The Katandra Football Netball Club, nicknamed the Kats, is an Australian rules football and netball club based in the small Victorian town of Katandra West. The club teams currently compete in the Picola & District Football League.
History After much talk in the district for many years the Katandra Football club was founded in 1911 and the initial club colours were blue and white. Their first opponents were Rockville and Pine Grove.
Reforming after World War I in May 1922, the club played on an oval next to the Memorial Hall and played in the Dookie & District Football Association from 1922 to 1925.
Katandra FC reformed in late 1934 and applied to join the Goulburn Valley Second Eighteens Football Association for the 1935 season, but were rejected.
In 1935 the club reformed to play in the Chaney Cup, prior to joining the Goulburn Valley Second Eighteens Football Association in 1936.
The new Katandra West Sports Ground was officially opened by Sir John Gladstone Black McDonald in March 1937.
In July 1946, former Richmond player and Katandra captain, Eddie Ford collided with an Ardmona player, but played out the game and went home, but later became ill. Ford was taken to the Mooroopna Hospital, where he later died.
In 2005, the senior football team were undefeated minor premiers, but then lost Qualifying Final, won First Semi Final, then lost the Preliminary Final.
Despite the blemish of 2012, the club has experienced success over the past decade. Winning premierships in all grades of football and many grades of netball. The most recent Senior premiership was in 2004. The A Grade netball team won their first premiership in 2009 and were able to follow this by being Runners Up in 2011 and winning the 2012 pennant. The Senior team recently completed a remarkable feat of completing 8 seasons with no worse finish than being Preliminary Finalists. This 8 season streak included 2 Premierships, 3 Runners Up and 3 Preliminary Finals losses. Unfortunately, the proud club has not competed in finals since 2010 and received its first wooden spoon in 2012 after finishing last in the eight team PDFL-South East competition.
The club changed leagues following an administration disagreement between the AFL Goulburn-Valley and the Picola & District Football League.
The club wanted to remain under the AFL umbrella for player development and insurance so they joined the Murray Football League. They rejoined the Picola & District Football League in 2020.
Past players to play AFL include Footscray ruckman Les Bartlett, Melbourne back pocket Rod Grinter and Carlton best and fairest winner and former Carlton coach, David Teague.
Football competitions timeline
Katandra FC have played in the following football competitions. 1911 - Katandra FC first established. Played some friendly matches against other local teams. 1912 - 1915: Katandra Football Association. competition abandoned midway through 1915 due to World War I. 1916 - 1918: Club in recess due to World War I 1919 - 1921: Club still in recess. 1922 - 1925: Club reformed in May 1922 and joined the Dookie & District Football Association. 1926: Dookie & DFA folds and the club goes into recess. 1927 - Dookie & District Football Association. 1928 - 1932: Katandra & District Football Association 1933 - 1934: The Katandra & DFA folds and Katandra FC goes into recess. 1935 - Chaney Cup 1936: Goulburn Valley Second Eighteens Football Association 1937 - 1941: Goulburn Valley Football Association 1942 - 1944: Club in recess due to World War II 1945 - Goulburn Valley Football Association 1946 - 1951: Central Goulburn Valley Football League 1952 - 1966: Benalla Tungamah Football League 1967 - 1995: Tungamah Football League 1996 - 2017: Picola & District Football Netball League 2018 - 2019: Murray Football Netball League 2020: Club in recess due to COVID-19 2021 - 2025: Picola & District Football Netball League
Football Premierships
Seniors Picola & District Football League (3): 1998, 2003, 2004 Tungamah Football League (8): 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1992 Benalla Tungamah Football League (5): 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1966 Central Goulburn Valley Football League (2): 1950, 1951 Katandra Football Association 1914 - Katandra: 1913 - Katandra:
Under 17's Picola & District Football League 2024
Football – Runners up Seniors The club was runner-up in the –
Picola & District Football League 2006, 2007, 2008 Tungamah Football League 1970, 1971, 1972, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1989, 1991 Benalla Tungamah Football League 1960 Central Goulburn Valley Football League 1952 Katandra Football Association 1929 - Drumanure: 1.0 - 6 d Katandra: 0.0 - 0. Katandra did not show up for the grand final. 1912 - Dookie: 2.8 - 20 d Katandra: 2.3 - 15
Football Statistics Seniors Wooden Spoon Picola & District Football League (1): 2012: 8th - (4 wins, 14 losses) 2013: 8th - (0 wins, 18 losses) 2017: 8th - (1 win, 17 losses) Most consecutive losses 24: From round 15, 2012 to round 3, 2014.
