The North Western Football Association was formed at a meeting at the Formby Hotel in 1894 and is the oldest continuously running football competition in the state of Tasmania . The first clubs were Devonport , Latrobe , Mersey and Ulverstone .
The NWFA was the senior football body on the coast until a break away group of teams formed the NWFU in 1910.
The NWFA was then looked upon as a junior competition feeding the NWFU and later the TFL Statewide League until their demise and later the NTFL teams.[ 1]
The competition has seen more than fifty teams participate in its history from all parts of the North West Coast indicating the rise and fall and changing fortunes of many towns throughout history. Clubs such as Burnie Tigers , Cooee Bulldogs , Penguin , Mole Creek, Wilmot, Barrington, Don, East Devonport , Moriarty, Sassafras, Melrose and Gowrie Park are among many to have played in the NWFA.
From mid-1938 until it went into recess during World War II, the NWFA played under VFA rules , a code of rules established by the Victorian Football Association as a rival to the national rules. This most notably meant that throwing the ball was legal during those years. The NWFA was one of the highest level competitions outside the VFA to play under those rules.[ 2] Upon its resumption after World War II, the NWFA returned to playing under the traditional rules.[ 3]
The Association currently operates as a nine club competition and the medal awarded to the Association's Best & Fairest player is the Les Hicks Medal.
Seniors Premierships
edit
List of NWFA Seniors Premiership teams.[ 4]
Colours
Club
Nickname
Founded
Premierships
Premiership Years
East Ulverstone
Crows
2000
1
2002
Forth
Magpies
1904
20
1922, 1935, 1937-40, 1948, 1950, 1956-58, 1965, 1972, 1974, 1980, 2005, 2007, 2015-16, 2018, 2022
Motton Preston
Demons
1967
10
1985-86, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2012-13, 2020-21, 2023
Rosebery-Toorak
Hawks
1987
2
1998-99
Sheffield
Robins
c.1910
8
1964, 1973, 1987-88, 1994, 2000, 2003, 2024
Spreyton
Eagles
1921
9
1954, 1975-78, 1984, 1990, 2001, 2011
Turners Beach
Seagulls
1971
5
1981-83, 1994, 2014
Wesley Vale
Roos
1903
21
1910, 1921, 1925-26, 1929-31, 1934, 1936, 1949, 1959-60, 1963, 1979, 1989, 1996-97, 2008-09, 2017, 2019
Colours
Club
Nickname
Founded
Premierships
Premiership Years
West Ulverstone
Lions
1973
-
-
Sheffield Seniors – 69.29 (443) vs Rosebery Toorak 0.0 in 2021. Rosebery-Toorak set an unfortunate new NWFA benchmark with an all-time low percentage in the 2021 season of 1.635% (68 points scored, 4160 points conceded in 15 games). 60% of their points were scored in one match against West Ulverstone, when they only lost by five goals. For the other 14 games, they kicked 1.0.6 four times, 0.1.1 three times, and went scoreless seven times. Their leading goalkicker was Nick McElwee with two goals, both against West Ulverstone. It was the only time he played for the club all year.[ 5]
Forth Reserves – 66.24 (420) vs Spreyton 0.0 in 2013.
NWFA Individual Goalkicking Record (Match)
edit
Ben Holland – (36) – Wesley Vale v Rosebery Toorak in 2024.
