Football in the South

1879

The first organised senior football competition in Hobart, known as the Southern Tasmanian Football Association (STFA) was established on 21st June, 1879.

The Association adopted Melbourne rules and matches were played on Upper and Lower Cricket Grounds and the old Battery Ground.

Foundation clubs of the inaugural competition were: City, Cricketers, Holbrook and Railway.

1880

Landsdowne and Waratah clubs were formed, together with Holebrook and Bothwell

1881

North Hobart Football Club was formed and played in the STFA.

Football was played for the first time on the North West Coast. The first inter-colonial match was organised in Tasmania between Hotham (now North Melbourne) and a Northern team. Hotham also played a match in Hobart on July 6th.

This year also saw the establishment of clubs on the North West Coast, with Formby and Latrobe forming teams with only 12 players per team.

1882

Visiting VFA club Essendon, played two matches, the first against a Northern combined side and the second against a North-South combined team.

1883

North v South games commenced on an official basis, and the first of these combined games was won by the South: 6.18 (54) defeated North: 1.10 (16).

1884

Both the Southern Tasmanian Football Association and Northern Football Association introduced the waving of white flags to signal either a goal or point by goal umpires.

1885

Bellerive, Brighton, Derwent and Wellington clubs were founded in the South. The first North verses South Junior match was conducted.

1886

The Northern Tasmanian Football Association was formed. Foundation clubs were: Alberts, Britannia, City, Inveresk, Launceston, Longford, Orpheus, Second City, Second Launceston, Union Firsts and United Templers. Longford withdrew following a dispute in July.

The TFA purchased the Risdon Ground for £650/-/- ($1300.00).

1887

In 1887 a Tasmania team traveled to Victoria for the first time to play a series of matches in the Victorian capital. The team played six matches, won three, drew one and suffered two defeats. 

1888

Geelong visited the State for matches against both Hobart and Launceston.

1890, 

A Tasmanian team visited New South Wales.

1891

 Norwood (SA) and Essendon visited Tasmania.

1892

The Southern Tasmanian Junior Football Association was formed, so too was a player clearance system introduced in Tasmania.

It was during this early period of changes to the face of football, that the reference ‘Junior’ referred to second tier competitions. There was no junior football as we know it today.

1893

Southern Tasmania Football Association team drew in its match against the Victorian Football Association in Hobart.

1894

By this point in time member clubs of the STFA included: City, Fitzroy, Kingston, North Hobart and Railway.

The Southern Tasmanian Junior Football Association (second tier competition) was made-up of clubs: Fitzroy, Glenorchy, Imperials, North Hobart, Union, Union Jack and West Hobart.

The Huon Football Association commenced with only three clubs: Franklin, Huonville and Liverpool.

1895

The following teams participated in several second tiered (juniors) competitions from the Midlands to the south of Hobart: All Saints Choir, Bellerive, Bellerive Imperials, Bellerive Thirds, Black Watch, Bothwell, Boys Training School, Bridgewater, Bridgewater Juniors, Bushy Park & Glenora Combined, Cameron, Campbell Town, Carlton, Cathederal, Central, Central School, Davey Street, Derwent, Derwent Juniors, East Hobart, Ellendale, Federal, Fentonbury, Flemington, Friends, Friends School Juniors, Glenorchy Seconds, Glenview, Grasshopers, Hamilton, High School, Hutchins, Kingston Thirds, Lone Star, Macquarie Plains, Macquarie Plains Juniors, Memorial, Mentone, Moonah, New Norfolk, New Norfolk Juniors, New Town, New Town State School, Oatlands, Officer College Juniors, Ormond, Queens College, Red Rose, Richmond, Rokeby, Rhyndaston, St. George Thirds, Silver Star, Summerton, Tunnack, Venus, Victorians, West Hobart Thirds and Woodbanks.

1896

New club Lefroy was formed on 30th April 1896 and entered the STFA.

1897

Name changed to Southern Tasmanian Football League.

The system of scoring points was introduced, with six points for a goal and one point for a behind. The team finishing with the most amount of points was declared the winner.

