BY DARREN LEWIS
Guernseys & Nicknames :
1897 – Watchem wore red and blue colours.
Timeline :
1888 – Watchem FC existed.
1893 (Glowrey & Ball Trophy) :
Watchem was a founding club.
Watchem finished 3rd.
1894 – Glowrey & Ball Trophy : Watchem finished 3rd.
1895 – Honan Trophy : Watchem won 1, drew 2 and lost 3.
1896 – Birchip Trophy : Watchem participated.
1897 – Birchip Trophy Final : Watchem 2.7 defeated Birchip 2.3.
1898 – Birchip Trophy : Watchem were not successful.
1899 – Morgan Trophy : Birchip finished 3rd (last).
1900 – Watchem-Birchip F Final : Whirily 3.8.26 defeated Watchem 1.7.13.
1901 – Watchem-Birchip FA : Watchem finished 4th (last).
1902 – Watchem-Birchip FA : Watchem participated.
1903 – Donald JFA : Watchem were premiers.
1904 – Birchip FA : Watchem finished 2nd.
1905 – Birchip FA : Watchem were premiers.
1906 – Birchip FA Final : Donald defeated Watchem.
1908 – Birchip FA : Watchem participated up until the disbanding of the league partway through the season.
1909-10 – Birchip FA : Watchem participated.
1911 – Watchem DFA : Watchem participated.
1912 – Watchem DFA : Watchem were premiers.
1913 – North-Western FA : Watchem was a founding club.
1914 – Donald DFA : Watchem was a founding club.
1918 (Birchip DFA) :
Final – Watchem defeated Whirily by 5 points @ Birchip.
Grand Final – Whirily 7.8.50 defeated Watchem 2.5.17.
1919 – Birchip DFA(?) : Watchem participated.
1920 (North Western DFA) :
Watchem was a founding club.
Watchem were minor premiers.
Final – Donald 7.11.53 defeated Watchem 2.15.37.
Grand Final – Donald 6.12.48 defeated Watchem 2.5.17.
1921 (North Western DFA) :
Watchem were minor premiers.
Semi-Final – Watchem were victorious.
Final – Watchem 4.8.32 defeated Saint Arnaud 3.11.29.
1922 (North Western DFA) :
Watchem nearly joined the Boolite DFA.
Semi- Final – Watchem defeated 18.12.120 Birchip 9.8.62.
Grand Final – Watchem 10.20.80 defeated Donald 4.8.32.
1923 (North Western DFA) :
Semi-Final – Watchem 12.7.79 defeated Donald 6.13.49 @ Saint Arnaud.
Grand Final – Saint Arnaud 6.8.44 defeated Watchem 4.6.30.
1924 – North Western DFA : Watchem participated.
1925 – North Western DFA : Watchem finished 5th.
1926 (North-Central DFL) :
Watchem stayed with the league as its name changed from the North Western DFA to the North-Central DFL.
Watchem were 2nd after H&As.
Semi-Final – Saint Arnaud defeated Watchem by 6 pts.
1927 – North Central DFL Grand Final : Saint Arnaud 8.15.63 defeated Watchem 5.8.38.
1928 (North Central DFL) :
Watchem were 3rd after H&As.
First Semi-Final – Birchip 10.14.74 defeated Watchem 3.14.32.
1929 (North-Central DFL) :
Watchem were 3rd after H&As.
First Semi-Final – Woomelang 13.17.95 defeated Watchem 4.10.34.
1930 (North Central FL) :
Watchem transferred to the new North Central FL.
Watchem were 4th (last) after H&As.
Semi-Final – Birchip 12.10.82 defeated Watchem 6.3.39.
1931 – Watchem FC disbanded.
1932 – North Central FL First Semi-Final : Swanwater 11.4.70 defeated Watchem 6.12.48 @ Donald.
1933 (North Central FL) :
First Semi-Final – Watchem 11.11.77 defeated Donald 8.20.68.
Final – Laen 12.10.82 defeated Watchem 11.13.79.
1934 – North Central FL First Semi-Final : Donald 11.6.72 defeated Watchem 2.14.26.
1935 – Watchem were represented by the Watchem-Litchfield FC.
Watchem FC–Litchfield FC Football Club (Vic)
Timeline :
1935 (North Central FL) :
Watchem-Litchfield was formed.
Watchem-Litchfield commenced in the North Central FL.
First Semi-Final – Birchip 15.13.103 defeated Watchem-Litchfield 10.6.66.
1936 – North Central FL : Watchem-Litchfield finished 5th (last).
