Tasman Football Association
The Tasman Football Association was an Australian rules football competition in Tasmania, Australia. The association had origins back to 1902 when games were played at random. In 1910 a proper association was set up. The association went into recess during World War II but returned.
The association folded after the 2001 season with the Dodges Ferry Sharks moving to the Southern Football League while the Swansea Football Club moved to the Oatlands District Football Association (ODFA). Campania folded but reformed in 2007 and joined the ODFA.
History
The Tasman Football Association was officially formed in 1910 but games had been played from approximately 1902 in the area. The teams in the first year of the competition were Wedge Bay, Nubeena, Carnarvon, Koonya and Fortescue Bay. The first premiership was won by Koonya who defeated Nubeena in the grand final.
Carnarvon were the most successful club in the early years of the competition, taking out seven titles between 1922 and 1931. Koonya and Nubeena were also premiership winners during this period. Prior to WW2, the Tasman Rovers won three premierships between 1935 and 1937 before Port Arthur went back to back in 1938–39 before the war began. Taranna Football Club won their only known senior premiership in 1934 with a 13.17-95 to 5.7-37 win over Port Arthur.
The competition resumed after WW2 in 1946 with Port Arthur taking off where they left off winning the 1946 and 1947 premierships. Around this time Dunalley, joined the competition and almost straight away became a powerhouse of the competition. The 1960s were dominated by the Nubeena Tigers with the club winning 6 straight premierships and 12 premierships between 1957 and 1971. The 1972 season saw the introduction of the reserves competition, which Dunalley won the first 3 flags in, including winning the double seniors/reserves premierships in 1974. The 1978 season saw the Dodges Ferry Sharks Football Club enter the competition playing home games at the Copping Football Ground before Shark Park in Dodges Ferry was created. Dodges Ferry won both the seniors and reserves premierships in both 1979 and 1980.
New club Lauderdale joined the association in 1979. The South East District Football Association (SEDFA) folded at the end of the 1979 season which saw Mangalore and Triabunna join the competition. Mangalore, who won the final SEDFA premiership in 1979 fell 5 points short of Dodges Ferry in the 1980 grand final. The club left after only 1 season to join the newly created Tasmanian Amateur Football League (Southern Division). Lauderdale then also left after the 1980 season.
Dunalley Football Club won back to back premierships in 1981–82, before new club Triabunna won 5 out of the next 6 premierships to be the dominant club throughout the 1980s. Triabunna also won 7 reserves premierships during this period.
The 1981 season also saw foundation club Nubeena go into recess due to a lack of players. The Tasman Football Club entered in 1983, however, only lasted 3 seasons before going into recess at the completion of the 1985 season. In 1988 Nubeena and Port Arthur reformed to join the newly created Peninsula Football Association. Dodges Ferry won the 1989, 1990 & 1991 premierships. An Under 16 competition was introduced in 1989, Campania winning this in its inaugural year. The 1992 season saw Richmond and Railway Football clubs join the competition, with Richmond going down to Triabunna by 3 points in the grand final and winning both the reserves and Under 16 premierships. Richmond then won the next 4 premierships between 1993 and 1996.
Railway Football Club went into recess at the completion of 1993 season due a shortage of players and former Fingal District Football Association club, Swansea joined the competition that year. Other clubs to go into recess during the 1990s included Dunalley in 1996 and Campania in 1998. Campania would come out of recess 10 years later in the ODFA where they still compete today.
North Derwent won their only Tasman Football Association premiership in 1998 with a hard fought 3 goal win over Swansea. Swansea then won their first premiership in the competition, the following year in 1999.
Prior to the 2000 season, Risdon Vale, went into recess due to a lack of players forcing the competition to compete with only 5 sides for the season. The season saw Richmond beat Triabunna in the decider by 30 points with Swansea winning their first reserves premiership in 25 years.
At the completion of the 2000 season, Richmond successfully applied and joined the Old Scholars Football Association and Triabunna joined the Oatlands District Football Association (ODFA). This left only 3 teams for the following season in Dodges Ferry, Cambridge & Swansea. However, Risdon Vale reformed and entered both a seniors and reserves team. Railway also attempted to enter teams after going into recess after the 1993 season.
However, Railway were unable to eventuate on this and Cambridge withdrew part way through the season leaving the competition to finish the season with only 3 clubs. Swansea won the grand final 28.13-181 over Dodges Ferry 9.13-67, with Dodges Ferry winning the reserves grand final over Swansea. This would be the final season of the Tasman Football Association which had been around for about 100 years.
