The Hills Football League (HFL) is an Australian rules football league, situated in the Adelaide Hills region of South Australia, to the south east of the state capital Adelaide.

Hills Football League
General Information
Founded 1967 in the Adelaide Hills
Current clubs Birdwood
Blackwood
Bridgewater-Callington
Echunga
Gumeracha
Hahndorf
Kangarilla
Kersbrook
Macclesfield
Meadows
Milang
Mount Barker
Mount Lofty
Nairne Bremer United
Onkaparinga Valley
Torrens Valley
Uraidla Districts

The League has over 3000 players belonging to 20 member Clubs.[1] The League's Clubs are divided into two playing Divisions:

  • Division 1 (Formerly Central Division – mostly the larger towns in the Hills region);
  • Division 2 (Formerly Country Division – the remaining clubs in the region).

Both divisions have their own programs for the season. There is a promotion and relegation system that received criticism in 2014 following the ultimately unsuccessful decision to relegate Echunga in the same season that they won the Central Division premiership.[2] It is the second biggest league in South Australia after the South Australian Amateur Football League.

In 2009 the Uraidla Districts Football Club became the first team in HFL history to secure all senior premierships (A, B & C) in a single season a feat that was followed by Hahndorf in 2016.

History

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The Hills FL was formed in 1967 as a result of the merger of the original Hills Central FL and the Torrens Valley FL. For a number of years, the competition consisted of three divisions, firstly known as the Central Zone, the Northern Zone and the Southern Zone. This later changed to Zone 1, 2 and 3 with two years also providing a Zone 4. Eventually in 1979 the two divisions that exist today was established. The one year that was an exception was 1983 when competition was played in one division.[3]

Heathfield-Aldgate United hold the record for the most premierships won in succession from 1971 to 1977.

Grades

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The HFL consists of:

  • Junior Grades
    • Under 14's (mini colts)
    • Under 16's (junior colts)
    • Under 18's (senior colts)
  • Senior Grades
    • A Grade (A1)
    • B Grade (A2)
    • C Grade (A3)

Division 1

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Club Jumper Nickname Home Ground Former League Est Years in HFL HFL Senior Premierships
Total Years
Blackwood[4]
 
Woods Blackwood Hill Reserve, Blackwood SMFL 1912 1987– 3 Div 1: 1988, 1991, 2017
Echunga
 
Demons Echunga Recreation Ground, Echunga HCFL 1903 1967– 1 Div 1: 2014
Div 2: 1995, 1996, 2000, 2011, 2013
Div 3: 1972
Southern B: 1968
Hahndorf[5]
 
Magpies Hahndorf Oval, Hahndorf HCFL 1887 1967– 13 Div 1: 1984, 1985, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024
Lobethal[6]
 
Tigers Lobethal Recreation Ground, Lobethal TVFA 1901 1967– 5 Div 1: 1981, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2022
Mount Barker[7]
 
Barkeroos Hanson Oval, Mount Barker HCFL 1881 1967– 8 Div 1: 1969, 1970, 1982, 1983, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2012
Mount Lofty District[8]
 
Mountain Devils Heathfield Oval, Heathfield SAFA 1978 1986– 5 Div 1: 1986, 1990, 2006, 2007, 2008
Div 2: 2014
Nairne Bremer United
 
Rams Nairne Oval, Nairne 1978 1978–1991, 1998– 1 Div 1: 2023

Div 2: 1985, 1989, 2017

Onkaparinga Valley[9]
 
Bulldogs Johnston Memorial Park, Balhannah 1967 1967– 2 Div 1: 1978, 1994
Uraidla Districts
 
Demons Uraidla Showgrounds, Uraidla 1997 1997– 5 Div 1: 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013

Premierships

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[10]

Division 2

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Club Jumper Nickname Home Ground Former League Est Years in HFL HFL Senior Premierships
Total Years
Birdwood
 
Roosters Birdwood Oval, Birdwood TVFA 1880s 1967- 6 Div 2: 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1992, 1994
Gumeracha
 
