Wangaratta & District Junior Football Association - 1920 to ?
Wangaratta Town Junior Football Association - 1924 to ?
Wangaratta Junior Football League - 1938 to 2003.
Wangaratta & District Junior Football League - 2004 to present day.
Their is documented evidence of junior football taking place around Wangaratta before & after 1900, mainly between local schools, before the establishment of junior football clubs around 1920. The Wangaratta & District Junior Football Association conducted games between - Oxley, Peechelba, Wangandary & Wangaratta, with Wangaratta - 3.5 - 23 defeating Oxley - 0.5 - 5 in the 1920 grand final at South Wangaratta.
The Wangaratta Town Junior FA was established in 1924 as an under 20 competition, with the High School FC finishing on top & being declared the premiers. West End FC defeated Wang High School FC in the 1925 WTJFA Grand Final. See article below.
The current WJFL was originally established in 1938, under the guidance of both the Wangaratta (O&MFL) & Waratahs (O&KFL) Football Clubs. Unfortunately the league went into recess during World War Two between 1943 & 1946. The league refomed at the start of the 1947 season & has been going strong ever since.
During the war years of 1943 to 1946, junior football was still played in the area to entertain the boys still here , but with no premiership played for.
In 2003 one of the biggest changes in league came about when Bright, Myrtleford & Whorouly & in 2004, Devils & Corowa / Rutherglen were admitted and in 2003 the W&DJFL became a two division competiton, with Division One - Under 16's & Division Two - Under 14's.
The League's name then changed from the Wangaratta JFL to the Wangaratta & District JFL in 2004.
The Division One / Under 16's best & fairest medal is called the McCormack Medal & the Division Two / Under 14 best & fairest medal is called the Farrell Medal, after long serving secretary - Mr. Ken Farrell.
Below is a list of teams that have competed in the W&DJFL since 1938.
W&DJFL TEAM |
YEARS IN W&DJFL |
Bright |
2003 onwards |
Centrals (S.2) |
1938 onwards |
Champagnat College |
1957 & 58, 1964 - 76. |
College |
1980 onwards |
Combined Churches # |
1952 - 1998 |
Corowa / Rutherglen |
2004 - 2005 |
Devils |
2005 - ? |
Glenrowan |
1973 - 1976 |
Hostel |
1957 - 61 |
Imperials (S.3) |
1938 onwards |
Junior Magpies |
1942 onwards ? |
Kangaroos # |
1999 onwards |
Myrtleford |
1960 - 72, |
Ovens Rovers (S.1) |
1938 - 41 ? |
South Wanderers (S.4) |
1938 - 1974 |
Springhurst |
1959 - 1963 |
Swans |
|
Tigers |
1962 onwards |
Whorouly |
2003 - ? |
# - In 1999 Combined Churches changed their name to the Kangaroos FC
WDJFL - Competition Age Groups since 1938
Under 19 competition
- 1938 only. WDJFL in recess between 1943 & 1946 due to World War Two.
Under 18 competition
Under 17 competition
- 1976 to 1992.
- Then two divisions were introduced into the W&DJFL at the start of the 1993 season.
- Division 1 / Under 17 - 1993 to 2002
Under 15 competition
- Division 2 / Under 15 competition from - 1993 to 2002
Under 13 Competition
- Division 3 / Under 13 competition introduced in 1996 to 2002
Under 16 competition
- The age groups were lowered at the start of the 2003 season & with only two divisions -
- Division 1 - Under 16 competition from - 2003 to present
Under 14 Competition
- Division 2 / Under 14 competition from - 2003 to present
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From - The Argus newspaper, 27th April, 1925.
From the - Wangaratta Chronicle newspaper - 7th May, 1938.