Farrer Football League
The Farrer Football Netball League is an Australian rules football and netball competition containing nine clubs based in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. The league features three grades in the Australian rules football competition, with these being First-Grade, Reserve-Grade and Under 17s. In the netball competition there are four grades, with these being A-Grade, A-Reserve Grade, B-Grade and C-Grade.
The Farrer FNL is named after William Farrer, a leading English Australian agronomist and plant breeder. Farrer is best remembered as the originator of the "Federation" strain of wheat, distributed in 1903. His work resulted in significant improvements in both the quality and crop yields of Australia's national wheat harvest, a contribution for which he earned the title 'father of the Australian wheat industry'.
Currently a home and away season consisting of eighteen rounds is played. The best five teams then play off according to the McIntyre system, culminating in the FFNL Grand Final, which is traditionally held at Maher Oval in Wagga Wagga.
History
Breakaway
The Farrer Football League first formed in 1957 as a breakaway from the Albury & District Football League. Culcairn, Henty, Holbrook and Mangoplah-Cookardinia United competed in the first season. In 1958 all remaining clubs from the Albury & District Football League moved across to the new league.The Farrer FL senior football best and fairest medal was called the Baz Medal, which was first donated in 1952 by Mr. Mick Baz of Culcairn as the award in the Albury & District Football League, which was carried on into the Farrer FL.
In 1976, the Farrer FL won the NSW State Championships series held at Finley in June, defeating the Sydney Football League and the South West District FL.
The name of the best and fairest award from 1982 onwards has been the Gerald Clear Award.
Restructure
It was in 1982 that the Farrer Football League amalgamated with the South West Football League (New South Wales) and the Central Riverina Football League in order to create the Riverina Football League and the Riverina District Football League, with the latter changing its name to the Farrer Football League in 1985. It was between 1983 and 1994 that the Riverina District/Farrer Football League maintained a two division system, with a promotion / relegation system in force during that time.Timeframe
- 1930–1957: Albury & District Football League
- 1957–1981: Farrer Football League
- 1982: Riverina District Football League
- 1983–1984: Riverina District Football League – Division One
- 1983–1984: Riverina District Football League – Division Two
- 1985–1994: Farrer Football League – Division One
- 1985–1994: Farrer Football League – Division Two
- 1995–2023: Farrer Football League
Notable players
The following former Farrer FL players played senior VFL / AFL football, with the year indicating their VFL / AFL debut.;Farrer Football League
- 1966: Doug Priest – Holbrook to South Melbourne
- 1969: John Pitura – Wagga to South Melbourne
- 1975: Colin Hounsell Collingullie to South Melbourne
- 1979: Wayne Carroll – Mangoplah Cookardinia United to South Melbourne
- 1980: Greg Smith – East Wagga to South Melbourne
- 1981: Brett Scott – The Rock-Yerong Creek to South Melbourne
- 1987: Michael Phyland – Mangoplah Cookardinia United to Sydney
- 1989: Glenn Page – Collingullie to Sydney
- 1995: Jason Wild – Collingullie to Collingwood
- 2000: Ben Fixter – Rivcoll to Sydney
- 2011: Luke Breust – Temora to Hawthorn
- 2011: Issac Smith – Temora to Hawthorn
- 2013: Jake Barrett – Temora to GWS
Leading & century goal kickers / League Best & Fairest Winners
;SeniorsThe Farrer FL senior football best and fairest medal was called the Baz Medal, which was first donated in 1952 by Mr. Mick Baz of Culcairn Cash Store as the award in the Albury & District Football League, which was carried on into the Farrer FL.
