Broken Hill Football League

The Broken Hill Football League (BHFL) is an Australian rules football competition based in the Broken Hill region of New South Wales, Australia. Although located in the state of New South Wales the league is an affiliated member of the South Australian National Football League. The Broken Hill Football League is in the Murray Mallee Barrier Zone in the South Australian Country Football Championships. [http://www.sanfl.com.au/default.aspx?s=genericnewsdisplay&kw=64&aid=109165]

In 2006 Central Broken Hill Football Club were winners, defeating South Broken Hill Football Club. [http://countryfooty.com.au/64.html] . In 2007 North Broken Hill defeated West Broken Hill to claim their 33rd Premiership. North went back-to-back in 2008, defeating Central Broken Hill by 17 points.

Current Clubs

* Central Magpies Broken Hill Football Club
* North Bulldogs Broken Hill Football Club
* South Roos Broken Hill Club
* West Robins Broken Hill Football Club

Brief History

It might seem curious that Australian rules football should develop as the dominant football code in a mining city in the far west of New South Wales, a state more known for the dominance of Rugby league. Broken Hill was established as a mining town and many of the early settlers were from either the Victorian goldfields, or the copper mines of Moonta and Kadina in South Australia - both areas being keen participants in the early development of Australian rules football. This link to states with an Australian rules football culture was further enhanced with the later flow of workers to and from the gold mining Kalgoorlie-Coolgardie axis in Western Australia.

Indeed the city of Broken Hill to this day conducts itself in many ways as a city aligned to South Australia, using the same time zone (Australian Central Standard Time), is in the (08) Western/central area code; and its local television station, Central GTS/BKN, covers both Broken Hill and parts of South Australia.

Football matches were first played in Broken Hill in 1885 and an informal competition was under way by 1888 between Broken Hill, Silverton, and Silver and Blues. The League was formed in 1890 as the Barrier Ranges Football Association (changing to its current name in 1928). Early years of the Association reflected the historical roots of its settlers and the two dominant clubs were known as 'Victorians' and 'South Australians'. Other early clubs were Broken Hill, North Broken Hill, South Broken Hill and Hotham.

In 1900 the League followed the trend of many other Leagues around the country at that time, and restructured along district lines. The four clubs that competed in the restructured competition are the same four clubs that make up the current competition (although South Broken Hill was then known as Alma).

The city's close association with South Australia was reflected with many of the League's stars finding success in the SANFL in the early 20th century. Prominent identities included North Broken Hill's Dave Low, who went on to win the 1912 Magarey Medal with West Torrens Football Club, Jack Woollard, captain of Port Adelaide Football Club's 1910 Championship of Australia-winning team, and Algy Millhouse, who captain-coached Norwood Football Club in 1914. The 1922 Magarey Medallist Bobby Barnes and Bruce McGregor, who won Medals in 1926-7, were stars at West Adelaide Football Club. Leading goalkicker Jack Owens (footballer), topped the SANFL's goal kicking ladder on three occasions with Glenelg Football Club in the 1920's and 1930's.

The League itself was considered strong enough to compete with visiting teams from the SANFL, Victorian Football League and West Australian Football League, and was even invited to send delegates to the inaugural Australasian Football Conference in Melbourne in November 1905.

In more recent times players from Broken Hill to find their mark with the country's professional league, the Australian Football League, include Fremantle Football Club's Dean Solomon, Brent Staker of West Coast Eagles Football Club, Michael Pettigrew of Port Adelaide FC, Jared Rivers of Melbourne FC and Taylor Walker of Adelaide FC.

ee also

*AFL NSW/ACT
*Australian rules football in New South Wales

External links

* [http://www.sanfl.com.au/_content/document/00050412-src.pdf SANFL Affiliated Leagues]
* [http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/a_brief_history_of_football_in_broken_hill.htm Fullpointsfooty - A brief history of football in Broken Hill]
* [http://countryfooty.com.au country footy]
* [http://www.abc.net.au/farwest/stories/s1379747.htm Broken Hill Football Back on Top]
* [http://www.abc.net.au/brokenhill/stories/s1590871.htm Engineers Give Grandstand All Clear]