# 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, that was made up from the Coolamon, Hay and Narrandra football clubs.
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.
The Milbrulong Football Association was reformed in 1945, 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.
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.
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.
On Wednesday, 12 September 1951, Hawthorn: 20.15 – 135 defeated the Central Riverina Football League: 6.6 – 42, which was played at Lockhart.
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.
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)

* 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.
* 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 | | | | | |
| 1946 | Milbrulong | 11.12 – 78 | Osborne | 7.12 – 54 | Bryan Brennan | | The Rock | | Donald Ross Cup Umpire: McIntyre (VFL) |
| 1947 | The Rock | 15.17 – 107 | Osborne | 14.4 – 89 | | | Milbrulong | £104 | Donald Ross Cup Umpire: Wollesley (VFL) |
| 1948 | Lockhart | 9.14 – 68 | Yerong Creek | 9.13 – 67 | B Dowdle | Vince Sullivan | Milbrulong | | Donald Ross Cup Umpire: Male (VFL) |
| | Central Riverina FL | | | | | | | | |
| 1949 | Lockhart | 15.12 – 102 | Yerong Creek | 7.7 – 49 | | Vince O'Sullivan | Milbrulong | | Donald Ross Cup Umpire: Haywood (VFL) |
| 1950 | Osborne | 10.8 – 68 | Yerong Creek | 6.11 – 47 | | | Collingullie | £110 | Donald Ross Cup Umpire: Clayton (VFL) |
| 1951 | Collingullie | 12.16 – 88 | Osborne | 3.7 – 25 | | | Milbrulong | | Umpire: Hopkins (VFL) |
| 1952 | Collingullie | 12.9 – 81 | Yerong Creek | 6.10 – 46 | | | Milbrulong | £135 | Umpire: Hopkins (VFL) |
| 1953 | Boree Creek | 14.11 – 95 | Collingullie | 9.9 – 63 | Ivan Argus | Ivan Argus | Milbrulong | | Umpire: (VFL) |
| 1954 | Yerong Creek | 10.11 – 71 | Milbrulong | 7.6 – 48 | | | | | |
| 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 | | |
| 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.

### 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 |
| 1948 | Ross Garrett | Milbrulong | 34 | Kevin Terlich | Pleasant Hills | 20 |
| | Central Riverina FL | | | | | |
| 1949 | Charles Doig | Osborne | | | | Brennan Cup |
| 1950 | | | | | | |
| 1951 | | | | | | |
| 1952 | | | | | | |
| 1953 | Merv Priest | Collinguille | | Jim Stockton | Milbrulong | |
| 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 |
| | Riverina DISTRICT FL | Gerald Clear Medal | | | | |
| 1982 | Bruce Rollins | Marrar | 21 | Errol Boots | Whitton | 20 |
| | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 | |
| 1954 | Andy M. O'Neill | Alfred H. Shaw | |
| 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 |