Metro Football League
The Metro Football League (MFL) is one of two community based football leagues based in Perth, Western Australia. The league is made up of 10 clubs over two divisions.[1]
| Sport | Australian rules football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1993 |
| No. of teams | 10 |
| Country | Australia |
| Most recent champion(s) | Queens Park (2020) |
| Most titles | Cockburn (7) |
| Official website |
History
Formerly known as the Mercantile Football Association, the league had its origins as a social league playing fortnightly in the late 1980s. Some of the clubs were Cockburn Cement, Komatsu and the Rosemount Hotel.[2]
A change in the administration in the late 1990s saw a more formalised competition, meaning incorporation of the league, board of control, a regular season, transfers, and accredited umpires officiating. New clubs joining had more of a community base, rather than social or workplace, with some of those being Quinns and Ellenbrook.
Transitions in the clubs occurred also, with Cockburn Cement becoming Cockburn and based in that suburb. Yanchep and Dwellingup also became active in promoting the game and junior development in their areas.
The league made headlines in 2009 when former Richmond AFL player Andrew Krakouer, imprisoned for assault, played for the Wooroloo Prison Farm football team whilst serving his sentence. The Wooroloo team went through the season undefeated and won the grand final.[3]
The Mercantile Football Association (MFA) changed its name to Metro Football League (MFL) in 2012.
Bayswater and Queens Park joined the MFL for season 2013, with Baldivis, Secret Harbour leaving the MFL.
The MFL occupies an important niche in the football community by hosting and fostering new clubs. This is done with sound football management with cost effective administration and therefore promotes its member clubs to invest their economies in to their own infrastructure. The success of the format can be seen by the number of new member clubs the MFL has helped establish and watches from afar as they flourish in other competitions that can accommodate their needs.
Current clubs
| Club | Logo | Home ground | Colours | Years in MFL | MFL premiers | MFL premiership years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balga | Bombers | Keemore Park | Blue, orange | 2018- | 1 | Div 2: 2018 | |
| Beechboro | Bombers | Altone Park | Black, red | 2018- | - | ||
| Brighton | Seahawks | Addison Oval | Black, blue, yellow | 2014- | 2 | Div 2: 2015, 2019 | Known as Alkimos 2015-2016 |
| Innaloo | Bulldogs | Birralee Reserve | Red, white | 2000-2006, 2008- | 1 | Div 2: 2010 | |
| Kelmscott | Bulldogs | John Dunn Oval | Blue, white | 2018- | 1 | Div 1: 2019 | |
| Kenwick | Royals | Mills Park | Blue, black | 2019- | - | Thirds team of WAAFL Club | |
| Koongamia | Crows | Koongamia Oval | Navy blue, red, yellow | 2011- | - | ||
| Midland | Tigers | North Swan Oval | Yellow, white, black | 2004- | 3 | Div 2: 2009, 2012, 2016 | |
| Queens Park | Bulldogs | Queens Park Reserve | Blue, red, white | 2013- | 5 | Div 1: 2016-17-18, 2020 Div 2: 2013 | |
