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Australian rules football league
The Wimmera Football League is a major Australian rules country league based in Western Victoria, with clubs located in towns in the Wimmera region: the regional centres along the Western Highway from Ararat to Nhill as well as Minyip–Murtoa and Warracknabeal.
History
A Wimmera Football Association was first formed in 1902, with teams from Ararat, Horsham and Stawell as the founding clubs. In 1921 the Wimmera District Football League was formed. The seven original clubs were Ararat, Horsham, Minyip, Murtoa, Rupanyup, Stawell and Warracknabael. Dimboola joined in 1923 and Nhill in 1925; Ararat spent six years in the Ballarat Football League from 1924 to 1929.
In 1932, during the height of the Great Depression, the small town clubs were suffering from financial pressures, and tried to get the league to change the way the gate taking were distributed to the clubs. The larger town clubs, knowing that they would be disadvantaged, blocked the motion. Subsequently, Nhill and Dimboola both went into recess while Minyip and Murtoa replaced their junior sides in the Dunmunkle FL.
The WDFL approached the Ballarat Football League to merge hoping that greater interest and better football would cause larger gate takings, so in 1934 the Wimmera FL and the Ballarat FL merged to form the Ballarat Wimmera FL. After three years, in which the Wimmera clubs faced with greater costs and were constantly losing on the field, feelers were put out to the smaller clubs, now playing in the Mid Wimmera FL. A peace deal was settled in September 1936 and the Wimmera Football League was reformed in 1937 as a nine team competition.[1]
Football in the Wimmera was revived in 1944 with a competition[2] that
In 1945, Dimboola and Warracknabeal joined the Wimmera Football Association,[3] which formed a six team competition.[4]
In 1946 Rupanyup Football Club joined the Wimmera FL[5] and that made it a ten team competition.[6] As a ten team competition the league remain stable until Rupanyip decided the level of football was too hard for them and they opted to drop to the local district competition in 1981. The numbers returned to ten when local district club Imperials-Wonwondah joined in 1983. After fifty fruitless years Jeparit Football Club decided to try their luck in the South Mallee FL from 1990.
St Michaels from the district competition joined in 1993. Founding clubs Minyip and Murtoa decided to merge in 1995.
2000 saw local Horsham clubs change their names, St Michaels became Horsham Saints and Imperials-Wonwondah became the Horsham Diggers.
Horsham Diggers later merged with Natimuk FNC under the banner Natimuk United at the start of 2014; following an exodus of players in the 2008 pre-season, the Diggers had struggled on and off-field, and had won three matches in the previous four seasons. The merged club plays home games at Natimuk and City Oval.
Southern Mallee transferred from the Hosham District League in 2018 after dominating the competition.
Following the 2023 season Southern Mallee merged with Jeparit Rainbow from the Horsham District Football Netball League to form the Southern Mallee Thunder.
Clubs
Current
30km
19miles
Warrack Eagles (Brim)
Warrack Eagles (Warracknabeal)
Stawell
Southern Mallee (Rainbow)
Southern Mallee (Jeparit)
Southern Mallee (Beulah)
Southern Mallee (Hopetoun)
Nhill
Minyip-Murtoa (Murtoa)
Minyip-Murtoa (Minyip)
Horsham Saints
Horsham
Dimboola
Ararat
Locations of the 2025 Wimmera FL clubs. Coloured pogs represent teams with multiple home grounds: orange for Minyip-Murtoa, yellow for Warrack Eagles, cyan for Southern Mallee.
