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The Essendon District Football League (EDFL) is a semi-professional Australian rules football league competition based in Essendon, Victoria, consisting of teams based in the north-west suburbs of Melbourne. Founded in 1930, the men's competition consists of three leagues: Premier Division, Division 1 and Division 2, with 10 clubs in the Premier Division, 11 clubs in Division 1 and 9 clubs in Division 2. Ahead of the 2025 competition, two teams will be relegated from Division 1 to Division 2 to ensure that there are 10 teams across each of the top three divisions.
| Sport | Australian rules football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1930 |
| First season | 1930 |
| CEO | Andrew Johnston |
| President | Bernie Shinners |
| Country | Australia |
| Most recent champion(s) | Keilor (2024) |
| Most titles | Essendon Doutta Stars (20) |
| Sponsor(s) | Strathmore Community Bank |
| Official website | essendondfl.com.au |
Promotion and relegation between these divisions occurs, with the lowest-placed clubs in the Premier Division and Division 1 being relegated at the end of each season replaced in their respective divisions by the winners of Division 1 and Division 2 premierships respectively[1] Each men's team also fields a reserves side and an under-18 side that play fixtures mirroring that of the senior side.
Since 2017, the League has also run a competition for women's Australian rules football. In its inaugural year, this was a joint competition featuring teams from the EDFL as well as the Western Region Football League (WRFL).[2] In 2018, 13 teams competed in a single division season, expanding to 19 teams and two divisions in 2019.
The league consists of clubs spanning as far north as Sunbury (East Sunbury Football Club), as far south-east as Moonee Ponds (Moonee Valley), and as far west as Hillside (Hillside Football Club). The furthest distance between two clubs is Moonee Valley Football Club and Sunbury Kangaroos totalling a travel distance of 35.2 km.
A number of junior players from the EDFL play for Calder Cannons in the Coates Talent League due to the geography of being based at Highgate Recreation Reserve, Craigieburn and consequently receiving the majority of players from teams in the Northern and North-West Suburbs. A smaller number of players represent Western Jets, being based at Burbank Oval, Williamstown which receive a number of players from clubs based in the western suburbs of Melbourne.
Clubs
edit
3miles
The league consists of clubs spanning as far north as Sunbury (Rupertswood), as far south as Ascot Vale (Ascot Vale) or Moonee Ponds (Moonee Valley) at a senior level, as far east as Coburg (Coburg) or Fawkner (Northern Saints), and as far west as Hillside (Hillside Football Club). The furthest distance between two clubs is Moonee Valley Football Club and Sunbury Kangaroos totalling a travel distance of 35.2 km.
The league borders the RDFNL to the north and north-west, WFNL to the south and west, and the NFNL to the east and north-east. A number of clubs have transferred to and from these various leagues throughout their respective existences.
The league recruits a number of current players listed on VFL lists from the Northern and Western Suburbs of Melbourne, such as Coburg, Essendon, Werribee, and Williamstown
Premier Division
edit| Club | Colours | Moniker | Home venue | Former league(s) | Est. | Years in EDFL | Premierships | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Most recent | |||||||
| Aberfeldie |  |
Abers, Gorillas | Clifton Park, Aberfeldie | — | 1948 | 1948- | 8 | 2018 |
