Southern Football League (South Australia)

The Southern Football League (SFL) is an amateur Australian rules football league in South Australia. The League was formed, as the Southern Football Association, in 1886^[1][2].

The league is a suburban competition which also acts as a feeder competition for the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) and in turn the Australian Football League (AFL). Some AFL players from the SFL are Adam Cooney, Nathan Eagleton, Ben Rutten and Andrew Mackie. SANFL clubs that have recruitment zones linked to the Southern Football League are West Adelaide Football Club, Glenelg Football Club and South Adelaide Football Club.

Grades

The SFL consists of:

• Junior Grades
  • Under 8
  • Under 10
  • Under 12
  • Under 14
  • Under 14/Sunday
  • Under 16
  • Under 16/Sunday
  • Under 18's
• Senior Grades (A grade and reserves)
  • including a "C" grade which plays on Sundays and was previously termed Division III

League history

The Southern Football League has also been known as the Southern Football Association and the Alexandria Football Association during its history^[3]. Originally a country league, with urban expansion it has more recently become a suburban league in Adelaide's far southern suburbs.

The League was formed (as Southern Football Association) in 1886 with competing clubs being Aldinga, McLaren Vale, Sellicks Hill and Willunga^[1]. In the early 1900s the Association changed its name to Alexandria Football Association and participating clubs were Aldinga, Hillside (called McLaren Flat from 1946), McLaren Vale, Morphett Vale, Noarlunga and Willunga.

In 1919 the Association changed its name back to Southern Football Association and participating clubs were Aldinga, Hillside, McLaren Vale, Morphett Vale, Noarlunga, Reynella and Willunga.

In 1964 the Association changed its name to Southern Football League and participating clubs were Aldinga, McLaren Flat, McLaren Vale, Morphett Vale, Mount Bold, Myponga, Noarlunga, Port Noarlunga, Reynella, Willunga and Yankalilla.

The League came to national attention on July 11, 2009, when an SFL match between Port Noarlunga and Reynella was abandoned as a result of a freak tornado.^[4]

Current Clubs

• Note: Year given as entering competition applies to the current stint only

Previous clubs

Clubs that have previously competed in the league include^[1]:

• Clarendon (1934 - 1935)
• Kangarilla (1915 -1922, 1981 - 2005)
• Hillside/McLaren Flat (1903 - 1997 then merged with McLaren Vale to form McLaren Districts)
• McLaren Vale (1886 - 1997 then merged with McLaren Flat to form McLaren Districts)
• McLaren Districts (1998 - 2000)
• Macclesfield (1984 - 1988)
• Meadows (1983 - 1998)
• Mitchell Park (1994 - 2000)
• Mount Compass (1946 - 1952)
• Myponga (1946 - 1966)
• Mount Bold (combined Clarendon, Kangarilla 1964 -1965)
• Northern United (combined side from Morphett Vale and Noarlunga 1936 - 1937)
• Plympton (1987 - 1989)
• Willunga (1886 - 1985)
• Yankalilla (1957 - 1967)

Senior premierships winners

Division 1

Division 2

Southern Football League 'A' Grade Grand Final 2010

REYNELLA 13.11 (89) defeated BRIGHTON 9.5 (59)

Reynella Goal Kickers: B.McKeough 3, A.Procter 2, E.Ware 2, S.Bradshaw, L.Ciampa, J.Carter, J.Newnham, T.Cece, S.Middleton. Best Players: S.Bradshaw, D.Prescott, S.Prescott, E.Ware, J.Baylis, A.Broadbent

Brighton Goal Kickers: J.Tucker 2, B.Brookman 2, W.Bradley, R.Miles, J.Degenhardt, L.Keller, B.King. Best Players: J.Rogers, M.Whitword, B.King, R.Miles

Umpires: Aaron Bennett, David Popplewell
ATTENDANCE: 3,600

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} http://footypedia.isgreat.org/00002060.htm Footypedia
2. ^ http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/southern_football_league1.htm Full Points Footy
3. ^ http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-6133-0-104273-0&sID=152041
4. ^ http://www.smh.com.au/national/freak-tornado-terrorises-footy-fans-20090712-dh4d.html

External links

• Southern Football League