The Southern Football League (SFL) is an Australian rules football league in South Australia. The League was formed, as the Southern Football Association, in 1886. The league is a not-for-profit organisation.
The league is a suburban competition which also acts as a feeder competition for the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) and in turn the Australian Football League (AFL). Some AFL players from the SFL are Adam Cooney, Nathan Eagleton, Ben Rutten, Dean Brogan and Andrew Mackie. SANFL clubs that have recruitment zones linked to the Southern Football League are West Adelaide Football Club, Glenelg Football Club and South Adelaide Football Club.
League history The Southern Football League was previously known as the Southern Football Association until 1963. Originally a country league, with urban expansion it has more recently become a suburban league in Adelaide's far southern suburbs.
The League was formed (as Southern Football Association) in 1886 with competing clubs being Aldinga, McLaren Vale, Sellicks Hill and Willunga. In the early 1900s the participating clubs were Aldinga, Hillside (called McLaren Flat from 1946), McLaren Vale, Morphett Vale, Noarlunga and Willunga.
In 1919 the participating clubs were Aldinga, Hillside, McLaren Vale, Morphett Vale, Noarlunga, Reynella and Willunga.
In 1964 the association changed its name to Southern Football League and participating clubs were Aldinga, McLaren Flat, McLaren Vale, Morphett Vale, Mount Bold, Myponga, Noarlunga, Port Noarlunga, Reynella, Willunga, Yankalilla and Christies Beach Juniors.
The League came to national attention on 11 July 2009, when an SFL match between Port Noarlunga and Reynella was abandoned as a result of a freak tornado.
The League once again came to attention in 2012 when it cancelled its Junior Carnivals due to umpire abuse and poor spectator behaviour. This led to a campaign based around respect and protection of umpires.
2015 was Edwardstown last season in the league, they transferred to the South Australian Amateur Football League. 2016 was Morphettville Park and Brighton last season in the league, they transferred to the Adelaide Footy League (Formerly South Australian Amateur Football League). 2017 Hackham were in recess. Port Noarlunga got ejected from the finals after playing an ineligible player in the semi-final. (subscription required) Marion and O'Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale last season in the league, they transferred to the Adelaide Footy League. 2020 was Hackham last season in the league, they transferred to the Adelaide Footy League. 2024 Ironbank Cherry Gardens first season after they transferred from the Hills Football League. 2026 Noarlunga did not field an A-Grade side.
Clubs
Current ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in SFLSFL Senior Premierships Recent Aldinga Sharks Shark Park (Aldinga Oval), Aldinga–187972 Christies Beach Saints John Bice Memorial Oval, Christies Beach–1964 1966-7 -1994 Cove Cobras Hallett Cove Oval, Hallett Cove–1983 1984-112008 Flagstaff Hill Flagstaff Oval, Flagstaff HillSMFL19631986-812026 Happy Valley Vikings Happy Valley Oval, Aberfoyle Park SMFL1951 1980-802012 Ironbank Cherry GardensThunderersThunder Park (Cherry Gardens Ironbank Recreation Ground), Cherry GardensHFL19862024-0 - - Morphett Vale Emus Morphett Vale Memorial Oval, Morphett Vale–18959 -2009 Noarlunga Shoes Old Noarlunga Oval, Old Noarlunga–1897 1915–1935, 1938, 1951-10 -2014Port NoarlungaCockle DiversPort Noarlunga Oval, Port Noarlunga SouthSMFL19351947-5 -2025 Reynella Wineflies Reynella Oval, Old ReynellaSMFL1896 1919, 1948-8 -2024
Women and juniors only ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundMens TeamEst.Years in SFLSFL Senior Premierships RecentBlackwoodWoodsBlackwood Hill Reserve, BlackwoodHFL19122025- - - -HackhamHawksHackham Oval, HackhamAdFL19761977-01 McLaren Districts Eagles McLaren Vale Sporting Complex, McLaren Vale GSFL1998 1998–2000, -0 -
Locations
