The Murray Valley Football Netball League (MVFNL) is an Australian rules football League located in South Australia's Riverland region. The league features clubs from the smaller towns of the Riverland and Upper Murray region.
The league was born out of the ashes of the Riverland Independent Football League, which, after disassociating from the Riverland Football League following the conclusion of the 2022 season, combined with the Riverland Independent Netball Association to create a new administration and competition.
History The origins of this league came in 1909 when Lyrup, Renmark Town and Fairview Rovers founded the Murray Football Association. Lyrup won the first ever premiership.
The competition reformed in 1919 as the Upper Murray Football Association and in 1923 split into A and B grade competitions. In 1952, the Association became the Upper Murray Football League (UMFL), not to be confused with the league of the same name located around Corryong, Victoria.
In 1971, the league's B Grade division split out into its own competition as the Riverland Independent B-Grade Football Association. It was renamed the Riverland Independent Football League (RIFL) the following season, while the UMFL underwent its own renaming to the Riverland Football League.
Ramco joined the RIFL in 2009 from the Mid Murray Football Association (MMFA), as did Blanchetown/Swan Reach in 2010, and the MMFA disbanded.
At the conclusion of the 2022 season, the Mallee Football League disbanded and Murrayville applied for admittance to the new MVFNL competition.
Clubs
Murray Valley FNL (2023–) Locations
Current clubs ClubJumperNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in MVFNLMVFNL Premierships Total Years Browns Well BombersParuna Oval, ParunaRIFL1969 2023– 12026 Murrayville BluesMurrayville Oval, MurrayvilleMFL1960 2023– 22024, 2025 Paringa SwansParinga Oval, ParingaRIFL1961 2023– 0– Sedan-Cambrai MagpiesCambrai Sports Club, CambraiRIFL1922 2023– 1 2023 Ramco RoostersRamco Sporting Facility, RamcoRIFL1909 2023– 0– Wunkar BulldogsWunkar Oval, WunkarRIFL1971 2023– 0–
In recess for 2026 ClubJumperNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in MVFNLMVFNL Premierships Total Years Blanchetown-Swan Reach RedbacksBlanchetown Oval, Blanchetown and Swan Reach Oval, Swan ReachRIFL1972 2023–2025 0–
Riverland Independent FL (1971–2022)
Final clubs ClubJumperNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in RIFLRIFL Premierships Total YearsCountry Footy 2010 Blanchetown-Swan Reach RedbacksBlanchetown Oval, Blanchetown and Swan Reach Oval, Swan ReachMMFA1972 2010–2014, 2016–2022 2 2012, 2022 Browns Well BombersParuna Oval, ParunaUMFL1969 1971–2022 10 1972, 1975, 1978, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1988, 2000, 2016, 2017 Paringa SwansParinga Oval, ParingaUMFL1961 1971–2022 8 1979, 1995, 1997, 2002, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2018 Sedan-Cambrai MagpiesCambrai Sports Club, CambraiHFL1922 2016–2022 1 2019 Ramco RoostersRamco Sporting Facility, RamcoMMFA1909 2009–2022 1 2021 Wunkar (1971-79)(1980-2017)(2018-23) BulldogsWunkar Oval, Wunkar–1971 1971–2022 2 1974, 1976