Around this time Dodges Ferry was a fast-growing area and applied and successfully joined the bigger, more powerful Southern Football League. The club has since become a strong club in this competition winning the 2006 senior premiership and coming runners up in 2010.
Swansea then joined the ODFA were Triabunna, had the previous season. Swansea went on to win the 2004 and 2007 ODFA senior premierships before going into recess prior to the 2019 season due to a shortage of players.
This left only Risdon Vale in the competition and with no option but to go into recess. Risdon Vale's players went to other clubs including Lindisfarne in the Southern Football League and OHA in the Old Scholars Football Association.
Teams to compete in the league at some stage were Port Arthur, Tunnel Bay, Taranna, TPT Rovers, Saltwater River, Wanderers (later named Timberworkers), Dunalley, Cambridge, Rokeby, Copping, Risdon Vale, Mangalore, Lauderdale, Sorell Seconds Team, Dodges Ferry, Swansea, North Derwent, Tasman Rovers, Railway, Tasman, Richmond and Campania, Lauderdale & Triabunna.
Clubs
Final
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in TFA | TFA Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||||
| Cambridge |  |
Magpies | Cambridge Oval, Cambridge | STFA | 1885 | 1961-1962, 1982-2001 | 0 | - | Folded partway through 2001 season |
| Dodges Ferry |  .svg.png) .svg.png) |
Sharks | Dodges Ferry Recreation Ground, Dodges Ferry | – | 1978 | 1978-2001 | 6 | 1979, 1980, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1991 | Moved to Southern FL following 2001 season |
| Risdon Vale |  |
Tigers | Risdon Vale Park, Risdon Vale | STFA | 1969 | 1982-1984, 1998-2001 | 0 | - | Folded after 2001 season |
| Swansea |  |
Swans | Swansea Oval, Swansea | FDFA | 1890s | 1993-2001 | 2 | 1999, 2001 | Moved to Oatlands District FA following 2001 season |
Former
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in TFA | TFA Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||||
| Campania | .svg.png) |
Wallabies | Campania Recreation Reserve, Campania | SEDFA | 1882 | 1988-1997 | 0 | - | Folded after 1997 season, re-formed in Oatlands District FA in 2007 |
| Copping |  |
Copping Oval, Copping | PFA | 1884 | 1951-1982 | 7 | 1956, 1959, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1978 | Folded after 1982 season | |
| Dunalley |  |
Bulldogs | Dunalley Football Oval, Dunalley | PFA | 1903 | 1951-1995 | 8 | 1952, 1953, 1961, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1982 | Folded after 1995 season |
| Fortescue Bay | – | 1910-? | 0 | - | Folded prior to WWI | ||||
| Koonya | Koonya Football Ground, Koonya | – | 1902 | 1910-1950 | 3 | 1910, 1930, 1948 | Folded after 1950 season | ||
| Lauderdale | |
Magpies | Lauderdale Oval, Lauderdale | – | 1979 | 1979-1980 | 0 | - | Moved to TAFL Southern Divisionfollowing 1980 season |
| Mangalore | |
Robins | Pontville Oval, Pontville | SEDFA | 1885 | 1980 | 0 | - | Moved to TAFL Southern Division following 1980 season |
| North Derwent |  |
Foresters | Boyer Oval, New Norfolk | STFA | 1984 | 1991-1998 | 1 | 1998 | Folded after 1998 season |
| Nubeena | |
Tigers | Nubeena Recreation Ground, Nubeena | – | 1892 | 1910-1981 | 18 | 1914, 1924, 1933, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1971 | Entered recess after 1981 season, re-formed in Peninsula FA in 1988 |
