Central Riverina Football League

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,[1] that was made up from the Coolamon, Hay and Narrandra football clubs.[2]

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.[3]

The Milbrulong Football Association was reformed in 1945,[4] 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.[5]

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.[6]

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.[7]

On Wednesday, 12 September 1951, Hawthorn: 20.15 – 135 defeated the Central Riverina Football League: 6.6 – 42, which was played at Lockhart.[8]

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.[9][10][11][12]

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.

Football Clubs

Milbrulong & District Football League (1945–1948)

• Boree Creek: "Magpies" 1946 – 1948. Joined the Central Riverina FL in 1949.
• Collingullie: – 1946 – 1948. Joined the Central Riverina FL in 1949.
• Lockhart: 1945 – 1948. Joined the Central Riverina FL in 1949.
• Milbrulong: 1945 – 1948. Joined the Central Riverina FL in 1949.
• Mittagong: 1945 – 1948. Joined the Central Riverina FL in 1949.
• Osborne: 1945 – 1948. Joined the Central Riverina FL in 1949.
• Pleasant Hills: 1948. Joined the Central Riverina FL in 1949.
• The Rock: 1945 – 1947. Joined the Albury & District Football League in 1948.
• Yerong Creek: 1945 – 1948. Joined the Central Riverina FL in 1949.

Central Riverina Football League (1949–1981)[13]

• Army (Kapooka) "Cats": 1958 – 1972 & 1975 – 81: Merged with Junee in 1982 & joined the Riverina District Football League.
• Barellan "Kangaroos: 1973 – 81. Joined the Riverina Football League in 1982.
• Boree Creek: 1949 – 1969 & 1980 – 1981. Played in the Hume Football League 1970 – 1975. Played in the Coreen & District Football League 1976 – 1978
• Collingullie "Demons": 1949 – 1964. Joined the Farrer Football League in 1965.
• Cootamundra "Blues": 1960 – 1980. Joined the South West Football League (New South Wales) in 1981
• East Wagga Saints: 1959 – 1976: Joined the Farrer Football League in 1977.
• RAAF (Forest Hill) "Cats". 1962 – 19?? & 1977 – 1981. Joined the Riverina District Football League in 1982 – 1996. Merged with North Wagga Saints in 1997.
• Junee "Bulldogs": 1958 – 1981. Merged with Army in 1982 & joined the Riverina District Football League.
• Lockhart "Bombers": 1949 – 1956. Joined the Albury & District Football League in 1957.
• Marian Dons: 1971 –
• Marrar "Bombers" 1957 – 1981. Joined the Riverina District Football League in 1982.
• Milbrulong 1949 – 1958. Club disbanded.
• Mittagong 1949. Withdrew from the CRFL at 1950 AGM due to insufficient players.
• Osborne 1949 – 1969. Joined the Hume Football League in 1970.
• Pleasant Hills 1949 – 1953. Withdrew at 1954 CRFL – AGM due to insufficient players.
• Riverina College of Advanced Education: 1972 – 1981. – "Bush Pigs":
• South Wagga-Tolland Dons:
• Temora "Kangaroos": 1957 – 1960. Joined the Farrer Football League in 1961.
• Tumut 1970 – 1977: Joined the Upper Murray Football League in 1978.
• Turvey Park: 1955. Joined the South West Football League in 1956 and played there until 1981.
• Uranquinty "Rosellas": 1950 – 1952.[14]
• Wagga
• Whitton "Tigers" 1979 – 1981. Joined the Riverina District Football League in 1982.
• Yerong Creek: 1949 – 1955. Joined the Albury & District Football League in 1955, then Yerong Creek merged with The Rock in 1962 & remained in the A&DFL.
• Young: 1976 – 1977. Young joined the Northern Riverina FL in 1978.

