The Central Riverina Football League was a minor Australian rules football competition which ran from 1949 until 1981 in the Riverina region of New South Wales. The league contained a number of historic clubs, many of which no longer exist.
History There was a Central Riverina Football League that was formed in 1907 in Narrandra, that was made up from the Coolamon, Hay and Narrandra football clubs.
The Central Riverina Football League (CRFL) was formed in 1949 at the annual general meeting of the Milbrulong & District Football League, when it was decided to change its name to the Central Riverina Football League.
The Milbrulong Football Association was reformed in 1945, after a five-year break due to World War II and was active up until 1948, when the name change took place in early 1949.
In 1946, Boree Creek and Collingullie joined the Milbrulong & DFL from the Lockhart & District Football League.
In 1947 and 1948, some clubs arranged reserve grade matches against other teams, but there was no official competition.
At the 1948 AGM, Mr. Albert Ziebell (Railway Hotel, Lockhart) promised £3/3/ towards the trophy for the best and fairest player in the CRFL.
At the 1949 AGM, Mr. T Brennan of Milbrulong donated £10/10/ towards a cup for the best and fairest player in the CRFL, to be known as the Brennan Cup.
On Wednesday, 12 September 1951, Hawthorn: 20.15 – 135 defeated the Central Riverina Football League: 6.6 – 42, which was played at Lockhart.
The CRFL Reserves / Second eighteen competition was introduced into the CRFL in the late 1950s.
Osborne played in ten grand finals between 1945 and 1961, winning four premierships, while East Wagga played in eight grand final between 1967 and 1976, for four premierships.
In 1982 the CRFL merged with the South West Football League (New South Wales) and the old Farrer Football League to form the Riverina Football Netball League and the Riverina District Football League.
It was between 1983 and 1994 that the Riverina District Football League / Farrer Football League maintained a two division system.
The Riverina District Football League changed its name to the Farrer Football League in 1985.
Clubs
Final ClubJumperNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in compSFNL/SESFL Senior PremiershipsFateTotalMost recentArmyCatsKapooka Army Base Oval, KapookaWSFL1958-1972, 1975-198141967, 1969, 1970, 1971Merged with Junee to form Junee-Kapooka in Riverina & District FL following 1981 seasonBarellan UnitedKangaroosBarellan Sportsground, BarellanB&DFL19701973-198121975, 1981Moved to Riverina FL following 1981 seasonBoree CreekCreekers, MagpiesBoree Creak Recreation Reserve, Boree CreekF&DFA, C&DFL18861946-1947, 1949-1969, 1980-198111953Played in Coreen & District FL in 1948. Moved to Hume FL in 1970. Moved to Riverina & District FL following 1981 seasonJuneeBulldogsLaurie Daley Oval, JuneeFFL19191960-198111962Merged with Army to form Junee-Kapooka in Riverina & District FL following 1981 seasonMarrarBombersLangtry Oval, MarrarWSFL19181957-198131965, 1966, 1979Moved to Riverina & District FL following 1981 seasonRAAFHornetsRAAF Base Oval, Forest HillWSFL19480 -In recess in 1967 and 1970-71. Moved to Riverina & District FL following 1981 seasonRCAEBushpigsPeter Hastie Oval, Charles Sturt University–19721972-198111978Moved to Riverina & District FL following 1981 seasonSouth Wagga-Tolland Dons DonsMaher Oval, Glenfield Park–19711971-19810 -Moved to Riverina & District FL following 1981 seasonWhittonTigersWhitton Recreation Ground, WhittonSWFL1890s1979-19810 -Moved to Riverina & District FL following 1981 season
