Southern Football Netball League
The Southern Football Netball League is an Australian rules football league, based in the south and south eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, for both seniors and juniors.
 | |
| Formerly | South East Suburban Football League |
|---|---|
| Sport | Australian rules football |
| Founded | 1963 |
| No. of teams | 36 |
| Level on pyramid | 4 |
| Relegation to | Division 2 Division 3 Division 4 |
| Official website | sfl.com.au |
History
The South East Suburban Football League was formed in 1963 as a merger of the Caulfield Oakleigh District Football League with the East Suburban Football League after a number of its clubs moved to the Croydon Ferntree Gully FL (now Eastern Football League).
When the Federal Football League folded at the end of 1981, the SESFL had twenty clubs. After the addition of all but one of the Federal clubs for 1982, the league had a 16 team A grade, and a 12 team B grade competition. The league twice tried 3 divisions but the idea was later dropped as clubs left or folded.
In a major project in 1991, the league underwent a major revamp of its administration and opted to employ a full-time administrator and staff to manage the league's affairs. The League's administration along with its member clubs undertook a far-reaching corporate planning programme to map out future directions and objectives. The extra manpower allowed the elevation of League and club standards and the improved marketability of attracting the corporate sponsorship that modern football now required to keep the organisation afloat. Much of this work was completed by early 1992 and it was decided that a new name would be required to flow on from the work already achieved. The Southern Football League was adopted to show that a new professionalism was running football in the southern suburbs.
The league had another major change in 1993, when it absorbed the Eastern Suburbs Churches Football Association. The newly merged league began in 1993 with around 50 clubs playing 5 divisions, though this had dropped to 28 clubs in 3 divisions by 2002 due to clubs folding, merging, or moving to other competitions.[1]
In April 1997, the Southern Football Show began on Optus Vision's Localvision channel, covering the weekly news of the league.[2][3] It moved to Channel 31 Melbourne the following year. This program soon became known as the Southern Footy Show. It later expanded its scope to become the Local Footy Show, covering many Melbourne leagues until 2011.
In the new millennium, the league grew slightly with the addition of the Southern Dragons in 2009, Endeavour Hills in 2011 and Hallam in 2012. The Dragons returned to the VAFA after the 2012 season,[4] but the revival of Carrum Patterson Lakes FC in 2013 after almost 20 years in recess kept the league at 31 clubs.[5]
The 2014 SFL third division seniors grand final was called off after a brawl broke out between players and supporters. The game in which Mount Waverley was taking on Carrum Patterson Lakes. A police spokeswoman said supporters started heckling one of the teams as it left the ground at half-time. A fight broke out and one person was treated in hospital. The game was called off when one of the teams refused to return to the field."[6]
In 2015, acknowledging the netball part of the competition, the league changed its name to Southern Football Netball League. [7] The 2015 season was also a time when the Southern Dragons went into recess.
In 2016 Port Melbourne Colts transferred in from Western Region Football League, and Lyndhurst FC fielded a senior side for the first time.[8]
2017 saw the introduction of women's football.
The inclusion of 3 clubs enabled the league to have 4 men's divisions for 2018.
