The Sunday Football League Western Australia, commonly known as the Sunday Football League (SFL), was a semi-professionalAustralian rules football league based in the southern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. The league was in operation from 1984 to 2008, and Kenwick Royals was the most successful club with eight senior team premierships.
History
The Sunday Football League (SFL) was formed in late 1983 after a proposed merger between the South Suburban Murray Football League (SSMFL) and Western Australian Football Association (WAFA) fell through. The twelve SSMFL clubs were Armadale, Canning, Gosnells, Kalamunda, Kelmscott, Kenwick, Kwinana, Maddington, Mandurah, Rockingham, Thornlie and Willetton. The five WAFA clubs to join were Applecross, Fremantle (later North Fremantle), Osborne Park, South Perth and Wanneroo. Six WAFA clubs decided to stay in that competition rather than join the new league.
South Suburban Football
Prior to the Sunday Football League being formed, the South Suburban Murray Football League was formed in 1960 when two leagues - the South Suburban Football Association and Murray Districts Football Association - agreed to a trial season. The SSFA had only five teams competing in 1959 (Armadale, Canning, Gosnells, Kelmscott and Maddington) while the MDFA had four teams (Hills, Pinjarra, Mandurah and Waroona). Kenwick, who had been trying since 1958 to join the SSFA, was accepted as the tenth team to remove a bye in each round.
The South Suburban Football Association began in 1910 with three teams, Armadale, Kelmscott and Mundijong. Queens Park joined in 1911, while Mundijong withdrew after five games. Victoria Park joined the SSFA in 1913. Queens Park won the premiership in 1913 after taking the SSFA to court after the league decided to change how the premier team would be selected that year.
The Murray Districts Football Association started in 1938 with five teams (Coolup, Mandurah, North Dandalup, Pinjarra and Waroona). Pinjarra won the first premiership, and Waroona won the next two before the competition was suspended due to World War 2. Waroona won the first two flags after the competition resumed in 1946 and 47. Pinjarra won in 1948 and Mandurah won their first premiership in 1949.
West Australian Football Association
The West Australian Football Association (WAFA) was established in 1949 as the Mercantile Football Association (MFA). The MFA consisted primarily of work-based clubs such as Boans, Daily News, Foys, Hardies, Mails, Sunday Times, Wesfarmers and Telegraphs. In 1954, the league was renamed as the Sunday National Football League (SNFL) and there were separate A-Grade and B-Grade competitions with promotion and relegation. The more traditional suburban-based teams were introduced in the 1950s, such as Maylands, Scarborough (not related to the current Club of the same name), Rockingham and Osborne Park. Work-based teams also changed names, with Wesfarmers becoming North Perth, Tramways becoming Leederville, and Sunday Times becoming Metropolitans.
In the 1960s, the league expanded with the inclusion of clubs from Wanneroo, Midland, Belmont, Cockburn, Bayswater and East Fremantle. By 1964, a Reserves Grade replaced the B-Grade competition, and each Club was required to field two sides. The league also changed name to the West Australian Football Association (WAFA) in 1968. South Perth, Applecross and Mosman Park were introduced in the 1970s. In 1980, the WAFA absorbed six teams from the disbanded Fremantle Ex-Scholars Football Association and a Division 2 was created. The WAFA reverted to a single grade competition in 1984 after Applecross, Fremantle (later North Fremantle), Osborne Park, South Perth and Wanneroo left to join the Sunday Football League.
The final year of the WAFA was in 1987 with teams from Manning, Mosman Park, Midland, Cockburn, Belmont and Tuart Hill. Over its 39 years, a total of 49 different clubs competed in the WAFA.
Lower SFL Grades
Between 1988 and 1991, the SFL managed a second-tier competition (with League, Reserves and Colts grades) known as the Metropolitan Football League (MFL). The MFL initially consisted of six teams, including four teams from the disbanded WAFA - Manning, Mosman Park, Midland and Cockburn - plus Fremantle and Kwinana, who previously competed in the top division of the Sunday Football League. Pinjarra and Mundijong Centrals joined in 1989 after the Murray Districts Football League disbanded, and were joined in 1990 by Waroona and South Mandurah. At the end of 1991, teams from the MFL joined the newly formed Peel Football League.
