The New South Wales Football Association was the governing body for Australian rules football in New South Wales between 1880 and 1893. It oversaw an Australian rules competition based in Sydney and governed the Laws of Australian Football in the colony. Matches were mostly played at Moore Park in Sydney. The competition is a predecessor to the current Sydney AFL, with some clubs, notably Sydney and East Sydney being reformed as foundation clubs of that competition in 1903. The game's early presence in Sydney is poorly documented, partly due to the bitter distaste that the Sydney media's displayed toward the Victorian code.

The first grade competition was known as the Flanagan Cup. Around 5 clubs competing simultaneously at any point the league's history. Many other clubs, particularly the Catholic schools participated in the association's junior grades.

Background

Harry Hedger and George Walker, rugby players of the Waratah Football Club were among the first to agitate for the adoption of Australian rules in New South Wales, citing the enormous popularity of the code in the rival colony of Victoria. Having learned the game playing test matches against the Carlton Football Club of Melbourne in 1877 many others urged others to put aside their intercolonial rivalry and take up the sport.At the same time the Sydney University FC (rugby rules club) was advocating for the Southern Rugby Football Union (now the NSWRU) and its member clubs to switch codes to Australian rules.

In late June 1880 a large group of rugby players, dissatisfied with the British game's rules, gathered to form a new body (the NSWFA) that would adopt the Victorian rules. There was considerable opposition in the Sydney football community to a Victorian Rules association being established. However A. II. Gregory and G. A. Crisp called a meeting in Woollahra in 1880 with such a goal in mind.

The two founding member clubs were Sydney and East Sydney, formed on August 7, 1880. The first season commenced in 1881. The body saw it necessary to make rule changes to appeal to rugby followers, in particular, was vocal on the necessity of a Push in the back rule to reduce the game's roughness and make it more appealing to rugby players.

By 1883 there were 9 clubs in the association. Among the clubs that were formed were West Sydney, South Sydney, City, Our Boys, Granville, Wallsend, Merewether, Hamilton, St Ignatius' College and St Joseph's CollegeHealy, Matthew (2002). Hard Sell: Australian Football in Sydney (PDF). . Melbourne, Vic.: Victoria University. p. 25. along with Balmain and Woollahra formed a year later. In 1882 the Waratah FC formalised into a new club and switched codes, and the Sydney University ANFC joined the association in 1887.

The NSWFA began a sharp decline in interest from 1890 which Healy (2022) attributes to a combination of the departure of the president and Cricket Phillip Sheridan (trustee of what is now the Sydney Cricket Ground) and an Australian economic depression leaving the association without access to enclosed grounds.Healy, Matthew (2002). Hard Sell: Australian Football in Sydney (PDF). . Melbourne, Vic.: Victoria University. p. 25. Poor management also impacted the long term sustainabililty of the competition.

The Southern Rugby Football Union (SRFU) instituted a ban on rugby players from playing Australian rules which impacted playing numbers. By 1893 there were no clubs left to continue the competition.

Clubs

Club Formed Participating years Notes/References Sydney 1880 (7 August) 1881-? East Sydney 1880 (7 August) 1881-? Petersham 1882-? Healy, Matthew (2002). Hard Sell: Australian Football in Sydney (PDF). . Melbourne, Vic.: Victoria University. p. 25. Maitland 1882-? Waratah 1873 (as rugby club) 1882-? Balmain 1881 1881-? Woollahra 1881 1881-? West Sydney 1882-? South Sydney 1882-? City 1883-? Our Boys 1883-? Granville 1883-? Wallsend 1883-? Merewther 1883-? Hamilton 1883-? St Ignatius College 1883-? St Joseph's College 1883-? Sydney University Football Club 1865 1887-? Kogarah 1887 1887-?

References