Note: This is a current Tasmanian state record.[ 6]
Leading Goal Kickers
edit
Year
Player
H&A goals
Finals goals
Total Goals
1975
Ron Mansfield (Spreyton)
0
0
0
1976
Royce Miles (Spreyton)
0
0
0
1977
Royce Miles (Spreyton)
76
0
76
1978
G Smith
66
0
66
1979
B Johnson
65
0
65
1980
Lloyd Dixon (Turners Beach)
110
0
110
1981
Brian Cole (Spreyton)
0
0
0
1982
Brian Hickey (Turners Beach)
122
0
122
1983
Brian Eade (Ulverstone District)
86
0
86
1984
Chris Reynolds (Spreyton)
72
0
72
1985
Brian Eade (Ulverstone District)
102
0
102
1986
David Frenshaw (Sheffield)
88
0
88
1987
Mike Brocksopp (Turners Beach)
102
0
102
1988
Shane Harris (Ulverstone District)
77
0
77
1989
Les Davidson (Spreyton)
49
0
49
1990
Michael Bramich (Spreyton)
58
0
58
1991
Les Davidson (Spreyton)
55
0
55
1992
Robert Cole (Forth)
60
0
60
1993
Robert Cole (Forth)
83
10
93
1994
Tom Honner (Rosebery Toorak)
66
3
69
1995
Iaon Drake (Rosebery Toorak)
80
0
80
1996
Iaon Drake (Rosebery Toorak)
110
11
121
1997
Paul Hampton (Sheffield)
100
0
100
1998
Paul Hampton (Sheffield)
81
3
84
1999
Jason Fellows (Rosebery Toorak)
75
15
90
2000
Craig Muir (Wesley Vale)
111
0
111
2001
Andrew Stretton (Sheffield)
57
0
57
2002
Jason Foley (East Ulverstone)
81
0
81
2003
Andrew Stretton (Sheffield)
0
0
0
2004
Jamie Auton (East Ulverstone)
0
0
0
2005
Jamie Auton (East Ulverstone)
96
2
98
2006
Jamie Auton (East Ulverstone)
127
4
131
2007
Paul Hampton (Spreyton)
101
0
101
2008
Todd Bryan (Spreyton)
120
0
120
2009
Jamie Auton (West Ulverstone)
79
0
79
2010
Jamie Auton (West Ulverstone)
101
0
101
2011
Mathew Smedley (Motton Preston)
70
0
70
2012
Shannon Mulvey (Sheffield)
104
0
104
2013
Claye Sculthorpe (Motton Preston)
137
0
137
2014
Nick Milbourne (Forth)
138
8
146
2015
Nick Milbourne (Forth)
108
0
108
2016
Brodie Dennis (Rosebery Toorak))
113
0
113
2017
Nick Veal (Forth)
79
2
81
2018
Tristan Weeks (Wesley Vale)
112
8
120
North West FA
Wins
Byes
Losses
Draws
For
Against
%
Pts
Final
Team
G
B
Pts
Team
G
B
Pts
Motton Preston
15
0
1
0
2617
865
302.54%
60
Elimination
Spreyton
26
18
174
West Ulverstone
6
9
45
Wesley Vale
14
0
2
0
2810
1081
259.94%
56
Qualifying
Wesley Vale
10
12
72
Turners Beach
8
12
60
Turners Beach
12
0
4
0
2450
1120
218.75%
48
1st Semi
Spreyton
25
7
157
Turners Beach
20
9
129
Spreyton
11
0
5
0
2516
1275
197.33%
44
2nd Semi
Motton Preston
17
18
120
Wesley Vale
10
6
66
West Ulverstone
7
0
9
0
1580
2266
69.73%
28
Preliminary
Wesley Vale
17
16
118
Spreyton
10
14
74
East Ulverstone
6
0
10
0
1282
2007
63.88%
24
Grand
Wesley Vale
16
11
107
Motton Preston
12
10
82
Sheffield
4
0
12
0
1292
1972
65.52%
16
Rosebery/Toorak
2
0
14
0
698
2958
23.60%
8
Forth
1
0
15
0
972
2673
36.36%
4
North West FA
Wins
Byes
Losses
Draws
For
Against
%
Pts
Final
Team
G
B
Pts
Team
G
B
Pts
Motton Preston
16
2
0
0
2126
711
299.02%
64
Elimination
Forth
14
16
100
East Ulverstone
14
15
99
Turners Beach
11
2
5
0
2009
1186
169.39%
44
Qualifying
Turners Beach
9
13
67
Spreyton
19
12
126
Spreyton
11
2
5
0
1800
1194
150.75%
44
1st Semi
Turners Beach
19
11
125
Forth
13
11
89
Forth
8
2
8
0
1784
1402
127.25%
32
2nd Semi
Motton Preston
20
8
128
Spreyton
11
11
77
East Ulverstone
8
2
8
0
1519
1290
117.75%
32
Preliminary
Turners Beach
9
15
69
Spreyton
5
8
38
West Ulverstone
8
2
8
0
1832
1585
115.58%
