Broken Hill Football League

The AFL Broken Hill (formerly, Broken Hill Football League) is an Australian rules football competition based in the Broken Hill region of New South Wales, Australia. Although located in the state of New South Wales the league is an affiliated member of the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). The Broken Hill Football League is in the Murray Mallee Barrier Zone in the South Australian Country Football Championships.[1]

AFL Broken Hill
SportAustralian rules football
Founded1900 (1900)
No. of teams4
Country Australia
ConfederationSANFL
Official websiteaflbrokenhill.com.au

Current clubs

Colours Club Nickname Premiers
won
Premiership Years
Central Broken Hill Magpies
24
1910, 1912–13, 1915, 1935, 1937–38, 1940–41, 1943, 1971–73, 1979, 1981–85, 1993, 1995, 2001, 2006, 2010
North Broken Hill Bulldogs
38
1902, 1904–05, 1907–09, 1911, 1914, 1920, 1924, 1934, 1936, 1945–48, 1950–51, 1957, 1959–60, 1965, 1975–77, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2007–08, 2011–13, 2016
South Broken Hill Roos
36
1906, 1919, 1923, 1926, 1928, 1931, 1942, 1944, 1952–53, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1967–70, 1974, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1996–97, 1999, 2002–03, 2005, 2009, 2014–15, 2017–19, 2022-23
West Broken Hill Robins
24
1900–01, 1903, 1916–18, 1921–22, 1927, 1929–30, 1932–33, 1939, 1949, 1954–55, 1962–64, 1966, 1978, 1980, 1990

There was no premiership awarded in 1925, when Central Broken Hill did not take to the field for the second half of the Grand Final against West Broken Hill, claiming that the field umpire was not giving them a fair go.[2]

The 2020 Season was called off due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, with 3 of the 4 clubs voting in favor of abandoning the season.

History

It might seem curious that Australian rules football should develop as the dominant football code in a mining city in the far west of New South Wales, a state more known for the dominance of rugby league. Broken Hill was established as a mining town and many of the early settlers were from either the Victorian goldfields, or the copper mines of Moonta and Kadina in South Australia, both of which were areas being keen participants in the early development of Australian rules football. This link to states with an Australian rules football culture was further enhanced with the later flow of workers to and from the gold mining Kalgoorlie-Coolgardie axis in Western Australia.

Indeed, the city of Broken Hill to this day conducts itself in many ways as a city aligned to South Australia, using the same time zone (Australian Central Standard Time), being in the (08) Western/central area code, and its local television station, Central GTS/BKN, covers Broken Hill and parts of South Australia.

Football matches were first played in Broken Hill in 1885 and an informal competition was under way by 1888 between Broken Hill, Silverton, and Silver and Blues. The League was formed in 1890 as the Barrier Ranges Football Association (changing to its current name in 1928). Early years of the Association reflected the historical roots of its settlers and the two dominant clubs were known as the 'Victorians' and the 'South Australians'. Other early clubs were Broken Hill, North Broken Hill, South Broken Hill and Hotham.

In 1900 the League followed the trend of many other Leagues around the country at that time, and restructured along district lines. The four clubs that competed in the restructured competition are the same four clubs that make up the current competition, although South Broken Hill was then known as Alma.

The city's close association with South Australia was reflected with many of the League's stars finding success in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) in the early 20th century. Prominent identities included North Broken Hill's Dave Low, who went on to win the 1912 Magarey Medal with West Torrens Football Club, Jack Woollard, captain of Port Adelaide Football Club's 1910 Championship of Australia-winning team, and Algy Millhouse, who captain-coached Norwood Football Club in 1914. The 1922 Magarey Medallist Robert Barnes and Bruce McGregor, who won Medals in 1926–7, were stars at West Adelaide Football Club. Leading goalkicker, Jack Owens, topped the SANFL's goal kicking ladder on three occasions with Glenelg Football Club in the 1920s and 1930s.

