Biography

**Heathcote District Football League**
General Information
Founded	1905; 119 years ago
Sports	Football (1905–present)
Affiliation	AFL Victoria Country (2012–present)
No. of teams	9
Level on pyramid	2
Headquarters	Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
Most recent champion(s)	Mount Pleasant (2023) ; (20th Premiership)
Most titles	Mount Pleasant ; (20 Premierships)
Related competitions	MCDFL, LVFL, BFL
Formerly
1905–1954	Heathcote District Football Association
1955–present	Heathcote District Football League
Official website
Football	Heathcote District Football League
Records
Highest Score	337 – Heathcote 52.25 (337) ; 1986; (v Tooborac 12.5 77) – 1986
Most goals in a game	26 – Graeme Waight – Stanhope (v Huntly) – 1987; 26 – Ryan Hayes – Elmore (v Huntly) – 2007;
Most goals in a season	130 – Aaron James – North Bendigo – 2009
Most wins in a row	31 – Heathcote 2009–2011
Most losses in a row	34 – Redesdale 1930–1932
Most flags in a row	5 – Heathcote North 1955–1959
AFL Victoria league rank	21 (2018)

The Heathcote District Football League (HDFL) is an Australian rules football league 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

Location

Current HDFL clubs (Greater Bendigo)

Leitchville Gunbower

Lockington Bamawm United

Colbinabbin

Mount Pleasant

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Current HDFL clubs (Shire of Campaspe)

Current clubs

Club	Moniker	Region	Stadium	Est.	First season	HDFL Premierships	Most recent
Colbinabbin	Grasshoppers	Shire of Campaspe	MJ Morgan Reserve, Colbinabbin	1915	1935**	12	2008; 16 years ago (2008)
Elmore	Bloods	Greater Bendigo	Elmore Recreation Reserve, Elmore	1882	1949	5	2007; 17 years ago (2007)
Heathcote	Saints	Greater Bendigo	Pigeon Park, Heathcote	1967	1967*	7	2010; 14 years ago (2010)
Huntly	Hawks	Greater Bendigo	Specialist Breeders Australia Oval, Huntly	1986	1986	0
Leitchville Gunbower	Bombers	Shire of Gannawarra	Leitchville Recreation Reserve, Leitchville	2010	2010	2	2018; 6 years ago (2018)
Lockington Bamawm United	Cats	Shire of Campaspe	Nichol Trading Oval, Lockington	1917	2001	5	2022; 2 years ago (2022)
Mount Pleasant	Blues	Shire of Campaspe	Toolleen Recreation Reserve, Toolleen	1889	1935**	19	2023; 1 year ago (2023)
North Bendigo	Bulldogs	Greater Bendigo	HIBO Hotel Oval, North Bendigo	1945	1996	3	2019; 5 years ago (2019)
White Hills	Demons	Greater Bendigo	Tint-a-Car Oval, White Hills	1984	1984	1	1988; 36 years ago (1988)
** denotes that the club was a founding member of the HDFL * denotes that the club was a founding member of its former league.

Former clubs

Club	Moniker	Region	Est.	First HDFL season	Last HDFL season	Premierships
Axedale		Greater Bendigo	1921	1928	1932	0
Broadford	Kangaroos	Shire of Mitchell	1890	1985	2008	1
Costerfield		Greater Bendigo	1900	1905	1947	4
Goornong		Greater Bendigo		1947	1951	0
Heathcote		Greater Bendigo		1905	1921	1
Heathcote North		Greater Bendigo	1922	1922	1966	8
Heathcote Rovers	Rovers	Greater Bendigo	1927	1927	1966	9
Knowsley		Greater Bendigo		1924	1927, 1946	1
Redesdale		Greater Bendigo		1930	1932	0
Rushworth	Tigers	Shire of Campaspe	1882	1965	1998	3
Stanhope	Lions	Shire of Campaspe		1976	1998	3
Tooborac	Cats	Shire of Mitchell		1905	1986	10

List of Premierships

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^[2]
2021	Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria^[3]^[a]
2022	Lockington Bamawm United (5)	Mount Pleasant	13.11 (89) – 10.9 (69)
2023	Mount Pleasant (20)	Heathcote	12.7 (79) – 9.6 (60)

