The Southern Metropolitan Football League (SMFL) was an Australian rules football competition based in the southern suburbs of Adelaide , South Australia until it folded at the end of the 1986 season. It first formed in 1912 as the Sturt Football Association,[ 1] [ 2] and during its history was also known as the Mid-Southern Football Association (1920-1930),[ 3] Glenelg District Football Association (1931–1949),[ 4] Glenelg-South-West District Football Association (1950–1966)[ 5] and Glenelg-South Adelaide Football Association (1967–1983),[ 6] before finally being named Southern Metropolitan Football League (1984–1986).[ 7]
The association first affiliated with the South Australian Football League in 1921.[ 8] In 1927, the association made a special request to the SAFL for financial assistance.[ 9]
Clubs in Bold indicate teams playing in the final season (1986)
Club
Years participating
Other names
Adelaide Lutheran
1980-84 [ 18]
Albert Sports
1979-81 [ 19]
ANZ Bank
1960-80 [ 20]
Bank of Adelaide
1971-76 [ 21]
Black Forest
1919-1927, 1931-33 [ 22]
Blackwood
1912-15, 1919–41, 1944–48, 1953-86
Bridgewater
1915
Brighton
1912-13, 1919–41, 1946–57,[ 23] 1969-86 [ 24]
Brighton and Seacliff (1938–56)
Brompton
1981-82
Brunswick
1952-53
Camden
1927-86 [ 25]
Novar Gardens (1927–31)
Clarendon
1925, 1929, 1948
College Park
1950-51
Colonel Light Gardens
1944-45, 1976-85 [ 26] [ 27]
Edwardstown
1920, 1925–33, 1936-54
Edwardstown B participated 1935
Flagstaff Hill
1978-84
Brighton Tigers (1978)
Glandore
1958-84 [ 18]
Glenelg Imperial
1912-15, 1923–30, 1942-46
Glenelg Junior
1933-34, 1936
Glenelg Rovers
1931-32
Glenelg Sailing Club
1928-29
B-Grade only
Glenelg United
1929
Glenelg YMCA
1946
Goodwood
1915, 1925–30,[ 28] 1979-84 [ 18] [ 29]
Happy Valley
1924,[ 30] 1964-79
Immanuel Old Scholars
1978-79 [ 31]
Kelvinator
1950, 1953-67 [ 32]
Lockleys
1960-85 [ 27]
Marion
1912-15, 1920–41, 1946-86
Sturt (1920–41, 1946–56)
Mitcham
1912-15, 1922–24, 1976-84 [ 18] [ 26]
Mitcham Park
1915
Mitchell Park
1969-85
Morphettville Park
1959-86
Mortlock Park
1927-30
North Brighton-Somerton
1950-51 [ 33]
Norwood Union
1979-82 [ 34]
Ovingham
1986
Plympton
1921-27, 1937-86
Port Noarlunga
1935-36
Public Service
1948
Reynella
1920-27, 1930-47
Richmond and Keswick United
1928-30
Salesian
1980-84 [ 18] [ 31]
Seacliff
1931-35
Semaphore Seasiders
1915
South Adelaide Ramblers
1950-57
South Adelaide C (1953–55)
St. Leonards
1930-53
St. Leonards Colts
1935-38
St. Peters
1929
South Road Estate
1929
B-Grade only
Sturt-Brighton
1942-45
Sturt Centrals
1916
Sturt College Of Advanced Education
1981
Sturt Imperial
1915
Sturt Ramblers
1912-15
Torrens College Of Advanced Education
1975-78
Torrensville United
1962-78
Underdale United
1927 [ 35]
West Suburban
1930
Wingfield Royals
1979-81 [ 19]
Woodville South
1962-78 [ 29]
Kilkenny United (1962–70)
Year
A-Grade
1912
Mitcham Undefeated [ 36]
1913
Sturt Ramblers
1914
Mitcham [ 36]
1915
Sturt Ramblers
1916
Sturt Centrals
1917
In recess (World War I)
1918
In recess (World War I)
1919
Brighton
H.S. Rugless Medallists
edit
The H.S. Rugless Medal was awarded to the player adjudged the Fairest and Most Brilliant in the competition. During the Sturt Football Association years (1912–19) it was known as the Thomas Medal.
1912
1913
1914 – Jack Rowlands (Blackwood) [ 11]
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
H.S. Rugless Medal (A1)
edit
J.C. Morrow Medal (A2)
edit
In 1936 the Morrow Medal was established for the fairest and most brilliant player in the then B-Grade competition.[ 82]
Division 2 A-Grade Medal
edit
1980 - Neil Wuttke [ 83]
1983 - Geoff Drechsler [ 83]
1984 - Glenn Todman [ 83]
Division 2 B-Grade Medal
edit
^ "SA Memory - Glenelg District Football Association" . State Library of South Australia. Retrieved 3 October 2013 .