Magpies Gumeracha Oval, Gumeracha TVFA 1887 1967- 6 Div 2: 1970, 1982, 1984, 2019, 2022, 2023
Kangarilla
 
Double Blues Kangarilla Recreation Ground, Kangarilla HCFL, SFL 1901 1967–1978, 2006- 5 Div 2: 2006
Div 3: 1970, 1973, 1974, 1978
Kersbrook
 
Blues/Brookers Kersbrook Soldiers Memorial Park, Kersbrook ETFA 1912 1971- 10 Div 2: 1972, 1974, 1986, 1993, 1997, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2021
Macclesfield
 
Blood and Tars Macclesfield Oval, Macclesfield HCFL, SFL 1880 1967–1983, 1987- 4 Div 2: 1980
Div 3: 1969
Div 4: 1972, 1973
Meadows
 
Bulldogs Stringybark Park, Meadows HCFL, SFL 1903 1967-1982, 2001- 5 Div 2: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
Div 3: 1967
Torrens Valley
 
Mountain Lions Centenary Park, Mount Torrens 1997 1997- 3 Div 2: 2005, 2007, 2010

Premierships

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[10]

  • 1967 Pleasant Valley
  • 1968 Pleasant Valley
  • 1969 Pleasant Valley
  • 1970 Gumeracha
  • 1971 Pleasant Valley
  • 1972 Kersbrook
  • 1973 Birdwood
  • 1974 Kersbrook
  • 1975 Birdwood
  • 1976 Birdwood
  • 1977 Birdwood
  • 1978 Lenswood Rangers
  • 1979 Lenswood Rangers
  • 1980 Macclesfield
  • 1981 Bridgewater
  • 1982 Gumeracha
  • 1983 No Division 2
  • 1984 Gumeracha
  • 1985 Nairne Bremer
  • 1986 Kersbrook
  • 1987 Barossa District
  • 1988 Barossa District
  • 1989 Nairne Bremer
  • 1990 Barossa District
  • 1991 Mount Torrens
  • 1992 Birdwood
  • 1993 Kersbrook
  • 1994 Birdwood
  • 1995 Echunga
  • 1996 Echunga
  • 1997 Kersbrook
  • 1998 Ironbank-Cherry Gardens
  • 1999 Ironbank-Cherry Gardens
  • 2000 Echunga
  • 2001 Meadows
  • 2002 Meadows
  • 2003 Meadows
  • 2004 Meadows
  • 2005 Torrens Valley
  • 2006 Kangarilla
  • 2007 Torrens Valley
  • 2008 Kersbrook
  • 2009 Kersbrook
  • 2010 Torrens Valley
  • 2011 Echunga
  • 2012 Kersbrook
  • 2013 Echunga
  • 2014 Mount Lofty District[12]
  • 2015 Kersbrook
  • 2016 Bridgewater Callington
  • 2017 Nairne Bremer
  • 2018 Ironbank-Cherry Gardens
  • 2019 Gumeracha
  • 2020 Ironbank-Cherry Gardens
  • 2021 Kersbrook
  • 2022 Gumeracha
  • 2023 Gumeracha

C-Grade Only

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Club Jumper Nickname Home Ground Former League Est Years in HFL HFL Senior Premierships
Total Years
Bridgewater-Callington[13]
 
Raiders Bridgewater Oval, Bridgewater 2012 2013-2022, 2024- 2 Div 2: 1981, 2016
Milang
 
Panthers Milang Oval, Milang GSFL 1881 1986-2005, 2010-2017, 2021- 0 -

Former Clubs

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Club Jumper Nickname Home Ground Former League Est Years in HFL HFL Senior Premierships Fate
Total Years
Ashton    Ashton Oval, Ashton NNFA 1920s 1972-82 0 - Merged with Lenswood Rangers to form Eastern Rangers in 1983
Barossa District
 
