Woodville Football Club

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.

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 were looking to expand the competition from eight to ten teams and selected Woodville and Central District Football Club 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 only reached the finals in 1979, 1986 and 1987, with its best result a 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 their 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.

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 Blight (1972)

SANFL Leading Goalkickers
*Glynn Hewitt: 83 goals (1979)
*Trevor Pierson: 104 goals (1982)
*Malcolm Blight: 126 goals (1985)
*Stephen Nichols: 103 goals (1986)

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.

Club Grounds

* Woodville Oval (1941 – 1990)

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 Blight
* Richard Champion
* Ray Huppatz
* Alan Jakovich
* John Roberts

External links

* [http://www.wwtfc.com.au/theclub_history.asp Woodville-West Torrens Official Site]
* [http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/Woodville.htm Full Points Footy]