Between 1994 and 1997, the SFL managed another second-tier competition (with League, Reserves and Colts grades), known initially as the Sunday Amateurs Football League (SAFL). The SAFL initially consisted of seven teams, including Belmont, Midland, Kingsley, Cockburn, Manning, Mosman Park and North Fremantle. A number of these teams had joined after previously competing in the Peel Football League. Kalamunda and Ballajura joined the SAFL in 1995, replacing Cockburn and Manning. In 1997, the League was re-badged as the Sunday Football League (SFL) Division 2, and was reduced to four teams, after Belmont, Midland and North Fremantle left. Belmont joined the SFL at that time.
Between 1985 and 2008, the SFL managed a single-grade, third-tier competition, known initially as the SFL Saturday Amateurs Division. The Saturday Amateurs Division included the Thirds teams from those Division 1 clubs that had sufficient players to do so. The grade was renamed the SFL Division 3 from 1994 to 1997, but returned to the SFL Saturday Amateurs Division from 1998 to 2003. In 2004, there was revamp of the grade to include other single-team clubs, and there was a renaming to the West Australian Football Association (WAFA), which was a tribute to the former WAFA that existed between 1949 and 1987.
It was an unfortunate event that clubs which had high public profiles in the SFL largely faded from public view when they were thrust into the lower-leagues of the Amateurs.
Clubs
SFL Division 1
Colours
Club
Logo
Home ground
Years in competition
League premiers
League premiership years
Notes
Applecross
Hawks
Shirley Strickland Oval
1984-1994
-
Armadale
Demons
Gwynne Park
1984-2008
1
2001
Belmont
Bombers
Forster Park
1997-1998
-
Canning
Tigers
Wyong Oval
1984-2000
1
1994
Merged with Victoria Park-South Perth in 2001
Canning-Victoria Park-South Perth
Tigers
Wyong Oval
2001-2008
-
Merger of Canning and Victoria Park-South Perth in 2001
Known as Sister Kates 2001-2004 and Mustangs 2005-2008
Navy blue, yellow
Southern River
Falcons
Sunderlands Park
1998-2008
St Norberts
Saints
Wyong Reserve
2004
Thornlie
Lions
Thornlie Oval
1991-2008
Wanneroo
Roos
Kingsway Reserve
1985–1991, 1994-1997
Willetton
Blues
Burrendah Reserve
1985-1995
Wonderers
-
Barry Britton Reserve
2004, 2006-2007
Grand final results
League grades
SFL Division 1 - League
Year
Premiers
Score
Runners up
Score
1984
Kalamunda
15.18 (108)
Wanneroo
11.10 (76)
1985
Kalamunda
21.15 (141)
Willetton
8.7 (55)
1986
Osborne Park
16.15 (111)
Kalamunda
11.6 (72)
1987
Osborne Park
21.19 (145)
Maddington
12.15 (87)
1988
Wanneroo
17.12 (114)
Maddington
14.16 (100)
1989
Gosnells
13.15 (93)
Wanneroo
12.8 (80)
1990
Osborne Park
13.17 (95)
Kelmscott
11.7 (73)
1991
Wanneroo
24.13 (157)
Armadale
8.5 (53)
1992
Wanneroo
10.17 (77)
Osborne Park
6.17 (53)
1993
Thornlie
20.10 (130)
Canning
10.11 (71)
1994
