Heathcote District Football League

Heathcote District Football League

Formerly	Heathcote District Football Association
Association	AFL Victoria Country
Sport	Australian rules football
Founded	1905
No. of teams	9
Headquarters	Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
Most recent champion	Mount Pleasant (2025)
Most premiers	Mount Pleasant (21)
Level on pyramid	2
Official website	websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?assoc=6168

The Heathcote District Football League (HDFL) is an Australian rules football competition based in the Heathcote region and major Bendigo area with clubs based in the regions of City of Greater Bendigo, Shire of Campaspe, and Shire of Gannawarra

History

The Heathcote District Football League became a league in 1955. Previous names for the competitions in the area were the Heathcote District Football Association (1905), McIvor District Football Association (1906) and again the Heathcote District Football Association (1907–1954).

In recent years the Heathcote & District Football League has become one of, if not the strongest of the minor leagues in Victoria. During the Victoria Country Championships (Interleague) the HDFL has accounted for major league side Central Murray Football League as well as established a higher ranking than the North Central Football League. The strength & depth of the league is all the more remarkable considering the size of the league, 9 teams

Over the past few years the HDFL has beaten the Geelong & District & Horsham & District Leagues but fell short to AFL Barwon league, Bellarine in 2016.

The HDFL has had many representatives playing for Victoria Country, including recent players Grant Weeks, Andy Grant, Hadleigh Sirett & Jye Keath.

Clubs

Locations

14km
8.7miles

White Hills

North Bendigo

Mount Pleasant

Lockington
Bamamwm United

Gunbower
(Leitchville Gunbower)

Leitchville
(Leitchville Gunbower)

Huntly

Heathcote

Elmore

Colbinabbin

   

Locations of the Heathcote & District FNL clubs

Current clubs

Club	Colours	Moniker	Home Ground	Former	Est.	Years in HDFNL	HDFNL Senior Premierships
							Total	Years
Colbinabbin		Grasshoppers	MJ Morgan Reserve, Colbinabbin	CVFA	1915	1935-	12	1939, 1949, 1950, 1975, 1978, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008
Elmore		Bloods	Elmore Recreation Reserve, Elmore	EFL	1882	1938-1939, 1948-	5	1954, 1960, 1963, 1985, 2007
Heathcote		Saints	Barrack Reserve, Heathcote	–	1967	1967-	7	1970, 1972, 1982, 1989, 1992, 2009, 2010
Huntly (Provincial-Huntly 1986)		Hawks	Strauch Reserve, Huntly	–	1986	1986-	0	–
Leitchville Gunbower		Bombers	Leitchville Recreation Reserve, Leitchville and Gunbower Recreation Reserve, Gunbower	CMFNL	1995	2010-	2	2017, 2018
Lockington Bamawm United		Cats	Lockington Recreation Reserve, Lockington	BFNL	1990	2001-	5	2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2022
Mount Pleasant		Blues	Toolleen Recreation Reserve, Toolleen	CVFA	1889	1935-	21	1962, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2023, 2025
North Bendigo		Bulldogs	North Bendigo Recreation Reserve, North Bendigo	BFNL	1945	1996-	3	2015, 2016, 2019
White Hills		Demons	White Hills Recreation Reserve, White Hills	BFNL	1924	1984-	2	1988, 2024

