Essendon District Football League

Semi-professional Australian football league

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Essendon District Football LeagueSport| Australian rules football

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Founded| 1930; 94 years ago (1930)
Inaugural season| 1930
CEO| Andrew Johnston
President| Bernie Shinners
Country| Australia
Most recent
champion(s)| Keilor (2023)
Most titles| Essendon Doutta Stars (20)
Sponsor(s)| Strathmore Community Bank
Official website| essendondfl.com.au

The Essendon District Football League (EDFL) is a semi-professional Australian rules football league competition based in Essendon, Victoria, consisting of teams based in the north-west suburbs of Melbourne. Founded in 1930, the men's competition consists of three leagues: Premier Division, Division 1 and Division 2, with 10 clubs in the Premier Division, 11 clubs in Division 1 and 9 clubs in Division 2. Ahead of the 2025 competition, two teams will be relegated from Division 1 to Division 2 to ensure that there are 10 teams across each of the top three divisions.

Promotion and relegation between these divisions occurs, with the lowest-placed clubs in the Premier Division and Division 1 being relegated at the end of each season replaced in their respective divisions by the winners of Division 1 and Division 2 premierships respectively[1] Each men's team also fields a reserves side and an under-18 side that play fixtures mirroring that of the senior side.

Since 2017, the League has also run a competition for women's Australian rules football. In its inaugural year, this was a joint competition featuring teams from the EDFL as well as the Western Region Football League (WRFL).[2] In 2018, 13 teams competed in a single division season, expanding to 19 teams and two divisions in 2019.

## Clubs[edit]

### Premier Division[edit]

Club  | Colours  | Moniker  | Home venue | Est. | Seasons  | Premierships  | Former league(s)

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

First  | Total  | Total  | Most recent
Aberfeldie |  | Blues | Clifton Park, Aberfeldie | 1948  | 1948  | 75  | 8  | 2018  | —
Airport West |  | Eagles | Hansen Reserve, Airport West | 1961  | 1962  | 62  | 7  | 2022  | —
Avondale Heights |  | Heights | Canning Street Reserve, Avondale Heights | 1965  | 1967  | 56  | 5  | 2004^ | —
Deer Park |  | Lions | John McLeod Reserve, Deer Park | 1925  | 2023  | 2  | 1  | 2023^ | WRFL
East Keilor |  | Cougars | Overland Reserve, East Keilor | 1967  | 1971  | 53  | 7  | 2021^ | —
Essendon Doutta Stars |  | Stars | Nipper Jordan Oval, Essendon | 1946  | 1946  | 78  | 20  | 2015^ | VFL
Greenvale |  | Jets | Greenvale Reserve, Greenvale | 1990  | 1996  | 28  | 5  | 2013  | —
Keilor |  | Blues | Keilor Recreation Reserve, Keilor | 1877  | 1932  | 88  | 12  | 2023  | KBFL
Pascoe Vale |  | Panthers | Raeburn Reserve, Pascoe Vale | 1918  | 1952  | 72  | 3  | 2011^ | VFL SD
Strathmore |  | Mores | Lebanon Reserve, Strathmore | 1954  | 1957  | 67  | 9  | 2022  | —

### Division 1[edit]

Club  | Colours  | Moniker  | Home venue | Est. | Seasons  | Premierships  | Former league(s)

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

First  | Total  | Total  | Most recent
Craigieburn |  | Eagles | D.S. Aitken Reserve, Craigieburn | 1970  | 2001  | 23  | 3  | 2019^ | RDFNL
Hillside |  | Sharks | Hillside Reserve, Hillside | 1999  | 2005  | 19  | 1  | 2013+ | —
Keilor Park  |  | Devils | Keilor Park Recreational Reserve, Keilor Park | 1974  | 1986  | 372 | 3  | 2022^ | —
Maribyrnong Park |  | Lions | Maribyrnong Park, Moonee Ponds | 1980  | 1980  | 45  | 4  | 2010  | —
Moonee Valley  |  | Valley | Ormond Park, Moonee Ponds | 1933  | 1933  | 87  | 7  | 2021+ | —
Oak Park  |  | Kangaroos | J.P. Fawkner Reserve, Oak Park | 1957  | 1960  | 64  | 5  | 2023+ | —
Roxburgh Park |  | Magpies | Lakeside Reserve, Roxburgh Park | 2002  | 2005  | 19  | 1  | 2018+ | —
Rupertswood |  | Sharks | Salesian College, Sunbury | 1999  | 2021  | 4  | 0  | —  | VAFA, RDFNL
St Albans |  | Saints | Kings Park Reserve, Kings Park | 1947  | 2023  | 2  | 0  | __  | WRFL
Tullamarine |  | Demons | Leo Dineen Reserve, Tullamarine | 1974  | 1974  | 50  | 8  | 2003  | —
West Coburg |  | Burgers | Shore Reserve, Pascoe Vale South | 1927  | 1954  | 70  | 15  | 2014  | VFA SD

