River Murray Football League

Last updated

River Murray Football League
Sport Australian rules football
Founded1931;94 years ago (1931)
No. of teams9
CountryAustralia
Most recent
champion(s)
Coorong Cats
Most titlesImperial Football Club
(22 premierships)
Related
competitions
SANFL

The River Murray Football League is an Australian rules football competition based in the Murray Bridge region of South Australia, Australia. It is an affiliated member of the South Australian National Football League.

Contents

History

The competition was founded in 1931 with the foundation clubs Imperials, Ramblers and Mypolonga. [1]

Traditionally the 2 Murray Bridge clubs, Imperials and Ramblers, have had a fierce rivalry, and both have had their fair share of success over the years. Tailem Bend and Jervois, who are both based in smaller townships, are proud clubs with fine traditions and premiership success to go with it. Mannum and Mypolonga both broke premiership droughts in recent decades, however both clubs have struggled in the last 15 years to convert multiple grand final appearances into premierships. Meningie broke through for their first premiership in the RMFL in 2001, however their form since has fluctuated dependent on their ability to recruit players from the Adelaide region.

In 2007 the Jervois Football Club won their fourth consecutive League Premiership when they defeated the Imperial Football Club for the second consecutive year. 2004 to 2007 was a golden era for the Jervois Football Club, but they were unable to win 5 in a row in 2008, with the Rambler Football Club winning their first premiership since 1987 after defeating Mypolonga.

Ramblers won their 2nd premiership in 3 years in 2010 with victory over Mannum.

In the clash of the Murray Bridge clubs in 2011, Imperials defeated reigning premiers Ramblers in the Grand Final at Meningie Oval. Mail Medalist Tyson Wait led the Blues to victory with a dominant performance in defence.

Very little separated the top 5 clubs in season 2012. In the Grand Final at Johnston Park, the fast finishing Ramblers side defied the odds to claim a 5-point victory in a high-scoring game against Minor premiers Mypolonga.

The Mannum Football Club broke the recent stranglehold of the 2 Murray Bridge clubs, in 2013, with victory over Imperials in the Grand Final. With retired SANFL stars Jeremy Clayton and Jade Sheedy featuring prominently, the Roos stormed home in the last quarter to collect their first flag since 2003.

A merger was announced between Meningie and Border Downs-Tintinara of the Mallee Football League at the end of the 2022 season, with the two clubs forming the Coorong Cats. [2] Two other merged entities, Mallee Districts and the Southern Mallee Suns would also join the league following the demise of the Mallee Football League. [3]

Current clubs

ClubJumperNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in RMFLRMFL Senior Premierships
TotalYears
Coorong
Albion Football Club.jpg
CatsMeningie Oval, Meningie; Coonalpyn Oval, Coonalpyn and Tintinara Oval, Tintinara 20222023–12024
Imperial
Imperial Blues Football Club colours.jpg
BluesJohnstone Park, Murray Bridge 19311931–221931, 1946, 1948, 1952, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1967, 1969, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2009, 2011, 2018, 2022
Jervois
Blackburn Football Club colours.svg
BludsJervois Oval, Jervois MDFA19261931–201932, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1984, 1986, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2020, 2021, 2023
Mallee Districts
Mallee Districts Football Club colours.jpg
StormPeake Oval, Peake and Karoonda Oval, Karoonda 20222023–0-
Mannum
Mannum Football Club Colours.jpg
RoosMannum Oval, Mannum MRFA, TVFA19271933–36, 1939–57, 1964–71944, 1949, 1955, 1956, 2003, 2013, 2015
Mypolonga
RichmondDesign.svg
TigersMypolonga Memorial Oval, Mypolonga MRFA19281931–81938, 1939, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 2017, 2019
Ramblers
Rambler Football Club colours.jpg
RoostersLeMessurier Oval, Murray Bridge 19311931–151933, 1950, 1951, 1971, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1987, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2016
Southern Mallee
Southern Mallee Football Club colours.jpg
SunsLameroo Sport Grounds, Lameroo and Pinnaroo Oval, Pinnaroo 20222023–0-
Tailem Bend
Mitcham Football Club colours.jpg
EaglesTailem Bend Football Club Oval, Tailem Bend 19461946–141947, 1954, 1960, 1962, 1965, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000

Former clubs

ClubJumperNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in RMFLRMFL Senior PremiershipsFate
TotalYears
Border Downs
AFL Collingwood Icon.jpg
MagpiesCoonalpyn Oval, Coonalpyn and Yumali Oval, Yumali 19551955–19910-Merged with Tintinara in 1992 to form Border Downs-Tintinara
Border Downs-Tintinara
Adelaide AFLW icon.png
CrowsCoonalpyn Oval, Coonalpyn and Tintinara Oval, Tintinara 19921993–20010-Moved to Mallee FL in 2002
Bremer  19311940–19570-Moved to Hills Central FA in 1958
Callington  Callington Oval, Callington 19041937–19400-Folded
Murray Bridge19441944–19450-Split back into Imperials and Rambler after WWII
Murray Bridge Redlegs
Melbourne Football Club colours.jpg
RedlegsMurray Bridge Showgrounds, Murray Bridge 19831983–20050-Folded in 2006
Nairne Bremer
Nairne Bremer United Football Club colours.jpg
RamsNairne Oval, Nairne HFL 19781992–19970-Returned to Hills FL in 1998
Monteith  MDFA19141938–19470-Folded
Meningie
Brisbane Bears Football Club colours.jpg
BearsMeningie Oval, Meningie LDFA18981955–202222001, 2014Merged with Border Downs-Tintinara in 2023 to form Coorong Cats
Palmer
Mitcham Football Club colours.jpg
Collier Park, Palmer 18911940–19530-Left league
Tailem Bend Warriors  19341941–19450-Folded in 1946

