Central Highlands Football League Explained

Central Highlands Football Netball League
Current Season:	2024
Formerly:	Bacchus Marsh & Ballarat DFL & Clunes FL
Sport:	Australian rules football, Netball
President:	Heath Boyd
Inaugural:	1979
Teams:	17
Venue:	Grand Final Venue: Eureka Stadium, Ballarat
Sponsor:	Brandt
Founder:	VCFL
Website:	Central Highlands FNL website

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 2024The 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.^[1]

Clubs

Current clubs

Club	Colours	Nickname	Home Ground	Former League	Est.	Years in CHFL	CHFL Senior Premierships
							Total	Years
Ballan		Blues	Ballan Recreation Reserve, Ballan		1881^[2]	1979-	2	1980, 1981
Beaufort		Crows	Goldfields Recreation Reserve, Beaufort	BFL	1880^[3]	1994-	3	1995, 1996, 2018
Bungaree		Demons	Bungaree Recreation Reserve, Bungaree		1897^[4]	1979-	2	1991, 2014
Buninyong		Bombers	Buninyong Recreation Reserve, Buninyong		1874^[5]	1979-	1	2002
Carngham Linton		Saints	Carngham Recreation Reserve, Snake Valley	LPFL	1969	2011-	0	–
Clunes		Magpies	Ligar Street Reserve, Clunes		1869	1979-	3	1979, 1993, 1997
Creswick		Wickers	Doug Lindsay Reserve, Creswick		1869^[6]	1979-	1	1987
Daylesford		Bulldogs	Victoria Park, Daylesford	BFL	1877	2006-	4	2007, 2009, 2012, 2024
Dunnstown		Towners	Dunnstown Recreation Reserve, Dunnstown		1894	1979-	3	1994, 1998, 1999
Gordon		Eagles	Gordon Recreation Reserve, Gordon		1895^[7]	1979-	3	1988, 2022, 2023
Hepburn		Burras	Hepburn Recreation Reserve, Hepburn		1919	1979-	9	1985, 1986, 1989, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2017
Learmonth		Lakies	Learmonth Recreation Reserve, Learmonth		1889	1979-	0	–
Newlyn		Cats	Newlyn Recreation Reserve, Newlyn		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		1925	1979-	5	1990, 2000, 2001, 2015, 2016
Waubra		Roos	Waubra Recreation Reserve, Waubra		1910	1979-	4	1982, 2006, 2011, 2019

Former clubs

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

Location of clubs

Football Premierships

Senior Football

• 1979 Clunes d Ballan^[8]
• 1980 Ballan d Dunnstown^[9]
• 1981 Ballan d Springbank^[10]
• 1982 Waubra d Dunnstown
• 1983 Wendouree d Dunnstown^[11]
• 1984 Darley
• 1985 Hepburn d Bungaree^[12]
• 1986 Hepburn d Bungaree^[13]
• 1987 Creswick
• 1988 Gordon d Bungaree^[14]
• 1989 Hepburn d Springbank^[15]
• 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^[16]
• 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^[17]

	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^[18]

	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	?	?^[19]
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^[20]
2020	CHFNL in recess >
2021	Sam Dunstan	Hepburn	82
2022	Mitchell Banner	Hepburn	73
2023
2024

Bibliography

• History of Football in the Ballarat District by John Stoward -

External links

• Gameday website
• Central Highlands FL on Country Footy Scores

Notes and References

1. Web site: 1931 - Newstead . The Age . 10 June 2024 . 7 . 15 April 1931.
2. Web site: 1881 - Ballan . The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924 . 11 June 2024 . 3 . 16 May 1881.
3. Web site: 1880 - Beaufort . The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924) . 11 June 2024 . 4 . 26 May 1880.
4. Web site: 1897 - Bungaree . The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924) . 11 June 2024 . 1 . 5 July 1897.
5. Web site: 1874 - News & Notes . The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924) . 11 June 2024 . 2 . 27 April 1897.
6. Web site: 1869 - News and Notes . The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924) . 11 June 2024 . 2 . 3 August 1869.
7. Web site: 1895 - Bungaree Chronicles . The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924) . 11 June 2024 . 4 . 9 May 1895.
8. Web site: 1979 - Country Football . Google . The Age . 9 June 2024 . 25 . 17 September 1979.
9. Web site: 1980 - Country Football . Google . The Age . 9 June 2024 . 25 . 15 September 1980.
10. Web site: 1981 - Country Football . Google . The Age . 9 June 2024 . 31 . 14 September 1981.
11. Web site: 1983 - Country Football . Google . The Age . 9 June 2024 . 24 . 19 September 1983.
12. Web site: 1985 - Country Football . Google . The Age . 9 June 2024 . 38 . 16 September 1985.
13. Web site: 1986 - Country Football . Google . The Age . 9 June 2024 . 36 . 15 September 1986.
14. Web site: 1988 - Country Football . Google . The Age . 9 June 2024 . 36 . 12 September 1988.
15. Web site: 1989 - Country Football . Google . The Age . 9 June 2024 . 20 . 17 September 1989.
16. Web site: 2021 - Senior Football Ladder . Gameday . CHFNL . 9 June 2024.
17. Web site: Senior Football: Best & Fairest Winners . Gameday . CHFNL . 10 June 2024.
18. Web site: CHFNL: Senior Football Goalkicking . Gameday . CHFNL . 10 June 2024.
19. Web site: 2010 - CHFNL Goalkicking . Gameday . CHFNL . 11 June 2024.
20. Web site: 2021 - CHFNL Senior Football Goal Kicking . Gameday . CHFNL . 10 June 2024.