| Year | Leading Goalkicker | H&A Goals | Finals Goals | Total Goals | Best & Fairest | Farrer FL Club | Total Votes |
| Farrer Football League | Baz Medal | ||||||
| 1957 | Hayden Hensel | Culcairn | |||||
| 1958 | Max Vickery | 68 | 68 | Hayden Hensel | Calcairn | ||
| 1959 | Max Vickery | 98 | 98 | Rod Haberecht | Lockhart | ||
| 1960 | Tim Robb | 69 | 69 | Les "Sonny" Morrow | Wagga | ||
| 1961 | R Campbell | 61 | 61 | Harry Gardiner | Culcairn | 35 | |
| 1962 | R Richardson | 52 | 52 | Harry Gardiner | Culcairn | 21 | |
| 1963 | Harry Gardiner | 65 | 65 | Brian Czislowski | North Wagga | ||
| 1964 | John Condon | 62 | 62 | Harry Gardiner | Culcairn | 23 | |
| 1965 | Rex Burge | 70 | 70 | Tony Beasley | North Wagga | 18 | |
| 1966 | Rex Burge | 70 | 70 | David Maher | MCU | 25 | |
| 1967 | Rex Burge | 85 | 85 | Allan Tipping | Collingullie | 27 | |
| 1968 | Ken Morrow | 72 | N/A | 72 | John Wright | Lockhart | 29 |
| 1969 | Barry Walker | 118 | N/A | 118 | Greg Hardie | North Wagga | 26 |
| Ken Morrow | 101 | ||||||
| 1970 | Ken Morrow | 105 | Greg Hardie | North Wagga | 24 | ||
| 1971 | Rex Burge | 100 | John Kew | Collingullie | 29 | ||
| 1972 | Rex Burge | 73 | 73 | Jeff Nimmo | Lockhart | 27 | |
| 1973 | Greg Sheather | 107 | 107 | Jeff Nimmo | Lockhart | 25 | |
| 1974 | Steve Goodwin | 111 | 111 | Colin Hounsell | Collingullie | 27 | |
| 1975 | Robert "Bob" Driscoll | 82 | 82 | Jeff Nimmo | Lockhart | 22 | |
| 1976 | Laurie Pendrick | 114 | 13 | 127 | Peter Elliott | TRYC | 27 |
| R Driscoll | 109 | ||||||
| 1977 | Laurie Pendrick | 133 | 9 | 159 | Laurie Pendrick & | North Wagga | 27 |
| L Cohalan | 101 | Doug Priest | Wagga | 27 | |||
| 1978 | Greg Sheather | 136 | 4 | 140 | Greg Smith | E W K | 21 |
| J Newton | 127 | ||||||
| Laurie Pendrick | 102 | ||||||
| 1979 | Don Elliott | 113 | 9 | 122 | Richard Hamilton | Holbrook | 32 |
| 1980 | Allan Breust | 108 | 0 | 108 | Gary McDougall | Temora | 27 |
| 1981 | Greg Sheather | 92 | 0 | 92 | George Galvin | E W K | 19 |
| Riverina DISTRICT Football League | Gerald Clear Medal | ||||||
| 1982 | Stephen Cole | 144 | 5 | 149 | Bruce Rollins | Marrar | |
| Riverina DISTRICT FL – Division One | Gerald Clear Medal | ||||||
| 1983 | Martin King | 111 | 0 | 111 | Laurie Pendrick | North Wagga | 22 |
| 1984 | Warren McLoughlin | 85 | 15 | 100 | Danny Malone | Marrar | 21 |
| Farrer FL: Division One | Gerald Clear Medal | ||||||
| 1985 | John McGregor | 102 | 0 | 102 | Phil Reid | Temora | 25 |
| 1986 | Trevor Ion | 113 | 0 | 113 | Danny Malone | Marrar | |
| 1987 | Richard Flanigan | 76 | 0 | 76 | Ray Block | Temora | 18 |
| 1988 | Terry Gillett | 106 | 106 | Ian Lucas | Barellan | 19 | |
| 1989 | Stephen Cole & | 68 | 68 | Mark Hodgson | Barellan | ||
| Dick Carey | 68 | 68 | |||||