1937 – North Central FL Grand Final : Donald 13.14.92 defeated Watchem-Litchfield 8.14.62.
1938 (North Central FL) :
Second Semi-Final – Woomelang 15.15.105 defeated Watchem-Litchfield 7.12.54.
Final – Watchem-Litchfield 15.22.112 defeated Curyo 7.12.54.
Grand Final – Watchem-Litchfield 12.11.83 defeated Woomelang 7.16.58.
1939 (North Central FL) :
Watchem-Litchfield were 4th after H&As.
First-Semi Final – Watchem-Litchfield were defeated.
This was Watchem-Litchfield’s final season in the North Central FL.
1940 (North Central FL) :
Watchem recommenced in the North Central FL.
First Semi-Final – Donald 10.22.82 defeated Watchem 10.10.70.
Watchem did not resume with the league after WW2.
1941 :
Scratch Match – Watchem 6.8.44 defeated Rich Avon 2.3.15.
Scratch Match – Watchem 8.11.59 defeated Rich Avon 7.11.53.
1941 – One Day Knockout Competition : Wooroonook were victorious. Other teams were Watchem, Donald and Rich Avon.
1946 – North Central FL : Watchem merged with Corack to form Watchem-Corack FC.
Corack Football Club (Vic)
Guernseys & Nicknames :
1893 – Corack’s initial colours were amber and black.
???? – Corack wore a green guernsey with a gold vee.
Timeline :
1893 (Glowrey & Ball Trophy) :
Corack FC was formed.
Corack was a founding club.
Corack finished 4th.
1893 – Glowrey & Ball Trophy : Corack FC was formed, and were a founding club in the aforementioned competition.
1898 – Birchip Trophy : Corack were premiers.
1899 – Morgan Trophy : Corack finished 2nd.
1900 – Wooroonooke FA Grand Final : Corack 3.9 defeated Charlton 2.6.
1901 – Watchem-Birchip FA : Corack commenced, and were premiers.
1902 – Watchem-Birchip FA : Corack participated.
1904-06 – Birchip JFA : Corack participated.
1907 – Corack FC existed.
1910 – Birchip JFA : Corack participated.
1912 :
Conflicting Data :
– Donald DFA – One source lists Corack as participating in this league, another does not.
– Watchem DFA – Corack participated.
1913 – Northern FA : Corack participated.
1914 – Corack FC existed.
1919 – Wycheproof FA(?) : Corack participated.
1924 – Donald JFA(?) Grand Final : Jeffcott defeated Corack.
1926 – ? FA : Corack fielded a senior and a junior club in two different leagues, and won both premierships.
1927 – Corack FC existed.
1929 – Corack were represented by the Corack-Jeffcott FC.
1933 – North Central FL : Corack commenced, lasting just this, one, season.
1934 – Birchip JFL Grand Final : Curyo 7.4.46 defeated Corack 4.17.41.
1935 – Birchip JFL : Corack participated.
1936 – Birchip JFL : Corack’s final season.
1937 – Corack FC disbanded.
1945 (North Central FL) :
Corack were 1st after H&As.
Corack recommenced in the North Central FL.
Second Semi-Final – Corack defeated Laen-Litchfield by 2 pts.
Grand Final – Laen-Litchfield 9.10.64 defeated Corack 5.14.44.
1946 – North Central FL : Watchem merged with Corack to form Watchem-Corack FC.
Watchem–Corack Football Club (Vic)
Guernseys & Nicknames :
1947 – Watchem-Corack wore red and blue guernseys.
1957 – Watchem-Corack wore red and blue guernseys.
1963 – Watchem-Corack wore red and blue guernseys.
1968 – Watchem-Corack wore red and blue guernseys.
<–1981 – Watchem were known as the Redlegs.
1981 – Watchem-Corack became known as the Panthers, and wore red guernseys with a royal blue vee.
Grounds :
<–1970 – Matches were shared between the ground at Watchem and Corack Park at Corack.
1970 – Matches ceases to be played at Corack Park.
Timeline :
1946 (North Central FL) :
Watchem merged with Corack to form Watchem-Corack FC.
watchem-Corack finished 4th.
1947 – North Central FL First Semi-Final : Saint Arnaud 13.12.90 defeated Watchem-Corack 10.8.68.
1948 (North Central FL) :
Second Semi-Final – Saint Arnaud 9.12.66 defeated Watchem-Corack 8.13.61.
Preliminary Final – Watchem-Corack 11.12.78 defeated Donald 10.12.72.
Grand Final – Saint Arnaud defeated Watchem-Corack.
1949 (North Central FL) :
Second Semi-Final – Donald 10.17.77 defeated Watchem-Corack 5.10.40.
