Sunday Football League (2024–) Explained

Sunday Football League
Sport:Australian rules football
Teams:7
Champion:Koongamia
Champ Season:2023
Most Champs:Cockburn (7)

The Sunday Football League (SFL) is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia.

It was founded in 1993 as the Mercantile Football Association, and was renamed to the Metro Football League in 2012. It adopted its current name ahead of the 2024 season.

The league currently consists of seven clubs; a further 33 clubs have competed across its three decades.[1]

History

Mercantile Football Association (1993–2011)

Formerly known as the Mercantile Football Association, the league had its origins as a social league playing fortnightly in the late 1980s. Competing clubs included Cockburn Cement, Komatsu and the Rosemount Hotel.[2]

A change in the administration in the late 1990s saw a more formalised competition, meaning incorporation of the league, board of control, a regular season, transfers, and accredited umpires officiating. New clubs joining had more of a community base, rather than social or workplace, with some of those being Quinns and Ellenbrook. Transitions in the clubs occurred also, with Cockburn Cement becoming Cockburn and based in that suburb. Yanchep and Dwellingup also became active in promoting the game and junior development in their areas.

The league made headlines in 2009 when former Richmond AFL player Andrew Krakouer, imprisoned for assault, played for the Wooroloo Prison Farm football team whilst serving his sentence. The Wooroloo team went through the season undefeated and won the grand final.[3]

Metro Football League (2012–2023)

The Mercantile Football Association (MFA) changed its name to Metro Football League (MFL) in 2012. Bayswater and Queens Park joined the MFL for season 2013, with Baldivis and Secret Harbour leaving the MFL.

Sunday Football League (2024–)

The league changed its name to the Sunday Football League following the 2023 season. A number of clubs departed the league prior to the 2024 season, with Dwellingup entering recess, Brighton Seahawks merging with ECU in the Perth Football League and South Mandurah and Armadale withdrawing their teams. Warwick Greenwood re-joined the league following 3 season in the Hills Football Association.

Current clubs

Colours Club Logo Home ground Years in league League premierships League premiership years Notes
Balga BombersBarry Britton Oval 2018– 1 Div 2: 2018
Beechboro BombersAltone Park 2018– 0
Innaloo BulldogsBirralee Reserve 2000–2006, 2008– 1 Div 2: 2010
Koongamia CrowsKoongamia Oval 2011– 1 Div 1: 2023
Midland TigersNorth Swan Park 2004– 4 Div 2: 2009, 2012, 2016, 2022
Queens Park BulldogsQueens Park Reserve 2013– 5 Div 1: 2016-17-18, 2020, 2022
Div 2: 2013
Warwick-GreenwoodBullsPercy Doyle Reserve2003–3Div 1: 2015
Div 2: 2011, 2020
Known as Greenwood from 2003–2006Competed in the Hills Football Association from 2021–2023

Former clubs

Colours Club Logo Home ground Years in MFL MFL premiers MFL premiership years NotesFate
Applecross HawksShirley Strickland Oval 1995-2002 - Joined Sunday FL Saturday Division 2003
ArmadaleDemonsGwynne Park2023-Reserves team of Perth Football League club
Baldivis BrumbiesArpenteur Park 2012-2013, 2015-2018 1 Div 2: 2017 Thirds team of Peel FL Club
Bayswater BluesHillcrest Park 2005-2006, 2008, 2013-2014, 2016 - Reserves team of WAAFL ClubMoved to Perth Football League
BrightonSeahawksKingsbridge Reserve2014-2Div 2: 2015, 2019, 2023Known as Alkimos 2015-2016Moved to Perth Football League, now play under ECU Jets name
Cockburn CobrasAnning Park 1993-2011 7 Div 1: 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2005-06, 2008 Moved to Perth Football League
Como Tigers? 1993-1999(?) 2 Div 1: 1996, 1998 Folded
Navy blue, red, yellow Cowan University HawksRobinson Reserve 2004-2007 - Became Noranda-ECU Hawks
DwellingupRazorbacksDwellingup Oval1993-2000, 2003-2018, 2022-3Div 1: 1994, 2008, 2014In recess
ECU JetsWindemere Park 2019 - Reserves team of WAAFL Club
Ellenbrook EelsCoolamon Park 2002 - Joined WAAFL 2003
GosnellsHawksGosnells Oval2018, 2022-Thirds team of WAAFL Club
Jandakot JetsAtwell Park 2009-2010 - Joined WAAFL 2011
Karnup-SerpentineKingsClem Kentish Oval2022-Folded
KelmscottBulldogsJohn Dunn Oval2018-20211Div 1: 2019Moved to Perth Football League following 2021 season
KenwickRoyalsMills Park2019-?-Thirds team of WAAFL Club
Kingsley CatsKingsley Reserve 2002 - Moved to Perth Football League following 2002 season
Kingsway RoosKingsway Reserve 2007-2010 1 Div 1: 2007 Known as Wanneroo-Kingsway 2007.Thirds team of WAAFL Club 2008-2010Moved to Perth Football League following 2007 season
Kwinana KnightsMedina Oval 2006-2014 3 Div 1: 2010, 2013
Div 1 Res: 2010
Moved to Perth Football League following 2014 season
Maroon, blue, yellow Midvale LionsMorrison Park 2003-2004 2 Div 1: 2003-04 Folded
Morley BulldogsRA Cook Reserve 2000(?)-2001 - Folded
Murdoch LionsMurdoch Oval 2000 - Folded
Maroon, white, grey Murdoch University - Murdoch Oval 2008-2009 - Folded
Murdoch UniversityVikingsMurdoch University Sports Ground?-2022-Folded
Noranda-ECU HawksLightning Park 2008-2010 - Merger of Cowan University and Noranda juniors.Moved to Perth Football League following 2010 season
Osborne Park SaintsRobinson Reserve 2007-2011 - Moved to Perth Football League following 2011 season
Quinns Districts BullsAnthony Waring Park 2000-2001 1 Div 1: 2001 Moved to Perth Football League following 2001 season
Safety Bay StingersStan Twight Reserve 2014, 2017-2022 - Reserves team of WAAFL Club 2014Moved to Perth Football League following 2022 season
Secret Harbour DockersRhonda Scarrott Oval 2011-2012 2 Div 1: 2011-12 Moved to Perth Football League following 2012 season
South MandurahFalconsFalcon Park2023-Thirds team of Peel Football League club
Wanneroo RoosWanneroo Showgrounds 2015, 2018 - Fifth team of WAAFL Club
Wooroloo BombersWoorloo Prison Farm 2009 1 Div 1: 2009 Folded
Yanchep Red HawksOldham Reserve 1997-2014 3 Div 1: 2000, 2002, 2014 Moved to Perth Football League following 2014 season

