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Echuca Football League

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Echuca Football League
Most recent season or competition:
1989
SportAustralian rules football
Founded1932
First season1932
Ceased1989
No. of teams7 (1995), 16 (historical)
CountryAustralia
Last
champion		Bunnaloo
(1989)
Most titlesEchuca East (11)
Related
competitions		Northern & Echuca FL

The Echuca Football League was an Australian rules football league based around the regional towns of Echuca and Moama on the New South Wales-Victoria border. The competition ran, with some short recesses, from 1932 to 1989.

History

[edit]

The Echuca Football league was founded on the 21st of March 1932,[1] with the inaugural 6 clubs being Echuca East, Echuca Imperials, Elmore, Mathoura, Moama and Rochester Rovers. The first premiership was won by Echuca East over Mathoura.[2] The Deniliquin Football Club was formed to join the Echuca FL in 1933, and won 3 premierships in its first 3 years of competition,[3] a feat equalled by Mathoura in the 3 following seasons.

Due to the large amount of travel required between the towns involved in the league, some clubs began to struggle financially during the mid-1930s. Moama were forced into recess for three seasons in 1934 due to financial issues,[4] and were joined by Elmore and Rochester Rovers a year later.[5] This left the league with only 4 clubs for the 1936 season. Deniliquin did not affiliate with the EFL for the 1937 season, citing the lack of a semi-final at their home ground as their reason for doing so.[6] They would return a year later. Cummeragunja joined for the 1939 season,[7] however their stay was short-lived as the EFL entered recess due to World War II a year later.[8]

The EFL re-formed in 1946, with Cummeragunja and Imperials replaces by Bamawm Extension and Echuca.[9] Elmore re-joined a year later, giving the league 7 clubs. Attempts were made to find an eighth team to remove the bye, however these were unsuccessful.[10] Echuca won three straight premierships between 1946 and 1948.

The EFL was forced into recess before the 1949 season after the three strongest clubs - Echuca, Deniliquin and Echuca East departed.[11] The remaining clubs dispersed amongst a number of local leagues.

1952 saw the EFL revived again, with Bamawm and Bunnaloo joining Moama, Mathoura and Bamawm Extension.[12] Rochester East were originally included in the re-formed league but dropped out on the 17th of April.[13] The newly-formed Echuca South club entered in their place a week later.[14] Echuca East re-joined from the Goulburn Valley FL after the 1952 season.[15] Lockington-Tennyson also joined for the 1953 season as Union, however their former league, the Mitiamo & District FL, blocked the transfers of their players, forcing them to forfeit their first two games.[16]

The 8 clubs of the EFL remained constant between 1953 and 1988, aside from Union folding to allow Lockington to re-form in 1959. Bamawm Extension entered recess due to a lack of players after the 1988 season, and with only 7 teams remaining the Echuca FL merged with the Northern District Football League to form the Northern & Echuca FL before the 1990 season. Echuca East, Echuca South, Moama and Lockington Bamawm United (a merger of Lockington and the two Bamawm clubs) joined the new league, while Mathoura moved to the Picola & District Football League and Bunnaloo folded due to a lack of players.[17]

Clubs

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Final

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Club Colours Nickname Home Ground Former League Est. Years in EFL EFL Senior Premierships Fate
Total Years
Bamawm
Lions Bamawm Recreation Reserve, Bamawm MDFL 1900s 1952-1989 1 1969 Merged with Lockington and Bamawm Extension to form Lockington-Bamawm United in Northern & Echuca FL after 1989 season
Bunnaloo
The Loo Bunnaloo Recreation Reserve, Bunnaloo W&DFA 1927 1952-1989 2 1988, 1989 Folded after 1989 season
Echuca East
Green and Whites, Grasshoppers Echuca Recreation Reserve, Echuca NGVFL, BFL, GVFL 1892 1932-1939, 1946–1948, 1953–1989 11 1932, 1939, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964 Played in Bendigo FL in 1946 and Goulburn Valley FL between 1949 and 1952. Formed Northern & Echuca FL after 1989 season
Echuca South
(1952-?)
(?-1989) 		Swans Echuca South Recreation Reserve, Echuca – 1952[18] 1952-1989 4 1967, 1974, 1975, 1982 Formed Northern & Echuca FL after 1989 season
Lockington
Cats Lockington Recreation Reserve, Lockington MDFL 1920s 1959-1989 9 1970, 1971, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1987 Merged with Bamawm and Bamawm Extension to form Lockington-Bamawm United in Northern & Echuca FL after 1989 season
Mathoura
Timbercutters Mathoura Recreation Reserve, Mathoura DFA, EDFA 1909 1932-1939, 1946–1948, 1952–1989 9 1936, 1937, 1938, 1952, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1984, 1986 Played in Edward River FA between 1949 and 1951. Moved to Picola & District FL after 1989 season
Moama
Black and Whites, Mapgies Moama Recreation Reserve, Moama NGVFL, ESSFA 1892 1932-1934, 1937–1939, 1946–1948, 1952–1989 5 1965, 1966, 1968, 1972, 1981 In recess between 1935-36. Played in Echuca Sunday Social FA between 1949-51. Formed Northern & Echuca FL after 1989 season

