Southern Football Netball League
 | |
| 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 | sfnl.com.au |
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.
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.
Current Clubs (2023 season)
Division 1
| Colours | Club | Nickname | Location | Home Ground | Website | Years in Comp | SFNL Premierships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Bentleigh | Demons | Bentleigh | Bentleigh Reserve | Official Site | 1993- | Div 2: 2013 |
|
Chelsea Heights | Demons | Chelsea Heights | Beazley Reserve | Official Site | 1993- | Div 2: 2000, 2017, 2022 Div 3: 1995 |
 |
Cheltenham | Rosellas | Cheltenham | Cheltenham Reserve | Official Site | 1982- | Div 2: 1992, 1993, 1995 |
 |
Cranbourne | Eagles | Cranbourne East | Livingston Reserve | 2022- | Div 1: 2022 | |
 |
Dingley | Dingoes | Dingley Village | Souter Oval | Official Site | 2007- | Div 1: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 Div 2: 2008 |
 |
East Brighton | Vampires | Brighton East | Hurlingham Park | Official Site | 1963- | A1: 1966, 1973, 1976, 1991 A2: 1988 Div 1: 1993, 2004, 2012, 2014 Div 2: 2002 |
 |
Mordialloc | Bloodhounds | Mordialloc | Ben Kavanagh Reserve | 1988– | Div 2: 1999, 2014 | |
 |
Port Melbourne | Colts | Port Melbourne | JL Murphy Reserve | 1975-80, 2016- | A2 1975 Div 2: 2016 | |
 |
Springvale Districts | Demons | Springvale | Springvale Reserve | Official Site | 1993- | Div 2: 2007 Div 3: 2018 |
 |
St Pauls | Bulldogs | Bentleigh | McKinnon Reserve | Official Site | 1993- | Div 1: 2008, 2011, 2013, 2018 |
Division 2
| Colours | Club | Nickname | Home Ground | Club Website | Years in Comp | SFNL Premierships | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Caulfield Bears | Bears | Carnegie | Koornang Park | Official Site | 1993- | Div 2: 1994 |
 |
Doveton | Doves | Doveton | Robinson Oval | Official Site | 2022- | - |
 |
East Malvern (Known as Tooronga/Malvern prior to 2012) |
Panthers | Malvern East | D. W. Lucas Oval | Official Site | 1964- | A2: 1978, 1985, 1990 Div 2: 2012 Div 3: 2001 |
 |
Endeavour Hills | Falcons | Endeavour Hills | Barry Simon Reserve | 2011- | Div 3: 2023 | |
 |
Hampton Park | Redbacks | Hampton Park | Robert Booth Reserve | 2018- | Div 3: 2019 | |
 |
Highett (known as Highett Districts prior to 1997) |
Bulldogs | Highett | Turner Road Reserve | Official Site | 1989- | Div 2: 2004, 2011, 2018 Div 3: 1996 |
 |
Keysborough | Burras | Keysborough | Rowley Allan Reserve | Official Site | 2015- | - |
 |
Murrumbeena | Lions | Murrumbeena | Murrumbeena Park | Official Site | 1963- | A1: 1963, 1974 Div 2: 2003 Div 3: 1993 |
 |
Skye | Bombers | Carrum Downs | Carrum Downs Recreation Reserve | 2006- | Div 3: 2009 | |
 |
St Kilda City | Saints | St Kilda | Peanut Farm Reserve | Official Site | 1965- | A2: 1971, 1980 Div 1: 2002, 2007, 2009, 2010 Div 2: 1998, 2005 Div 3: 1994 |
Division 3
| Colours | Club | Nickname | Location | Home Ground | Club website | Years in Comp | SFNL Premierships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Black Rock | Jets | Black Rock | McDonald Reserve | Official Site | 1986- | Div 3: 2004, 2007, 2015, 2022 |
 |
Ashwood | Magpies | Ashwood | Essex Heights Reserve | Official Site | 1985- | Div 2: 1996, 2001 |
 |
Carrum Patterson Lakes | Lions[9] | Carrum | Roy Dore Reserve | Official Site | 2013- Reformed, Carrum FC folded after the 1996 season in the MPNFL |
