The Sunday Football League (SFL) is an Australian rules football competition based in Perth, Western Australia.
It was founded in 1993 as the Mercantile Football Association, and was renamed to the Metro Football League in 2012. It adopted its current name ahead of the 2024 season.
The league currently consists of six clubs; a further 33 clubs have competed across its three decades.
History
Mercantile Football Association (1993–2011) Formerly known as the Mercantile Football Association, the league had its origins as a social league playing fortnightly in the late 1980s. Competing clubs included Cockburn Cement, Komatsu and the Rosemount Hotel.
A change in the administration in the late 1990s saw a more formalised competition, meaning incorporation of the league, board of control, a regular season, transfers, and accredited umpires officiating. New clubs joining had more of a community base, rather than social or workplace, with some of those being Quinns and Ellenbrook. Transitions in the clubs occurred also, with Cockburn Cement becoming Cockburn and based in that suburb. Yanchep and Dwellingup also became active in promoting the game and junior development in their areas.
The league made headlines in 2009 when former Richmond AFL player Andrew Krakouer, imprisoned for assault, played for the Wooroloo Prison Farm football team whilst serving his sentence. The Wooroloo team went through the season undefeated and won the grand final.
Metro Football League (2012–2023) The Mercantile Football Association (MFA) changed its name to Metro Football League (MFL) in 2012. Bayswater and Queens Park joined the MFL for season 2013, with Baldivis and Secret Harbour leaving the MFL.
Sunday Football League (2024–present) The league changed its name to the Sunday Football League following the 2023 season. A number of clubs departed the league prior to the 2024 season, with Dwellingup entering recess, Brighton Seahawks merging with ECU in the Perth Football League and South Mandurah and Armadale withdrawing their teams. Warwick Greenwood re-joined the league following 3 seasons in the Hills Football Association.
Current clubs
ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in SFLMFL/SFL Premierships Total Years Beechboro Bombers Altone Park, BeechboroWAAFL1999 2018– 1 2025 Girrawheen Koondoola Jets John Moloney Park, Marangaroo– 2026 2026– 0 - Innaloo Bulldogs Birralee Park, Innaloo WAAFL1964 2000–2006, 2008– 1 Div 2: 2010 Koongamia Crows Koongamia Oval, Koongamia WAAFL1993 2011– 2 Div 1: 2023, 2026 Queens Park Bulldogs Queens Park Reserve, Queens Park – 2013 2013– 7 Div 1: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022Div 2: 2013 South Mandurah ThirdsFalconsFalcon Reserve, Falcon–19822023, 2025- 0 -
Locations
