Sport | Australian rules football |
---|---|
Founded | 2023 |
First season | 2024 |
No. of teams | 6 |
Country | Australia |
Related competitions | SANFL |
Official website | lcfnl |
The Limestone Coast Football Netball League is an Australian rules football competition based in the Lower South East region of South Australia, and south-western border region of Victoria. It is an affiliated member of the South Australian National Football League. The league used to be regarded as the premier country football league in South Australia, and a leading country Victorian league, however the number of clubs and standard has declined in recent years.
In 1964, after almost a decade of discussions, the Western District Football League in Victoria and the South-East & Border Football League in South Australia merged to form the Western Border Football League. The founding 12 clubs were Casterton, Coleraine, East Gambier, Hamilton, Hamilton Imperials, Heywood, Millicent, North Gambier, Penola, Portland, South Gambier and West Gambier. [1] [2]
Hamilton and Millicent both had jumpers similar to Collingwood's, so an agreement was made that the team that finished lower on the ladder for 1964 had to change jumpers. Hamilton finished ninth, while Millicent finished 11th of 12, so Millicent was forced to change to the St Kilda strip.
Penola left and joined the Kowree Naracoorte Football League in 1988; Coleraine left and joined the South West District Football League in 1995.
In 2011, the Heywood Football Club left the Western Border Football League due to the club struggling to compete with the larger town clubs in the league. Their first application to leave was rejected, so they were forced to go to higher levels at the VCFL to resolve issues between the League and the Heywood Football Netball Club.
In 2012, the Hamilton and Hamilton Imperials club merged upon recommendation from the VCFL and competed in the Hampden Football Netball League from 2013. Portland also transferred to the Hampden Football Netball League for 2013, leaving just 6 teams in the competition today. Casterton merged with neighbouring club Sandford (from the South West District Football League) in 2014.
When the VFL had zoning from 1968 to 1986, the league was allocated to Collingwood.
Some famous players that have played in the Western Border Football League have been Billy Picken, Matthew Clarke, Nick Daffy, Nathan Lovett-Murray, Mal Michael, John Mossop, Wally Lovett, and Brad Close.
In late 2023, it was announced that the WBFL would be wound up and replaced by the Limestone Coast Football Netball League for the 2024 season. It was also announced that for the 2025 season, one club each from the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League and the Mid South Eastern Football League would transfer to the competition. [3]
Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in LCFNL | LCFNL Senior Premierships | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | Years | |||||||
Casterton-Sandford | Cats | Island Park, Casterton | WBFL | 2014 | 2024– | 0 | – | |
East Gambier | Bulldogs | McDonald Park, Mount Gambier | WBFL | 1938 | 2024– | 0 | – | |
Millicent | Saints | McLaughlin Park, Millicent | WBFL | 1946 | 2024– | 0 | – | |
North Gambier | Tigers | Vansittart Park, Mount Gambier | WBFL | 1926 | 2024– | 0 | – | |
Penola | Eagles | McCorquindale Park, Penola | KNTFL | 1865 | 2025– | 0 | – | |
South Gambier | Demons | Blue Lake Sports Park, Mount Gambier | WBFL | 1926 | 2024– | 0 | – | |
West Gambier | Roos | Malseed Park, Mount Gambier | WBFL | 1938 | 2024– | 1 | 2024 |
Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in WBFL | WBFL Senior Premierships | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | Years | |||||||