| Warwick-Greenwood | Bulls | Percy Doyle Reserve | Yellow, brown | 2003- | 3 | Div 1: 2015 Div 2: 2011, 2020 | Known as Greenwood 2003-2006 |
Former clubs
| Club | Logo | Home ground | Colours | Years in MFL | MFL premiers | MFL premiership years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applecross | Hawks | Shirley Strickland Oval | Yellow, brown | 1995-2002 | - | Joined Sunday FL Saturday Division 2003 | |
| Baldivis | Brumbies | Arpenteur Park | Navy blue, red, yellow | 2012-2013, 2015-2018 | 1 | Div 2: 2017 | Thirds team of Peel FL Club |
| Bayswater | Blues | Hillcrest Park | Navy blue, white | 2005-2006, 2008, 2013-2014, 2016 | - | Reserves team of WAAFL Club | |
| Cockburn | Cobras | Anning Park | Blue, yellow | 1993-2011 | 7 | Div 1: 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2005-06, 2008 | Joined WAAFL 2012 |
| Como | Tigers | ? | ? | 1993-1999(?) | 2 | Div 1: 1996, 1998 | |
| Cowan University | Hawks | Robinson Reserve | Navy blue, red, yellow | 2004-2007 | - | Became Noranda-ECU Hawks | |
| Dwellingup | Razorbacks | Dwellingup Oval | Red, white, black | 1993-2000, 2003-2018 | 3 | Div 1: 1994, 2008, 2014 | |
| ECU | Jets | Windemere Park | Navy blue, red, yellow | 2019 | - | Reserves team of WAAFL Club | |
| Ellenbrook | Eels | Coolamon Park | Purple, green, red, white | 2002 | - | Joined WAAFL 2003 | |
| Gosnells | Hawks | Gosnells Oval | Blue, yellow | 2018 | - | Thirds team of WAAFL Club | |
| Jandakot | Jets | Atwell Park | Red, white | 2009-2010 | - | Joined WAAFL 2011 | |
| Kingsley | Cats | Kingsley Reserve | Red, blue | 2002 | - | Joined WAAFL 2003 | |
| Kingsway | Roos | Kingsway Reserve | Black, white | 2007-2010 | 1 | Div 1: 2007 | Known as Wanneroo-Kingsway 2007 Joined WAAFL 2008 Thirds team of WAAFL Club 2008-2010 |
| Kwinana | Knights | Medina Oval | Blue, red, white | 2006-2014 | 3 | Div 1: 2010, 2013 Div 1 Res: 2010 | Joined WAAFL 2015 |
| Midvale | Lions | Morrison Park | Maroon, blue, yellow | 2003-2004 | 2 | Div 1: 2003-04 | |
| Morley | Bulldogs | RA Cook Reserve | Blue, red, white | 2000(?)-2001 | - | ||
| Murdoch | Lions | Murdoch Oval | Maroon, yellow | 2000 | - | ||
| Murdoch University | - | Murdoch Oval | Maroon, white, grey | 2008-2009 | - | ||
| Noranda-ECU | Hawks | Lightning Park | Yellow, brown | 2008-2010 | - | Merger of Cowan University and Noranda juniors. Joined WAAFL 2011 | |
| Osborne Park | Saints | Robinson Reserve | Red, white | 2007-2011 | - | Joined WAAFL 2012 | |
| Quinns Districts | Bulls | Anthony Waring Park | Maroon, yellow | 2000-2001 | 1 | Div 1: 2001 | Joined WAAFL 2002 |
| Safety Bay | Stingers | Stan Twight Reserve | Blue, white | 2014, 2017-2018 | - | Reserves team of WAAFL Club 2014 | |
| Secret Harbour | Dockers | Rhonda Scarrott Oval | Purple, white | 2011-2012 | 2 | Div 1: 2011-12 | Joined WAAFL 2013 |
| Wanneroo | Roos | Wanneroo Showgrounds | Black, white | 2015, 2018 | - | Fifth team of WAAFL Club | |
| Wooroloo | Bombers | Woorloo Prison Farm | Black, red | 2009 | 1 | Div 1: 2009 | |
| Yanchep | Redhawks | Oldham Reserve | Blue, white, red | 1997-2014 | 3 | Div 1: 2000, 2002, 2014 | Joined WAAFL 2015 |
Grand final results
Division 1
| Year | Premiers | Score | Runners up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Cockburn | Dwellingup | ||