Former clubs

Club	Colours	Moniker	Home Ground	Former	Est.	Years in HDFNL	HDFNL Senior Premierships		Fate
							Total	Years
Aloysians				–	c.1900s	1912	0	-	Folded
Axedale				–	1921	1921, 1928-1932	0	-	Moved to Golden City FL
Broadford		Kangaroos	Harley Hammond Reserve, Broadford	RDFNL	1890	1985-2008	1	1996	Returned to Riddell District FNL in 2009
Costerfield				–	1900	1905-1947	8	1912, 1913, 1914, 1919, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1926	Folded
Emu Flat				–	c.1900s	1906	0	-	Folded
Eppalock Weir				–	c.1920s	1928	0	-	Folded
Goornong			Goornong Recreation Reserve, Goornong	GCFL	c.1910s	1947-1951	0	-	Folded
Heathcote				–	c.1900s	1905-1921	2	1918, 1921	Split to form Heathcote North and HeathcoteSouth in 1922
Heathcote Blues		Blues		–	1924	1924-1926	0	-	Merged with Heathcote Reds to form Heathcote North and Heathcote Rovers
Heathcote Centrals				–	c.1900s	1907	0	-	Folded
Heathcote Dons		Dons		–	1934	1934	1	1934	Merged with Heathcote Ramblers and Heathcote McIvors to form Heathcote North and Heathcote Rovers in 1935
Heathcote McIvors		McIvors		–	1934	1934	0	-	Merged with Heathcote Dons and Heathcote Ramblers to form Heathcote North and Heathcote Rovers in 1935
Heathcote North				–	1922	1922-1966	8	1922, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1964	Merged with Heathcote Rovers to form Heathcote in 1967
Heathcote Ramblers		Ramblers		–	1924	1924, 1934	0	-	Merged with Heathcote Dons and Heathcote McIvors to form Heathcote North and Heathcote Rovers in 1935
Heathcote Reds		Reds		–	1924	1924-1927	0	-	Merged with Heathcote Blues to form Heathcote North and Heathcote Rovers in 1928
Heathcote Rovers		Magpies		–	1927	1927-1966	9	1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1940, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1951	Merged with Heathcote North to form Heathcote in 1967
Heathcote South				–	1922		0	-	Folded
Knowsley				–	c.1900s	1924-1927, 1946	1	1946	Folded
Moormbool				–	c.1910s	1918-1925	0	-	Folded
Provincial		Pros	Weeroona Oval, Bendigo	BFNL	1945	1983-1985	0	-	Merged with HuntlyJFC to form Huntly-Provincial in 1986
Pyalong			Pyalong Recreation Reserve, Pyalong	–	c.1900s	1914	0	-	Folded
Redesdale				BFA	c.1900s	1930-1932	0	-	Folded
Rushworth		Tigers	Rushworth Recreation Reserve, Rushworth	GVFL	1882	1965-1998	3	1965, 1969, 1977	Moved to Kyabram District FNL in 1999
Stanhope		Lions	Stanhope Recreation Reserve, Stanhope	GVFL	1920	1976-1994	3	1976, 1986, 1987	Moved to Kyabram District FNL in 1995
Tooborac		Cats	Tooborac Recreation Reserve, Tooborac	–	c.1900s	1905-1986	11	1931, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1953, 1961, 1973, 1974	Folded in 1987
Toolleen			Toolleen Recreation Reserve, Toolleen	CVFA	c.1900s	1919–1920, 1933–1934	0	-	Folded

