# Central Highlands Football League

The Central Highlands Football Netball League is an Australian Rules Football & Netball League in the Ballarat region. The league coordinates Senior, Reserve, Under 18, Under 15 and Under 12 grades.

## History
### Central Highlands FNL - 1979 to 2024

The CHFNL was formed in 1979 as a merger of the Clunes FL and the Bacchus Marsh Ballarat DFL.
In 2011 the league admitted four new clubs from the defunct Lexton Plains Football League, bringing the total number of clubs to 18.
In 2014 Illabarook changed its name to Smythesdale to reflect the town it plays its home games. Smythesdale later entered recess in 2018.
Clunes Football Association - 1931 to 1978
The Clunes FA was formed in 1931 and was initially made up of the following teams - Campbelltown, Clunes, Newstead and Smeaton.

## Clubs
### Current clubs

| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in CHFL | CHFL Senior Premierships | CHFL Senior Premierships |
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in CHFL | Total | Years |
| Ballan | | Blues | Ballan Recreation Reserve, Ballan | BBMFL | 1881 | 1979- | 2 | 1980, 1981 |
| Beaufort | | Crows | Goldfields Recreation Reserve, Beaufort | BFL | 1880 | 1994- | 3 | 1995, 1996, 2018 |
| Bungaree | | Demons | Bungaree Recreation Reserve, Bungaree | CFL | 1897 | 1979- | 2 | 1991, 2014 |
| Buninyong | | Bombers | Buninyong Recreation Reserve, Buninyong | BBMFL | 1874 | 1979- | 1 | 2002 |
| Carngham Linton | | Saints | Carngham Recreation Reserve, Snake Valley | LPFL | 1969 | 2011- | 0 | – |
| Clunes | | Magpies | Ligar Street Reserve, Clunes | CFL | 1869 | 1979- | 3 | 1979, 1993, 1997 |
| Creswick | | Wickers | Doug Lindsay Reserve, Creswick | CFL | 1869 | 1979- | 1 | 1987 |
| Daylesford | | Bulldogs | Victoria Park, Daylesford | BFL | 1877 | 2006- | 4 | 2007, 2009, 2012, 2024 |
| Dunnstown | | Towners | Dunnstown Recreation Reserve, Dunnstown | BBMFL | 1894 | 1979- | 3 | 1994, 1998, 1999 |
| Gordon | | Eagles | Gordon Recreation Reserve, Gordon | BBMFL | 1895 | 1979- | 3 | 1988, 2022, 2023 |
| Hepburn | | Burras | Hepburn Recreation Reserve, Hepburn | CFL | 1919 | 1979- | 9 | 1985, 1986, 1989, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2017 |
| Learmonth | | Lakies | Learmonth Recreation Reserve, Learmonth | CFL | 1889 | 1979- | 0 | – |
| Newlyn | | Cats | Newlyn Recreation Reserve, Newlyn | CFL | 1900 | 1979- | 2 | 1992, 2003 |
| Rokewood Corindhap | | Grasshoppers | Rokewood Recreation Reserve, Rokewood | LPFL | 1932 | 2011- | 0 | – |
| Skipton | | Emus | Skipton Recreation Reserve, Skipton | LPFL | 1873 | 2011- | 0 | – |
| Springbank | | Tigers | Wallace Recreation Reserve, Wallace | CFL | 1925 | 1979- | 5 | 1990, 2000, 2001, 2015, 2016 |
| Waubra | | Roos | Waubra Recreation Reserve, Waubra | CFL | 1910 | 1979- | 4 | 1982, 2006, 2011, 2019 |

### Former clubs

| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in CHFL | CHFL Senior Premierships | CHFL Senior Premierships | Fate |
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in CHFL | Total | Years | Fate |
| Darley | | Magpies | Darley Park, Darley | BBMFL | 1919 | 1979–1985 | 1 | 1984 | Moved to Riddell District FNL following 1985 season |
| Korweinguboora | | | Korweinguboora Recreation Reserve, Spargo Creek | CFL | 1920s | 1979–1981 | 0 | – | Folded in 1982 |
| Smythesdale | (2011-12)(2013-18) | Bulldogs | Smythesdale Recreation Reserve, Smythesdale | LPFL | 1925 | 2011-2018 | 0 | – | Entered recess following 2018 season |
| Wendouree | | | C.E. Brown Reserve, Wendouree | CFL | 1920s | 1979–1994 | 0 | 1983 | Merged with Ballarat YCW to form Lake Wendouree in Ballarat FL following 1994 season |