Former clubs ClubJumperNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in RIFLRIFL PremiershipsFateTotalYearsBrowns Well 2BombersParuna Oval, ParunaUMFL19691971–1976 0 -Browns Well only fielded one side after 1976 seasonChaffeyBluesUMFL19221971–19730 -Folded after 1973 seasonCobdogla(1971-?)(?-2021)EaglesCobdogla Oval, CobdoglaUMFL19191971–2021111981, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2007, 2008Folded after 2021 seasonEast Murray(1994-2001)(2002-14)TigersEast Murray Community Complex, MindarieMLFL19711994–201412003Folded after 2014 seasonGerard(1971-?)(?-1989)HawksGerard Mission Oval, Gerard and Glossop High School, GlossopUMFL19481971–1972, 1974–1984, 1987–1989 0 -Folded after 1989 seasonLyrup(1971-87)(1988-?(?-2021)Lyrup Sporting Complex, LyrupUMFL19091971–2013, 2014–202181973, 1980, 1996, 2001, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2015Folded after 2022 seasonMoorook-Kingston(1971-80s)(1990s)(2000s)(2010s)Moorook Oval, MoorookUMFL19631971–201671971, 1977, 1983, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2014Folded after 2017 seasonRenmark-ChaffeyRoversRenmark Oval, Renmark–19811981–1985 0 -Folded after 1985 seasonRiverland UnitedSaintsGerard Mission Oval, Gerard–19971997–2001, 20030 -Suspended mid-season 2001, returned in 2003 but folded after the season
2022 Ladder Riverland Independent Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts Blanchetown/Swan Reach 15 0 0 0 1419 596 70.42% 30 1st Semi Wunkar 9 13 67 Browns Well 9 8 62 Sedan Cambrai 11 0 3 0 1475 822 64.21% 22 2nd Semi Sedan Cambrai 13 5 83 Blanchetown/Swan Reach 10 2 62 Wunkar 8 0 7 0 1050 952 52.45% 16 Preliminary Blanchetown/Swan Reach 16 13 109 Wunkar 6 10 46 Browns Well 4 0 9 0 884 1136 43.76% 8 Grand Blanchetown/Swan Reach 10 7 67 Sedan Cambrai 8 6 54 Ramco 3 0 11 0 794 1389 36.37% 6 Paringa 2 0 13 0 721 1448 33.24% 4 2023 Ladder Murray Valley Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts Sedan Cambrai 12 0 0 0 1540 331 82.31% 24 1st Semi Murrayville 12 8 80 Ramco 15 9 99 Browns Well 8 0 4 0 1095 626 63.63% 16 2nd Semi Sedan Cambrai 21 11 137 Browns Well 6 10 46 Murrayville 8 0 4 0 936 817 53.39% 16 Preliminary Browns Well 14 11 95 Ramco 8 5 53 Ramco 6 0 6 0 640 933 40.69% 12 Grand Sedan Cambrai 13 13 91 Browns Well 8 5 53 Blanchetown/Swan Reach 3 0 9 0 518 836 38.26% 6 Wunkar 3 0 9 0 643 1090 37.10% 6 Paringa 2 0 10 0 416 1155 26.48% 4 2024 Ladder Murray Valley Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts Blanchetown/Swan Reach 13 0 1 0 1087 709 60.52% 26 1st Semi Browns Well 8 6 54 Wunkar 4 6 30 Murrayville 9 0 5 0 1211 735 62.23% 18 2nd Semi Murrayville 16 11 107 Blanchetown/Swan Reach 12 5 77 Browns Well 9 0 5 0 1075 665 61.78% 18 Preliminary Browns Well 12 14 86 Blanchetown/Swan Reach 6 6 42 Wunkar 6 0 8 0 850 932 47.70% 12 Grand Murrayville 22 10 142 Browns Well 9 6 60 Ramco 5 0 9 0 852 995 46.13% 10 Sedan Cambrai 4 0 10 0 756 1101 40.71% 8 Paringa 3 0 11 0 511 1205 29.78% 6