Canning
15.11 (101)
Osborne Park
13.13 (91)
1995
Thornlie
20.19 (139)
Kenwick
13.7 (85)
1996
Kenwick
15.11 (101)
Armadale
2.9 (21)
1997
Kenwick
15.16 (106)
Armadale
7.12 (54)
1998
Kenwick
13.17 (95)
Armadale
8.6 (54)
1999
Kenwick
14.18 (102)
Gosnells
8.8 (56)
2000
Kelmscott
11.14 (80)
Armadale
10.7 (67)
2001
Armadale
11.9 (75)
Thornlie
9.13 (67)
2002
Kenwick
14.11 (95)
Thornlie
7.7 (49)
2003
Maddington
17.17 (119)
Thornlie
14.6 (90)
2004
Kenwick
19.7 (121)
Maddington
15.7 (97)
2005
Kenwick
12.6 (78)
Maddington
8.8 (56)
2006
Kenwick
16.10 (106)
Gosnells
12.9 (81)
2007
Maddington
14.12 (96)
Kenwick
5.13 (43)
2008
Gosnells
14.16 (100)
Kenwick
8.14 (62)
Note: Results source from Sunday Football League Yearbooks
Metropolitan Football League - League
Year
Premiers
Score
Runners up
Score
1988
Kwinana
19.16 (130)
Cockburn
9.14 (68)
1989
Pinjarra
14.22 (106)
Midland
11.7 (73)
1990
Midland
16.8 (104)
Mosman Park
10.12 (72)
1991
Mundijong Centrals
14.10 (94)
Midland
12.10 (82)
Sunday Amateurs Football League / SFL Division 2 - League
Year
Premiers
Score
Runners up
Score
1994
Midland
12.11 (83)
Belmont
9.8 (62)
1995
Belmont
19.15 (129)
Midland
10.3 (63)
1996
Belmont
18.17 (125)
Kalamunda
11.12 (78)
1997
Kalamunda
18.17 (125)
Kingsley
6.13 (49)
Note: Known as Sunday Amateur Football League (SAFL) from 1994 to 1996 and Sunday Football League (SFL) Division 2 in 1997
Reserves grades
SFL Division 1 - Reserves
Year
Premiers
Score
Runners up
Score
1984
Canning
22.8 (140)
Kenwick
6.7 (43)
1985
Osborne Park
10.8 (68)
Willetton
7.14 (56)
1986
Maddington
21.11 (137)
Osborne Park
15.9 (99)
1987
Maddington
16.14 (110)
Applecross
10.8 (68)
1988
Kelmscott
16.13 (109)
Maddington
10.14 (74)
1989
Osborne Park
17.15 (117)
Gosnells
12.13 (85)
1990
Armadale
10.14 (74)
Osborne Park
9.10 (64)
1991
Wanneroo
12.5 (77)
Osborne Park
8.14 (62)
1992
Kelmscott
9.3 (57)
Osborne Park
7.12 (54)
1993
Osborne Park
14.14 (98)
Applecross
9.18 (72)
1994
Willetton
14.8 (92)
Osborne Park
9.8 (62)
1995
Willetton
16.16 (112)
Wanneroo
9.7 (61)
1996
Kenwick
9.7 (61)
Kelmscott
8.10 (58)
1997
Wanneroo
11.7 (73)
Armadale
10.6 (66)
1998
Wanneroo
10.7 (67)
Thornlie
4.12 (36)
1999
Thornlie
10.8 (68)
Gosnells
10.5 (65)
2000
Kelmscott
11.5 (71)
Maddington
5.10 (40)
2001
Thornlie
9.10 (64)
Maddington
5.12 (42)
2002
Maddington
9.16 (70)
Thornlie
5.13 (43)
2003
Thornlie
20.11 (131)
Kenwick
5.8 (38)
2004
Thornlie
9.4 (58)
Maddington
6.8 (44)
2005
Maddington
18.7 (115)
Thornlie
2.7 (19)
2006
Canning
11.6 (72)
Thornlie
7.5 (47)
2007
Maddington
8.7 (55)
Thornlie
7.8 (50)
2008
Maddington
9.5 (59)
Thornlie
8.5 (53)
Metropolitan Football League - Reserves
Year
Premiers
Score
Runners up
Score
1988
Kwinana
11.16 (82)
Cockburn
8.6 (54)
1989
Kwinana
18.17 (125)
Fremantle
9.4 (58)
1990
Kwinana
15.10 (100)
Midland
11.8 (74)
1991
Mosman Park
13.12 (90)
North Fremantle
3.6 (24)