### Division 2[edit]

Club  | Colours  | Moniker  | Home venue | Est. | Seasons  | Premierships  | Former league(s)

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

First  | Total  | Total  | Most recent
Burnside Heights  |  | Bears | Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve,
Burnside Heights | 2012  | 2014  | 11  | 0  | —  | —
Coburg Districts  |  | Lions | Cole Reserve, Pascoe Vale | 1951  | 1981  | 191 | 0  | —  | NMFL, WRFL
East Sunbury  |  | Thunder | John McMahon Reserve, Sunbury | 1999  | 2013  | 103 | 0  | —  | RDFNL
Glenroy |  | Wallabies | Sewell Reserve, Glenroy | 1946  | 1946  | 78  | 14  | 2017^ | —
Hadfield  |  | Hawks | Martin Reserve, Hadfield | 1961  | 1971  | 53  | 4  | 2015  | —
Northern Saints  |  | Saints | Charles Mutton Reserve, Fawkner | 2007  | 2008  | 16  | 1  | 2013^ | —
Sunbury Kangaroos |  | Kangaroos | Eric Boardman Reserve, Sunbury | 1987  | 2019  | 5  | 1  | 2019+ | RDFNL
Taylors Lakes |  | Lions | Lionheart Reserve, Taylors Lakes | 1989  | 1993  | 31  | 1  | 2010  | —
Westmeadows |  | Tigers | Willowbrook Reserve, Westmeadows | 1970  | 1977  | 47  | 1  | 1984  | —

Notes
^ denotes that the club's most recent senior premiership was in Division 1 or the B Grade.
+ denotes that the club's most recent senior premiership was in Division 2 or the C Grade.
1 Coburg Districts first entered the competition in 1981, before departing after the conclusion of the 1987 EDFL season. The club re-entered the competition from the 2013 EDFL season onwards.
2 Keilor Park did not field a side in the 2018 EDFL season.
3 East Sunbury did not field a side in the 2022 EDFL season.

## Active AFL/AFLW Players[edit]

Active AFL Players  Player | AFL Club/Clubs  | EDFL Club/Clubs  | Year Drafted  | Draft Pick no.  | AFL Games1

|
|
|
|
|

Rory Atkins | Adelaide Football Club and Gold Coast Suns | Maribyrnong Park | 2012  | 81  | 133
Noah Balta | Richmond Football Club | Essendon Doutta Stars | 2017  | 25  | 85
Mark Blicavs | Geelong Football Club | Taylors Lakes | 2012  | 54 (R)  | 246
Jack Bytel | St Kinda Football Club | Maribyrnong Park and Aberfeldie | 2018  | 41  | 22
Jordan Croft  | Western Bulldogs | Maribyrnong Park | 2023  | 15 (F-S)  | 0
Joe Daniher | Essendon Football Club and Brisbane Lions | Aberfeldie | 2012  | 10 (F-S)  | 172
Jayden Davey  | Essendon Football Club | Moonee Valley  | 2022  | 54 (F-S)  | 0
Brandon Ellis | Richmond Football Club and Gold Coast Suns | West Coburg | 2011  | 15  | 241
Hugo Garcia  | St Kilda Football Club | Taylors Lakes and Greenvale | 2023  | 50  | 0
Jayden Laverde | Essendon Football Club | Keilor | 2014  | 20  | 110
Matthew McLeod-Allison  | St Kilda Football Club | Strathmore | 2020  | 26  | 0
Jake Melksham | Essendon Football Club and Melbourne Football Club | Oak Park  | 2009  | 10  | 221
Brody Mihocek | Collingwood Football Club | Maribyrnong Park | 2018  | 22 (R)  | 126
Touk Miller | Gold Coast Suns | Maribyrnong Park | 2014  | 29  | 173
Reilly O'Brien | Adelaide Football Club | Moonee Valley  | 2014  | 9 (R)  | 100
Dion Prestia | Gold Coast Suns and Richmond Football Club | Greenvale | 2010  | 9  | 212
Cameron Rayner | Brisbane Lions | Hillside and Essendon Doutta Stars | 2017  | 1  | 111
Brandon Ryan | Hawthorn Football Club and Brisbane Lions | Maribyrnong Park and Aberfeldie | 2012  | 12 (M-S) (R)  | 3
Luke Ryan | Fremantle Football Club | Moonee Valley and Maribyrnong Park | 2016  | 66  | 132
Adam Saad | Gold Coast Suns, Essendon Football Club and Carlton Football Club | West Coburg | 2015  | 25 (R)  | 177
James Sicily | Hawthorn Football Club | Keilor | 2013  | 56  | 134
Joel Smith | Melbourne Football Club | Maribyrnong Park | 2014  | 41 (R)  | 42
Curtis Taylor | North Melbourne Football Club | Keilor | 2018  | 46  | 57
Zac Taylor  | Adelaide Football Club | Oak Park  | 2021  | 44  | 0
Rhylee West | Western Bulldogs | Strathmore | 2018  | 26 (F-S)  | 25
Peter Wright | Gold Coast Suns and Essendon Football Club | Moonee Valley  | 2014  | 8  |
Active AFLW Players  Player  | AFLW Club/Clubs  | EDFL Club/Clubs  | Year Drafted  | Draft Pick no.  | AFLW Games1

