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 .
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
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
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
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
Hahndorf [ 5]
Magpies
Hahndorf Oval, Hahndorf
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
1901
1967–
5
Div 1: 1981, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2022
Mount Barker [ 7]
Barkeroos
Hanson Oval, Mount Barker
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, 2008Div 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
[ 10]
Division 2
Club
Jumper
Nickname
Home Ground
Former League
Est
Years in HFL
HFL Senior Premierships
Total
Years
Birdwood
Roosters
Birdwood Oval, Birdwood
1880s
1967-
6
Div 2: 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1992, 1994
Echunga
Demons
Echunga Recreation Ground, Echunga
1903
1967–
1
Div 1: 2014Div 2: 1995, 1996, 2000, 2011, 2013Div 3: 1972Southern B: 1968
Gumeracha
Magpies
Gumeracha Oval, Gumeracha
1887
1967-
6
Div 2: 1970, 1982, 1984, 2019, 2022, 2023
Kangarilla
Double Blues
Kangarilla Recreation Ground, Kangarilla
, SFL
1901
1967–1978, 2006-
5
Div 2: 2006Div 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
, SFL
1880
1967–1983, 1987-
4
Div 2: 1980Div 3: 1969Div 4: 1972, 1973
Meadows
Bulldogs
Stringybark Park, Meadows
, SFL
1903
1967-1982, 2001-
5
Div 2: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004Div 3: 1967
Torrens Valley
Mountain Lions
Centenary Park, Mount Torrens
–
1997
1997-
3
Div 2: 2005, 2007, 2010
Premierships
[ 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
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
-
Club
Jumper
Nickname
Home Ground
Former League
Est
Years in HFL
HFL Senior Premierships
Fate
Total
Years
Ashton
Ashton Oval, Ashton
NNFA
1920s
1972-1982
0
-
Merged with Lenswood Rangers to form Eastern Rangers in 1983
Barossa District
Bulldogs
Williamstown Oval, Williamstown
1979
1987-1990
3
Div 2: 1987, 1988, 1990
Moved to Barossa, Light & Gawler FA in 1991
Bremer
RMFL
1931
1967-1978
2
Div 3B: 1974, 1978
Merged with Nairne to form Nairne Bremer United in 1978
Bridgewater
Raiders
Bridgewater Oval, Bridgewater
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
1983-1996
1
Div 1: 1987
Merged with Uraidla to form Uraidla Districts in 1997
Heathfield Aldgate United
Heathfield Oval, Heathfield
–
1967
1967-1978
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 in 2024
Langhorne Creek
Tigers
Langhorne Creek Oval, Langhorne Creek
1906
1967-1977
3
Div 3: 1975, 1976, 1977
Moved to Great Southern FL in 1977
Lenswood Rangers
Lenswood Memorial Park, Lenswood
–
1967
1967-1982
2
Div 2: 1978, 1979
Merged with Ashton to form Eastern Rangers in 1983
Littlehampton
Sky Blues
1959
1967-1972
1
Southern: 1968
Folded after 1972 season
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
1976
1976-1985
0
-
De-merged into Mount Torrens and Sedan Cambra i in 1986
Mylor
Mylor Oval, Mylor
1902
1967-1972
2
Southern B: 1967, 1970
Folded
Nairne
Rams
Nairne Oval, Nairne
1903
1967-1978
0
-
Merged with Bremer to form Nairne Bremer United in 1978
Palmer
Collier Park, Palmer
1891
1967-1970, 1972-1973
1
Div 4B: 1972
Pleasant Valley
Roos
Talunga Park, Mount Pleasant
1960s
1967-1988
4
Northern: 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971
Merged with Mount Torrens in 1997 to form Torrens Valley
Sedan Cambrai
Magpies
Cambrai Sportsground, Cambrai
1922
1967-1975, 2010-2015
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
1800s
1967-1978
0
-
Merged with Heathfield-Aldgate United to form Mount Lofty District in 1978
Uraidla
Redlegs
Uraidla Showgrounds, Uraidla
1905
1967-1996
4
Div 1: 1979, 1980, 1989, 1996
Merged with Eastern Rangers to form Uraidla Districts in 1997
Williamstown
Rovers
Williamstown Oval, Williamstown
–
1967
1967-1973
0
-
Moved to Gawler and District FL in 1974
AFL Players
The following were drafted to AFL club lists having previously participated in the Hills Football League.[ 16]
References
[ 22]
External links
Books
Encyclopedia of South Australian country football clubs / compiled by Peter Lines. ISBN 9780980447293
South Australian country football digest / by Peter Lines ISBN 9780987159199
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