Bulldogs Williamstown Oval, Williamstown GDFL 1979 1987-90 3 Div 2: 1987, 1988, 1990 Moved to Barossa, Light & Gawler FA in 1991
Bremer    RMFL 1931 1967-78 2 Div 3B: 1974, 1978 Merged with Nairne to form Nairne Bremer United in 1978
Bridgewater
 
Raiders Bridgewater Oval, Bridgewater TVFA 1956 1967-2012 1 Div 2: 1981 Merged with Callington United Eagles to form Bridgewater Callington in 2012
Callington United Eagles[14]
 
Eagles Callington Oval, Callington 1995 1995-2012 0 - Merged with Bridgewater to form Bridgewater Callington in 2012
Eastern Rangers
 
Saints Ashton Oval, Ashton 1983 1983-96 1 Div 1: 1987 Merged with Uraidla to form Uraidla Districts in 1997
Heathfield Aldgate United
 
Heathfield Oval, Heathfield 1967 1967-78 9 Div 1: 1967, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 Merged with Stirling to form Mount Lofty District in 1978
Ironbank-Cherry Gardens
 
Thunderers Cherry Gardens Ironbank Recreation Ground, Cherry Gardens 1986 1986-2022 4 Div 2: 1998, 1999, 2018, 2020 Merged with Bridgewater-Callington in 2023, moved to Southern FL in 2024
Ironbank-Cherry Gardens- Bridgewater
 
Ironraiders Bridgewater Oval, Bridgewater and Cherry Gardens Ironbank Recreation Ground, Cherry Gardens 2023 2023 0 - De-merged into Bridgewater-Callington and Ironbank-Cherry Gardens
Langhorne Creek
 
Tigers Langhorne Creek Oval, Langhorne Creek HCFA 1906 1967-77 3 Div 3: 1975, 1976, 1977 Moved to Great Southern FL in 1977
Lenswood Rangers
 
Lenswood Memorial Park, Lenswood 1967 1967-82 2 Div 2: 1978, 1979 Merged with Ashton to form Eastern Rangers in 1983
Littlehampton
 
HCFL 1940s 1967-72 1 Southern: 1968 Folded
Mount Torrens
 
Bombers Centenary Park, Mount Torrens 1930 1967-1975,
1986-1996
1 Div 2: 1991 Merged with Sedan Cambrai in 1976 to form Mount Torrens-Cambrai.

Merged with Pleasant Valley in 1997 to form Torrens Valley

Mount Torrens-Cambrai
 
HCFL 1976 1976-85 0 - De-merged into Mount Torrens and Sedan Cambrai in 1986
Mylor
 
Mylor Oval, Mylor 1902 1967-72 2 Southern B: 1967, 1970 Folded
Nairne
 
Rams Nairne Oval, Nairne HCFL 1903 1967-78 0 - Merged with Bremer to form Nairne Bremer United in 1978
Palmer
 
Collier Park, Palmer TVFA 1891 1967-1970, 1972-1973 1 Div 4B: 1972
Pleasant Valley
 
Roos Talunga Park, Mount Pleasant TVFA 1960s 1967-88 4 Northern: 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971 Merged with Mount Torrens in 1997 to form Torrens Valley
Sedan Cambrai
 
Magpies Cambrai Sportsground, Cambrai TVFA 1922 1967-75 0 - Merged with Mount Torrens in 1976 to form Mount Torrens-Cambrai

Moved to Mid Murray FA in 1987. Moved to Riverland Independent FL in 2016[15]

Stirling
 
Eagles Stirling Oval, Stirling TVFA 1800s 1967-78 0 - Merged with Heathfield-Aldgate United to form Mount Lofty District in 1978
Uraidla    Redlegs Uraidla Showgrounds, Uraidla TVFA 1905 1967-96 4 Div 1: 1979, 1980, 1989, 1996 Merged with Eastern Rangers to form Uraidla Districts in 1997
Williamstown    Rovers Williamstown Oval, Williamstown 1967 1967-73 0 - Moved to Gawler and District FL in 1974