|
|
|
|
|

Alana Barba | Gold Coast Suns and Essendon Football Club | Roxburgh Park and Pascoe Vale | 2022  | \-  | 12
Charlotte Baskaran  | Hawthorn Football Club | Aberfeldie | 2022  | 9  | 10
Lauren Caruso  | Richmond Football Club | Keilor | 2022  | \-  | 1
Monique Conti | Western Bulldogs and Richmond Football Club | Essendon Doutta Stars, Melbourne Uni and Aberfeldie | 2017  | 4  | 61
Sarah Dargan | Collingwood Football Club, Richmond Football Club and Sydney Football Club | Strathmore and Pascoe Vale | 2017  | 20  | 34
Zali Friswell  | Geelong Football Club | Aberfeldie | 2021  | 7  | 30
Elisabeth Georgostathis | Western Bulldogs | VU Western Spurs | 2019  | 9  | 34
Tahlia Gillard  | Melbourne Football Club | Moonee Valley and Essendon Doutta Stars | 2021  | 42  | 28
Montana Ham | Sydney Football Club | Hillside and Keilor | 2022  | 1  |
Isabel Huntington | Western Bulldogs and Greater Western Sydney Giants | Melbourne Uni | 2017  | 1  | 20
Madeline Keryk | Carlton Football Club, Geelong Football Club and Port Adelaide Football Club | Aberfeldie and VU Western Spurs | 2016  | 115  | 47
Abbey McDonald  | Geelong Football Club | Aberfeldie, Sunbury Kangaroos and Sunbury Lions  | 2022  | 55  | 4
Georgia Patrikios | St Kilda Football Club | West Coburg and Pascoe Vale | 2019  | 5  | 35
Krstel Petrevski | Melbourne Football Club and West Coast Eagles | Pascoe Vale | 2019  | 78  | 10
Georgie Prespakis  | Geelong Football Club | Sunbury Lions  | 2021  | 2  | 19
Madison Prespakis | Carlton Football Club and Essendon Football Club | Sunbury Lions  | 2018  | 3  | 55
Amelia Radford  | Essendon Football Club | Moonee Valley  | 2022  | \-  | 7
Tahlia Read  | Fremantle Football Club and Carlton Football Club | Maribyrnong Park | 2022  | 85  | 0
Nicola Stevens | Collingwood Football Club, Carlton Football Club and St Kilda Football Club | Pascoe Vale | 2016  | 6  | 59
Emelia Yassir | Richmond Football Club | Pascoe Vale | 2021  | 16  | 19

Notes
(R) denotes that the player was selected in the rookie draft.
(F-S) denotes that the player was selected as a father-son pick.
(M-S) denotes that the player was selected in the mid-season draft.
1 Playing statistics correct as of the end of the 2023 season.

