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.

Southern Football Netball League
FormerlySouth East Suburban Football League
SportAustralian rules football
Founded1963; 61 years ago (1963)
No. of teams36
Level on pyramid4
Relegation toDivision 2
Division 3
Division 4
Official websitesfnl.com.au

History edit

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.

Current Clubs (2024 season) edit

Division 1 edit

Club Colours Nickname Home Ground Former League Est. Years in Comp SFNL Premierships SFNL Premiership years
Bentleigh
 
Demons Bentleigh Reserve, Bentleigh VAFA 1965 1993- 1 Div 2: 2013
Chelsea Heights
 
Demons Beazley Reserve, Chelsea Heights SWGFL 1969 1993- 4 Div 2: 2000, 2017, 2022
Div 3: 1995
Cheltenham
 
Rosellas Cheltenham Reserve, Cheltenham FFL 1891 1982- 5 Div 1: 2023

Div 2: 1992, 1993, 1995

Cranbourne
 
Eagles Livingston Reserve, Cranbourne East OEFNL 1889 2022- 1 Div 1: 2022
Dingley
 
Dingoes Souter Oval, Dingley Village MPNFL 1958 2007- 5 Div 1: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
Div 2: 2008
East Brighton
 
Vampires Hurlingham Park, Brighton East CODFL 1949 1963- 11 A1: 1966, 1973, 1976, 1991
A2: 1988
Div 1: 1993, 2004, 2012, 2014
Div 2: 2002, 2023
Mordialloc
 
Bloodhounds Ben Kavanagh Reserve, Mordialloc VFA 1891 1988– 2 Div 2: 1999, 2014
Port Melbourne
 
Colts JL Murphy Reserve, Port Melbourne WRFL 1957 1975-80, 2016- 2 A2 1975
Div 2: 2016
Springvale Districts
 
Demons Springvale Reserve, Springvale ESCFL 1959 1993- 2 Div 2: 2007
Div 3: 2018
St Pauls
 
Bulldogs McKinnon Reserve, Bentleigh ESCFL 1948 1993- 4 Div 1: 2008, 2011, 2013, 2018

Division 2 edit

Club Colours Nickname Home Ground Former League Est. Years in Comp SFNL Premierships SFNL Premiership years
Caulfield Bears
 
Bears Koornang Park, Carnegie 1993 1993- 1 Div 2: 1994
Doveton
 
Doves Robinson Oval, Doveton OEFNL 1959 2022- 0 -
East Malvern
(Known as Tooronga/Malvern prior to 2012)
 
Panthers D. W. Lucas Oval, Malvern East VAFA 1964 1964- 5 A2: 1978, 1985, 1990
Div 2: 2012
Div 3:
2001
Endeavour Hills
 
Falcons Barry Simon Reserve, Endeavour Hills 2011 2011- 1 Div 3: 2023
Hampton Park
 
Redbacks Robert Booth Reserve,Hampton Park SEFNL 1958 2018- 1 Div 3: 2019
Highett
(known as Highett Districts prior to 1997)
 
Bulldogs Turner Road Reserve, Highett 1988 1989- 4 Div 2: 2004, 2011, 2018
Div 3: 1996
Keysborough
 
Burras Rowley Allan Reserve, Keysborough MPNFL 1947 2015- 0 -
Murrumbeena
 
Lions Murrumbeena Park, Murrumbeena CODFL 1918 1963- 4 A1: 1963, 1974
Div 2: 2003
Div 3: 1993
Skye
 
Bombers Carrum Downs Recreation Reserve, Carrum Downs 2005 2006- 1 Div 3: 2009
St Kilda City
 
Saints Peanut Farm Reserve, St Kilda NMFL 1946 1965- 9 A2: 1971, 1980
Div 1: 2002, 2007, 2009, 2010
Div 2: 1998, 2005
Div 3: 1994

Division 3 edit

Club Colours Nickname Home Ground Former League Est. Years in Comp SFNL Premierships SFNL Premiership years
Ashwood
 