Premiers
| Year | Division 1 | Division 2 | Division 3 | Division 4 | Division 5 | Women's Div 1 | Women's Div 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Dingley | Doveton Eagles | Hampton Park | South Yarra | Endeavour Hills | Lyndale | |
| 2018 | St Paul's | Highett | Springvale Districts | Cerberus | Murrumbeena | Clayton | |
| 2017 | Dingley | Chelsea Heights | Doveton Eagles | Murrumbeena | |||
| 2016 | Dingley | Port Melbourne Colts | Mount Waverley | ||||
| 2015 | Dingley | Oakleigh Districts | Black Rock | ||||
| 2014 | East Brighton | Mordialloc | Match abandoned | ||||
| 2013 | St Pauls | Bentleigh | Doveton Eagles | ||||
| 2012 | East Brighton | East Malvern | Moorabbin | ||||
| 2011 | St Pauls | Highett | Southern Dragons | ||||
| 2010 | St Kilda City | Clayton | Hampton | ||||
| 2009 | St Kilda City | Heatherton | Skye | ||||
| 2008 | St Pauls | Dingley | South Yarra | ||||
| 2007 | St Kilda City | Springvale District | Black Rock | ||||
| 2006 | Clayton | Heatherton | Parkmore | ||||
| 2005 | Balwyn | St Kilda City | Moorabbin | ||||
| 2004 | East Brighton | Highett | Black Rock | ||||
| 2003 | Balwyn | Murrumbeena | Canterbury | ||||
| 2002 | St Kilda City | East Brighton | Hampton | ||||
| 2001 | Clayton | Ashwood | Tooronga Malvern | ||||
| 2000 | Balwyn | Chelsea Heights | Lyndale | ||||
| 1999 | Balwyn | Mordialloc | North Kew | ||||
| 1998 | Balwyn | St Kilda City | Heatherton | Mt Waverley Catholics | |||
| 1997 | Noble Park | Balwyn | Box Hill Pioneers | Lyndale | |||
| 1996 | Noble Park | Ashwood | Highett | Cheltenham Assumption | |||
| 1995 | Parkdale | Cheltenham | Chelsea Heights | Doveton Eagles | Lyndale | ||
| 1994 | Noble Park | Caulfield | St Kilda City | Syndal-Tally Ho | Carrum Downs | ||
| 1993 | East Brighton | Cheltenham | Murrumbeena | South Yarra | Moorabbin West | ||
| 1992 | Noble Park | Cheltenham | |||||
South East Suburban FL premiers
| Year | A1 Grade | A2 Grade |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Murrumbeena | |
| 1964 | Mount Waverley | |
| 1965 | Glen Iris | |
| 1966 | East Brighton | Kooyong |
| 1967 | Kooyong | Sandown |
| 1968 | Burwood | St Bedes Old Collegians |
| 1969 | Canterbury | East Malvern |
| 1970 | Burwood | Hawthorn District |
| 1971 | Hawthorn District | St Kilda City |
| 1972 | Canterbury | Sandown |
| 1973 | East Brighton | Ashburton |
| 1974 | Murrumbeena | Carnegie |
| 1975 | Carnegie | Port Colts |
| 1976 | East Brighton | South Melb Dist |
| 1977 | Ashburton | Beaumaris |
| 1978 | Ashburton | Tooronga-Malvern |
| 1979 | Burwood | Glen Iris |
| 1980 | Ashburton | St Kilda City |
| 1981 | Ashburton | East Hawthorn |
| 1982 | Clayton | East Hawthorn |
| 1983 | Noble Park | South Melb Dist |
| 1984 | Clayton | Parkdale |
| 1985 | Noble Park | Tooronga-Malvern |
| 1986 | Noble Park | Highett West |
| 1987 | Noble Park | Ashburton |
| 1988 | Caulfield-Ashburton | East Brighton |
| 1989 | Balwyn | Parkdale |
| 1990 | Noble Park | Tooronga-Malvern |
| 1991 | East Brighton | Canterbury |
Current Clubs (2020 season)
Division 1
| Club | Nickname | Location Ground | Website | Years in Comp | SFL Premierships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bentleigh | Demons | Bentleigh Reserve | Official Site | 1993- | Div 2: 2013 |
| Cheltenham | Rosellas | Cheltenham Reserve | Official Site | 1982- | Div 2: 1992, 1993, 1995 |
| Dingley | Dingoes | Souter Oval, Dingley | Official Site | 2007- | Div 1: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 Div 2: 2008 |
| Doveton Eagles | Eagles | L.J. Reid Oval, Doveton | Official Site | 1995- | Div 2: 2019 Div 3: 2013, 2017 Div 4: 1995 |
