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Official name
Birchip Watchem Football Club
Known as
Birchip Watchem
Formed
1996: merger between Birchip and Watchem Corack
Colours
Green, purple, white and red
Emblem
Bulls
Associated clubs
Birchip; Watchem Corack; Watchem
Affiliation (Current)
North Central Football League (NCFL) 1997–2024
Senior Premierships
North Central Football League - 2001 (1 total)
Birchip Watchem came into being after the 1996 football season when erstwhile North Central Football League rivals Birchip and Watchem Corack merged. Both merger partners had enjoyed fair amounts of success, with Birchip having claimed a total of seven senior grade flags, and Watchem Corack six. The new club did not take long to impose itself on the competition, reaching the preliminary final in each of its first three seasons before securing its first premiership in 2001 courtesy of an 18.17 (125) to 11.12 (78) grand final defeat of Wedderburn. A second straight grand final appearance followed in 2002 but opponents Donald proved too strong.
Recent seasons have seen the Bulls endure mixed fortunes, with the nadir of a wooden spoon in 2013 contrasting sharply with three successive preliminary final appearances between 2008 and 2010 and losing grand finals against Wycheproof Narraport in both 2017 and 2018 and against Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers in 2019.
John Devaney - Full Points Publications