| Airport West |  |
Eagles | Hansen Reserve, Airport West | — | 1961 | 1962- | 7 | 2022 |
| Deer Park |  |
Lions | John McLeod Reserve, Deer Park | WRFL | 1925 | 2023- | 1 | 2023^ |
| East Keilor |  |
Cougars | Overland Reserve, East Keilor | — | 1967 | 1971- | 7 | 2021^ |
| Essendon Doutta Stars |  |
Stars | Nipper Jordan Oval, Essendon | VFL | 1946 | 1946- | 20 | 2015^ |
| Greenvale |  |
Jets | Greenvale Recreation Reserve, Greenvale | — | 1990 | 1996- | 5 | 2013 |
| Keilor |  |
Blues | Keilor Recreation Reserve, Keilor | KBFL | 1877 | 1932- | 13 | 2024 |
| Maribyrnong Park |  |
Lions | Maribyrnong Park, Moonee Ponds | — | 1980 | 1980- | 5 | 2024 |
| Pascoe Vale |  |
Panthers | Raeburn Reserve, Pascoe Vale | VFL SD | 1918 | 1952- | 3 | 2011^ |
| Strathmore |  |
Mores | Lebanon Reserve, Strathmore | — | 1954 | 1957- | 9 | 2022 |
Division 1
edit| Club | Colours | Moniker | Home venue | Former League(s) | Est. | Years in EDFL | Premierships | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Most recent | |||||||
| Avondale Heights |  |
Heights | Canning Reserve, Avondale Heights | — | 1965 | 1967- | 5 | 2004^ |
| Craigieburn |  |
Eagles | D.S. Aitken Reserve, Craigieburn | RDFNL | 1970 | 2001- | 3 | 2019^ |
| Hillside |  |
Sharks | Hillside Reserve, Hillside | — | 1999 | 2005- | 1 | 2013+ |
| Moonee Valley |  |
Valley | Ormond Park, Moonee Ponds | — | 1933 | 1933- | 7 | 2021+ |
| Roxburgh Park |  |
Magpies | Lakeside Reserve, Roxburgh Park | — | 2002 | 2005- | 1 | 2018+ |
| St Albans | .jpg) |
Saints | Kings Park Reserve, Kings Park | WRFL | 1947 | 2023- | 0 | __ |
| Taylors Lakes |  |
Lions | Lionheart Reserve, Taylors Lakes | — | 1989 | 1993- | 2 | 2024 |
| Tullamarine |  |
Demons | Leo Dineen Reserve, Tullamarine | — | 1974 | 1974- | 8 | 2003 |
| West Coburg |  |
Burgers | Shore Reserve, Pascoe Vale South | VFA SD | 1927 | 1974- | 15 | 2014 |
Division 2
edit| Club | Colours | Moniker | Home venue | Former League(s) | Est. | Years in EDFL | Premierships | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Most recent | |||||||
| Burnside Heights |  |
Bears | Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve, Burnside Heights |
— | 2012 | 2014- | 0 | — |
| Coburg Districts |  |
Lions | Cole Reserve, Pascoe Vale | NMFL, WRFL | 1951 | 1951-1987, 2013- | 1 | 1968 |
| East Sunbury |  |
Thunder | John McMahon Reserve, Sunbury | RDFNL | 1999 | 2013-2021, 2023- | 0 | — |
| Glenroy |  |
Wallabies | Sewell Reserve, Glenroy | — | 1946 | 1946- | 14 | 2017^ |
| Hadfield |  |
Hawks | Martin Reserve, Hadfield | — | 1961 | 1971- | 4 | 2015 |
| Keilor Park |  |
Devils | Keilor Park Recreational Reserve, Keilor Park | — | 1974 | 1986-2017, 2019- | 3 | 2022^ |
| Northern Saints |  |
Saints | Charles Mutton Reserve, Fawkner | — | 2007 | 2008- | 1 | 2013^ |
| Rupertswood |  |
Sharks | Salesian College, Sunbury | VAFA, RDFNL | 1999 | 2021- | 0 | — |
| Sunbury Kangaroos |  |
Kangaroos | Eric Boardman Reserve, Sunbury | RDFNL | 1987 | 2019- | 1 | 2019+ |
| Westmeadows |  |
Tigers | Willowbrook Reserve, Westmeadows | — | 1970 | 1977- | 1 | 1984^ |
- Notes
- ^ denotes that the club's most recent senior premiership was in Division 1 or the B Grade.
- + denotes that the club's most recent senior premiership was in Division 2 or the C Grade.
Active AFL/AFLW Players
edit- Notes
- (R) denotes that the player was selected in the rookie draft.
- (F-S) denotes that the player was selected as a father-son pick.
- (M-S) denotes that the player was selected in the mid-season draft.
- 1 Playing statistics correct as of the end of the 2023 season.
