The Southern Metropolitan Football League (SMFL) was an Australian rules football competition based in the southern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia until it folded at the end of the 1986 season. It first formed in 1912 as the Sturt Football Association, and during its history was also known as the Mid-Southern Football Association (1920-1930), Glenelg District Football Association (1931–1949), Glenelg-South-West District Football Association (1950–1966) and Glenelg-South Adelaide Football Association (1967–1983), before finally being named Southern Metropolitan Football League (1984–1986).
The association first affiliated with the South Australian Football League in 1921. In 1927, the association made a special request to the SAFL for financial assistance.
Final Clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer leagueEst.Years in SMFLSMFL Senior PremiershipsFateTotalMost recentBlackwoodWoodsBlackwood Hill Reserve, BlackwoodAMFL19121912-1915, 1919-1941, 1944-1948, 1953-1986 71980 Played in Adelaide Metropolitan FL between 1949-52. Joined Hills FL in 1987 Brighton (1912-57)(1969-70)(1971-90)Tigers BrightonSAAFL18851912-1913, 1919-1941, 1946-1957, 1969-1986 131986 Played in SAAFL between 1958-68. Joined South Australian FA in 1987 Camden (1929-48)(1949)(1950-69)(1970-86)Camden Oval, Novar Gardens–19291929-1986 61976 Merged with Greek to form Greek Camden in South Australian Amateur FL in 1987 Marion RamsMarion Oval, Marion–18911912-1915, 1920-1941, 1946-1986 71967 Joined Southern FL in 1987Mitchell ParkLionsMitchell Park Oval, Mitchell Park–19691969-1985 31984 Joined South Australian FA in 1987 Morphettville ParkRoosKellett Reserve Oval, Morphettville–19581959-1986 11963 Joined Southern FL in 1987 OvinghamCatsCane Reserve, ProspectSAAFL19061986 0 - Joined Central District FA in 1987 PlymptonBulldogsPlympton Oval, Plympton Park–19371937-1986 71985 Joined Southern FL in 1987
Former Clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer leagueEst.Years in SMFLSMFL Senior PremiershipsFateTotalMost recentAdelaide Lutheran(1980-82)(1983-84)BulldogsDaws Road High School, PasadenaASFL19691980-1984 0 - Moved to South Australian Amateur FL in 1985 Albert SportsDruidsChalla Gardens Primary School, KilkennyASFL1930s1979-1981 0 - Moved to South Australian Amateur FL in 1982ANZ BankRoosPark 21 (Mirnu Wirra), AdelaideNADFA19581960-1980 21971 Moved to South Australian Amateur FL in 1981 Bank of AdelaideBankersMortlock Park, Colonel Light GardensSAAFL19701971-1976 0 - Folded in 1977 Black ForestForestersWeigall Oval, North Plympton–1910s1919-1927, 1931-1933 11933 Moved to South Australian Amateur FL in 1934 BridgewaterBridgewater Oval, Bridgewater1915 0 - Moved to Hills FA in 1916 BromptonSam Johnson Sportsground, Renown ParkSAAFL19451981-1982 0 - Merged with Albert Sports to form Renown Park in South Australian Amateur FL in 1983Brunswick Park 21 (Mirnu Wirra), AdelaideNADFA1952-1953 0 - FoldedClarendonClarendon Oval, ClarendonAFA19051925, 1929 0 - 1930-33 unknown. Joined Southern FA in 1935College Park1950-1951 11951 FoldedColonel Light Gardens(1944-45)(1976-81)(1982-85)LionsMortlock Park, Colonel Light GardensSAAFL19311944-1945, 1976-198511983 Played in SAAFL between 1946-75. Merged with Kenilworth to form Kenilworth Colonel Light in South Australian Amateur FL in 1986EdwardstownTownsEdwardstown Oval, South PlymptonASFL19191920, 1925-1933, 1936-1977 151977 1920-25 unknown. Played in Adelaide Suburban FA in 1934-45. Formed South Australian FA in 1978Flagstaff Hill (1978)(1979-84)Bushpigs Flagstaff HillUCFA19631978-1984 0 - Moved to Southern FL in 1985GlandoreEaglesGlandore Oval, Glandore–19581958-198431965 Moved to South Australian Amateur FL in 1985Glenelg Imperial1912-1915, 1923-1930, 1942-1946 0 - FoldedGlenelg Junior1933-1934, 1936 11930 FoldedGlenelg Rovers1931-1932 0 - FoldedGlenelg Sailing Club 1928-1929 0 - FoldedGlenelg