Preliminary Final – Watchem-Corack defeated Saint Arnaud.
Grand Final – Donald 9.13.67 defeated Watchem-Corack 6.13.49.
1950 (North Central FL) :
First Semi-Final – Watchem-Corack 13.11.89 defeated Saint Arnaud 9.3.57.
Preliminary Final – Watchem-Corack 12.7.79 defeated Donald 8.16.64.
Grand Final – Charlton 18.10.118 defeated Watchem- Corack 11.15.81.
1951 (North Central FL) :
Second Semi-Final – Watchem-Corack 10.15.75 drew Wedderburn 10.15.75.
Second Semi-Final Replay – Watchem-Corack defeated Wedderburn by 1 point.
Grand Final – Wedderburn 9.12.66 defeated Watchem-Corack 8.7.55.
1952 (North Central FL) :
Watchem-Corack were 3rd after H&As.
First Semi-Final – Wedderburn defeated Watchem-Corack.
1953 (North Central FL) :
Watchem-Corack only lost 1 H&A match.
Second Semi-Final – Watchem-Corack were victorious @ Charlton.
Grand Final – Watchem-Corack 8.11.59 defeated Narraport 7.4.46 @ Charlton.
1954 (North Central FL) :
Watchem-Corack were 3rd after H&As.
First Semi-Final – Watchem-Corack 18.12.120 defeated Saint Arnaud 8.15.63.
Preliminary Final – Boort 14.6.90 defeated Watchem-Corack 9.10..64.
1955 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack just missed the finals.
1956 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack finished 6th.
1957 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack just missed the final 4.
1958 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack just missed the finals.
1959 (North Central FL) :
Second Semi-Final – Birchip defeated Watchem-Corack.
Preliminary Final – Watchem-Corack were victorious.
Grand Final – Birchip 10.10.70 defeated Watchem-Corack 6.6.42.
1960 (North Central FL) :
Watchem-Corack were 3rd after H&As.
First Semi-Final – Watchem-Corack 12.14.86 defeated Charlton 12.13.85.
Preliminary Final – Watchem-Corack 7.13.55 defeated Wycheproof 6.16.52.
Grand Final – Watchem-Corack 7.11.53 defeated Birchip 5.4.34.
1961 (North Central FL) :
Watchem-Corack were minor premiers.
Second Semi-Final – Watchem-Corack 13.12.90 defeated Saint Arnaud 9.15.69.
Grand Final – Watchem-Corack 14.5.89 defeated Charlton 10.9.69.
1962 (North Central FL) :
Watchem-Corack were minor premiers.
Second Semi-Final – Watchem-Corack 14.15.99 defeated Donald 11.12.78.
Grand Final – Watchem-Corack 15.11.101 defeated Birchip 7.14.56.
1963 – North Central FL Preliminary Final : Donald 13.17.95 defeated Watchem-Corack 8.6.54.
1964 (North Central FL) :
Watchem-Corack were 2nd after H&As.
Second Semi-Final – Watchem-Corack were victorious due to the disqualification of (unknown) opposing side.
Grand Final – Wycheproof-Narraport 6.11.47 defeated Watchem-Corack 3.6.24.
1965 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack finished 5th.
1966 (North Central FL) :
Watchem-Corack were 4th after H&As.
First Semi-Final – Birchip 16.9.105 defeated Watchem-Corack 12.17.89.
1967 (North Central FL) :
Watchem-Corack were 2nd after H&As.
Second Semi-Final – Wycheproof-Narraport 16.14.110 defeated Watchem-Corack 14.24.108.
Preliminary Final – Watchem-Corack 17.13.115 defeated Wedderburn 9.10.64.
Grand Final – Wycheproof-Narraport 18.15.123 defeated Watchem-Corack 9.8.62.
1968 (North Central FL) :
Watchem-Corack were 2nd after H&As.
Second Semi-Final – Watchem-Corack 8.13.61 defeated Wycheproof-Narraport 8.7.55.
Grand Final – Wedderburn 16.10.106 defeated Watchem-Corack 14.11.95.
1969 (North Central FL) :
Watchem-Corack were 4th after H&As.
First Semi-Final – Watchem-Corack 16.11.107 defeated Wycheproof-Narraport 15.13.103.
Preliminary FL – Watchem-Corack 13.8.86 defeated Wedderburn 8.10.58.
Grand Final – Watchem-Corack 13.10.88 defeated Birchip 11.18.84.
1970 (North Central FL) :
Watchem-Corack were 3rd after H&As.
