Sunraysia Football League

Sunraysia Football & Netball League
General Information
Founded 1945
Records
Highest Score 298 – Wentworth 45.28.298 (v Mildura) – 2002
Most goals in a game 20 – Paul Evans – Robinvale (v South Mildura) – 2001
Jarrod Arentz – Wentworth Districts (v South Mildura) – 2001
Most goals in a season 163 – Trevor Sutton – Robinvale – 1984
Most career goals 689 – Graham Bland (Merbein)
Most wins in a row 38 – Imperials 1986–1988
Most losses in a row 46 – Ouyen 1979–1981
Most flags in a row 4 – Imperials 1992–1995

The Sunraysia Football and Netball League, also known simply as the SFNL is an Australian rules league in the Sunraysia district of north-west Victoria and south-west New South Wales. Nine clubs – Mildura, South Mildura, Imperials, Irymple, Red Cliffs, Merbein, Robinvale–Euston, Ouyen United and Wentworth – participate in the competition, which includes senior and junior grades of football and netball. The SFNL is considered a major country league. The league's grand final was traditionally played at City Oval in Mildura, however from 2022 it is played at the newly-opened Mildura Sporting Precinct in Mildura's South.

History

The Sunraysia Football League was formed in 1945, replacing the earlier Mildura Football League (which existed from 1903 to 1920) and the Mildura District Football League (which existed from 1921 to 1944).

Stance on Violence

Irymple Football Club is working with Kim O'Reilly to educate players around healthy relationships and violence against women. O'Reilly was seriously assaulted by ex-Irymple player Jake Frecker.

Irymple Club president Dennis Mitchell called for football clubs to change their culture around violence, condemning the support Dimboola Football Club provided to Frecker after he was charged with the assault on O'Reilly. "When your sporting club is the heart of the community, then it is our responsibility to be a vehicle for [education on family violence]"[1]

Clubs

Current

Club Colours Nickname Home ground Former League Est. Years in SFNL SFNL Senior Premierships
Total Years
Imperials
Imps Brian Weightman Oval. Mildura, Victoria MDFL 1929 1945– 20 1949, 1950, 1956, 1957, 1971, 1977, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2013, 2024
Irymple
Swallows Henshilwood Oval. Irymple, Victoria MDFL 1903 1945– 10 1954, 1966, 1976, 1978, 2006, 2011, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023
Merbein
Magpies Kenny Park. Merbein, Victoria MDFL 1910 1945– 6 1948, 1962, 1963, 1975, 2002, 2003
Mildura
Demons Brian Weightman Oval. Mildura, Victoria MDFL 1888 1945– 8 1946, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1958, 1960, 1982, 2007
Ouyen United
Kangas[2] Blackburn Park Ouyen, Victoria and Underbool Recreation Reserve, Underbool, Victoria – 2015 2016– 2 2016, 2018
Red Cliffs
Tigers Quandong Park, Red Cliffs, Victoria MDFL 1919 1945– 11 1953, 1959, 1961, 1964, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1985, 2000, 2014, 2015
Robinvale-Euston
Eagles John James Oval. Robinvale, Victoria – 2015 2015– 0 –
South Mildura
Bulldogs Mildura Sporting Precinct. Mildura, Victoria – 1945 1945– 4 1968, 1969, 1970, 1998
Wentworth District
Roos George Gordon Oval. Dareton, New South Wales – 1957 1957– 6 1973, 1984, 1996, 2001, 2009, 2012

Former clubs

Club Colours Nickname Home ground Former League Est. Years in SFNL SFNL Senior Premierships Fate
Total Years
Cardross
Lions Cardross Recreation Reserve, Cardross – 1948 1948–1961 0 – Moved to Millewa FL in 1962
Coomealla
All Blacks George Gordon Oval, Dareton WIFA 1920s 1949–1952 0 – Re-formed in Millewa FL in 1981
Ouyen
Blackburn Park, Ouyen MFL 1979–1982 0 – Moved to Northern Mallee FL in 1983
RAAF – 1940 1945 1 1945 Folded
Robinvale
Eagles John James Oval, Robinvale MFL 1927 1958–2014 9 1965, 1967, 1972, 1974, 1979, 1989, 1991, 1997, 2010 Merged with Euston to form Robinvale-Euston in 2015
South Merbein Swans MDFL 1919 1945–1951 0 – Moved to Millewa FL in 1952
University
– 1940s 1947–1949 1 1947 Folded