^ "Sturt Association" . The Register (Adelaide) . 30 March 1912. Retrieved 5 October 2013 .
^ a b "Mid-Southern Football Association (SA)" . Footypedia. Archived from the original on 10 September 2003. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ "Glenelg District Football League / Glenelg District Football Association (SA)" . Footypedia. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ a b "Glenelg South West Football League (SA)" . Footypedia. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ a b c d "Glenelg-South Adelaide Football League (SA)" . Footypedia. Archived from the original on 10 September 2003. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ "Southern Metropolitan Football League (SA)" . Footypedia. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ "Football - South Australian League" . The Register (Adelaide) . 20 April 1912. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ "Football - Special League Meeting" . The Advertiser (Adelaide) . 11 June 1927. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ "History" . Mitchell Park Football Club. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Stallard, Neil. "Blackwood Football Club – The Early Days, 1912-1986" . Blackwood Football Club. Archived from the original on 2 December 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Our History" . Marion Football Club. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Club History" . Morphettville Park Football Club. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ "The Plympton Football Club" . Plympton Football Club. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ "Ovingham Football Club. The Country Club in the City" . Ovingham Football Club. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ "SAAFL History - 1987" . South Australian Amateur Football League. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ "Club History" . PHOS Camden Football Club. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ a b c d e Bloch, Fred. "SAAFL History – 1985" . South Australian Amateur Football League. Retrieved 30 July 2013 .
^ a b Bloch, Fred. "SAAFL History – 1982" . South Australian Amateur Football League. Retrieved 30 July 2013 .
^ Bloch, Fred. "SAAFL History – 1981" . South Australian Amateur Football League. Retrieved 30 July 2013 .
^ Bloch, Fred. "SAAFL History – 1971" . South Australian Amateur Football League. Retrieved 30 July 2013 .
^ Bloch, Fred. "SAAFL History – 1934" . South Australian Amateur Football League. Retrieved 30 July 2013 .
^ Bloch, Fred. "SAAFL History – 1958" . South Australian Amateur Football League. Retrieved 30 July 2013 .
^ Bloch, Fred. "SAAFL History – 1969" . South Australian Amateur Football League. Retrieved 30 July 2013 .
^ Bloch, Fred. "SAAFL History – 1987" . South Australian Amateur Football League. Retrieved 30 July 2013 .
^ a b Bloch, Fred. "SAAFL History – 1976" . South Australian Amateur Football League. Retrieved 30 July 2013 .
^ a b Bloch, Fred. "SAAFL History – 1986" . South Australian Amateur Football League. Retrieved 30 July 2013 .
^ a b Bloch, Fred. "SAAFL History – 1931" . South Australian Amateur Football League. Archived from the original on 25 April 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013 .
^ a b Bloch, Fred. "SAAFL History – 1979" . South Australian Amateur Football League. Retrieved 30 July 2013 .
^ "Country Football – Mid-Southern Association" . No. Saturday 26 July 1924. The Mail. 26 July 1924. Retrieved 5 January 2015 .
^ a b Bloch, Fred. "SAAFL History – 1980" . South Australian Amateur Football League. Retrieved 30 July 2013 .
^ Bloch, Fred. "SAAFL History – 1953" . South Australian Amateur Football League. Archived from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2013 .
^ Bloch, Fred. "SAAFL History – 1952" . South Australian Amateur Football League. Archived from the original on 25 April 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013 .
^ Bloch, Fred. "SAAFL History – 1983" . South Australian Amateur Football League. Retrieved 30 July 2013 .
^ Bloch, Fred. "SAAFL History – 1927" . South Australian Amateur Football League. Retrieved 30 July 2013 .
^ a b c d "Brief version of the History of The Mitcham Football Club" . Mitcham Football Club. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ "Football – Mid-Southern Association" . Chronicle (Adelaide) . 20 October 1923. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ a b "Football – Mid-Southern Association" . The Register (Adelaide) . 8 October 1924. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ "Junior Football – Mid-Southern Association" . The Mail (Adelaide) . 5 September 1925. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ "Colonel Light Gardens Record" . The Register (Adelaide) . 26 October 1927. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ "Junior Football" . The Mail (Adelaide) . 1 October 1927. Retrieved 21 October 2013 .
^ "Junior Games – Mid-Southern Association" . The Mail (Adelaide) . 6 October 1928. Retrieved 21 October 2013 .
^ "Colonel Light Gardens Carnival" . The Advertiser (Adelaide) . 4 October 1929. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ "Country Football – Glenelg Association – Grand Final" . The Mail (Adelaide) . 30 September 1933. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ "Suburban and Country Matches – Glenelg District" . The Mail (Adelaide) . 16 September 1933. Retrieved 21 October 2013 .
^ "News Pictures from Many Sources – St Leonards Football Team" . Chronicle (Adelaide) . 11 October 1934. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ "Junior Football – Glenelg District" . The Mail (Adelaide) . 31 August 1935. Retrieved 21 October 2013 .