| East Malvern (Known as Tooronga/Malvern until 2012) |
Panthers | Lucas Oval, Malvern East | Official Site | 1964- | A2: 1978, 1985, 1990 Div 2: 2012 Div 3: 2001 |
| Highett (known as Highett Districts until 1997) |
Bulldogs | Turner Road Reserve , Highett | Official Site | 1989- | Div 2: 2004, 2011, 2018 Div 3: 1996 |
| Mordialloc | Bloodhounds | Ben Kavanagh Reserve, Mordialloc | Official Site | 1988– | Div 2: 1999, 2014 |
| Port Melbourne | Colts | JL Murphy Reserve, Port Melbourne | Official Site | 1975-80, 2016- | A2 1975 Div 2: 2016 |
| St Kilda City | Saints | Peanut Farm Reserve, St Kilda | Official Site | 1965- | A2: 1971, 1980 Div 1: 2002, 2007, 2009, 2010 Div 2: 1998, 2005 Div 3: 1994 |
| St Pauls | Bulldogs | McKinnon Reserve, Bentleigh | Official Site | 1993- | Div 1: 2008, 2011, 2013, 2018 |
Division 2
| Club | Nickname | Ground Location | Club Website | Years in Comp | SFL Premierships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caulfield Bears | Bears | Koornang Park, Carnegie | Official Site | 1993- | Div 2: 1994 |
| Chelsea Heights | Demons | Beazley Reserve, Chelsea Heights | Official Site | 1993- | Div 2: 2000, 2017 Div 3: 1995 |
| East Brighton | Vampires | Hurlingham Park, Brighton East | Official Site | 1963- | A1: 1966, 1973, 1976, 1991 A2: 1988 Div 1: 1993, 2004, 2012, 2014 Div 2: 2002 |
| Hampton | Hammers | Peterson St Reserve, Highett | Official Site | 1993- | Div 3: 2002, 2010 |
| Hampton Park | Redbacks | Robert Booth Reserve, Hampton Park | Official Site | 2018- | Div 3: 2019 |
| Keysborough | Burras | Rolwey Allan Reserve, Keysborough | Official Site | 2015- | - |
| Murrumbeena | Lions | Murrumbeena Park, Murrumbeena | Official Site | 1963- | A1: 1963, 1974 Div 2: 2003 Div 3: 1993 |
| Oakleigh District | Districts | Princes Highway Reserve, Oakleigh East | Official Site | 1963, 1982- | Div 2: 2015 |
| Skye | Bombers | Carrum Downs Rec Reserve, Currum Downs | Official Site | 2006- | Div 3: 2009 |
| Springvale Districts | Demons | Springvale Reserve, Springvale | Official Site | 1993- | Div 2: 2007 Div 3: 2018 |
Division 3
| Club | Nickname | Ground Location | Club website | Years in Comp | SFL Premierships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashwood | Magpies | Essex Heights Reserve, Ashwood | Official Site | 1985- | Div 2: 1996, 2001 |
| Black Rock | Jets | McDonald Reserve, Black Rock | Official Site | 1986- | Div 3: 2004, 2007, 2015 |
| Clayton | Clays | Meade Reserve, Clayton | Official Site | 1982-1985 , 1999 - | A1: 1982, 1984 Div 1: 2001, 2006 Div 2: 2010 |
| Endeavour Hills | Falcons | Singleton Reserve, Endeavour Hills | Official site | 2011- | - |
| Heatherton | Tunners | Heatherton Recreation Reserve , Heatherton | Official Site | 1993- | Div 2: 2006, 2009 Div 3: 1998 |
| Narre South Saints | Saints | Strathaird Reserve, Narre Warren South | 2020- | ||
| South Mornington | Tigers | Citation Oval. Helena Street Mt Martha | 2006, 2020- | ||
| South Yarra | Lions | Leigh Park, North Balwyn | Official Site | 1993- | Div 3: 2008 Div 4: 1993, 2019 |
Division 4
| Club | Nickname | Ground Location | Club website | Years in Comp | SFL Premierships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrum Patterson Lakes | Lions[9] | Graham Rd, Carrum | Official Site | 2013- Reformed, Carrum FC folded after the 1996 season in the MPNFL |
- |
| Cerberus | Dogs | McAuliffe Oval, HMAS Cerberus, Westernport | Official Site | 2018- Reformed (Previously competed 2004-2010) | Div 4: 2018 |
| Dandenong | Redlegs[10] | Greaves Reserve, Dandenong | Official site | 1993- (known as Dandenong West until 2003, Dandenong Demons until 2009) (Not connected to former VFA club Dandenong) |