Football League: Best & Fairest winners Seniors Goulburn Valley Football Association 1940 – Sandy McIntosh Benalla Tungamah Football League – Lawless Medal 1956 & 1963: Harry Brittain Picola & District Football League 2014 - Luke Minogue
AFL players
The following footballers played with Katandra, prior to playing senior football in the VFL/AFL, and / or drafted, with the year indicating their VFL/AFL debut.
1938 - Jack Burgmann, Richmond 1942 – Eddie Ford, Richmond 1945 – Stan Le Lievre, St Kilda 1951 - Joe Hickey - Fitzroy 1951 - Tom Magee - Fitzroy 1968 – Les Bartlett, Footscray 1972 – Lloyd Burgmann, Melbourne 1985 – Rod Grinter, Melbourne 2001 – David Teague (footballer), North Melbourne & Carlton 2020 - Lachie Ash, Greater Western Sydney
The following footballers played senior VFL / AFL football prior to playing and / or coaching with Katandra with the year indicating their first season at Katandra. 1990 - Ian Sartori - St Kilda & Richmond 2008 – Derek Hall, West Coast and Geelong
Club Honourboard Senior Football YearPresidentSecretaryTreasurerCaptain/CoachBest & FairestTop GoalkickerPosition 1911Rupert Prideaux R Tait R Jeffrey Katandra Football Association1912Rupert Prideaux R Tate R Tate R Jeffrey 2nd 1913 Premiers 1914 Premiers 1915 1916-18 Club in recess. World War I 1919-21 Club in recess. Dookie & District Football Association1922J A Goodwin P Delaney 1923 4th 1924C Ford P Delaney 1925 1926 Club in recess 1927 Katandra & District Football Association 1928 1929 Runner Up 1930 1931 1932 1933 Club in recess 1934 J Miers Club in recess Chaney Cup 1935 A E Kyne & A Chaney Goulburn Valley Second Eighteens Football Association1936W MontgomeryJ Miers George Grinter J Creighton 6th Goulburn Valley Football Association1937J Miers P N Hickey A Chaney George Grinter &Stan Le Lievre 3rd J Mansell 1938W Frankland P N Hickey George Grinter Stan Le Lievre 3rd 1939J Magee P N Hickey George Grinter Stan Le Lievre 2nd Stan Le Lievre(Cap) 1940I W Miers A G McIntosh George Grinter 3rd Stan Le Lievre(Cap) 1941W Frankland P N Hickey George Grinter 3rd Stan Le Lievre(Cap) 1942W Frankland P N Hickey George Grinter In recess > World War II 1943W Frankland P N Hickey George Grinter In recess > World War II 1944W Downs P N Hickey George Grinter In recess > World War II 1945W Downs P N Hickey George Grinter 4th Central Goulburn Valley Football League1946W Downs W Hickey Eddie Ford Don Opie (31) 6th 1947W Downs W Hickey J Burgman 6th 1948W Frankland K Baker & K Baker 5th K Ellery 1949W Frankland K Ellery Pierce Purcell S Rowan D Matthews (24)3rd 1950L Connolly B Black Pierce Purcell Don Opie A Rowan (45) Premiers* 1951David Ford S Rowan Pierce Purcell Max Mills Max Mills*(29) Premiers George Hudson(Cap) 1952K McDonnell S Hooper Pierce Purcell Max Mills Runner Up Benalla Tungamah Football League1953J Cummins G Hooper A Hutchins ? 5th 1954J Cummins G Hooper Harry Brittain M Ford 3rd 1955J Cummins G Hooper Harry Brittain J McPhillamy Premiers 1956J Cummins G Hooper Harry Brittain M Rowan Premiers 1957J Cummins G Hooper Harry Brittain D Wallace Premiers 1958R Le Lievre G Hooper Harry Brittain R Rowan Premiers* 1959K Baker G Hooper Harry Brittain P West 4th 1960K Baker G Hooper J Ernshaw D Wallace Runner Up 1961K Baker M Ibbottson J Ernshaw R Rowan 4th 1962K Baker H Burgman L Cummins M Grinter 7th 1963K Baker H Burgman Ronnie Dell'oro G Webb 4th 1964K Baker H Burgman Lester Rootsey P West 5th 1965J Batey H Burgman L Chard P West 5th 1966J Batey R Kelly L Chard Les Bartlett Premiers Tungamah Football League1967P West R Kelly D Fuller L Chard 6th 1968R Le Lievre R Kelly F Lente P West 5th 1969R Le Lievre R Kelly M Kick G Wilkie 4th 1970J Batey R Kelly Brian CampbellRon Le Lievre Runner Up 1971J Batey R Kelly Brian CampbellK Teague Runner Up 1972Richie Mann C Bartlett Brian CampbellK Teague Runner Up 1973Richie Mann B McCullock Brian CampbellD Dudegon Premiers 1974W J Black B McCullock G Pell R Lawless Premiers 1975W J Black R Le Lievre G Pell L Burgman Premiers 1976W J Black R Le Lievre G Pell R Sidebottom 5th 1977W J Black R Le Lievre & L Burgman D Wilkie Premiers M Ryan 1978W J Black G Goonan L Burgman G Teague Runner Up 1979R King G Goonan L Burgman C Senior Runner Up 1980R King G Goonan R Le Lievre R Sidebottom Runner Up 1981K Quigley 1982K Quigley 1983K Quigley 1984H Wells 1985H Wells 1986N Collins 1987N Collins 1988F Irvine 1989F Irvine 1990M Hannaford 1991M Hannaford 1992M Hannaford 1993R Lawless 1994R Lawless 1995R Lawless Picola & District Football League1996R Lawless George Trianidis 7th 1997R Lawless Greg Reynoldson 7th 1998R Lawless Greg Reynoldson Premiers 1999R Lawless Greg Reynoldson 7th 2000R Lawless Wes Teague 4th 2001G Carroll Travis Wayman 8th 2002G Carroll Glen Irvine 2003T O'Reilly Mark Nolen & Premiers Chris Pohlner 2004T O'Reilly Aaron Plant Premiers 2005T O'Reilly Mark Lambourn 3rd 2006T O'Reilly Mark Lambourn Runner Up 2007T O'Reilly Mark Lambourn Runner Up 2008G Riordan Derek Hall Runner Up Picola & District Football League South East Division2009G Riordan Derek Hall Derek Hall (83) 3rd 2010G Riordan Derek Hall Derek Hall (53) 3rd 2011G Riordan Daniel O'Reilly Cameron Calder (37) 6th 2012C Senior Daniel O'Reilly Cameron Calder (15) 8th (last) 2013C Senior P Ralph Luke Dunham (5) 8th (last) 2014C Senior L PullenR Dunham P Ralph Luke MinogueCorey Hickford (16) 5th 2015C Senior L Lawn R Dunham L Minogue &Luke MinogueCorey Hickford (35) 6th S Ahmet 2016C Senior L Lawn R Dunham S Ahmet & Jonty WardleCorey Hickford (43) 5th R Yze 2017C Wilson L Lawn R Dunham S Ahmet & P Frappell Corey Hickford (29) 8th (last) R Yze Murray Football League2018C Wilson L Lawn R Dunham R Yze Will JeffreyCorey Hickford (34) 14th 2019C Wilson L Lawn R Dunham R Yze L Minogue Ryleigh Shannon (24)13th Picola & District Football League2020C Wilson L Lawn R Dunham Trent Herbert In recess > COVID-19 2021C Wilson L Lawn R Dunham Trent HerbertJ CaiaMitch Black (31)9th 2022 Mitch Black (41) &5th Luke Smith (41) 2023 Luke Smith (59) 5th 2024 Tom Jeffrey (37) Runner Up 2025 Bailey Bell & Jason Whittaker YearPresidentSecretaryTreasurerCaptain/CoachBest & FairestTop GoalkickerPosition
- 1950 & 1958: Undefeated Premiers
Netball As of 2025 the club fields the following netball sides in the Picola & DFNL competitions - A, B, C, C Reserve, Under 17's, 15's and 13's.
Premierships Picola & District Football League A. Grade 2009, 2013, 2014, B. Grade 2000, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 C. Grade 2002, 2009, 2013, C. Reserve 1998, 2001, 2016, 2024,
Under 17's 2003 Under 13's 2001, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2022,
References
External links
Gameday website 1945 - Goulburn Valley FA 1st Semi Final loss: Katandra FC team photo