Millewa Football League

Last updated

Millewa Football League
Current season, competition or edition:
Sports current event.svg2025
Millewa league logo.png
Sport Australian rules football
Founded1926;100 years ago (1926)
CountryFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Most recent
champion		Werrimull
(2025)

The Millewa Football League is an Australian rules football league with teams based in north-western Victoria and south-western New South Wales, Australia.

Contents

The clubs are mostly based within the same area as the clubs in the Sunraysia Football League, but generally represent smaller towns and communities. Clubs only field one senior football team and up to five netball teams.

History

The Millewa Football Association was reformed in 1925. At this time it had teams representing Lock 9, Lake Cullulleraine and Werrimull, and a team called "the Kangaroos". [1] Lake Cullulleraine were the premiers that year. [2] A fortnight after the grand final, a combined association team played the Mildura Football Club in a charity match. [3]

In 1932, the now Millewa Football League contained teams from Bambill, Karawinna, Meringur, Merinee, Pirlta and Werrimull. [4]

Due to World War II, the league went into recess between 1942 and 1945. Media coverage of this league was non-existent between 1940 and 1960. Regular scores did not start appearing in the press until the mid-1970s. [5] Meringur went into recess prior to the 2012 season due to lack of players attributed to the population decline in the district, however returned in 2013. Euston merged with Robinvale of the Sunraysia Football League before the beginning of the 2015 to play in that competition.

League Best and Fairest - The McDonald Medal

The McDonald Medal is an annual award presented to the best and fairest player in the Millewa Football League. Established in memory of Donald McDonald, a prominent figure in the league's history, the medal is awarded by his family.

Donald McDonald served as president of the Millewa Football League from 1946, following its reformation after World War II, until 1962. His contributions to the league were recognised by the Victorian Country Football League, which awarded him the Recognition of Service Medal.

After his death in 1962, his family initiated the presentation of the McDonald Medal in his honour. The inaugural medal was awarded in the same year and was shared by David Finn of Bambill and Bill Woods of Werrimull. Over the decades, many talented players have received this prestigious medal, highlighting their achievements within the Millewa League.

Clubs

Locations

Millewa Football League
Transparent.svg
Transparent.svg
7km
4.3miles
Red pog.svg
Bambill
Red pog.svg
Nangiloc
Red pog.svg
Meringur,
Werrimul
Red pog.svg
Gol Gol
Red pog.svg
Cardross
Locations of the Millewa FL clubs

Current

ClubJumperNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in MFLMFL Senior Premierships
TotalYears
Bambill
St Kilda Football Club colours.svg
SaintsMildura Senior College, Mildura, Victoria –1920s1927–301935, 1938, 1939, 1949, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1976, 1980, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024
Cardross
Cardross Football Club Colours.svg
LionsCardross Recreational Reserve, Cardross, Victoria SFNL 19481962–31962, 1963, 1972
Gol Gol (Alcheringa 1980-98)
Hawthorn Football Club Colours.svg
HawksAlcheringa Oval, Gol Gol, New South Wales –19801980–111982, 1983, 1984, 1991, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010
Meringur (Meringur-South Merbein 1988-95)
Meringur Football Club Colours.svg
KangaroosJohansen Memorial Reserve, Cullulleraine, Victoria –19261926–36, 1949–2011, 2013–91950, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1964
Nangiloc
Melbourne Football Club Colours.svg
DemonsNangiloc Recreational Reserve, Nangiloc, Victoria –19751975–81978, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2017, 2018
Werrimull
Collingwood icon.svg
MagpiesJohansen Memorial Reserve, Cullulleraine, Victoria –19261926–201926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1954, 1955, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 2003, 2012, 2013, 2025

Past Clubs

ClubJumperNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in MFLMFL Senior PremiershipsFate
TotalYears
Benetook–1920s19310-Folded
Coomealla
Benalla All Blacks Football Club Colours.svg
All-BlacksGeorge Gordon Oval, Dareton SFNL 1920s1981-19890-Folded
Euston
Essendon Football Club colours.svg
BombersEuston Recreation Reserve, Euston MFL1920s1999-201412008Merged with Robinvale following 2014 season to form Robinvale-Euston in Sunraysia FL
Karawinna–1920s1926-19360-Folded
Karween–1920s1932-19340-Merged with Morkalla in 1935 to form Morkalla-Karween
Karween-Karawinna
RichmondDesign.svg
Tigers–19541954-199811997Folded after 1998 season
Merinee–1920s1928-194991931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1940, 1941, 1946Folded
Morkalla-Karween
Morkalla-Karween Football Club Colours.svg
–19351935-195311953Merged with Karawinna in 1954 to form Karween-Karawinna
Nichols PointNichols Point Reserve, Nichols Point –19771977-19820-Folded
Pirlta–1920s1929-19320-Folded
South Merbein
South Melbourne Football Club Colours.svg
SwansMerbein South Recreation Park, Merbein South SFNL 19191960-19870-Merged with Meringur in 1988 to form Meringur-South Merbein
YarraraLight with dark band–1920s1926-19370-Folded

General statistics

General Information
Founded1926
Records
Highest Score382 — Gol Gol 59.28.382 (v Meringur 4.1.25) – 2022
Most premierships30 – Bambill
Most goals in a game33 - Adam Thomson (Gol Gol Vs Meringur) - 2022
Most goals in a season149 – Rex Handy (Coomealla) -1986
Most flags in a row6 – Meringur – 1956–1961
Most wins in a row50 – Nangiloc – 1993–96
Most losses in a row38 – Meringur – 2019–2023