Former clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in SFLMFL/SFL PremiershipsFate Total Years Applecross Hawks Shirley Strickland Reserve, Ardross WAFA 1969 1995–2002 0 -Returned to WAFA in 2003Armadale ReservesDemonsGwynne Park, Armadale–19092023 0 -Left league Baldivis Thirds Brumbies Arpenteur Park, Baldivis–2005 2012–2013, 2015–2018 1 Div 2: 2017 Moved to Perth FL in 2019 Bayswater Reserves Blues Hillcrest Reserve, BayswaterPFL1946 2005–2006, 2008, 2013–2014, 2016 0 -Returned to Perth FL in 2017Boorloo (2018-2025 Rd. 10)(2025 Rd. 11-Grand Final)Barry Britton Reserve, Balga–20182018–20252Div 1: 2024 Div 2: 2018Replaced by Girrawheen-Koondoola in 2026Brighton SeahawksKingsbridge Reserve, Butler–20142014-20232Div 2: 2015, 2019, 2023Absorbed by ECU Jets following 2023 season Cockburn Cobras Hamilton Hill–1993 1993–2011 7 Div 1: 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2008 Moved to Perth FL following 2011 season Como Tigers– 1993 1993–1999 2 Div 1: 1996, 1998 Folded after 1999 season Cowan University Hawks Robinson Reserve, Tuart Hill– 2004 2004–2007 0 -Merged with Noranda JFC to form Noranda-ECU in 2008DwellingupRazorbacksDwellingup Oval, DwellingupPFL19931993–2000, 2003–2018, 2022–2023, 20253Div 1: 1994, 2008, 2014In recess ECU Reserves Jets Windemere Park, Joondalup– 2015 2019 0 -Moved to Perth FL in 2020 Ellenbrook Eels Coolamon Park, Ellenbrook– 2002 2002 0 -Moved to Hills FA following 2002 seasonGosnells ThirdsHawksGosnells Oval, Gosnells–19142018, 2022 0 -Left league Jandakot Jets Atwell Reserve, Atwell– 2009 2009–2010 0 -Moved to Perth FL following 2010 seasonKarnup-SerpentineKingsClem Kentish Oval, Serpentine–20222022 0 -Folded after 2022 seasonKelmscottBulldogsJohn Dunn Oval, KelmscottPFL18972018–20211Div 1: 2019Moved to Perth FL following 2021 seasonKenwick ThirdsRoyalsMills Park, Beckenham–19482019 0 -Left league Kingsley Thirds Cats Kinglsey Park, Kingsley– 1994 2002 0 -Moved to Perth FL following 2002 season Kingsway Roos Kingsway Sporting Complex, MadeleyWAAFL 1948 1 Div 1: 2007 Moved to Perth FL following 2007 season Kwinana Knights Medina Oval, MedinaPFL 1962 2006–2014 3 Div 1: 2010, 2013Div 1 Res: 2010 Moved to Perth FL following 2014 season Midland Tigers North Swan Park, Middle Swan WAFA 1946 2004–2025 4 Div 2: 2009, 2012, 2016, 2022 Moved to Hills FA following 2025 season Midvale Lions Morrison Park, ForrestfieldHFA 2001 2003–2004 2 Div 1: 2003, 2004 Folded after 2004 season Morley Bulldogs RA Cook Reserve, Bedford– 2000 2000–2001 0 -Folded after 2001 season Murdoch Lions Murdoch University Sports Ground, MurdochWAFA 1998 2000 0 -Folded after 2000 season Murdoch University Murdoch University Sports Ground, Murdoch– 2008 2008–2009 0 -Folded after 2009 seasonMurdoch UniversityVikingsMurdoch University Sports Ground, Murdoch–20212021–2022 0 -Folded after 2022 season Noranda-ECU Hawks Lightning Park, Noranda– 2008 2008–2010 0 -Moved to Perth FL following 2010 season Osborne Park Saints Robinson Reserve, Tuart Hill– 2007 2007–2011 0 -Moved to Perth FL following 2011 season Quinns Districts Bulls Anthony Waring Park, Clarkson– 2000 2000–2001 1 Div 1: 2001 Moved to Perth FL following 2001 season Safety Bay Stingers Stan Twight Reserve, Rockingham– 2010 2014, 2017–2019, 2022 0 -Played in Peel FL in 2020-21. Returned to Perth FL following 2014 and 2022 seasons Secret Harbour Dockers Rhonda Scarrott Park, Golden Bay– 2011 2011–2012 2 Div 1: 2011, 2012 Moved to Perth FL following 2012 season Wanneroo Fifths Roos Wanneroo Showgrounds, Wanneroo– 1985 2015, 2018 0 -Left leagueWarwick-Greenwood (2003-06)(2007-?)(?-2020)(2024)Bulls DuncraigHFA20032003-2020, 20243Div 1: 2015Div 2: 2011, 2020Moved to Hills FA in 2021. Moved to Perth FL in 2025 Wooroloo Bombers Wooroloo Prison Farm, WoorolooHFA 2006 2009 1 Div 1: 2009 Entered recess in 2010. Re-formed as Swan Districts in WAAFL in 2011 Yanchep (1997-?) (?-2014) Red Hawks Oldham Reserve, Yanchep– 1997 1997–2014 3 Div 1: 2000, 2002, 2014 Moved to Perth FL following 2014 season
