The Central Highlands Football League is an Australian Rules Football & Netball League in the Ballarat region. The league coordinates Senior, Reserve, Under 18, Under 15 and Under 12 grades.
History Central Highlands FNL - 1979 to 2026 The CHFNL was formed in 1979 as a merger of the Clunes FL and the Bacchus Marsh Ballarat DFL.
In 2011 the league admitted four new clubs from the defunct Lexton Plains Football League, bringing the total number of clubs to 18.
In 2014 Illabarook changed its name to Smythesdale to reflect the town it plays its home games. Smythesdale later entered recess in 2018.
Clunes Football Association - 1931 to 1978
The Clunes FA was formed in 1931 and was initially made up of the following teams - Campbelltown, Clunes, Newstead and Smeaton.
Clubs Locations
Current clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in CHFLCHFL Senior Premierships TotalYears Ballan Blues Ballan Recreation Reserve, BallanB&BMDFL1881 1979- 21980, 1981 Beaufort CrowsGoldfields Recreation Reserve, BeaufortBFL1880 1994- 31995, 1996, 2018 Bungaree Demons Bungaree Recreation Reserve, BungareeCDFL18971979-21991, 2014 Buninyong Bombers Buninyong Recreation Reserve, BuninyongB&BMDFL1874 1979-12002 Carngham Linton Saints Carngham Recreation Reserve, Snake ValleyLPFL19692011- 0–Clunes Magpies Ligar Street Reserve, ClunesCDFL18691979- 31979, 1993, 1997 Creswick Wickers Doug Lindsay Reserve, CreswickCDFL1869 1979- 1 1987 Daylesford Bulldogs Victoria Park, DaylesfordBFL1877 2006- 52007, 2009, 2012, 2024, 2026 Dunnstown Towners Dunnstown Recreation Reserve, DunnstownB&BMDFL1894 1979- 31994, 1998, 1999 Gordon Eagles Gordon Recreation Reserve, Gordon B&BMDFL1895 1979- 31988, 2022, 2023 Hepburn Burras Hepburn Recreation Reserve, HepburnCDFL1919 1979-91985, 1986, 1989, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2017 Learmonth Lakies Learmonth Recreation Reserve, LearmonthCDFL1889 1979- 0– Newlyn CatsNewlyn Recreation Reserve, NewlynCDFL1900 1979- 21992, 2003 Rokewood Corindhap GrasshoppersRokewood Recreation Reserve, RokewoodLPFL1932 2011- 0–Skipton Emus Skipton Recreation Reserve, SkiptonLPFL18732011- 12025Springbank TigersWallace Recreation Reserve, WallaceCDFL19251979- 51990, 2000, 2001, 2015, 2016 Waubra Roos Waubra Recreation Reserve, WaubraCDFL19101979- 41982, 2006, 2011, 2019
Former clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in CHFLCHFL Senior PremiershipsFate TotalYears DarleyMagpiesDarley Park, DarleyB&BMDFL1919 1979–1985 11984 Moved to Riddell District FNL following 1985 season KorweingubooraBulldogsKorweinguboora Recreation Reserve, Spargo CreekCDFL1920s 1979–1981 0– Folded in 1982 Smythesdale (2011-12)(2013-18)BulldogsSmythesdale Recreation Reserve, SmythesdaleLPFL1925 2011-2018 0– Entered recess following 2018 seasonWendouree SwansC.E. Brown Reserve, WendoureeCDFL1920s1979–199411983 Merged with Ballarat YCW to form Lake Wendouree in Ballarat FL following 1994 season
Football Premierships Senior Football
1979 Clunes d Ballan 1980 Ballan d Dunnstown 1981 Ballan d Springbank 1982 Waubra d Dunnstown 1983 Wendouree d Dunnstown 1984 Darley 1985 Hepburn d Bungaree 1986 Hepburn d Bungaree 1987 Creswick 1988 Gordon d Bungaree 1989 Hepburn d Springbank 1990 Springbank 1991 Bungaree 1992 Newlyn 1993 Clunes 1994 Dunnstown 1995 Beaufort 1996 Beaufort 1997 Clunes 1998 Dunnstown 1999 Dunnstown 2000 Springbank 2001 Springbank 2002 Buninyong 2003 Newlyn 2004 Hepburn 2005 Hepburn 2006 Waubra 2007 Daylesford 2008 Hepburn 2009 Daylesford d Hepburn 2010 Hepburn d Daylesford 2011 Waubra d Daylesford 2012 Daylesford d Buninyong 2013 Hepburn d Buninyong 2014 Bungaree d Springbank 2015 Springbank d Gordon 2016 Springbank d Buninyong 2017 Hepburn d Beaufort 2018 Beaufort d Buninyong 2019 Waubra d Hepburn 2020 League in recess due to COVID-19 2021 No finals > COVID-19 1st: Gordon 2022 Gordon d Springbank 2023 Gordon d Springbank 2024 Daylesford d Bungaree 2025 Skipton d Daylesford 2026 Daylesford d Dunnstown