- |
 |
Frankston Dolphins | Dolphins | Frankston South | Overport Park | Official Site | 2018- | - |
 |
Heatherton | Tunners | Heatherton | Heatherton Recreation Reserve | Official Site | 1993- | Div 2: 2006, 2009 Div 3: 1998 |
 |
Lyndhurst | Lightning | Lyndhurst | Marriott Waters Reserve | Official Site | 2016- | Div 4: 2022 |
 |
Narre South Saints | Saints | Narre Warren South | Strathaird Reserve | Official Site | 2020- | |
 |
South Mornington | Tigers | Mount Martha | Citation Oval | Official Site | 2006, 2020- | Div 4: 2023 |
Division 4
| Colours | Club | Nickname | Location | Home Ground | Club website | Years in Comp | SFNL Premierships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Clayton | Clays | Clayton | Meade Reserve | 1982-1985, 1999 - | A1: 1982, 1984 Div 1: 2001, 2006 Div 2: 2010 | |
 |
Dandenong West | Westerners | Dandenong | Greaves Reserve | Official site | 1993- (known as Dandenong West until 2003, Dandenong Demons until 2009, Dandenong Redlegs until 2023) (Not connected to former VFA club Dandenong) |
- |
 |
Doveton Eagles | Eagles | Doveton | Power Reserve | Official Site | 1995- | Div 2: 2019 Div 3: 2013, 2017 Div 4: 1995 |
 |
Hallam | Hawks | Hallam | Hallam Recreation Reserve | Official Site | 2012-2022, 2024- | - |
 |
Hampton | Hammers | Highett | Peterson Street Reserve | Official Site | 2022- | - |
 |
Lyndale | Pumas | Noble Park North | Barry Powell Reserve | Official Site | 1993- | Div 3: 2000 Div 4: 1997 Div 5: 1995 |
 |
Moorabbin | Kangaroos | Hampton East | A.W Oliver Reserve | Official Site | 1993- | Div 3: 2005, 2012 Div 5: 1993 |
 |
South Yarra | Lions | Balwyn North | Leigh Park | 1993- | Div 3: 2008 Div 4: 1993, 2019 |
Thirds Only
| Colours | Club | Nickname | Location | Home Ground | Club Website | Years in Comp | SFNL Premierships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Cerberus - Merged with South Mornington Thirds for 2023 season | Dogs | HMAS Cerberus | McAuliffe Oval | 2018- Reformed (Previously competed 2004-2010) | Div 4: 2018 | |
 |
Heatherhill | Hawks | Frankston | Bruce Park | 2023- | - |
Women's Division 1
| Colours | Club | Nickname | Location | Home Ground | Club Website | Years in Comp | SFNL Premierships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bentleigh | Demons | Bentleigh | Bentleigh Reserve | Official Site | 2018- | |
 |
Black Rock | Jets | Black Rock | McDonald Reserve | Official Site | 2022- | Div 2: 2022 |
 |
Casey Thunder | Thunder | Cranbourne East | The Hunt Club Reserve | 2021- | Div 1: 2023 | |
|
Frankston Dolphins | Dolphins | Frankston South | Overport Park | Official Site | 2018- | |
 |
Murrumbeena | Lions | Murrumbeena | Murrumbeena Park | Official Site | 2018- | Div 1: 2018, 2017 |
|
Narre South Saints | Saints | Narre Warren South | Strathaird Reserve | Official Site | 2022- |
Women's Division 2
| Colours | Club | Nickname | Location | Home Ground | Club Website | Years in Comp | SFNL Premierships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Chelsea Heights | Demons | Chelsea Heights | Beazley Reserve | Official Site | 2023- | |
|
East Brighton | Vampires | Brighton East | Hurlingham Park | Official Site | 2018- | Div 2: 2023 |
|
Casey Thunder | Thunder | Cranbourne East | The Hunt Club Reserve | 2021- | ||
|
Clayton | Clays | Clayton | Meade Reserve | 2018- | Div 2: 2018 | |