## Former Clubs[edit]

Club  | Colours  | Moniker  | Est. | Former
league  | EDFL senior seasons | Fate

|
|
|
|
|
|

First  | Last  | Total
Ascot Vale  |  | Devils | 1930  | —  | 1930  | 1987  | 54† | Transferred to FDFL at conclusion of 1987 season. Folded in 1997.
Ascot Vale Presbyterians |  |  | ?  | —  |  | 1973  |  | Merged with Essendon Baptist-St John's at conclusion of 1973 season to form Essendon-Tullamarine.
Brunswick City  |  |  | 1948  |  | 1948  | 1986  | 37  | Folded at the end of 1986 season
Essendon Baptist-St John's |  |  | 1951  | —  |  | 1973  |  | Merged with Ascot Vale Presbyterians at conclusion of 1973 season to form Essendon-Tullamarine.
Fawkner District  |  |  |  |  | 1937  | 1941  | 5  | Club played until EDFL suspended competition due to WW2 in 1942. They did not reform when the EDFL resumed in 1946.
Jacana  |  | Jaguars | 1961  | RDFNL | 2001  | 2022  | 22  | Went into recess prior to 2023 season following poor performances throughout the 2022 Division 2 season
La Mascotte  |  |  |  |  | 1938  | 1941  | 4  | Club played until EDFL suspended competition due to WW2 in 1942. They did not reform when the EDFL resumed in 1946.
Moonee Imperials |  | Imperials | 1946  | —  | 1946  | 1979  | 34  | Merged with Riverside Stars at conclusion of 1979 season to form Maribyrnong Park.
North Coburg1 |  | Saints | 1947  | —  | 1978  | 2007  | 28  | Merged with Fawkner Park at conclusion of 2007 season to form Northern Saints.
Old Essendon Grammarians |  | Bombers | 1968  | —  | 1968  | 1969  | 1  | Transferred to FDFL at conclusion of 1982 season. Currently competes in VAFA.
VAFA | 1972  | 1982  | 11
Riverside Stars |  | Stars | 1946  | —  | 1946  | 1979  | 34  | Merged with Moonee Imperials at conclusion of 1979 season to form Maribyrnong Park.
Woodland  | Black and White Stripes[3] |  |  |  | 1930  | 1934  | 4  | Unknown. They 'played at the Holmes Road reserve, which was located in the parkland at the end of Holmes Road in Moonee Ponds'[4]

Notes
North Coburg competed as St Olivers between 1978 and 1989.
† denotes that the club did not participate between 1942 and 1945 due to World War II.

## Premiers[edit]

| Seniors  | Reserves

|
|

Year  | Premier Division

(A Grade)

| Division 1

(B Grade)

| Division 2

(C Grade)

| Premier Division

(A Grade)

| Division 1

(B Grade)

| Division 2

(C Grade)