Reserves Football
1979 Bungaree d Wendouree 1980 Bungaree d Wendouree 1981 Creswick d Learmont 1982 Learmonth 1983 Wendouree d Gordon 1984 Wendouree 1985 Darley d Hepburn 1986 Creswick 1987 Creswick 1988 Creswick d Gordon 1989 Wendouree d Newlyn 1990 Gordon 1991 Learmonth 1992 Springbank 1993 Springbank 1994 Wendouree 1995 Ballan 1996 Dunnstown 1997 Buninyong 1998 Clunes 1999 Buninyong 2000 Dunnstown 2001 Buninyong 2002 Buninyong 2003 Buninyong 2004 Hepburn 2005 Buninyong 2006 Hepburn 2007 Waubra 2008 Hepburn 2009 Buninyong d Bungaree 2010 Buninyong d Hepburn 2011 Waubra d Springbank 2012 Buninyong d Waubra 2013 Waubra d Bungaree 2014 Hepburn d Waubra 2015 Beaufort d Buninyong 2016 Springbank d Buninyong 2017 Buninyong d Beaufort 2018 Buninyong d Beaufort 2019 Creswick d Springbank 2020 League in recess due to COVID-19 2021 No finals > COVID-19 1st: Newlyn 2022 Springbank d Skipton 2023 Springbank d Newlyn 2024 Bungaree d Buninyong 2025 Dunnstown d Buninyong 2026 Learmonth d Buninyong
Under 17s/18s
1979 Creswick 1980 Newlyn 1981 Hepburn d Ballan 1982 Ballan 1983 Darley 1984 Buninyong 1985 Dunnstown d Darley 1986 Dunnstown 1987 Buninyong 1988 Ballan d Hepburn 1989 Bungaree d Ballan 1990 Creswick 1991 Dunnstown 1992 Ballan 1993 Learmonth 1994 Buninyong 1995 Creswick 1996 Ballan 1997 Bungaree 1998 Bungaree 1999 Bungaree 2000 Gordon 2001 Beaufort 2002 Gordon 2003 Dunnstown 2004 Buninyong 2005 Bungaree 2006 Bungaree 2007 Bungaree 2008 Bungaree Under 18 2009 Daylesford d Ballan 2010 Waubra d Daylesford 2011 Waubra d Learmonth 2012 Springbank d Daylesford Under 17.5 2013 Daylesford d Buninyong 2014 Hepburn d Bungaree Under 18 2015 Bungaree d Hepburn 2016 Beaufort d Waubra 2017 Hepburn d Springbank 2018 Springbank d Buninyong 2019 Gordon d Buninyong 2020 League in recess due to COVID-19 2021 No finals > COVID-19 1st: Rokewood Corindhap 2022 Springbank d Gordon 2023 Springbank d Rokewood Corindhap 2024 Springbank d Daylesford 2025 Learmonth d Rokewood Corindhap 2026 Skipton d Bungaree
Under 14s/15s
1979 Clunes 1980 Hepburn 1981 Buninyong 1982 Buninyong 1983 Buninyong 1984 Dunnstown 1985 Creswick d Ballan 1986 Creswick 1987 Newlyn 1988 Bungaree d Ballan 1989 Gordon 1990 Ballan 1991 Buninyong 1992 Creswick 1993 Creswick 1994 Ballan 1995 Creswick 1996 Learmonth 1997 Gordon 1998 Beaufort 1999 Gordon 2000 Learmonth 2001 Learmonth 2002 Buninyong 2003 Creswick 2004 Hepburn 2005 Bungaree 2006 Hepburn 2007 Dunnstown 2008 Creswick Under 15 2009 Learmonth d Dunnstown 2010 Daylesford d Clunes 2011 Creswick d Gordon 2012 Beaufort d Dunnstown Under 14.5 2013 Buninyong d Hepburn 2014 Hepburn d Buninyong Under 15 2015 Creswick d Hepburn 2016 Buninyong d Hepburn 2017 Springbank d Hepburn 2018 Skipton d Gordon 2019 Gordon d Springbank 2020 League in recess due to COVID-19 2021 No finals > COVID-19 1st: Buninyong 2022 Buninyong d Daylesford 2023 Rokewood Corindhap d Springbank 2024 Skipton d Ballan 2025 Skipton d Learmonth 2026 Skipton d Waubra
Statistics CHFNL: Senior Football Records Highest Score 436 – Gordon 69.22.436 (Smythesdale 1.1.7) – 2015 Most goals in a game 22 – Paul McMahon – Springbank vs Smythesdale round 17 2016 Most goals in a season 149 – Ian McBain – Dunnstown – 1982 Most wins in a row 32 – Dunnstown – 1994–1995 Most losses in a row 83 – Smythesdale (Illabarook) – 2011–2015 2023 CHFL season Football Premiers Seniors: Gordon Reserves: Under 18s: Under 15s: Football Minor Premiers Seniors: Reserves: Under 18s: Under 15s: Football Goalkicking Awards Seniors: Reserves: Under 18s: Under 15s: Football Best & Fairest Seniors: Sean Tighe Reserves: Under 18s: Under 15s:
