Farrer Football League

The Farrer Football Netball League (FFNL) is an Australian rules football and netball competition containing nine clubs based in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. The league features three grades in the Australian rules football competition, with these being First-Grade, Reserve-Grade and Under 17s. In the netball competition there are four grades, with these being A-Grade, A-Reserve Grade, B-Grade and C-Grade.

The Farrer FNL is named after William Farrer, a leading English Australian agronomist and plant breeder. Farrer is best remembered as the originator of the "Federation" strain of wheat, distributed in 1903. His work resulted in significant improvements in both the quality and crop yields of Australia's national wheat harvest, a contribution for which he earned the title 'father of the Australian wheat industry'.

Currently a home and away season consisting of eighteen rounds is played. The best five teams then play off according to the McIntyre system, culminating in the FFNL Grand Final, which is traditionally held at Maher Oval in Wagga Wagga.

History

Breakaway

The Farrer Football League first formed in 1957 as a breakaway from the Albury & District Football League. Culcairn, Henty, Holbrook and Mangoplah-Cookardinia United competed in the first season. In 1958 all remaining clubs from the Albury & District Football League moved across to the new league.

The Farrer FL senior football best and fairest medal was called the Baz Medal, which was first donated in 1952 by Mr. Mick Baz of Culcairn as the award in the Albury & District Football League, which was carried on into the Farrer FL.

In 1976, the Farrer FL won the NSW State Championships series held at Finley in June, defeating the Sydney Football League and the South West District FL.

The name of the best and fairest award from 1982 onwards has been the Gerald Clear Award.

Restructure

It was in 1982 that the Farrer Football League amalgamated with the South West Football League (New South Wales) and the Central Riverina Football League in order to create the Riverina Football League and the Riverina District Football League, with the latter changing its name to the Farrer Football League in 1985. It was between 1983 and 1994 that the Riverina District/Farrer Football League maintained a two division system, with a promotion / relegation system in force during that time.

Timeframe

*1930–1957: Albury & District Football League
*1957–1981: Farrer Football League
*1982: Riverina District Football League
*1983–1984: Riverina District Football League – Division One
*1983–1984: Riverina District Football League – Division Two
*1985–1994: Farrer Football League – Division One
*1985–1994: Farrer Football League – Division Two
*1995–2023: Farrer Football League

Notable players

The following former Farrer FL players played senior VFL / AFL football, with the year indicating their VFL / AFL debut.
;Farrer Football League

* 1966: Doug Priest – Holbrook to South Melbourne
* 1969: John Pitura ( Wagga Tigers)
* 1975: Colin Hounsell ( Collingullie)
* 1979: Wayne Carroll – Mangoplah Cookardinia United to South Melbourne
* 1980: Greg Smith ( East Wagga)
* 1981: Brett Scott ( The Rock- Yerong Creek)
* 1987: Michael Phyland ( Mangoplah- Cookardinia United)

* 1989: Glenn Page ( Collingullie- Ashmont)
* 1995: Jason Wild ( Collingullie- Ashmont)
* 2000: Ben Fixter – Rivcol to Sydney Swans
* 2011: Luke Breust ( Temora)
* 2011: Issac Smith – Temora to Hawthorn
* 2013: Jake Barrett ( Temora)

Current clubs

;Notes

Previous clubs

Leading & century goal kickers / League Best & Fairest Winners

;Seniors
The Farrer FL senior football best and fairest medal was called the Baz Medal, which was first donated in 1952 by Mr. Mick Baz of Culcairn Cash Store as the award in the Albury & District Football League, which was carried on into the Farrer FL.

List of football premiers

First-Grade

Reserve-Grade

*1957: MCU d Culcairn
*1958: Wagga d Henty
*1959: Wagga d Henty
*1960: Henty d Wagga
*1961: Henty d The Rock
*1962: Culcairn d Wagga
*1963: Henty d Holbrook
*1964: Wagga d Holbrook
*1965: Wagga d North Wagga
*1966: Holbrook d Wagga
*1967: Lockhart d Wagga
*1968: Wagga d TRYC
*1969: TRYC d Wagga
*1970: Wagga d TRYC
*1971: Holbrook d Henty
*1972: TRYC d Culcairn
*1973: Culcairn d MCU
*1974: MCU d TRYC
*1975: Wagga d MCU
*1976: Wagga d Nth Wagga
*1977: Wagga d Nth Wagga
*1978: North Wagga d Wagga
*1979: EWK d Wagga