First Semi-Final – Donald 12.10.82 defeated Watchem-Corack 9.16.70.
1971 (North Central FL) :
Watchem-Corack were minor premiers, losing 3 games during the H&A season.
Second Semi-Final – Watchem-Corack 15.11.101 defeated Wycheproof-Narraport 11.10.76.
Grand Final – Watchem-Corack 8.8.56 defeated Charlton 3.9.27.
1972 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack won 3 matches and finished last.
1973 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack were winless.
1974 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack did not make the finals.
1975 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack won 2 games.
1976 (North Central FL) :
Watchem-Corack were 3rd after H&As.
First Semi-Final – Wedderburn defeated Watchem-Corack.
1977 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack won 1 game.
1978 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack finished 7th.
1979 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack won 1 game.
1980 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack were winless.
1981 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack won 8 games and finished 5th.
1982 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack won 4 matches.
1983 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack finished 5th with 6 wins.
1984 – North Central FL First Semi-Final : Birchip 17.7.109 defeated Watchem-Corack 11.10.76.
1985 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack won 6 matches and drew 1, finishing 5th.
1986 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack won 2 matches.
1987 (North Central FL) :
Watchem-Corack were 4th after H&As.
First Semi-Final – Donald 26.22.178 defeated Watchem-Corack 16.8.104.
1988 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack participated.
1989 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack won 5 matches.
1990 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack won 1 match.
1991 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack won 6 matches, but missed the finals.
1992 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack won 3 matches.
1993 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack participated.
1994 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack finished 7th.
1995 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack finished 7th.
1996 – North Central FL : Watchem-Corack’s final season as a stand-alone club.
1997 – North Central FL : Birchip and Watchem-Corack merged to form Birchip-Watchem FC.
Birchip Football Club (Vic)
Guernseys & Nicknames :
1897 – Birchip wore red, white and blue colours.
1990s – Birchip were known as the Swans, and wore red and white guernseys.
Timeline :
1892 (year subjective) – Birchip apparently played matches against Morton Plains.
1893 (Glowrey & Ball Trophy) :
Birchip was a founding club.
Birchip finished 5th (last).
1894 (Glowrey & Ball Trophy) :
Birchip finished 2nd after H&As.
Final – Donald 4.1 defeated Birchip 3.7 @ Watchem.
1895 – Honan Trophy Final : Birchip 2.6 defeated Narraport 1.3.
1896 – Birchip Trophy Final – Narraport 6.10 defeated Birchip 2.4.
1897 – Birchip Trophy Final : Watchem 2.7 defeated Birchip 2.3.
1898 – Birchip Trophy : Birchip participated.
1899 – Birchip did not field a team at all this seaon.
1900 – Watchem-Birchip FA : Birchip finished 3rd (last).
1901 – Watchem-Birchip FA : Birchip finished 3rd.
1902 – Watchem-Birchip FA Final : Donald defeated Birchip (forfeit).
1904 – Birchip FA : Birchip finished 3rd.
1905 – Birchip FA : Birchip participated.
1907 – Birchip FA : Birchip participated.
1908 – Birchip FA : Birchip participated up until the disbanding of the league partway through the season.
1909 – Birchip FA : Birchip finished 2nd.
1910 – Birchip FA : Birchip finished 2nd.
1911 – Watchem DFA : Birchip were premiers.
1912 – Watchem DFA : Birchip participated.
1913 – North-Western FA : Birchip was a founding club, and were premiers.
1914 (Donald DFA) :
Birchip was a founding club.
Final – Birchip 14.17.101 defeated Donald 5.13.43 @ Donald.
1918 – Birchip DFA : Birchip participated.
1919 – Birchip DFA(?) : Birchip participated.
1920 – North Western DFA : Birchip was a founding club.
1921 – North Western DFA : Birchip participated.
1922 – North Western DFA : Watchem 18.12.120 defeated Birchip 9.8.62.
1923 – North Western DFA : Birchip participated.
1924 (North Western DFA) :
Second Semi-Final – Litchfield-Carron 7.10.52 defeated Birchip 6.8.44.
Second Semi-Final ruling – Result overturned due to protest, Birchip declared victors.
Semi-Final – Birchip 6.14.50 defeated Donald 6.13.49.
Second Semi-Final Replay (late re-ruling) – Birchip 11.13.79 defeated Litchfield-Carron 8.17.65.
Grand Final – Donald 10.7.67 defeated Birchip 4.6.30.
1925 – North Western DFA Grand Final : Birchip 15.12.102 defeated Donald 10.18.78.
1926 (North-Central DFL) :
Birchip stayed with the league as its name changed from the North Western DFA to the North-Central DFL.
Birchip finished 6th (last).
1927 – North Central DFL : Birchip participated.
1928 (North Central DFL) :
Birchip were 1st after H&As.
First Semi-Final – Birchip 10.14.74 defeated Watchem 3.14.32.
Grand Final – Birchip 12.13.75 defeated Woomelang 12.11.83.
1929 (North Central DFL) :
Final – Birchip 18.17.125 defeated Woomelang 17.12.114 @ Donald.
Grand Final – Birchip 15.19.109 defeated Woomelang 12.16.88.
1930 (North Central FL) :
Birchip transferred to the new North Central FL.
Birchip were 1st after H&As.
Semi-Final – Birchip 12.10.82 defeated Watchem 6.3.39.
Grand Final – Saint Arnaud 11.7.73 defeated Birchip 7.4.46.
1931 – Birchip FC disbanded.
1932 – Southern Mallee FL : Birchip commenced.
1933 – Southern Mallee FL : Birchip participated.
1934 (North Central FL) :
Birchip recommenced in the North Central FL.
Grand Final – Saint Arnaud 12.15.87 defeated Birchip 12.5.77.
1935 (North Central FL) :
First Semi-Final – Birchip 15.13.103 defeated Watchem-Litchfield 10.6.66.
Final – Birchip defeated Donald.
Grand Final – Woomelang 12.11.83 defeated Birchip 8.9.57.
1936 – North Central FL : This was Birchip’s final season in this league.
1937 – Wycheproof DFL : Birchip commenced.
1938-39 – Wycheproof DFL : Birchip participated.
1940 :
Conflicting Data :
– Birchip FC disbanded.
– Wycheproof DFL : Birchip participated.
1945 – (league unknown) Grand Final : Birchip defeated Narraport.
1946 – Tyrrell FL : Birchip were a founding club.
1947-48 – Tyrrell FL : Birchip participated.
1950 – Tyrrell FL : Birchip were premiers.
1953 – North Central FL : Birchip recommenced.
1954 – North Central FL : Birchip participated.
1955 – North Central FL Grand Final : Narraport defeated Birchip.
1956-58 – North Central FL : Birchip participated.
1959 (North Central FL) :
Second Semi-Final – Birchip defeated Watchem-Corack.
Grand Final – Birchip 10.10.70 defeated Watchem-Corack 6.6.42.
1960 – North Central FL Grand Final : Watchem-Corack 7.11.53 defeated Birchip 5.4.34.
1961 – North Central FL : Birchip participated.
1962 (North Central FL) :
Birchip were 3rd after H&As.
Grand Final – Watchem-Corack 15.11.101 defeated Birchip 7.14.56.
1963 – North Central FL Grand Final : Donald 5.17.47 defeated Birchip 6.5.35.
1964-65 – North Central FL : Birchip participated.
1966 – North Central FL First Semi-Final : Birchip 16.9.105 defeated Watchem-Corack 12.17.89.
1967-68 – North Central FL : Birchip participated.
1969 (North Central FL) :
Birchip were minor premiers.
Second Semi-Final – Birchip defeated Wedderburn easily.
Grand Final – Watchem-Corack 13.10.88 defeated Birchip 11.18.84.
1970-83 – North Central FL : Birchip participated.
1984 (North Central FL) :
First Semi-Final – Birchip 17.7.109 defeated Watchem-Corack 11.10.76.
Grand Final – Wycheproof-Narraport defeated Birchip.
1985 – North Central FL : Birchip participated.
1986 – North Central FL Grand Final : Birchip 18.2.110 defeated Wycheproof-Narraport 16.11.107.
1987-93 – North Central FL : Birchip participated.
1994 – North Central FL : Birchip were premiers.
1995 (North Central FL) :
Birchip were minor premiers.
Second Semi-Final : Birchip defeated Wycheproof-Narraport @ Donald.
Grand Final : Wycheproof-Narraport 9.5.59 defeated Birchip 5.4.34 @ Boort.
1996 – North Central FL : Birchip’s final season as a stand alone club.
1997 – North Central FL : Birchip and Watchem-Corack merged to form Birchip-Watchem FC.
Birchip–Watchem Football Club (Vic)
Guernseys & Nicknames :
1996-2001 – Birchip-Watchem are known as the Mallee Bulls.
2001 – Birchip-Watchem wore Fremantle-style guernseys.
Timeline :
1997 (North Central FL) :
Birchip and Watchem-Corack merged to form Birchip-Watchem FC.