Magpies Essex Heights Reserve, Ashwood 1985 1985- 2 Div 2: 1996, 2001
Black Rock
 
Jets McDonald Reserve, Black Rock ESCFL 1908 1986- 4 Div 3: 2004, 2007, 2015, 2022
Carrum Patterson Lakes
 
Lions[9] Roy Dore Reserve, Carrum 2013 - Reformed,
Carrum FC folded after the 1996 season in the MPNFL
2013- 0 -
Frankston Dolphins
 
Dolphins Overport Park, Frankston South 2017 2018- 0 -
Heatherton
 
Tunners Heatherton Recreation Reserve, Heatherton ESCFL 1913 1993- 3 Div 2: 2006, 2009
Div 3: 1998
Lyndhurst
 
Lightning Marriott Waters Reserve, Lyndhurst 2009 2016- 1 Div 4: 2022
Narre South Saints
 
Saints Strathaird Reserve, Narre Warren South VAFA 2007 2020- 0 -
South Mornington
 
Tigers Citation Oval, Mount Martha VAFA 2006 2006, 2020- 1 Div 4: 2023

Division 4 edit

Club Colours Nickname Home Ground Former League Est. Years in Comp SFNL Premierships SFNL Premiership years
Clayton
 
Clays Meade Reserve, Clayton EFNL 1908 1982-1985, 1999 - 5 A1: 1982, 1984
Div 1: 2001, 2006
Div 2: 2010
Dandenong West
 
Westerners Greaves Reserve, Dandenong ESCFL 1964 1993- (known as Dandenong West until 2003, Dandenong Demons until 2009, Dandenong Redlegs until 2023)
(Not connected to former VFA club Dandenong)
0 -
Doveton Eagles
 
Eagles Power Reserve, Doveton VAFA 1980 1995- 4 Div 2: 2019
Div 3: 2013, 2017
Div 4: 1995
Hallam
 
Hawks Hallam Recreation Reserve, Hallam OEFNL 2011 2012-2022, 2024- 0 -
Hampton
 
Hammers Peterson Street Reserve, Highett ESCFL 1947 2022- 0 -
Lyndale
 
Pumas Barry Powell Reserve,

Noble Park North

ESCFL 1961 1993- 3 Div 3: 2000
Div 4: 1997
Div 5: 1995
Moorabbin
 
Kangaroos A.W Oliver Reserve, Hampton East ESCFL 1978 1982, 1993- 3 Div 3: 2005, 2012
Div 5: 1993
South Yarra
 
Lions Leigh Park, Balwyn North ESCFL 1967 1993- 3 Div 3: 2008
Div 4: 1993, 2019

Open Grade Only edit

Club Colours Nickname Home Ground Former League Est. Years in Comp SFNL Premierships SFNL Premiership years
Heatherhill
 
Hawks Bruce Park, Frankston 2023 2023- 0 -

Women's Division 1 edit

Club Colours Nickname Home Ground Former League Est. Years in Comp SFNL Premierships SFNL Premiership Years
Bentleigh
 
Demons Bentleigh Reserve, Bentleigh 1965 2018- 0 -
Black Rock
 
Jets McDonald Reserve, Black Rock 1908 2022- 1 Div 2: 2022
Casey Thunder
 
Thunder The Hunt Club Reserve, Cranbourne East 2019 2021- 1 Div 1: 2023
East Brighton
 
Vampires Hurlingham Park, Brighton East 1949 2018- 1 Div 2: 2023
Endeavour Hills
 
Falcons Barry Simon Reserve, Endeavour Hills VWFL 2011 2018-2022, 2024 2 Div 1: 2019, 2022
Lyndale
 
Pumas Barry Powell Reserve, Noble Park North 1961 2018- 1 Div 2: 2019
Narre South Saints
 
Saints Strathaird Reserve, Narre Warren South 2007 2022- 0 -

Women's Division 2 edit

Club Colours Nickname Home Ground Former League Est. Years in Comp SFNL Premierships SFNL Premiership Years
Chelsea Heights
 
