SFNL Div 1 2025

[random observer]

Is there an argument to be had for promotion from D2 to D1 not to be automatic? Should a club need to show sustained success, financial stability etc.? Similarly, if a successful D1 club has a solid on-field history and is financial stable, but has a bad one-off year for whatever reason, could it be argued that they perhaps don't automatically go down if there's no team suitable to be promoted?

It has been done. Doveton Eagles won the Div 2 flag in 2019 and didn't go up. I don't recall the timeline (Covid got in the way) but I think they actually went down a division or two after their mercenaries left.

This also went on in earlier years. Ashwood won the Div 2 flag in 1996 and refused to go up. Mordialloc asked to be (and were) relegated about three rounds into the 96 season. These (and any number of other issues) made the SFL a joke back in the 90s.

Personally, I think relegation / promotion has to be hard and fast. If promotion and relegation are optional, who makes the decision? If it is up to clubs, a lot of premiers will "dog it", electing for the soft option of winning another flag in their current division instead of stepping up. It might not be such an issue for being relegated (a lot of clubs are relieved to go down), but some clubs will choose to stay up when they shouldn't. If it up to the league, any decisions to waive promotion / relegation will smack of favouritism. And what if there is a mismatch (Div 1 wooden spooner desperate to be relegated after disastrous year, Div 2 premier doesn't want to come up)? Do you invite the Div 2 runners up to come up instead?

No doubt there are some exceptions - like Doveton Eagles (above), or when a club has almost collapsed and can barely field a side, like Hampton United a few years ago - but they should only be in the most extreme circumstances.

 

[Marousses]

If going to reference an old boys club as a comparison maybe choose an APS affiliate. De La have not won an A grade flag for 35 years (and extremely unlikely to do so ever again) or a senior flag at any level for 25 years. Currently winless this season with a % around 40. A very small and low fee paying (by comparison) school to APS and AGSV schools. Clubs like De La, Mazenod, St Bedes are are very, very different entities to Xavs, SKOB etc. Don’t have anywhere near the resources or networks of the ‘elite ‘schools’ and operate very much like a suburban club. I know as I have played at both. We get pillaged every year by the paying comps but that’s life. Our facilities are average at best and like most clubs finding the necessary dollars to put teams on the park is a weekly a struggle. Who knows maybe one day we will move comps. Personally, I’d welcome it, although I would be somewhat torn as my two previous club might face off against each other. The ability to pay might also save us losing players but would also come with the burden of raising funds and the usual bidding wars for over paid mercenaries.

i do have some knowledge of the Bentleigh move but will save it for another day. Geographiy was part, although not the only reason.

(PS - The VAFA is far from perfect and the Selwood decision was ridiculous. But cannot draw a comparison to the Fevola 'circus'. That was a one-off stunt in the lowest grade of the Thirds competition)

Interesting Post. I wax my time between mainly Southern/VAFA/occasional MPNFL game.

VAFA- outside of A Grade which is a superb standard of football , besides that the standard really falls away from mid B and down. For me , I’d love to see De La Salle and St.Bedes make the jump across to southern, keep the school association and compete in division 1 southern. Defs De La, St.Bedes I’ve watched once in C Grade this year and they are no better than bottom tier teams in division 1 southern in my opinion but from an optics point of view just because you have school association doesn’t mean you should feel entitled to stay in the VAFA. But for what it’s worth id love nothing more than the Southern become a big divisional entity with local derbies aplenty. The local clubs C grade and below are absolutely kidding themselves staying and bobbing up and down the divisional sector for a league who could not give 2 cahoots about them and travel north of the city 5x a year to play in front of 20 people

People have knocked the southern for a long time but Division 1 especially now and in the last 12 months has got to a standard that is not to be sneezed at , very good, fit, athletic types and the flow of ball has significantly improved and so has the coaching. Recruiting new clubs always raises the bar in competition, you see it time and time again. People on this forum should not be against growth as some were last week and instead embrace the growth and grow with the standards being set

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

St Bedes vs Cheltenham. Real derby

 

[bedford]

St Bedes vs Cheltenham. Real derby

St Pauls/Old Ormond V Ormond

 

[Marousses]

St Pauls/Old Ormond V Ormond

St.Pauls/ Old Ormond v Ormond Eira Grphyons

 

[bedford]

St.Pauls/ Old Ormond v Ormond Eira Grphyons

In the words of Terry Wallace , i'll spew up

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

So many darrrbys

 

[Mahalo]

This site has been taken over! Couldnt give a flying F*** about the VAFA as they have their own competition and is irrelevant to the SFNL.