Football Grand Finals

Seniors

Year	Premiers	Score	Runners Up	Score	Captain	Coach	Venue	Gate	Premiership Cup
	Milbrulong & DFL
1945	The Rock	13.10 – 82	Osborne	8.16 – 64					[15][16]
1946	Milbrulong	11.12 – 78	Osborne	7.12 – 54	Bryan Brennan		The Rock		Donald Ross Cup[17] Umpire: McIntyre (VFL)
1947	The Rock	15.17 – 107	Osborne	14.4 – 89			Milbrulong	£104	Donald Ross Cup[18] Umpire: Wollesley (VFL)
1948	Lockhart	9.14 – 68	Yerong Creek	9.13 – 67	B Dowdle[19]	Vince Sullivan[20]	Milbrulong		Donald Ross Cup[21] Umpire: Male (VFL)
	Central Riverina FL
1949	Lockhart	15.12 – 102	Yerong Creek	7.7 – 49		Vince O'Sullivan[22]	Milbrulong		Donald Ross Cup[23] Umpire: Haywood (VFL)
1950	Osborne	10.8 – 68	Yerong Creek	6.11 – 47			Collingullie	£110	Donald Ross Cup[24] Umpire: Clayton (VFL)
1951	Collingullie	12.16 – 88	Osborne	3.7 – 25			Milbrulong		[25] Umpire: Hopkins (VFL)
1952	Collingullie	12.9 – 81	Yerong Creek	6.10 – 46			Milbrulong	£135	Umpire: Hopkins (VFL)[26][27]
1953	Boree Creek	14.11 – 95	Collingullie	9.9 – 63	Ivan Argus	Ivan Argus	Milbrulong		[28] Umpire: (VFL)
1954	Yerong Creek	10.11 – 71	Milbrulong	7.6 – 48					[29]
1955	Turvey Park	8.12 – 60	Osborne	8.12 – 60					(drawn grand final)
	Turvey Park	9.7 – 61	Osborne	4.10 – 34					(grand final reply)
1956	Lockhart	12.11 – 83	Milbrulong	19.9 – 69
1957	Osborne	9.13 – 67	Milbrulong	7.12 – 54
1958	Osborne	16.16 – 122	Marrar	8.3 – 51
1959	Temora	16.12 – 108	Marrar	12.9 – 81
1960	Temora	9.7 – 60	Marrar	4.4 – 28			Bolton Park, Wagga		[30]
1961	Osborne	12.11 – 83	Boree Creek	7.15 – 57				£
1962	Junee	16.9 – 105	Boree Creek	16.6 – 102				£
1963	Collingullie	14.16 – 100	Boree Creek	4.8 – 32				£
1964	Collingullie	11.11 – 77	Junee	8.8 – 56				£
1965	Marrar	12.20 – 92	Cootamundra	11.11 – 77				£
1966	Marrar	9.12 – 66	Cootamundra	3.5 – 23
1967	Army	16.18 – 114	East Wagga	4.5 – 29
1968	East Wagga	7.16 – 58	Junee	6.5 – 41
1969	Army	11.13 – 79	East Wagga	9.13.67
1970	Army	19.19 – 133	East Wagga	15.15. – 105
1971	Army	15.7 – 97	Marrar	14.14 – 92
1972	East Wagga	16.14 – 110	Army	9.20 – 74
1973	Cootamundra	17.22 – 124	East Wagga	14.7 – 91
1974	Cootamundra	6.8 – 44	Barellan United	4.9 – 33
1975	Barellan United	13.14 – 92	East Wagga	7.9 – 51
1976	East Wagga	13.12 – 90	Cootamundra	9.9 – 63
1977	Cootamundra	11.18 – 84	Marrar	8.6 – 54
1978	RCAE	14.8 – 92	Barellan United	10.8 – 68
1979	Marrar	14.19 – 103	Barellan United	14.8 – 92
1980	Cootamundra	18.17 – 125	Marrar	6.5 – 41
1981	Barellan United	15.16 – 106	Marrar	7.14 – 56
	Riverina DISTRICT FL
1982	Collingullie – Ashmont	21.15 – 141	Mangoplah CU	11.10 – 76	Ian Rainbird	Ian Rainbird	Maher Oval, Wagga
	Riverina DISTRICT FL: Division 1
1983	North Wagga	25.15 – 155	Mangoplah CU	17.15 – 117	Martin King	Martin King
1984	Collingullie – Ashmont	16.20 – 116	Mangoplah CU	11.16 – 82	Gary Colvin	Gary 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[31] 1948: RAAF: 8.8 – 56 drew Central Riverina FL U/21: 8.8 – 56[32] (curtain raiser) 1949: Albury & District Football League: 7.12 – 54 drew Central Riverina FL: 9.0 – 54[33] (curtain raiser) 1952: Lockhart v MIlbrulong[34] 1953: Osborne[35] v Milbrulong[36] 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)