Former Clubs that have previously competed in the league include: ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in SFLSFL Senior PremiershipsFate Recent Brighton Bombers Brighton Oval, BrightonSAAFL1991 1997–20162-2011 Moved to Adelaide FL in 2017 Clarendon Clarendon Oval, ClarendonMSFA1905 1934–19350 - - Moved to Hills Central FA in 1936 Edwardstown Towns Edwardstown Oval, EdwardstownSAAFL1919 2009–20150 - - Moved to Adelaide FL in 2016HawksHackham Oval, Hackham–19761977-202001Moved to Adelaide FL in 2021 Hills United Hills–1908 19080 - - Folded when Aldinga re-formed in 1909 Kangarilla Double Blues Kangarilla Recreation Ground, KangarillaHFL1901 1915–1922, 1981–200504 Returned to Hills FL in 2006 Bears Lonsdale Oval, Morphett Vale–1979 1979–2001 -2 Merged with O'Sullivan Beach in 2001 to form O'Sullivan Beach-Lonsdale Macclesfield Bloods Macclesfield Oval, MacclesfieldHFL1880 1984–1988 -0 - Returned to Hills FL in 1989 Marion Rams Marion Oval, MarionSMFL1891 1987–20171 -2000 Moved to Adelaide FL in 2018 McLaren Vale Sporting Complex, McLaren Vale–1998 1998–2000 -0 - Moved to Great Southern FL in 2001 McLaren Flat Recreation Ground, McLaren Flat–1903 1903–1940, 1946–199783 Merged with McLaren Vale to form McLaren Districts in 1998 McLaren Vale Crushers McLaren Vale Sporting Complex, McLaren Vale–1880 1886–199783 Merged with McLaren Flat to form McLaren Districts in 1998 Meadows Bulldogs Stringybark Park, MeadowsHFL1903 1983–2000 -2 Returned to Hills FL in 1999 Mitchell Park Lions Mitchell Park Oval, Mitchell ParkSMFL1969 1994–2000 -0 - Moved to SAAFL in 2001 Morphettville Park Roos Kellett Reserve Oval, MorphettvilleSMFL1958 1987–20161 -1990 Moved to Adelaide FL in 2017 Mount Bold Kangarilla Recreation Ground, KangarillaHCFA1961 1964–19650 - - Folded when Kangarilla re-formed in 1966 Mount Compass Bulldogs Mount Compass Oval, Mount CompassFPFA1924 1946–19520 - - Moved to Great Southern FL in 1953 Myponga Mudlarks Myponga Oval, Myponga–1946 1946–19663 -1960 Moved to Great Southern FL in 1967 Northern UnitedMorphett Vale Memorial Oval, Morphett Vale & Old Noarlunga Oval, Old Noarlunga–1936 1936–19370 - - De-merged into Morphett Vale and Noarlunga in 1938 O'Sullivan Beach Lions O'Sullivan Beach Oval, O'Sullivan Beach–1977 1978–2001 -3 Merged with Lonsdale in 2001 to form O'Sullivan Beach-Lonsdale O'Sullivan Beach-Lonsdale Lions Lonsdale Oval, Morphett Vale–2001 2002–20170 - - Moved to Adelaide FL in 2018 Plympton Bulldogs Plympton Oval, Plympton ParkSMFL1937 1987–19893 -1989 Moved to South Australian FA in 1990 Sellick's Hill Hills–1880s 1886–1899, 19072 -1907 Merged with Aldinga to form Hills United in 1908 Willunga Willunga Recreation Reserve, Willunga–1874 1886–1912, 1919–198530 -1984 Moved to Great Southern FL in 1986 Yankalilla Tigers Yankalilla Memorial Park, YankalillaGSFL1889 1957–19672 -1963 Moved to Great Southern FL in 1968
Grades
The SFL consists of:
Traditional Name Current name Premiership Shield Best & Fairest Medal Grand Final Medal Goalkicker Trophy Division 1 A-Grade Vignerons Shield Mail Medal J. H. Warren Medal Herb Metcalf Trophy Division 1 Reserves B-Grade Southern FA Shield Lovelock Medal Ken Donne Medal Dick Burgan Trophy Division 3 Reserves C-Grade SFL Shield Graham Gunn Medal Merv Mules Medal Senior Colts U/17.5 A.D. Hall Shield Bob Ryan Medal Steve Macklin Medal Junior Colts U/15 Broughton Shield Clem Hurst Medal R.W. Oliver Medal Sub-Junior Colts U/13 Johnny Davis Shield Des Halliday Medal Marc Constable Medal Mini Colts U/12 non-competitive no medal no grand final no goals recorded Mini Colts U/10 non-competitive no medal no grand final no goals recorded Mini Colts U/8 non-competitive no medal no grand final no goals recorded Division 1 Women Open Women Jan Bache Shield Stephanie Dempsey Medal Robert Bache Medal Senior Girls U/17 Jan Manuel Shield Katrine Hildyard Medal Kym McKay Medal Junior Girls U/14 Mark McKay Shield Paul Crate Medal Kylie Loveridge Medal
Former Grades
Grade Years Premiership Shield Best & Fairest Medal Grand Final Medal Goalkicker Trophy Division 2 1977–2001 Denny's Shield Ken Donne Medal Division 2 Reserves 1978–2001 J. H. Warren Shield Warren Medal Div. 2 Senior Colts 1991–2000 SFL Shield Des Halliday Medal Div. 2 Junior Colts 1983–2001 SFL Shield Leahy Medal Div. 2 Sub-Junior Colts 1981, 1983–91, 1995–2001 SFL Shield SFL Medal Maroon Group U/16 (Sunday U/16) 2000–01, 2003, 2006–12, 2014–16 SFL Shield A.J. Griffin Medal John Hall Medal Maroon Group U/14 (Sunday U/14) 2000–01, 2003–16 SFL Shield Chris Leahy Medal Gary Davenport Medal Under 13 1982–1991 SFL Shield Annett Medal ] Players Recruited to AFL/VFL