The Tallangatta and District Football League (TDFL) is an Australian rules football competition in north-eastern Victoria and the southern border area of the Riverina region of New South Wales. The clubs compete across four competitions, two of which are age restricted (Under 17s and Under 14s).
Since 1980 the "Tallangatta & District Netball Association (TDNA)" has run in conjunction with the Tallangatta & District Football League. The clubs compete across six competitions, three of which are age restricted (18 & Under, 15 & Under, and 13 & Under).
Today all of the 12 clubs across both the TDFL & TDNA are joint football–netball clubs, with the overall best club across all football and netball competitions for the season awarded the Club Championship.
History
Origins
The very first Tallangatta Football Association was formed in 1907, with Granya taking out the premiership[2] then in 1908, Sandy Creek defeated Granya in the grand final by two points.[3][4]
There was a Tallangatta & District Football Association in 1922, with Tallangatta defeating Bethanga in the grand final and in 1923, Kiewa won the premiership by defeating Granya.[5]
In 1929, the Tallangatta & District Football Association was reformed with Granya winning premierships in 1929[6][7] and 1933[8] and were runners up to Mitta Mitta in 1930.[9] In 1931, Mitta Mitta gained premiership honours by defeating Tallangatta.[10] In 1932, it appears that there was no T&DFA, with most local teams playing in the Yackandandah & District Football League.
The Dederang & District Football Association ran from 1932 to 1939, which included many of the clubs that had previously played in the above football competiitions.
In 1934 there was a Tallangatta & District Junior Football Association, which was won by Sandy Creek FC in 1934.[11]
The Dederang & District Football Association ran from 1932 to 1939, comprising the following teams - Eskdale, Happy Valley, Kergunyah, Kiewa, Mudgegonga, Tallangatta, Tawonga, Yackandandah.
Then in 1940, the Kiewa & Mitta Valleys Football Association was established from the following teams - Bethanga, Granya, Kiewa, Mitta Valley, Sandy Creek and Tallangatta, but the Association then went into recess in 1941, due to World War Two.
In 1944, the Mitta Valley Patriotic Football Association was established from the following clubs - Eskdale, Fernvale, Mitta Mitta, Sandy Creek and Tallangatta[12] and the Fernvale Football Club were the 1944 Premiers, defeating Sandy Creek Football Club by 51 points at Eskdale.[13]
The Mitta Valley Patriotic Football Association was then superseded by the current Tallangatta & District Football League in 1945.
Founding
The Tallangatta and District Football League was officially formed in 1945 comprising six teams and kicked off on 21 April 1945. The final ladder positions for the 1945 season were as follows, with the top four clubs playing finals:[14]
1st: Tallangatta Football Club
2nd: Mitta-Eskdale Football Club
3rd: Fernvale Football Club
4th: Granya Football Club
5th: Sandy Creek Football Club
6th: Bethanga Football Club
The 1945 Grand Final took place on Saturday 21 July, and saw the Tallangatta Magpies (4.7.31) defeat Fernvale (2.9.21) at the Sandy Creek Recreation Reserve (Sandy Creek, Victoria) to become the League's first official Premiers.
In 1952, Eskdale and Mitta merged to form Mitta United Football Club.[15]
New millennium, new clubs
Following the exodus by two clubs (Culcairn Lions in 1992 and Holbrook Brookers in 1999) to the Hume Football League, the league's number of clubs remained at eight to start the new millennium. At this time of the seven Indigo Shire based clubs only three competed in the Tallangatta & District Football League (Barnawartha , Kiewa-Sandy Creek, and Yackandandah ). While of the four remaining clubs three competed in the Ovens & King Football League (Beechworth , Chiltern , and Rutherglen-Corowa ) and one in the Coreen & District Football League (Wahgunyah).
Chiltern joined the league from the 2003 season, they were the first new club to join the league since the Thurgoona Bulldogs since 1988. The Swans had spent the past 49 years with the Ovens & King Football League, during this time they had won a total of 10 senior football premierships (1957, 1958, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1982, 1983, 1994, 1996, 1998).