Sunday Amateurs Football League / SFL Division 2 - Reserves
Year
Premiers
Score
Runners up
Score
1994
Belmont
12.17 (89)
Cockburn
9.9 (63)
1995
Midland
8.15 (63)
Belmont
8.10 (58)
1996
Belmont
17.20 (122)
Mosman Park
6.1 (37)
1997
Kalamunda
19.13 (127)
Kingsley
6.13 (49)
Lower grades
SFL Saturday Amateurs Division / SFL Division 3
Year
Premiers
Score
Runners up
Score
1985
Osborne Park Red
12.11 (83)
Willetton
10.5 (65)
1986
Wanneroo
9.9 (63)
Osborne Park Red
9.6 (60)
1987
Osborne Park
15.17 (107)
Maddington
7.2 (44)
1988
Wanneroo
15.4 (94)
Osborne Park
4.10 (34)
1989
Maddington
13.13 (91)
Osborne Park
6.6 (42)
1990
Maddington
7.10 (52)
Willetton
6.15 (51)
1991
Osborne Park
15.11 (101)
Gosnells
7.7 (49)
1992
Kelmscott
11.14 (80)
Roleytone
5.8 (38)
1993
Armadale
11.9 (75)
Kelmscott
6.6 (42)
1994
Thornlie
12.4 (76) 8.8 (56)
Roleytone
11.10 (76) 5.5 (35)
1995
Gosnells
16.11 (107)
Kenwick
12.4 (76)
1996
Gosnells
8.9 (57)
Kenwick
7.5 (47)
1997
Kenwick
12.12 (84)
Kelmscott
10.6 (66)
1998
Kenwick
11.7 (73)
Thornlie
3.9 (27)
1999
Kenwick
16.14 (110)
Roleytone
8.4 (52)
2000
Kenwick
8.7 (55)
Roleytone
7.10 (52)
2001
Roleystone
14.13 (97)
Kenwick
7.10 (52)
2002
Roleystone
13.7 (85)
Sister Kates
8.10 (58)
2003
Kenwick
10.12 (72)
Koongamia
9.8 (62)
2004
Magpies
14.10 (94)
Kenwick
7.4 (46)
2005
Kenwick
10.15 (75)
Magpies
8.7 (55)
2006
Mustangs
16.13 (109)
Kenwick
12.10 (82)
2007
Forrestdale
10.6 (66)
Innaloo
7.13 (55)
2008
Kenwick
20.14 (134)
Roleystone
9.9 (63)
Note: Known as SFL Saturday Amateurs Division from 1985 to 1993, SFL Division 3 from 1994 to 1997, SFL Saturday Amateurs Division from 1998 to 2003 and WAFA from 2004 to 2008
Colts grades
SFL Division 1 - Colts
Year
Premiers
Score
Runners up
Score
1984
Kenwick
11.7 (73)
Fremantle
7.10 (52)
1985
Willetton
9.11 (65)
Wanneroo
6.8 (44)
1986
Thornlie
18.16 (124)
Willetton
8.7 (55)
1987
Willetton
10.9 (69)
Gosnells
7.9 (51)
1988
Applecross
17.8 (110)
Gosnells
13.9 (87)
1989
Applecross
9.19 (73)
Gosnells
8.7 (55)
1990
Gosnells
17.7 (109)
Armadale
6.14 (50)
1991
Kenwick
11.6 (72)
Kelmscott
8.10 (58)
1992
Willetton
8.14 (62)
Canning
5.9 (39)
1993
Willetton
8.9 (57)
Osborne Park
8.6 (54)
1994
Osborne Park
8.13 (61)
Kenwick
7.5 (47)
1995
Willetton
11.17 (83)
Kenwick
6.6 (42)
1996
Wanneroo
11.12 (78)
Kelmscott
3.5 (23)
1997
Kenwick
13.7 (85)
Maddington
9.4 (58)
1998
Kelmscott
7.6 (48)
Kenwick
6.8 (44)
1999
Kenwick
8.12 (60)
Kelmscott
8.10 (58)
2000
Wanneroo
16.3 (99)
Kenwick
10.12 (72)
2001
Kenwick
11.14 (80)
Wanneroo
4.6 (30)
2002
Kenwick
9.12 (66)
Thornlie
5.4 (34)
2003
Gosnells
11.5 (71)
Swan Valley
6.3 (39)
2004
Kenwick
13.9 (87)
Gosnells
8.4 (52)
2005
Armadale
12.10 (82)
Maddington
4.9 (33)
2006
Wanneroo-Kingsway
8.14 (62)
Thornlie
7.7 (49)
2007
Thornlie
15.7 (97)
Gosnells
10.4 (64)
2008
Thornlie
12.15 (87)
Gosnells
5.8 (38)
Metropolitan Football League - Colts
Year
Premiers
Score