Premiers

  • 1945 RAAF
  • 1946 Mildura
  • 1947 University
  • 1948 Merbein
  • 1949 Imperials
  • 1950 Imperials
  • 1951 Mildura
  • 1952 Mildura
  • 1953 Red Cliffs
  • 1954 Irymple
  • 1955 Mildura
  • 1956 Imperials
  • 1957 Imperials
  • 1958 Mildura
  • 1959 Red Cliffs
  • 1960 Mildura
  • 1961 Red Cliffs
  • 1962 Merbein
  • 1963 Merbein
  • 1964 Red Cliffs
  • 1965 Robinvale
  • 1966 Irymple
  • 1967 Robinvale
  • 1968 South Mildura
  • 1969 South Mildura
  • 1970 South Mildura
  • 1971 Imperials
  • 1972 Robinvale
  • 1973 Wentworth District
  • 1974 Robinvale
  • 1975 Merbein
  • 1976 Irymple
  • 1977 Imperials
  • 1978 Irymple
  • 1979 Robinvale
  • 1980 Red Cliffs
  • 1981 Red Cliffs
  • 1982 Mildura
  • 1983 Red Cliffs
  • 1984 Wentworth District
  • 1985 Red Cliffs
  • 1986 Imperials
  • 1987 Imperials
  • 1988 Imperials
  • 1989 Robinvale
  • 1990 Imperials
  • 1991 Robinvale
  • 1992 Imperials
  • 1993 Imperials
  • 1994 Imperials
  • 1995 Imperials
  • 1996 Wentworth District
  • 1997 Robinvale
  • 1998 South Mildura
  • 1999 Imperials
  • 2000 Red Cliffs
  • 2001 Wentworth District
  • 2002 Merbein
  • 2003 Merbein
  • 2004 Imperials
  • 2005 Imperials
  • 2006 Irymple
  • 2007 Mildura
  • 2008 Imperials
  • 2009 Wentworth District
  • 2010 Robinvale
  • 2011 Irymple
  • 2012 Wentworth District
  • 2013 Imperials
  • 2014 Red Cliffs
  • 2015 Red Cliffs
  • 2016 Ouyen United
  • 2017 Irymple
  • 2018 Ouyen United
  • 2019 Irymple
  • 2020 Recess due to COVID-19 pandemic
  • 2022 Irymple
  • 2023 Irymple
  • 2024 Imperials