McDonald Medallists

YearPlayerVotes
1962David Finn (Bambill) and Bill Woods (Werrimull)
1963
2007Ben Casey (Bambill)
2008Anthony Albert (Gol Gol)
2009Denny Fox (Bambill) and Tim Robinson (Gol Gol)
2010Ben Ransome (Cardross)
2011Joseph Denaro (Euston)
2012Graeme Mentiplay (Werrimull) and Clinton Burdett (Gol Gol)
2013
2014Clinton Burdett (Gol Gol)
2015Luke Stanbrook (Bambill)
2016Sam Curran (Gol Gol)
2017Mark Thomson (Werrimull)
2018Luke Coates (Bambill)
2019Jayden Kitt (Cardross) and Mark Thomson (Werrimull)14
2020MFNL in recess > COVID-19
2021
2022
2023Logan McKinnon15
2024Mark Thomson (Werrimull)16
2025

Leading Goal Kickers

YearPlayerH&A goalsFinals goalsTotal Goals
1976Ian Hobbs (Bambill) / Denis Coburn (Nangiloc)60 / 605 / 565 / 65
1977Les Hazel (Nangiloc)751085
1978John Sheahan(Werrimull)10615121
1979
1980
1981Owen Evans (Werrimull)73578
1982Don Cooke (Meringur)10011111
1983Rex Handy (Coomealla)1070107
1984Geoff Lucas (Alcheringa)1180118
1985Ron Jackson (Bambill)1399148
1986Rex Handy (Coomealla)12029149
1987
1988Jerry Vuik (Bambill)79281
1989Jerry Vuik (Bambill)89392
1990Glenn Mitchell (Werrimull)41
1991Frank Oldfield (Alcheringa)1230123
1992Frank Oldfield (Alcheringa)1080108
1993Grenville Dietrich (KK)1187125
1994Grenville Dietrich (KK)1230123
1995Grenville Dietrich (KK)1050105
1996Grenville Dietrich (KK)1123115
1997Brett Robertson (Bambill)55055
1998Daryl Fisher (Cardross)73073
1999David McDonnell (Gol Gol)51051
2000Brett Haase (Euston)1035108
2001Matt Leeder (Werrimull)1051106
2002Mark Fitzgerald (Mer)81081
2003Shane Ruyg (Werrimul)831194
2004Bradley Brooks (GG)9016106
2005Bradley Brooks (GG)85287
2006Mark Duscher (Werrimull)76076
2007David Hall (Bambill)71778
2008Mahino Paola(Euston)71071
2009Kaleb Sherwell (Gol Gol)81788
2010Brett Haase (Bambill)92092
2011Jason Bell (Gol Gol)8319102
2012Robert Lindsey (Gol Gol)11716133
2013Luke Stanbrook (Bambill)69978
2014Isaiah Johnson (Werrimull)79584
2015Luke Stanbrook (Bambill)67673
2016Luke Hubble (Bambill)68068
2017David Keens (Nangiloc)67471
2018David Hall (Bambill)57259

Recent Grand Finals

Premierships

Notes

    2022 Ladder

    MillewaWinsByesLossesDrawsForAgainst%PtsFinalTeamGBPtsTeamGBPts
    Bambill 150002901447648.99%601st SemiGol Gol2720182Nangolic10767
    Cardross 1104017041247136.65%442nd SemiBambill2317155Cardross5434
    Gol Gol 100502030875232.00%40PreliminaryCardross111076Gol Gol101575
    Nangolic 60901504157595.49%24GrandBambill1617113Cardross7850
    Werrimull301201199193961.84%12
    Meringur0015013733924.04%0

    2023 Ladder

    MillewaWinsByesLossesDrawsForAgainst%PtsFinalTeamGBPtsTeamGBPts
    Bambill 130201997631316.48%521st SemiCardross81563Nangolic101070
    Gol Gol 110402028761266.49%442nd SemiBambill111076Gol Gol7951
    Cardross 110401882852220.89%44PreliminaryGol Gol11975Nangolic71052
    Nangolic 708012771061120.36%28GrandBambill121284Gol Gol11571
    Werrimull20130709222331.89%8
    Meringur10140492285717.22%4

    2024 Ladder

    MillewaWinsByesLossesDrawsForAgainst%PtsFinalTeamGBPtsTeamGBPts
    Bambill 140101979543364.46%561st SemiNangolic111278Gol Gol101171
    Cardross 110401518853177.96%442nd SemiBambill1714116Cardross6440
    Nangolic 906012841057121.48%36PreliminaryCardross131391Nangolic11571
    Gol Gol 70801617963167.91%28GrandBambill1514104Cardross7749
    Werrimull401101012136674.08%16
    Meringur00150329295711.13%0

    2025 Ladder

    MillewaWinsByesLossesDrawsForAgainst%PtsFinalTeamGBPtsTeamGBPts
    Cardross 150001850572323.43%601st SemiWerrimull239147Gol Gol3624
    Bambill 806111371086104.70%342nd SemiBambill10969Cardross91266
    Werrimull 80701385979141.47%32PreliminaryWerrimull131391Cardross81159
    Gol Gol 6081925127772.44%26GrandWerrimull11672Bambill6844
    Nangiloc6090993120682.34%24
    Meringur10140394156425.19%4

    References

    1. ↑ "Millewa Association". Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record. 6 June 1925. p. 11.
    2. ↑ "FINAL MATCH". Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record. 11 September 1925. p. 9.
    3. ↑ "BENEFIT MATCH". Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record. 25 September 1925. p. 11.
    4. ↑ "COUNTRY FOOTBALL LEAGUE". Ouyen Mail. 2 September 1932. p. 1.
    5. ↑ Millewa Football League
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