Grand final results

Division 1

Year Premiers Score Runners up Score
1993 perthDwellingup
1994 Dwellingup Cockburn
1995 Cockburn Dwellingup
1996 Como Tigers Cockburn
1997 Cockburn west coast eagles
1998 Como Tigers Cockburn
1999 Cockburn 9.9 (63) Yanchep 9.3 (57)
2000 Yanchep 10.9 (69) Cockburn 6.10 (46)
2001 Quinns Districts 13.9 (87) Yanchep 8.8 (56)
2002 Yanchep 20.13 (133) Ellenbrook 14.8 (92)
2003 Midvale 16.15 (111) Yanchep 10.10 (70)
2004 Midvale 10.17 (77) Innaloo 7.13 (55)
2005 Cockburn 19.13 (127) Dwellingup 5.11 (41)
2006 Cockburn 15.18 (108) Yanchep 8.9 (57)
2007 Wanneroo-Kingsway 14.16 (100) Midland 12.9 (81)
2008 Cockburn 19.14 (128) Noranda ECU 15.3 (93)
2009 Wooroloo 20.14 (134) Cockburn 13.16 (94)
2010 Kwinana 7.8 (50) Noranda ECU 4.15 (39)
2011 Secret Harbour 16.11 (107) Osborne Park 12.8 (80)
2012 Secret Harbour 12.19 (91) Kwinana 10.11 (71)
2013 Kwinana 13.11 (89) Yanchep 9.5 (59)
2014 Yanchep 13.11 (89) Warwick Greenwood 11.11 (77)
2015 Warwick Greenwood 13.7 (85) Baldivis 12.8 (80)
2016 Queens Park 13.15 (93) Warwick Greenwood Gold 8.5 (53)
2017 Queens Park 15.11 (101) Safety Bay 11.7 (73)
2018 Queens Park 15.8 (98) Midland 7.10 (52)
2019 Kelmscott 13.11 (89) Queens Park 10.16 (76)
2020 WarwickGrennwoodGold Kelmscott
2021Queens ParkKoongamia
2022Queens ParkInnaloo
2023KoongamiaQueens Park

Division 2

Year Premiers Score Runners up Score
2008 Dwellingup 17.22 (124) Innaloo 12.12 (84)
2009 Midland 16.23 (119) Osborne Park 13.13 (91)
2010 Innaloo 16.2 (98) Warwick Greenwood 9.9 (63)
2011 Warwick Greenwood 20.16 (136) Cockburn 5.12 (42)
2012 Midland 15.8 (98) Secret Harbour 11.9 (75)
2013 Queens Park 15.13 (103) Kwinana 7.8 (50)
2014 Dwellingup 15.11 (101) Safety Bay 14.5 (89)
2015 Alkimos 16.17 (113) Midland 6.8 (44)
2016 Midland 14.12 (96) Dwellingup 11.5 (71)
2017 Baldivis 13.8 (86) Dwellingup 9.9 (63)
2018 Balga 13.12 (90) Koongamia 10.8 (68)
2019 Brighton 16.8 (104) Beechboro 9.6 (60)
2020 Warwick Greenwood 12.3 (75) Kelmscott 7.7 (49)
2021Queens Park3.1 (19)Midland7.3 (45)
2022Midland8.8 (56)Gosnells7.8 (50)
2023Brighton Seahawks1.0(6)South Mandurah6.10 (46)

Notes:
(1) In 2015, there was only one division. The Division 2 Premiership was decided in a Round Robin series between teams that missed the finals.
(2) In 2016, the competition split into two divisions of 5 teams after Round 11 based on ladder positions. The bottom five teams played for the Division 2 Premiership for the remaining 8 rounds.

Division 1 Reserves

Year Premiers Score Runners up Score
2010 Kwinana 8.10 (58) Cockburn 7.9 (51)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Competitions at Metro Football League . SportsTG.com . 13 September 2016.
  2. Web site: MFL HISTORY . metroflperth.com . dead . https://archive.today/20140924091310/http://www.metroflperth.com/history . 24 September 2014 .
  3. Web site: Andrew Krakouer's Woorooloo Prison team wins grand final . PerthNow.com.au . 20 September 2009 . 13 September 2016.