Woodville Football Club
Encyclopedia
Woodville Football Club was an Australian rules football
club that competed in the South Australian National Football League
from 1964 to 1990, when it merged with the West Torrens Football Club
to form the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles.
Based in the western suburbs of Adelaide
, South Australia
, Woodville derived its name from the suburb
it was located in.
to enter the SANFL reserves competition on a five year apprenticeship before gaining admission to the league competition in 1964.
Its inaugural season was an indicator of its success (or lack thereof) for the remainder of its existence. It won just three matches, all against Central Districts. In its 27 seasons in the SANFL, Woodville reached the finals only three times: in 1979, 1986 and 1987; its best result was 3rd position in 1986.
Woodville’s most successful player was Malcolm Blight
, who won a Magarey Medal
and gained selection in the All Australian team in 1972. He would later play for North Melbourne Football Club
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL), winning a Brownlow Medal
in 1978. He returned to Woodville in 1983 as Captain/Coach, leading the club through its most successful period.
As a struggling club with limited fans and finances, there were regular calls throughout the 1980s to merge Woodville with another club. In 1990, with the imminent entry of the South Australian based Adelaide Crows
into the national Australian Football League
, it was decided to amalgamate Woodville with neighbouring West Torrens Football Club. In an apt moment, Woodville and West Torrens were drawn to play each other in their respective final games. The two sides merged after the completion of the 1990 season and have since participated in the SANFL as the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles.
Magarey Medalists
SANFL Leading Goalkickers
On entry to the SANFL, Woodville were known as “The Woodpeckers” but changed to “The Warriors” in 1983.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
club that competed in the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
from 1964 to 1990, when it merged with the West Torrens Football Club
West Torrens Football Club
West Torrens Football Club was an Australian rules football club that competed in the South Australian National Football League from 1897 to 1990...
to form the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles.
Based in the western suburbs of Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, Woodville derived its name from the suburb
Woodville, South Australia
Woodville is a suburb of Adelaide, situated about 8 kilometres northwest of the Central Business District of Adelaide. It lies within the City of Charles Sturt. The postcode of Woodville is 5011...
it was located in.
Club history
There are newspaper references to a Woodville Football Club dating back to the nineteenth century but the modern club was formed in 1938 to play in local amateur competitions. In 1959 the SANFL was looking to expand the competition from eight to ten teams and selected Woodville and Central District Football ClubCentral District Bulldogs
Central District Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in the city of Elizabeth about 25 km to the north of Adelaide, South Australia.-Origins and Background:...
to enter the SANFL reserves competition on a five year apprenticeship before gaining admission to the league competition in 1964.
Its inaugural season was an indicator of its success (or lack thereof) for the remainder of its existence. It won just three matches, all against Central Districts. In its 27 seasons in the SANFL, Woodville reached the finals only three times: in 1979, 1986 and 1987; its best result was 3rd position in 1986.
Woodville’s most successful player was Malcolm Blight
Malcolm Blight
Malcolm Jack Blight AM is a former champion Australian rules football player and coach, and current television commentator. During the 1970s and 1980s Blight played for the Woodville Football Club in the South Australian National Football League and the North Melbourne Football Club in the...
, who won a Magarey Medal
Magarey Medal
For the biography award of the same name, see Magarey Medal for biography. For a list of winners, see List of Magarey Medallists.The Magarey Medal is an Australian rules football honour awarded annually since 1898 to the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football...
and gained selection in the All Australian team in 1972. He would later play for North Melbourne Football Club
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL), winning a Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
in 1978. He returned to Woodville in 1983 as Captain/Coach, leading the club through its most successful period.
As a struggling club with limited fans and finances, there were regular calls throughout the 1980s to merge Woodville with another club. In 1990, with the imminent entry of the South Australian based Adelaide Crows
Adelaide Crows
The Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, playing in the Australian Football League ....
into the national Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
, it was decided to amalgamate Woodville with neighbouring West Torrens Football Club. In an apt moment, Woodville and West Torrens were drawn to play each other in their respective final games. The two sides merged after the completion of the 1990 season and have since participated in the SANFL as the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles.