United1929 0 - FoldedGlenelg YMCA1946 0 - FoldedGoodwood(1925-30)(1979-84)TigersGoodwood Oval, MillswoodSAAFL1920s1925-1930, 1979-198421930 Moved to SAAFL in 1931. Merged with St Raphael's to form Goodwood Saints in South Australian Amateur FL in 1985Happy ValleyVikingsHappy Valley Oval, Aberfoyle ParkHCFA19521964-1979 21974 Moved to Southern FL in 1980Happy Valley (1)1924 0 -?Immanuel OSDouble BluesImmanuel College, Novar GardensUCFA19771978-1979 0 - Moved to South Australian Amateur FL in 1980KelvinatorWeigall Oval, North PlymptonSAAFL19431950, 1953-1961 11950 Played in Adelaide Metropolitan FL in 1951-52, returned there in 1962LockleysDemonsLockleys Oval, LockleysWTDFA19511960-1985 31982 Moved to South Australian Amateur FL in 1986Mitcham(1912-13)(1914-24)(1976-84)HawksPrice Memorial Oval, HawthornNADFA, SAAFL19081912-1915, 1922-1924, 1976-1984 51984 Moved to Patriotic FL in 1918. Entered recess in 1925, re-formed in Sturt District FA in 1947. Returned to South Australian Amateur FL in 1985Mitcham Park1915 0 - FoldedMortlock ParkMortlock Park, Colonel Light Gardens–19271927-1930 21929 Merged with Colonel Light Western to form Colonel Light Gardens in 1931North Brighton-SomertonBrighton Secondary College, North Brighton–19501950-1951 0 - Moved to South Australian Amateur FL in 1952Norwood UnionBrookway Park, CampbelltownSAFA19021979-1982 0 - Moved to South Australian Amateur FL in 1983Plympton (1)–19211921-19270 -Folded after 1927 seasonPort NoarlungaPort Noarlunga Community Sports Complex, Port Noarlunga South–19351935-1937 0 - In recess between 1938-46. Re-formed in Southern FA in 1947 Public Service1948 0 - FoldedReynellaWinefliesReynella Oval, Old Reynella–19191920-1927, 1930-1947 0 - Returned to Southern FL in 1948Richmond and Keswick United Corner Bickford Street & Marion Road, Richmond1928-1930 11928 FoldedSalesianViolet CrumblesSalesian College, Brooklyn ParkSAAFL19691980-19840 - Returned to South Australian Amateur FL in 1985SeacliffJohn Mathwin Reserve, Seacliff–19311931-1935 0 - In recess 1936-37. Merged with Brighton to form Brighton and Seacliff in 1938Semaphore SeasidersSeasiders1915 0 - FoldedSouth Adelaide Ramblers Ramblers, PanthersBlue Gum Park, AdelaideSDFA 1910s1950-1957, 1968 0 - Returned to Sturt District FA in 1958. Moved to Norwood-North FA in 1969St. LeonardsWigley Reserve, Glenelg North1930-1953 21935 FoldedSt. Leonards Colts1935-1938 11935 FoldedSt. Peters1929 0 - FoldedSouth Road Estate St Marys Park, St Marys1929 0 - FoldedSturt-BrightonSturt Oval, Marion, Brighton Oval, Brighton1942-1945 21945 De-merged back into Sturt and Brighton in 1946Sturt Centrals1916 11916 FoldedSturt CAETeachersSturt College of Advanced Education, Bedford ParkSAAFL19721981 0 - Absorbed by Flinders University in 1982Sturt Imperial1915 0 - FoldedSturt Ramblers1912-1915 21915 FoldedTorrens CAEGladys Elphick Park (Park 25), AdelaideSAAFL19621975-1978 0 - Folded in 1979Torrensville United1962-1978 0 - Absorbed by Lockleys in 1979Underdale UnitedWest Park, AdelaideWTDFA191919270 - Moved to South Australian Amateur FL in 1928West Suburban1930 0 - FoldedWingfield RoyalsRoyals, Wolves, WingiesEastern Parade Reserve, OttowayASFL19541979-19810 - Moved to South Australian Amateur FL in 1982Woodville South (1962-64)(1965-78)CatsLedger Reserve, Woodville SouthWDFA18901962-1978 21976 Moved to South Australian Amateur FL in 1979
Premierships
Sturt Football Association
Year A-Grade 1912 Mitcham Undefeated 1913 Sturt Ramblers 1914 Mitcham 1915 Sturt Ramblers 1916 Sturt Centrals 1917 In recess (World War I) 1918 In recess (World War I) 1919 Brighton
Mid-Southern Football Association
Year A-Grade B-Grade 1920 Brighton 1921 Sturt 1922 Mitcham 1923 Brighton 1924 Brighton Brighton B 1925 Brighton Goodwood B 1926 Sturt Goodwood B 1927 Mortlock Park Mortlock Park B 1928 Goodwood Richmond and Keswick United 1929 Mortlock Park 1930 Goodwood Glenelg Juniors