Former ClubJumperNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in compSFNL/SESFL Senior PremiershipsFateTotalMost recentCollingullieDemonsCrossroads Oval, CollingullieW&DFL19061946-196441951, 1952, 1963, 1964Moved to Farrer FL following 1964 seasonCootamundraBluesClarke Oval, Cootamundra–19601960-198041973, 1974, 1977, 1980Moved to South West FL following 1980 seasonEast WaggaSaintsGumly Oval, Gumly GumlyWSFL19461959-197631968, 1972, 1976Moved to Farrer FL following 1976 seasonLockhartBombersLockhart Recreation Ground, LockhartTR&DFL18981945-195631948, 1949, 1956Moved to Albury & District FL following 1956 seasonMilbrulongMilbrulong Recreation Ground, MilbrulongTR&DFL1945-195811949Folded after 1958 seasonMittagongTR&DFL1945-19490 -Folded after 1949 seasonOsborneTigersOsborne Recreation Reserve, OsborneTR&DFL19011945-196941950, 1957, 1958, 1961Moved to Hume FL following 1969 seasonPleasant HillsPleasant Hills Recreation Reserve, Pleasant HillsTR&DFL1948-19530 -Folded due to insufficient playing numbers at 1954 AGMRannockFederalsRannock Recreation Reserve, RannockSWFL19231962-19640 -Folded due to insufficient playing numbers prior to 1965 seasonTemoraKangaroosNixon Park, TemoraWSFL19491957-196021959, 1960Moved to Farrer FL following 1961 seasonThe RockMagpiesVictoria Park, The RockTR&DFLc.1920s1945-194721945, 1947Moved to Albury & District FL following 1947 seasonTumutHawksTumut Recreation Reserve, Tumut–19701970-19770 -Moved to Upper Murray FL following 1977 seasonTurvey ParkBulldogsMaher Oval, Wagga WaggaA&DFL reserve grade1954195511955Moved to South West District FL following 1955 seasonUranquintyRosellasUranquinty Oval, UranquintyW&DFLc.1920s1950-1951, 1964-19670 -In recess between 1952-63 and 1968-84. Re-formed in Farrer FL in 1985Yerong CreekYerong Creek Sports Ground, Yerong CreekTR&DFLc.1910s1945-195511954Moved to Albury & District FL following 1955 seasonYoungSaintsMiller-Henry Oval, Burrangong–19761976-19770 -Moved to Northern Riverina FL following 1977 season
Football Grand Finals Seniors YearPremiersScoreRunners upScoreCaptainCoachVenueGatePremiership Cup 1945-1948: Milbrulong & DFL1945The Rock 13.10 – 82 Osborne 8.16 – 64 1946Milbrulong 11.12 – 78 Osborne 7.12 – 54Bryan Brennan The Rock Donald Ross Cup Umpire: McIntyre (VFL)1947The Rock 15.17 – 107 Osborne 14.4 – 89 Milbrulong£104Donald Ross Cup Umpire: Wollesley (VFL)1948Lockhart 9.14 – 68 Yerong Creek 9.13 – 67 B Dowdle Vince Sullivan Milbrulong Donald Ross Cup Umpire: Male (VFL) 1949-1981: Central Riverina FL1949Lockhart 15.12 – 102Yerong Creek7.7 – 49 Vince O'Sullivan Milbrulong Donald Ross Cup Umpire: Haywood (VFL)1950Osborne 10.8 – 68 Yerong Creek6.11 – 47 Collingullie £110 Donald Ross Cup Umpire: Clayton (VFL)1951Collingullie 12.16 – 88 Osborne 3.7 – 25 Milbrulong Umpire: Hopkins (VFL)1952Collingullie12.9 – 81Yerong Creek6.10 – 46 Milbrulong £135Umpire: Hopkins (VFL)1953Boree Creek 14.11 – 95 Collingullie9.9 – 63 Ivan Argus Ivan Argus Milbrulong Umpire: (VFL)1954Yerong Creek 10.11 – 71 Milbrulong 7.6 – 48 1955Turvey Park 8.12 – 60 Osborne 8.12 – 60 (drawn grand final) Turvey Park 9.7 – 61 Osborne 4.10 – 34 (grand final reply)1956Lockhart 12.11 – 83 Milbrulong 19.9 – 69 1957Osborne 9.13 – 67 Milbrulong 7.12 – 54 1958Osborne 16.16 – 122Marrar 8.3 – 51 1959Temora 16.12 – 108Marrar 12.9 – 81 1960Temora 9.7 – 60 Marrar4.4 – 28 Bolton Park, Wagga 1961Osborne 12.11 – 83Boree Creek 7.15 – 57 £ 1962Junee 16.9 – 105Boree Creek 16.6 – 102 £ 1963Collingullie 14.16 – 100 Boree Creek 4.8 – 32 £ 1964Collingullie 11.11 – 77 Junee 8.8 – 56 £ 1965Marrar 12.20 – 92 Cootamundra 11.11 – 77 £ 1966Marrar 9.12 – 66 Cootamundra 3.5 – 23 1967Army 16.18 – 114 East Wagga 4.5 – 29 1968East Wagga 7.16 – 58 Junee 6.5 – 41 1969Army 11.13 – 79 East Wagga 9.13.67 1970Army 19.19 – 133East Wagga 15.15. – 105 1971Army 15.7 – 97 Marrar 14.14 – 92 1972East Wagga 16.14 – 110Army 9.20 – 74 1973Cootamundra 17.22 – 124East Wagga 14.7 – 91 1974Cootamundra 6.8 – 44 Barellan United 4.9 – 33 1975Barellan United13.14 – 92East Wagga 7.9 – 51 1976East Wagga 13.12 – 90Cootamundra 9.9 – 63 1977Cootamundra 11.18 – 84 Marrar 8.6 – 54 1978RCAE 14.8 – 92 Barellan United10.8 – 68 1979Marrar 14.19 – 103Barellan United14.8 – 92 1980Cootamundra 18.17 – 125Marrar 6.5 – 41 1981Barellan United15.16 – 106Marrar 7.14 – 56 Riverina DISTRICT FL 1982Collingullie – Ashmont21.15 – 141Mangoplah CU11.10 – 76Ian RainbirdIan RainbirdMaher Oval, Wagga Riverina DISTRICT FL: Division 1 1983North Wagga 25.15 – 155Mangoplah CU17.15 – 117Martin KingMartin King 1984Collingullie – Ashmont 16.20 – 116 Mangoplah CU11.16 – 82 Gary ColvinGary Colvin
Seniors 1985: The Riverina District Football League changed its name to the Farrer Football League in 1985 and maintained a Farrer FL Division One competition & Farrer FL Division Two competition up until 1994.
