CENTRAL WHYALLA
Current Affiliation: Whyalla Football League (WFL) since 1939
Club Address: P.O. Box 122, Whyalla 5600, South Australia
Formed: 1920
Colours: Red and white
Emblem: Roosters
Senior Premierships: 1920-1,1929, 1934-5, 1937-8,1940, 1945, 1947, 1953, 1956, 1974-5, 1980, 1982, 1989, 1999-00-1-2-3-4, 2006-7 (25 total)
Mail Medallists: Clarrie Smoker 1935, 1937 & 1938; Frank Ralph 1936 (2 Medallists/4 Medals)
Whyalla News Medallists: George Jobson 1941; Henry Carter 1946; Harry Dickeson 1948; Jim Mitchell 1949; Bob Zeven 1952 & 1955; Reg Hocking 1959; Darrol Foote 1960-1-2 & 1966; Reg Reid 1973; Jasper Reid 1980; Darryl Byles 1988; Shaun McLennan 1989; Richard Jones 1992; Mark Turner 2002; Adam Latemore 2004 (14 Medallists/18 Medals)
Central Whyalla's long history has been littered with success, and arguably never more so than in recent years, with the senior side winning seven of the last eight premierships. Since the 1920s the club has managed to land at least one senior flag every decade, with the exception of the 1960s.
Ironically, it was during the 1960s that arguably the club's greatest ever player, Darrol Foote, played most of his football. Originally from Quorn, Foote grew up in Whyalla, and made his senior league debut for Centrals in 1955. The following season saw him play in the only senior premiership team of his career. A Whyalla News Medallist on a record four occasions, “for twelve seasons from 1956 to 1967 Darrol Foote was the measuring stick in Whyalla Football” (see footnote 1). Foote also played briefly with North Adelaide, after rejecting offers from Glenelg, Norwood and Collingwood.
The Roosters have claimed the last two SGFL premierships. In 2006, coached by Ken Burton, and with Richie Burton as captain, they demolished Roopena in the grand final by 73 points, 20.14 (134) to 9.7 (61). Scott Collison booted 7 goals for the victors, while Cameron Stewart won the Naish Travers Medal for best afield. A year later, Centrals again overcame Roopena on grand final day, with Greg Vlachoulis (Naish Travers Medal), Richie Burton and Dwayne Colson their best in a hard fought 11.11 (77) to 8.9 (57) win.
The 2007 triumph gave Centrals their thirteenth flag since the WFL became a six team competition in 1970, emphasising their status as the pre-eminent force in Whyalla football during that period, if not of all time.
Where now?
or
Footnotes
1. The Whyalla Football League's official website at http://www.whyallafootball.com.au/identities-profile%205.htm. Return to Main Text