93 1987 Darren Borelli (Trinity) 73 5 78 1988 Les Brennan (Caledonians) 0 102 102 1989 Craig Marrow (Warriors) 64 3 67 1990 Mimi Michael (Moyston) 96 19 115 1991 Mimi Michael (Moyston) 102 6 108 1992 Mimi Michael (Moyston) 73 11 84 1993 Dan Grainger (Swifts) 86 7 93 1994 Tim Williams (Warriors) 94 13 107 1995 David Fratin (St Marys) 104 6 110 1996 Graeme Nuske (Swifts) 62 0 62 1997 Tim Williams (Warriors) 63 5 68 1998 Paul Kinna (Great Western) 139 10 149 1999 Leigh Jenkins (Prestige-Trinity) 88 5 93
VFL/AFL Players From ADFA Caledonians
Lex Pritchard - Collingwood
Great Western
Roy West - Geelong Miners
Doug Tassell - Essendon
St Marys
Daryl Peoples - Fitzroy Terry Gleeson - Melbourne
References