*1980: Wagga d Temora
*1981: North Wagga d Wagga
*1982: Junee-Kapooka
*1983: Mangoplah-Cookardinia United
*1984: Mangoplah-Cookardinia United
*1985: Temora
*1986: Temora
*1987: Temora
*1988: Barellan United
*1989: The Rock-Yerong Creek
*1990: The Rock-Yerong Creek
*1991: Mangoplah-Cookardinia United
*1992: Collingullie-Ashmont
*1993: North Wagga
*1994: North Wagga
*1995: Marrar
*1996: Ariah Park-Mirrool
*1997: Cootamundra
*1998: Ariah Park-Mirrool
*1999: Ariah Park-Mirrool
*2000: The Rock-Yerong Creek
*2001: Collingullie-Ashmont-Kapooka
*2002: Collingullie-Ashmont-Kapooka

*2003: Ariah Park-Mirrool
*2004: North Wagga
*2005: Northern Jets
*2006: Northern Jets
*2007: Northern Jets
*2008: Collingullie-Ashmont-Kapooka
*2009: Rivcoll
*2010: Charles Sturt University
*2011: Marrar
*2012: The Rock-Yerong Creek
*2013: North Wagga
*2014: East Wagga-Kooringal
*2015: East Wagga-Kooringal
*2016: East Wagga-Kooringal
*2017: North Wagga
*2018: Marrar
*2019: East Wagga-Kooringal
*2022: Marrar
*2023: The Rock-Yerong Creek
*2024: Charles Sturt University

Under 17s/18s

Under 19's

*1980: RAAF d EWK
*1981: MCU d Wagga
*1982: Mangoplah-Cookardinia United
*1983: South Wagga-Tolland
*1984: Mangoplah-Cookardinia United
*1985: Mangoplah-Cookardinia United
*1986: The Rock-Yerong Creek
*1987: Collingullie-Ashmont
*1988: Collingullie-Ashmont
*1989: Mangoplah-Cookardinia United
*1990: Mangoplah-Cookardinia United
*1991: Mangoplah-Cookardinia United
*1992: Temora
*1993: Temora
*1994: Temora

Under 17s/18s

*2009: Northern Jets
*2010: North Wagga
*2011: Temora
*2012: North Wagga
*2013: No Competition
*2014: North Wagga
*2015: Northern Jets
*2016: North Wagga
*2017: Temora
*2018: Marrar
*2019: Marrar
*2022: Northern Jets
*2023: Marrar
*2024: Marrar

Riverina District / Farrer FL Division Two Grand Finals

;Seniors

* In 1995, the Farrer Football League became a one division senior football competition.

Leading & century goal kickers / League Best & Fairest Winners

;Riverina District FL / Farrer FL – Division Two
;Seniors

* Goals tally does not include goals kicked in the finals series.
*In 1995, the Farrer Football League became a one division competition.
*MOST GOALS IN A MATCH: 1988 – Eric Frazer – South Wagga Tolland v RAAF at Forest Hill, 13 August 1988.

2010 Ladder

;Seniors

2011 Ladder

2012 Ladder

2013 Ladder

2014 Ladder

2015 Ladder

2016 Ladder

2017 Ladder

2018 Ladder

2019 Ladder

See also

* AFL Canberra
* AFL NSW/ACT
* Albury & District Football League
*Australian rules football in New South Wales
* Hume Football League
* Northern Riverina Football League
* South West Football League (New South Wales)
* Riverina Football League
* Group 9 Rugby League
* Group 17 Rugby League

External links

Official Farrer Football League websiteAFL RiverinaAlbury & District FL Premiership & Best & Fairest Lists. 1930 to 1957 (page 20)
*Australian rules football in New South Wales
* Albury & District Football League
* Central Hume Football Association
* Central Riverina Football League
Central Riverina FL – "CRFL Weekly Record"
* Coreen & District Football League
* Hume Football Netball League
* Riverina Football Association
* Riverina Football Netball League
1988 Farrer FL Division Two Premiers/ South Wagga Tolland FC team photo

{{Aussie Rules in New South Wales

Sport in the Riverina
Australian rules football competitions in New South Wales
Sport in Wagga Wagga