List of Premierships

Senior Football

Season	Premiers	Runners-up	Score
1912	Costerfield (1)	Heathcote	9.9 (63) – 2.2 (14)
1913	Costerfield (2)	Heathcote	6.11 (47) – 3.7 (25)
1914	Costerfield (3)	Heathcote	2.10 (22) – 2.7 (19)
1915	Suspended during World War I
1916
1917
1918	Heathcote (1)	Costerfield	6.7 (43) – 3.7 (25)
1919	Costerfield (4)	Heathcote	8.5 (53 – 4.5 (29)
1920	Costerfield (5)	Heathcote	3.9 (27) – 3.5 (23)
1921	Heathcote (2)	Tooborac	7.9 (51) – 5.9 (39)
1922	Heathcote North (1)	Heathcote South	6.10 (46) – 3.13 (31)
1923	Costerfield (6)	Heathcote South	6.10 (46) – 4.3 (27)
1924	Costerfield (7)	Heathcote Ramblers	6.5 (41) – 2.6 (18)
1925	Heathcote Reds (1)	Costerfield	9.6 (60) – 6.4 (40)
1926	Costerfield (8)	Knowsley	7.15 (57) – 5.7 (37)
1927	Heathcote Rovers (1)	Costerfield	7.9 (51) – 5.8 (38)
1928	Heathcote Rovers (2)	Heathcote North	17.19 (121) – 10.11 (71)
1929	Heathcote Rovers (3)	Tooborac	12.11 (83) – 12.5 (77)
1930	Heathcote Rovers (4)	Heathcote North	10.10 (70) – 6.7 (43)
1931	Tooborac (1)	Heathcote North	13.17 (95) – 10.14 (74)
1932	Tooborac (2)	Heathcote Rovers	16.20 (116) – 12.14 (86)
1933	Tooborac (3)	Heathcote North	6.5 (41) – 6.4 (40)
1934	Heathcote Dons (1)	Costerfield	15.13 (103) – 6.10 (46)
1935	Tooborac (4)	Heathcote North	6.17 (53) – 6.12 (48)
1936	Tooborac (5)	Colbinabbin	17.14 (116) – 6.14 (50)
1937	Tooborac (6)	Heathcote Rovers	12.12 (84) – 5.11 (41)
1938	Tooborac (7)	Mount Pleasant	13.12 (90) – 10.11 (71)
1939	Colbinabbin (1)	Mount Pleasant	13.16 (94) – 13.4 (82)
1940	Heathcote Rovers (5)	Mount Pleasant	11.11 (77) – 9.10 (64)
1941	Suspended during World War II
1942
1943
1944
1945	Heathcote Rovers (6)	Heathcote North
1946	Knowsley (1)	Heathcote North
1947	Heathcote Rovers (7)	Heathcote North
1948	Heathcote Rovers (8)	Heathcote North	10.16 (76) – 5.8 (38)
1949	Colbinabbin (2)	Heathcote North	11.11 (77) – 10.10 (70)
1950	Colbinabbin (3)	Tooborac	10.16 (76) – 6.12 (48)
1951	Heathcote Rovers (9)	Tooborac	9.9 (63) – 9.8 (62)
1952	Heathcote North (2)	Tooborac	12.10 (82) – 10.9 (69)
1953	Tooborac (8)	Heathcote North	9.10 (64) – 4.18 (42)
1954	Elmore (1)	Tooborac	15.9 (99) – 7.19 (61)
1955	Heathcote North (3)	Elmore	12.11 (83) – 9.8 (62)
1956	Heathcote North (4)	Mount Pleasant	16.7 (103) – 7.7 (49)
1957	Heathcote North (5)	Heathcote Rovers	6.16 (52) – 3.4 (22)
1958	Heathcote North (6)	Tooborac	15.9 (99) – 10.5 (65)
1959	Heathcote North (7)	Tooborac	13.5 (83) – 9.13 (67)
1960	Elmore (2)	Mount Pleasant	12.17 (89) – 9.12 (66)
1961	Tooborac (9)	Heathcote North	14.12 (96) – 11.16 (82)
1962	Mount Pleasant (1)	Heathcote Rovers	9.11 (65) – 6.7 (43)
1963	Elmore (3)	Tooborac	9.16 (70) – 7.11 (53)
1964	Heathcote North (8)	Elmore	9.11 (65) – 6.12 (48)
1965	Rushworth (1)	Mount Pleasant	13.14 (92) – 8.4 (52)
1966	Mount Pleasant (2)	Heathcote North	10.14 (74) – 9.8 (62)
1967	Mount Pleasant (3)	Heathcote	14.10 (94) – 10.11 (71)
1968	Mount Pleasant (4)	Rushworth	14.17 (101) – 12.17 (89)
1969	Rushworth (2)	Elmore	12.9 (81) – 10.14 (74)
1970	Heathcote (1)	Elmore	8.13 (61) – 9.6 (60)
1971	Mount Pleasant (5)	Heathcote	18.14 (122) – 9.14 (68)
1972	Heathcote (2)	Colbinabbin	17.15 (117) – 12.14 (86)
1973	Tooborac (10)	Rushworth	21.21 (147) – 8.7 (55)
1974	Tooborac (11)	Colbinabbin	19.26 (140) – 14.15 (99)
1975	Colbinabbin (4)	Rushworth	12.15 (87) – 10.13 (73)
1976	Stanhope (1)	Colbinabbin	14.13 (97) – 12.13 (85)
1977	Rushworth (3)	Colbinabbin	18.2 (110) – 14.17 (101)
1978	Colbinabbin (5)	Stanhope	20.12 (132) – 17.15 (117)
1979	Mount Pleasant (6)	Colbinabbin	17.10 (112) – 15.17 (107)
1980	Mount Pleasant (7)	Elmore	17.13 (115) – 11.18 (84)
1981	Mount Pleasant (8)	Colbinabbin	15.18 (108) – 15.10 (100)
1982	Heathcote (3)	Mount Pleasant	20.15 (135) – 10.16 (76)
1983	Mount Pleasant (9)	Stanhope	8.14 (62) – 6.8 (44)
1984	Mount Pleasant (10)	Elmore	21.23 (149) – 12.9 (81)
1985	Elmore (4)	Heathcote	14.17 (101) – 10.10 (70)
1986	Stanhope (2)	Broadford	22.8 (140) – 6.8 (44)
1987	Stanhope (3)	White Hills	23.20 (158) – 13.7 (85)
1988	White Hills (1)	Stanhope	12.14 (86) – 9.10 (64)
1989	Heathcote (4)	Stanhope	24.15 (159) – 9.7 (61)
1990	Mount Pleasant (11)	Heathcote	15.18 (108) – 12.12 (84)
1991	Colbinabbin (6)	Heathcote	15.11 (101) – 11.9 (75)
1992	Heathcote (5)	Mount Pleasant	16.8 (104) – 9.12 (64)
1993	Mount Pleasant (12)	Heathcote	15.10 (100) – 11.14 (80)
1994	Mount Pleasant (13)	Heathcote	13.13 (91) – 12.11 (83)
1995	Mount Pleasant (14)	Heathcote	11.16 (82) – 10.17 (77)
1996	Broadford (1)	Mount Pleasant	7.8 (50) – 6.9 (45)
1997	Mount Pleasant (15)	Elmore	13.8 (86) – 11.12 (78)
1998	Colbinabbin (7)	North Bendigo	11.19 (85) – 4.3 (27)
1999	Colbinabbin (8)	Mount Pleasant	7.8 (50) – 4.6 (30)
2000	Mount Pleasant (16)	Colbinabbin	18.10 (118) – 7.12 (54)
2001	Mount Pleasant (17)	Broadford	10.8 (68) – 6.8 (44)
2002	Colbinabbin (9)	Lockington Bawawm United	15.10 (100) – 11.9 (75)
2003	Colbinabbin (10)	Broadford	20.13 (133) – 16.16 (102)
2004	Colbinabbin (11)	White Hills	6.14 (50) – 2.9 (21)
2005	Mount Pleasant (18)	White Hills	16.14 (110) – 12.15 (87)
2006	Mount Pleasant (19)	Elmore	19.13 (127) – 13.12 (90)
2007	Elmore (5)	Colbinabbin	26.29 (185) – 12.14 (86)
2008	Colbinabbin (12)	Heathcote	16.9 (105) – 12.11 (83)
2009	Heathcote (6)	Colbinabbin	15.17 (107) – 15.13 (103)
2010	Heathcote (7)	Lockington Bamawm United	8.8 (56) – 5.9 (39)
2011	Lockington Bamawm United (1)	Heathcote	15.9 (99) – 14.9 (93)
2012	Lockington Bamawm United (2)	North Bendigo	21.14 (140) – 7.4 (46)
2013	Lockington Bamawm United (3)	Huntly	15.13 (103) – 6.9 (45)
2014	Lockington Bamawm United (4)	North Bendigo	13.9 (87) – 11.10 (76)
2015	North Bendigo (1)	Leitchville Gunbower	10.13 (73) – 8.15 (63)
2016	North Bendigo (2)	Leitchville Gunbower	14.18 (102) – 13.4 (82)
2017	Leitchville Gunbower (1)	North Bendigo	15.18 (108) – 12.10 (82)
2018	Leitchville Gunbower (2)	North Bendigo	14.10 (94) – 12.13 (85)
2019	North Bendigo (3)	Colbinabbin	10.10 (70) – 4.10 (34)
2020	Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria [1]
2021	Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria [2] [a]
2022	Lockington Bamawm United (5)	Mount Pleasant	13.11 (89) – 10.9 (69)
2023	Mount Pleasant (20)	Heathcote	12.7 (79) – 9.6 (60)
2024	White Hills (2)	Leitchville Gunbower	17.11 (113) – 6.6 (42)