Casterton-Sandford | Cats | Island Park, Casterton | – | 2014 | 2014–2023 | 0 | – | |
East Gambier | Bulldogs | McDonald Park, Mount Gambier | SEBFL | 1938 | 1964–2023 | 9 | 1965, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1982, 1983, 1988, 2017 | |
Millicent | Saints | McLaughlin Park, Millicent | SEBFL | 1946 | 1964–2023 | 5 | 1984, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023 | |
North Gambier | Tigers | Vansittart Park, Mount Gambier | SEBFL | 1926 | 1964–2023 | 9 | 1964, 1979, 1987, 1989, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019 | |
South Gambier | Demons | Blue Lake Sports Park, Mount Gambier | SEBFL | 1926 | 1964–2023 | 12 | 1974, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2009, 2015 | |
West Gambier | Roos | Malseed Park, Mount Gambier | SEBFL | 1938 | 1964–2023 | 3 | 1971, 2010, 2011 |
Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in WBFL | WBFL Senior Premierships | Fate | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | Years | ||||||||
Casterton | Cats | Island Park, Casterton | WDFL | 1920s | 1964–2013 | 2 | 1969, 1990 | Merged with Sandford to form Casterton-Sandford in 2014 | |
Coleraine | Maroons | Silvester Oval, Coleraine | WDFL | 1900s | 1964–1994 | 1 | 1967 | Transferred to the South West District FL in 1995 | |
Hamilton | Magpies | Melville Oval, Hamilton | WDFL | 1874 | 1964–2012 | 4 | 1968, 1970, 1981, 2004 | Merged with Hamilton Imperials to form Hamilton Kangaroos in the Hampden FL in 2013 | |
Hamilton Imperials | Bulldogs | Melville Oval, Hamilton | WDFL | 1948 | 1964–2012 | 6 | 1977, 1978, 1980, 1993, 1995, 2001 | Merged with Hamilton to form Hamilton Kangaroos in the Hampden FL in 2013 | |
Heywood | Lions | Heywood Recreation Reserve, Heywood | WDFL | 1920s | 1964–2011 | 0 | - | Transferred to the South West District FL in 2012 | |
Penola | Eagles | McCorquindale Park, Penola | SEBFL | 1865 | 1964–1987 | 0 | - | Transferred to the Kowree Naracoorte FL in 1988 | |
Portland | Tigers | Hanlon Park, Portland | WDFL | 1876 | 1964–2012 | 8 | 1966, 1985, 1986, 1991, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008 | Transferred to the Hampden FL in 2013 |
Season | Best & Fairest | Club | Leading Goalkicker | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1964 | G Hariott | Coleraine | Kevin Malseed | Heywood | 75 |
1965 | Kevin Malseed | Heywood | M Graham | Penola | 74 |
1966 | J McBain | Penola | R Duncan | Heywood | 54 |
1967 | David Robbie | Casterton | B Norman | South Gambier | 75 |
1968 | G Cayzer | Hamilton | L Dethmore | South Gambier | 68 |
1969 | G Cayzer | Hamilton | H Graham | Penola | 91 |
1970 | Michael Graham | Penola | R Harvey | Casterton | 83 |
1971 | B Smith | South Gambier | B Norman | South Gambier | 76 |
1972 | Gary Lazarus | East Gambier | Gary Lazarus | East Gambier | 64 |
1973 | D Clarke | East Gambier | G Sims | South Gambier | 67 |
1974 | Kevin Douglas | West Gambier | Des Trotter | East Gambier | 117 |
1975 | S McKew | Hamilton Imperial | Des Trotter | East Gambier | 122 |
1976 | M Whitington | Millicent | M Soulsby | Hamilton | 80 |
1977 | Greg Curnow | North Gambier | D. Maczkowiack | West Gambier | 81 |
1978 | P Cranage | Hamilton | W. Chapman | West Gambier | 88 |
M Horsborugh | Coleraine | ||||
1979 | G Richards | Hamilton Imperial | S. Skeer | Penola | 98 |
1980 | J Beaton | West Gambier | Tony Russell | Hamilton | 101 |
1981 | I McGuiness | Heywood | Neville Osborne | Hamilton Imperial | 84 |
1982 | G Reichman | Hamilton Imperial | R. Lawson | East Gambier | 136 |
1983 | M Gregg | Casterton | D. Maczkowiack | West Gambier | 76 |