In 2003 both the Beechworth Bombers & Rutherglen Cats applied for an application to join the Tallangatta & District Football League but were refused by their current league's board, Ovens & King Football League. Seeking a new home the clubs took their appeal to the Victoria Country Football League and won the right to join the Tallangatta & District Football League from the 2004 season. While Rutherglen were unable to achieve the ultimate success in the Ovens and King Football League they were allowed to keep the Cats as their moniker along with the "Geelong-Style" Navy & White home jumper. Beechworth claimed the O&K flag on 14 occasions (1912, 1913, 1914, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1950, 1951, 1956, 1961, 1974, 1979, 2000, 2001) but were left with no choice then to find a new moniker and jumper, because the Dederang-Mt. Beauty Football Club already used the Bombers as their moniker along with the "Essendon-Style" Red & Black home jumper. Prior to the start of the 2004 season the club unveiled their new identity, they adopted the Bushrangers as their moniker along with the "Port Melbourne-Style" Blue & Red home jumper.
2017 Wahgunyah FNC Clubrooms
The Wahgunyah Tigers were granted permission to join from the 2008 season after the Coreen & District Football League went into recess at the conclusion of the 2007 season, having won 7 senior football premierships over their 51 years with the league (1948, 1949, 1968, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2004). Because the Barnawartha Football Club already used the Tigers as their moniker along with the "Richmond-Style" Yellow & Black home jumper. Wahgunyah were left with no choice but to find a new moniker and jumper. Prior to the start of the 2008 season the club unveiled their new identity, they adopted the Lions as their moniker along with the "Brisbane Lions-Style" Maroon, Blue & Gold home jumper.[16]
Currently there are some premiers which are undocumented and as such unknown. (See bottom of table for unknown Premiership years.)
Bandiana
00
00
00
N/A
N/A
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
00
Barnawartha
11
02
03
05
01
22
04
03
03
03
05
04
33
Beechworth
04
01
00
01
02
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
04
Bogong
00
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
00
Bullioh Valley
01
01
00
00
N/A
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
01
Chiltern
00
00
00
00
00
08
00
05
00
01
01
01
08
Culcairn
04
01
01
01
01
03
02
01
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
07
Dederang
02
02
00
00
N/A
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
02
Dederang-Mt. Beauty
09
03
02
00
04
08
05
02
00
01
00
00
17
Eskdale
00
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
00
Fernvale
01
01
N/A
N/A
N/A
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
01
Granya
03
03
N/A
N/A
N/A
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
03
Holbrook
03
02
01
00
00
08
01
05
N/A
01
01
00
11
Kergunyah
03
03
00
00
N/A
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
03
Kiewa
00
00
00
N/A
N/A
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
00
Kiewa-Sandy Creek
28
12
07
06
03
24
06
05
01
03
02
07
52
Lavington
08
03
04
01
N/A
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
08
Lavington Rangers
00
00
00
00
N/A
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
00
Mitta Town
00
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
00
Mitta United
36
22
09
01
04
06
01
01
00
02
02
00
42
Mt. Beauty
00
00
00
00
N/A
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
00
Murray United
00
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
00
RAEME
00
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
00
Rutherglen
01
00
00
00
01
02
00
00
00
01
00
01
03
Sandy Creek
00
00
00
N/A
N/A
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
00
South Albury
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
00
Tallangatta
05
04
01
00
N/A
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
05
Tallangatta (Tallangatta Valley: 1978-2009)
24
08
01
10
05
14
02
04
00
02
03
03
38
Tawonga
00
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
00
Thurgoona
13
02
06
02
03
23
06
05
01
06
03
02
36
Wahgunyah
06
00
01
01
04
02
01
01
00
00
00
00
08
Wodonga Demons
05
01
01
02
01
01
00
01
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
06
Wodonga Saints
01
00
00
01
00
20
04
01
00
03
08
05
21
Yackandandah
11
02
05
03
01
17
06
04
00
03
01
03
28
"N/A"'= Not applicable as this competition was established after the club left the league.
