# Mines Rovers Football Club

Mines Rovers Football Club is an Australian rules football team playing in the Goldfields Football League, a league based in the Goldfields region of Western Australia. Founded in 1898 as Mines Football Club, the club has enjoyed a long-standing involvement in the league. One of the first clubs to play Australian football formed within the region, and helped popularise the sport, and supplant Rugby in popularity. The GFL was known as the Goldfields Football Association (GFA) from 1901 to 1907 and 1920–25, and as the Goldfields National Football League (GNFL) from 1926 to 1987. Mines Rovers play home games at Digger Daws Oval, one they are co tenants with other GFL member, Boulder City Football Club. Mines Rovers currently hold the record for most premierships in the GFL with 43.

## History

The club was formed on Thursday 30 March 1898 during a meeting held at Powell's Hotel in Kalgoorlie. The club was originally simply known as 'Mines' and wore the colours of black and white. The club tasted early success, winning the last Hannans District Football Association premiership in 1900 and the inaugural Goldfields Football Association premiership in 1901.

### Song

    Good old Diorites forever,
    Good old mighty white and blue.
    No matter what the situation,
    Mines Rovers will win through.
    Never mind the opposition,
    Our tradition gives us might.
    Stick at the task and never falter,
    For you're a Diorite.
| Club | Nickname | Location | Home ground (capacity) | First season | Premierships | Premiership years |
| Mines Rovers Football Club | Diorites | Boulder, Western Australia | Digger Daws Oval (4500) | 1898 | 43 | 1900, 1901, 1902, 1906, 1914, 1915, 1918, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1926, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1951, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1961, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2018 |

## Grand final appearances

The list of grand final appearance including premiership teams and runners-up is detailed below.
| Year | Premiers | Runners-up |
| 1900 | Mines Rovers | |
| 1901 | Mines Rovers | |
| 1902 | Mines Rovers | |
| 1906 | Mines Rovers | |
| 1914 | Mines Rovers | |
| 1915 | Mines Rovers | |
| 1916–17 | (No competition due to World War I) | (No competition due to World War I) |
| 1918 | Mines Rovers | |
| 1921 | Mines Rovers | |
| 1922 | Mines Rovers | |
| 1923 | Mines Rovers | |
| 1926 | Mines Rovers | Kalgoorlie Railways |
| 1928 | Boulder City | Mines Rovers |
| 1932 | Boulder City | Mines Rovers |
| 1934 | Mines Rovers | Kalgoorlie City |
| 1935 | Boulder City | Mines Rovers |
| 1936 | Mines Rovers | Kalgoorlie City |
| 1937 | Mines Rovers | Kalgoorlie City |
| 1938 | Mines Rovers | Boulder City |
| 1939 | Kalgoorlie Railways | Mines Rovers |
| 1940 | Mines Rovers | Boulder City |
| 1942–44 | (No competition due to World War II) | (No competition due to World War II) |
| 1945 | Kalgoorlie Railways | Mines Rovers |
| 1946 | Mines Rovers | Kalgoorlie Railways |
| 1947 | Mines Rovers | Boulder City |
| 1949 | Mines Rovers | Boulder City |
| 1950 | Boulder City | Mines Rovers |
| 1951 | Mines Rovers | Kalgoorlie Railways |
| 1953 | Kalgoorlie City | Mines Rovers |
| 1954 | Kalgoorlie City | Mines Rovers |
| 1955 | Mines Rovers | Kalgoorlie City |
| 1956 | Mines Rovers | Kalgoorlie Railways |
| 1957 | Mines Rovers | Kalgoorlie City |
| 1960 | Kalgoorlie Railways | Mines Rovers |
| 1961 | Mines Rovers | Boulder City |
| 1964 | Kalgoorlie Railways | Mines Rovers |
| 1965 | Mines Rovers | Kalgoorlie Railways |
| 1967 | Mines Rovers | Kalgoorlie Railways |
| 1968 | Mines Rovers | Boulder City |
| 1969 | Mines Rovers | Boulder City |
| 1970 | Mines Rovers | Kalgoorlie Railways |
| 1971 | Kalgoorlie Railways | Mines Rovers |
| 1972 | Mines Rovers | Kalgoorlie Railways |
| 1973 | Kalgoorlie Railways | Mines Rovers |
| 1975 | Kalgoorlie Railways | Mines Rovers |
| 1979 | Kalgoorlie Railways | Mines Rovers |
| 1981 | Kambalda | Kalgoorlie City |
| 1985 | Kambalda | Mines Rovers |
| 1987 | Kalgoorlie Railways | Mines Rovers |
| 1988 | Kalgoorlie City | Mines Rovers |
| 1991 | Mines Rovers | Boulder City |
| 1992 | Kalgoorlie City | Mines Rovers |
| 1993 | Mines Rovers | Kambalda |
| 1994 | Boulder City | Mines Rovers |
| 1995 | Mines Rovers | Boulder City |
| 1996 | Mines Rovers | Boulder City |
| 1999 | Kalgoorlie City | Mines Rovers |
| 2000 | Kalgoorlie Railways | Mines Rovers |
| 2001 | Mines Rovers | Kalgoorlie Railways |
| 2002 | Kalgoorlie Railways | Mines Rovers |
| 2003 | Mines Rovers | Boulder City |
| 2004 | Mines Rovers | Boulder City |
| 2007 | Mines Rovers | Kalgoorlie Railways |
| 2008 | Mines Rovers | Kambalda |
| 2009 | Mines Rovers | Kalgoorlie Railways |
| 2010 | Mines Rovers | Kalgoorlie Railways |
| 2015 | Mines Rovers | Kalgoorlie Railways |
| 2016 | Boulder City | Boulder City |
| 2017 | Kalgoorlie Railways | Mines Rovers |
| 2018 | Mines Rovers | Boulder City |