AFL Players

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The following were drafted to AFL club lists having previously participated in the Hills Football League.[16]

Name HFL Club Year Drafted SANFL Club (or equiv.) AFL Club(s)
Brenton Sanderson Blackwood 1992 Sturt Adelaide, Collingwood, Geelong
Scott Burns Birdwood[17] 1992 Norwood Collingwood
Brett James Kersbrook[18] 1992 Norwood Collingwood, Adelaide
Steven Sziller Lobethal 1994 Woodville-West Torrens St Kilda, Richmond
Roger James Kersbrook 1996 Norwood Port Adelaide
Ben Nelson Bridgewater 1996 Sturt Carlton, Adelaide
Barnaby French Ironbank-Cherry Gardens[19] 1997 Sturt Port Adelaide, Carlton
Sudjai Cook Kersbrook 1998 Norwood Adelaide
Courtney Johns Onkaparinga Valley 2002 East Fremantle Essendon
Darren Pfeiffer Birdwood[20] 2005 Norwood Adelaide, Carlton, Port Adelaide
Cleve Hughes Lobethal[21] 2005 Norwood Richmond
Benet Copping Mt Barker 2006 Sturt Fremantle
Paul Cahill Blackwood 2008 Sturt St Kilda
Matthew Jaensch Hahndorf 2009 Sturt Adelaide
Sam Colquhoun Birdwood 2013 Central Districts Port Adelaide
Alex Georgiou Lobethal 2013 Norwood Melbourne
Matthew Fuller Lobethal 2013 Norwood Western Bulldogs
Dean Gore Hahndorf 2014 Sturt Geelong, Adelaide
Mitch Crowden Meadows 2017 Sturt Fremantle
Callum Coleman-Jones Blackwood 2017 Sturt Richmond
Tom Sparrow Bridgewater 2018 South Adelaide Melbourne

References

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[22]

  1. ^ http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?assoc=6621&pID=1 About the League
  2. ^ Turner, Matt (26 September 2014). "Echunga Football Club exploring ways to avoid relegation despite winning Hills Football League flag". News Limited. Messenger Community News. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  3. ^ http://footypedia.isgreat.org/00002257.htm Footypedia
  4. ^ "Blackwood Football Club". Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  5. ^ "Hahndorf Football Club". Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  6. ^ "Lobethal Football Club". Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  7. ^ "Mt Barker Football Club". Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  8. ^ "Mt Lofty Football Club". Archived from the original on 9 July 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  9. ^ "Onkaparinga Valley Football Club". Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  10. ^ a b "Past Premiers". Hills Football League. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  11. ^ "Central Div A Grade Grand FiInal". Hills Football League. Fox Sports Pulse. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  12. ^ "Country Div A Grade Grand Final". Hills Football League. Fox Sports Pulse. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  13. ^ "Bridgewater Raiders". Archived from the original on 21 June 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  14. ^ "Callington United Eagles Football Club". Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  15. ^ Dillon, Nick (5 February 2016). "Sedan-Cambrai makes eight for Independents". Murray Pioneer. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  16. ^ "AFL Drafted Players". Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  17. ^ Rielly, Stephen (9 August 2003). "Scott Burns: Humble Pie". The Age. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  18. ^ Devaney, John. "SA Football Companion - Brett James". Full Points Footy. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  19. ^ Connolly, Rohan (23 November 2003). "French Plans to Stand Tall". The Age. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  20. ^ Fjeldstad, Jesper (2 November 2013). "Darren Pfeiffer: It's lonely on the fringe of the AFL". Sunday Mail (SA). Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  21. ^ Porter, Ashley (21 June 2008). "Cubs on song as Tigers stun Port". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  22. ^ Lines, Peter (2012). South Australian Country Football Digest. Cowell: Peter Lines. pp. 227–237. ISBN 978-0-9871591-9-9.
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Books

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  • Encyclopedia of South Australian country football clubs / compiled by Peter Lines. ISBN 9780980447293
  • South Australian country football digest / by Peter Lines ISBN 9780987159199