The League itself was considered strong enough to compete with visiting teams from the SANFL, Victorian Football League (VFL) and West Australian Football League (WAFL), and was even invited to send delegates to the inaugural Australasian Football Conference in Melbourne, in November 1905.

In more recent times players from Broken Hill have managed to find their mark with the country's premier league, the Australian Football League (AFL), including Fremantle's Dean Solomon, Brent Staker of West Coast and Brisbane, Taylor Walker of Adelaide , Mitch Clisby of the Melbourne Football Club and Isaac Cumming of the GWS Giants.

Premierships

List of premiers

The complete list of premiers teams is detailed below.[3]

Year Premiers Runners Up
1900West Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1901West Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1902North Broken HillCentral Broken Hill
1903West Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1904North Broken HillWest Broken Hill
1905North Broken HillWest Broken Hill
1906South Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1907North Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
1908North Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
1909North Broken HillCentral Broken Hill
1910Central Broken HillWest Broken Hill
1911North Broken Hill
1912Central Broken Hill
1913Central Broken Hill
1914North Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
1915Central Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1916West Broken HillCentral Broken Hill
1917West Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
1918West Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1919South Broken HillWest Broken Hill
1920North Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
1921West Broken HillCentral Broken Hill
1922West Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1923South Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1924North Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
1926South Broken HillWest Broken Hill
1927West Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
1928South Broken HillWest Broken Hill
1929West Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
1930West Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
1931South Broken HillWest Broken Hill
1932West Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1933West Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1934North Broken HillWest Broken Hill
1935Central Broken HillWest Broken Hill
1936North Broken HillCentral Broken Hill
1937Central Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1938Central Broken HillWest Broken Hill
1939West Broken Hill
1940Central Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
1941Central Broken HillWest Broken Hill
1942South Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1943Central Broken Hill
1944South Broken HillWest Broken Hill
1945North Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
1946North Broken HillCentral Broken Hill
1947North Broken HillWest Broken Hill
1948North Broken HillCentral Broken Hill
1949West Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1950North Broken HillCentral Broken Hill
1951North Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
1952South Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1953South Broken HillCentral Broken Hill
1954West Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1955West Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1956South Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1957North Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
1958South Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1959North Broken HillWest Broken Hill
1960North Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
1961South Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
1962West Broken Hill
1963West Broken HillCentral Broken Hill
1964West Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1965North Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
1966West Broken Hill
1967South Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1968South Broken HillCentral Broken Hill
1969South Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1970South Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1971Central Broken Hill
1972Central Broken Hill
1973Central Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
1974South Broken Hill
1975North Broken HillWest Broken Hill
1976North Broken HillWest Broken Hill
1977North Broken HillWest Broken Hill
1978West Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1979Central Broken Hill
1980West Broken Hill
1981Central Broken Hill
1982Central Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1983Central Broken Hill
1984Central Broken Hill
1985Central Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1986North Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
1987South Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1988North Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
1989South Broken Hill
1990West Broken Hill
1991South Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1992North Broken HillCentral Broken Hill
1993Central Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1994North Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
1995Central Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1996South Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1997South Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
1998North Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
1999South Broken HillCentral Broken Hill
2000North Broken HillCentral Broken Hill
2001Central Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
2002South Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
2003South Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
2004North Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
2005South Broken HillCentral Broken Hill
2006Central Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
2007North Broken HillWest Broken Hill
2008North Broken HillCentral Broken Hill
2009South Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
2010Central Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
2011North Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
2012North Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
2013North Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
2014South Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
2015South Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
2016North Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
2017South Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
2018South Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
2019South Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
2022 South Broken Hill Central Broken Hill
2023 South Broken Hill West Broken Hill

Current results

The last decade of The Broken Hill Football league has seen the South Broken Hill Football Club show dominance over the rest of the competition, winning Premierships in 2014 & 2015, before wins again in 2017, 2018 & 2019. Seasons 2020 & 2021 were lost due to COVID-19. South have won in the two seasons since the leagues resumption, making it 7 of the last 9 premierships. Star Full Forward Cody Schorn became the first player for over 20 years to kick his 100th goal of the season in the 2023 Grand Final.