Club	Most Premierships	Runners Up	Grand Finals
Collingullie	4	1	5
Cootamundra	4	3	7
East Wagga	3	5	8
Osborne	4	3	7
Army	4	1	5
Marrar	3	7	10
Barellan United	2	3	5
Lockhart	3	0	2
Temora	2	0	2
Boree Creek	1	3	4
Junee	1	1	2
RCAE	1	0	1
Turvey Park	1	0	1
Milbrulong	0	3	3
Yerong Creek	0	3	3
TOTAL	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

Year	Winner	Club	Votes	Runner Up	Club	Votes
	Milbrilong & DFL
1945						no record of winner
1946						no record of winner
1947	Charles Doig	Osborne	38	Ross Garrett	Lockhart	33[37]
1948	Ross Garrett	Milbrulong	34	Kevin Terlich	Pleasant Hills	20[38]
	Central Riverina FL
1949	Charles Doig	Osborne				Brennan Cup[39][40]
1950
1951
1952
1953	Merv Priest	Collinguille		Jim Stockton	Milbrulong	[41][42]
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960	B Smith	Osborne
1961	Peter Wilson	Boree Creek
1962	Peter Wilson	Boree Creek
1963	Peter Wilson	Boree Creek
1964	B Douglas	Osborne
1965	B Douglas	Osborne
1966	G Smith	Army
1967	B McCaffery	Army
1968	G Buchanan &	Army
	N Rowlands	Army
1969	N Jarvis	Army
1970	N Jarvis	Army
1971	Reg Hamilton	Marrar
1972	B Murphy	RCAE
1973	B Harper	Marrar
1974	B Harper	Marrar
1975	B Harper	Marrar
1976	Ken Forbes	Cootamundra
1977	Ken Forbes	Cootamundra
1978	M Briggs	Junee
1979	Errol Boots	Whitton
1980	P Butterworth	RCAE
1981	Errol Boots	Whitton	20	R Reed	South West Tolland	16[43]
	Riverina DISTRICT FL	Gerald Clear Medal
1982	Bruce Rollins	Marrar	21	Errol Boots	Whitton	20[44]
	Riverina DISTRICT FL: Div 1	Gerald Clear Medal
1983	Laurie Pendick	North Wagga	22	Phil Reid	Temora	20
1984	Danny Malone	Marrar	21	Ian Geddes	Barellan	19
1985	Farrer Football League:Div 1	Gerald Clear Medal

• 1985 – RDFL changed its name to the Farrer FL.

Officer Bearers

Year	President	Secretary	Treasurer
	Milbrulong & DFL
1945	Ernest C. Howard
1946	Ernest C. Howard	George Cowin
1947	Ernest C. Howard	E. Head	C. Lumley[45]
1948	Ernest C. Howard
	Central Riverina FL
1949	Ernest C. Howard	L. K. Smith	H. Tinsley
1950	V Foley	L. K. Smith	J . G. Peach[46]
1951	Andy M. O'Neill	A. Hickson	J. G. Peach
1952	Andy M. O'Neill	Alfred H. Shaw
1953	Andy M. O'Neill	Alfred H. Shaw	[47]
1954	Andy M. O'Neill	Alfred H. Shaw	[48]
1959	Ernest C. Howard	Alfred H. Shaw
1960	Ernest C. Howard	Alfred H. Shaw
1981		George Washington	Toby Kells
	Riverina DFL
1982	John Yates	Lex Foley	Malcom Levett
1983	Frank Gaynor
Year	President	Secretary	Treasurer