League Best & Fairest Senior Football
CHFNL - Best & FairestGeoff Taylor MedalYearWinnerClub Votes 1979Ian Lyttle Clunes 24 1980Hans Veerdorm Buninyong 23 1981Peter Muller Creswick 20 1982Peter Keep Darley 38 1983Terry Howard Newlyn 32 1984Peter Keep Darley 27 1985Tony Howlett Bungaree 20 1986David Jenkins Creswick 26 1987Peter Gervasoni Hepburn 24 1988Mark Milne & Gordon 24 Leigh Mitchell Newlyn 24 1989Andy Dispirit Ballan 22 1990Mark Milne Gordon 24 1991Stuart Richardson Newlyn 22 1992Chris Parker Waubra 25 1993David Wood Learmonth 22 1994Peter Doherty Beaufort 29 1995Peter Doherty Beaufort 32 1996Peter Doherty Beaufort 23 1997Matthew Brown Hepburn 29 1998Ricky Andrews & Beaufort 23 Lynden Henderson Buninong 23 1999Peter Doherty Beaufort 28 2000James Hall Springbank 22 2001Scott Crouch Bungaree 28 2002Simon Wilkie Ballan 22 2003Barry Fitzpatrick Beaufort 24 2004Jason Hill Clunes 25 2005Joe Gilbert Buninyong 23 2006Luke Adams Daylesford 29 2007Luke Adams Daylesford 29 2008Louis Frank Beaufort 24 2009Jaye Cahir Dunnstown 24 2010Chris Eastwell Newlyn 22 2011Louis Frank Beaufort 23 2012Andy McKay Hepburn 25 2013Nick Sullivan Waubra 27 2014Luke Fisher Springbank 29 2015Shaun Campbell Ballan 34 2016David Benson Bungaree 21 2017David Benson Bungaree 28 2018Joel Maher Bungaree 28 2019Rupert Sangster Beaufort 22 2020CHFNL in recess > COVID-19 2021Mitchell Gilbert Skipton 17 2022Sam Willian Skipton 30 2023Sean Tighe Hepburn 232024Will Henderson Dunnstown 192025 Flynn Stevenson Dunnstown 232026Matthew AikmanRokewood Corindhap23
Leading CHFL Goalkicker Seniors
CHFNL - Senior Football Leading & Century GoalkickersYearWinnerClub Season GoalsGoals in finalsTotal Goals 1979Ian McBain Dunnstown 104 1980Geoff Bourke - FinnBallan 98 1981Ian McBain Dunnstown 97 1982Ian McBain Dunnstown 122 1983Ian McBain Dunnstown 73 1984Michael Hastie Ballan 96 1985Tony Howlett Bungaree 95 1986Peter Nikolovski Hepburn 96 1987Darren Lubeek Creswick 105 1988Ian Denny Gordon 71 1989John Heagney Newlyn 59 1990Justin Conroy Ballan 69 1991Malcom Scott Learmonth 89 1992Jason Yean Creswick 91 1993Ian Denny Gordon 114 1994Ian Denny Gordon 121 1995Steven Gallop Ballan 106 1996Troy Jansenns Dunnstown 74 1997Ricky Inness Buninyong 61 1998Paul Mahar Bungaree 76 1999Dave Thompson Hepburn 72 2000Sam Basham Learmonth 79 2001Phillip Jeffrey Bungaree 72 2002Greg Barass Hepburn 80 2003Greg Barass Hepburn 100 2004Owen Weatherley Clunes 102 2005Owen Weatherley Clunes 114 2006Lee Brown Waubra 104 2007Bryce Nicholson Bungaree 95 2008Lee Brown Waubra 100 2009Rodney Watts Ballan 88 N/A88 2010Lee Cox Hepburn 118 ? ? 2011Lee Cox Hepburn 79 2012Lee Cox Hepburn 106 2013Lee Cox Hepburn 62 2014Zach Peoples Ballan 83 2015Steven Nicholson Gordon 66 2016Paul McMahon Springbank 79 1089 2017Tim Boyle Waubra 53 1 54 2018Isaac Baker & Buninyong 41 6 47 Jack Duke Beaufort 41 8 49 2019Marcus Darmody Newlyn 103 ? Sam Dunstan Hepburn ? 108 2020CHFNL in recess > COVID-19 2021Sam Dunstan Hepburn 82 2022Mitchell Banner Hepburn 73 2023Andrew McKay Hepburn 70 2 72 2024James Lukich Bungaree 60 1272 2025Adam Toohey Gordan 58 6 64 2026 Marcus Darmody Newlyn 67 YearWinnerClubSeason GoalsGoals in finalsTotal Goals
Bibliography History of Football in the Ballarat District by John Stoward -
References
External links Gameday website Central Highlands FL on Country Footy Scores