Mid Murray
Riverland zone, 1911 to 2009
Formation
The Mid Murray Football Association was formed in 1911 and was centred around the town of Waikerie. The founding clubs were Kingston, Waikerie, Ramco and Rovers. The Rovers were a team formed by government employees, known as ‘Navvies’, who were working on water infrastructure in the Waikerie district. Traveling to Kingston in 1911 was a major event with all visiting teams choosing to travel to the game by paddle steamer.
The 1912 grand final between Waikerie and Rovers ended in high controversy when the umpire walked off the field and didn’t come back. The Rovers were leading by a point just after half time when a Rovers player rushed over a Waikerie players mark several times despite being warned not to. Umpire Gilmour then left the ground and the game was called off. Umpire J Forgie from Moorook was appointed to umpire the replayed final which was somewhat of an anti-climax with Waikerie winning comfortably.
The 1929 Mid Murray season was about to commence with four sides – Morgan, Ramco, Waikerie and Ramblers taking part. Unexpectedly after two years of trying, the Waikerie Football Club was finally accepted into the Upper Murray Football Association with A and B grade teams. This eleventh hour decision by the Waikerie teams to leave the competition brought about an immediate recess for the Mid Murray association.
Frank Tully the former South Adelaide and state champion was appointed secretary of the league in 1940 and played for Morgan. The 1940 season was abandoned late in June due to rising enlistments. The association match to be played at Swan Reach against the Murray Mallee association was also cancelled.
The skipper of the Holder Football Club, Clem Smith set something of a record in calling the toss at the beginning of each match. From 14 minor round games in 1950, Clem called correctly 13 times.
Once Ramco left the competition in 2009, the future of the Mid Murray association appeared limited. Robertstown was closest to neighbouring leagues but could only make a realistic move as a merger partner. They did this successfully with Eudunda in 2010 and the new Southern Saints coalition is continually improving in the North Eastern league.
Sedan Cambrai made an unsuccessful move to the Hills league. They found they were unable to perform consistently to the same level of their opposition. BSR followed Ramco to the Riverland Independent league in 2010 and while initially it was a successful move, they went into recess in 2015. They have since reformed and have been joined in the Riverland Independents by Sedan Cambrai who transferred from the Hills league in 2016.
Club Timeline
Clubs (22)
Mileage
| Town A | Town B | Town C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Town A | * | 25 | 40 |
| Town B | 25 | * | 18 |
| Town C | 40 | 18 | * |
Records
| Player | Club | Value | Year / Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| J. Smith | Example FC | 312 | 1985-2005 |
| R. Jones | Another FC | 298 | 1990-2010 |
Grand Finals
| Year | Premier | Score | Runner-Up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1911 | Waikerie | Qualco Rovers Scores not recorded | ||
| 1912 | Waikerie | 6-4 | Qualco Rovers | 2-7 |
| 1913 | Waikerie | 7-12 | Morgan | 4-7 |
| 1914 | Kia Ora | 7-9 | Ramco | 7-3 |
| 1915 | Kia Ora | 4-4 | Waikerie | 2-9 |
| 1916-1919 | WWI Recess | |||
| 1920 | Kia Ora | 4-12 | Waikerie | 2-6 |
| 1921 | Kia Ora | 8-7 | Morgan | 7-5 |
| 1922 | Kia Ora | 6-10 | Waikerie | 3-7 |
| 1923 | Kia Ora | 15-11 | Imperials (MM) | 5-4 |
| 1924 | Morgan | 7-12 | Kia Ora | 7-8 |
| 1925 | Kia Ora | Waikerie Scores not recorded | ||
| 1926 | Waikerie | 11-10 | Morgan | 1-2 |
| 1927 | Lock 2 | 9-11 | Ramco | 3-6 |
| 1928 | Morgan | 9-15 | Waikerie Ramblers | 5-4 |
| 1929-1931 | Recess | |||
| 1932 | Morgan | 8-6 | Waikerie Rovers | 2-8 |
| 1933 | Waikerie Rovers | 9-8 | Morgan | 5-5 |