## Western Australian state premiership

During early periods of West Australian football, the Western Australian state premiership was contested intermittently between 1903 and 1924 between the winners of the Western Australian Football Association and Goldfields Football Association. Mines Rovers competed on 3 occasions but were unsuccessful on their attempts. Their closest match was a draw with East Fremantle but were beaten in the replay.

### Matches played

| Year | Winner | Scores | Scores | Loser | Result | Venue | Ref |
| Year | Winner | Winner | Loser | Loser | Result | Venue | Ref |
| 1906 (replay) | East Fremantle | 6.11 (47) | 7.5 (47) | Mines Rovers | Match drawn | East Fremantle Oval | |
| 1906 (replay) | East Fremantle | 7.5 (47) | 3.10 (28) | Mines Rovers | East Fremantle won by 19 points | East Fremantle Oval | |
| 1922 | East Perth | 16.15 (111) | 5.4 (34) | Mines Rovers | East Perth won by 77 points | Perth Oval | |
| 1923 | East Perth | 10.10 (70) | 6.4 (40) | Mines Rovers | East Perth won by 30 points | Kalgoorlie Oval | |

## Notable players

* Albert Paterson – Carlton Player (1897).
* Fred Hiskins – Essendon premiership player (1901), VFL Leading Goalkicker (1901), Essendon leading goalkicker (1901).
* Hugh Gavin – Essendon captain 1904.
* John Woollard – Port Adelaide captain 1910.
* William "Nipper" Truscott – Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee (1996), W.A. Football Hall of Fame inductee (2004).
* Bill Cooke – Collingwood Player (1912).
* Tom Outridge – Inaugural winner of the Sandover Medal (1921).
* Lou Daily – 1935 Sandover Medalist for Subiaco.
* Joe Fanchi – Premiership player for West Perth kicked the winning goal for WA against Victoria 1961 National Carnival.
* Brian MacGregor – East Perth Player and Life Member.
* Alec Epis – Essendon Premiership Player (1962,1965), Essendon Hall of Fame, 4 x Victorian State Representative.
* Luke Toia – Fremantle Player (1996-2003), AFL Rising Star nominee (1996).
* Jaymie Graham – South Fremantle Premiership Player (2005, 2009), West Coast Player & Interim Coach (1 Game), Fremantle Interim Coach (2 Games).
* Dion Fleay – Breckler Medallist (2006, 2007, 2011) for West Perth.
* Hayden Kennedy – Subiaco Premiership Player.
* Eddie Betts – 3× All-Australian: (2015, 2016, 2017).
* Dom Sheed – 2018 West Coast Premiership Player, AFL Rising Star nominee (2015).
* McKenzie Dowrick – Brisbane Player (2019), Inaugural West Coast Player (2020-21), Adelaide Player (2022-Current).
* Abbey Dowrick – Port Adelaide Player (2022-Current), AFL Women's Rising Star nominee (2022).
* Tyrell Dewar – West Coast Player (2023)
* Robert Hansen Jr – North Melbourne Player (2023)