Notable players Sam Durdin East Murray Aaron Francis East Murray Anthony Lehmann Browns Well
Premiers
Riverland Independent FL (1971–2022) 1971 Moorook-Kingston 11 14 80 Def Browns Well 10 16 76 1972 Browns Well 11 12 78 Def Paringa 7 10 52 1973 Lyrup 15 13 103 Def Moorook-Kingston 11 9 75 1974 Wunkar 10 13 73 Def Browns Well 8 14 62 1975 Browns Well 11 7 73 Def Wunkar 9 17 71 1976 Wunkar 13 13 91 Def Moorook-Kingston 9 10 64 1977 Moorook-Kingston 18 11 119 Def Wunkar 9 13 67 1978 Browns Well 13 7 85 Def Wunkar 11 8 74 1979 Paringa 16 15 111 Def Gerard 9 13 67 1980 Lyrup 11 12 78 Def Paringa 10 14 74 1981 Cobdogla 14 17 101 Def Paringa 5 17 47 1982 Browns Well 13 11 89 Def Paringa 10 15 75 1983 Moorook-Kingston 14 7 91 Def Browns Well 10 10 70 1984 Cobdogla 14 18 102 Def Browns Well 9 11 65 1985 Browns Well 25 18 168 Def Cobdogla 6 4 40 1986 Browns Well 22 9 141 Def Paringa 11 6 72 1987 Cobdogla 18 14 122 Def Paringa 8 13 61 1988 Browns Well 7 10 52 Def Paringa 6 7 43 1989 Cobdogla 9 12 66 Def Browns Well 7 10 52 1990 Browns Well 13 10 88 Def Cobdogla 12 15 87 1991 Cobdogla 12 14 86 Def Wunkar 8 4 52 1992 Moorook-Kingston 15 10 100 Def Cobdogla 14 15 99 1993 Moorook-Kingston 21 18 144 Def Lyrup 14 12 96 1994 Moorook-Kingston 13 10 88 Def East Murray 13 9 87 1995 Paringa 11 14 80 Def Browns Well 7 16 58 1996 Lyrup 18 13 121 Def Paringa 11 15 81 1997 Paringa 26 20 176 Def Browns Well 10 13 73 1998 Cobdogla 21 16 142 Def Wunkar 9 10 64 1999 Cobdogla 17 9 111 Def East Murray 16 8 104 2000 Browns Well 10 15 75 Def Wunkar 8 5 53 2001 Lyrup 7 9 51 Def Cobdogla 7 8 50 2002 Paringa 12 11 83 Def Lyrup 6 7 43 2003 East Murray 18 7 115 Def Moorook-Kingston 10 4 64 2004 Lyrup 18 10 118 Def Moorook-Kingston 9 6 60 2005 Paringa 14 15 9 Def Cobdogla 12 12 84 2006 Cobdogla 13 16 94 Def Paringa 5 8 38 2007 Cobdogla 18 16 124 Def Lyrup 12 11 83 2008 Cobdogla 18 14 122 Def Lyrup 5 7 37 2009 Paringa 18 14 122 Def Wunkar 17 12 114 2010 Lyrup 13 9 87 Def East Murray 7 17 59 2011 Lyrup 13 5 83 Def Paringa 8 4 52 2012 Blanchetown/SR 16 11 107 Def Ramco 6 8 44 2013 Paringa 19 13 127 Def Blanchetown/SR 19 10 124 2014 Moorook-Kingston 12 11 83 Def Blanchetown/SR 8 9 57 2015 Lyrup 15 16 106 Def Browns Well 11 14 80 2016 Browns Well 19 8 122 Def Ramco 8 5 53 2017 Browns Well 10 8 68 Def Paringa 5 9 39 2018 Paringa 9 8 62 Def Sedan-Cambrai 8 12 60 2019 Sedan-Cambrai 17 6 108 Def Paringa 6 10 46 2021 Ramco 6 7 43 Def Sedan-Cambrai 4 10 34 2022 Blanchetown/SR 10 8 68 Def Sedan-Cambrai 8 6 54
Murray Valley FNL (2023–) 2023 Sedan-Cambrai 13 13 91 Def Browns Well 8 5 53 2024 Murrayville 22 10 142 Def Browns Well 9 6 60 2025 Murrayville 12 11 83 Def Wunkar 5 11 41 2026 Browns Well 5 6 36 Def Paringa 4 11 35
References
Books Encyclopedia of South Australian country football clubs / compiled by Peter Lines. South Australian country football digest / by Peter Lines
External links Fox Sports Pulse RFL Site Country footy Riverland footy news SANFL Affiliated Leagues 2006 RFL League Website