1898

Name changed back to Southern Tasmanian Football Association.

The Junior body voted to have the word ‘Junior’ erased from its constitution. Which meant there would be no Junior body in Hobart. The old Junior Association became the Southern Tasmanian Football Association. This meant that clubs had seniors and seconds in their competitions.

1899

Clubs in the STFA were: Glenorchy, Lefroy, North Hobart and Wellington, with Summerton withdrawing after one season.

1900

Glenorchy withdrew from the STFA, leaving only three clubs.

The Derwent Association reformed after several years in recess.

1901

The Cananore club was formed this year and joined the Derwent Association, one of several associations playing in and around Hobart.

VFL club Fitzroy visited the State to play two matches against the STFA winning both games.

1902

Highlight of the season was a visit of VFL powerhouse club Collingwood who played two games in Launceston and Hobart. The result of the Southerns match was Collingwood  17.17  (119) defeated STFL 8.11  (59).

Essendon also played two matches in both the North and South of the State, winning both games.

1903

South Melbourne came to Tasmania to play two game. But after the first game against the NTFA, the Southern match was cancelled due to an outbreak of smallpox in the capital.

The Crescent club was formed and joined the Derwent Association.

1904

Boundary umpires were introduced in both the South and North.

1905

A matter of interest was the pre-season meeting of the Southern Tasmanian Football Association, conducted on Wednesday evening 19th April, where Mr. C. J. Eady was elected Chairman for the year, and Mr. W. H. Gill again filled the post of Secretary.

The roster was drawn up to accommodate the three teams participating and the North Hobart club was to play Lefroy in a season opener on the coming Saturday, with Wellington meeting the former the following week.

The matter of admitting New Town Football Club to the competition was discussed at length, and further consideration postponed pending more information from the suburban club. Meanwhile in the Southern Tasmanian Football League, its three member clubs namely; Cananore, New Town and University were preparing for the season.

VFL teams to visit this year were Essendon and St. Kilda. Both teams were too strong for STFL combined team.

1906

Probably the most significant decision to emerge from the Australian Football Council (AFC) conference was that it recognised the TFL as being the controlling body for football in Tasmania, which in turn gave the TFL a right to have two delegates to the AFC conferences. There was however, a stipulation that one of the two Tasmanian Delegates be appointed from the NTFA.

Mr. W. H. Gill was elected as the TFL’s representative to its Executive Committee.

When the new League was formed there were only three clubs competing, Derwent, Lefroy and North Hobart Football Clubs. The Derwent Club had replaced Wellington Football Club that disbanded at the end of the 1905 season.

Inter-State Match

VFL Clubs Fitzroy and Collingwood visited Tasmania for a challenge against a STFA side made up from the following selected players:
E. Russell, Lee, Mills, Orpwood, Langford, Hill, P. Dodge, Heathorn, Bridges, Brain, Burrell, Weare, P. Williams, Carroll, Able, Anderson, & Laurie Lobdale. Emergencies: C. Williams, Cook, W. Dodge, Donoghue, Searl and C. Williams.

The Fitzroy match was held in June and the visitors won comfortably 6.18 (54) to the TFL 5.5 (35).

The second match against Collingwood in August was a whitewash for the touring team, giving the locals a lesson in what the game was all about. Collingwood 16.8 (104) to the STFA scoring the same outcome as its previous game, 5.5 (35).

1907

A new resolution was written into the constitution this year to change the name Southern Tasmanian Football Association to the Tasmanian Football League.

Intra-State matches

There were two games played between the TFL and NTFA, the first in Launceston on 3rd June, where the League 10.14 (74) defeated the Northerners 7.9 (51).

The return match was also won by the TFL 8.13 (61) defeated NTFA 6.11 (47).

Inter-State matches

Top VFL clubs Melbourne and St. Kilda visited the State for two games against the TFL. In the match against Melbourne, the League scored 4.6 (30) to Melbourne 14.14 (98) and in the other game against St. Kilda (which at the time was the leading club in the VFL competition) the League scored 8.11 (59) to the Saints 17.15 (117).

