History of the Barmera-Monash Football Club
Early Beginnings - Barmera Football Club
(1920-1936)
(1920-1936)
The origins of our club trace back to 1920 when a local team competed in the Central Albert Football Association under various names, including Barmera, Lakes, Lake Bonney, and Lake Barmera.
The Barmera Football Club officially formed in 1921 and competed in the Upper Murray Football Association (UMFA). At the time the league consisted of teams such as Berri, Renmark, Lyrup, and Glossop. Another team from the Barmera area going by the name South Lake Ramblers also began competing this year but in the local Central Albert Football Association.
Success came quickly for the newly formed Barmera team with former North Adelaide champion, Lloyd Davies, leading the team to an undefeated year and taking out their first ever premiership in the UMFA in the year 1922.
The Barmera team played at multiple venues before settling at Memorial Oval, including Bruce Oval and a lakefront ground west of the current oval.
L Davies (1925), W HILL (1931 & 1933), R McKay (1936 & 1937)
Premierships:
1922
Grand Final Losses:
1923, 1925, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1935
The Barmera Football Club officially formed in 1921 and competed in the Upper Murray Football Association (UMFA). At the time the league consisted of teams such as Berri, Renmark, Lyrup, and Glossop. Another team from the Barmera area going by the name South Lake Ramblers also began competing this year but in the local Central Albert Football Association.
Success came quickly for the newly formed Barmera team with former North Adelaide champion, Lloyd Davies, leading the team to an undefeated year and taking out their first ever premiership in the UMFA in the year 1922.
The Barmera team played at multiple venues before settling at Memorial Oval, including Bruce Oval and a lakefront ground west of the current oval.
Sources: Hallett Shueard's book, One Hundred Years Of Football By The Lake 1920-2020
A Grade Medal Winners:L Davies (1925), W HILL (1931 & 1933), R McKay (1936 & 1937)
Premierships:
1922
Grand Final Losses:
1923, 1925, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1935
Barmera Football Club 1922 Premiership Team
The Journey Through the Mid-20th Century
(1937-1956)
(1937-1956)
After the clubs early success, it would not be until 15 years later that the club would have premiership glory again. The 1937 season saw the Barmera team take out the UMFA premiership under the guidance of Neil Munro and Ron McKay.
Due to World War II, the UMFA went into recess from 1940 to 1945 and it was not until early 1945 that the Barmera team would compete again, this time in the Bonney Friendly Football Association. This league featured teams such as Berri, Cobdogla, Kingston-Moorook, Loxton, Renmark and Loveday Camps.
Barmera's run in the BFFA would be short lived as they would rejoin the UMFA in 1946 and merge with Cobdogla in the following year, 1947. The club competed as Cobdogla-Barmera United until 1951, when Barmera resumed as a standalone club in 1952 until the River Murray flood of 1956 cancelled the competition for the year.
R McKay (1936 & 1937)
Premierships:
1937
Grand Final Losses: -
Due to World War II, the UMFA went into recess from 1940 to 1945 and it was not until early 1945 that the Barmera team would compete again, this time in the Bonney Friendly Football Association. This league featured teams such as Berri, Cobdogla, Kingston-Moorook, Loxton, Renmark and Loveday Camps.
Barmera's run in the BFFA would be short lived as they would rejoin the UMFA in 1946 and merge with Cobdogla in the following year, 1947. The club competed as Cobdogla-Barmera United until 1951, when Barmera resumed as a standalone club in 1952 until the River Murray flood of 1956 cancelled the competition for the year.
Sources: Hallett Shueard's book, One Hundred Years Of Football By The Lake 1920-2020
A Grade Medal Winners:R McKay (1936 & 1937)
Premierships:
1937
Grand Final Losses: -
Barmera Football Club 1937 Premiership Team
Formation of Barmera-Monash Football Club
(1957-1980)
(1957-1980)
In 1957, Barmera merged with Monash to form, what we know today as our club, the Barmera-Monash Football Club (BMFC). The club changed colours from white and red to red and gold and became known as the Pelicans. It would not be until 1961 that we would make our first grand final appearance since merging, where we would experience a devastating four consecutive grand finals defeats to Loxton from 1961 to 1964.