|
Lyndale | Pumas | Noble Park North | Barry Powell Reserve | Official Site | 2018- | Div 2: 2019 |
|
Skye | Bombers | Carrum Downs | Carrum Downs Recreation Reserve | 2021- |
Previous Clubs
| Jumper | Club | Nickname | Years in comp | SFNL/SESFL
premierships |
Premiership seasons | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashburton | ?-1987 | 6 | Division 1: 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981
Division 2: 1973, 1987 |
Merged with Caulfield following 1987 season | ||
| Ashburton-Chadstone | 1986-1994 | - | - | Folded | ||
 |
Balwyn | Tigers | 1963-2006 | 7 | Division 1: 1989, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005
Division 2: 1997 |
Moved to Eastern Football Netball League after 2006 season |
 |
Beaumaris | Sharks | 1963-1994 | 2 | Division 2: 1965, 1977 | Moved to Victorian Amateur Football Association after 1994 season |
| Boronia Park | 1994-1999 | - | - | Moved to Yarra Valley & Mountain District Football League after 1999 season | ||
 |
Box Hill North | Demons | 1993-2001 | - | - | Moved to Victorian Amateur Football Association after 2001 season |
 |
Box Hill Pioneers | Pioneers | 1993-1997 | 1 | Division 3: 1997 | Moved to Eastern Football Netball League after 1997 season, now known as Whitehorse Pioneers |
 |
Brooklyn | Bulls | 2003-2004 | - | - | Folded |
| Burnley | 1963-1965 | - | - | Folded | ||
| Burwood | 1963-1984 | 3 | Division 1: 1968, 1970, 1979 | Merged with Essex Heights to form Ashwood after 1984 season | ||
 |
Burwood United | Woods | 1993 | - | - | Merged with Mount Waverley to form Mount Waverley Burwood after 1993 season |
| Camberwell Power | Power | 1993-1996 | - | - | Folded | |
 |
Canterbury | Cobras | 1963-2008 | 4 | Division 1: 1969, 1972
Division 2: 1991 Division 3: 2003 |
Moved to Eastern Football Netball League after 2008 season |
| Carnegie | 1963-1976, 1980-1999 | 2 | Division 1: 1975
Division 2: 1974 |
Folded | ||
| Carrum Downs | Falcons | 1993-1999 | 1 | Division 5: 1994 | Moved to Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League after 1999 season | |
| Caulfield | 1983-84 | - | - | Folded | ||
 |
Caulfield-Ashburton | Bears | 1988-1989 | 1 | Division 1: 1988 | Folded |
| Caulfield Kontias | 1992 | - | - | Folded | ||
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Chadstone | 1963-1985 | - | - | Folded | |
 |
Cheltenham Assumption | 1993-1998 | 1 | Division 4: 1996 | Folded | |
 |
Collingwood Districts | 1993-1995 | - | - | Folded | |
| East Bentleigh | 1993-1995 | - | - | Merged with St Pauls Bentleigh to form St Pauls East Bentleigh after 1995 season | ||
 |
East Camberwell | 1993-1994 | - | - | Merged with Surrey Hills to form Surrey Park after 1994 season | |
 |
East Hawthorn | 1975-1987 | 3 | Division 2: 1981, 1982
Division 3: 1984 |
Folded | |
| East Malvern Amateurs | 1965-1984 | 1 | Division 2: 1969 | Folded | ||
| East Sandringham | 1963-1975 | - | - | Folded | ||
 |
Eley Park | Sharks | 1993 | - | - | Moved to Victorian Amateur Football Association after 1993 season |
|
Essex Heights | 1970-1985 | - | - | Merged with Burwood to form Ashwood after 1984 season | |
 |
Fairfield Park | Bloods | 1993-1995 | - | - | Moved to Diamond Valley Football League following 1995 season |
 |
Glen Iris | 1963-1987 | 2 | Division 1: 1965
Division 2: 1979 |
Folded | |
 |