32
Grand
Motton Preston
17
12
114
Turners Beach
10
11
71
Sheffield
5
2
11
0
1358
1571
86.44%
20
Rosebery/Toorak
5
2
11
0
1383
1780
77.70%
20
Wesley Vale
0
2
16
0
345
3529
9.78%
0
North West FA
Wins
Byes
Losses
Draws
For
Against
%
Pts
Final
Team
G
B
Pts
Team
G
B
Pts
Motton Preston
16
0
0
0
2579
734
351.36%
64
Elimination
Forth
18
10
118
East Ulverstone
15
13
103
Spreyton
13
0
3
0
2196
1130
194.34%
52
Qualifying
Spreyton
23
18
156
Turners Beach
9
7
61
Turners Beach
10
0
6
0
2000
1252
159.74%
40
1st Semi
Turners Beach
12
14
86
Forth
7
4
46
Forth
8
0
8
0
1731
1674
103.41%
32
2nd Semi
Motton Preston
27
15
177
Spreyton
10
10
70
East Ulverstone
8
0
8
0
1440
1563
92.13%
32
Preliminary
Spreyton
17
15
117
Turners Beach
14
9
93
Rosebery/Toorak
6
0
9
1
1238
1987
62.30%
26
Grand
Spreyton
11
18
84
Motton Preston
9
7
61
Wesley Vale
6
0
10
0
1538
2109
72.93%
24
Sheffield
4
0
11
1
1383
1675
82.57%
18
West Ulverstone
0
0
16
0
1071
3051
35.10%
0
North West FA
Wins
Byes
Losses
Draws
For
Against
%
Pts
Final
Team
G
B
Pts
Team
G
B
Pts
Motton Preston
15
0
1
0
2390
1005
237.81%
60
Elimination
Forth
17
10
112
Spreyton
15
10
100
Sheffield
12
0
4
0
2344
1059
221.34%
48
Qualifying
East Ulverstone
21
11
137
Sheffield
18
21
129
East Ulverstone
12
0
4
0
2020
1144
176.57%
48
1st Semi
Sheffield
20
10
130
Forth
4
15
39
Spreyton
10
0
6
0
2115
1269
166.67%
40
2nd Semi
Motton Preston
17
16
118
East Ulverstone
8
7
55
Forth
7
0
9
0
1752
1400
125.14%
28
Preliminary
Sheffield
17
15
117
East Ulverstone
15
9
99
Wesley Vale
7
0
9
0
1698
1426
119.07%
28
Grand
Motton Preston
9
11
65
Sheffield
5
4
34
Rosebery/Toorak
7
0
9
0
1626
1370
118.69%
28
West Ulverstone
2
0
14
0
1141
2545
44.83%
8
Turners Beach
0
0
16
0
314
4182
7.51%
0
North West FA
Wins
Byes
Losses
Draws
For
Against
%
Pts
Final
Team
G
B
Pts
Team
G
B
Pts
Motton Preston
15
0
1
0
2496
774
322.48%
60
Elimination
Rosebery Toorak
7
10
52
Forth
5
15
45
Sheffield
12
0
4
0
2667
1143
233.33%
48
Qualifying
Sheffield
23
20
158
Wesley Vale
7
12
54
Wesley Vale
11
0
5
0
2299
1082
212.48%
44
1st Semi
Rosebery Toorak
16
16
112
Wesley Vale
13
6
84
Forth
11
0
5
0
2251
1317
170.92%
44
2nd Semi
Motton Preston
18
23
131
Sheffield
9
4
58
Rosebery/Toorak
9
0
7
0
1605
1266
126.78%
36
Preliminary
Sheffield
16
13
109
Rosebery Toorak
12
18
90
East Ulverstone
7
0
9
0
1306
1657
78.82%
28
Grand
Motton Preston
14
16
100
Sheffield
5
7
37
Turners Beach
5
0
11
0
1525
1926
79.18%
20
West Ulverstone
2
0
14
0
937
2679
34.98%
8
Spreyton
0
0
16
0
667
3909
17.06%
0
North West FA
Wins
Byes
Losses
Draws
For
Against
%
Pts
Final
Team
G
B
Pts
Team
G
B
Pts
Turners Beach
14
0
2
0
2463
856
287.73%
56
Elimination
Forth
24
16
160
Rosebery Toorak
14
15
99
Sheffield
14
0
2
0
3039
1106
274.77%
56
Qualifying
Motton Preston
16
10
106
Sheffield
14
16
100
Motton Preston
14
0
2
0
2354
1062
221.66%
56
1st Semi
Sheffield
18
18
126
Forth
8
9
57
Forth
9
0
7
0
2271
1108
204.96%
36
2nd Semi
Turners Beach
15
15
105
Motton Preston
15
10
100
Rosebery/Toorak
8
0
8
0
1587
1628
97.48%
32
Preliminary
Motton Preston
17
14
116
Sheffield
13
5
83
Wesley Vale
7
0
9
0
1644
1805
91.08%
28
Grand
Turners Beach
12
14
86
Motton Preston
8
10
58
East Ulverstone
4
0
12
0
963
2283
42.18%
16
West Ulverstone
2
0
14
0
1053
3023
34.83%
8
Spreyton
0
0
16
0
746
3249
22.96%
0