North were dominant in the early part of the century, winning premierships in 2004, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012 & 2013 before upsetting hot favorites South to win the 2016 flag. The past two seasons has seen a decline with the Bulldogs missing the past two grand finals.

The West Football Club has struggled for success and has not won the Premiership since the 1990 season, the longest premiership drought in the club's history. Despite this their recent seasons have been encouraging, culminating in the club reaching its first A Grade Grand Final for 16 years in 2023.

Central Football Club have battled with player numbers in recent times despite making the 2022 A Grade Grand Final. A very successful club during the 70s & 80s, Centrals last Premiership was won in 2010.

2011 Ladder

Broken Hill FL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
North 1503018741037180.71%60PreliminarySouth121385West51141
South 1007116221300124.77%42GrandNorth91165South91064
West 701101366166182.24%28
Central 301411128199256.63%14

2012 Ladder

Broken Hill FL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
South 1404016621273130.56%56PreliminaryNorth1616112West111076
North 1107015281221125.14%44GrandNorth8957South8654
West 601201240142986.77%24
Central 501301152165969.44%20

2013 Ladder

Broken Hill FL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
North 1404017621088161.95%56PreliminarySouth189117West9761
South 1305018571186156.58%52GrandNorth2114140South141498
West 701101170166970.10%28
Central 201601056190255.52%8

2014 Ladder

Broken Hill FL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
South 160202278798285.46%64PreliminaryNorth111177West51040
North 1206013451315102.28%48GrandSouth131492North7749
West 601201066183458.12%24
Central 20160958170056.35%8

2015 Ladder

Broken Hill FL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
South 160112327534435.77%66PreliminaryNorth1614110Central1713
North 130411931923209.21%54GrandSouth13987North6440
Central 40130825207839.70%16
West 20160693224130.92%8

2016 Ladder

Broken Hill FL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
South 170102345687341.34%68PreliminaryNorth1811119West7648
North 1008015111332113.44%40GrandNorth8856South51141
West 601201011171958.81%24
Central 30150781191040.89%12

Women's competition

The women's competition started in 2012, making it the oldest rural competition in the state.

2012 Ladder

Broken Hill FL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Central 12000560411365.85%48PreliminaryNorth7547West2315
North 606025726696.62%24GrandCentral8553North139
West 407118034951.58%18
South 1010114248329.40%6

2013 Ladder

Broken Hill FL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Central 130201034151684.77%52PreliminaryNorth14589South000
North 12030892184484.78%48GrandCentral5434North2214
South 5010026970837.99%20
West 001503311852.78%0

2014 Ladder

Broken Hill FL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
North 13020927183506.56%52PreliminaryCentral3422South2315
Central 9060599342175.15%36GrandCentral5434North5333
South 8070579366158.20%32
West 001505112654.03%0

2015 Ladder

Broken Hill FL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
South 10050691282245.04%40PreliminarySouth7345North117
North 8070528364145.05%32GrandCentral4529South139
Central 12030880144611.11%48
West 001502513341.87%0

2016 Ladder

Broken Hill FL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Central 14010765146523.97%56PreliminarySouth4630North033
South 11040697207336.71%44GrandSouth3220Central2113
North 5010030744968.37%20
West 0015010110689.46%0

Premiers

The complete list of premiers teams is detailed below.[4]

Year Premiers Runners Up
2012Central Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
2013Central Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
2014Central Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
2015Central Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
2016South Broken HillCentral Broken Hill
2017South Broken HillNorth Broken Hill
2018Central Broken HillSouth Broken Hill
2019 West Broken Hill South Broken Hill

See also

Books

  • Encyclopedia of South Australian country football clubs / compiled by Peter Lines. ISBN 9780980447293
  • South Australian country football digest / by Peter Lines ISBN 9780987159199

References

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