Recent seasons

The 2021 season ladder prior to abandonment of season: ^[5]

2021 season

Ladder

2021 ladder (cancelled) ^[b]

Pos.	Team	P	W	L	D	PF	PA	%	Pts
1	Lockington Bamawm United	16	12	0	4	1569	463	338.88	56
2	Colbinabbin	16	9	3	4	1204	652	184.66	44
3	North Bendigo	16	9	3	4	1113	807	137.92	44
4	White Hills	16	9	4	3	1245	975	127.69	42
5	Mount Pleasant	16	7	5	4	1169	983	118.92	36
6	Huntly	16	5	8	3	916	945	96.93	26
7	Elmore	16	3	9	4	747	1399	53.40	20
8	Heathcote	16	2	11	3	799	1411	56.63	14
9	Leitchville Gunbower	16	0	13	3	543	1670	32.51	6

Books

• History of Football in the Bendigo District – John Stoward – ISBN   978-0-9805929-1-7

References

Notes

1. The season was abandoned prior to the first match of the finals series, with alterations throughout the season. The minor premiers were Lockington Bamawm United, whom had won all twelve matches played. ^{[3] [4]}
2. All of the postponed matches were logged as draws; teams highlighted had qualified for the finals series before the subsequent cancellation.

Citations

1. D'Anello, Luke (22 May 2020). "Local footy: Heathcote District Football Netball League cancels season". The Herald Sun .
2. Huntly, Josh (9 September 2021). "Final siren sounds on HDFNL season". The Riverine Herald.
3. Payne, Aydin (31 May 2021). "GVL, HDFNL make changes to fixture amid COVID lockdown". Deniliquin Pastoral Times .^{[ dead link ]}
4. Saultry, Meg (20 August 2021). "UPDATE: HDFNL round cancelled due to Shepparton Covid-19 outbreak". The Riverine Herald .
5. "Ladder for 2021 Seniors HDFNL".

External links

• League Official Website