During these years, the UMFA which was renamed the Upper Murray Football League (UMFL) in 1953, changed again in 1972 to become the Riverland Football League (RFL).
We would go on to experience more grand final heart break, losing both in 1973 and 1980 to our rivals Berri by 5 points on both occasions, with also a defeat to Loxton in 1976.
The clubrooms were officially opened on July 27, 1980, with the previous facility repurposed as change rooms.
D Hogan (1958), E Reilly (1960), W Renfrey (1972), S McFarlane (1976)
Premierships: -
Grand Final Losses:
1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1973, 1976, 1980
During these years, the UMFA which was renamed the Upper Murray Football League (UMFL) in 1953, changed again in 1972 to become the Riverland Football League (RFL).
We would go on to experience more grand final heart break, losing both in 1973 and 1980 to our rivals Berri by 5 points on both occasions, with also a defeat to Loxton in 1976.
The clubrooms were officially opened on July 27, 1980, with the previous facility repurposed as change rooms.
Sources: Hallett Shueard's book, One Hundred Years Of Football By The Lake 1920-2020
A Grade Medal Winners:D Hogan (1958), E Reilly (1960), W Renfrey (1972), S McFarlane (1976)
Premierships: -
Grand Final Losses:
1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1973, 1976, 1980
Junior Colts 1970s
Changes in Identity & Championship Success
(1981-1989)
(1981-1989)
In 1981, our coach Bob Fisher led a rebranding, changing the the club colours and mascot from the red and gold Pelicans to the double blue Roos.
After a 46-year premiership drought, and 9 straight losses in our grand final appearances, we would finally go on to win the 1983 RFL A-grade Premiership. Our club would go on to be a dominant force within the league, winning five consecutive premierships from 1983 to 1987 under coach and SANFL legend, Barry “Buff” Tyrrell.
After an unsuccessful season in 1988, premiership glory would soon return again in 1989 with another premiership under Magarey Medallist Barrie Barbary, bringing the total to six premierships in seven years.
G Millard (1985)
Premierships:
1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989
Grand Final Losses:
1981, 1982
After a 46-year premiership drought, and 9 straight losses in our grand final appearances, we would finally go on to win the 1983 RFL A-grade Premiership. Our club would go on to be a dominant force within the league, winning five consecutive premierships from 1983 to 1987 under coach and SANFL legend, Barry “Buff” Tyrrell.
After an unsuccessful season in 1988, premiership glory would soon return again in 1989 with another premiership under Magarey Medallist Barrie Barbary, bringing the total to six premierships in seven years.
Sources: Hallett Shueard's book, One Hundred Years Of Football By The Lake 1920-2020
A Grade Medal Winners:G Millard (1985)
Premierships:
1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989
Grand Final Losses:
1981, 1982
Barmera Monash Football Club 1983 Premiership Team
The Hunt For Success
(1990-2009)
(1990-2009)
The club unfortunately did not have as much success over the next couple decades, having only appear in three grand finals, all of which were losses, with the closest being 1995 with a loss of 14 points to Loxton North.
In 2002, the Fisher Cup was introduced to honour the Fisher family and was to be played for against our rivals Berri who the family also had ties with. Bob, Tony and Terry Fisher had all coached our club throughout the years. Bob had coached Berri to two A grade premierships in 1972-73 and previously played in another five premierships with the club. Terry also had premiership success with Berri, playing in four premierships before coming across to play at our club where he played in an additional four premierships between 1983-1986.
D Lister (1998), J Selfe (2004)
Premierships: -
Grand Final Losses:
1995, 1999, 2001
In 2002, the Fisher Cup was introduced to honour the Fisher family and was to be played for against our rivals Berri who the family also had ties with. Bob, Tony and Terry Fisher had all coached our club throughout the years. Bob had coached Berri to two A grade premierships in 1972-73 and previously played in another five premierships with the club. Terry also had premiership success with Berri, playing in four premierships before coming across to play at our club where he played in an additional four premierships between 1983-1986.