References

1. "1907 – Central Riverina Football League". Narandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser (NSW). 31 May 1907. p. 2. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
2. "1907 – Narandra". The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (NSW). 21 June 1907. p. 47. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
3. "1949 – Football". The Henty Observer and Culcairn Shire Register (NSW). 8 April 1949. p. 8. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
4. "1945 – Milbrulong League". The Henty Observer and Culcairn Shire Register (NSW). 1 June 1945. p. 6. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
5. "1946 – Football". The Lockhart Review and Oaklands Advertiser (NSW). 2 April 1946. p. 2. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
6. "1948 – Football". The Lockhart Review and Oaklands Advertiser (NSW). 6 April 1948. p. 7. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
7. "1949 – Football". The Lockhart Review and Oaklands Advertiser (NSW). 29 March 1949. p. 7. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
8. "1951 – HAWTHORN FOOTBALLERS GIVE GRAND DISPLAY". The Lockhart Review and Oaklands Advertiser (NSW). 18 September 1951. p. 1. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
9. "1982 – Riverina District FL – Record" (PDF). NSW Football History. Riverina District FL. 10 April 1982. p. 2. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
10. 1979 MTN 9 tv presentation, retrieved 2022-11-18
11. MTN 9 presentation 1979, retrieved 2022-11-18
12. "Central Riverina Football League – 1960 – NSW Australian Football History Society Inc". Retrieved 2022-11-18.
13. "Riverina District FL v Hume FL" (PDF). NSW Football History. Central Riverina FL. 29 May 1982. p. 18. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
14. "1952 – Central Riverina Football League Re-forms". The Lockhart Review and Oaklands Advertiser (NSW). 31 March 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
15. "1945 – Australian Rules: The Rock wins the premiership". Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW). 28 September 1945. p. 6. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
16. "1945 – Premiership Banquet". Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW). 16 October 1945. p. 8. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
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24. "1950 – Osborne Defeat Yerong Creek in Central Riverina League Premiership". The Observer (Henty, NSW). 8 September 1950. p. 12. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
25. "1951 – COLLINGULLIE WINS ITS FIRST PREMIERSHIP". The Lockhart Review and Oaklands Advertiser (NSW). 11 September 1950. p. 2. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
26. "1952 – Second Successive to Collingullie". The Lockhart Review and Oaklands Advertiser (NSW). 9 September 1952. p. 8. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
27. "1952 – Collingullie win grand final". The Observer (Henty, NSW). 12 September 1952. p. 8. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
28. "1953 – Central Riverina League Result". The Lockhart Review and Oaklands Advertiser (NSW). 1 September 1953. p. 8. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
29. "1954 – Yerong Creek Win Cent. Riverina League Premiership". The Observer (Henty, NSW). 3 September 1954. p. 8. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
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38. "1948 – Football". The Lockhart Review and Oaklands Advertiser (NSW). 24 August 1948. p. 7. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
39. "1949 – Football". The Lockhart Review and Oaklands Advertiser (NSW). 9 August 1949. p. 7. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
40. "1949 – Central Riverina Trophy Won by C. Doig". Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW). 19 August 1949. p. 4. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
41. "1953 – Boree Creek Win Grand Final in Central Riverina League". The Observer (Henty, NSW). 4 September 1953. p. 8. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
42. "1953 – Central Riverina FL Results". The Lockhart Review and Oaklands Advertiser (NSW). 1 September 1953. p. 8. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
43. "1981 – CRFL Record – Grand Final Edition" (PDF). NSW Football History. Central Riverina FL. 5 September 1981. p. 14. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
44. "1982 – RDFL – Qualifying Final Record" (PDF). NSW Football History. Riverina District FL. 29 August 1982. p. 22. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
45. "1947 – M & D Football League". The Lockhart Review and Oaklands Advertiser (NSW). 18 March 1947. p. 4. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
46. "1950 – Football". The Henty Observer and Culcairn Shire Register (NSW). 7 April 1950. p. 8. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
47. "1953 – Central Riverina Football League Re-forms". The Lockhart Review and Oaklands Advertiser (NSW). 31 March 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
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Links

• Albury & District Football League
• Australian rules football in New South Wales
• Central Hume Football Association
• Coreen & District Football League
• Farrer Football League
• Hume Football Netball League
• Riverina Football Association
• Riverina Football Netball League
• South West Football League (New South Wales)
• Central Riverina FL – "CRFL Weekly Record"