Australian Football

South Broken Hill

South Broken Hill’s BHFL premiership record is bettered only by North Broken Hill and the club has enjoyed flag success in every decade of the league’s existence. After struggling to achieve consistent pre-eminence during the first half of the twentieth century the Kangaroos really came into their own during the 1950s and ‘60s, in both of which decades they procured four flags. The club’s achievement in winning four consecutive premierships between 1967 and 1970 is a record that only Central Broken Hill, with five flags in a row from 1981 to 1985, has bettered.

During the first decade of the twenty-first century the Kangaroos were the benchmark for other BHFL clubs. They won successive flags in 2002-3 and were favoured to win again in 2004, but grand final opponent North Broken Hill found premiership form when it counted, and they had to be content with second place.

The ‘Roos again reached the grand final in 2005, with the opposition being provided on this occasion by Centrals. In front of a crowd estimated to be in the region of 2,500 a frenetic encounter ensued. At three-quarter time Centrals led by 18 points, having looked by some measure the better side, but South showed great tenacity and resolve to fight back and snatch a 4 point win thanks to a goal a minute before the siren by triple BHFL best and fairest winner Anthony Murgatroyd. Final scores were South Broken Hill 10.8 (68) to Central Broken Hill 9.10 (64).

South and Central again contested the grand final in 2006, but this time the Magpies proved too strong, running away with the match with 8 last quarter goals to nil to win easily by 49 points.

The 2009 season brought the ‘Roos’ twenty-eighth senior grade premiership courtesy of an 11.9 (75) to 5.11 (41) grand final defeat of reigning premier North. South's strong showings have continued and they have contested every grand final since, winning those of 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018, every time at the expense of North.