Heathcote District Football League

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

Current clubs ClubColoursMonikerHome GroundFormerYears in HDFNLHDFNL Senior Premierships Total Years Colbinabbin Grasshoppers MJ Morgan Reserve, ColbinabbinCVFA 1915 1935- 121939, 1949, 1950, 1975, 1978, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008 Elmore Bloods Elmore Recreation Reserve, ElmoreEFL 1882 1938-1939, 1948- 51954, 1960, 1963, 1985, 2007 Heathcote Saints Barrack Reserve, Heathcote– 1967 1967- 71970, 1972, 1982, 1989, 1992, 2009, 2010 Huntly Hawks Strauch Reserve, Huntly– 1986 1986- 0 – Leitchville Gunbower Bombers Leitchville Recreation Reserve, Leitchville and Gunbower Recreation Reserve, GunbowerCMFNL 1995 2010- 22017, 2018 Lockington Bamawm United Cats Lockington Recreation Reserve, LockingtonBFNL 1990 2001- 52011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2022 Mount Pleasant Blues Toolleen Recreation Reserve, ToolleenCVFA 1889 1935- 211962, 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 BendigoBFNL 1945 1996- 42015, 2016, 2019, 2026 White Hills Demons White Hills Recreation Reserve, White HillsBFNL 1924 1984- 21988, 2024

Former clubs

ClubColoursMonikerHome GroundFormerYears in HDFNLHDFNL Senior PremiershipsFateTotalYearsAloysians–c.1900s19120 -Folded Axedale– 19211921, 1928-1932 0 -Moved to Golden City FL Broadford KangaroosHarley Hammond Reserve, BroadfordRDFNL 18901985-2008 11996Returned to Riddell District FNL in 2009 Costerfield– 19001905-1947 81912, 1913, 1914, 1919, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1926FoldedEmu Flat–c.1900s19060 -FoldedEppalock Weir–c.1920s19280 -Folded GoornongGoornong Recreation Reserve, GoornongGCFL c.1910s1947-1951 0 -Folded HeathcoteBarrack Reserve, Heathcote– c.1900s1905-1921 21918, 1921Split to form Heathcote North and Heathcote South in 1922Heathcote BluesBluesBarrack Reserve, Heathcote–19241924-19260 -Replaced by Heathcote North and Heathcote Rovers in 1927Heathcote CentralsBarrack Reserve, Heathcote–c.1900s19070 -FoldedHeathcote DonsDonsBarrack Reserve, Heathcote–1934193411934Replaced by Heathcote North and Heathcote Rovers in 1935Heathcote McIvorsMcIvorsBarrack Reserve, Heathcote–193419340 -Replaced by Heathcote North and Heathcote Rovers in 1935 Heathcote North BombersBarrack Reserve, Heathcote– 19221922-1924, 1928-1933, 1935-1966 81922, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1964Replaced by Blues, Ramblers and Reds in 1925. Replaced by Dons, McIvors and Ramblers in 1934. Merged with Heathcote Rovers to form Heathcote in 1967Heathcote RamblersRamblersBarrack Reserve, Heathcote–19241924, 19340 -Folded after 1924 season. Replaced by Heathcote North and Heathcote Rovers in 1935Heathcote RedsRedsBarrack Reserve, Heathcote–19241924-19260 -Replaced by Heathcote North and Heathcote Rovers in 1927 Heathcote Rovers MagpiesBarrack Reserve, Heathcote– 19271927-1933, 1935-1966 91927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1940, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1951Replaced by Dons, McIvors and Ramblers in 1934. Merged with Heathcote North to form Heathcote in 1967Heathcote SouthBarrack Reserve, Heathcote–19221922-19240 -Replaced by Blues, Ramblers and Reds in 1925. Knowsley– c.1900s1924-1927, 1946 11946FoldedMoormbool–c.1910s1918-19250 -FoldedProvincialProsWeeroona Oval, BendigoBFNL19451983-19850 -Merged with Huntly JFC to form Huntly-Provincial in 1986PyalongPyalong Recreation Reserve, Pyalong–c.1900s19140 -Folded RedesdaleAgnes Mudford Reserve, RedesdaleBFA c.1900s1930-1932 0 -FoldedRushworth TigersRushworth Recreation Reserve, RushworthGVFL 18821965-1998 31965, 1969, 1977Moved to Kyabram District FNL in 1999 Stanhope LionsStanhope Recreation Reserve, StanhopeGVFL 19201976-1994 31976, 1986, 1987Moved to Kyabram District FNL in 1995 Tooborac CatsTooborac Recreation Reserve, Tooborac– c.1900s1905-1986 111931, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1953, 1961, 1973, 1974Folded in 1987ToolleenToolleen Recreation Reserve, ToolleenCVFAc.1900s1919–1920, 1933–19340 -Moved to Goornong FA in 1921. Folded after 1934 season

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 2021 Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria 2022 Lockington Bamawm United (5) Mount Pleasant 13.11 (89) – 10.9 (69) 2023Mount Pleasant (20)Heathcote12.7 (79) – 9.6 (60)2024White Hills (2)Leitchville Gunbower17.11 (113) – 6.6 (42)2025Mount Pleasant (21)North Bendigo13.11 (89) – 13.6 (84)2026North Bendigo (4)Mount Pleasant13.14 (92) – 12.9 (81)

Books History of Football in the Bendigo District – John Stoward –

References Notes

Citations

External links League Official Website