Southern Mallee Suns, Mallee Storm admitted to RMFL for 2023

The River Murray Football League and Netball Association will each expand to nine clubs following Karoonda’s merger with Peake and Lameroo’s with Pinnaroo.

Peri Strathearn

Nov 9, 2022 — 1 min read

The Southern Mallee Suns and Mallee Storm will join the River Murray’s football and netball competitions in 2023. Image: Peri Strathearn.

The River Murray’s football and netball competitions will expand to nine clubs in 2023 with the addition of the Mallee Storm and Southern Mallee Suns.

The two newcomers will join the Coorong Cats in the new-look River Murray Football League and River Murray Netball Association next season, following the collapse of the Mallee competitions.

Next season’s shakeup will be the biggest in the RMFL and RMNA since 2002.

The Mallee Storm – the product of a merger between Karoonda and Peake – revealed their identity on their Facebook page on Wednesday morning.

Their colours will be a bold combination of teal, grey, pink and black.

Club volunteers will work with a designer on a logo and uniforms over the coming months.

The Southern Mallee Suns had already revealed their identity on their Facebook page last Tuesday.

They will play in Greater Western Sydney Giants colours – orange, charcoal and white – but have not yet finalised a logo or uniforms either.

However, they have named an A grade football coach: Brad Hyde, who led Pinnaroo to victory in the last Mallee Football League grand final in Sepetmber.

Both clubs were formally admitted to the RMFL following a meeting of league and club executives at Tailem Bend on Tuesday night.

The last official step remaining will be for the South Australian Football Commission to approve the proposal at a meeting on November 29.

RMFL secretary Mary-Lou Griffiths congratulated both clubs on gaining admission.

“We look forward to welcoming and working with all new clubs,” she said in a statement.

Acting RMNA president Kerry Swan also welcomed the new clubs.

“This new era of netball provides connection, stability and sustainability for rural and urban communities across our region,” she said.

Mallee and Southern Mallee will compete with the Cats, plus long-established RMFL clubs Imperials, Ramblers, Mannum, Mypolonga, Jervois and Tailem Bend.