Former

[edit]
Club Colours Nickname Home Ground Former League Est. Years in EFL EFL Senior Premierships Fate
Total Years
Bamawm Extension
Tigers Bamawm Extension Recreation Reserve, Bamawm Extension LFA, MDFL 1926 1946-1948, 1952–1989 0 - Played in Mitiamo & District FL between 1949-51. Recess in 1989. Merged with Bamawm and Lockington to form Lockington-Bamawm United in Northern & Echuca FL after 1989 season
Cummeragunja
None; played "home" games at their opponent's ground[7] W&MRDFA 1880s 1939 0 - Folded after 1939 season
Deniliquin Light with dark sash Rams Hardinge Street Oval, Deniliquin – 1933 1933-1936, 1938–1939, 1946–1948 3 1933, 1934, 1935 Did not affiliate with a league in 1937. Moved to Murray FL after 1948 season
Echuca
Red and Whites[19], Bombers Echuca Recreation Reserve, Echuca BFL 1874 1946-1948 3 1946, 1947, 1948 Returned to Bendigo FL after 1948 season
Echuca Imperials
Echuca Recreation Reserve, Echuca NGVFL 1932-1939 0 - Folded after 1939 season
Elmore Bloods Elmore Recreation Reserve, Elmore GVCJFA 1882 1932-1935, 1947–1948 0 - Entered recess after 1935 season. Moved to Heathcote District FL after 1948 season
Rochester Rovers Rochester Recreation Reserve, Rochester 1932-1935 0 - Folded after 1935 season
Tongala
Blues Tongala Recreation Reserve, Tongala GVFL 1894 1933-1935 0 - Moved to Kyabram District FL after 1935 season
Union
Cats Lockington Recreation Reserve, Lockington – 1953 1954-1958 2 1954, 1955 Folded to allow Lockington to re-form after 1958 season

Premierships

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Year Premiers Score Runners-up Location Notes Ref.
1932 Echuca East 10.14 (74) - 8.14 (62) Mathoura Friendly Societies' Ground, Echuca [2]
1933 Deniliquin 12.8 (80) - 6.17 (53) Rochester Rovers Park Oval, Echuca [20]
1934 Deniliquin 14.10 (94) - 10.14 (14) Echuca East Park Oval, Echuca [21]
1935 Deniliquin 13.10 (88) - 8.11 (59) Echuca East Park Oval, Echuca [22]
1936 Mathoura 12.17 (87) - 8.11 (59) Deniliquin Park Oval, Echuca [23]
1937 Mathoura 19.11 (125) - 11.9 (75) Echuca East Park Oval, Echuca [24]
1938 Mathoura 10.13 (73) - 10.13 (73) Echuca East Echuca Oval Drawn grand final [25]
Mathoura 14.13 (97) - 7.17 (59) Echuca East Echuca Oval Replay [26]
1939 Echuca East 11.12 (78) - 11.9 (75) Mathoura Park Oval, Echuca [27]
1940-45 - EFL in recess due to WWII
1946 Echuca 9.13 (67) - 6.5 (41) Echuca East Park Oval, Echuca [28]
1947 Echuca 7.15 (57) - 5.11 (41) Deniliquin Park Oval, Echuca [29]
1948 Echuca 8.8 (56) - 7.4 (46) Echuca East Park Oval, Echuca [19]
1949-51 - EFL in recess
1952 Mathoura 14.17 (95) - 6.9 (45) Bunnaloo [30]
1953 Echuca East 11.9 (75) - 5.3 (33) Bamawm Extension Park Oval, Echuca [31]
1954 Union Bamawm Extension
1955 Union
1956 Echuca East
1957 Echuca East
1958 Echuca East
1959 Echuca East
1960 Echuca East
1961 Mathoura
1962 Echuca East
1963 Echuca East
1964 Echuca East
1965 Moama
1966 Moama
1967 Echuca South
1968 Moama
1969 Bamawm
1970 Lockington
1971 Lockington
1972 Moama
1973 Mathoura
1974 Echuca South
1975 Echuca South
1976 Mathoura
1977 Lockington Margin 5 points Mathoura
1978 Lockington
1979 Lockington
1980 Lockington
1981 Moama
1982 Echuca South
1983 Lockington
1984 Mathoura
1985 Lockington
1986 Mathoura
1987 Lockington
1988 Bunnaloo
1989 Bunnaloo Margin - 116 points Echuca South