Sources: Hallett Shueard's book, One Hundred Years Of Football By The Lake 1920-2020
A Grade Medal Winners:D Lister (1998), J Selfe (2004)
Premierships: -
Grand Final Losses:
1995, 1999, 2001
Barmera Monash Football Club 2001 A Grade Runners Up
Roos Got Fire
(2010-2020)
(2010-2020)
The club managed to start building good form in the early years of the decade, appearing in the 2010 grand final loss to rivals Berri.
It was not until 2012 when the club finally broke the 23-year premiership drought, defeating Waikerie by 10 points in the grand final under coach Lyndon Burns, a former 80s premiership player.
The Roos remained competitive throughout the decade, appearing in another 3 grand finals, and having 3 consecutive Whillas Medal winners from 2015-2017, but unfortunately unable to secure another premiership.
2018 saw the introduction of RFL Women's football, with the Roos fielding a team in the inaugural season under coach Paul Butterworth.
2020 was the Centenary year for the football club, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the RFL A grade season was cancelled, pushing the celebrations to 2021.
A Grade Medal Winners:
D Millard (2011), A Dart (2015), R O'Grady (2016), S Burton (2017), L Proude (2019)
Premierships:
2012
Grand Final Losses:
2010, 2013, 2014, 2016
It was not until 2012 when the club finally broke the 23-year premiership drought, defeating Waikerie by 10 points in the grand final under coach Lyndon Burns, a former 80s premiership player.
The Roos remained competitive throughout the decade, appearing in another 3 grand finals, and having 3 consecutive Whillas Medal winners from 2015-2017, but unfortunately unable to secure another premiership.
2018 saw the introduction of RFL Women's football, with the Roos fielding a team in the inaugural season under coach Paul Butterworth.
2020 was the Centenary year for the football club, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the RFL A grade season was cancelled, pushing the celebrations to 2021.
A Grade Medal Winners:
D Millard (2011), A Dart (2015), R O'Grady (2016), S Burton (2017), L Proude (2019)
Premierships:
2012
Grand Final Losses:
2010, 2013, 2014, 2016
Barmera Monash Football Club 2012 Premiership Team
#FlagRoos
(2021-Present)
(2021-Present)
After two years unable to make finals, our Roos managed to turn things around in 2023, not just making finals but going through to win premiership glory under the guidance of player-coach Fraser "Frank" Sampson, against his former team Renmark. The team consisted of 3 players from the 2012 premiership team, being Dillon Millard, Jake Smith and Justin Bonney. The same year saw our B grade secure their first win since 2019 breaking a 1,386 day drought but unfortunately still narrowly missing out on finals.
The entire club lifted off the back of the A grade success, with 2024 the club managing to make the grand final in every single grade, 13s, 15s, 18s, Womens, Bs and As. The club was also awarded the RFL Dunhill Club Championship award for the first time since 1985 for its impressive success. Unfortunately the entire club did not see the same success come grand final day with only the 15s and 18s managing to secure wins, with A grade going down by 17 points to Renmark and both the Bs and 13s going down to Loxton by 2 points.
A Grade Medal Winners: -
Premierships:
2023
Grand Final Losses:
2024
The entire club lifted off the back of the A grade success, with 2024 the club managing to make the grand final in every single grade, 13s, 15s, 18s, Womens, Bs and As. The club was also awarded the RFL Dunhill Club Championship award for the first time since 1985 for its impressive success. Unfortunately the entire club did not see the same success come grand final day with only the 15s and 18s managing to secure wins, with A grade going down by 17 points to Renmark and both the Bs and 13s going down to Loxton by 2 points.
A Grade Medal Winners: -
Premierships:
2023
Grand Final Losses:
2024
Barmera Monash Football Club 2023 Premiership Team
