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For more than two decades, the Wyelangta Football Club along with other local clubs in the Otway community, brought together families, mill workers and farmers in a tradition that extended well beyond the football field. Though the club disbanded before World War 2, its story remains an important chapter in the sporting history of the district.
The early years
The earliest known reports of football at Wyelangta date back to before World War I. One of the first recorded matches was a scratch game between teams selected by Charlie Tyrrell and W. Radgett, played on T. O'Sullivan's property, where the club's original ground was located. Despite heavy rain turning the paddock into a slippery quagmire proving running and marking difficult, spectators enjoyed a spirited and friendly contest, with Tyrrell's side emerging victorious by several goals. Mr Bolger officiated as umpire and was praised for his performance.
As was common in country football, the day's sport was followed by a community dance in the local hall. Around 50 people attended, with refreshments provided by the district's women, music supplied by Mr Brown of Beech Forest, and Mr A. Nolan acting as master of ceremonies.
By 1913 the club was well established, wearing black guernseys with a yellow sash. Membership cost two shillings and sixpence, meetings were held in Charlie Tyrrell's billiard room, and the club was led by President Mr Parsons and Secretary N. Brennan. Delegates Tom Neil and W. Riley represented the club, while local school football also flourished, with Wyelangta and Weeaproinah combining to play Lavers Hill who were victorious.
The 1914 season saw Wyelangta emerge as one of the district's strongest teams. Under president W.J. Stevenson and secretary W.H. Watkins, the side comfortably defeated Lavers Hill 9.16 (70) to 2 behinds before eventually finishing runners-up to Beech Forest in the grand final. Players from the era included the Kincaid, Barrett, Troy, Cole and Ryan families, names that would remain closely associated with football in the Otways for years to come.
Football was also played between the district's timber mills, with spirited contests between Knott's Mill (39) and Kincaid's Mill (10) highlighting the close connection between the region's industries and the game.
The years following WW1
After World War I, the club reformed in 1922, adopting black and red vertical stripes and relocating its home ground about a quarter of a mile down Browntown Track. The revival proved an immediate success. Wyelangta defeated Lavers Hill in the semi-final before claiming the 1922 premiership with a 6.3 (39) to 3.3 (21) victory over Beech Forest before a crowd of around 250 spectators resulting in a gate of £8. Best players included Cole, Bigelow, O'Brien, Hanson, Cunningham, May and Brown.
The club remained strong throughout the 1920s. It reached another grand final in 1923, defeating Beech Forest before losing the premiership challenge to Lavers Hill, the minor premiers. A drawn semi-final with Beech Forest in 1924 ended in disappointment after a replay defeat.
Wyelangta returned to the top in 1925, defeating Lavers Hill 6.9 (45) to 2.4 (16) in difficult conditions at Beech Forest. Jack Bigelow, Bill and Chas Brown, Eddie Foote and W. Reid were among the side's best performers as the club celebrated its second premiership in four seasons.
In 1926 the district's growing population saw the footballers split into separate Wyelangta and Weeaproinah teams. This was short-lived, and after that season Wyelangta went into recess, with many players joining Lavers Hill. The club returned in 1935 with a new identity, wearing the black and white stripes and establishing a new ground above Wait-A-While Road near the Wyelangta township. Club stalwart Bryan L. Rodaughan filled several important roles as secretary, captain and delegate, while Tom Hales served as president. Success soon followed. Wyelangta reached the 1936 grand final after defeating Gellibrand in the semi-final but fell just short in the premiership decider.
The following year produced one of the greatest achievements in the club's history. Wyelangta edged Gellibrand by just two points in a thrilling semi-final before defeating Beech Forest 12.13 (85) to 8.11 (59) in the 1937 grand final. Perc Hampshire, J. Kincaid, Arch Rhodes, Bill Brown, J. Barrow and Howard Stewart were named among the side's best players.
The Wyelangta-Johanna club merger
Following the premiership, an ambitious proposal was put forward to merge Wyelangta with neighbouring Johanna to form the Wyelangta-Johanna Football Club and enter the Otway Football Association. The new club elected J.A. Lee as president and adopted blue guernseys with a gold "V" and had £4/11/9. However, disagreement over the location of home matches proved fatal. The merged club wanted to play at Johanna, while rival clubs insisted the fixtures had been arranged on the understanding that home games would be played at Wyelangta. Beech Forest and Gellibrand objected strongly to the longer journey to Johanna, arguing that travelling by motor truck over an extra 12 miles each way placed an unfair burden on players. Despite vigorous representations from delegates W. Brown and B.L. Rodaughan, the Otway Football Association voted six votes to two to retain Wyelangta as the club's home ground. Rather than accept the decision, Wyelangta-Johanna chose to disband before the season began, withdrawing from the association altogether. The decision marked the end of organised football at Wyelangta.
Many of the remaining players joined the newly formed Hill Imperials Football Club, while the old Wyelangta ground continued to serve the district, later being used by Otway Rovers for training into the 1960s.
Although the cheers have long faded from the paddocks where the club once played, Wyelangta Football Club's legacy lives on through its premierships, its colourful characters and the generations of local families who helped build one of the Otways' proudest sporting traditions.