Unknown TDFL Premiers: 1974-2001
31
N/A
10
12
09
00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
31
Grand final results
Seniors
Currently two of the early Tallangatta & DFL grand finals venues are undocumented and as such unknown. The unknown T&DFNL grand final venues are in the seasons of 1948 and 1955. The grand finals have been played continuously at the Sandy Creek Recreation Reserve since 1971.
The best on ground award in the Tallangatta & DFL senior football grand final receives the Wayne Bartel Memorial / AFL Victoria Country Medal.Wayne Bartel passed away in 1988, aged 39.
Currently two of the early Tallangatta & DFNL grand finals venues are undocumented and as such unknown. The unknown T&DFNL grand final venues are in the seasons of 1948 and 1955.
The grand finals have been played continuously at the Sandy Creek Recreation Reserve since 1971.
2021: 1st: Yackandandah; 2nd: Chiltern. No finals series due to COVID-19
2022: Chiltern 4.9 (33) def. Kiewa Sandy Creek 2.5 (23) at Sandy Creek.
2023: Chiltern 10.9 (69) def. Kiewa Sandy Creek 9.12 (66) at Sandy Creek.
2024: Yackandandah: 10.11 (71) v Chiltern: 7.5 (47) at Sandy Creek.
Football – Reserves: 1968 to present
Currently twelve of the reserve's grand final scores are undocumented and as such unknown. They are the 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 2001 & 2017 Grand Finals.
Currently thirteen of the third's grand final scores details are undocumented and as such unknown. They are the 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990 & 2001 Grand Finals.
Currently eleven of the fourth's grand final scores are undocumented and as such unknown. They are the 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1995 & 2001 Grand Finals.
1980: Mitta United d Barnwartha Details missing
1981: Kiewa Sandy Creek d Mitta United Details missing
1982: Kiewa-Sandy Creek 4.8 (32) def. Bethanga 2.1 (13) at Sandy Creek.
1983: Kiewa Sandy Creek d Tallangatta Valley Details missing
1984: Wodonga Demons d Tallangatta Valley Details missing
2019: Tallangatta 5.8 (38) def. Chiltern 4.10 (34) at Sandy Creek
2020 League in recess due to COVID-19 pandemic
Netball – A Grade: 1980 to present
Netball – B Grade: 1980 to present
Netball – C Grade: 2013 to present
Netball – D Grade (18 & Under): 1992 to present
Netball – E Grade (15 & Under): 1992 to present
Netball – F Grade (13 & Under): 1992 to present
Best & Fairest / Leading Goalkicker Medalists
In 1945, Mr. James A. Paton from the Fervale FC, initially donated the prize for the Tallangatta & DFL best and fairest award[64] and the Paton family continued this on for many years afterwards.[65] The initial best and fairest award, was a cash prize of £5, then later changed to the J A Paton Trophy.[66]
In 1946, Granya's Norm Webb polled a record 40 votes in the T&DFL best and fairest award.
Who won the T&DFL medal in 1951?
The T&DFNL senior football best and fairest award was later changed to the Barton Medal in 1977, after three times best and fairest winner, George Barton sadly passed away after a short battle with cancer.
At the time of Barton's death in 1977, he was also a four time runner up in the Tallangatta & DFL best and fairest award in the mid 1960's, where he polled the same number of votes as the winner, but finished second in the award to the player who polled the most three votes, under the old countback system.
In 2016, the Tallangatta & DFNL retrospectively awarded the late George Barton, with an additional four Barton Medals, thus finishing up with an incredible seven senior football best and fairest awards/Barton Medals.
3 - Brett Harrison (Tallangatta Valley): 1994, 1995, 1996.
2 - Norm Webb (Granya): 1946, 1950. Webb also won a Kiewa & Mitta Valleys FA medal in 1940 (Granya FC), O&MFNL Morris Medal in 1952 (Wodonga FC)[69] & a Hume FNL Azzi Medal in 1955 (Jindera FC).[70]
Since 1974 the TDFL has used the "McIntyre system". The final series is played over four weekends, with the grand final traditionally being played on the second weekend of September.
Grand Final
The TDFL board deems that all finals will be held at the natural venue of the Sandy Creek Recreation Reserve (Sandy Creek, Victoria), with all finals for both football and netball played at the one venue during each final day.
