The Derwent Valley Football Association was a minor Australian rules football competition based in the Derwent Valley of southern Tasmania.
History The first incarnation of the Derwent Valley Football Association was formed in 1904, when New Norfolk, Railway and Upper Derwent established an association to allow for regular competition. Upper Derwent won the first premiership, however the deciding game against Railway was marred by poor behaviour from both teams and a lack of respect towards the umpires show by Railway.
The DVFA appears to have lapsed after its initial season, and the competition would not reappear until 1920 when New Norfolk, Upper Derwent, Molesworth and Plenty re-established it. This era of the competition featured a constantly changing line-up of clubs. Upper Derwent left after 1920 and the 1922 season saw Plenty and New Norfolk replaced by Lachlan and New Norfolk's B grade side. The DVFA did not form in 1923 but returned in 1924 with Westerway, Plenty and Upper Derwent competing. After this season the competition lapsed again and would not return for a decade.
1934 saw the DVFA re-formed as basically a continuation of the Lower Derwent Football Association. LDFA clubs Lachlan, Molesworth and Lower Derwent were joined by Upper Derwent. Rosegarland played in 1936 and 1937, while Plenty played in 1935 and 1938. 1937 saw Bothwell and Ouse join the competition, which was re-named the Southern Country Football Association, although this name would only last one season. Molesworth, Plenty and Lachlan departed to re-form the Lower Derwent FA in 1939, which left the competition with only 3 clubs. The DVFA would go into recess after the 1940 season due to WWII.
The competition was re-formed in 1946 with Hamilton, New Norfolk Rovers, Upper Derwent and Plenty competing. The line-up of clubs changed yearly during the late 1940s, with Butlers Gorge joining and New Norfolk Rovers leaving in 1947, while ANM played one season in 1948. The biggest change occurred in 1949 when the decision was made to merge the Tyenna Football Association with the DVFA, leading to the creation of an 8-club competition. By 1952 Butlers Gorge had merged with Ouse and Westerway and Upper Derwent Juniors both departed, leaving only 5 clubs in the DVFA. The Tyenna FA was re-formed in 1952 and the departure of clubs from the DVFA to the TFA eventually saw its demise after the 1954 season, which saw Bronte Park and Ouse move to the Tyenna FA while Hamilton and Upper Derwent joined the Southern Districts FA.
Clubs
Final ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in DVFADVFA Senior PremiershipsFateTotalYearsBronte ParkBronte Park Football Ground, Bronte Park–19491949-195421951, 1953Joined Tyenna FA in 1955Hamilton(1946-?)(?-1954)RabbitsHamilton Showgrounds, HamiltonTFA18861946-195431947, 1950, 1954Joined Southern Districts FA in 1955Ouse (1937-40)(1951-53)(1949-50, 1954)MagpiesOuse Football Ground, OuseSCJFA, TFA19351937-1940, 1949-195421937, 1939Joined Tyenna FA in 1955Upper Derwent (1904)(?-1954)Bushy Park Recreation Ground, Bushy ParkSCFA, SDFA190431904, 1936, 1946Played in Southern Districts FA between 1948-52, returned there in 1955
Former ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in DVFADVFA Senior PremiershipsFateTotalYearsANMBoyer Oval, New Norfolk–194719480 -Joined Southern Districts FA in 1949BothwellRabbitsBothwell Recreation Reserve, BothwellSCJFA18801937-194021938, 1940Joined Southern Districts FA in 1946Butlers Gorge(1947-49)(1950)Butlers Gorge Recreation Ground, Butlers Gorge–19471947-195011949Merged with Ouse to form Butlers Gorge-Ouse in 1951.Lachlan(1922)(?-1953)TigersLachlan Park Oval, New NorfolkLDFA19201922, 1934-1938, 1949-195321922, 1952Unaffiliated between 1923-26, joined Lower Derwent FA in 1927. Returned to Lower Derwent FA in 1939. Moved to Tyenna FA in 1954.Lower DerwentBoyer Oval, New NorfolkLDFA19301934-193511934Folded after 1935 seasonMolesworth(1920-22)(1934-38)Molesworth Football Ground, MolesworthLDFA19201920-1922, 1934-193821921, 1935Entered recess after 1922 season. Withdrew partway through 1938 season, joined Lower Derwent FA in 1939.New NorfolkBoyer Oval, New Norfolk–18781904, 1920-192111920Left league after 1921 season, formed Southern Country FA in 1923New Norfolk BBoyer Oval, New Norfolk–187819220 -1923 unknown, formed New Norfolk JFA in 1924New Norfolk RoversBoyer Oval, New Norfolk–19401940, 19460 -Folded after 1946 seasonPlenty(?-1938)(?-1952)Plenty Football Ground, PlentyLDFA19201920-1921, 1924, 1934-1935, 1938, 1946-195211948Recess in 1936-37. Withdrew partway through 1938 season, joined Lower Derwent FA in 1939. Joined Tyenna FA in 1953.RailwayBoyer Oval, New Norfolk–19040 -FoldedRosegarlandRosegarland Football Ground, Rosegarland–19361936-19370 -Merged with Plenty in 1938Upper Derwent JuniorsBushy Park Recreation Ground, Bushy ParkTFA19041949-19510 -Left leagueWesterway EllendaleRFA19201924, 1949-195111924Moved to Forest Hill Cup FA in 1925. Re-joined Tyenna FA in 1952 as Ellendale.
Premierships YearPremierScoreRunners-upNotes1904Upper DerwentRailway1905-19DVFA in recess1920New Norfolk7.5 (47) - 5.6 (36)Molesworth1921Molesworth1922LachlanNew Norfolk B1923?1924Westerway6.10 (46) - 5.5 (35)Upper Derwent1925-33DVFA in recess1934Lower Derwent8.13 (61) - 3.7 (25)Plenty1935Molesworth10.14 (74) - 6.9 (45)Upper Derwent1936Upper Derwent6.9 (45) - 3.4 (22)Lachlan1937Ouse15.12 (102) - 11.14 (80)Upper Derwent1938Bothwell8.9 (57) - 6.14 (50)Upper Derwent1939Ouse4.8 (32) - 3.8 (26)Upper Derwent1940Bothwell12.20 (92) - 10.11 (71)Ouse1941-45DVFA in recess - WWII1946Upper Derwent9.13 (67) - 5.9 (39)New Norfolk Rovers1947Hamilton6.8 (44) - 5.8 (38)Upper Derwent1948Plenty7.4 (46) - 6.9 (45)Hamilton1949Butlers Gorge18.20 (128) - 10.8 (68)Hamilton1950Hamilton11.10 (76) - 8.6 (54)Plenty1951Bronte ParkHamilton1952Lachlan10.8 (68) - 7.9 (51)Hamilton1953Bronte Park9.18 (72) - 7.6 (48)Hamilton1954Hamilton10.7 (67) - 7.9 (51)Upper Derwent
References