 

[BillytheLid]

This site has been taken over! Couldnt give a flying F*** about the VAFA as they have their own competition and is irrelevant to the SFNL.

There was some discussion about the pros and cons of clubs moving competitions and the possibility of other clubs being admitted to the SFL. As the SFL continues to grow I welcome that discussion and think it adds value. Many people, myself included have played at or have an interest in more than one competition so as long as the discussion is respectful I don’t mind hearing the insights of others. Others have a contrary view and that’s fine as well.

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

This site has been taken over! Couldnt give a flying F*** about the VAFA as they have their own competition and is irrelevant to the SFNL.

 

[Blood Stained Angels]

Oh no, I'll now get the next level ban for questioning the almighty Bedford of Ormond! What comes after he 2 weeks!?

Are you talking to yourself here ?

 

[bedford]

This site has been taken over! Couldnt give a flying F*** about the VAFA as they have their own competition and is irrelevant to the SFNL.

My interest is that i know many people involved and the VAFA talk is because in time some suburban clubs would be looking at moving over , some of those clubs are genuine Southern clubs, not like clubs like Narre Warren . Hopefully it will happen

 

[JohnHancock]

I like the look of this, but we need to ensure due diligence is done—particularly around financials. Are they financially viable to step up or stay up at the higher level? What does their current player list look like? Who is contracted beyond this year?

For comparison, consider the trends from the past few seasons:
Division 2 Premiers:

• 2023 – East Brighton: 20 wins, 1 loss, 95% win rate and 190% percentage
• 2024 – Murrumbeena: 20 wins, 1 loss, ~185% percentage
  Both teams dominated their seasons before moving up.

(Also both teams won reserves too)


2025 – Malvern (currently top of D2):

• Win rate: 68%
• Percentage: 145%
  This is a significant drop-off in dominance compared to the last two promoted clubs.

Division 1 Relegated Teams:

• 2024 – Mordialloc: 0–18 (0% win rate), 25% percentage
• 2024 – Chelsea: 2–16 (11% win rate, only wins were vs Mordi), 52% percentage
• 2023 – St Kilda City: 1–17 (6% win rate), 40% percentage

Now compare that with current D1 strugglers:

• Cranbourne: 2–10 (16% win rate), 70% percentage
• Murrumbeena: 3 wins and a draw (roughly 28% win rate), 81% percentage

These numbers suggest that the performance gap between D1 and D2 is substantial. Any team looking to go up must be ready both on and off the field—including depth, resourcing, and financial stability—or they risk being non-competitive like several recent examples.

 

[unwise gamgee]

I like the look of this, but we need to ensure due diligence is done—particularly around financials. Are they financially viable to step up or stay up at the higher level? What does their current player list look like? Who is contracted beyond this year?

For comparison, consider the trends from the past few seasons:
Division 2 Premiers:

• 2023 – East Brighton: 20 wins, 1 loss, 95% win rate and 190% percentage
• 2024 – Murrumbeena: 20 wins, 1 loss, ~185% percentage
  Both teams dominated their seasons before moving up.

(Also both teams won reserves too)


2025 – Malvern (currently top of D2):

• Win rate: 68%
• Percentage: 145%
  This is a significant drop-off in dominance compared to the last two promoted clubs.

Division 1 Relegated Teams:

• 2024 – Mordialloc: 0–18 (0% win rate), 25% percentage
• 2024 – Chelsea: 2–16 (11% win rate, only wins were vs Mordi), 52% percentage
• 2023 – St Kilda City: 1–17 (6% win rate), 40% percentage

Now compare that with current D1 strugglers:

• Cranbourne: 2–10 (16% win rate), 70% percentage
• Murrumbeena: 3 wins and a draw (roughly 28% win rate), 81% percentage

These numbers suggest that the performance gap between D1 and D2 is substantial. Any team looking to go up must be ready both on and off the field—including depth, resourcing, and financial stability—or they risk being non-competitive like several recent examples.

This is true (and unfortunate) but it comes with all the improvement that has happened in the southern league in the last few years. The league steps up and the gap from the top level to the second level widens. Look at other leagues around Melbourne. The 2024 premiers in the B grades of Eastern, Northern and Western leagues are all bottom or equal of their own A grade leagues in 2025

 

[God Yeah]

This is true (and unfortunate) but it comes with all the improvement that has happened in the southern league in the last few years. The league steps up and the gap from the top level to the second level widens. Look at other leagues around Melbourne. The 2024 premiers in the B grades of Eastern, Northern and Western leagues are all bottom or equal of their own A grade leagues in 2025

So in summary, clubs that in 2nd/B Grade who don't dominate need to ask not to be promoted. As the only way they will survive in the top flight is to break the bank with fly by night players who destroy the culture developed in winning promotion in the first place.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Promotion and relegation have to be automatic - like many things, it’s not the perfect system but it is the best there is.

