Australian Football

Heathmere was a foundation member in 1970 of the Portland Port Fairy Football League, precursor of today’s South West District Football League. Prior to 1970 the club had competed in the Portland and District Football League since 1955. The Magpies’ first decade and a half in the PPFFL, which took on the name of the SWDFL in 1981, was unmemorable. However, during the second half of the 1980s the club began to contest the finals regularly, and in 1989 broke through for its first senior grade premiership, which was immediately followed by a second.

For more than a decade after their 1990 grand final triumph the Magpies continued to perform consistently strongly. Between 1999 and 2002 they contested every senior grade grand final, but only once, in 2002, did they emerge successful after downing Tyrenderra by 35 points, 20.10 (130) to 14.11 (95). Another losing grand final followed in 2004 and the Magpies' seniors did not again grace grand final day until 2018 when they lost by 30 points to Heywood. In between these last two grand final appearances they continued to qualify for the finals fairly regularly although on the converse side of the ledger there were also a couple of wooden spoons.