The Benalla & District Football League was an Australian rules football competition based in the Benalla region of Victoria, Australia that existed under various names between 1929 and 2009.
History The B&DFL was formed in 1946 and superseded the former Tatong & Thoona Football Association after World War Two.
In 1968, Benalla All Blacks kicked 45.31 - 301 against Devenish: 1.0 - 6, with All Black's Gavin Cherry kicking 19 goals.
In round thirteen of 1981, Glenrowan: 46.18 - 294 defeated Longwood: 1.1 - 7, with Glenrowan's R Fitzgerald kicking 18 goals.
The Victorian Country Football League shut the competition down at the end of the 2009 season when the VCFL policy of leagues having a minimum of six clubs could not be met.
The five remaining clubs joined the following leagues during the 2009 post-season. Bonnie Doon: Ovens & King Football League Goorambat & District: Ovens & King Football League Longwood: Kyabram & District Football League Swanpool: Ovens & King Football League (went into recess in 2014) Tatong: Ovens & King Football League (went into recess in 2014)
League Competition History The football association commenced in 1929 and has changed its name several times during their 81 years: 1929-1931: Benalla District Football League 1932-1940: Tatong and Thoona Football Association 1941-1945: Recess - World War II 1946-2009: Benalla & District Football League
Clubs
Final ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in BDFLPremiershipsFateTotalYearsBonnie DoonBulldogsBonnie Doon Recreation Reserve, Bonnie DoonWNEFA18851965-20097 1966, 1989, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009Moved to Ovens & King FNL following 2009 seasonGoorambatBatsGoorambat Recreation Reserve, GoorambatT&TFA18931947-2009131935, 1947, 1949, 1959, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1974, 1978, 1979, 2001, 2006, 2007Moved to Ovens & King FNL following 2009 season LongwoodRedlegsLongwood Recreation Reserve, LongwoodHHFA18881970-200931977, 1985, 2000Moved to Kyabram District FNL following 2009 seasonSwanpool (1950s)(Post-1950s)SwansAlbert Heaney Oval, SwanpoolM&SFA1920s1929-200951933, 1951, 1957, 1997, 1998Moved to Ovens & King FNL following 2009 seasonTatongMagpiesTatong Recreation Reserve, Tatong–1920s1929-2009121934, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1984, 1988, 1994, 1995, 1996Moved to Ovens & King FNL following 2009 season
Former ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in BDFLPremiershipsFateTotalYearsBaddaginnieHG Parker Memorial Reserve, BaddaginnieEDFA1931-19350 -FoldedBenalla All BlacksPanthersFriendlies Oval, BenallaCGVFL19341934-40, 1953-80111934, 1936, 1937, 1940, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1976Played in Central Goulburn Valley FL in 1946. Moved to Tungamah FL in 1981 Benalla RoversTigers–19761976-198911986FoldedBenalla SecondsDemonsBenalla Showgrounds, Benalla–18711929-1931, 194631930, 1931, 1946Joined Euroa Line FA in 1932. Moved to Benalla Mulwala FL following 1931 seasonBenalla ThirdsDemonsBenalla Showgrounds, Benalla–18711947-19520 -Moved to Benalla Junior FL following 1952 seasonDevenish BarbersDevenish Recreation Reserve, DevenishTFL18841954-200622003, 2005FoldedDookie Collegians secondsStudentsDookie College1930s1939-197111948Left competitionGlenrowanKelly