Leading goalkickers

Year Player Club Home and away goals Finals goals Total goals
1945 N McManus Red Cliffs 114 7 121
1946
1947 Barry Moore Imperials 45 0 45
1948 Jack Doherty Merbein 62 0 62
1949 Jack Gleeson Imperials 116 2 118
1950 Jack Gleeson Imperials 118 13 131
1951 Lance Simpson Merbein 68 0 68
1952 Ross Burr Mildura 74 16 90
1953 Jim McKechnie Red Cliffs 29 10 39
1954 Ross Burr Mildura 58 9 67
1955 Ross Burr Mildura 73 5 78
1956 Jim McKechnie Red Cliffs 64 0 64
1957 David Gathercole Irymple 71 4 75
1958 Stan Nokes Merbein 110 11 133
1959 John Jessup Irymple 73 5 78
1960 Ken Whitecross Mildura 71 6 77
1961 John Jessup Irymple 81 4 85
1962 John Jessup Irymple 71 4 75
1963 John Jessup Irymple 71 0 71
1964 Merv Summerfield Imperials 47 0 47
1965 Peter Mitchell Merbein 71 0 71
1966 Ross Burr Irymple 56 0 56
1967 Alan Rowarth Robinvale 79 0 79
1968 Alan Rowarth Robinvale 59 0 59
1969 Graham Bland Merbein 83 5 88
1970 Graham Bland Merbein 87 0 87
1971 Graham Bland Merbein 83 0 83
1972 Graham Bland Merbein 106 0 106
1973 John Thompson Wentworth 79 0 79
1974 Graham Bland Merbein 100 5 105
1975 Graham Bland Merbein 121 14 135
1976 Frank Curran Robinvale 67 1 68
1977 Graham Bland Merbein 107 4 111
1978 Alan McDonald Imperials 85 4 89
1979 Peter Woodford Red Cliffs 105 5 110
1980 Colin Chester Mildura 139 15 154
1981 Colin Chester Mildura 69 0 69
1982 Colin Chester South Mildura 104 13 117
1983 John Price Imperials 73 1 74
1984 Trevor Sutton Robinvale 154 9 163
1985 John Price Imperials 105 0 105
1986 Craig Earnshaw Irymple 87 6 93
1987 Phillip Nash Imperials 98 0 98
1988 Heath Shepherd Robinvale 72 4 76
1989 Pat Healy Robinvale 99 8 107
1990 Phillip Nash Imperials 78 8 86
1991 Michael Dean Wentworth 88 0 88
1992 Jasmin Baryzcka Mildura 76 0 76
1993 Michael Johnston Red Cliffs 109 3 112
1994 Chris Pohlner South Mildura 96 8 104
1995 Michael Bilucaglia South Mildura 107 14 121
1996 Dallas Kalms Wentworth 78 15 93
1997 Dallas Kalms Wentworth 111 11 122
1998 Michael Bilucaglia South Mildura 85 13 98
1999 Toby Cardew Mildura 71 0 71
2000 Robert Lindsey Red Cliffs 124 10 134
2001 Paul Evans Robinvale 119 0 119
2002 Brenton McMasters Merbein 94 0 94
2003 Jason Bell Red Cliffs 77 0 77
2004 Jason Bell Red Cliffs 96 11 107
2005 Jason Bell Wentworth 90 9 99
2006 Brett Haase South Mildura 79 0 79
2007 Jason Bell Wentworth 98 6 104
2008 Michael Faulkhead Red Cliffs 77 0 77
2009 Michael Faulkhead Red Cliffs 111 6 117
2010 Bradley O'Connor Robinvale 115 17 132
2011 Carmelo Lando Wentworth 103 11 114
2012 Carmelo Lando Wentworth 74 6 80
2013 Michael Faulkhead Red Cliffs 65 8 73
2014 Troy Moncur Red Cliffs 62 11 73
2015 Jason Eagle Irymple 117 6 123
2016 William Farrer Ouyen United 54 10 64
2017 William Farrer Ouyen United 90 3 93

2009 Ladder

Sunrayia FL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Wentworth 14 0 4 0 2301 1409 163.31% 56 1st Semi Robinvale 11 8 74 Red Cliffs 11 7 73
Imperials 13 0 5 0 2091 1286 162.60% 52 2nd Semi Wentworth 20 12 132 Imperials 12 16 88
Robinvale 13 0 5 0 2073 1369 151.42% 52 Preliminary Robinvale 13 13 91 Imperials 10 13 73
Red Cliffs 10 0 8 0 1980 1534 129.07% 40 Grand Wentworth 24 19 163 Robinvale 10 10 70
Irymple 8 0 10 0 1947 1731 112.48% 32
Mildura 8 0 10 0 1824 1858 98.17% 32
South Mildura 6 0 12 0 1536 2003 76.68% 24
Merbein 0 0 18 0 755 3317 22.76% 0

2010 Ladder

Sunrayia FL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Robinvale 18 0 0 0 2731 674 405.19% 72 1st Semi Irymple 16 12 108 Imperials 13 9 87
Wentworth 14 0 4 0 1891 1420 133.17% 56 2nd Semi Robinvale 28 8 176 Wentworth 10 8 68
Imperials 11 0 7 0 1825 1442 126.56% 44 Preliminary Irymple 14 11 95 Wentworth 8 18 66
Irymple 10 0 8 0 1626 1637 99.33% 40 Grand Robinvale 21 12 138 Irymple 11 10 76
Mildura 9 0 9 0 1634 1738 94.02% 36
South Mildura 8 0 10 0 1597 1923 83.05% 32
Merbein 2 0 16 0 1475 2594 56.86% 8
Red Cliffs 0 0 18 0 1071 2422 44.22% 0