| 1990 | Mark Hofert | 108 | 108 | Michael Condon | TRYC | 24 | |
| 1991 | Mark Hofert | 117 | 117 | Paul Irvine | North Wagga | 15 | |
| 1992 | Mark Hofert | 116 | 116 | Brian Hawke | MCU | 16 | |
| 1993 | Mark Hofert | 70 | 70 | Todd Goldspink | TRYC | 17 | |
| 1994 | Paul McCarty | 126 | 126 | Brett Page | North Wagga | 28 | |
| Farrer Football League | Gerald Clear Medal | ||||||
| 1995 | Mark Hofert | 81 | 0 | 81 | Shaun Nesbitt | Rivoll | 24 |
| 1996 | John Read | 159 | 16 | 175 | Glen Traecy | Ariah Park M | 24 |
| 1997 | John Read | 75 | 75 | Phil Guthrie | Cootamundra | 25 | |
| 1998 | Glenn Bench | 83 | 83 | Matthew Currie | Ardelthan | 27 | |
| 1999 | Jamie Pitt | 102 | 5 | 107 | Brad Aiken | CAK | 23 |
| 2000 | Matt Carroll | 109 | 0 | 109 | Kane Johnstone | CAK | 22 |
| 2001 | Anthony Carroll | 75 | 0 | 75 | Shane Lenon | CAK | 32 |
| 2002 | Mick McPherson | 62 | 0 | 62 | Brad Aiken | CAK | 29 |
| 2003 | Matt Carroll | 125 | 0 | 125 | N McDonald | Rivoll | 25 |
| 2004 | Jason Brown | 88 | 0 | 88 | Brad Aiken | CAK | 21 |
| 2005 | Jason Brown | 78 | 5 | 83 | Matt Robertson | Northern Jets | 21 |
| 2006 | Jason Brown | 90 | 0 | 90 | Chris Gow | CAK | 34 |
| 2007 | Robert Harper | 107 | 0 | 107 | Jarrod Gornall | Marrar | 20 |
| 2008 | Marc Geppert | 85 | 14 | 99 | Nathan McDonald | TRYC | 24 |
| 2009 | Marc Geppert | 78 | 24 | 102 | Brad Aiken | CAK | 23 |
| 2010 | Marc Geppert | 91 | 14 | 105 | Brad Langtry | Marrar | 24 |
| 2011 | Christopher Jackson | 49 | 0 | 49 | Ryan Bull & | Coleambally | 22 |
| Brad Langtry | Marrar | 22 | |||||
| 2012 | Jason Brown | 64 | 7 | 71 | Chris Block | Temora | 16 |
| 2013 | Luke Webb | 60 | 2 | 62 | Clint Taylor | Marrar | 22 |
| 2014 | Marc Geppert | 82 | 13 | 95 | Dean Pound | Coleambally | 28 |
| 2015 | Marc Geppert | 111 | 10 | 121 | Cory Watt | North Wagga | 20 |
| 2016 | Marc Geppert | 101 | 10 | 111 | Nick Hull | EWK | 32 |
| 2017 | Matt Harpley | 60 | 0 | 60 | Mitch Haddrill | Northern Jets | 19 |
| 2018 | Matthew Wallis | 63 | 4 | 67 | Nick Hull | EWK | 29 |
| 2019 | Christopher Ladhams | 61 | 7 | 68 | Mitch Haddrill | Northern Jets | 25 |
| 2020 | FFNL in recess due to COVID-19. | ||||||
| 2021 | Jamie Lawton | 78 | N/A | 78 | Harry Fitzsimmons | EWK | 17 |
| 2022 | Nathan Dennis | 55 | 8 | 63 | Riley Budd | TRYC | 23 |
| 2023 | Matt Wallis | 68 | 4 | 72 | Zach Walgers | Marrar | 25 |
| 2024 | James Roberts | 63 | 6 | 69 | Will Reinhold | Temora | |
| 2025 | Andrew Swan | 85 | 10 | 95 | Will Reinhold | Temora | |
| 2026 | |||||||
| Year | Leading Goalkicker | H&A Goals | Finals Goals | Total Goals | Best & Fairest | Farrer FL Club | Total Votes |
List of football premiers