| Port Arthur (Carnarvon 1902-30s) |  |
Kangaroos | Port Arthur Sports Ground, Port Arthur | – | 1902 | 1910-1980 | 12 | 1922, 1925, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1938, 1939, 1946, 1947, 1954, 1968 | Entered recess after round 1 of 1980 season, moved to Peninsula FA after 1987 season |
| Railway | .svg.png) |
Blues | Clare Street Oval, New Town | STFA | 1876 | 1992-1993 | 0 | - | Folded after 1993 season |
| Richmond | .svg.png) |
Lions | Richmond War Memorial Oval, Richmond | TAFL | 1878 | 1992-2000 | 5 | 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000 | Moved to Old Scholars FA following 2000 season |
| Rokeby |  |
Hawks | Clarendon Vale Oval, Clarendon Vale | 1884 | 1985-1988 | 0 | - | Folded after 1988 season | |
| Saltwater River | – | ? | 0 | - | ? | ||||
| Taranna | Taranna Oval, Taranna | – | 1933 | 1933-1935 | 1 | 1934 | Folded after 1935 season | ||
| Tasman |  |
Bombers | Copping Oval, Copping and Nubeena Recreation Ground, Nubeena | – | 1983 | 1983-1985 | 0 | - | Folded after 1985 season |
| Timberworkers | – | 1936-? | 0 | - | Folded prior to WWII | ||||
| TPT Rovers/Tasman Rovers | – | 1930 | 1935-?, 1949-1950 | 3 | 1935, 1936, 1937 | Folded after 1950 season | |||
| Triabunna | |
Kangaroos | Triabunna Recreation Ground, Triabunna | SEDFA | 1900 | 1980-2000 | 7 | 1983, 1985, 1986 1987, 1988, 1992, 1997 | Moved to Oatlands District FA following 2000 season |
| Tunnel Bay | – | 1922-?, 1947 | 0 | - | Folded after 1947 season | ||||
| Wedge Bay | – | 1902 | 1910 | 0 | - | Folded | |||
Premiers
| Year | Seniors | Reserves | Under 16s |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | Koonya def. Nubeena | ||
| 1911 | |||
| 1912 | |||
| 1913 | |||
| 1914 | Nubeena | ||
| 1915 | WW1 | ||
| 1916 | WW1 | ||
| 1917 | WW1 | ||
| 1918 | WW1 | ||
| 1919 | Influenza outbreak | ||
| 1920 | |||
| 1921 | |||
| 1922 | Carnarvon 5.7-37 def. Timberworkers 4.1--35 | ||
| 1923 | |||
| 1924 | Nubeena | ||
| 1925 | Carnarvon | ||
| 1926 | |||
| 1927 | Carnarvon | ||
| 1928 | Carnarvon | ||
| 1929 | Carnarvon | ||
| 1930 | Koonya 4.15-39 def. Carnarvon 2.7-19 | ||
| 1931 | Carnarvon | ||
| 1932 | Carnavon 9.12-66 def. Nubeena 7.9-=51 | ||
| 1933 | Nubeena 9.16-78 def. Carnavon 8.10-58 | ||
| 1934 | Taranna 13.17-95 def. Port Arthur 5.7-37 | ||
| 1935 | Tasman Rovers def. Taranna | ||
| 1936 | Tasman Rovers 6.13-49 def. Wanderers 4.11-35 | ||
| 1937 | Tasman Rovers 16.14-110 def. Koonya 13.8-86 | ||
| 1938 | Port Arthur 11.15-81 def. Nubeena 11.5-71 | ||
| 1939 | Port Arthur 12.10-82 def. Koonya 6.17-53 | ||
| 1940 | WW2 | ||
| 1941 | WW2 | ||
| 1942 | WW2 | ||
| 1943 | WW2 | ||
| 1944 | WW2 | ||
| 1945 | WW2 | ||
| 1946 | Port Arthur 10.15-75 def. Koonya 7.9-51 | ||
| 1947 | Port Arthur 11.11-77 def. Nubeena 8.9-57 | ||
| 1948 | Koonya 9.10-64 def. Nubeena 6.19-55 | ||
| 1949 | Nubeena 22.10-142 def. TPT Rovers 8.8-56 | ||
| 1950 | Nubeena def. Port Arthur | ||
| 1951 | Nubeena 6.16-52 def. Dunalley 5.8-38 | ||
| 1952 | Dunalley 7.13-55 def. Nubeena 6.13-49 | ||
| 1953 | Dunalley 9.11-64 def. Nubeena 8.10-58 | ||
| 1954 | Port Arthur def. Dunalley | ||
| 1955 | Nubeena def. Dunalley | ||
| 1956 | Copping 9.15-69 def. Port Arthur 4.5-29 | ||