- |
| Frankston Dolphins | Dolphins | Overpoint Park, Frankston South | Official Site | 2018- | - |
| Hallam | Hawks | Hallam Reserve, Hallam | Official site | 2012- | |
| Lyndale | Pumas | Barry Powell Reserve, Noble Park North | Official Site | 1993- | Div 3: 2000 Div 4: 1997 Div 5: 1995 |
| Lyndhurst | Lightning | Boland Drive, Lyndhurst | Official Site | 2016- | - |
| Moorabbin | Kangaroos | A.W Oliver Reserve Hampton East | Official Site | 1993- | Div 3: 2005, 2012 Div 5: 1993 |
Previous Clubs
Folded/In Recess
| Club | Last season |
|---|---|
| Ashburton-Chadstone Football Club | 1994 |
| Box Hill Adelphians Football Club | 1995 |
| Brooklyn Football Club | 2004 |
| Camberwell Power Football Club | 1996 |
| Carnegie Football Club | 1999 |
| Caulfield-Ashburton Football Club | 1989 |
| Cheltenham Assumption Football Club | 1998 |
| Collingwood Districts Football Club | 1995 |
| East Hawthorn Football Club | 1987 |
| East Malvern Amateurs | 1984 |
| East Sandringham | 1975 |
| Fairfield Football Club | 1995 |
| Glen Iris Football Club | 1987 |
| Heidelberg Colts Football Club | 1995 |
| Mount Waverley Football Club | 2019 |
| North Blackburn Football Club | 1995 |
| Parkmore Football Club | 2007 |
| Richmond Rosellas Football Club | 1995 |
| Sandown Cobras Football Club | 2019 |
| Southern Dragons | 2015 |
Merged
| Club | Club | Year | Resulting club |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burwood | Essex Heights | 1986 | Ashwood |
| Burwood (United) | Mount Waverley (not the current club in Div 3) | 1993 | Mount Waverley Burwood |
| East Bentleigh | St Paul's Bentleigh | 1996 | St Pauls East Bentleigh |
| East Camberwell | Surrey Hills | 1994 | Surrey Park (moved to EFL in 2001) |
| Highett | Highett West | 1989 | Highett District |
| Mentone | St Bedes Old Collegians (VAFA) | 1993 | St Bedes Mentone Tigers (VAFA) |
| Parkdale | Mentone Amateurs (previously St Patrick's Mentone) (VAFA) | 2003 | Parkdale Vultures (VAFA) |
| Mount Waverley Burwood | Waverley Amateurs | 1998 | Waverley Blues (EFL) |
Moved to Eastern Football League
| Club | Last season in SFL |
|---|---|
| Balwyn | 2006 |
| Box Hill Pioneers | 1997 |
| Canterbury | 2008 |
| Noble Park | 1999 |
| Surrey Park | 2001 |
Moved to Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League
- Carrum Downs Football Club
Moved to Northern Football League
Moved to Victorian Amateur Football Association
| Club | Last season in SFL |
|---|---|
| Beaumaris | 1994 |
| Box Hill North | 2001 |
| Canterbury | 2008 |
| South Melbourne Districts | 1999 |
| South Mornington | 2006 |
| Syndal-Tally Ho (now known as Chadstone) | 1996 |
Moved to Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League
- Boronia Park Football Club 1999
References
- "Moorabbin Kangaroos History". deadlyretribution.com.
- "The Local Footy Show's Daryl Pitman In 1997 Southern Football Show". YouTube.
- "The Local Footy Show: About The Show". www.localfootyshow.com.au.
- "monashweekly.com.au". www.monashweekly.com.au.
- Full Point Footy, Southern Football League, retrieved 21 October 2008
- Hatch, Patrick (13 September 2014). "Southern Football League grand final abandoned after brawl between players and supporters". The Age.
- "Southern Football League Media Release - Dandenong Football Club - SportsTG". SportsTG.
- http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/former-hawthorn-star-mark-williams-to-put-stamp-on-wrfl/news-story/7f90139a2dffdbc8d0103dab3230772b
- "About us - Dandenong Football Club - SportsTG". SportsTG.