1984 | Wayne Fletcher | North Gambier | N. Carracher | Hamilton Imperial | 106 |
1985 | L King | Portland | Michael Timms | South Gambier | 100 |
1986 | L Bell | South Gambier | Michael Timms | South Gambier | 113 |
1987 | Darren Wright | North Gambier | Trevor Russell | Hamilton | 131 |
1988 | Andrew Close | West Gambier | Trevor Russell | Hamilton | 89 |
1989 | Tony Lithgow | Casterton | Tony Otter | Portland | 104 |
1990 | D Lane | East Gambier | P. Harrison | Millicent | 65 |
1991 | G Stevens | Hamilton | D. Pannenburg | East Gambier | 112 |
1992 | R Elliott | South Gambier | L. Hampshire | Portland | 87 |
1993 | M Jones | East Gambier | Tim Williamson | Casterton | 82 |
1994 | Michael Edmonds | Hamilton Imperial | D. Pannenburg | East Gambier | 100 |
1995 | D Jenkinson | Heywood | A. Salmon | South Gambier | 73 |
1996 | Mick Ryan | South Gambier | M. Lane | North Gambier | 59 |
1997 | Andrew Nitschke | Millicent | Leigh Capewell | South Gambier | 65 |
Barry Knight | Portland | ||||
1998 | Wayne Riddle | Hamilton | Leigh Capewell | South Gambier | 101 |
1999 | Brad Cooper | Hamilton Imperial | G. Goss | North Gambier | 100 |
2000 | Matthew Steel | Portland | P. Harten | South Gambier | 74 |
2001 | Andrew Nitschke | Millicent | K. Cook | East Gambier | 54 |
2002 | Scott Flett | North Gambier | Michael Silvy | North Gambier | 89 |
Justin Munro | Casterton | ||||
2003 | Andrew Nitschke | Millicent | Leigh Capewell | South Gambier | 59 |
Winis Imbi | Portland | ||||
2004 | Brent Howard | South Gambier | B. Edwards | Portland | 59 |
2005 | Scott Flett | North Gambier | Grant Ewing | Hamilton Imperial | 73 |
2006 | Jon Copping | South Gambier | Ryan Larcombe | East Gambier | 81 |
2007 | James Imbi | Portland | Grant Ewing | Hamilton Imperial | 94 |
2008 | Marcus England | Portland | Grant Ewing | Hamilton Imperial | 69 |
2009 | Marcus England | Portland | C.Murray | Millicent | 83 |
2010 | Justin McConnell | North Gambier | Courtney Johns | Heywood | 78 |
2011 | Simon Berkefeld | South Gambier | Justin McConnell | North Gambier | 85 |
Brad Vassal | Casterton | ||||
2012 | Richard O'Grady | North Gambier | Jarrod Holt | Portland | 65 |
2013 | Brad Wilson | West Gambier | Justin McConnell | North Gambier | 70 |
2014 | Richard O'Grady | North Gambier | Justin McConnell | North Gambier | 74 |
Dylan Ayton | Casterton-Sandford | ||||
2015 | Justin McConnell | North Gambier | 100 | ||
2016 | Nick Moretti | North Gambier | 50 | ||
2017 | Brett O'Neil | South Gambier | Tom McLennan | North Gambier | 46 |
2018 | Tom Hutchesson | Millicent | Brayden Kaine | South Gambier | 51 |
2019 | Michael Telford | North Gambier | Justin McConnell | North Gambier | 46 |
2021 | Clint Gallio | Millicent | Gene Robinson | Millicent | 103 |
2022 | Jayden Eldridge | East Gambier | Brayden Kain | South Gambier | 59 |
2023 | Daron McElroy | West Gambier | Frazer Bradley | Millicent | 41 |
Season | Best & Fairest | Club | Leading Goalkicker | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | Harry Tunkin | Millicent | Frazer Bradley | Millicent | 59 |
Emerson Mark | South Gambier |
Mount Gambier is the second most populated city in South Australia, with an estimated urban population of 26,878 as of 2021. The city is located on the slopes of Mount Gambier, a volcano in the south east of the state, about 450 kilometres (280 mi) south-east of the capital Adelaide and just 17 kilometres (11 mi) from the Victorian border. The traditional owners of the area are the Bungandidj people. Mount Gambier is the most important settlement in the Limestone Coast region and the seat of government for both the City of Mount Gambier and the District Council of Grant.