Timeline
Grand final results
Division 1
Year Premiers Score Runners up Score 1993 Cockburn Dwellingup 1994 Dwellingup Cockburn 1995 Cockburn Dwellingup 1996 Como Tigers Cockburn 1997 Cockburn Dwellingup 1998 Como Tigers Cockburn 1999 Cockburn 9.9 (63) Yanchep 9.3 (57) 2000 Yanchep 10.9 (69) Cockburn 6.10 (46) 2001 Quinns Districts 13.9 (87) Yanchep 8.8 (56) 2002 Yanchep 20.13 (133) Ellenbrook 14.8 (92) 2003 Midvale 16.15 (111) Yanchep 10.10 (70) 2004 Midvale 10.17 (77) Innaloo 7.13 (55) 2005 Cockburn 19.13 (127) Dwellingup 5.11 (41) 2006 Cockburn 15.18 (108) Yanchep 8.9 (57) 2007 Wanneroo-Kingsway 14.16 (100) Midland 12.9 (81) 2008 Cockburn 19.14 (128) Noranda ECU 15.3 (93) 2009 Wooroloo 20.14 (134) Cockburn 13.16 (94) 2010 Kwinana 7.8 (50) Noranda ECU 4.15 (39) 2011 Secret Harbour 16.11 (107) Osborne Park 12.8 (80) 2012 Secret Harbour 12.19 (91) Kwinana 10.11 (71) 2013 Kwinana 13.11 (89) Yanchep 9.5 (59) 2014 Yanchep 13.11 (89) Warwick Greenwood 11.11 (77) 2015 Warwick Greenwood 20.7 (127) Baldivis 12.8 (80) 2016 Warwick greenwood 13.15 (93) midland 8.5 (53) 2017 Queens Park 15.11 (101) Safety Bay 11.7 (73) 2018 Queens Park 15.8 (98) Midland 7.10 (52) 2019 Kelmscott 13.11 (89) Queens Park 10.16 (76) 2020 Queens Park 8.12 (60) Kelmscott 7.16 (58)2021Queens Park22.14 (146)Koongamia13.3 (81)2022Queens Park24.13 (157)Innaloo10.6 (66)2023Koongamia10.14 (74)Queens Park8.11 (59)2024Balga13.12 (90)Innaloo9.10 (64)2025Beechboro13.8 (86)Boorloo10.10 (70)2026Koongamia11.8 (74)Innaloo5.13 (43)
Division 2
Year Premiers Score Runners up Score 2008 Dwellingup 17.22 (124) Innaloo 12.12 (84) 2009 Midland 16.23 (119) Osborne Park 13.13 (91) 2010 Innaloo 16.2 (98) Warwick Greenwood 9.9 (63) 2011 Warwick Greenwood 20.16 (136) Cockburn 5.12 (42) 2012 Midland 15.8 (98) Secret Harbour 11.9 (75) 2013 Queens Park 15.13 (103) Kwinana 7.8 (50) 2014 Dwellingup 15.11 (101) Safety Bay 14.5 (89) 2015 Alkimos 16.17 (113) Midland 6.8 (44) 2016 Midland 14.12 (96) Dwellingup 11.5 (71) 2017 Baldivis 13.8 (86) Dwellingup 9.9 (63) 2018 Balga 13.12 (90) Koongamia 10.8 (68) 2019 Brighton 16.8 (104) Beechboro 9.6 (60) 2020 Warwick Greenwood 12.3 (75) Kelmscott 7.7 (49)2021Queens Park3.1 (19)Midland7.3 (45)2022Midland8.8 (56)Gosnells7.8 (50)2023Brighton14.9 (93)South Mandurah6.10 (46)No competition since 2023
Notes:(1) In 2015, there was only one division. The Division 2 Premiership was decided in a Round Robin series between teams that missed the finals.(2) In 2016, the competition split into two divisions of 5 teams after Round 11 based on ladder positions. The bottom five teams played for the Division 2 Premiership for the remaining 8 rounds.
Division 1 Reserves
Year Premiers Score Runners up Score 2010 Kwinana 8.10 (58) Cockburn 7.9 (51)
References