Glenelg District Football Association
Year A-Grade B-Grade 1931 Sturt 1932 Edwardstown Edwardstown B 1933 Black Forest St. Leonards B 1934 St. Leonards Undefeated 1935 St. Leonards St. Leonards Colts 1936 Brighton Reynella 1937 Camden 1938 Blackwood 1939 Edwardstown 1940 Edwardstown 1941 Edwardstown 1942 Edwardstown 1943 Edwardstown 1944 Sturt-Brighton 1945 Sturt-Brighton 1946 Edwardstown 1947 Brighton and Seacliff 1948 Edwardstown 1949 Edwardstown Plympton B
Glenelg-South-West District Football Association
Year A1 A2 A3 1950 Plympton Kelvinator 1951 Sturt College Park 1952 Edwardstown Edwardstown 1953 Blackwood 1954 Blackwood 1955 Blackwood 1956 Plympton 1957 Brighton Marion 1958 Marion 1959 Camden 1960 Edwardstown 1961 Glandore 1962 Edwardstown 1963 Glandore Morphettville Park 1964 Plympton 1965 Glandore Lockleys 1966 Edwardstown Kilkenny United Morphettville Park
Glenelg-South Adelaide Football Association
Year A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 1967 Plympton Marion Undefeated 1968 Glenelg Tigers Torrensville United 1969 Blackwood Morphettville Park Edwardstown 1970 Brighton Mitchell Park Happy Valley Edwardstown 1971 ANZ Bank ANZ Bank Plympton Edwardstown 1972 Camden Camden Morphettville Park Edwardstown 1973 Edwardstown ANZ BankBank of NSW Brighton Morphettville Park 1974 Camden Lockleys Happy Valley Camden Edwardstown 1975 Camden Edwardstown Edwardstown 1976 Camden Blackwood Woodville South Undefeated Morphettville Park 1977 Edwardstown Mitcham Morphettville Park 1978 Brighton Goodwood Lockleys 1979 Plympton 1980 Blackwood Mitchell Park UndefeatedMorphettville Park 1981 Plympton Morphettville Park 1982 Brighton Lockleys 1983 Brighton Colonel Light Gardens Marion Undefeated
Southern Metropolitan Football League Year A1 A2 A3 1984 Mitchell Park Mitcham Mitchell Park 1985 Plympton Mitchell Park Mitchell Park 1986 Brighton Colonel Light Gardens
H.S. Rugless Medallists The H.S. Rugless Medal was awarded to the player adjudged the Fairest and Most Brilliant in the competition. During the Sturt Football Association years (1912–19) it was known as the Thomas Medal.
Thomas Medal 1912 1913 1914 – Jack Rowlands (Blackwood) 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919
H.S. Rugless Medal (A1) 1920 1921 1922 – Mick Martin (Reynella) 1923 1924 – Bob Chapman (Blackwood) 1925 – William Hender (Blackwood) 1926 – Purdie (Sturt) 1927 – A. "Pop" Williams (Goodwood) 1928 – A. "Pop" Williams (Goodwood) 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 – F. Whitford (Brighton) - 24 votes 1934 1935 – R. McNamara (Camden) 1936 – W. Egan (Sturt) 1937 – Clarrie Radford (Blackwood) – 40 votes 1938 – F. Alcock (Reynella) 1939 – tied C. Brown (Sturt) & N. S. Gunn (Reynella) – 34 votes 1940 – F. Alcock (Reynella) 1941 – N. Edwards (Sturt) 1942 – C. Brooker (Plympton) 1943 1944 – G. Cox (Sturt-Brighton) 1945 – K. Rohrig (Edwardstown) 1946 – B. Woollard (Brighton-Seacliff) 1947 – R. (Bob) Ryan (Reynella) 1948 – Mel Brock (Camden) 1949 – Harold Partridge (Sturt) 1950 – Max Chambers (Sturt) 1951 1952 – Alan Naulty (South Adelaide Ramblers) 1953 1954 – P. Partridge (Sturt) 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 – Garry Bonner (Blackwood) 1968 – J. Cook (Marion) 1969 – J. Cook (Marion) 1970 – Ian Winton (Morphettville Park) 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 – John Cloonan (Morphettville Park) 1977 1978 – Robbie Magarey (Blackwood) 1979 1980 1981 – I. Hine (Marion) 1982 – Brad Mesecke (Morphettville Park) 1983 – J. Carracher (Brighton) 1984 – Brad Mesecke (Morphettville Park) 1985 – Chris Prior (Blackwood) 1986 – Brad Mesecke (Morphettville Park)
J.C. Morrow Medal (A2) In 1936 the Morrow Medal was established for the fairest and most brilliant player in the then B-Grade competition.
Division 2 A-Grade Medal 1980 - Neil Wuttke 1983 - Geoff Drechsler 1984 - Glenn Todman
Division 2 B-Grade Medal 1983 - David Heard
References