## Football Premierships
### Senior Football

* 1979 Clunes d Ballan
* 1980 Ballan d Dunnstown
* 1981 Ballan d Springbank
* 1982 Waubra d Dunnstown
* 1983 Wendouree d Dunnstown
* 1984 Darley
* 1985 Hepburn d Bungaree
* 1986 Hepburn d Bungaree
* 1987 Creswick
* 1988 Gordon d Bungaree
* 1989 Hepburn d Springbank
* 1990 Springbank
* 1991 Bungaree
* 1992 Newlyn
* 1993 Clunes
* 1994 Dunnstown
* 1995 Beaufort
* 1996 Beaufort
* 1997 Clunes
* 1998 Dunnstown
* 1999 Dunnstown
* 2000 Springbank
* 2001 Springbank
* 2002 Buninyong
* 2003 Newlyn
* 2004 Hepburn
* 2005 Hepburn
* 2006 Waubra
* 2007 Daylesford
* 2008 Hepburn
* 2009 Daylesford d Hepburn
* 2010 Hepburn d Daylesford
* 2011 Waubra d Daylesford
* 2012 Daylesford d Buninyong
* 2013 Hepburn d Buninyong
* 2014 Bungaree d Springbank
* 2015 Springbank d Gordon
* 2016 Springbank d Buninyong
* 2017 Hepburn d Beaufort
* 2018 Beaufort d Buninyong
* 2019 Waubra d Hepburn
* 2020 League in recess due to COVID-19
* 2021 No finals > COVID-19 1st: Gordon
* 2022 Gordon d Springbank
* 2023 Gordon d Springbank
* 2024 Daylesford d Bungaree

### Reserves Football

* 1979 Bungaree d Wendouree
* 1980 Bungaree d Wendouree
* 1981 Creswick d Learmont
* 1982 Learmonth
* 1983 Wendouree d Gordon
* 1984 Wendouree
* 1985 Darley d Hepburn
* 1986 Creswick
* 1987 Creswick
* 1988 Creswick d Gordon
* 1989 Wendouree d Newlyn
* 1990 Gordon
* 1991 Learmonth
* 1992 Springbank
* 1993 Springbank
* 1994 Wendouree
* 1995 Ballan
* 1996 Dunnstown
* 1997 Buninyong
* 1998 Clunes
* 1999 Buninyong
* 2000 Dunnstown
* 2001 Buninyong
* 2002 Buninyong
* 2003 Buninyong
* 2004 Hepburn
* 2005 Buninyong
* 2006 Hepburn
* 2007 Waubra
* 2008 Hepburn
* 2009 Buninyong d Bungaree
* 2010 Buninyong d Hepburn
* 2011 Waubra d Springbank
* 2012 Buninyong d Waubra
* 2013 Waubra d Bungaree
* 2014 Hepburn d Waubra
* 2015 Beaufort d Buninyong
* 2016 Springbank d Buninyong
* 2017 Buninyong d Beaufort
* 2018 Buninyong d Beaufort
* 2019 Creswick d Springbank
* 2020 League in recess due to COVID-19
* 2021 No finals > COVID-19 1st: Newlyn
* 2022 Springbank d Skipton
* 2023 Springbank d Newlyn
* 2024 Bungaree d Buninyong

### Under 17s/18s

* 1979 Creswick
* 1980 Newlyn
* 1981 Hepburn d Ballan
* 1982 Ballan
* 1983 Darley
* 1984 Buninyong
* 1985 Dunnstown d Darley
* 1986 Dunnstown
* 1987 Buninyong
* 1988 Ballan d Hepburn
* 1989 Bungaree d Ballan
* 1990 Creswick
* 1991 Dunnstown
* 1992 Ballan
* 1993 Learmonth
* 1994 Buninyong
* 1995 Creswick
* 1996 Ballan
* 1997 Bungaree
* 1998 Bungaree
* 1999 Bungaree
* 2000 Gordon
* 2001 Beaufort
* 2002 Gordon
* 2003 Dunnstown
* 2004 Buninyong
* 2005 Bungaree
* 2006 Bungaree
* 2007 Bungaree
* 2008 Bungaree
* Under 18
* 2009 Daylesford d Ballan
* 2010 Waubra d Daylesford
* 2011 Waubra d Learmonth
* 2012 Springbank d Daylesford
* Under 17.5
* 2013 Daylesford d Buninyong
* 2014 Hepburn d Bungaree
* Under 18
* 2015 Bungaree d Hepburn
* 2016 Beaufort d Waubra
* 2017 Hepburn d Springbank
* 2018 Springbank d Buninyong
* 2019 Gordon d Buninyong
* 2020 League in recess due to COVID-19
* 2021 No finals > COVID-19 1st: Rokewood Corindhap
* 2022 Springbank d Gordon
* 2023 Springbank d Rokewood Corindhap
* 2024 Springbank d Daylesford