Demons Beazley Reserve, Chelsea Heights 1969 2023- 0 -
Casey Thunder
 
Thunder The Hunt Club Reserve, Cranbourne East 2019 2021- 0 -
Clayton
 
Clays Meade Reserve, Clayton 1908 2018- 1 Div 2: 2018
Frankston Dolphins
 
Dolphins Overport Park, Frankston South 2017 2018- 0 -
Hallam
 
Hawks Hallam Recreation Reserve, Hallam OEFNL 2011 2018-2022, 2024- 0 -
Murrumbeena
 
Lions Murrumbeena Park, Murrumbeena 1918 2018- 1 Div 1: 2018, 2017
Narre South Saints
 
Saints Strathaird Reserve, Narre Warren South 2007 2022- 0 -
Skye
 
Bombers Carrum Downs Recreation Reserve, Carrum Downs 2006 2021- 0 -

Previous Clubs edit

Club Jumper Nickname Home Ground Former League Est. Years in comp SFNL/SESFL

premierships

Fate
Ashburton ?-1987 6 Merged with Caulfield following 1987 season
Ashburton-Chadstone ESCFL 1986 1986-1994 0 Folded
Balwyn
 
Tigers Balwyn Park, Balwyn ESFL 1909 1963-2006 7 Moved to Eastern Football Netball League after 2006 season
Beaumaris
 
Sharks Banksia Reserve, Beaumaris 1962 1963-1994 2 Moved to Victorian Amateur Football Association after 1994 season
Boronia Park VAFA 1990 1994-1999 0 Moved to Yarra Valley & Mountain District Football League after 1999 season
Box Hill North
 
Demons Elgar Park, Box Hill North ESCFL 1983 1993-2001 0 Moved to Victorian Amateur Football Association after 2001 season
Box Hill Pioneers
 
Pioneers Springfield Park, Box Hill North ESCFL 1954 1993-1997 1 Moved to Eastern Football Netball League after 1997 season, now known as Whitehorse Pioneers
Brooklyn
 
Bulls McIvor Reserve, Yarraville WRFL 1981 2003-2004 0 Folded
Burnley 1963-1965 0 Folded
Burwood c.1950s 1963-1984 3 Merged with Essex Heights to form Ashwood after 1984 season
Burwood United
 
Woods ESCFL c.1940s 1993 0 Merged with Mount Waverley to form Mount Waverley Burwood after 1993 season
Camberwell Power Power ESCFL c.1930s 1993-1996 0 Folded
Canterbury
 
Cobras Canterbury Sports Ground, Surrey Hills ESFL 1881 1963-2008 4 Moved to Eastern Football Netball League after 2008 season
Carnegie
 
CODFL c.1920s 1963-1976, 1980-1999 2 Folded
Carrum Downs Falcons Carrum Downs Recreation Reserve, Carrum Downs 1993-1999 1 Moved to Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League after 1999 season
Caulfield 1983-84 0 Folded
Caulfield-Ashburton
 
Bears Princes Park, Caulfield 1965 1988-1989 1 Folded
Caulfield Kontias VAFA 1989 1992 0 Folded
Cerberus
 
Dogs HMAS Cerberus 2004 2004-2010, 2018-2023 1 Folded
Chadstone
 
1963-1985 0 Folded
Cheltenham Assumption
 
Red Roosters ESFL 1993-1998 1 Folded
Collingwood Districts
 
ESCFL 1986 1993-1995 0 Folded
East Bentleigh
 
ESCFL 1993-1995 0 Merged with St Pauls Bentleigh to form St Pauls East Bentleigh after 1995 season
East Brunswick
 
Magpies Fleming Park, Brunswick East WRFL 1922 1994 0 Folded
East Camberwell
 
ESCFL 1946 1993-1994 0 Merged with Surrey Hills to form Surrey Park after 1994 season
East Hawthorn
 
St James Park, Hawthorn NMFL 1931 1975-1987 3 Folded
East Malvern Amateurs c.1920s 1965-1984 1 Folded
East Sandringham 1963-1975 0 Folded
Eley Park
 
