Peel Football League celebrates 25th anniversary

The historic clash between Waroona and Baldivis will be the league’s 25^th grand final, a quarter of a century after Centrals belted Mandurah to the tune of 45 points to become the first ever PFL premiers.

The league formed in 1992, three years after the final match of the Murray Districts Football League was played in Harvey, where Waroona won the final premiership.

In between the dawn of the PFL and the dusk of the Murray Districts, a number of clubs joined the Metropolitan Football League with teams from Perth and Murray mixing into one.

But 1992 saw 12 clubs come together to form the Peel Football League. In 1993 it was enlarged to 13 clubs, before the eight-club basis was introduced in 1994.

The latest club movement came in 2008, when Harvey played its final game with the league and moved to the South West.

Long time league figurehead Malcolm Smith said he was thrilled to have been able to witness the PFL become the powerhouse country footy league it is today.

“It’s absolutely fantastic to see the league celebrate its 25^th birthday,” he said.

“From grassroots footy all the way to the top level, people have worked hard to make it what it is today.”

Smith, who served as chairman of the league for a total of 12 years and is now a director on the board, has not missed a grand final for 20 years.

“Younger people might not feel the celebration and emotion of 25 years quite as much as us older blokes, but remembering the fond years and all the work put into the league makes this year a special one,” he said.

The PFL has produced a number of top-level talent since its inception.

Rod Tregenza is the most dominant player to ever compete in the league, winning the leading goal kicker award, now named the Rod Tregenza medal, eight times with the Falcons.

His highest total was a whopping 223 goals.

But he is not alone, with a number of Peel locals have gone on to higher levels of the game. 

All-Australian Fremantle Docker Hayden Ballantyne played his junior footy in the league while Matt Riggio (North Melbourne, Swan Districts), Brock O’Brien (Fremantle, East Fremantle) and Rory O’Brien (Peel Thunder, East Fremantle) all spent time in the PFL.

Current GWS Giants defender Nathan Wilson was a force for the Mandurah Mustangs.

Smith labelled the league a “vibrant AFL development culture”.

Enriched in competitive history, the Peel Football League’s spread of premierships has been extremely even throughout its 25 years.

Pinjarra holds the most of any club with five, but South Mandurah, Waroona and Mundijong are all close by with four of their own.

The Harvey Bulls picked up three flags in their limited time in the competition and sit even with the Mandurah Mustangs.

Rockingham has one premiership trophy in its cabinet, while Baldivis and the fresh-faced Halls Head are yet to register a win.

But, for Baldivis, that could change come Sunday.