### Under 14s/15s

* 1979 Clunes
* 1980 Hepburn
* 1981 Buninyong
* 1982 Buninyong
* 1983 Buninyong
* 1984 Dunnstown
* 1985 Creswick d Ballan
* 1986 Creswick
* 1987 Newlyn
* 1988 Bungaree d Ballan
* 1989 Gordon
* 1990 Ballan
* 1991 Buninyong
* 1992 Creswick
* 1993 Creswick
* 1994 Ballan
* 1995 Creswick
* 1996 Learmonth
* 1997 Gordon
* 1998 Beaufort
* 1999 Gordon
* 2000 Learmonth
* 2001 Learmonth
* 2002 Buninyong
* 2003 Creswick
* 2004 Hepburn
* 2005 Bungaree
* 2006 Hepburn
* 2007 Dunnstown
* 2008 Creswick
* Under 15
* 2009 Learmonth d Dunnstown
* 2010 Daylesford d Clunes
* 2011 Creswick d Gordon
* 2012 Beaufort d Dunnstown
* Under 14.5
* 2013 Buninyong d Hepburn
* 2014 Hepburn d Buninyong
* Under 15
* 2015 Creswick d Hepburn
* 2016 Buninyong d Hepburn
* 2017 Springbank d Hepburn
* 2018 Skipton d Gordon
* 2019 Gordon d Springbank
* 2020 League in recess due to COVID-19
* 2021 No finals > COVID-19 1st: Buninyong
* 2022 Buninyong d Daylesford
* 2023 Rokewood Corindhap d Springbank
* 2024 Skipton d Ballan

## Statistics

CHFNL: Senior Football Records :
| Highest Score | 436 – Gordon 69.22.436 (Smythesdale 1.1.7) – 2015 |
| Most goals in a game | 22 – Paul McMahon – Springbank vs Smythesdale round 17 2016 |
| Most goals in a season | 149 – Ian McBain – Dunnstown – 1982 |
| Most wins in a row | 32 – Dunnstown – 1994–1995 |
| Most losses in a row | 83 – Smythesdale (Illabarook) – 2011–2015 |
| 2023 CHFL season ||
| Football Premiers Seniors: Gordon Reserves: Under 18s: Under 15s: | Football Minor Premiers Seniors: Reserves: Under 18s: Under 15s: |
| Football Goalkicking Awards Seniors: Reserves: Under 18s: Under 15s: | Football Best & Fairest Seniors: Sean Tighe Reserves: Under 18s: Under 15s: |

## League Best & Fairest
### Senior Football

| | CHFNL - Best & Fairest | CHFNL - Best & Fairest | CHFNL - Best & Fairest |
| Geoff Taylor Medal ||||||||||
| Year | Winner | Club | Votes |
| 1979 | Ian Lyttle | Clunes | 24 |
| 1980 | Hans Veerdorm | Buninyong | 23 |
| 1981 | Peter Muller | Creswick | 20 |
| 1982 | Peter Keep | Darley | 38 |
| 1983 | Terry Howard | Newlyn | 32 |
| 1984 | Peter Keep | Darley | 27 |
| 1985 | Tony Howlett | Bungaree | 20 |
| 1986 | David Jenkins | Creswick | 26 |
| 1987 | Peter Gervasoni | Hepburn | 24 |
| 1988 | Mark Milne & | Gordon | 24 |
| | Leigh Mitchell | Newlyn | 24 |
| 1989 | Andy Dispirit | Ballan | 22 |
| 1990 | Mark Milne | Gordon | 24 |
| 1991 | Stuart Richardson | Newlyn | 22 |
| 1992 | Chris Parker | Waubra | 25 |
| 1993 | David Wood | Learmonth | 22 |
| 1994 | Peter Doherty | Beaufort | 29 |
| 1995 | Peter Doherty | Beaufort | 32 |
| 1996 | Peter Doherty | Beaufort | 23 |
| 1997 | Matthew Brown | Hepburn | 29 |
| 1998 | Ricky Andrews & | Beaufort | 23 |
| | Lynden Henderson | Buninong | 23 |
| 1999 | Peter Doherty | Beaufort | 28 |
| 2000 | James Hall | Springbank | 22 |
| 2001 | Scott Crouch | Bungaree | 28 |
| 2002 | Simon Wilkie | Ballan | 22 |
| 2003 | Barry Fitzpatrick | Beaufort | 24 |
| 2004 | Jason Hill | Clunes | 25 |
| 2005 | Joe Gilbert | Buninyong | 23 |
| 2006 | Luke Adams | Daylesford | 29 |
| 2007 | Luke Adams | Daylesford | 29 |
| 2008 | Louis Frank | Beaufort | 24 |
| 2009 | Jaye Cahir | Dunnstown | 24 |
| 2010 | Chris Eastwell | Newlyn | 22 |
| 2011 | Louis Frank | Beaufort | 23 |
| 2012 | Andy McKay | Hepburn | 25 |
| 2013 | Nick Sullivan | Waubra | 27 |
| 2014 | Luke Fisher | Springbank | 29 |
| 2015 | Shaun Campbell | Ballan | 34 |
| 2016 | David Benson | Bungaree | 21 |
| 2017 | David Benson | Bungaree | 28 |
| 2018 | Joel Maher | Bungaree | 28 |
| 2019 | Rupert Sangster | Beaufort | 22 |
| 2020 | CHFNL in recess > | COVID-19 | |
| 2021 | Mitchell Gilert | Skipton | 17 |
| 2022 | Sam Willan | Skipton | 30 |
| 2023 | Sean Tighe | Hepburn | |
| 2025 | Will Henderson | Dunnstown | |
| 2026 | | | |