The Grand Final since 1971 has also been held at Sandy Creek Recreation Reserve (Sandy Creek, Victoria), commonly referred to by locals as "The MCG of the Bush"[122] for its large playing surface and picturesque surroundings, but unfortunately the football and netball changerooms are not up to modern standards and require significant State and Local Government funding for capital improvements as soon as possible.
The last finals match held away from Sandy Creek was the "1989 second semi-final" held at Bunton Park (North Albury, New South Wales), and the last grand final match held away from Sandy Creek was the "1970 Grand Final" held at the Barnawartha Recreation Reserve (Barnawartha, Victoria).
Qualifying final
Major semi-final
Preliminary final
Grand final
"C"
1st on ladder
Home
"F"
Winner final "C"
Home
Winner final "A"
Away
Winner final "E"
Away
"A"
2nd on ladder
Home
"E"
Loser final "C"
Home
3rd on ladder
Away
Minor semi-final
Winner final "D"
Away
"D"
Loser final "A"
Home
"B"
4th on ladder
Home
Winner final "B"
Away
5th on ladder
Away
Football Records
Football – Seniors: 1945 to present
All matches
Highest Score: 317: Wodonga Saints 2.5 (17) Def. by Tallangatta 49.23 (317) at Bethanga (2015 Rd.6) Match Report
Most goals in a game: 27, Ray Mack of Holbrook (vs Thurgoona, 1992); 23, Peter Cook of Barnawartha v Wodonga Saints, Rd.7, 2011[123]
Most goals in a season: 151, Peter Woodford of Barnawartha (1984)
Most wins in a row: -
Most losses in a row: 49: Wodonga Saints from 2009 Rd.2 (18 April'09) to Rd.14 (16 July'11). Defeated Tallangatta in Rd.15.[124]
Grand finals
Most wins: 22: Mitta United
Most appearances: 32: Mitta United
Most wins in a row: 4: Mitta United (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007).
Most appearances in a row: 5, Mitta United (1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961) & (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007).
The Tallangatta & District Football League has never won the first division of the Victorian Country Championship / Victorian Community Championship interleague championship. In interleague competition the team wears a blue guernsey, emblazoned with a monogram-style gold "TDFL" initials, with blue and gold trim shorts and blue and gold trim socks.[133]
↑ "Tallangatta Football Club" were known as the "Tallangatta Valley Football Club" from establishment in 1978 until being renamed in 2008.
↑ "Wodonga Saints Football Club" were known as the "Bethanga Football Club" from establishment in 1907 until relocation in 2001.
↑ "Yackandandah Football Club" only competed in TDFL Reserves Grades from the 1969 season until the 1971 season.
↑ "Eskdale Football Club" were known as the "Mitta Valley Football Club" from reforming in 1947 until being renamed in 1951.
↑ "Lavington Football Club" are rumoured to have also fielded three additional senior sides under the names of "Lavington Dragons FC", "Lavington Lions FC", and "Lavington Rovers FC". However neither of the "Lavington Dragons FC" or the "Lavington Lions FC"additional sides are mentioned on the "Tallangatta & Districts Football League" or the "Lavington Football Club" websites.
↑ "Mitta Town Football Club" were known as the "Mitta Mitta Football Club" from establishment in 1885 until merging in 1945.
↑ "Mt. Beauty Football Club" were known as the "Bogong-Tawonga Football Club" from establishment in 1964 until being renamed in 1975.
↑ "Murray United Football Club" were known as the "Bethanga-Granya Football Club" from establishment in 1958 until being renamed in 1959.
↑ "RAEME Football Club" were a football club solely made up of service men from the Military Area of Bandiana, their full name was the "Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Football Club".
↑ The "Under Age" Interleague game is contested as either "Under 19's", "Under 18's", or "Under 17's" depending on the opposing league's under age competition structure.
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↑ "Archived". www.realfooty.com.au. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)[dead link]
↑ Gavin Rendell (14 September 2024). "Tallangattta District Netball Association". Sandy Creek Recreation Reserve: 2024 - T&DFL Grand Final Record. p.47. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
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