| 1994 | Dwellingup | Cockburn | ||
| 1995 | Cockburn | Dwellingup | ||
| 1996 | Como Tigers | Cockburn | ||
| 1997 | Cockburn | ? | ||
| 1998 | Como Tigers | Cockburn | ||
| 1999 | Cockburn | 9.9 (63) | Yanchep | 9.3 (57) |
| 2000 | Yanchep | 10.9 (69) | Cockburn | 6.10 (46) |
| 2001 | Quinns Districts | 13.9 (87) | Yanchep | 8.8 (56) |
| 2002 | Yanchep | 20.13 (133) | Ellenbrook | 14.8 (92) |
| 2003 | Midvale | 16.15 (111) | Yanchep | 10.10 (70) |
| 2004 | Midvale | 10.17 (77) | Innaloo | 7.13 (55) |
| 2005 | Cockburn | 19.13 (127) | Dwellingup | 5.11 (41) |
| 2006 | Cockburn | 15.18 (108) | Yanchep | 8.9 (57) |
| 2007 | Wanneroo-Kingsway | 14.16 (100) | Midland | 12.9 (81) |
| 2008 | Cockburn | 19.14 (128) | Noranda ECU | 15.3 (93) |
| 2009 | Wooroloo | 20.14 (134) | Cockburn | 13.16 (94) |
| 2010 | Kwinana | 7.8 (50) | Noranda ECU | 4.15 (39) |
| 2011 | Secret Harbour | 16.11 (107) | Osborne Park | 12.8 (80) |
| 2012 | Secret Harbour | 12.19 (91) | Kwinana | 10.11 (71) |
| 2013 | Kwinana | 13.11 (89) | Yanchep | 9.5 (59) |
| 2014 | Yanchep | 13.11 (89) | Warwick Greenwood | 11.11 (77) |
| 2015 | Warwick Greenwood | 13.7 (85) | Baldivis | 12.8 (80) |
| 2016 | Queens Park | 13.15 (93) | Warwick Greenwood Gold | 8.5 (53) |
| 2017 | Queens Park | 15.11 (101) | Safety Bay | 11.7 (73) |
| 2018 | Queens Park | 15.8 (98) | Midland | 7.10 (52) |
| 2019 | Kelmscott | 13.11 (89) | Queens Park | 10.16 (76) |
| 2020 | Queens Park | 8.12 (60) | Kelmscott | 7.16 (58) |
Division 2
| Year | Premiers | Score | Runners up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Dwellingup | 17.22 (124) | Innaloo | 12.12 (84) |
| 2009 | Midland | 16.23 (119) | Osborne Park | 13.13 (91) |
| 2010 | Innaloo | 16.2 (98) | Warwick Greenwood | 9.9 (63) |
| 2011 | Warwick Greenwood | 20.16 (136) | Cockburn | 5.12 (42) |
| 2012 | Midland | 15.8 (98) | Secret Harbour | 11.9 (75) |
| 2013 | Queens Park | 15.13 (103) | Kwinana | 7.8 (50) |
| 2014 | Dwellingup | 15.11 (101) | Safety Bay | 14.5 (89) |
| 2015 | Alkimos | 16.17 (113) | Midland | 6.8 (44) |
| 2016 | Midland | 14.12 (96) | Dwellingup | 11.5 (71) |
| 2017 | Baldivis | 13.8 (86) | Dwellingup | 9.9 (63) |
| 2018 | Balga | 13.12 (90) | Koongamia | 10.8 (68) |
| 2019 | Brighton | 16.8 (104) | Beechboro | 9.6 (60) |
| 2020 | Warwick Greenwood | 9.4 (58) | Kelmscott | 7.7 (49) |
Notes:
(1) In 2015, there was only one division. The Division 2 Premiership was decided in a Round Robin series between teams that missed the finals.
(2) In 2016, the competition split into two divisions of 5 teams after Round 11 based on ladder positions. The bottom five teams played for the Division 2 Premiership for the remaining 8 rounds.
Division 1 Reserves
| Year | Premiers | Score | Runners up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Kwinana | 8.10 (58) | Cockburn | 7.9 (51) |
References
- "Competitions at Metro Football League". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
- "MFL HISTORY". metroflperth.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2014.
- "Andrew Krakouer's Woorooloo Prison team wins grand final". PerthNow.com.au. 20 September 2009. Retrieved 13 September 2016.