^ "Challenge Game Ends in Draw – Glenelg" . The Mail (Adelaide) . 5 September 1936. Retrieved 21 October 2013 .
^ a b c d e f g h "Camden Football Club Premiership Teams" . PHOS Camden Football Club . PHOS Camden Football Club Inc. Retrieved 6 October 2015 .
^ "Glenelg – Grand Final" . The Mail (Adelaide) . 17 September 1938. Retrieved 24 October 2013 .
^ a b c d e "Club History - Edwardstown Football Club Inc. Our 95th Anniversary 1919-2013" . Edwardstown Football Club. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ "Glenelg – Grand Final" . The Mail (Adelaide) . 14 September 1940. Retrieved 29 October 2013 .
^ "Glenelg District – Grand Final" . The Mail (Adelaide) . 8 September 1945. Retrieved 3 November 2013 .
^ "Glenelg District Final" . The Advertiser (Adelaide) . 16 September 1946. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ "Glenelg District – Grand Final" . The Mail (Adelaide) . 14 September 1946. Retrieved 3 November 2013 .
^ "Glenelg District – Grand Final" . The Mail (Adelaide) . 20 September 1947. Retrieved 4 November 2013 .
^ "Junior Football – Glenelg District Association" . The Mail (Adelaide) . 18 September 1948. Retrieved 9 November 2013 .
^ "Junior Football – Glenelg District" . The Mail (Adelaide) . 27 August 1949. Retrieved 13 November 2013 .
^ "Junior Football – Glenelg-South-West A-Grade Grand Final" . The Mail (Adelaide) . 23 September 1950. Retrieved 13 November 2013 .
^ "Junior Football – Glenelg South-West" . The Mail (Adelaide) . 9 September 1950. Retrieved 13 November 2013 .
^ a b "Minor Football – Glenelg South-West" . The Mail (Adelaide) . 8 September 1951. Retrieved 14 November 2013 .
^ "Minor Football – Glenelg South-West" . The Mail (Adelaide) . 20 September 1952. Retrieved 1 December 2013 .
^ a b "Minor Football" . The Mail (Adelaide) . 6 September 1952. Retrieved 1 December 2013 .
^ "Minor Football" . The Mail (Adelaide) . 26 September 1953. Retrieved 1 December 2013 .
^ "Junior Football" . The Mail (Adelaide) . 18 September 1954. Retrieved 16 December 2013 .
^ a b Chinca, Gino; Hewitt, Peter. "History – Woodville South Football Club turning 100 in 2010" . Woodville South Junior Football Club. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ "2005 Colin "Tiny" Nelson - LEGEND OF GOODWOOD" . Goodwood Saints Football Club . Retrieved 24 August 2022 .
^ "Colonel Light Gardens Football Club – Club" . Colonel Light Gardens Football Club. Retrieved 3 July 2013 .
^ "Glenelg Strengthened – "Dick" Head Will Strip" . The Mail (Adelaide) . 24 February 1923. p. 9. Retrieved 22 July 2013 .
^ a b "New Rover For Sturt" . News (Adelaide). 9 April 1929. p. 3. Retrieved 23 October 2015 .
^ "Glenelg District Association" . The Advertiser (Adelaide). 18 September 1933. Retrieved 6 October 2015 .
^ "Glenelg District Association" . The Advertiser (Adelaide) . 13 September 1935. p. 10. Retrieved 22 July 2013 .
^ "C. Radford Wins Rugless Medal" . The Advertiser (Adelaide) . 17 September 1937. p. 18. Retrieved 22 July 2013 .
^ "Junior Football Trophies" . News (Adelaide). 16 September 1938. Retrieved 6 October 2015 .
^ "Glenelg District – Second Semi-Final" . The Advertiser (Adelaide) . 1 September 1939. p. 16. Retrieved 22 July 2013 .
^ "Junior Notes" . The Advertiser (Adelaide) . 30 August 1940. p. 11. Retrieved 22 July 2013 .
^ "Glenelg Association Final Tomorrow" . The Advertiser (Adelaide) . 14 August 1942. p. 4. Retrieved 22 July 2013 .
^ Rover (14 September 1945). "Football In Glenelg" . The Advertiser (Adelaide). Retrieved 6 October 2015 .
^ "Woollard Wins Rugless Medal" . The Advertiser (Adelaide) . 13 September 1946. p. 6. Retrieved 22 July 2013 .
^ "Round the Pickets" . The Advertiser (Adelaide) . 19 September 1947. p. 14. Retrieved 22 July 2013 .
^ Colmer, Roy (26 August 1948). "Mel Brock still in form" . News (Adelaide). Retrieved 6 October 2015 .
^ "Glenelg District Football Association" . Glenelg Guardian. 6 May 1936. p. 2. Retrieved 22 July 2018 .
^ a b c d "Association B&F" . Flagstaff Hill Football Club . Retrieved 25 November 2023 .