| 1934 | Morgan | 11-19 | Ramco | 5-4 |
| 1935 | Ramco | 8-5 | Waikerie Rovers | 6-14 |
| 1936-1937 | Recess | |||
| 1938 | Morgan | Cadell Scores not recorded | ||
| 1939 | Morgan | 14-16 | Ramco | 9-10 |
| 1940 | Season abandoned due to WWII | |||
| 1941-1945 | WWII Recess | |||
| 1946 | Morgan | 9-10 | Cadell | 6-14 |
| 1947 | Cadell | 10-15 | Blanchetown | 10-12 |
| 1948 | Cadell | 16-16 | Morgan | 7-4 |
| 1949 | Ramco | 13-10 | Cadell | 7-10 |
| 1950 | Cadell | 14-18 | Ramco | 11-11 |
| 1951 | Cadell | 15-15 | Blanchetown | 15-14 |
| 1952 | Cadell | 15-14 | Morgan | 11-9 |
| 1953 | Blanchetown | 14-16 | Morgan | 11-8 |
| 1954 | Blanchetown | 14-10 | Cadell | 14-7 |
| 1955 | Morgan | 14-13 | Blanchetown | 12-15 |
| 1956 | Morgan | 11-10 | Blanchetown | 8-15 |
| 1957 | Cadell | 10-6 | Morgan | 0-10 |
| 1958 | Cadell | 15-11 | Blanchetown | 9-17 |
| 1959 | Cadell | 18-15 | Taylorville Holder United | 8-12 |
| 1960 | Cadell | 9-13 | Taylorville Holder United | 3-8 |
| 1961 | Blanchetown | 16-21 | Morgan | 6-12 |
| 1962 | Blanchetown | 11-20 | Morgan | 4-20 |
| 1963 | Ramco | 14-14 | Morgan | 5-12 |
| 1964 | Morgan | 12-11 | Ramco | 7-16 |
| 1965 | Cadell | 24-15 | Morgan | 9-9 |
| 1966 | Morgan | 16-14 | Ramco | 10-8 |
| 1967 | Taylorville Holder United | 9-11 | Cadell | 6-6 |
| 1968 | Morgan | 15-12 | Cadell | 8-10 |
| 1969 | Morgan | 12-8 | Cadell | 9-9 |
| 1970 | Morgan | 17-14 | Cadell | 9-18 |
| 1971 | Cadell | 11-3 | Ramco | 9-7 |
| 1972 | Cadell | 13-9 | Ramco | 12-11 |
| 1973 | Cadell | 17-9 | Ramco | 13-8 |
| 1974 | Cadell | 13-13 | Ramco | 8-4 |
| 1975 | Taylorville Holder United | 22-14 | Morgan | 8-6 |
| 1976 | Morgan | 16-12 | Blanchetown Swan Reach | 10-20 |
| 1977 | Ramco | 18-15 | Cadell | 4-13 |
| 1978 | Ramco | 12-11 | Morgan | 11-11 |
| 1979 | Ramco | 17-11 | drew with Cadell Book prints 'def.' but the scores are level (17-11 and 18-5 are both 113 points); the undated line below it is the replay | 18-5 |
| 1979 | Ramco | 14-15 | Cadell Replay | 11-12 |
| 1980 | Cadell Training Centre | 21-18 | Ramco | 12-7 |
| 1981 | Blanchetown Swan Reach | 21-19 | Morgan | 4-11 |
| 1982 | Blanchetown Swan Reach | 18-17 | Morgan | 10-5 |
| 1983 | Morgan | 23-15 | Blanchetown Swan Reach | 16-13 |
| 1984 | Morgan | 20-15 | Blanchetown Swan Reach | 12-10 |
| 1985 | Cadell | 18-8 | Blanchetown Swan Reach | 13-13 |
| 1986 | Morgan | 20-10 | Sedan Cambrai | 7-11 |
| 1987 | Robertstown | 17-13 | Morgan | 10-5 |
| 1988 | Sedan Cambrai | 10-11 | Morgan | 7-13 |
| 1989 | Robertstown | 21-7 | Blanchetown Swan Reach | 8-14 |
| 1990 | Cadell | 17-15 | Robertstown | 12-14 |
| 1991 | Blanchetown Swan Reach | 17-16 | Robertstown | 10-13 |
| 1992 | Robertstown | 21-7 | Blanchetown Swan Reach | 12-15 |
| 1993 | Morgan | 19-11 | Blanchetown Swan Reach | 17-4 |
| 1994 | Perponda | 31-8 | Sedan Cambrai | 5-10 |
| 1995 | Ramco | 14-14 | Perponda | 11-11 |
| 1996 | Ramco | 15-13 | Perponda | 9-9 |
| 1997 | Blanchetown Swan Reach | 9-9 | Sedan Cambrai | 8-10 |
| 1998 | Perponda | 17-16 | Robertstown | 9-10 |
| 1999 | Robertstown | 15-10 | Perponda | 7-10 |
| 2000 | Sedan Cambrai | 12-15 | Robertstown | 11-19 |
| 2001 | Robertstown | 17-13 | Blanchetown Swan Reach | 13-12 |
| 2002 | Blanchetown Swan Reach | 12-10 | Ramco | 4-7 |
| 2003 | Robertstown | 8-14 | Blanchetown Swan Reach | 4-9 |
| 2004 | Robertstown | 11-12 | Sedan Cambrai | 5-3 |
| 2005 | Robertstown | 8-12 | Ramco | 8-2 |
| 2006 | Ramco | 16-9 | Robertstown | 5-6 |
| 2007 | Blanchetown Swan Reach | 26-15 | Ramco | 7-9 |
| 2008 | Robertstown | 14-8 | Blanchetown Swan Reach | 9-8 |
| 2009 | Robertstown | 15-6 | Sedan Cambrai | 7-1 |
Medallists
| Year | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | B. Thompson | Example FC |
| 1961 | K. Williams | Another FC |
Leading Goalkickers
| Year | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | D. Hill | Example FC | 87 |
| 1991 | M. Johnson | Another FC | 72 |
Photos