Clubs could apply not to go up but would have to show extreme circumstances such as the loss of a huge amount of their squad and an inability to recruit to replace them.

And even then the relegated or runners-up would have to agree to take their place.

You can’t have clubs picking and choosing, the point of promotion and relegation is clubs naturally find their level, not artificially.

 

[BillytheLid]

I like the look of this, but we need to ensure due diligence is done—particularly around financials. Are they financially viable to step up or stay up at the higher level? What does their current player list look like? Who is contracted beyond this year?

For comparison, consider the trends from the past few seasons:
Division 2 Premiers:

• 2023 – East Brighton: 20 wins, 1 loss, 95% win rate and 190% percentage
• 2024 – Murrumbeena: 20 wins, 1 loss, ~185% percentage
  Both teams dominated their seasons before moving up.

(Also both teams won reserves too)


2025 – Malvern (currently top of D2):

• Win rate: 68%
• Percentage: 145%
  This is a significant drop-off in dominance compared to the last two promoted clubs.

Division 1 Relegated Teams:

• 2024 – Mordialloc: 0–18 (0% win rate), 25% percentage
• 2024 – Chelsea: 2–16 (11% win rate, only wins were vs Mordi), 52% percentage
• 2023 – St Kilda City: 1–17 (6% win rate), 40% percentage

Now compare that with current D1 strugglers:

• Cranbourne: 2–10 (16% win rate), 70% percentage
• Murrumbeena: 3 wins and a draw (roughly 28% win rate), 81% percentage

These numbers suggest that the performance gap between D1 and D2 is substantial. Any team looking to go up must be ready both on and off the field—including depth, resourcing, and financial stability—or they risk being non-competitive like several recent examples.

Good analysis. Murrumbeena have been pretty solid this year and maybe stiff not to have banked a few more wins. Unfortunately they lost about 6-7 very good players from their premiership team to retirement or $. All experienced, big-bodied types which you need in the top flight. Had they retained those, on top of the players they recruited I think they would have been on the cusp of playing finals. (I know …. “and if my auntie had b@!!s she’d be my uncle”).

 

[Big buzz]

My interest is that i know many people involved and the VAFA talk is because in time some suburban clubs would be looking at moving over , some of those clubs are genuine Southern clubs, not like clubs like Narre Warren . Hopefully it will happen

They should just change the name to south east football league problem fixed

 

[puppet]

None of the top 2025 2nd division teams would be competive in 1st division next year! Murrumbeena and East Brighton have competed well because they have spent large when dominating division 2, and spent more when promoted!Biggest spender generally wins most divisions.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

My interest is that i know many people involved and the VAFA talk is because in time some suburban clubs would be looking at moving over , some of those clubs are genuine Southern clubs, not like clubs like Narre Warren . Hopefully it will happen

Problem with being a “genuine Southern” league is it was hemmed in by the EFNL, SEFNL and MPFNL. Nowhere to go geographically for growth, a shrinking local player base due to an ageing region, and what local players there are, the Southern clubs are competing with the old boys clubs because it’s generally a high income region and the players go to private schools. None of this effects the EFNL, NFNL, EDFL or WFNL because they all have strong presences in the populous, young outer suburbs where kids are publicly educated.

The SFNL was being eaten away at and the quality went downhill as a result.

They needed a strategic change and adding a few B/C/D grade clubs like Hampton, Parkdale, Beaumaris, Ormond, SBMT would not have done the job. It would be a temporary boost to the league but the core problems would remain, those clubs would face the same old issues and that would’ve continued.

The only real solution was to find a growth area and the south east was it. No other realistic option.

 

[chumbawumba]

 

[chumbawumba]

 

[bedford]

Big news from the Nepean hwy

 

[gelder01]

Big news from the Nepean hwy

Major accident, big build upgrade? Or throwing in a line?

 

[MortlockWatcher]

He might be alluding to the fact that Jon Edgar (former coach of St Kevins and Glen Eira) has apparently been given the reins at East Brighton, maybe with the hope that he will bring a few players from Old Brighton where his son plays. The Vampires might lose a few players in the off-season due to the mid-season coaching change so the appointment might help the boys from the Nepean Highway.