References

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  1. ^ "FOOTBALL". The Riverine Herald. 22 March 1932. p. 2.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ a b "FOOTBALL ECHUCA LEAGUE". The Riverine Herald. 19 September 1932. p. 3.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ RKS (17 March 2022). "Deniliquin Football Teams History". Deni History. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  4. ^ "MOAMA FOOTBALL CLUB". The Riverine Herald. 7 March 1935. p. 2.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ "FOOTBALL". Kyabram Free Press and Rodney and Deakin Shire Advocate. 13 March 1936. p. 3.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ "ECHUCA FOOTBALL LEAGUE". The Pastoral Times. 13 April 1937. p. 1.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ a b "FOOTBALL". The Riverine Herald. 30 March 1939. p. 3.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ "NO LEAGUE FOOTBALL". The Riverine Herald. 12 March 1940. p. 2.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ "ECHUCA LEAGUE TO BE REVIVED". The Pastoral Times. 5 March 1946. p. 3.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ "Echuca Football League". The Riverine Herald. 27 February 1948. p. 2.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ "ECHUCA FOOTBALL LEAGUE GOES INTO RECESS". The Horsham Times. 22 March 1949. p. 3.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "CERTAIN SIX TEAMS FOR ECHUCA LEAGUE". The Riverine Herald. 14 February 1952. p. 2.
  13. ^ "ROCHESTER EAST WITHDRAW FROM ECHUCA LEAGUE". The Riverine Herald. 17 April 1952. p. 4.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ "ECHUCA SOUTH AFFILIATES WITH ECHUCA LEAGUE". The Riverine Herald. 26 April 1952. p. 6.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ "ECHUCA EAST OUT OF GV LEAGUE". Shepparton Advisor. 23 December 1952. p. 1.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ "SET-BACK TO UNION CAUSES CONFUSION". The Riverine Herald. 22 April 1952. p. 4.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ Maskell, Vin (11 June 2014). "Wayde's world – Bunnaloo, New South Wales". Scoreboard pressure. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  18. ^ "ECHUCA SOUTH TO FORM FOOTBALL TEAM". The Riverine Herald. 25 April 1952. p. 1.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ a b "ECHUCA DOWN EAST TO COMPLETE PREMIERSHIP HAT-TRICK". The Riverine Herald. 27 September 1948. p. 2.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ "FOOTBALL GRAND FINAL". The Riverine Herald. p. 2.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ "Echuca Football League". The Riverine Herald. p. 3.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^ "FOOTBALL". Kyabram Free Press and Rodney and Deakin Shire Advocate. 15 October 1935. p. 3.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ "FOOTBALL SEASON ENDS". The Riverine Herald. 14 September 1936. p. 3.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ "ECHUCA FOOTBALL LEAGUE". The Riverine Herald. 30 August 1937. p. 3.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ "FOOTBALL GRAND FINAL". The Riverine Herald. 12 September 1938. p. 4.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. ^ "FOOTBALL - MATHOURA'S PREMIERSHIP". The Pastoral Times. 20 September 1938. p. 2.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. ^ "FOOTBALL". The Riverine Herald. 9 October 1939. p. 3.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. ^ "ECHUCA WIN 1946 PREMIERSHIP". The Riverine Herald. p. 1.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  29. ^ "ECHUCA WIN SECOND SUCCESSIVE PREMIERSHIP". The Riverine Herald. 29 September 1947. p. 3.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. ^ "Pennant To Mathoura". The Riverine Herald. 8 September 1952. p. 4.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  31. ^ "Echuca East Wins Premiership". The Pastoral Times. 22 September 1953. p. 2.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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