Penola is a town in the Australian state of South Australia located about 388 kilometres (241 mi) southeast of the state capital of Adelaide in the wine growing area known as the Coonawarra. At the 2021 Australian Census, the town of Penola had a population of 1,376.
Matthew Clarke is a former professional Australian rules football player and current coach who is the head coach of Adelaide in the AFL Women's. Prior to coaching, he played in the Australian Football League (AFL), his career spanning four clubs and a total of 258 games between 1993 and 2007. He was known as one of the most effective tap ruckmen of his era.
Millicent is a town in the Australian state of South Australia located about 399 kilometres (248 mi) south-east of the state capital of Adelaide and about 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of the regional centre of Mount Gambier. In the 2021 census, the population was 4,760.
Glenelg Highway is a rural highway in south-eastern Australia, linking the major regional centres of Mount Gambier in south-eastern South Australia with Ballarat in western Victoria.
The Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara Football League is an Australian rules football competition based in the Limestone Coast region of South Australia, Australia. It is an affiliated member of the South Australian National Football League. One unusual aspect of the league is that it includes clubs from both South Australia and Victoria. The 2018–21 league medalist was Darcy “Sauce” Boyanton.
Reginald Mark Burgess was an Australian rules footballer who played 124 Victorian Football League (VFL) (VFL) games for the Essendon Football Club.
John Yeates is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Geelong in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Laurie Taylor was an Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League (VFL) for the Richmond Football Club and in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) for West Adelaide and Glenelg Football Clubs.
The South West District Football League is an Australian rules football league based in South-western Victoria, with clubs located in the vicinity of Hamilton, Heywood and Portland. The league is a minor country league, with teams drawn from smaller localities within part of the area of the major Western Border Football League.
The Horsham District Football League is an amateur Australian rules football league based in the Wimmera area of Western Victoria.
The Portland railway line is a railway line in south-western Victoria, Australia. It runs from the main Western standard gauge line at Maroona through Hamilton to the port town of Portland.
Victoria was an electorate in the South Australian House of Assembly from 1857 until 1902 and from 1915 to 1993.
The Portland Football Netball Cricket Club, nicknamed the Tigers, is an Australian sports club based in the city of Portland, Victoria. The club's football and netball teams currently compete in the Hampden Football Netball League, with the football squad having joined it in 2013 along with the Hamilton Kangaroos.
Mount Gambier railway station was the terminus of the Mount Gambier railway line and the junction for the Beachport and Mount Gambier-Heywood railway lines in the South Australian city of Mount Gambier. It was last used in 2006, and has since been transformed into a public community space.
The Mount Gambier railway line is a closed railway line in South Australia. Opened in stages from 1881, it was built to narrow gauge and joined Mount Gambier railway station, which was at that time the eastern terminus of a line to Beachport. It connected at Naracoorte to another isolated narrow gauge line joining Naracoorte to Kingston SE, and to the broad gauge Adelaide-Wolseley line at Wolseley, at around the same time that was extended to Serviceton to become the South Australian part of the interstate Melbourne–Adelaide railway. It was closed in April 1995.
The North Gambier Football and Netball Club is an Australian rules football and netball club currently competing in the Limestone Coast Football League. Since the creation of this league, North Gambier have won eight senior premierships.
The South Gambier Football & Netball Club is an Australian rules football and netball club from Mount Gambier, South Australia. They are currently competing in the Limestone Coast Football League.
The East Gambier Football & Netball Club is an Australian rules football and netball formed in 1938 that currently competes in the Limestone Coast Football League.