Central Riverina Football League Reserves
1946: Mittagong 1947: Yerong Creek: 7.7 – 49 d Mittagong: 5.6 – 36 1948: RAAF: 8.8 – 56 drew Central Riverina FL U/21: 8.8 – 56 (curtain raiser) 1949: Albury & District Football League: 7.12 – 54 drew Central Riverina FL: 9.0 – 54 (curtain raiser) 1952: Lockhart v MIlbrulong 1953: Osborne v Milbrulong 1959: Army: 13.8 – 86 d Temora: 9.8 – 62 1960: East Wagga: 7.6 – 48 d Junee: 2.3 – 15 1961: Junee d RAAF 1962: Army d RAAF 1963: Army d RAAF 1964: RAAF d Cootamundra 1965: RAAF d Army 1966: Marrar d East Wagga 1967: Army d East Wagga 1968: Army d Junee 1969: Army d RAAF
1970: East Wagga d Cootamundra 1971: Army d East Wagga 1972: East Wagga d RAAF 1973: East Wagga d RAAF 1974: East Wagga: 56 d Cootamundra: 46 1975: East Wagga d RAAF 1976: East Wagga d RAAF 1977: Barellan United d Marain Dons 1978: Marrar d South Wagga Tollard 1979: Barellan United d Marrar 1980: Barellan United: 15.9 – 99 d Junee: 10.8 – 68 1981:
Riverina DISTRICT Football League (1982) Reserves 1982: Junee: 9.18 – 72 d TRYC: 7.11 – 53
Central Riverina FL – Most Senior Premierships / Runners Up (1949–1981) ClubMost PremiershipsRunners up Grand FinalsCollingullie 4 1 5Cootamundra 4 3 7East Wagga 3 5 8Osborne 4 3 7Army 4 1 5Marrar 3 7 10Barellan United 2 3 5Lockhart 3 0 2Temora 2 0 2Boree Creek 1 3 4Junee 1 1 2RCAE 1 0 1Turvey Park 1 0 1Milbrulong 0 3 3Yerong Creek 0 3 3TOTAL 33 33 66
1946 – 1950: Senior Premiership Cup: Donald Ross Cup 1946 – 1953: Reserves Premiership Cup: Cooper Cup RCAE – Riverina College of Advanced Education
Leading Goalkickers 1976 – P. Carroll – East Wagga – 113 1977 – Rod Milthorpe – Cootamundra – 82 1978 – B. Spencer – Junee – 72 1979 – C. Griffiths – RAAF – 62 1980 – C. Eaton – Cootamundra – 82 1981 – Neil Diggleman – Barellan United – 54
Best & Fairest Award Senior Football Brennan Cup (1949) Coghill Medal YearWinnerClubVotesRunner upClubVotes Milbrilong & DFL 1945 no record of winner 1946 no record of winner 1947Charles Doig Osborne 38Ross GarrettLockhart33 1948Ross Garrett Milbrulong34Kevin TerlichPleasant Hills20 Central Riverina FL 1949Charles Doig Osborne Brennan Cup1950 1951 1952 1953Merv PriestCollinguille Jim StocktonMilbrulong 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960B Smith Osborne 1961Peter WilsonBoree Creek 1962Peter WilsonBoree Creek 1963Peter WilsonBoree Creek 1964B Douglas Osborne 1965B Douglas Osborne 1966G Smith Army 1967B McCaffery Army 1968G Buchanan &Army N Rowlands Army 1969N Jarvis Army 1970N Jarvis Army 1971Reg HamiltonMarrar 1972B Murphy RCAE 1973B Harper Marrar 1974B Harper Marrar 1975B Harper Marrar 1976Ken Forbes Cootamundra 1977Ken Forbes Cootamundra 1978M Briggs Junee 1979Errol Boots Whitton 1980P ButterworthRCAE 1981Errol Boots Whitton 20 R Reed South West Tolland16 Riverina DISTRICT FLGerald Clear Medal 1982Bruce RollinsMarrar 21Errol BootsWhitton20 Riverina DISTRICT FL: Div 1 Gerald Clear Medal 1983Laurie PendickNorth Wagga 22Phil Reid Temora 20 1984Danny Malone Marrar 21Ian GeddesBarellan19 1985Farrer Football League:Div 1Gerald Clear Medal
1985 – RDFL changed its name to the Farrer FL.
Officer Bearers