Hawthorn Citizens (formerly known as Hawthorn District) | 1963-1989 | 2 | Division 1: 1971
Division 2: 1970 Division 3: 1983 |
Folded | |
 |
Heidelberg Colts | Colts | 1995 | - | - | Folded |
 |
Highett | Bulldogs | 1963-1989 | - | - | Merged with Highett West following 1989 season to form Highett Districts, now known as Highett. |
 |
Highett West | Cats | 1963-1989 | 1 | Division 2: 1986 | Merged with Highett following 1989 season to form Highett Districts, now known as Highett. |
| Kooyong | 1966-1968 | 2 | Division 1: 1967
Division 2: 1966 |
Merged with Hawthorn Amateurs in 1969 to form Hawthorn District | ||
 |
Lower Plenty | Bears | 1993-1994 | - | - | Moved to Diamond Valley Football League following 1994 season |
|
Mentone | Tigers | 1982-1992 | - | - | Merged with St Bede's Old Collegians following 1992 season to form St Bede's/Mentone Tigers in VAFA |
| Middle Park | 1983-1984 | - | - | Folded | ||
 |
Mount Waverley | Mountain Lions | 1993-2018 | 2 | Division 3: 2016
Division 4: 1998 |
Folded |
| Mount Waverley | 1963-1993 | 1 | Division 1: 1964 | Merged with Mount Waverley to form Mount Waverley Burwood after 1993 season | ||
| Mount Waverley Burwood | 1994-1997 | - | - | Merged with Waverley Amateurs following 1997 season to form Waverley Blues in EFNL | ||
 |
Noble Park | Bulls | 1963, 1982-1999 | 9 | Division 1: 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997 | Moved to Eastern Football Netball League after 1999 season |
| North Blackburn | 1993-1995 | - | - | Folded | ||
|
North Kew | Bears | 1963-2006 | 1 | Division 3: 1999 | Merged with Kew Amateurs following 2006 season to form Kew Bears in VAFA |
 |
Oakleigh District | Districts | 1963, 1982-2021 | 1 | Division 2: 2015 | Moved to Eastern Football Netball League after 2021 season |
| Parkdale | Seagulls | 1982-2003 | 3 | Division 1: 1995
Division 2: 1989, 1984 |
Merged with Mentone Amateurs following 2003 season to form Parkdale Vultures in VAFA | |
| Parkmore | Pirates | 2005-2007 | 1 | Division 3: 2006 | Folded | |
| Richmond Rosellas | Rosellas | 1994-1995 | - | - | Folded | |
 |
Sandown Cobras | Cobras | 1963-1976, 2002-2023 | 2 | Division 2: 1967, 1972 | In recess |
 |
Southern Dragons | Dragons | 2009-2012, 2015 | 1 | Division 3: 2011 | Folded |
 |
South Melbourne Districts | Bloods | 1963-1999 | 2 | Division 2: 1976, 1983 | Moved to Victorian Amateur Football Association after 1999 season |
 |
St Bede's Old Collegians | 1966-1969 | 1 | Division 2: 1968 | Moved to Victorian Amateur Football Association after 1969 season | |
| St Paul's Bentleigh | 1993-1996 | - | - | Merged with St Pauls Bentleigh to form St Pauls East Bentleigh after 1995 season | ||
 |
Surrey Park | Panthers | 1995-2001 | - | - | Moved to Eastern Football Netball League after 2001 season |
 |
Syndal-Tally Ho | Synners | 1993-1996 | 1 | Division 4: 1994 | Moved to Victorian Amateur Football Association after 1996 season |
Premiers
Men's seniors
| 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
| 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
- ^ "Moorabbin Kangaroos History". deadlyretribution.com.
- ^ "The Local Footy Show's Daryl Pitman In 1997 Southern Football Show". YouTube. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Ractliffe, Damien (9 December 2015). "Former Hawthorn star to put stamp on Power". Herald Sun.
- ^ http://www.cplfc.com.au [dead link]