TigersGlenrowan Recreation Reserve, GlenrowanEDFA19191934-1938, 1946-1960, 1963-199151955, 1969, 1970, 1980, 1981Recess from 1939-45. Played merged with Thoona in 1961-62. Moved to Ovens & King FNL following 1991 seasonGlenrowan-Thoona United–19611961-19620 -De-merged following 1962 seasonGretaBluesGreta Recreation Reserve, HansonvilleKVFA19011935-19400 -Moved to Ovens & King FNL in 1945MolyullahMolyullah Recreation Reserve, Molyullah1920s1933-19340 -FoldedNorth WangarattaHawksNorth Wangaratta Sports Reserve, North WangarattaTFL18921954–196011958Moved to Ovens & King FNL following 1960 seasonSamaria West 19321 1932 FoldedStrathbogieStrathbogie Recreation Reserve, StrathbogieWNEFA1900s1962-198611983Folded after 1986 seasonThoonaMaroonsThoona Recreation Reserve, ThoonaG&TFA19191931-1960, 1963-1967 0 -Played merged with Glenrowan in 1961-62. Folded after 1967 seasonThornton-EildonShinbonersThornton Recreation Reserve, ThorntonYVMDFL19491986-199431991, 1992, 1993Moved to Tungamah FL following 1994 seasonTolmieSnowmenTolmie Recreation Reserve, TolmieMHFA1940s1951-197011952Folded after 1970 seasonViolet Town(1979)(1987)TownersViolet Town Recreation Reserve, Violet TownEDFA18801936-1940, 1978-199151938, 1939, 1982, 1987, 1990Returned to Euroa DFA in 1944. Moved to Tungamah FL following 1991 seasonWintonWinton Recreation Reserve, WintonG&TFA1900s1929-31, 1947-5721929, 1950In recess between 1932 & 1946. Folded after 1957 season
Senior Football Premierships / Runner Up: 1929 to 2009
Benalla District Football League. (Nichols & Sullivan Jewellers Shield) 1929: Winton: 11.7 - 73 d Benalla: 10.5 - 65 1930: Benalla Juniors: 9.16 - 70 d Swanpool: 7.10 - 52 1931: Benalla Juniors: 10.14 - 74 d Swanpool: 5.6 - 36 Tatong / Thoona Football Association 1932: Samaria West 8.12 - 60 d Thoona 4.12 - 36 1933: Swanpool: 10.8 - 68 d Thoona: 7.13 - 55 1934: Benalla All Blacks: 6.6 - 42 d Tatong: 5.10 - 40 (1st G/Final) # 1934: Tatong: 12.15 - 87 d Glenrowan: 10.6 - 66 (2nd G/Final) 1935: Goorambat: 9.6 - 60 d Tatong: 4.10 - 34 1936: Benalla All Blacks: 12.24 - 96 d Violet Town: 10.12 - 72 1937: Benalla All Blacks: 13.9 - 87 d Violet Town: 10.14 - 74 1938: Violet Town: 17.15 - 117 d Benalla All Blacks: 12.11 - 83 1939: Violet Town: 12.15 - 87 d Tatong: 4.6 - 30 1940: Benalla All Blacks: 13.9 - 87* d Violet Town: 9.5 - 39 1941: Recess - World War II 1942: Recess - World War II 1943: Recess - World War II 1944: Recess - World War II 1945: Recess - World War II Benalla & District Football League 1946: Benalla 2nds: 12.17.89 d Violet Town 12.11 - 83 1947: Goorambat: 8.7 - 55 d Swanpool: 7.7 - 49 1948: Dookie Collegians: 8.22 - 70 d Goorambat: 2.11 - 23 1949: Goorambat: 9.10 - 64 d Benalla 3rds: 8.6 - 54 1950: Winton: 6.14 - 50 d Goorambat: 6.9 - 45 1951: Swanpool: 12.4.76 defeated Winton 5.16.46. 1952: Tolmie: 7.10.52 defeated Tatong 7.8.50. 