Sharks Eley Park, Blackburn South 1992 1993 0 Moved to Victorian Amateur Football Association after 1993 season
Essex Heights
 
Essex Heights Reserve, Ashwood 1970-1985 0 Merged with Burwood to form Ashwood after 1984 season
Fairfield Park
 
Bloods Fairfield Park Oval, Fairfield ESCFL c.1900s 1993-1995 0 Moved to Diamond Valley Football League following 1995 season
Glen Iris
 
1963-1987 2 Folded
Hawthorn Citizens (formerly known as Hawthorn District)
 
1963-1989 2 Folded
Heidelberg Colts
 
Colts MNFL 1967 1995 0 Folded
Highett
 
Bulldogs Turner Road Reserve, Highett FFL 1929 1963-1989 0 Merged with Highett West following 1989 season to form Highett Districts, now known as Highett.
Highett West
 
Cats 1975 1975-1989 1 Merged with Highett following 1989 season to form Highett Districts, now known as Highett.
Kooyong 1966-1968 2 Merged with Hawthorn Amateurs in 1969 to form Hawthorn District
Lower Plenty
 
Bears Montmorency Park, Montmorency ESCFL 1961 1993-1994 0 Moved to Diamond Valley Football League following 1994 season
Mentone
 
Tigers Mentone Reserve, Mentone FFL 1904 1982-1992 0 Merged with St Bede's Old Collegians following 1992 season to form St Bede's/Mentone Tigers in VAFA
Middle Park 1983-1984 0 Folded
Mount Waverley
 
Mountain Lions Mayfield Park, Mount Waverley ESCFL 1974 1993-2018 2 Folded
Mount Waverley Mt Waverley Reserve, Mount Waverley ESFL 1924 1963-1993 1 Merged with Mount Waverley to form Mount Waverley Burwood after 1993 season
Mount Waverley Burwood Mt Waverley Reserve, Mount Waverley 1994 1994-1997 0 Merged with Waverley Amateurs following 1997 season to form Waverley Blues in EFNL
Noble Park
 
Bulls Pat Wright Senior Oval, Noble Park FFL 1918 1963, 1982-1999 9 Moved to Eastern Football Netball League after 1999 season
North Blackburn Burners ESCFL 1993-1995 0 Folded
North Kew
 
Bears Stradbroke Park, Kew East ESFL 1932 1963-2006 1 Merged with Kew Amateurs following 2006 season to form Kew Bears in VAFA
Oakleigh District
 
Districts Princes Highway Reserve, Oakleigh East FFL 1915 1963, 1982-2021 1 Moved to Eastern Football Netball League after 2021 season
Parkdale Seagulls Gerry Green Reserve, Parkdale FFL 1934 1982-2003 3 Merged with Mentone Amateurs following 2003 season to form Parkdale Vultures in VAFA
Parkmore
 
Pirates Frederick Wachter Reserve, Keysborough 2004 2005-2007 1 Folded
Richmond Rosellas Rosellas ESCFL 1994-1995 0 Folded
Sandown Cobras
 
Cobras Edinburgh Reserve, Springvale EFNL 1962 1963-1976, 2002-2023 2 In recess
Southern Dragons
 
Dragons Keeley Park, Clayton South 2007 2009-2012, 2015 1 Folded
South Melbourne Districts
 
Bloods Lindsay Hassett Oval, Albert Park NMFL 1912 1963-1999 2 Moved to Victorian Amateur Football Association after 1999 season
St Bede's Old Collegians
 
1966 1966-1969 1 Moved to Victorian Amateur Football Association after 1969 season
St Paul's Bentleigh McKinnon Reserve, Bentleigh ESCFL 1948 1993-1996 0 Merged with East Bentleigh to form St Pauls East Bentleigh after 1995 season
Surrey Park
 
Panthers Surrey Park, Box Hill 1994 1995-2001 0 Moved to Eastern Football Netball League after 2001 season
Syndal-Tally Ho
 
