Affiliated: VFA 1879-80 and 1899-1907
Home Ground: North Melbourne Cricket Ground
Formed: 1879
Colours: Red and white
Premierships:1906 (1 total)
West Melbourne were members of the VFA twice, with their second stint yielding ultimate success in 1906 with a 7.8 (50) to 5.9 (39) grand final defeat of Footscray. West also contested the premiership deciding match the following year, losing to Williamstown. Among the most noteworthy players to don the club’s red and white striped playing jumpers were ruckman Art Gregory, wingmen Harry Laxton and Les Minto, and rover Lou Armstrong, the last named of whom kicked the significant tally, for the time, of 16 goals in two games during the team’s premiership year. In 1908 the club effectively disappeared after amalgamating with North Melbourne in an attempt to reinforce that club’s ultimately unsuccessful bid to join the VFL. North ostensibly recognised its newly merged status in 1908 by adding a red sash to their blue and white playing jerseys but few people were under any real illusions over what had actually happened: it was actually a take-over, a la Brisbane Bears and Fitzroy of ninety years later, and from 1909 the sash was dropped.
All told, West Melbourne enjoyed a 46% success rate during its second VFA stint and, given that the side’s status was on a very definite upward spiral, one cannot help but speculate as to what its future might have been had its administration resisted the advances of their counterparts at North.
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My grandfather, Thomas “Botzer” McDowall played for West Melbourne Football Club in its 1929 winning grand final over North Carlton in the Association Sub-District A Section. I have the gold medal that he was presented as Rover for the team.
I would like to know more about the WMFC and whether or not a photo exists of the 1929 premiership team.
My grandfather{George Read} also played in a premership side for West Melbourne and have a team photograph from the year 1926.
My grandfather Martin Egan played for West Melbourne in the 1920s and wonder if he is in your photo. Is it possible to get a copy?
I have a West Melbourne premiership medal from the VFA dated 1906 that belonged to my Great Grandfather, Edward McDonald. I am very light on with information about the club and i
Hoping that there might be a team photo out there somewhere
My father has a team photo from 1906.
Hi Fiona. My grand father played in the 1906 side. William Harrison. I have his photo but no team photo. Can I arrange to get a copy from you & I will give you a copy of my grand father photo. My mother was his 4th child. She lived to 89 & passed away in 2013. William Harrison also played for Nothcote FC premier 1906. I have both of his medals. In 1909-10-11 he played 24 games, 6 goals for Essendon VFL. Our family has put his photo in the Essendon museum. Can you please help. He is buried in the Fawkner Cemetry plot 334, LA Church of England. I am planning to go to the Essendon football club in the coming months.
Hi Fiona Train. Is there anyway I could get a copy from you
If anyone is still looking for this, there’s a West Melbourne 1906 (premiership winners) team photo here: http://www.boylesfootballphotos.net.au/West+Melbourne+%28VFA%29
It was in Punch 4 October 1906 (p.17) – there are no names with the picture, sadly.
I have a copy of the photo of the 1906 premiership team, my grandfather and several of his brothers were players for the club. Unfortunately there are no names with the picture.
Hi Fiona & frank. My grand father played in the 1906 side. William Harrison. I have his photo but no team photo. Can I arrange to get a copy from you & I will give you a copy of my grand father photo. My mother was his 4th child. She lived to 89 & passed away in 2013. William Harrison also played for Nothcote FC premier 1906. I have both of his medals. In 1909-10-11 he played 24 games, 6 goals for Essendon VFL. Our family has put his photo in the Essendon museum. Can you please help. He is buried in the Fawkner Cemetry plot 334, LA Church of England. I am planning to go to the Essendon football club in the coming months.
According to http://www.blueseum.org/John+Hooper (Carlton Football Club) my grt grandfather, John Hooper, previously was a wingman for West Melbourne. I’m trying to find out more details.
Blueseum (www.blueseum.org) is also looking for a photo of Tommy Kinman former Cumberland, North Melbourne and West Melbourne player.
https://www.blueseum.org/Tommy+Kinman If you can help please contact Blueseum.