2023  | Keilor  | Deer Park  | Oak Park  | Strathmore  | Hillside  | Northern Saints
2022  | Strathmore  | Airport West  | Keilor Park  | Keilor  | Airport West  | Keilor Park
2021  | Strathmore  | East Keilor  | Moonee Valley  | Keilor  | East Keilor  | Moonee Valley
2020  | Competition not held due to COVID-19
2019  | Keilor  | Craigieburn  | Sunbury Kangaroos  | Aberfeldie  | Hillside  | Sunbury Kangaroos
2018  | Aberfeldie  | Airport West  | Roxburgh Park  | Greenvale  | Airport West  | Moonee Valley
2017  | Aberfeldie  | Glenroy  | Jacana  | Greenvale  | Taylors Lakes  | Roxburgh Park
2016  | Keilor  | Craigieburn  | East Keilor  | Keilor  | Taylors Lakes  | Roxburgh Park
2015  | Aberfeldie  | Essendon Doutta Stars  | Hadfield  | Keilor  | Taylors Lakes  | Coburg Districts
2014  | Strathmore  | West Coburg  | East Keilor  | Greenvale  | Taylors Lakes  | Moonee Valley
2013  | Greenvale  | Northern Saints  | Hillside  | Greenvale  | West Coburg  | Hillside
2012  | Greenvale  | Airport West  | East Keilor  | Greenvale  | Airport West  | Hillside
2011  | Strathmore  | Pascoe Vale  | Competition in recess  | Oak Park  | Airport West  | Competition in recess
2010  | Maribyrnong Park  | Taylors Lakes  | Greenvale  | Pascoe Vale
2009  | Maribyrnong Park  | Oak Park  | Aberfeldie  | Airport West
2008  | Keilor  | Glenroy  | Keilor  | Taylors Lakes
2007  | Greenvale  | Maribyrnong Park  | Greenvale  | Maribyrnong Park
2006  | Strathmore  | West Coburg  | Essendon Doutta Stars  | Maribyrnong Park
2005  | Strathmore  | Craigieburn  | Keilor  | Craigieburn
2004  | Greenvale  | Avondale Heights  | Oak Park  | West Coburg
2003  | Oak Park  | Tullamarine  | Oak Park  | Westmeadows
2002  | Oak Park  | Greenvale  | Oak Park  | Craigieburn
2001  | Keilor  | Keilor Park  | Keilor  | Pascoe Vale
2000  | Keilor  | West Coburg  | Keilor  | Pascoe Vale
1999  | Doutta Stars  | Moonee Valley  | Keilor  | Moonee Valley
1998  | Strathmore  | Doutta Stars  | Strathmore  | Essendon Doutta Stars
1997  | Keilor  | Glenroy  | Strathmore  | Hadfield
1996  | Keilor  | West Coburg  | Strathmore  | Pascoe Vale
1995  | Keilor  | Aberfeldie  | Keilor  | Pascoe Vale
1994  | East Keilor  | Moonee Valley  | Oak Park  | Essendon Doutta Stars
1993  | Airport West  | Tullamarine  | Airport West  | North Coburg Saints
1992  | Airport West  | East Keilor  | Oak Park  | Tullamarine
1991  | Essendon Doutta Stars  | West Coburg  | Essendon Doutta Stars  | Tullamarine
1990  | Essendon Doutta Stars  | Keilor Park  | Keilor  | Keilor Park
1989  | Strathmore  | Hadfield  | Keilor  | Tullamarine
1988  | Keilor  | Pascoe Vale  | Essendon Doutta Stars  | Hadfield
1987  | Avondale Heights  | West Coburg  | Keilor  | West Coburg
1986  | Glenroy  | Moonee Valley  | Strathmore  | Tullamarine
1985  | Keilor  | Airport West  | Strathmore  | Moonee Valley
1984  | Strathmore  | Westmeadows  | Strathmore  | Ascot Vale
1983  | Glenroy  | Oak Park  | Strathmore  | Oak Park
1982  | Glenroy  | Aberfeldie  | Gladstone Park  | Glenroy  | Oak Park  | Essendon High School Ex-Students
1981  | Strathmore  | Tullamarine  | Essendon Youth Centre  | West Coburg  | Aberfeldie  | Gladstone Park
1980  | Essendon Doutta Stars  | Glenroy  | Brunswick City7 | West Coburg  | Glenroy  | St Andrews
1979  | Essendon Tullamarine  | Hadfield  | Moonee Ponds  | Essendon Doutta Stars  | Oak Park  | Competition not yet formed
1978  | Essendon Tullamarine  | East Keilor  | Brunswick City7 | Pascoe Vale  | Oak Park
1977  | Essendon Tullamarine  | Ascot Vale  | West Coburg  | Aberfeldie  | Ascot Vale
1976  | Essendon Tullamarine  | Avondale Heights  | Old Essendon Gramarians6 | Airport West  | Ascot Vale
1975  | Essendon Tullamarine  | Moonee Valley  | Essendon Youth Centre  | Aberfeldie  | Oak Park
1974  | Aberfeldie  | Glenroy  | Brunswick Presbyterians  | Strathmore  | Glenroy
1973  | Keilor  | Strathmore  | Tullamarine Ascot Presbyterians1 | Essendon Doutta Stars  | Brunswick City7
1972  | Essendon Doutta Stars  | Ascot Vale1 | Riverside Stars4 | Essendon Doutta Stars  | Competition not yet formed
1971  | West Coburg  | Strathmore  | Hadfield  | Essendon Baptist St John's 1
1970  | West Coburg  | Broadmeadows  | Moonee Valley  | Pascoe Vale
1969  | Essendon Doutta Stars  | Ascot Vale1 | St. Davids  | Pascoe Vale
1968  | West Coburg  | Keilor  | Batman5 | West Coburg
1967  | West Coburg  | Strathmore  | Riverside Stars4 | Pascoe Vale
1966  | Glenroy  | West Coburg  | Ascot Youth Centre  | Competition not yet formed
1965  | West Coburg  | Essendon High School Ex-Students  | Essendon Baptist St John's1
1964  | Essendon Doutta Stars  | Ascot Vale Presbyterians  | Pascoe Vale
1963  | Essendon Doutta Stars  | West Coburg  | Glenroy
1962  | Essendon Doutta Stars  | Broadmeadows  | Moonee Imperials4
1961  | Essendon Doutta Stars  | North Essendon Methodists  | Doutta Stars
1960  | Moonee Imperials  | Essendon High School Ex-Students  | Competition not yet formed
1959  | Essendon Doutta Stars  | Aberfeldie
1958  | Essendon Baptist St John's1 | West Coburg
1957  | Essendon Doutta Stars  | North Essendon Methodists
1956  | Brunswick City7 | Essendon Baptist St John's1
1955  | Moonee Imperials4 | Lincoln Stars
1954  | Essendon Doutta Stars  | Brunswick7
1953  | Essendon Doutta Stars  | Aberfeldie
1952  | Moonee Valley  | St Davids
1951  | Essendon Doutta Stars  | Glenroy
1950  | Essendon Doutta Stars  | Lincoln Tigers
1949  | Essendon Doutta Stars  | Glenroy
1948  | Essendon Doutta Stars  | Competition not yet formed
1947  | Ascot Vale United1
1946  | Ascot Vale United1
1945  | Competition not held due to World War II
1944
1943
1942
1941  | La Mascotte3
1940  | Ascot Vale1
1939  | La Mascotte3
1938  | Ascot Vale1
1937  | Ascot Vale1
1936  | Ascot Vale1
1935  | Ascot Vale1
1934  | Woodland2
1933  | Ascot Vale1
1932  | Woodland2
1931  | Woodland2
1930  | Essendon Baptist St John's1