Awards
Premierships- SANFL League: Nil
- SANFL Night Premierships: 2 - Coca Cola Cup 1972, Escort Cup 1988
- SANFL Reserves: 2 - 1973, 1987
- SANFL Under 19's: Nil
- SANFL Under 17's: 5 - 1962, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1973
Magarey Medalists
- Malcolm BlightMalcolm BlightMalcolm Jack Blight AM is a former champion Australian rules football player and coach, and current television commentator. During the 1970s and 1980s Blight played for the Woodville Football Club in the South Australian National Football League and the North Melbourne Football Club in the...
(1972)
SANFL Leading Goalkickers
- Glynn HewittGlynn HewittGlynn Maxwell Hewitt is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the SANFL and for Richmond in the VFL during the 1970s. He is the father of Australian tennis player Lleyton Hewitt....
: 83 goals (1979) - Malcolm BlightMalcolm BlightMalcolm Jack Blight AM is a former champion Australian rules football player and coach, and current television commentator. During the 1970s and 1980s Blight played for the Woodville Football Club in the South Australian National Football League and the North Melbourne Football Club in the...
: 126 goals (1985) - Stephen NicholsStephen Nichols (footballer)Stephen Nichols is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Geelong in the Victorian Football League during the 1980s....
: 103 goals (1986, 1988)
Club Colours and Emblems
- Red and White (1938 – 1939)
- Purple and White (1940 – 1946)
- Green and Gold (1947 – 1990)
On entry to the SANFL, Woodville were known as “The Woodpeckers” but changed to “The Warriors” in 1983.
Famous players
- Ralph Sewer: Debuting in 1969 and playing his final match in 1990 aged 38, Sewer became not only the only man to have played in the SANFL in four different decades, but also the only grandfather. His 325 games was a club record.
- Malcolm BlightMalcolm BlightMalcolm Jack Blight AM is a former champion Australian rules football player and coach, and current television commentator. During the 1970s and 1980s Blight played for the Woodville Football Club in the South Australian National Football League and the North Melbourne Football Club in the...
- Richard ChampionRichard ChampionRichard Champion was a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League....
- Ray HuppatzRay HuppatzRay Huppatz is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Footscray and North Melbourne in the VFL during the 1970s....
- Alan Jakovich
- John Roberts
- Barrie BarbaryBarrie BarbaryBarrie Barbary is a former Australian rules footballer who played 213 games for North Adelaide and Woodville in the SANFL between 1957 - 1970. He was the 1960 Magarey Medalist and had a 14 year SANFL career.-North Adelaide Playing Career:...
- John Klug
- Bob SimunsenBob SimunsenRobert 'Bob' Simunsen is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Woodville in the South Australian National Football League . A talented cricketer, he also played some first-class cricket matches in the Sheffield Shield for South Australia.Simunsen, a centreman, was with Woodville...
Club Records
- South Australian Premiers: 0
- SANFL Night Premiers: 2 - 1972, 1988
- Home Ground: Woodville OvalWoodville OvalWoodville Oval is primarily an Australian rules football oval found on Oval Avenue in Woodville, South Australia...
(1963-90) (SANFL league games) - Record Attendance at Woodville OvalWoodville OvalWoodville Oval is primarily an Australian rules football oval found on Oval Avenue in Woodville, South Australia...