| 1957 | Nubeena 11.10-76 def. Dunalley 9.14-68 | ||
| 1958 | Nubeena 11.20-86 def. Copping 9.16-70 | ||
| 1959 | Copping 16.23-119 def. Nubeena 13.10-88 | ||
| 1960 | Nubeena 13.24-102 def. Port Arthur 8.10-58 | ||
| 1961 | Dunalley 9.12-66 def. Port Arthur 5.11-41 | ||
| 1962 | Nubeena 16.20-116 def. Cambridge 5.11-41 | ||
| 1963 | Nubeena 7.13-55 def. Port Arthur 5.7-37 | ||
| 1964 | Nubeena 17.20-122 def. Port Arthur 5.7-37 | ||
| 1965 | Nubeena 18.21-129 def. Copping 8.5-53 | ||
| 1966 | Nubeena 17.5-107 def. Dunalley 9.13-67 | ||
| 1967 | Nubeena 11.12-78 def. Port Arthur 10.11-71 | ||
| 1968 | Port Arthur 12.11-83 def. Dunalley 10.18-78 | ||
| 1969 | Nubeena 15.15-105 def. Port Arthur 12.15-87 | ||
| 1970 | Copping 10.11-71 def. Nubeena 7.12-54 | ||
| 1971 | Nubeena 25.14-164 def. Port Arthur 22.15-147 | ||
| 1972 | Copping 16.14-110 def. Port Arthur 15.13-103 | Dunalley | |
| 1973 | Copping 13.15-93 def. Dunalley 13.11-89 | Dunalley | |
| 1974 | Dunalley 16.22-118 def. Nubeena 11.7-63 | Dunalley | |
| 1975 | Copping 18.28-136 def. Dunalley 7.8-50 | Copping | |
| 1976 | Dunalley 10.16-76 def. Copping 7.10-52 | Dunalley | |
| 1977 | Dunalley 5.17-47 def. Nubeena 5.4-34 | Dunalley | |
| 1978 | Copping 14.14-88 def. Nubeena 10.9-69 | Copping | |
| 1979 | Dodges Ferry 19.16-130 def. Nubeena 5.5-35 | Dodges Ferry def. Copping | |
| 1980 | Dodges Ferry 16.15-111 def. Mangalore 16.10-106 | Dodges Ferry | |
| 1981 | Dunalley 11.17-83 def. Dodges Ferry 9.10-64 | Triabunna | |
| 1982 | Dunalley 18.14-122 def. Triabunna 15.8-98 | Triabunna | |
| 1983 | Triabunna 14.15-99 def. Dunalley 3.3-21 | Triabunna def. Dodges Ferry | |
| 1984 | Dodges Ferry 19.11-125 def. Triabunna 11.17-83 | Triabunna | |
| 1985 | Triabunna 27.12-174 def. Dodges Ferry 10.14-74 | Triabunna | |
| 1986 | Tribaunna 18.13-121 def. Dodges Ferry 15.10-100 | Rokeby | |
| 1987 | Triabunna 26.13-169 def. Rokeby 10.9-69 | Triabunna | |
| 1988 | Triabunna 9.10-64 def. Dunalley 5.11-41 | Triabunna | |
| 1989 | Dodges Ferry 18.13-121 def, Dunalley 9.10-64 | Dunalley def. Dodges Ferry | Campania |
| 1990 | Dodges Ferry 16.12-108 def. Dunalley 9.10-64 | Dunalley | Dodges Ferry |
| 1991 | Dodges Ferry 18.9-117 def. North Derwent 11.5-71 | Dodges Ferry | Triabunna |
| 1992 | Triabunna 15.8-98 def. Richmond 15.5-95 | Richmond | Richmond |
| 1993 | Richmond 12.9-81 def. Cambridge 10.10-70 | Richmond | Cambridge |
| 1994 | Richmond 27.9-171 def. Campania 14.6-90 | Richmond | |
| 1995 | Richmond 16.11-107 def. Triabunna 8.7-55 | Richmond | |
| 1996 | Richmond 13.20-98 def. Swansea 9.2-62 | North Derwent | |
| 1997 | Triabunna 20.13-133 def. Swansea 11.7-73 | Richmond | |
| 1998 | North Derwent 11.15-81 def. Swansea 9.9-63 | Richmond def. North Derwent | |
| 1999 | Swansea 17.16-118 def. Dodges Ferry 11.9-75 | Dodges Ferry def. Swansea | |
| 2000 | Richmond 11.11-77 def. Triabunna 6.11-47 | Swansea def. Dodges Ferry | |
| 2001 | Swansea 28.13-181 def. Dodges Ferry 9.13-67 | Dodges Ferry def. Swansea |
See also
References
- Football News Tasmania 1990. (Sportsnews Tasmania)
- Football News Tasmania 1991. (Sportsnews Tasmania)
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- Stoward, John. Australian Rules Football in Tasmania. Digital Print Tasmania, 2002, ISBN 0-9577515-7-5