The Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League is an Australian rules football league based in central Victoria. This is a minor league with clubs coming from towns near the regional centres of Maryborough and Castlemaine.
History The Maryborough District Football Association was formed in 1892 with the following local clubs: Amhurst / Adelaide Lead, Carisbrook, Dunolly, Maryborough, Talbot and Timor.
In 1900, the Maryborough District Football Association was defeated in a match played against Footscray with the scores 9.17 (71) to 2.7 (19).
In 1901, Port Melbourne visited Maryborough and defeated the Maryborough association, 8.7 (55) to 2.9 (21).
In 1924, there was a draw in the grand final, the scores being Moorlort 11.12 (78) to Dunolly 9.24 (78), with Moorlort winning the replay the following week.
In 1929, the Maryborough DFA became known as the Maryborough District Football League.
Maryborough & DFL absorbed a number of clubs from the Castlemaine District Football League, when that competition ceased after the 1952 football season. Other clubs from the Castlemaine District Football League moved to the Bendigo District Football Association.
The competition's name was changed to Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League in 1982.
In 2011 the league admitted four clubs from the Lexton Plains Football League, which had gone into recess.
The highest ever score in a senior game of Australian rules football was scored in this league in 1990 when Campbells Creek defeated Primrose 100.34 (634) to 3.0 (18).
Between round one of 2014 and round ten of 2016, Navarre won 50 consecutive matches in a row in senior football in the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League. Navarre's last loss was in the 2013 Second Qualifying Final when Newstead won by 24 points.
Clubs Locations
Current ClubJumperNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in MCDFNLMCDFNL Senior PremiershipsTotal Years Avoca Bulldogs Avoca Recreation Reserve, AvocaPDFA, LPFL1873 1925, 2005–0- Campbells Creek Magpies, Creekers Campbells Creek Recreation Reserve, Campbells CreekCDFL1864 1952– 1 1953 Carisbrook Redbacks Carisbrook Recreation Reserve, Carisbrook–c.1900s 1901, 1919– 181914, 1925, 1929, 1949, 1950, 1954, 1960, 1964, 1970, 1976, 1980, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2017, 2018 Dunolly Eagles Dunolly Recreation Reserve, DunollyLVFL1873 1919–35, 1944-1981, 2004– 14 1907, 1909, 1910, 1919, 1920, 1930, 1932, 1933, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1969 Harcourt Lions Harcourt Recreation Reserve, HarcourtGCFL1889 1970– 8 1971, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2022, 2023, 2026 Lexton Tigers Lexton Recreation Reserve, LextonLPFL19202011– 0- Maldon Bombers Bill Woodful Reserve, MaldonGCFL1873 1952– 9 1952, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2010MaryboroughMagpiesPrinces Park, MaryboroughBFNL18721905, 2027-0 - Maryborough Giants Giants JH Hedges Memorial Park, Maryborough–2023 2024– 0 - Natte Bealiba Swans Natte Yallock Recreation Reserve, Natte YallockLPFL1961 2011– 3 2011, 2019, 2024 Navarre Grasshoppers Navarre Recreation Reserve, NavarreLPFL1920 2011– 4 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 Newstead Kangaroos Newstead Recreation Reserve, NewsteadCDFL1881 1960– 6 1939, 1966, 1979, 1993, 2000, 2009 Talbot Hawks Talbot Recreation Reserve, TalbotCFLc.1870s 1956– 7 1965, 1989, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001Trentham Saints Trentham Recreation Reserve, TrenthamRDFNL1892 1988– 3 1992, 1994, 2025 Former ClubJumperNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in