## Leading CHFNL Goalkicker
### Seniors

| | CHFNL - Senior Football Leading & Century Goalkickers | CHFNL - Senior Football Leading & Century Goalkickers | CHFNL - Senior Football Leading & Century Goalkickers | CHFNL - Senior Football Leading & Century Goalkickers | CHFNL - Senior Football Leading & Century Goalkickers |
| Year | Winner | Club | Season Goals | Goals in finals | Total Goals |
| 1979 | Ian McBain | Dunnstown | 104 | | |
| 1980 | Geoff Bourke - Finn | Ballan | 98 | | |
| 1981 | Ian McBain | Dunnstown | 97 | | |
| 1982 | Ian McBain | Dunnstown | 122 | | |
| 1983 | Ian McBain | Dunnstown | 73 | | |
| 1984 | Michael Hastie | Ballan | 96 | | |
| 1985 | Tony Howlett | Bungaree | 95 | | |
| 1986 | Peter Nikolovski | Hepburn | 96 | | |
| 1987 | Darren Lubeek | Creswick | 105 | | |
| 1988 | Ian Denny | Gordon | 71 | | |
| 1989 | John Heagney | Newlyn | 59 | | |
| 1990 | Justin Conroy | Ballan | 69 | | |
| 1991 | Malcom Scott | Learmonth | 89 | | |
| 1992 | Jason Yean | Creswick | 91 | | |
| 1993 | Ian Denny | Gordon | 114 | | |
| 1994 | Ian Denny | Gordon | 121 | | |
| 1995 | Steven Gallop | Ballan | 106 | | |
| 1996 | Troy Jansenns | Dunnstown | 74 | | |
| 1997 | Ricky Inness | Buninyong | 61 | | |
| 1998 | Paul Mahar | Bungaree | 76 | | |
| 1999 | Dave Thompson | Hepburn | 72 | | |
| 2000 | Sam Basham | Learmonth | 79 | | |
| 2001 | Phillip Jeffrey | Bungaree | 72 | | |
| 2002 | Greg Barass | Hepburn | 80 | | |
| 2003 | Greg Barass | Hepburn | 100 | | |
| 2004 | Owen Weatherley | Clunes | 102 | | |
| 2005 | Owen Weatherley | Clunes | 114 | | |
| 2006 | Lee Brown | Waubra | 104 | | |
| 2007 | Bryce Nicholson | Bungaree | 95 | | |
| 2008 | Lee Brown | Waubra | 100 | | |
| 2009 | Rodney Watts | Ballan | 88 | N/A | 88 |
| 2010 | Lee Cox | Hepburn | 118 | ? | ? |
| 2011 | Lee Cox | Hepburn | 79 | | |
| 2012 | Lee Cox | Hepburn | 106 | | |
| 2013 | Lee Cox | Hepburn | 62 | | |
| 2014 | Zach Peoples | Ballan | 83 | | |
| 2015 | Steven Nicholson | Gordon | 66 | | |
| 2016 | Paul McMahon | Springbank | 79 | 10 | 89 |
| 2017 | Tim Boyle | Waubra | 53 | 1 | 54 |
| 2018 | Isaac Baker & | Buninyong | 41 | 6 | 47 |
| | Jack Duke | Beaufort | 41 | 8 | 49 |
| 2019 | Marcus Darmody | Newlyn | 103 | | ? |
| | Sam Dunstan | Hepburn | ? | | 108 |
| 2020 | CHFNL in recess > | COVID-19 | | | |
| 2021 | Sam Dunstan | Hepburn | 82 | | |
| 2022 | Mitchell Banner | Hepburn | 73 | | |
| 2023 | | | | | |
| 2024 | | | | | |