Notes
1 Merger occurred between Essedon Baptist St Johns and Ascot Vale Presbyterians in 1973 to form Tullamarine Ascot Presbyterians, then later Essendon Tullamarine and finally shortened to Tullamarine Football Club in 1981.
2 Woodland Football Club folded at the end of the 1934 Season.
3 La Mascotte played until the EDFL suspended competition due to WW2 in 1942 and didn't reform when the EDFL resumed in 1946.
4 Moonee Imperials merged with Riverside Stars at conclusion of 1979 season to form Maribyrnong Park.
5 Later renamed to Coburg Districts Football Club in 1981 to greater recognise the local community.
6 Old Essendon Gramarians joined the EDFL in 1968 for just two seasons until joining the VAFA (Victorian Amateur Football Association) for the 1970 and 1971 seasons before returning to the EDFL between 1972 and 1983, then departing to play in the Footscray District Football League, now the Western Region Football League in 1983.
7 Renamed from Brunswick to Brunswick City in 1955, Folded at the end of the 1986 season
8 Left the EDFL to join the Footscray District Football League, now the Western Region Football League at the conclusion of the 1987 season, folded in 1997. Later reformed in 2017, only participating in under-age football.

## History[edit]

The EDFL was first formed in 1930 at the instigation of the Essendon Football Club to increase the pool of local talent available for recruitment. Consequently, the league has consistently had positive ties with Essendon Football Club which can also be seen with the use of former Essendon home ground Essendon Football Ground, now known as Windy Hill as the headquarters of the EDFL since 1958 and hosting training for umpires of the league and occasional use of the ground for home and away season matches as well as being a commonly featuring ground for mens grand finals.

The first season in 1930 consisted of eight clubs, Ascot Vale, Flemington and Kensington, St John's, Kensington Methodist, Essendon High School Old Boys, Northern Juniors, West Essendon and Woodlands. None of the original foundation clubs exist in their current state as a result of participating in mergers or folding since. The completion of the season saw Les Rennie recruited by Essendon, the first successful recruitment of a player from the EDFL, he went on to play for Essendon throughout the 1931 VFL season. Later, in 1933 the great Dick Reynolds, one of just four players to have won three Brownlow Medals was recruited from Woodlands in the EDFL and began his successful 320 game career with Essendon.

In 1936, the first juniors competition was launched which contained a solitary under 16s division, once more at the instigation of the Essendon Football Club however this was abandoned and resumed at a later date in 1948 with the introduction of under-17s. By 1949, 32 teams took part in 3 grades of junior age football. 1962 saw the induction of under-15s to the EDFL and the competition was won by Essendon Doutta Stars, however as a result of fielding an overage player forfeited all their points for the season. In 1967, the inaugural A grade under-13s competition was launched which was a resounding success and resulted in demand for a B grade competition after just one year in 1968.

As a result of World War II the competition went into recess in 1941 with many players fighting in the war, once the war had ended two clubs (La Mascotte and Fawkner District) chose not to resume participation in the competition, despite this, After four years of recess a successful resumption of the leagues activities in this year. A 10 team competition on resumption resumed the success of the pre War Competition.

1949 saw the first split of the teams into two divisions (A grade and B grade) with Essendon Doutta Stars taking out the first ever undefeated season and Glenroy winning the inaugural B grade competition. Later in 1961, C grade was introduced to help facilitate the introduction of more clubs into the EDFL and was won by Doutta Stars, believed to be a reserve team for Essendon Doutta Stars. However, this competition did not last for long before going into recess after the 1982 season and only returning after the 30-year hiatus in 2012.

In 1961, The Umpires Association (EDFLUA) was inaugurated to help with the recruitment of umpires to officiate games. Despite this the league was consistently short of umpires. Notably in 1990, the season commenced with a desperate shortage of umpires. The problem was solved in the short term by former umpires who came out of retirement to assist the league.

in 1989, then prime minister of Australia Bob Hawke attended the A-grade seniors grand final.

## EDFL Women's[edit]

### History[edit]

EDFL Women'sUpcoming season or competition:
2023

Sport| Women's Australian rules football
Founded| 2016; 8 years ago (2016)
Inaugural season| 2018
No. of teams| 22
Most titles| Aberfeldie, Keilor, Pascoe Vale (1)

In partnership with the Western Region Football League (WRFL), in 2016 the two leagues established the Western Region & Essendon District Women's Football League, an eleven-team open-age competition for women. Five EDFL clubs fielded teams in the competition – Craigieburn, Glenroy, Keilor, Pascoe Vale and Roxburgh Park – with Keilor prevailing against WRFL side Manor Lakes in the grand final.[5]

In 2018, the EDFL established its own Women's competition, consisting of 13 teams. Of those 13 teams, two came from outside of the League – the Ballarat Football League-side Sunbury Lions; and Sunbury Kangaroos, at the time competing in the Riddell District Football League. Glenroy, despite competing in the 2017 joint competition, did not field a side, while Avondale Heights and Taylors Lakes fielded a joint team under the Avondale Heights–Taylors Lakes moniker.

