[1] This rivalry was heightened after a match between the clubs in late 1875, when Barwon players were criticised for their rough behaviour, constantly disputing the umpire's decisions, and for having allegedly placed bets on themselves to win the match, all of which were averse to the prevailing view among Geelong fans of the game as a gentlemanly amateur pursuit.
[1] In the following two years Barwon surpassed Geelong to establish itself as the strongest provincial club in Victoria.
[1] Barwon was the permanent winner of the 1876–77 Geelong, Ballarat and Wimmera District Challenge Cup, which was won by the provincial club with the most wins across those two seasons; and, after recording two wins and two draws against metropolitan teams in 1877, was considered to be one of the best clubs in the colony that season.
In 1878, a decline in form by Barwon coincided with a revival by Geelong, and several players defected from the club.
[4] In April 1879, faced with insolvency due to rising costs to upgrade and pay rent on its ground and declining crowds following Geelong's 1878 VFA premiership, the club merged with the Chilwell Football Club under the Chilwell banner.