Former clubs
edit| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | EDFL Seasons | EDFL Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Most recent | ||||||||
| Aberfeldie Park |  |
– | 1983 | 1983-1985 | 0 | - | Reverted to Moonee Ponds name in 1986 after complaints from Aberfeldie | ||
| All Nations Youth Club | 1953-1955 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Ascot Imperials | 1946 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Ascot Rovers | 1954-1956 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Ascot Vale | |
Devils | Walter Reserve, Ascot Vale | – | 1930 | 1930-1987 | 11 | 1977 | Moved to Footscray Districts FL after 1987 season. |
| Ascot Vale Methodists | 1946, 1949 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Ascot Vale Presbyterians | |
Fairbairn Park, Ascot Vale | – | 1964-1973 | 1 | 1964 | Merged with Essendon Baptist-St John's at conclusion of 1973 season to form Essendon-Tullamarine. | ||
| Ascot Vale Wanderers | 1937-1940 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Ascot Youth Centre | 1950 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Australian National Airways | Penola Catholic College, William Street Glenroy now occupies the site of the former ANA ground. | 1941, 1949 | 0 | - | Unknown | ||||
| Broadmeadows | 1946-1947 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Brunswick City |  |
Eagles | Gillon Oval, Brunswick | – | 1948 | 1948-1986 | 3 | 1980 | Folded at the end of 1986 season |
| Brunswick Colts | 1950 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Brunswick Presbyterians | 1974 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Brunswick Sons of Soldiers | 1936, 1947 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Brunswick United | 1947 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Coburg Amateurs |  |
Swans | De Chene Reserve, Coburg | VAFA | 1920s | 1941 | 0 | - | Returned to VAFA in 1942 |
| Coburg Rovers | 1896 | 1940-1941 | 0 | - | Unknown | ||||
| Coburg Sons of Soldiers | 1937-1940 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Coburg South | 1941 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Coburg Stars | 1950-1954 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Corpus Christi |  |
0 | - | Unknown. Active during 1980s as a junior club. | |||||
| Don Rovers | |
1936-1939 | 0 | - | Unknown | ||||
| East Brunswick |  |
Magpies | Fleming Park, Brunswick East | MFL | 1922 | 1975-1982 | 0 | - | Transferred to YCW Football League in 1983 |
| East Coburg | .jpg) |
McDonald Reserve, Coburg | 0 | - | Unknown. Played as a junior club. | ||||
| Essendon All Blacks | 1950 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Essendon Baptist | Fairbairn Park, Ascot Vale | 1949-1950 | 0 | - | Merged with St John's to form Essendon Baptist-St John's in 1951 | ||||
| Essendon Baptist-St John's |  |
– | 1951 | 1951-1973 | 4 | 1965 | Merged with Ascot Vale Presbyterians at conclusion of 1973 season to form Essendon-Tullamarine. | ||
| Essendon Bombers | 1950-1955 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Essendon Church of Christ | 1940 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Essendon High School Ex Students |  |
Panthers | Aberfeldie Park, Aberfeldie | – | 1940s | 1949-1982 | 2 | 1965 | Moved to Footscray Districts FL in 1983 |
| Essendon Imperials | 1937-1940 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Essendon Returned Soldiers | 1946 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Essendon Sons of Soldiers | 1936 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Essendon Stars | 1940 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Essendon Swimmers | 1950-1951 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Essendon United | 1936-1940 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Essendon Youth Centre | 1975-1982 | 2 | 1981 | Merged with Moonee Ponds to become Aberfeldie Park in 1983 | |||||
| Fairbairn Rovers | 1950 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Fairbairn Socials | 1938 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Fawkner | 1937-1941, 1946-1952 | 0 | - | Folded in 1952 | |||||
| Flemington/Kensington | 1930-1938 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Footscray Technical College | 1963 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Gisborne (Women's team only) |  |
Bulldogs | Gardiner Reserve, Gisborne | AFL Goldfields | 2017 | 2021-2023 | 0 | - | In recess |
| Gladstone Park |  |
Burras | Tullamarine Reserve, Tullamarine | 1978-1997 | 1 | 1982 | Transferred to Western Region FL in 1998 | ||
| Glenbervie | 1952-1955 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Jacana |  |
Jaguars | Jacana Reserve, Jacana | RDFNL | 1961 | 2001-2022 | 1 | 2017 | Entered recess prior to 2023 |
| Kensington Methodists | 1930 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Knox Presbyterians | 1949 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| La Mascotte |  |
1938-1941 | 2 | 1941 | Played until EDFL suspended competition due to WW2 in 1942. They did not reform when the EDFL resumed in 1946. | ||||
| Lincoln Rovers | 1949 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Lincoln Stars | Stars | 1950-? | 1 | 1955 | Unknown | ||||
| Lincoln Tigers | Tigers | 1950-1951 | 1 | 1950 | Unknown | ||||
| Maribyrnong-Ascot United (formerly Ascot United) |  |
1946-1950 | 0 | - | Unknown | ||||
| Marrows | 1950-1957 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Meadow Heights |  |
Kangaroos | – | 1997 | 1997-2003 | 0 | - | Folded in the early 2000s | |
| Monash Rovers | 1950-1951 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Moonee Imperials |  |
Imperials | Maribyrnong Park, Moonee Ponds | – | 1946 | 1946-1979 | 3 | 1962 | Merged with Riverside Stars at conclusion of 1979 season to form Maribyrnong Park. |
| Moonee Ponds |  |
1978-1982, 1986-1989 | 1 | 1979 | Merged with Essendon Youth Centre to form Aberfeldie Park in 1983 | ||||
| North Coburg |  |
Saints | Hosken Reserve, Coburg North | – | 1947 | 1978-1987 | 0 | - | Merged with Fawkner Park after 2007 season to form Northern Saints |
| North Essendon Methodists | 1949-? | 2 | 1961 | Unknown | |||||
| Northern Juniors | 1930 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Northern Rovers | 1941 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Old Coburgians | 1940 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Old Essendon Grammarians |  |
Bombers | – | 1968 | 1968-1969, 1972-1982 | 1 | 1976 | Transferred to Footscray Districts FL after 1982 season | |
| Regal Sports | 1934 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Riverside Stars |  |
Stars | Maribyrnong Park, Moonee Ponds | – | 1946 | 1946-1979 | 2 | 1972 | Merged with Moonee Imperials at conclusion of 1979 season to form Maribyrnong Park. |
| Royal Park | 1979-1980 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| South Kensington | 1931 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| St Andrews |  |
Saints | Brearley Reserve, Pascoe Vale South | 1980-1985 | 0 | - | Moved to VAFA following 1985 season | ||
| St Christophers | St Christopher's Primary School, Airport West | 1974-1976 | 0 | - | Unknown | ||||
| St Davids | 1952 | 1 | 1952 | Unknown | |||||
| St Francis |  |
Oak Park Reserve, Oak Park | 0 | - | Senior club folded, junior club still active | ||||
| St Johns | 1930 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| St Monicas CYMS | 1937-1938 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| St Patricks | 1938 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| St Pauls | 1947 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Strathmore Stars | 1954 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Vespa | 1959-1961 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| West Brunswick | |
Magpies | McAlister Oval, Parkville | VAFA | 1930 | 1949-1958 | 0 | - | Moved to VAFA in 1959 |
| West Coburg Amateurs | 1959 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| West Moreland | 1937-1940 | 0 | - | Unknown | |||||
| Woodlands | |
Holmes Road Reserve, Moonee Ponds[7] | 1930-1934 | 3 | 1934 | Folded after 1934 | |||
- Notes
- North Coburg competed as St Olivers between 1978 and 1989.
- † denotes that the club did not participate between 1942 and 1945 due to World War II.
- Aside from the clubs mentioned in the table above, the EDFL 75th Anniversary History Book [8] also listed the following clubs as having been affiliated with the EDFL between 1930 and 2005
- 6th Melbourne Scouts
- Ascot Rovers/Maribyrnong
- Ascot Vale West
- Catholic Boys Club
- East Essendon
- Essendon Tullamarine (now known as Tullamarine)
- Ford Company
- Keilor Regal Sports
- Maribyrnong
- Maribyrnong Regal Sport
- Maribyrnong Youth Club
- Moonee Ponds YCW
- Moonee Valley Juniors
- Northcote Excelsior
- Parkville
- St. Bernards
- St. Bernards Juniors
- Tullamarine-Airport West