In 2019, the competition expanded to 19 teams and was split into two divisions – a 10-club Premier Division and a nine-club Division 1. Aberfeldie became the first team to field two sides, one in each division.

### Clubs[edit]

Club  | Colours  | Moniker  | Home venue | Est. | Former
league  | EDFL senior seasons | EDFL senior premierships

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

First  | Total  | Total  | Most recent
Premier Division
Aberfeldie |  | Abers | Clifton Park, Aberfeldie | 2018  | —  | 2018  | 5  | 1  | 2019
Hillside |  | Sharks | Hillside Reserve, Hillside | 2018  | —  | 2018  | 5  | 0  | —
Keilor |  | Blues | Keilor Recreation Reserve, Keilor | 2017  | WREDWFL  | 2018  | 5  | 1  | 2022
Moonee Valley |  | Valley | Ormond Park, Moonee Ponds | 2021  | —  | 2021  | 2  | 0  | —
Maribyrnong Park |  | Lions | Maribyrnong Park, Moonee Ponds | 2019  | —  | 2019  | 4  | 0  | —
Oak Park  |  | Kangaroos | J.P. Fawkner Reserve, Oak Park | 2022  | —  | 2022  | 1  | 1  | 2023
Strathmore |  | Mores | Lebanon Reserve, Strathmore | 2018  | —  | 2018  | 5  | 1  | 2022
Westmeadows |  | Tigers | Willowbrook Reserve, Westmeadows | 2018  | —  | 2018  | 5  | 0  | —
Division 1
Burnside Heights |  | Bears | Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve, Burnside Heights | 2018  | —  | 2018  | 5  | 0  | —
Essendon Doutta Stars |  | Stars | Nipper Jordan Oval, Essendon | 2019  | —  | 2019  | 1  | 2  | 2023
Gisborne |  | Bulldogs | Gardiner Reserve, Gisborne | 2017  | AFL Goldfields  | 2021  | 2  | 0  | —
Greenvale |  | Jets | Greenvale Reserve, Greenvale | 2019  | —  | 2019  | 4  | 0  | —
Sunbury Lions |  | Lions | Clarke Oval, Sunbury | 2017  | WREDWFL  | 2018  | 5  | 0  | —
Tullamarine |  | Demons | Leo Dineen Reserve, Tullamarine | 2019  | —  | 2019  | 4  | 1  | 2022
Division 2
Aberfeldie Reserves  |  | Abers | Clifton Park, Aberfeldie | 2018  | —  | 2018  | 5  | 1  | 2019
Airport West |  | Eagles | Hansen Reserve, Airport West | 2021  | __  | 2021  | 2  | 1  | 2023
Coburg Districts |  | Lions | Cole Reserve, Pascoe Vale | 2019  | —  | 2019  | 4  | 0  | —
Maribyrnong Park Reserves  |  | Lions | Maribyrnong Park, Moonee Ponds | 2021  | __  | 2021  | 2  | 0  | —
Moonee Valley Reserves  |  | Valley | Ormond Park, Moonee Ponds | 2021  | —  | 2021  | 2  | 0  | —
Pascoe Vale |  | Panthers | Raeburn Reserve, Pascoe Vale | 2017  | WREDWFL  | 2018  | 5  | 1  | 2018
Sunbury Kangaroos |  | Kangaroos | Eric Boardman Reserve, Sunbury | 2022  | —  | 2022  | 1  | 0  | —
Westmeadows Reserves  |  | Tigers | Willowbrook Reserve, Westmeadows | 2021  | —  | 2021  | 2  | 0  | —
denotes that the club's most recent senior premiership was in Division 1.

Notes: 1 Avondale Heights competed as Avondale Heights-Taylors Lakes in 2018.

## Juniors matches[edit]

The juniors consist of: Under 8s, Under 10s, Under 14s, Under 16s and Under 18.5s. There are also youth girls teams in the junior divisions. There are eight junior divisions at this level and each team listed in the senior section has at least one junior team in divisions 1, 2 or 3 for each age group, however many clubs have more in divisions 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

### Junior Only Clubs[edit]

Club  | Colours  | Moniker  | Home venue | Est. | Former
league  | EDFL senior seasons

|
|
|
|
|
|

First  | Total
Ascot Vale  |  | Panthers | Walter Street Reserve, Ascot Vale | 2017  | —  | 2017  | 7
Coburg |  | Lions | Jackson Reserve, Coburg North | \-  | __  | 2022  | 2
Hume  |  | Bombers | Kalkallo Reserve, Kalkallo | 2018  | __  | 2017  | 6
St Francis  |  | Saints | Oak Park Reserve, Oak Park | 2015  | __  | 2017  | 9

## Notes[edit]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Statement of By-Laws" (PDF). Essendon District Football League Incorporated. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
2. ^ Murphy, Tara (14 March 2016). "EDFL plays its part as women's footy takes off". Brimbank & North West Star Weekly. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
3. ^ https://vuir.vu.edu.au/22310/1/Daniel Eddy.pdf Page 55
4. ^ https://vuir.vu.edu.au/22310/1/Daniel Eddy.pdf Page 48
5. ^ "Keilor WFC vs Manor Lakes WFC". Australian Football. 20 August 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2019.

## External links[edit]

* Official website
* EDFL Records and History at Full Points Footy

* v
* t
* e

Clubs in the Essendon District Football League

Men's|

| Premier Division|

* Aberfeldie
* Airport West
* Avondale Heights
* Deer Park
* East Keilor
* Essendon Doutta Stars
* Greenvale
* Keilor
* Pascoe Vale
* Strathmore

|

Division 1|

* Craigieburn
* Hillside
* Keilor Park
* Maribyrnong Park
* Moonee Valley
* Oak Park
* Roxburgh Park
* Rupertswood
* St Albans
* Tullamarine
* West Coburg

Division 2|

* Burnside Heights
* Coburg Districts
* East Sunbury
* Glenroy
* Hadfield
* Northern Saints
* Sunbury Kangaroos
* Taylors Lakes
* Westmeadows

Women's|

| Premier Division|

* Aberfeldie
* Hillside
* Keilor
* Maribyrnong Park
* Moonee Valley
* Oak Park
* Strathmore
* Westmeadows

|

Division 1|

* Burnside Heights
* Essendon Doutta Stars
* Gisborne
* Greenvale
* Sunbury Lions
* Tullamarine

Division 2|

* Aberfeldie
* Airport West
* Coburg Districts
* Maribyrnong Park
* Moonee Valley
* Pascoe Vale
* Sunbury Kangaroos
* Westmeadows

Australian rules football in Australia

* v
* t
* e

Australian rules football in Victoria

Representative side|

* Victoria

Governing bodies|

* AFL Victoria (metropolitan)
* AFL Victoria Country (country)

Professional clubs|

* Carlton
* Collingwood
* Essendon
* Geelong
* Hawthorn
* Melbourne
* North Melbourne
* Richmond
* St Kilda
* Western Bulldogs

Statewide leagues|

* Victorian Football League
* Talent League (under-19)
* List of Australian rules football competitions in Victoria

Metropolitan leagues|

* Eastern
* Essendon District
* Northern
* Riddell District
* Southern
* VAFA
* Western Region

Regional leagues (major)|

* Ballarat
* Bellarine
* Bendigo
* Central Murray
* Geelong
* Gippsland
* Goulburn Valley
* Hampden
* Mornington Peninsula Nepean
* Murray
* North Central
* Outer East
* Ovens & Murray
* Sunraysia
* Wimmera

Regional leagues (district)|

* Central Highlands
* Colac
* East Gippsland
* Ellinbank
* Geelong & District
* Golden Rivers
* Heathcote
* Horsham
* Kyabram
* Loddon Valley
* Maryborough Castlemaine
* Mid Gippsland
* Millewa
* Mininera
* North Gippsland
* Omeo
* Ovens & King
* Picola
* South West
* Tallangatta
* Upper Murray
* Warrnambool
* West Gippsland

Women's leagues|

* Victorian Women's Football League (1981–2016)
* VFL Women's (2016–present)
* South Eastern Women's Football (2017–present)
* Talent League Girls
* AFL Victoria Youth Girls Competition
* Barwon
* N E Border Female FL

Other leagues|

* Victorian Blind Football League
* Yarra Junior Football League

Defunct leagues|

* Alberton (1945–2019)
* Benalla (1946–2009)
* Benalla Tungamah/Central Goulburn (1938-2005)
* Central Goulburn Valley (1946-1952)
* Federal DFA (1897-1902)
* Federal FL (1909–1981)
* Goulburn Valley FA (1888-1931)
* Lexton Plains (1999–2010)
* Mallee (1997–2015)
* Northern Mallee (1979–1996)
* Riviera (1986–2003)
* South East (2015–2018)
* Southern Mallee (1932–1996)
* Tyrrell (1945–1978)
* VJFA (1883–1932)
* Walhalla (1888-1913)
* Yarra Valley Mountain (1966–2018)
* List of former Australian rules football competitions in Victoria

Principal venues|

* Melbourne Cricket Ground
* Docklands Stadium
* Princes Park
* Kardinia Park

Other articles|

* History (1859–1900)

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