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home ground | Former League | Est. | Years in WFNL | WFNL Senior Premierships | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | |||||||
| Ararat |
 |
Rats | Alexandra Oval, Ararat | BFL | 1871 | 1937– | 14 | 1949, 1951, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1971, 1975, 1986, 1999, 2001, 2023, 2024, 2025 |
| Dimboola |
 |
Roos | Dimboola Recreation Reserve, Dimboola | 1880s | 1937– | 5 | 1937, 1946, 1959, 1985, 2013 | |
| Horsham |
 |
Demons | Horsham City Oval, Horsham | BFL | 1892 | 1937– | 26 | 1938, 1960, 1962, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1989, 1990, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018 |
| Horsham Saints (St Michaels 1993-99) |
 |
Saints | Coughlin Park, Horsham | HDFNL | 1993– | 2 | 2015, 2016 | |
| Minyip-Murtoa |
 |
Burras | Minyip Recreation Reserve, Minyip and Murtoa Recreation Reserve, Murtoa | – | 1994 | 1995– | 5 | 1996, 1997, 1998, 2019, 2022 |
| Nhill |
 |
Tigers | Davis Park, Nhill | 1880s | 1937– | 4 | 1964, 1965, 1969, 1981 | |
| Southern Mallee |
 |
Thunder | Beulah Memorial Park, Beulah; Hopetoun Recreation Reserve, Hopetoun; Sir Robert Menzies Park; Jeparit, Rainbow Recreation Reserve, Rainbow | – | 2023 | 2024– | 0 | – |
| Stawell |
 |
Central Reserve, Stawell | BFL | 1874 | 1937– | 8 | 1939, 1940, 1948, 1950, 1978, 1987, 1995, 2000 | |
| Warrack Eagles |
 |
Eagles | Anzac Park, Warracknabeal and Brim Recreation Reserve, Brim | – | 2000 | 2001– | 1 | 2002 |
Former clubs
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home ground | Former League | Est. | Years in WFNL | WFNL Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||||
| Horsham Diggers(Imperials-Wonwondah 1983-85, Horsham United 1986-2002) |
 |
Diggers | Horsham City Oval, Horsham | HDFNL | 1976 | 1983–2013 | 1 | 1988 | Merged with Natimuk to form Natimuk United in Horsham & District FL in 2014 |
| Jeparit |
 |
Redbacks | Sir Robert Menzies Park, Jeparit | 1900s | 1937–1989 | 0 | – | Moved to Southern Mallee FL in 1990 | |
| Minyip |
 |
Blues | Minyip Recreation Reserve, Minyip | 1880s | 1937-1994 | 6 | 1952, 1954, 1984, 1991, 1992, 1993 | Merged with Murtoa to form Minyip-Murtoa in 1995 | |
| Murtoa |
 |
Magpies | Murtoa Recreation Reserve, Murtoa | 1880s | 1937-1994 | 1 | 1980 | Merged with Minyip to form Minyip-Murtoa in 1995 | |
| Rupanyup |
 |
Panthers | Rupanyup Recreation Reserve, Rupanyup | 1880s | 1946–1980 | 3 | 1961, 1963, 1973 | Moved to Horsham & District FL in 1981 | |
| Southern Mallee Giants |
.svg) |
Giants | Beulah Memorial Park, Beulah and Hopetoun Recreation Reserve, Hopetoun | HDFNL | 2015 | 2018-2023 | 0 | – | Merged with Jeparit-Rainbow to form Southern Mallee Thunder after 2023 season |
| Warracknabeal |
.svg) |
Lions | Anzac Park, Warracknabeal | BFL | 1870s | 1937-2000 | 5 | 1947, 1953, 1966, 1977, 1994 | Merged with Brim to form Warrack Eagles following 2000 season |
- Wimmera District FL – Seniors
VFL/AFL players
Ararat
Dimboola
The following footballers played with Horsham Demons FNC, prior to playing senior football in the VFL/AFL, and / or drafted, with the year indicating their VFL/AFL debut.
Horsham Saints
Horsham United
Minyip
Murtoa
Minyip-Murtoa
Nhill
Rupanyap
Stawell
Warracknabeal/Warrack Eagles
2022 Ladder
| Wimmera FL | Wins | Byes | Losses | Draws | For | Against | % | Pts | Final | Team | G | B | Pts | Team | G | B | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ararat | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1471 | 767 | 191.79% | 52 | Elimination | Horsham | 11 | 16 | 82 | Dimboola | 6 | 9 | 45 | |
| Minyip Murtoa | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1163 | 815 | 142.70% | 52 | Qualifying | Minyip Murtoa | 13 | 6 | 84 | Stawell | 6 | 8 | 44 | |
| Stawell | 10 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1248 | 926 | 134.77% | 40 | 1st Semi | Stawell | 15 | 15 | 105 | Horsham | 8 | 7 | 55 | |
| Horsham | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1296 | 967 | 134.02% | 32 | 2nd Semi | Minyip Murtoa | 17 | 4 | 106 | Ararat | 11 | 8 | 74 | |
| Dimboola | 11 | -3 | 5 | 0 | 1383 | 1101 | 125.61% | 32 | Preliminary | Ararat | 12 | 14 | 86 | Stawell | 7 | 11 | 53 | |
| Southern Mallee Giants | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1109 | 1041 | 106.53% | 32 | Grand | Minyip Murtoa | 8 | 11 | 59 | Ararat | 7 | 10 | 52 | |
| Horsham Saints | 4 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1033 | 1493 | 69.19% | 16 | ||||||||||
| Warrack Eagles | 4 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 896 | 1507 | 59.46% | 16 | ||||||||||
| Nhill | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 741 | 1723 | 43.01% | 4 |