- Tullamarine Ascot Presbyterians (now known as Tullamarine)
- West Brunswick Laurels
- West Essendon
- West Essendon Youth Centre
- West Coburg Juniors (listed as different club to West Coburg)
- West Coburg Seniors (listed as different club to West Coburg)
Premiers
edit| Seniors | Reserves | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Premier Division
(A Grade) |
Division 1
(B Grade) |
Division 2
(C Grade) |
Premier Division
(A Grade) |
Division 1
(B Grade) |
Division 2
(C Grade) |
| 2024 | Keilor | Maribyrnong Park | Taylors Lakes | Keilor | West Coburg | Northern Saints |
| 2023 | Keilor | Deer Park | Strathmore | Hillside | Northern Saints | |
| 2022 | Strathmore | Airport West | Keilor Park | Keilor | Airport West | Keilor Park |
| 2021 | Strathmore | East Keilor | Moonee Valley | Keilor | East Keilor | Moonee Valley |
| 2020 | Competition not held due to COVID-19 | |||||
| 2019 | Keilor | Craigieburn | Sunbury Kangaroos | Aberfeldie | Hillside | Sunbury Kangaroos |
| 2018 | Aberfeldie | Airport West | Roxburgh Park | Greenvale | Airport West | Moonee Valley |
| 2017 | Aberfeldie | Glenroy | Jacana | Greenvale | Taylors Lakes | Roxburgh Park |
| 2016 | Keilor | Craigieburn | East Keilor | Keilor | Taylors Lakes | Roxburgh Park |
| 2015 | Aberfeldie | Essendon Doutta Stars | Hadfield | Keilor | Taylors Lakes | Coburg Districts |
| 2014 | Strathmore | West Coburg | East Keilor | Greenvale | Taylors Lakes | Moonee Valley |
| 2013 | Greenvale | Northern Saints | Hillside | Greenvale | West Coburg | Hillside |
| 2012 | Greenvale | Airport West | East Keilor | Greenvale | Airport West | Hillside |
| 2011 | Strathmore | Pascoe Vale | Competition in recess | Airport West | Competition in recess | |
| 2010 | Maribyrnong Park | Taylors Lakes | Greenvale | Pascoe Vale | ||
| 2009 | Maribyrnong Park | Aberfeldie | Airport West | |||
| 2008 | Keilor | Glenroy | Keilor | Taylors Lakes | ||
| 2007 | Greenvale | Maribyrnong Park | Greenvale | Maribyrnong Park | ||
| 2006 | Strathmore | West Coburg | Essendon Doutta Stars | Maribyrnong Park | ||
| 2005 | Strathmore | Craigieburn | Keilor | Craigieburn | ||
| 2004 | Greenvale | Avondale Heights | West Coburg | |||
| 2003 | Tullamarine | Westmeadows | ||||
| 2002 | Greenvale | Craigieburn | ||||
| 2001 | Keilor | Keilor Park | Keilor | Pascoe Vale | ||
| 2000 | Keilor | West Coburg | Keilor | Pascoe Vale | ||
| 1999 | Doutta Stars | Moonee Valley | Keilor | Moonee Valley | ||
| 1998 | Strathmore | Doutta Stars | Strathmore | Essendon Doutta Stars | ||
| 1997 | Keilor | Glenroy | Strathmore | Hadfield | ||
| 1996 | Keilor | West Coburg | Strathmore | Pascoe Vale | ||
| 1995 | Keilor | Aberfeldie | Keilor | Pascoe Vale | ||
| 1994 | East Keilor | Moonee Valley | Essendon Doutta Stars | |||
| 1993 | Airport West | Tullamarine | Airport West | North Coburg Saints | ||
| 1992 | Airport West | East Keilor | Tullamarine | |||
| 1991 | Essendon Doutta Stars | West Coburg | Essendon Doutta Stars | Tullamarine | ||
| 1990 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Keilor Park | Keilor | Keilor Park | ||
| 1989 | Strathmore | Hadfield | Keilor | Tullamarine | ||
| 1988 | Keilor | Pascoe Vale | Essendon Doutta Stars | Hadfield | ||
| 1987 | Avondale Heights | West Coburg | Keilor | West Coburg | ||
| 1986 | Glenroy | Moonee Valley | Strathmore | Tullamarine | ||
| 1985 | Keilor | Airport West | Strathmore | Moonee Valley | ||
| 1984 | Strathmore | Westmeadows | Strathmore | Ascot Vale | ||
| 1983 | Glenroy | Strathmore | ||||
| 1982 | Glenroy | Aberfeldie | Gladstone Park | Glenroy | Essendon High School Ex-Students | |
| 1981 | Strathmore | Tullamarine | Essendon Youth Centre | West Coburg | Aberfeldie | Gladstone Park |
| 1980 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Glenroy | Brunswick City7 | West Coburg | Glenroy | St Andrews |
| 1979 | Essendon Tullamarine | Hadfield | Moonee Ponds | Essendon Doutta Stars | Competition not yet formed | |
| 1978 | Essendon Tullamarine | East Keilor | Brunswick City7 | Pascoe Vale | ||
| 1977 | Essendon Tullamarine | Ascot Vale | West Coburg | Aberfeldie | Ascot Vale | |
| 1976 | Essendon Tullamarine | Avondale Heights | Old Essendon Gramarians6 | Airport West | Ascot Vale | |
| 1975 | Essendon Tullamarine | Moonee Valley | Essendon Youth Centre | Aberfeldie | ||
| 1974 | Aberfeldie | Glenroy | Brunswick Presbyterians | Strathmore | Glenroy | |
| 1973 | Keilor | Strathmore | Tullamarine Ascot Presbyterians1 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Brunswick City7 | |
| 1972 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Ascot Vale1 | Riverside Stars4 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Competition not yet formed | |
| 1971 | West Coburg | Strathmore | Hadfield | Essendon Baptist St John's 1 | ||
| 1970 | West Coburg | Broadmeadows | Moonee Valley | Pascoe Vale | ||
| 1969 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Ascot Vale1 | St. Davids | Pascoe Vale | ||
| 1968 | West Coburg | Keilor | Batman5 | West Coburg | ||
| 1967 | West Coburg | Strathmore | Riverside Stars4 | Pascoe Vale | ||
| 1966 | Glenroy | West Coburg | Ascot Youth Centre | Competition not yet formed | ||
| 1965 | West Coburg | Essendon High School Ex-Students | Essendon Baptist St John's1 | |||
| 1964 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Ascot Vale Presbyterians | Pascoe Vale | |||
| 1963 | Essendon Doutta Stars | West Coburg | Glenroy | |||
| 1962 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Broadmeadows | Moonee Imperials4 | |||
| 1961 | Essendon Doutta Stars | North Essendon Methodists | Doutta Stars | |||
| 1960 | Moonee Imperials | Essendon High School Ex-Students | Competition not yet formed | |||
| 1959 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Aberfeldie | ||||
| 1958 | Essendon Baptist St John's1 | West Coburg | ||||
| 1957 | Essendon Doutta Stars | North Essendon Methodists | ||||
| 1956 | Brunswick City7 | Essendon Baptist St John's1 | ||||
| 1955 | Moonee Imperials4 | Lincoln Stars | ||||
| 1954 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Brunswick7 | ||||
| 1953 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Aberfeldie | ||||
| 1952 | Moonee Valley | St Davids | ||||
| 1951 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Glenroy | ||||
| 1950 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Lincoln Tigers | ||||
| 1949 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Glenroy | ||||
| 1948 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Competition not yet formed | ||||
| 1947 | Ascot Vale United1 | |||||
| 1946 | Ascot Vale United1 | |||||
| 1945 | Competition not held due to World War II | |||||
| 1944 | ||||||
| 1943 | ||||||
| 1942 | ||||||
| 1941 | La Mascotte3 | |||||
| 1940 | Ascot Vale1 | |||||
| 1939 | La Mascotte3 | |||||
| 1938 | Ascot Vale1 | |||||
| 1937 | Ascot Vale1 | |||||
| 1936 | Ascot Vale1 | |||||
| 1935 | Ascot Vale1 | |||||
| 1934 | Woodland2 | |||||
| 1933 | Ascot Vale1 | |||||
| 1932 | Woodland2 | |||||
| 1931 | Woodland2 | |||||
| 1930 | Essendon Baptist St John's1 | |||||
- Notes
- 1 Merger occurred between Essedon Baptist St Johns and Ascot Vale Presbyterians in 1973 to form Tullamarine Ascot Presbyterians, then later Essendon Tullamarine and finally shortened to Tullamarine Football Club in 1981.
- 2 Woodland Football Club folded at the end of the 1934 Season.
- 3 La Mascotte played until the EDFL suspended competition due to WW2 in 1942 and didn't reform when the EDFL resumed in 1946.
- 4 Moonee Imperials merged with Riverside Stars at conclusion of 1979 season to form Maribyrnong Park.
- 5 Later renamed to Coburg Districts Football Club in 1981 to greater recognise the local community.
- 6 Old Essendon Gramarians joined the EDFL in 1968 for just two seasons until joining the VAFA (Victorian Amateur Football Association) for the 1970 and 1971 seasons before returning to the EDFL between 1972 and 1983, then departing to play in the Footscray District Football League, now the Western Region Football League in 1983.
- 7 Renamed from Brunswick to Brunswick City in 1955, Folded at the end of the 1986 season
- 8 Left the EDFL to join the Footscray District Football League, now the Western Region Football League at the conclusion of the 1987 season, folded in 1997. Later reformed in 2017, only participating in under-age football.
History
editThe EDFL was first formed in 1930 at the instigation of the Essendon Football Club to increase the pool of local talent available for recruitment. Consequently, the league has consistently had positive ties with Essendon Football Club which can also be seen with the use of former Essendon home ground Essendon Football Ground, now known as Windy Hill as the headquarters of the EDFL since 1958 and hosting training for umpires of the league and occasional use of the ground for home and away season matches as well as being a commonly featuring ground for men's grand finals.