Runners up
Score
1988
Midland
17.10 (112)
Kwinana
9.1 (55)
1989
Mundijong Centrals
14.9 (93)
Fremantle
11.8 (74)
1990
Mosman Park
11.9 (75)
Mundijong Centrals
5.9 (39)
1991
Mundijong Centrals
5.7 (37)
Manning
5.3 (33)
Sunday Amateurs Football League / SFL Division 2 - Colts
Year
Premiers
Score
Runners up
Score
1994
Belmont
14.7 (91)
Midland
5.6 (36)
1995
North Fremantle
13.5 (83)
Belmont
11.7 (73)
1996
Belmont
14.12 (96)
Kalamunda
9.10 (64)
Premierships from previous leagues
South Suburban Football Association (SSFA)
Year
Premiers
Year
Premiers
Year
Premiers
Year
Premiers
1910
Mundijong
1925
Queens Park
1938
Canning
1950
Gosnells
1911
Queens Park
1926
Armadale
1939
Kelmscott
1951
Canning
1912
Kelmscott
1927
Armadale
1940
Armadale
1952
Maddington
1913
Queens Park
1928
Canning
1941
Canning
1953
Maddington
1914
Armadale
1929
Canning
Recess 1942-1943
1954
Gosnells
1915
Queens Park
Recess 1930-1932
1944
Armadale
1955
Canning
Recess 1916-1920
1933
Canning
1945
Canning
1956
Canning
1921
Gosnells
1934
Armadale
1946
Maddington
1957
Gosnells
1922
Gosnells
1935
Armadale
1947
Canning
1958
Canning
1923
Armadale
1936
Armadale
1948
Canning
1959
Maddington
1924
Queens Park
1937
Armadale
1949
Canning
1960
Maddington
South Suburban Murray Football League (SSMFL)
Year
Premiers
Year
Premiers
Year
Premiers
Year
Premiers
1961
Canning
1967
Victoria Park
1973
Gosnells
1979
Kelmscott
1962
Kelmscott
1968
Victoria Park
1974
Maddington
1980
Canning
1963
Gosnells
1969
Belmont-Victoria Park
1975
Maddington
1981
Gosnells
1964
Gosnells
1970
Gosnells
1976
Maddington
1982
Rockingham
1965
Canning
1971
Maddington
1977
Gosnells
1983
Kenwick
1966
Maddington
1972
Mandurah
1978
Gosnells
Ladders
2007 ladder
Sunday
Wins
Byes
Losses
Draws
For
Against
%
Pts
Final
Team
G
B
Pts
Team
G
B
Pts
Maddington
11
0
5
0
1539
934
164.78%
44
1st semi
Gosnells
14
11
95
Thornlie
12
10
82
Kenwick
11
0
5
0
1368
1061
128.93%
44
2nd semi
Kenwick
16
11
107
Maddington
15
6
96
Thornlie
10
0
5
1
1397
1068
130.81%
42
Preliminary
Maddington
11
16
82
Gosnells
11
6
72
Gosnells
10
0
5
1
1389
1091
127.31%
42
Grand
Maddington
14
12
96
Kenwick
5
13
43
Armadale
9
0
6
1
1528
1173
130.26%
38
Tigers
3
0
13
0
1085
1391
78.00%
12
Kelmscott
0
0
15
1
600
2188
27.42%
2
2008 ladder
Sunday
Wins
Byes
Losses
Draws
For
Against
%
Pts
Final
Team
G
B
Pts
Team
G
B
Pts
Gosnells
14
0
2
0
1931
1291
149.57%
56
1st semi
Kenwick
16
16
112
Thornlie
9
10
64
Maddington
13
0
3
0
1617
1104
146.47%
52
2nd semi
Gosnells
14
10
94
Maddington
12
10
82
Kenwick
12
0
4
0
1489
1015
146.70%
48
Preliminary
Kenwick
10
13
73
Maddington
8
12
60
Thornlie
7
0
8
1
1495
1480
101.01%
30
Grand
Gosnells
14
16
100
Kenwick
8
14
62
Kelmscott
6
0
10
0
1214
1785
68.01%
24
Armadale
3
0
13
0
1251
1510
82.85%
12
Tigers
0
0
15
1
1022
1834
55.73%
2
References
^Shayne Hope (13 February 2009). "Sunday footy league disbanded". The West Australian.