1953: Benalla All Blacks: 11.16 - 82 d Tatong: 7.13 - 55 1954: Benalla All Blacks: 12.14 - 86 d Glenrowan: 6.12 - 48 1955: Glenrowan: 14.9 - 93 d Swanpool: 9.16 - 70 1956: Benalla All Blacks: 13.10 - 88 d Glenrowan 11.6 - 72 1957: Swanpool: 9.9 - 63 d Glenrowan: 7.14 - 56 1958: North Wangaratta: 18.14 - 122 d Goorambat: 9.10 - 64 1959: Goorambat: 16.10 - 106 d Tatong: 8.9 - 57 1960: Tatong: 13.9.87 defeated North Wangaratta 10.8.68 1961: Tatong: 12.14.86 defeated Swanpool 8.13.61 1962: Tatong: 10.16.76 defeated Swanpool 10.15.75 1963: Goorambat: 6.8 - 44 d Swanpool: 5.13 - 43 1964: Goorambat: 10.7 - 67 d Strathbogie: 6.8 - 44 1965: Goorambat: 9.19 - 73 d Bonnie Doon: 10.4 - 64 1966: Bonnie Doon: 14.9 - 93 d Benalla All Blacks: 13.10 - 88 1967: Benalla All Blacks: 13.18 - 96 d Bonnie Doon: 11.9 - 75 1968: Benalla All Blacks: 13.16 - 94 d Glenrowan: 13.9 - 87 1969: Glenrowan: 13.14 - 92 d Benalla All Blacks: 11.9 - 75 1970: Glenrowan: 15.8 - 98 d Benalla All Blacks: 13.11 - 89 1971: Benalla All Blacks: 13.6 - 84 d Glenrowan: 11.4 - 70 1972: Tatong: 17.11 - 113 d Swanpool: 10.14 - 74 1973: Tatong: 12.13 - 85 d Longwood: 10.8 - 68 1974: Goorambat: 9.12 - 66 d Benalla All Blacks: 5.8 - 38 1975: Tatong: 15.16 - 106 d Bonnie Doon: 9.11 - 65 1976: Benalla All Blacks: 18.19 - 115 d Tatong: 9.7 - 61 1977: Longwood: 17.4 - 106 d Benalla All Blacks: 8.19 - 67 1978: Goorambat: 16.16 - 112 d Glenrowan: 16.11 - 107 1979: Goorambat: d Glenrowan: 1980: Glenrowan: 16.6 - 102 d Tatong: 15.7 - 97 1981: Glenrowan: 17.13 - 115 d Tatong: 14.11 - 95 1982: Violet Town: 13.10 - 88 d Bonnie Doon 10.13 - 73 1983: Strathbogie: 8.10 - 58 d Bonnie Doon: 6.12 - 48 1984: Tatong: 16.18 - 114 d Bonnie Doon: 6.15 - 51 1985: Longwood: 23.13 - 151 d Goorambat: 12.6 - 78 1986: Benalla Rovers: 16.11 - 107 d Longwood 11.14 - 80 1987: Violet Town: 14.16 - 100 d Tatong: 11.8 - 74 1988: Tatong: 21.7 - 133 d Bonnie Doon 13.7. - 85 1989: Bonnie Doon: 18.12 - 120 d Tatong: 10.14 - 74 1990: Violet Town: 22.14 - 146 d Thornton-Eildon Districts 9.16 - 70 1991: Thornton-Eildon: 19.9 - 123 d Violet Town: 6.10 - 46 1992: Thornton-Eildon: 14.10 - 94 d Bonnie Doon: 12.15 - 87 1993: Thornton-Eildon: 17.14 - 116 d Bonnie Doon: 12.8 - 80 1994: Tatong: 11.8 - 74 d Bonnie Doon: 10.12 - 72 1995: Tatong: 19.8 - 122 d Longwood 16.14 - 110 1996: Tatong: 24.10 - 154 d Swanpool: 16.12 - 108 1997: Swanpool: 19.26 - 140 d Bonnie Doon: 11.8 - 74 1998: Swanpool: 9.15 - 69 d Bonnie Doon: 8.12 - 60 1999: Bonnie Doon: 17.14 - 116 d Goorambat: 9.6 - 60 2000: Longwood: 18.12 - 120 d - Devenish: 10.5 - 65 2001: Goorambat: 10.13 - 73 d Bonnie Doon: 4.5 - 29 2002: Bonnie Doon: 12.18 - 90 d Longwood 13.8 - 86 2003: Devenish: 15.11 - 101 d Longwood: 12.10 - 82 2004: Bonnie Doon: 28.13 - 181 d Devenish: 11.8 - 74 2005: Devenish: 13.15 - 93 d Goorambat: 8.10 - 58 2006: Goorambat: 21.7 - 133 d Bonnie Doon: 15.7 - 97 2007: Goorambat: 19.10 - 124 d Bonnie Doon: 13.11 - 89 2008: Bonnie Doon: 10.17 - 77 d Goorambat: 11.6 - 72 2009: Bonnie Doon: 19.12 - 126 d Swanpool: 4.9 - 33
Notes - In 1934, Benalla All Blacks won the first grand final, then Glenrowan FC protested against an unregistered player. Tatong then defeated Glenrowan in the 2nd grand final. - In 1940 Benalla All Blacks were undefeated Premiers.
Football Best & Fairest Awards Tatong & Thoona Football Association Year B & F Winner Club Votes Runner up Club Votes1932 1933 1934 Harry Billman Glenrowan 7 Joe Askew & Benalla All Blacks 4 Arthur Hall Benalla All Blacks 41935 1936 J A Fisher Tatong 3 R Reaper Thoona 2 & 1/21937 Larry O'Brien Glenrowan 14 J ByrnesBenalla All Blacks131938 Geoff Peacock & Violet Town 11 Jim Cleary Thoona 8 Fred WallisBenalla All Blacks 11 1939 1940
Benalla & District Football League Seniors