The first season in 1930 consisted of eight clubs, Ascot Vale, Flemington and Kensington, St John's, Kensington Methodist, Essendon High School Old Boys, Northern Juniors, West Essendon and Woodlands. None of the original foundation clubs exist in their current state as a result of participating in mergers or folding since. The completion of the season saw Les Rennie recruited by Essendon, the first successful recruitment of a player from the EDFL, he went on to play for Essendon throughout the 1931 VFL season. Later, in 1933 the great Dick Reynolds, one of just four players to have won three Brownlow Medals was recruited from Woodlands in the EDFL and began his successful 320 game career with Essendon.
In 1936, the first juniors competition was launched which contained a solitary under 16s division, once more at the instigation of the Essendon Football Club however this was abandoned and resumed at a later date in 1948 with the introduction of under-17s. By 1949, 32 teams took part in 3 grades of junior age football. 1962 saw the induction of under-15s to the EDFL and the competition was won by Essendon Doutta Stars, however as a result of fielding an overage player forfeited all their points for the season. In 1967, the inaugural A grade under-13s competition was launched which was a resounding success and resulted in demand for a B grade competition after just one year in 1968.
As a result of World War II the competition went into recess in 1941 with many players fighting in the war, once the war had ended two clubs (La Mascotte and Fawkner District) chose not to resume participation in the competition, despite this, After four years of recess a successful resumption of the leagues activities in this year. A 10 team competition on resumption resumed the success of the pre War Competition.
1949 saw the first split of the teams into two divisions (A grade and B grade) with Essendon Doutta Stars taking out the first ever undefeated season and Glenroy winning the inaugural B grade competition. Later in 1961, C grade was introduced to help facilitate the introduction of more clubs into the EDFL and was won by Doutta Stars, believed to be a reserve team for Essendon Doutta Stars. However, this competition did not last for long before going into recess after the 1982 season and only returning after the 30-year hiatus in 2012.
In 1961, The Umpires Association (EDFLUA) was inaugurated to help with the recruitment of umpires to officiate games. Despite this the league was consistently short of umpires. Notably in 1990, the season commenced with a desperate shortage of umpires. The problem was solved in the short term by former umpires who came out of retirement to assist the league.
in 1989, then prime minister of Australia Bob Hawke attended the A-grade seniors grand final.
EDFL Women's
editHistory
editUpcoming season or competition: 2023 | |
| Sport | Women's Australian rules football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2016 |
| First season | 2018 |
| No. of teams | 22 |
| Most titles | Aberfeldie, Keilor, Pascoe Vale (1) |
In partnership with the Western Region Football League (WRFL), in 2016 the two leagues established the Western Region & Essendon District Women's Football League, an eleven-team open-age competition for women. Five EDFL clubs fielded teams in the competition – Craigieburn, Glenroy, Keilor, Pascoe Vale and Roxburgh Park – with Keilor prevailing against WRFL side Manor Lakes in the grand final.[9]
In 2018, the EDFL established its own Women's competition, consisting of 13 teams. Of those 13 teams, two came from outside of the League – the Ballarat Football League-side Sunbury Lions; and Sunbury Kangaroos, at the time competing in the Riddell District Football League. Glenroy, despite competing in the 2017 joint competition, did not field a side, while Avondale Heights and Taylors Lakes fielded a joint team under the Avondale Heights–Taylors Lakes moniker.
In 2019, the competition expanded to 19 teams and was split into two divisions – a 10-club Premier Division and a nine-club Division 1. Aberfeldie became the first team to field two sides, one in each division.