MCDFNLMCDFNL Senior PremiershipsFateTotal YearsBealiba (1924-26)(1927-29)(1945-48) WoodcuttersBealiba Recreation Reserve, BealibaKKFLc.1870s 1924-1929, 1932-1935, 1945-194821927, 1928Played in Kara Kara FL between 1930-31. Entered recess in 1936. Moved to Loddon Valley FL following 1948 seasonBowenvale–c.1900s1892, 1899, 1905, 1908 1 1899FoldedBristol HillMJFA19191921-195431904, 1923, 1926FoldedCampbelltown–c.1920s1938-1939, 1947-1948 0 -Merged with Newstead in 1940 to form Newstead Campbelltown, re-formed in 1947. Folded after 1948 season.ChewtonTigersChewton Soldiers Memorial Park, ChewtonGCFLc.1900s1970-199021975, 1986FoldedClunesMagpiesLigar Street Reserve, ClunesCFL18691922-1924, 1928-1930, 1945 0 -Moved to Clunes FL following 1945 season.MajorcaMJFAc.1920s1934 0 -FoldedMaryborough Rovers(1966-?)(?-2023)MagpiesPrinces Park, Maryborough–1960s1966-202331978, 1990, 1991Merged with Royal Park to form Maryborough Giants following 2023 season.MoolortCarisbrook Recreation Reserve, Carisbrook–c.1920s1922-1924 1 1924Folded after 1924 season.Natte YallockSwansNatte Yallock Recreation Reserve, Natte YallockPDFAc.1910s1939-1947 0 -Moved to Lexton FL following 1948 seasonNewstead Campbelltown–194019400 -De-merged into Newstead and Campbelltown in 1947Patience & NicholsonPrinces Park, Maryborough–c.1930s1937-194941940, 1945, 1947, 1948Became the reserve grade side for Maryborough in the Ballarat FL after 1949 seasonPrimroseRosesPrinces Park, Maryborough–19191920-199431934, 1937, 1984FoldedRailwaysPrinces Park, Maryborough–19191919-192331912, 1921, 1922FoldedRailways Institute MJFAc.1910s1911-1920, 1934-1940 2 1911, 1936Moved into the Maryborough Junior FA in 1921. Folded after 1940 seasonRedbank Stuart MillRedsRedbank Recreation Reserve, Redbank–19561956-1958 0 -Moved to Lexton FL following 1958 seasonRoyal ParkTigersJH Hedges Memorial Park, Maryborough–19341934-2023101935, 1938, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1981, 1982Merged with Maryborough Rovers to form Maryborough Giants following 2023 season.TimorMJFAc.1910s1900, 1913, 1951-1957 2 1900, 1913Folded after 1957 season
Football Premierships Seniors
1892 Maryborough 1893 Maryborough v Bowenvale 1894 Maryborough 1895-98 ? No Maryborough DFA competition 1899 Bowenvale 1900 Timor 1901 ? 1902 1903 1904 Bristol Hill 1905 ? 1906 1907 Dunolly 1908 Maryborough 1909 Dunolly 1910 Dunolly 1911 Temperance 1912 Railways 1913 Timor 1914 Carisbrook 1915 Season cancelled in July > WW1 1916-18 MDFL in recess > WW1 1919 Dunolly 1920 Dunolly 1921 Railways 1922 Railways 1923 Bristol Hill 1924 Moolort 1925 Carisbrook 1926 Bristol Hill 1927 Bealiba 1928 Bealiba 1929 Carisbrook 1930 Dunolly 1931 Primrose
1932 Dunolly 1933 Dunolly 1934 Primrose 1935 Royal Park 1936 Railways Institute 1937 Primrose 1938 Royal Park 1939 Newstead 1940 Patience & Nicholson 1941-44 in recess > WW2 1945 Patience & Nicholson 1946 Maryborough 1947 Patience & Nicholson 1948 Patience & Nicholson 1949 Carisbrook 1950 Carisbrook 1951 Primrose 1952 Maldon 1953 Campbells Creek 1954 Carisbrook 1955 Maldon 1956 Maldon 1957 Maldon 1958 Dunolly 1959 Dunolly 1960 Carisbrook 1961 Dunolly 1962 Dunolly 1963 Dunolly 1964 Carisbrook 1965 Talbot 1966 Newstead 1967 Royal Park 1968 Royal Park 1969 Dunolly
1970 Carisbrook 1971 Harcourt 1972 Royal Park 1973 Royal Park 1974 Royal Park 1975 Chewton 1976 Carisbrook 1977 Royal Park 1978 Maryborough Rovers 1979 Newstead 1980 Carisbrook 1981 Royal Park 1982 Royal Park 1983 Maldon 1984 Primrose 1985 Maldon 1986 Chewton 1987 Maldon 1988 Maldon 1989 Talbot 1990 Maryborough Rovers 1991 Maryborough Rovers 1992 Trentham 1993 Newstead 1994 Trentham 1995 Talbot 1996 Talbot 1997 Talbot 1998 Talbot 1999 Carisbrook 2000 Newstead 2001 Talbot 2002 Harcourt 2003 Harcourt 2004 Carisbrook