1908

Australian football celebrated its Golden Jubilee Year (1858 -1908)

In 1908 and the Australian Football Council marked the occasion by conducting a Jubilee Carnival in Melbourne. This was the first ever Australian Championships played and Tasmania surprised all with their performance throughout the series.

ANFC Jubilee Carnival (Victoria)

Victoria was host State for the 1908 Carnival that included representation from New Zealand. The carnival was conducted under a two section system as indicated by the below carnival ladder and played at the MCG:

‘A’ Section

‘B’ Section

New Zealand player G. Gillett, played Rugby Union for the New Zealand All Blacks.

1909

TFL State Premiership

The North West Football League was formed.

The official State Premiership commenced in 1909 between premiers of the TFL and NTFA, and the State final was played between the two.

It wasn’t until 1950 when Premiers of the NWFU joined, thus created a rotational format, ie: One League would host and automatically qualify for the final, and the other two Leagues would play-off in a preliminary final, with the winner progressing to the final. During the course of the competition there were several interruptions, mainly caused through disputes.

Falling patronage became a serious concern and eventually, the State Premiership series came to an end in 1978.

1910

Norwood (SA) and VFL club Melbourne arrived to play matches against the TFL.

Victory was attained by the League in the match against Norwood, but the TFL had to concede to Melbourne.

Matches once again were played between the NTFA, TFL and the NWFU, in what became known as the TFL Triangular Series.

1911

The second AFC Carnival conducted in Adelaide was successful from Tasmania’s view point, as it finished in third position on the points table behind carnival winner South Australia and Victoria second.

1912

Three Inter-State clubs came to Hobart to play one game each against the League.

The result of which, was a morale boosting year for the TFL when its combined League team defeated VFL club Melbourne in Hobart. On the deficit side, Port Adelaide (SA) and Richmond (VFL) won their respective games.

Scores were: TFL 11.14 (80) defeated Melbourne  9.8 (64),  Port Adelaide  7.13  (55) defeated TFL  6.6  (42) and Richmond  11.11  (77) defeated  TFL 8.9 (57).

1913

This years State premiership was abandoned when NTFA premiers Launceston, caused a sensation by refusing to take the field against TFL premiers Cananore, following a disputer with the League over the appointment of the central umpire for the match. The League endeavoured to replace the original umpire engaged, but no avail. This did not suit Launceston and the match was cancelled. The action of Launceston was reported to the NTFA, which took up the position of supporting the offending players in their action.

Finally, the League, as controlling body of football in the State, took action and disqualified the Launceston players, until such time as the League thought that such disqualification should be lifted.

1914

Before the 1914 season was over, the effects of World War 1 made it difficult for clubs to assemble full teams for competition each week, as many players had enlisted for service. But despite the loss of so many fine players, the League was able to complete the season in a satisfactory manner.

AFC Carnival

This was the third such carnival conducted by the Australian Football Council and it was conducted in Sydney. The result for Tasmania was not as encouraging as first hoped, as it fell far below what was achieved at the previous carnival.

1915

World War 1 caused mayhem for Tasmanian Football.

The three League clubs found it very difficult to field reasonable teams on a weekly basis.

Mainland clubs were unable to visit Tasmania. The TFL and NTFA officials decided not to play a State premiership in 1915.

At the end of the season the following players had enlisted for the Armed Service :

Lefroy: Bailey, I. Margetts, N. Allison, C. Abey, T. W. Simpson. W. Abel, F. Burton, B. Kilmartin, R. Totham, D. Nichols, F. Green, L. Barnett, Newman, E. Smith, Townley

Cananore: Randall, Clennett, Hope (killed in action), Lipscombe, Turner, Freeman, Brownell, C. Hannigan (killed in action), Westwood, Shaw, Pennyquick, Bowen

North Hobart: A. Aulsebrook (killed in action), L. Chambers, E. Russell, A. Bucirde, K. Moore, W. Jack, K. Mackey, Ward (killed in action), V. Shirley, A. Stanton, H. Brain, Mahoney, W. D. Leitch.