Southern Country Junior Football Association (SCJFA)

It’s unsure as to when the Association was either formed or when it ceased, but judging by those clubs below, there is a reasonable possibility that it may have been formed in the very early 1900’s.

The following clubs participated at varying times: Argyle Cadets, Brisbane Rovers, Crescent, Excelsior, Fitzroy, Glenorchy, Imperial, New Town, North Hobart Juniors, Sandy Bay, South Hobart, St. Georges, Standfast, Trinity, Union, Union Jack and West Hobart.

First inter-colonial games

In July, Hotham (now North Melbourne) 4.18 (42) defeated a Northern Combined team 0.2 (2) in Launceston.

On Tuesday 5th July, Hotham came to Hobart to play a representative STFA team. The Association team was made-up of players selected from Country Teams namely, Oatlands and Richmond and Hobart based clubs North Hobart, Railway, Cricketers, City and New Town. The STFA won the match, its first win in an Inter-Colonial game 3.15 (33) to Hotham 2.16 (28).

STJFA Clubs

The Southern Tasmanian Junior Football Association (second tier competition) was made-up of clubs : Fitzroy Imperials, Union, Glenorchy, Union Jack, West Hobart and North Hobart.

STFA Clubs

Southern Tasmanian Football Assoication included: City, Railway, Kingston, Fitzroy and North Hobart.

STFA Clubs

Clubs in the STFA were: Lefroy, North Hobart, Glenorchy and Wellington, with Summerton withdrawing after one season.

STFA Premier

No grand-final played. North Hobart Football Club was declared Premier.

Roster

The roster was drawn up to accommodate the three teams participating and the North Hobart club was to play Lefroy in a season opener on the coming Saturday, with Wellington meeting the former the following week.

Tasmanian Football League

Probably the most significant decision to emerge from the Australian Football Council (AFC) conference was that it recognised the TFL as being the controlling body for football in Tasmania, which in turn gave the TFL a right to have two delegates to the AFC conferences. There was however, a stipulation that one of the two Tasmanian Delegates be appointed from the NTFA.

Mr. W. H. Gill was elected as the TFL’s representative to its Executive Committee.

When the TFL was formed there would be only three clubs competing, Lefroy, North Hobart and Derwent Football Clubs. The Derwent Club had replaced Wellington Football Club that disbanded at the end of the 1905 season. 

World War 1 caused mayhem for Tasmanian Football

The three TFL clubs found it very difficult to field reasonable teams on a weekly basis. Mainland clubs were unable to visit Tasmania. The TFL and NTFA officials decided not to play a State premiership in 1915.

At the end of the season the following players had enlisted for the Armed Service:

Lefroy: Bailey, I. Margetts, N. Allison, C. Abey, T. W. Simpson. W. Abel, F. Burton, B. Kilmartin, R. Totham, D. Nichols, F. Green, L. Barnett, Newman, E. Smith, Townley

Cananore: Randall, Clennett, Hope (killed in action), Lipscombe, Turner, Freeman, Brownell, C. Hannigan (killed in action), Westwood, Shaw, Pennyquick, Bowen.

North Hobart: A. Aulsebrook (killed in action), L. Chambers, E. Russell, A. Bucirde, K. Moore, W. Jack, K. Mackey, Ward (killed in action), V. Shirley, A. Stanton, H. Brain, Mahoney, W. D. Leitch.

North Hobart forfeits game against Cananore

On 11th August the North Hobart club failed to appear for its match against Cananore, claiming the TFL had been unreasonable in imposing a penalty on captain Percy Martyn, after declaring himself unfit for the North verses South match the previous week. He was suspended for two roster matches. North Hobart was fined £15 ($30) and the match was awarded to Cananore.

New TANFL season goal kicking record

North Hobar player, Allan Rait beat the goal kicking record previously held by Col. Stokes, by booting 112 goals for the season.

Exciting TANFL grand final….

The TANFL grand final resulted in a drawn game between Cananore and North Hobart, with both teams finishing with the score 9.12 (66).

The grand final replay was equally as exciting but Cananore eventually held the lead to win the premiership. 

TANFL Best & Fairest

North Hobart player, Len Pye became the first player to win the TANFL Best & Fairest award on three occasions, having won the award in 1932 and 1937.

TANFL premiership record

North Hobart set a new TANFL record when it won four straight senior premierships.

TFL State Wide League (TSWL)

In 1986 the TANFL had created a State wide competition. Member clubs were the existing six Southern, Clarence, Glenorchy, Hobart, New Norfolk, North Hobart and Sandy Bay. Two clubs from the NTFA namely, North Launceston and South Launceston joined to form an 8 team competition

AFL Tasmania

At the conclusion of 2000 Football Tasmania was absorbed by AFL Tasmania, the new controlling body of football in Tasmania. It immediately ceased the State Wide League competition to focus on a Tasmanian team in the VFL. This move forced the former State Wide League clubs to return to their respective regional competitions.

SFL Clubs

Clubs participating in 2001 were, Brighton, Channel, Claremont, Clarence, Cygnet, Glenorchy Storm, Hobart, Huonville Lions, Kermandie, Kingston, Lauderdale, Lindisfarne, New Norfolk Hawks, North Hobart and Sorell.

State Wide League collapse

With the demise of the State Wide League collapse, the original Southern based club, Clarence, Glenorchy and North Hobart had no option, but to join the SFL in 2001. 

SFL: two tiered competition

In 2002 the SFL created a two tiered competition (i) Premier League, made-up from former State Wide League Clubs, Clarence, Glenorchy Storm, North Hobart, Hobart, New Norfolk, Kingston, Brighton and Sorell. (ii) Regional League, included the original clubs Channel, Claremont, Cygnet, Huonville Lions, Kermandie, Lauderdale and Lindisfarne.

SFL restructure

Southern Football League resumed its original (1996-1997) competition following the exit of clubs to the newly formed AFL Tasmania Tasmanian State League to commence in 2009. Clubs that left the SFL were: Clarence, Glenorchy, Hobart, Lauderdale and North Hobart.

AFL Tasmania re-invented a Statewide League

In 2008, AFL Tasmania re-invented a Statewide League for season 2009. SFL Premier League clubs Clarence, Glenorchy, North Hobart and Lauderdale bailed out of the SFL in preference of the new Tasmanian State League