Australian Football

The Mighty Blues can look back proudly over a history of more than a hundred years during which they have competed with success in several different competitions. They were especially successful during the 1950s and ‘60s, contesting half a dozen grand finals in both decades for a total of eight premierships. The 1970s spawned another couple of flags, while the early 1980s produced four successive grand final appearances for three losses and a win. 

Nirranda’s involvement in the Warrnambool and District Football League dates back to 1992. After a mediocre debut season, the Blues reached the 1993 grand final, but lost to South Rovers by 30 points. They remained competitive for most of the remainder of a decade that was highlighted by the winning of a first senior grade WADFL premiership in 1999. Opposed in the grand final by Russells Creek, Nirranda emerged victorious by 32 points, a comfortable enough margin given that only 15 goals were scored in the match. 

More recently, the 2009 season was a disappointing one for Nirranda with none of the club’s four grades - seniors, reserves, under seventeens and under fourteens - managing to procure finals involvement. Worse was to follow, as in 2010 the league side dropped to second from last after managing just a couple of wins for the year. After that, improvement was gradual but consistent. 

By 2015 the side was knocking on the door of the finals, and in 2016 they surged to one of the most dramatic and memorable premiership triumphs in WDFL history. Fifth at the end of the home and away rounds with a 12-6 record the Blues made light of their underdog status in successive weeks against Merrivale, Kolora Noorat and Dennington to set up a grand final showdown with Old Collegians. Against all the odds the Blues held their nerve and maintained their form in battling their way to a 7 point triumph, 6.9 (45) to 5.8 (38). Their success inevitably evoked comparisons with that of the Western Bulldogs in the country's elite football competition. Repeating the success was always likely to be problematic but.the Blues made a good fist of it, getting as far as a losing preliminary final against Old Collegians. Amends were swiftly made in 2018 when the Mighty Blues topped the ladder prior to the finals series before cruising to the premiership on the strength of comfortable wins over Old Collegians in both the second semi final and grand final.