The MFA had its origins as a Sunday social league playing fortnightly in the 80s.
Some of the clubs were Cockburn Cement, Komatsu and the Rosemount Hotel.
The enhancement of the clubs structure along with a change in the Associations administration meant a more formalised competition being instituted.

Club transitions saw Cockburn Cement becoming Cockburn and based in that suburb. Yanchep and Dwellingup also became active in promoting the game and junior development in their areas.

New clubs joining had more of a community base, rather than social or workplace, with some of those being: Quinns, Ellenbrook and Midvale. Kingsway and Kwinana are clubs with a long established history and the Midland FC is one of only a few clubs in Perth that are over a hundred years old.

The MFA occupies an important niche in the football market by offering a cost effective administration to host new generation and re-establishing clubs that are sound in football management and therefore promotes its member clubs to invest their economies on their own infrastructures.
The success of this format has seen it grow from 6 clubs at the beginning of this decade to 13 at present.

The Mercantile has its own independent Board, P & D and accredited panel umpires, joined the CFC in 2007 with its clerical administration done through the CFO and as understood is the only incorporated metropolitan senior sunday football league in Australia.

In 2010 the MFA will be going to 3 grades being division one with reserves and division two having single team clubs.
Most games will be played on Sundays with Kingsway, Noranda and Jandakot having the capability to play under lights.
The Board will be looking at the feasibility of starting the fixtures on Anzac Day giving the home clubs an opportunity to give their own tribute and playing either the HFA or an equivalent WAAFL division in an association match.