The Farrer Football League's first grand final was in 1957 and the best on ground player now receives the award, which was first awarded in ?. The grand final venue has been played at Robertson Oval, Wagga Wagga since at least 2012.Reserve-Grade
- 1957: MCU d Culcairn
- 1958: Wagga d Henty
- 1959: Wagga d Henty
- 1960: Henty d Wagga
- 1961: Henty d The Rock
- 1962: Culcairn d Wagga
- 1963: Henty d Holbrook
- 1964: Wagga d Holbrook
- 1965: Wagga d North Wagga
- 1966: Holbrook d Wagga
- 1967: Lockhart d Wagga
- 1968: Wagga d TRYC
- 1969: TRYC d Wagga
- 1970: Wagga d TRYC
- 1971: Holbrook d Henty
- 1972: TRYC d Culcairn
- 1973: Culcairn d MCU
- 1974: MCU d TRYC
- 1975: Wagga d MCU
- 1976: Wagga d Nth Wagga
- 1977: Wagga d Nth Wagga
- 1978: North Wagga d Wagga
- 1979: EWK d Wagga
- 1980: Wagga d Temora
- 1981: North Wagga d Wagga
- 1982: Junee-Kapooka
- 1983: Mangoplah-Cookardinia United
- 1984: Mangoplah-Cookardinia United
- 1985: Temora
- 1986: Temora
- 1987: Temora
- 1988: Barellan United
- 1989: The Rock-Yerong Creek
- 1990: The Rock-Yerong Creek
- 1991: Mangoplah-Cookardinia United
- 1992: Collingullie-Ashmont
- 1993: North Wagga
- 1994: North Wagga
- 1995: Marrar
- 1996: Ariah Park-Mirrool
- 1997: Cootamundra
- 1998: Ariah Park-Mirrool
- 1999: Ariah Park-Mirrool
- 2000: The Rock-Yerong Creek
- 2001: Collingullie-Ashmont-Kapooka
- 2002: Collingullie-Ashmont-Kapooka
- 2003: Ariah Park-Mirrool
- 2004: North Wagga
- 2005: Northern Jets
- 2006: Northern Jets
- 2007: Northern Jets
- 2008: Collingullie-Ashmont-Kapooka
- 2009: Rivcoll
- 2010: Charles Sturt University
- 2011: Marrar
- 2012: The Rock-Yerong Creek
- 2013: North Wagga
- 2014: East Wagga-Kooringal
- 2015: East Wagga-Kooringal
- 2016: East Wagga-Kooringal
- 2017: North Wagga
- 2018: Marrar
- 2019: East Wagga-Kooringal
- 2022: Marrar
- 2023: The Rock-Yerong Creek
- 2024: Charles Sturt University
- 2025: Charles Sturt University
Under 19's
- 1980: RAAF d EWK
- 1981: MCU d Wagga
- 1982: Mangoplah-Cookardinia United
- 1983: South Wagga-Tolland
- 1984: Mangoplah-Cookardinia United
- 1985: Mangoplah-Cookardinia United
- 1986: The Rock-Yerong Creek
- 1987: Collingullie-Ashmont
- 1988: Collingullie-Ashmont
- 1989: Mangoplah-Cookardinia United
- 1990: Mangoplah-Cookardinia United
- 1991: Mangoplah-Cookardinia United
- 1992: Temora
- 1993: Temora
- 1994: Temora
Under 17s/18s
- 1995:
- 1996:
- 1997:
- 1998:
- 1999:
- 2000:
- 2001:
- 2002:
- 2003:
- 2004:
- 2005:
- 2006:
- 2007:
- 2008:
- 2009: Northern Jets
- 2010: North Wagga
- 2011: Temora
- 2012: North Wagga
- 2013: No Competition
- 2014: North Wagga
- 2015: Northern Jets
- 2016: North Wagga
- 2017: Temora
- 2018: Marrar
- 2019: Marrar
- 2022: Northern Jets
- 2023: Marrar
- 2024: Marrar
- 2025: Coleambally
Riverina District / Farrer FL Division Two Grand Finals
;Seniors- In 1995, the Farrer Football League became a one division senior football competition.