2011 Ladder

Sunrayia FL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Irymple 16 0 2 0 2236 1077 207.61% 64 1st Semi Wentworth 18 11 119 South Mildura 9 11 65
Robinvale 15 0 3 0 2253 1111 202.79% 60 2nd Semi Robinvale 17 8 110 Irymple 11 13 79
South Mildura 13 0 5 0 1907 1205 158.26% 52 Preliminary Irymple 13 17 95 Wentworth 11 7 73
Wentworth 11 0 7 0 2196 1478 148.58% 44 Grand Irymple 13 10 88 Robinvale 12 9 81
Mildura 8 0 10 0 1602 1788 89.60% 32
Merbein 5 0 13 0 1222 2539 48.13% 20
Red Cliffs 3 0 15 0 1155 2294 50.35% 12
Imperials 1 0 17 0 1177 2256 52.17% 4

2012 Ladder

Sunrayia FL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Irymple 17 0 1 0 1977 799 247.43% 68 1st Semi South Mildura 16 14 110 Mildura 7 3 45
Wentworth 15 0 3 0 2262 1154 196.01% 60 2nd Semi Irymple 17 8 110 Wentworth 12 8 80
South Mildura 13 0 5 0 2052 1166 175.99% 52 Preliminary Wentworth 13 11 89 South Mildura 4 17 41
Mildura 9 0 9 0 1268 1593 79.60% 36 Grand Wentworth 14 7 91 Irymple 11 18 84
Robinvale 6 0 11 1 1311 1669 78.55% 26
Merbein 5 0 12 1 1396 1614 86.49% 22
Red Cliffs 4 0 14 0 1150 2044 56.26% 16
Imperials 2 0 16 0 916 2293 39.95% 8

2013 Ladder

Sunrayia FL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Irymple 14 0 4 0 2093 1156 181.06% 56 1st Semi Red Cliffs 26 11 167 Wentworth 18 7 115
Imperials 13 0 4 1 1731 1276 135.66% 54 2nd Semi Irymple 13 14 92 Imperials 11 8 74
Red Cliffs 13 0 4 1 1795 1346 133.36% 54 Preliminary Imperials 10 19 79 Red Cliffs 8 7 55
Wentworth 9 0 9 0 1603 1630 98.34% 36 Grand Imperials 12 8 80 Irymple 6 10 46
Mildura 7 0 11 0 1308 1477 88.56% 28
Robinvale 6 0 11 1 1325 1632 81.19% 26
South Mildura 6 0 11 1 1312 1814 72.33% 26
Merbein 2 0 16 0 1187 2023 58.68% 8

2014 Ladder

Sunrayia FL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Imperials 16 0 2 0 1879 1019 184.40% 64 1st Semi Red Cliffs 14 12 96 Imperials 11 11 77
Red Cliffs 14 0 4 0 1829 1365 133.99% 56 2nd Semi Irymple 9 12 66 Mildura 9 8 62
Irymple 12 0 6 0 1727 1250 138.16% 48 Preliminary Imperials 15 9 99 Irymple 9 8 62
Mildura 11 0 7 0 1401 1192 117.53% 44 Grand Red Cliffs 15 20 110 Imperials 14 6 90
South Mildura 9 0 9 0 1581 1476 107.11% 36
Wentworth 5 0 13 0 1510 1596 94.61% 20
Robinvale 3 0 15 0 945 1947 48.54% 12
Merbein 2 0 16 0 983 2010 48.91% 8

2015 Ladder

Sunrayia FL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Imperials 15 0 3 0 2087 1155 180.69% 60 1st Semi Red Cliffs 12 14 86 Irymple 10 13 73
Mildura 15 0 3 0 1959 1155 169.61% 60 2nd Semi Imperials 17 7 109 Mildura 6 13 49
Irymple 12 0 6 0 1810 1388 130.40% 48 Preliminary Red Cliffs 18 8 116 Mildura 12 9 81
Red Cliffs 12 0 6 0 1720 1759 97.78% 48 Grand Red Cliffs 15 9 99 Imperials 14 7 91
South Mildura 7 0 11 0 1468 1582 92.79% 28
Merbein 6 0 12 0 1393 1854 75.13% 24
Wentworth 4 0 14 0 1228 1834 66.96% 16
Robinvale-Euston 1 0 17 0 1019 1957 52.07% 4

2016 Ladder

Sunrayia FL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Mildura 13 0 3 0 1523 1004 151.69% 52 1st Semi Ouyen United 11 14 80 Merbein 6 7 43
Irymple 13 0 3 0 1438 1097 131.08% 52 2nd Semi Mildura 11 13 79 Irymple 5 6 36
Ouyen United 9 0 7 0 1263 1157 109.16% 36 Preliminary Ouyen United 17 6 108 Irymple 8 13 61
Merbein 9 0 7 0 1301 1322 98.41% 36 Grand Ouyen United 16 10 106 Mildura 11 11 77
Red Cliffs 7 0 9 0 1420 1354 104.87% 28
Wentworth 7 0 9 0 1206 1265 95.34% 28
Robinvale-Euston 7 0 9 0 1130 1313 86.06% 28
Imperials 4 0 12 0 1069 1372 77.92% 16
South Mildura 3 0 13 0 839 1305 64.29% 12

2017 Ladder

Sunrayia FL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Mildura 14 0 2 0 1831 939 194.99% 56 1st Semi Irymple 14 19 103 Robinvale-Euston 3 6 24
Ouyen United 12 0 4 0 1748 1197 146.03% 48 2nd Semi Ouyen United 12 10 82 Mildura 11 10 76
Irymple 10 0 6 0 1586 936 169.44% 40 Preliminary Irymple 11 8 74 Mildura 5 13 43
Robinvale-Euston 10 0 6 0 1445 1190 121.43% 40 Grand Irymple 9 15 69 Ouyen United 9 8 62
Imperials 10 0 6 0 1534 1286 119.28% 40
Wentworth 4 0 12 0 1021 1461 69.88% 16
Merbein 4 0 12 0 1123 1782 63.02% 16
Red Cliffs 4 0 12 0 1071 1803 59.40% 16
South Mildura 4 0 12 0 884 1649 53.61% 16

2018 Ladder

Sunrayia FL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Ouyen United 14 0 2 0 1878 931 201.72% 56 1st Semi Irymple 12 11 83 Robinvale-Euston 6 11 47
Red Cliffs 13 0 3 0 1401 1039 134.84% 52 2nd Semi Ouyen United 15 10 100 Red Cliffs 8 12 60
Robinvale-Euston 12 0 4 0 1490 947 157.34% 48 Preliminary Irymple 10 6 66 Red Cliffs 8 7 55
Irymple 10 0 6 0 1348 904 149.12% 40 Grand Ouyen United 10 11 71 Irymple 10 6 66
Imperials 10 0 6 0 1302 1074 121.23% 40
South Mildura 5 0 11 0 948 1420 66.76% 20
Wentworth 4 0 12 0 783 1310 59.77% 16
Mildura 3 0 13 0 851 1464 58.13% 12
Merbein 1 0 15 0 748 1660 45.06% 4

2019 Ladder

Sunrayia FL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Irymple 14 0 1 1 1597 963 165.84% 58 1st Semi Robinvale-Euston 14 9 93 Wentworth 11 7 73
Imperials 13 0 3 0 1571 887 177.11% 52 2nd Semi Imperials 12 13 85 Irymple 9 15 69
Robinvale-Euston 10 0 5 1 1331 1213 109.73% 42 Preliminary Irymple 12 15 87 Robinvale-Euston 5 5 35
Wentworth 8 0 8 0 1284 1307 98.24% 32 Grand Irymple 9 12 66 Imperials 8 11 59
Ouyen United 8 0 8 0 1244 1302 95.55% 32
Merbein 7 0 9 0 1369 1358 100.81% 28
Mildura 5 0 11 0 1114 1314 84.78% 20
Red Cliffs 4 0 12 0 1074 1550 69.29% 16
South Mildura 2 0 14 0 819 1509 54.27% 8

References

  1. ^ "Domestic abuse survivor Kim O'Reilly calls for football clubs to ban violent men - ABC News".
  2. ^ Ouyen in as the Kangas