2005 Carisbrook 2006 Harcourt 2007 Harcourt 2008 Carisbrook 2009 Newstead 2010 Maldon 2011 Natte Bealiba 2012 Carisbrook 2013 Navarre 2014 Navarre 2015 Navarre 2016 Navarre 2017 Carisbrook 2018 Carisbrook 2019 Natte Bealiba 2020 In recess > COVID-19 2021 1st: Harcourt Shorten season > COVID-19 2022 Harcourt 2023 Harcourt 2024 Natte Bealiba 2025 Trentham 2026 Harcourt
League Best and Fairest Awards Senior Football
MCDFNL Senior Football - Best & FairestYearWinnerClub Votes Taggart Trophy1908H Crellin Bowenvale Best & Fairest Cup1934J McRae Royal Park Berry Powell Medal 1946Clarrie MoschettiRoyal Park votes1947Ron Deledio Dunolly 1948Doug Beasy Dunolly 1949Jim Drysdale Patience & Nicholson1950Ron Deledio Dunolly 1951Jack Older Primrose 1952Don Nicholls Primrose 1953Ray Noonan Royal Park 1954Bill Ebery Carisbrook Ray Herbert Campbells Creek Jim Oliver Primrose Max Watts Dunolly 1955Keith Fyffe Carisbrook 1956Bill Ebery & Carisbrook Pat Kirk Primrose 1957Arthur Lacey Dunolly 1958Pat Kirk Primrose 1959Arthur Lacey Dunolly 1960Arthur Lacey Dunolly 1961Brian Richardson Newstead 1962Tom Noonan Royal Park 1963Tom Noonan Royal Park 1964Tom Noonan Royal Park 1965Robert Wanlace Talbot 1966Malcom Stevens Newstead 1967Richard Raselli Dunolly 1968Charlie Wallace Royal Park 1969Colin Elliott Maryborough Rovers1970Ray Allan & Royal Park Peter Cole Campbells Creek 1971Ray Allan Royal Park 1972Robert Droney Campbells Creek 1973Reg Jones Chewton 1974Wayne Deledio & Dunolly David Zimmer Maryborough Rovers1975Laurie Smith Talbot 1976Colin Elliott Maryborough Rovers1977Neil Robertson Dunolly 1978David Zimmer Maryborough Rovers1979David Zimmer Maryborough Rovers1980Paul Williams Chewton 1981Glen Roy Maldon 1982Don Culvenor Newstead 1983Ken Patton Maldon 1984Robert Cribbes Royal Park 1985Mauro Guareschi Maryborough Rovers1986Anthony O'Shea Maryborough Rovers1987Steve Denko Chewton 1988Keith Ennis Trentham 1989Keith Ennis Trentham 1990Peter Constable Carisbrook 1991Mauro Guareschi Maryborough Rovers1992Wayne Purtell Trentham 1993Jason Glanville Royal Park 1994Glenn Skipper Campbell's Creek 1995Michael Pedretti Newstead 1996Peter Egan Royal Park 1997Michael Pedretti Newstead 1998Martin Mark Carisbrook 1999Peter Tardrew Talbot 2000Ryan Morgan Carisbrook 2001Michael Moore Trentham 2002Michael Pedretti Newstead 2003Ian Martin Talbot 2004Daniel Christmas Newstead 2005Nick Robinson Avoca 2006Josh Hutchinson Harcourt 2007Tony Bellenger Avoca 2008Ian Martin Talbot 2009James McNamee Dunolly 282010Matthew Peake Campbell's Creek 252011Daniel Parkin Navarre 282012Paul Chaplin Harcourt 202013Matt Bilton Carisbrook 2014Damon Aspland Lexon 342015Michael Dalrmple Newstead 19 Hayden Kelly Maldon 19 Matthew Smith Talbot 192016Josh Fowkes Navarre 182017Jackson Bowen Carisbrook 242018Matt Bilton Carisbrook 222019Joel Cowan Trentham 182020MCDFNL inrecess > COVID-192021Tommy Horne Maldon 162022Brayden Frost Harcourt 272023Joel Cowan Trentham 272024Damian Wust Maldon 23 Joel Cowan*Trentham (28)2025Jackson Bowen Carisbrook 262026
2024 - Joel Cowan (Trentham) polled the most votes, but was ineligible, due to a round 16 suspension. Under 15s MCDFNL Under 15s Football - Best & FairestYearWinnerClub Votes2026Billy Rumpff Carisbrook 35Best & Fairest Runner Up2026Austin PhillipsHarcourt31
Leading MCDFNL Goalkicker
In 1929, Ned Kick of Dunolly FC kicked 17 goals against Railways to take his goal tally up to 74 goals for the season. Leading Goal Kickers
Year Player H&A goals Finals goals Total Goals