- Dimboola stripped of 12 points for player payment breaches in 2021
2023 Ladder
| Wimmera FL | Wins | Byes | Losses | Draws | For | Against | % | Pts | Final | Team | G | B | Pts | Team | G | B | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ararat | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1650 | 599 | 275.46% | 64 | Elimination | Dimboola | 13 | 7 | 85 | Minyip Murtoa | 11 | 9 | 75 | |
| Horsham Saints | 12 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1273 | 1027 | 123.95% | 48 | Qualifying | Southern Mallee Giants | 16 | 10 | 106 | Horsham Saints | 5 | 4 | 34 | |
| Southern Mallee Giants | 11 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1410 | 948 | 148.73% | 44 | 1st Semi | Horsham Saints | 17 | 13 | 115 | Dimboola | 10 | 15 | 75 | |
| Minyip Murtoa | 10 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 961 | 961 | 100.00% | 40 | 2nd Semi | Southern Mallee Giants | 14 | 13 | 97 | Ararat | 11 | 7 | 73 | |
| Dimboola | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1221 | 1230 | 99.27% | 32 | Preliminary | Ararat | 25 | 21 | 171 | Horsham Saints | 9 | 7 | 61 | |
| Stawell | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 933 | 1150 | 81.13% | 32 | Grand | Ararat | 10 | 13 | 73 | Southern Mallee Giants | 6 | 16 | 52 | |
| Nhill | 3 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 919 | 1173 | 78.35% | 14 | ||||||||||
| Horsham | 2 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 844 | 1453 | 58.09% | 10 | ||||||||||
| Warrack Eagles | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 735 | 1405 | 52.31% | 4 |
2024 Ladder
| Wimmera FL | Wins | Byes | Losses | Draws | For | Against | % | Pts | Final | Team | G | B | Pts | Team | G | B | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Mallee Thunder | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1626 | 782 | 207.93% | 56 | Elimination | Nhill | 11 | 14 | 80 | Horsham | 11 | 7 | 73 | |
| Ararat | 13 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1757 | 928 | 189.33% | 54 | Qualifying | Ararat | 14 | 14 | 98 | Stawell | 6 | 6 | 42 | |
| Stawell | 11 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1260 | 965 | 130.57% | 44 | 1st Semi | Stawell | 8 | 9 | 57 | Nhill | 7 | 7 | 49 | |
| Horsham | 9 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1311 | 1156 | 113.41% | 36 | 2nd Semi | Ararat | 17 | 10 | 112 | Southern Mallee | 12 | 6 | 78 | |
| Nhill | 8 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1306 | 1183 | 110.40% | 34 | Preliminary | Southern Mallee | 13 | 12 | 90 | Stawell | 5 | 10 | 40 | |
| Minyip Murtoa | 6 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1168 | 1306 | 89.43% | 24 | Grand | Ararat | 11 | 11 | 77 | Southern Mallee | 9 | 14 | 68 | |
| Horsham Saints | 6 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1072 | 1322 | 81.09% | 24 | ||||||||||
| Dimboola | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 898 | 1593 | 56.37% | 12 | ||||||||||
| Warrack Eagles | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 766 | 1929 | 39.71% | 4 |
2025 Ladder
| Wimmera FL | Wins | Byes | Losses | Draws | For | Against | % | Pts | Final | Team | G | B | Pts | Team | G | B | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ararat | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2007 | 665 | 301.80% | 64 | Elimination | Dimboola | 16 | 18 | 114 | Stawell | 15 | 10 | 100 | |
| Nhill | 11 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1212 | 1195 | 101.42% | 44 | Qualifying | Southern Mallee Thunder | 16 | 9 | 105 | Nhill | 6 | 12 | 48 | |
| Southern Mallee Thunder | 10 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1421 | 1188 | 119.61% | 40 | 1st Semi | Nhill | 10 | 7 | 67 | Dimboola | 9 | 9 | 63 | |
| Stawell | 10 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1319 | 1298 | 101.62% | 40 | 2nd Semi | Southern Mallee Thunder | 11 | 14 | 80 | Ararat | 11 | 7 | 73 | |
| Dimboola | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1262 | 1262 | 100.00% | 32 | Preliminary | Ararat | 19 | 15 | 129 | Nhill | 11 | 6 | 72 | |
| Minyip Murtoa | 7 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1205 | 1265 | 95.26% | 28 | Grand | Ararat | 13 | 13 | 91 | Southern Mallee Thunder | 5 | 8 | 38 | |
| Horsham Saints | 6 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1010 | 1347 | 74.98% | 24 | ||||||||||
| Warrack Eagles | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 874 | 1294 | 67.54% | 12 | ||||||||||
| Horsham | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 1014 | 1810 | 56.02% | 4 |
Publication
Wheatbelt Warriors. A Tribute To Wimmera Football League.