Clubs
edit| Club | Colours | Moniker | Home venue | Est. | Former League |
Years in EDFL | EDFL senior premierships | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Most recent | |||||||
| Premier Division | ||||||||
| Aberfeldie | |
Abers | Clifton Park, Aberfeldie | 2018 | — | 2018- | 1 | 2019 |
| Essendon Doutta Stars | |
Stars | Nipper Jordan Oval, Essendon | 2019 | — | 2019- | 2 | 2023 |
| Hillside | |
Sharks | Hillside Reserve, Hillside | 2018 | — | 2018- | 0 | — |
| Keilor | |
Blues | Keilor Recreation Reserve, Keilor | 2017 | WREDWFL | 2018- | 1 | 2022 |
| Moonee Valley | |
Valley | Ormond Park, Moonee Ponds | 2021 | — | 2021- | 0 | — |
| Maribyrnong Park | |
Lions | Maribyrnong Park, Moonee Ponds | 2019 | — | 2019- | 0 | — |
| Westmeadows | |
Tigers | Willowbrook Reserve, Westmeadows | 2018 | — | 2018- | 0 | — |
| Division 1 | ||||||||
| Airport West | |
Eagles | Hansen Reserve, Airport West | 2021 | __ | 2021- | 1 | 2023 |
| Burnside Heights | |
Bears | Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve, Burnside Heights | 2018 | — | 2018- | 0 | — |
| Greenvale | |
Jets | Greenvale Reserve, Greenvale | 2019 | — | 2019- | 1 | 2024 |
| Keilor Park | |
Devils | Keilor Park Recreational Reserve, Keilor Park | 2018 | — | 2018-2019, | 0 | — |
| Strathmore/Pascoe Vale | |
Mores | Boeing Reserve, Strathmore Heights | 2018 | — | 2018- | 1 | 2022 |
| Tullamarine | |
Demons | Leo Dineen Reserve, Tullamarine | 2019 | — | 2019- | 1 | 2022 |
| Division 2 | ||||||||
| Coburg Districts | |
Lions | Cole Reserve, Pascoe Vale | 2019 | — | 2019- | 1 | 2023 |
| East Sunbury | |
Thunder | John McMahon Reserve, Sunbury | 2024 | — | 2024- | 0 | — |
| Glenroy | |
Wallabies | Sewell Reserve, Glenroy | 2023 | — | 2024- | 0 | — |
| Roxburgh Park | |
Magpies | Lakeside Reserve, Roxburgh Park | 2017 | WREDWFL | 2018-2019, 2024- | 0 | — |
| Sunbury Lions | |
Lions | Clarke Oval, Sunbury | 2017 | WREDWFL | 2018- | 0 | — |
| Sunbury Kangaroos | |
Kangaroos | Eric Boardman Reserve, Sunbury | 2022 | — | 2018 | 0 | — |
| Taylors Lakes | |
Lions | Lionheart Reserve, Taylors Lakes | 2024 | — | 2024- | 0 | — |
| denotes that the club's most recent senior premiership was in Division 1. Notes: 1 Avondale Heights competed as Avondale Heights-Taylors Lakes in 2018. | ||||||||
Juniors matches
editThe juniors consist of: Under 8s, Under 10s, Under 14s, Under 16s and Under 18.5s. There are also youth girls teams in the junior divisions. There are eight junior divisions at this level and each team listed in the senior section has at least one junior team in divisions 1, 2 or 3 for each age group, however many clubs have more in divisions 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
Junior Only Clubs
edit| Club | Colours | Moniker | Home venue | Est. | Former league |
Years in EDFL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascot Vale |  |
Panthers | Walter Street Reserve, Ascot Vale | 2017 | - | 2017- |
| Coburg |  |
Lions | Jackson Reserve, Coburg North | 1891 | - | 2022- |
| Dallas |  |
Jacana Reserve, Jacana | 2024 | - | 2024- | |
| Hume |  |
Bombers | Kalkallo Reserve, Kalkallo | 2018 | - | 2017- |
| Merrifield |  |
Panthers | Merrifield Recreation Reserve, Mickleham | 2024 | - | 2024- |
| St Francis |  |
Saints | Oak Park Reserve, Oak Park | 2015 | - | 2017- |
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ "Statement of By-Laws" (PDF). Essendon District Football League Incorporated. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- ^ Murphy, Tara (14 March 2016). "EDFL plays its part as women's footy takes off". Brimbank & North West Star Weekly. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- ^ "Photograph of East Brunswick FC, 1952".
- ^ EDFL 75th Anniversary History Book https://silo.tips/download/75th-anniversary-founded-1930
- ^ Ascot United's playing colours mentioned in 1946 Grand Final Poster on Doutta Stars History Page https://www.essendondouttastars.com.au/the-club/club-history/
- ^ https://vuir.vu.edu.au/22310/1/Daniel%20Eddy.pdf Page 55
- ^ https://vuir.vu.edu.au/22310/1/Daniel%20Eddy.pdf Page 48
- ^ "[PDF] 75th. Anniversary. Founded 1930 - Free Download PDF".
- ^ "Keilor WFC vs Manor Lakes WFC". Australian Football. 20 August 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
External links
edit