: 11,026 v Port AdelaidePort Adelaide MagpiesThe Port Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the South Australian National Football League...
in Round 18, 1986 [Woodville 14.11 (95) d Port 13.11 (89)] - Record Attendance: 39,066 v Port AdelaidePort Adelaide MagpiesThe Port Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the South Australian National Football League...
at Football Park, 1986 SANFLSouth Australian National Football LeagueThe South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
1st Semi-final [Woodville 18.20 (128) d Port 18.13 (121)] - Most Games: 325 by Ralph Sewer (1969–80, 1984-90)
- Most Goals in a Season: 126 by Malcolm BlightMalcolm BlightMalcolm Jack Blight AM is a former champion Australian rules football player and coach, and current television commentator. During the 1970s and 1980s Blight played for the Woodville Football Club in the South Australian National Football League and the North Melbourne Football Club in the...
in 1986 - First player to kick 100 goals in an SANFL season: Trevor Pierson (1982 - 104 goals )
- Most Years as Coach: 5 by Malcolm BlightMalcolm BlightMalcolm Jack Blight AM is a former champion Australian rules football player and coach, and current television commentator. During the 1970s and 1980s Blight played for the Woodville Football Club in the South Australian National Football League and the North Melbourne Football Club in the...
(1983–87) - Highest Score: 29.11 (185) v West TorrensWest Torrens Football ClubWest Torrens Football Club was an Australian rules football club that competed in the South Australian National Football League from 1897 to 1990...
23.13 (151) at Thebarton OvalThebarton OvalThebarton Oval was formerly the home ground of SANFL club West Torrens who played their last game at the ground in on 2 September 1989 ending a run of 68 seasons at Thebby Oval...
in 1982 - Magarey Medallists: Malcolm BlightMalcolm BlightMalcolm Jack Blight AM is a former champion Australian rules football player and coach, and current television commentator. During the 1970s and 1980s Blight played for the Woodville Football Club in the South Australian National Football League and the North Melbourne Football Club in the...
in 1972 - SANFL Leading Goalkicker: Glynn HewittGlynn HewittGlynn Maxwell Hewitt is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the SANFL and for Richmond in the VFL during the 1970s. He is the father of Australian tennis player Lleyton Hewitt....
(1979), Malcolm BlightMalcolm BlightMalcolm Jack Blight AM is a former champion Australian rules football player and coach, and current television commentator. During the 1970s and 1980s Blight played for the Woodville Football Club in the South Australian National Football League and the North Melbourne Football Club in the...
(1985), Stephen NicholsStephen Nichols (footballer)Stephen Nichols is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Geelong in the Victorian Football League during the 1980s....
(1986, 1988) - South Australian Football Hall of FameSouth Australian Football Hall of FameThe South Australian Football Hall of Fame was created in 2002 to recognise the players, coaches, umpires, administrators and journalists who had made a significant contribution in the South Australian National Football League...
members*: Barrie BarbaryBarrie BarbaryBarrie Barbary is a former Australian rules footballer who played 213 games for North Adelaide and Woodville in the SANFL between 1957 - 1970. He was the 1960 Magarey Medalist and had a 14 year SANFL career.-North Adelaide Playing Career:...
(2002), Malcolm BlightMalcolm BlightMalcolm Jack Blight AM is a former champion Australian rules football player and coach, and current television commentator. During the 1970s and 1980s Blight played for the Woodville Football Club in the South Australian National Football League and the North Melbourne Football Club in the...
(2002), Ralph Sewer (2002), Ray HuppatzRay HuppatzRay Huppatz is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Footscray and North Melbourne in the VFL during the 1970s....
(2003), Andrew RogersAndrew RogersAndrew Rogers may refer to:*Andrew Rogers , Australian rules footballer*Andrew Rogers , Australian artist*Andrew Rogers , a singer in C-Note*Andrew J. Rogers, American politician*Andy Rogers, ice hockey player...
(2005), Bob SimunsenBob SimunsenRobert 'Bob' Simunsen is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Woodville in the South Australian National Football League . A talented cricketer, he also played some first-class cricket matches in the Sheffield Shield for South Australia.Simunsen, a centreman, was with Woodville...
(2006), Bill Sanders (2011)