Leading & century goal kickers / League Best & Fairest Winners
;Riverina District FL / Farrer FL – Division Two;Seniors
| Year | Leading Goalkicker | Club | Goals | Best & Fairest | Club | Total Votes |
| Riverina DISTRICT FL: Division 2 | Alan Carroll Memorial Medal | |||||
| 1983 | Rob Barrett | Boree Creek | 101 | Mick Dasey | South Wagga Tolland | 20 |
| 1984 | Ralph Robins | Whitton | 59 | Ron Nieuwendyk | Cootamundra | 13 |
| Farrer FL: Division 2 | Alan Carroll Memorial Medal | |||||
| 1985 | Ralph Robins | Whitton | 130 | Martin Simpson | Whitton | 21 |
| M Spencer | Junee Kapooka | 101 | ||||
| 1986 | Scott "Jack" Lang | Boree Creek | 74 | Gavin Lloyd | Whitton | 22 |
| 1987 | Mark Hofert | South Wagga Tolland | 46 | Wayne Gardner | South Wagga Tolland | |
| 1988 | Eric Frazier | South Wagga Tolland | 75 | Colin Ingram | Whitton | 17 |
| 1989 | Don Oliver | Cootamundra | 64 | Errol Boots | Whitton | 21 |
| 1990 | Ian Marston | Uranquinity Kapooka | 63? | David Hodge | Rivcoll | 16 |
| 1991 | Neil Lane | Rivcoll | 68 | Darren McDonald | Uranquinity Kapooka | 17 |
| 1992 | Brad Guthrie | Cootamundra | 66 | David Hodge | Rivcoll | |
| 1993 | Wayne Gardner | South Wagga Tolland | 88 | Craig McLachlan | South Wagga Tolland | 19 |
| 1994 | Michael Wright | Whitton | 48 | Danny Jacques | Cootamundra | 14 |
- Goals tally does not include goals kicked in the finals series.
- In 1995, the Farrer Football League became a one division competition.
- MOST GOALS IN A MATCH: 1988 – Eric Frazer – South Wagga Tolland v RAAF at Forest Hill, 13 August 1988.
2010 Ladder
;Seniors| Farrer FL | Wins | Byes | Losses | Draws | For | Against | % | Pts | Final | Team | G | B | Pts | Team | G | B | Pts | |
| Collingullie AK | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1918 | 829 | 231.36% | 64 | Elimination | Eastern Hawks | 9 | 15 | 69 | Northern Jets | 17 | 9 | 111 | |
| The Rock Yerong Creek | 12 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1513 | 1084 | 139.58% | 48 | Qualifying | The Rock Yerong Creek | 5 | 7 | 37 | Marrar | 10 | 11 | 71 | |
| Marrar | 10 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1296 | 1251 | 103.60% | 40 | 1st semi | The Rock Yerong Creek | 14 | 12 | 96 | Northern Jets | 10 | 7 | 67 | |
| Eastern Hawks | 7 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1253 | 1409 | 88.93% | 28 | 2nd semi | Collingullie AK | 18 | 6 | 114 | Marrar | 12 | 6 | 78 | |
| Northern Jets | 6 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1072 | 1235 | 86.80% | 24 | Preliminary | Marrar | 8 | 10 | 58 | The Rock Yerong Creek | 3 | 5 | 23 | |
| North Wagga | 6 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1063 | 1350 | 78.74% | 24 | Grand | Collingullie AK | 17 | 19 | 121 | Marrar | 1 | 3 | 9 | |
| Temora | 4 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1218 | 1696 | 71.82% | 16 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Charles Sturt University | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 896 | 1475 | 60.75% | 12 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |