Hills Football League
Australian rules football league
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
Current season, competition or edition: 2026 | |
| Sport | Australian Rules Football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1967 |
| First season | 1967 |
| President | Travis Lynn |
| No. of teams | 18 |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Adelaide Hills |
| Current premiers | Nairne (Division 1 2025), Macclesfield (Country 2025) |
| Most premierships | Hahndorf (14) |
| Sponsor | Worklocker |
| Website | https://www.hillsfootballleague.com.au/ |
The League has over 3000 players belonging to 18 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.
Hills Football Association
Timeline
1902
The Hills Football Association (HFA) was formed. Founding clubs were:
- Mount Barker
- Mylor
- Oakbank
- Woodside
Grand Final: Woodside defeated Mount Barker.
1903–1915
Participating clubs included Mount Barker until the outbreak of World War I.
1916–1918
The HFA was in recess during World War I.
1919
The HFA reformed. Participating clubs were:
- Mount Barker
- Onkaparinga
- Stirling
- Strathalbyn
- Woodside
1920–1928
Participating clubs included Mount Barker.
1929
Participating clubs were:
- Milang
- Mount Barker
- Rovers (minor premiers)
- Strathalbyn
Semi-final: Murray Bridge Rovers 8.11 (59) defeated Strathalbyn 8.5 (53) at Mount Barker.
1930–1937
The HFA was in recess.
1938–1940
The HFA resumed operations.
1941–1944
The HFA was in recess due to World War II.
1945
The HFA resumed competition. Participating clubs were:
- Aldgate (this season only)
- Echunga (this season only)
- Meadows (this season only)
- Mount Barker
- Woodside
Echunga won the premiership.
1946–1947
Participating clubs included:
- Hahndorf
- Mount Barker
- Woodside
1948
Participating clubs included:
- Hahndorf
- Mount Barker
- Woodside
Mount Barker won the premiership.
1949
Participating clubs included:
- Ashton
- Hahndorf
- Mount Barker
- Woodside
Ashton won the premiership.
1950
Participating clubs included:
- Hahndorf
- Mount Barker
- Woodside
1951
Participating clubs included:
- Hahndorf
- Mount Barker
- Onkaparinga
- Woodside
Onkaparinga won the premiership.
1952
Participating clubs included:
- Hahndorf
- Mount Barker
- Woodside
1953
Participating clubs included:
- Hahndorf
- Mount Barker (final season)
- Woodside
1954
Participating clubs included:
- Hahndorf
- Woodside
1955
Participating clubs included:
- Hahndorf (final season)
- Woodside
1956–1958
Participating clubs included Woodside.
1959
Participating clubs included Woodside in its final season.
1961
Participating clubs included:
- Bridgewater (this season only)
- Heathfield
- Nairne
- Onkaparinga
- Stirling
- Uraidla
Onkaparinga won the premiership.
1962
The Hills Football Association folded.
Clubs
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)
Locations
2.5miles
Red = Division 1
Yellow = Division 2
Blue = C-grade
Division 1
| Club | Jumper | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est | Years in HFL | HFL Senior Premierships | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | |||||||
| Blackwood[5] |  |
Woods | Blackwood Hill Reserve, Blackwood | SMFL | 1912 | 1987- | 3 | Div 1: 1988, 1991, 2017 |
| Hahndorf[6] |  |
Magpies | Hahndorf Oval, Hahndorf | HCFA | 1887 | 1967- | 13 | Div 1: 1984, 1985, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024 |
| Lobethal[7] |  |
Tigers | Lobethal Recreation Ground, Lobethal | TVFA | 1901 | 1967- | 5 | Div 1: 1981, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2022 |
| Mount Barker[8] |  |
Barkeroos | Hanson Oval, Mount Barker | HCFA | 1881 | 1967- | 8 | Div 1: 1969, 1970, 1982, 1983, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2012 |
| Mount Lofty District[9] | .svg) |
Mountain Devils | Heathfield Oval, Heathfield | SAFA | 1978 | 1986- | 6 | Div 1: 1986, 1990, 2006, 2007, 2008 Div 2: 2014 |
| Nairne Bremer United |  |
Rams | Nairne Oval, Nairne | – | 1978 | 1978-1991, 1998- | 5 | Div 1: 2023, 2025 Div 2: 1985, 1989, 2017 |
| Onkaparinga Valley[10] |  |
Onkas, Bulldogs | Johnston Memorial Park, Balhannah | – | 1967 | 1967- | 2 | Div 1: 1978, 1994 |
| Uraidla Districts | .svg) |
Demons | Uraidla Showgrounds, Uraidla | – | 1997 | 1997- | 5 | Div 1: 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 |
Division 2
| Club | Jumper | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est | Years in HFL | HFL Senior Premierships | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | |||||||
| Birdwood |  |
Roosters | Birdwood Oval, Birdwood | TVFA | 1880s | 1967- | 6 | Div 2: 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1992, 1994 |
| Bridgewater (Bridgewater-Callington 2013-25) | .svg) |
Raiders | Bridgewater Oval, Bridgewater | – | 2012 | 2013-2022, 2024- | 2 | Div 2: 1981, 2016 |
| Echunga |  |
Demons | Echunga Recreation Ground, Echunga | HCFA | 1903 | 1967- | 7 | Div 1: 2014 Div 2: 1995, 1996, 2000, 2011, 2013 Div 3: 1972 |
| Gumeracha |  |
Magpies | Gumeracha Oval, Gumeracha | TVFA | 1887 | 1967- | 7 | Div 2: 1970, 1982, 1984, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| Kangarilla |  |
Double Blues | Kangarilla Recreation Ground, Kangarilla | HCFA, SFL | 1901 | 1967-1978, 2006- | 5 | Div 2: 2006 Div 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 | HCFA, SFL | 1880 | 1967-1983, 1987- | 5 | Div 2: 1980, 2025 Div 3: 1969 Div 4: 1972, 1973 |
| Meadows |  |
Bulldogs | Stringybark Park, Meadows | HCFA, SFL | 1903 | 1967-1982, 2001- | 5 | Div 2: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 Div 3: 1967 |
| Torrens Valley |  |
Mountain Lions | Centenary Park, Mount Torrens | – | 1997 | 1997- | 3 | Div 2: 2005, 2007, 2010 |
C-Grade Only
Former clubs
| Club | Jumper | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est | Years in HFL | HFL Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||||
| Ashton |  |
Saints | Ashton Oval, Ashton | NNFA | 1907 | 1972-1982 | 0 | - | Merged with Lenswood Rangers to form Eastern Rangers in 1983 |
| Barossa District | .svg) |
Bulldogs | Williamstown Oval, Williamstown | G&DFL | 1979 | 1987-1990 | 3 | Div 2: 1987, 1988, 1990 | Moved to Barossa, Light & Gawler FA in 1991 |
| Bremer | Callington Oval, Callington | RMFL | 1931 | 1967-1978 | 0 | - | Merged with Nairne to form Nairne Bremer United in 1978 | ||
| Bridgewater | .svg) |
Raiders | Bridgewater Oval, Bridgewater | TVFA | 1956 | 1967-2012 | 1 | Div 2: 1981 | Merged with Callington United Eagles to form Bridgewater Callington in 2012 |
| Callington United Eagles[11] |  |
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 |  |
United, Red and Greens | 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. Split from merger and moved to Southern FL in 2024 |
| Ironbank-Bridgewater-Cherry Gardens |  |
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 | HCFA | 1906 | 1967-1977 | 3 | Div 3: 1975, 1976, 1977 | Moved to Great Southern FL in 1977 |
| Lenswood Rangers |  |
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 | Dunn Park Oval, Mount Barker | HCFA | 1959 | 1967-1972 | 1 | Southern: 1968 | Folded after 1972 season |
| Mount Torrens |  |
Bombers | Centenary Park, Mount Torrens | TVFA | 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 | |
HCFA | 1976 | 1976-1985 | 0 | - | De-merged into Mount Torrens and Sedan Cambrai in 1986 | ||
| Murraylands Swans |  |
Swans | LeMessurier Oval, Murray Bridge | AdFL | 2016 | 2019-2022 | 0 | - | Folded after 2022 season |
| Mylor |  |
Magpies | Mylor Oval, Mylor | HCFA | 1902 | 1967-1972 | 0 | - | Folded after 1972 season |
| Nairne | |
Rams | Nairne Oval, Nairne | HCFA | 1903 | 1967-1978 | 0 | - | Merged with Bremer to form Nairne Bremer United in 1978 |
| Palmer | |
Bloods | Collier Park, Palmer | TVFA | 1891 | 1967-1970, 1972-1973 | 1 | Div 4B: 1972 | Folded after 1973 season |
| Pleasant Valley |  |
Roos | Talunga Park, Mount Pleasant | TVFA | 1960s | 1967-1996 | 4 | Northern: 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971 | Merged with Mount Torrens in 1997 to form Torrens Valley |
| Sedan Cambrai |  |
Magpies | Cambrai Sportsground, Cambrai | TVFA | 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[12] |
| Stirling |  |
Eagles | Stirling Oval, Stirling | TVFA | 1800s | 1967-1978 | 0 | - | Merged with Heathfield-Aldgate United to form Mount Lofty District in 1978 |
| Uraidla | .svg) |
Redlegs | Uraidla Showgrounds, Uraidla | TVFA | 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 & District FL in 1974 | |
Premierships
| Year[13] | Division 1 | Country Division/Division 2 | Division 3 | Division 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Nairne Bremer | Macclesfield | 2 divisions (1984-) | |
| 2024 | Hahndorf | Gumeracha | ||
| 2023 | Nairne Bremer | Gumeracha | ||
| 2022 | Lobethal | Gumeracha | ||
| 2021 | Hahndorf | Kersbrook | ||
| 2020 | Hahndorf | Ironbank-Cherry Gardens | ||
| 2019 | Hahndorf | Gumeracha | ||
| 2018 | Hahndorf | Ironbank-Cherry Gardens | ||
| 2017 | Blackwood | Nairne Bremer | ||
| 2016 | Hahndorf | Bridgewater-Callington | ||
| 2015 | Hahndorf | Kersbrook | ||
| 2014 | Echunga | Mount Lofty | ||
| 2013 | Uraidla Districts | Echunga | ||
| 2012 | Mount Barker | Kersbrook | ||
| 2011 | Uraidla Districts | Echunga | ||
| 2010 | Uraidla Districts | Torrens Valley | ||
| 2009 | Uraidla Districts | Kersbrook | ||
| 2008 | Mount Lofty | Kersbrook | ||
| 2007 | Mount Lofty | Torrens Valley | ||
| 2006 | Mount Lofty | Kangarilla | ||
| 2005 | Uraidla Districts | Torrens Valley | ||
| 2004 | Mount Barker | Meadows | ||
| 2003 | Mount Barker | Meadows | ||
| 2002 | Lobethal | Meadows | ||
| 2001 | Hahndorf | Meadows | ||
| 2000 | Mount Barker | Echunga | ||
| 1999 | Lobethal | Ironbank | ||
| 1998 | Lobethal | Ironbank | ||
| 1997 | Hahndorf | Kersbrook | ||
| 1996 | Uraidla | Echunga | ||
| 1995 | Hahndorf | Echunga | ||
| 1994 | Onkaparinga Valley | Birdwood | ||
| 1993 | Hahndorf | Kersbrook | ||
| 1992 | Hahndorf | Birdwood | ||
| 1991 | Blackwood | Mount Torrens | ||
| 1990 | Mount Lofty | Barossa District | ||
| 1989 | Uraidla | Nairne Bremer | ||
| 1988 | Blackwood | Barossa District | ||
| 1987 | Eastern Rangers | Barossa District | ||
| 1986 | Mount Lofty | Kersbrook | ||
| 1985 | Hahndorf | Nairne Bremer | ||
| 1984 | Hahndorf | Gumeracha | ||
| 1983 | Mount Barker | 1 division (1983) | ||
| 1982 | Mount Barker | Gumeracha | 2 divisions (1978–1982) | |
| 1981 | Lobethal | Bridgewater | ||
| 1980 | Uraidla | Macclesfield | ||
| 1979 | Uraidla | Lenswood Rangers | ||
| 1978 | Onkaparinga Valley | Lenswood Rangers | Kangarilla | 3 divisions (1974–1977) |
| 1977 | Heathfield-Aldgate | Birdwood | Langhorne Creek | |
| 1976 | Heathfield-Aldgate | Birdwood | Langhorne Creek | |
| 1975 | Heathfield-Aldgate | Birdwood | Langhorne Creek | |
| 1974 | Heathfield-Aldgate | Kersbrook | Kangarilla | |
| 1973 | Heathfield-Aldgate | Birdwood | Kangarilla | Macclesfield |
| 1972 | Heathfield-Aldgate | Kersbrook | Echunga | Macclesfield |
| Central Zone | Northern Zone | Southern Zone | 3 divisions (1967–1971) | |
| 1971 | Heathfield-Aldgate | Pleasant Valley | Echunga | |
| 1970 | Mount Barker | Gumeracha | Kangarilla | |
| 1969 | Mount Barker | Pleasant Valley | Macclesfield | |
| 1968 | Heathfield-Aldgate | Pleasant Valley | Littlehampton | |
| 1967 | Heathfield-Aldgate | Pleasant Valley | Meadows | |
AFL Players
The following were drafted to AFL club lists having previously participated in the Hills Football League.[14]
Harley barker mt barker 2025 Sturt