Inter-league

From 1958 to 1969 and from 1972 to 1999, the River Murray FL participated in the Lovelock Shield against the Great Southern Football League, Southern Football League and Hills Football League. [4]

League premiers

Standard medalists

The Mail Medal was awarded to the best and fairest player of the year. Awarded from 1938 to 1940, and then 1949-2012. In 2013 the RMFL changed the name to the Murray Valley Standard Medal.

Bohdan Cybulka Medal

Awarded to the best on ground during the League Grand Final.

Notable players

2010 ladder

River MurrayWinsByesLossesDrawsForAgainst%PtsFinalTeamGBPtsTeamGBPts
Mannum 13030212990370.22%26Elimination00000000
Ramblers 130302384102269.99%26Qualifying00000000
Imperials 120402282118965.74%241st SemiImperials141599Meningie81159
Meningie 90701755129057.64%182nd SemiRamblers131290Mannum51646
Mypolonga601001458239637.83%12PreliminaryMannum1511101Imperials131290
Jervois30130868216228.65%6GrandRamblers131088Mannum91670
Tailem Bend00160791270522.63%0

2011 ladder

River MurrayWinsByesLossesDrawsForAgainst%PtsFinalTeamGBPtsTeamGBPts
Ramblers 140202107138660.32%28Elimination00000000
Imperials 100511839137857.17%21Qualifying00000000
Mannum 90611614145652.57%191st SemiJervois1611107Mannum1512102
Jervois 70901567169748.01%142nd SemiImperials1516106Ramblers14892
Tailem Bend601001835197848.12%12PreliminaryRamblers2116142Jervois10969
Mypolonga601001524193544.06%12GrandImperials1615111Ramblers9963
Meningie301301351200740.23%6

2012 ladder

River MurrayWinsByesLossesDrawsForAgainst%PtsFinalTeamGBPtsTeamGBPts
Mypolonga 130301998127561.04%26EliminationMeningie1618114Mannum131189
Imperials 120401743117459.75%24QualifyingImperials111076Ramblers10868
Ramblers 110411753142655.14%231st SemiRamblers2018138Meningie177109
Meningie 90701730166750.93%182nd SemiMypolonga2212144Imperials1511101
Mannum 70901416137950.66%14PreliminaryRamblers15999Imperials8856
Jervois201311332233436.33%5GrandRamblers2115141Mypolonga2110136
Tailem Bend101501209192638.56%2

2013 ladder

River MurrayWinsByesLossesDrawsForAgainst%PtsFinalTeamGBPtsTeamGBPts
Imperials 130301910115462.34%26EliminationMeningie3120206Jervois11975
Ramblers 110501591110159.10%22QualifyingMannum179111Ramblers101171
Mannum 100601510124954.73%201st SemiRamblers141397Mypolonga121789
Mypolonga 90701680140154.53%182nd SemiMannum1612108Imperials101272
Jervois 80801314161344.89%16PreliminaryImperials2020140Ramblers7446
Meningie301301254170542.38%6GrandMannum131593Imperials101070
Tailem Bend201401056209233.55%4

2014 ladder

River MurrayWinsByesLossesDrawsForAgainst%PtsFinalTeamGBPtsTeamGBPts
Ramblers 120401778105162.85%24EliminationMeningie121486Imperials11672
Meningie 100511765124258.70%21QualifyingMeningie121284Mypolonga101474
Mypolonga 100511686130156.44%211st SemiMannum1811119Mypolonga14892
Mannum 100601464121854.59%202nd SemiMeningie111278Ramblers81159
Imperials 70901525135852.90%14PreliminaryRamblers141397Mannum121284
Jervois301301230188839.45%6GrandMeningie1517107Ramblers7749
Tailem Bend301301052244230.11%6

2015 ladder

River MurrayWinsByesLossesDrawsForAgainst%PtsFinalTeamGBPtsTeamGBPts
Mannum 14020172187566.29%28EliminationRamblers7648Meningie4933
Imperials 130301482116755.95%26QualifyingImperials13684Mypolonga9660
Mypolonga 110501432115455.38%221st SemiMypolonga12375Ramblers6844
Meningie 90701524122555.44%182nd SemiMannum1513103Imperials91872
Ramblers 601001313139648.47%12PreliminaryImperials8250Mypolonga5737
Jervois201401084177337.94%4GrandMannum195119Imperials11571
Tailem Bend101501063202934.38%2

References

  1. "River Murray Football Association". Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (Sa : 1880 – 1954). 12 June 1931. p. 1.
  2. Strathearn, Peri. "Merger talk intensifies following Meningie Bears' final game". murraybridge.news. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  3. Strathearn, Peri. "Southern Mallee Suns, Mallee Storm admitted to RMFL for 2023". murraybridge.news. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  4. "Profiles – Eric Walter". Border Downs-Tintinara Football Club. Retrieved 22 July 2013.

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