Australian Football

Originally and memorably known as the Pelicans, Barmera Monash had to endure a long wait before first procuring a senior grade flag. The club was formed in 1957 when erstwhile Upper Murray Football League rivals Barmera and Monash merged. Until 1972 the resultant club continued in the UMFL, contesting a total of four grand finals without success. It ought really to have broken its drought in 1962 but somehow conspired to draw its grand final clash with Loxton, despite managing 30 scoring shots to 20. In the replay it again amassed more scoring shots than the opposition (19 to 17) but went down by 33 points.

The 1972 season saw Barmera Monash lining up in the Riverland Football League, but the side’s ill luck in grand finals continued with losses in 1973, 1976, 1980, 1981 and 1982. Finally, at the tenth time of asking, the side broke through for its long overdue first flag when it overcame Renmark by 11 points in the premiership decider of 1983. Clearly relishing the experience, the ‘Roos as they were by this time rather mundanely known went on to triumph in five out of the next six grand finals. However, the ensuing couple of decades yielded no further flags, with a trio of losing grand finals in 1995, 1999 and 2001 the closest the side came.

More recently, the 'Roos returned to winning habits in 2012 when they accounted for Waikerie in the grand final by 9 points, 14.17 (101) to 14.8 (92). Further grand final appearances followed in 2013, 2014 and 2016 but Barmera Monash lost on all three occasions. The 2017 season brought a slight decline in fortunes as the Roos' bid for premiership honours was halted at the preliminary final stage by Loxton North. This was followed by a dismal 2018 campaign which saw the Roos drop down the list to fifth, thereby missing the finals altogether. Following a third place finish in 2019 the side spent the 2020 season, in common with all RFL clubs, in mothballs because of the coronavirus pandemic.