Synners Jordan Reserve, Chadstone ESCFL 1993 1993-1996 1 Moved to Victorian Amateur Football Association after 1996 season

Premiers edit

Men's seniors edit

Southern Football Netball League
Year Division 1 Division 2 Division 3 Division 4 Division 5
2023 Cheltenham East Brighton Endeavour Hills South Mornington 4 divisions (2018−)
2022 Cranbourne Chelsea Heights Black Rock Lyndhurst
2021
(Season abandoned due to COVID-19)
2020
(No competition due to COVID-19)
2019 Dingley Doveton Eagles Hampton Park South Yarra
2018 St Paul's Highett Springvale Districts Cerberus
2017 Dingley Chelsea Heights Doveton Eagles 3 divisions (1999−2017)
2016 Dingley Port Melbourne Colts Mount Waverley
2015 Dingley Oakleigh Districts Black Rock
2014 East Brighton Mordialloc Match abandoned
2013 St Paul's Bentleigh Doveton Eagles
2012 East Brighton East Malvern Moorabbin
2011 St Paul's Highett Southern Dragons
2010 St Kilda City Clayton Hampton
2009 St Kilda City Heatherton Skye
2008 St Paul's 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 Mount Waverley Catholics 4 divisions (1996−1998)
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 2 divisions (1992)
South East Suburban Football League
Year Division 1 Division 2 Division 3
1991 East Brighton Canterbury 2 divisions (1987−1991)
1990 Noble Park Tooronga-Malvern
1989 Balwyn Parkdale
1988 Caulfield-Ashburton East Brighton
1987 Noble Park Ashburton
1986 Noble Park Highett West Murrumbeena 3 divisions (1986)
1985 Noble Park Tooronga-Malvern 2 divisions (1985)
1984 Clayton Parkdale East Hawthorn 3 divisions (1983-1984)
1983 Noble Park South Melbourne Districts Hawthorn Citizens
1982 Clayton East Hawthorn 2 divisions (1963−1982)
1981 Ashburton East Hawthorn
1980 Ashburton St Kilda City
1979 Burwood Glen Iris
1978 Ashburton Tooronga-Malvern
1977 Ashburton Beaumaris
1976 East Brighton South Melbourne Districts
1975 Carnegie Port Colts
1974 Murrumbeena Carnegie
1973 East Brighton Ashburton
1972 Canterbury Sandown
1971 Hawthorn District St Kilda City
1970 Burwood Hawthorn District
1969 Canterbury East Malvern
1968 Burwood St Bede's Old Collegians
1967 Kooyong Sandown
1966 East Brighton Kooyong
1965 Glen Iris Beaumaris
1964 Mount Waverley Hawthorn Amateurs
1963 Murrumbeena Caulfield

Women's seniors edit

Year Division 1 Division 2
2023 Casey Thunder East Brighton
2022 Endeavour Hills Black Rock
2021
(Season abandoned due to COVID-19)
2020
(No competition due to COVID-19)
2019 Endeavour Hills Lyndale
2018 Murrumbeena Clayton
2017 Murrumbeena 1 division (2017)

References edit

  1. ^ "Moorabbin Kangaroos History". deadlyretribution.com.
  2. ^ "The Local Footy Show's Daryl Pitman In 1997 Southern Football Show". YouTube. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021.
  3. ^ "The Local Footy Show: About The Show". www.localfootyshow.com.au.
  4. ^ "monashweekly.com.au". www.monashweekly.com.au. 21 November 2023.
  5. ^ Full Point Footy, Southern Football League, retrieved 21 October 2008
  6. ^ Hatch, Patrick (13 September 2014). "Southern Football League grand final abandoned after brawl between players and supporters". The Age.
  7. ^ "Southern Football League Media Release - Dandenong Football Club - SportsTG". SportsTG.
  8. ^ Ractliffe, Damien (9 December 2015). "Former Hawthorn star to put stamp on Power". Herald Sun.
  9. ^ http://www.cplfc.com.au [dead link]

External links edit