Recent seasons

The 2021 season ladder prior to abandonment of season:^[6]

2021 season

Ladder

2021 ladder *(cancelled)*^[b]
Pos.	Team	P	W	L	D	PF	PA	%	Pts
1	Lockington Bamawm United	16	12	0	4	1569	463	338.88	56
2	Colbinabbin	16	9	3	4	1204	652	184.66	44
3	North Bendigo	16	9	3	4	1113	807	137.92	44
4	White Hills	16	9	4	3	1245	975	127.69	42
5	Mount Pleasant	16	7	5	4	1169	983	118.92	36
6	Huntly	16	5	8	3	916	945	96.93	26
7	Elmore	16	3	9	4	747	1399	53.40	20
8	Heathcote	16	2	11	3	799	1411	56.63	14
9	Leitchville Gunbower	16	0	13	3	543	1670	32.51	6

Books

History of Football in the Bendigo District – John Stoward – ISBN 978-0-9805929-1-7

References

Notes

^ The season was abandoned prior to the first match of the finals series, with alterations throughout the season. The minor premiers were Lockington Bamawm United, whom had won all twelve matches played.^[4]^[5]
^ All of the postponed matches were logged as draws; teams highlighted had qualified for the finals series before the subsequent cancellation.

Citations

^ "AFL Victoria Community Championships Rankings". AFL Victoria. 16 May 2017.
^ D'Anello, Luke (22 May 2020). "Local footy: Heathcote District Football Netball League cancels season". The Herald Sun.
^ Huntly, Josh (9 September 2021). "Final siren sounds on HDFNL season". The Riverine Herald.
^ Payne, Aydin (31 May 2021). "GVL, HDFNL make changes to fixture amid COVID lockdown". Deniliquin Pastoral Times.
^ Saultry, Meg (20 August 2021). "UPDATE: HDFNL round cancelled due to Shepparton Covid-19 outbreak". The Riverine Herald.
^ "Ladder for 2021 Seniors HDFNL".

External links

League Official Website

[6] The season was abandoned prior to the first match of the finals series, with alterations throughout the season. The minor premiers were Lockington Bamawm United, whom had won all twelve matches played.^[4]^[5]

[8] All of the postponed matches were logged as draws; teams highlighted had qualified for the finals series before the subsequent cancellation.

[1] "AFL Victoria Community Championships Rankings". AFL Victoria. 16 May 2017.

[2] D'Anello, Luke (22 May 2020). "Local footy: Heathcote District Football Netball League cancels season". The Herald Sun.

[3] Huntly, Josh (9 September 2021). "Final siren sounds on HDFNL season". The Riverine Herald.

[4] Payne, Aydin (31 May 2021). "GVL, HDFNL make changes to fixture amid COVID lockdown". Deniliquin Pastoral Times.

[5] Saultry, Meg (20 August 2021). "UPDATE: HDFNL round cancelled due to Shepparton Covid-19 outbreak". The Riverine Herald.

[7] "Ladder for 2021 Seniors HDFNL".

[1]

[2]

[3]

[a]

[6]

[b]

[4]

[5]

General Information

Founded	1905; 119 years ago (1905)
Sports	Football (1905–present)
Affiliation	AFL Victoria Country (2012–present)
No. of teams	9
Level on pyramid	2
Headquarters	Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
Most recent champion(s)	Mount Pleasant (2023) (20th Premiership)
Most titles	Mount Pleasant (20 Premierships)
Related competitions	MCDFL, LVFL, BFL
Formerly
1905–1954	Heathcote District Football Association
1955–present	Heathcote District Football League
Official website
Football	Heathcote District Football League
Records
Highest Score	337 – Heathcote 52.25 (337) 1986; (v Tooborac 12.5 77) – 1986
Most goals in a game	26 – Graeme Waight – Stanhope (v Huntly) – 1987 26 – Ryan Hayes – Elmore (v Huntly) – 2007
Most goals in a season	130 – Aaron James – North Bendigo – 2009
Most wins in a row	31 – Heathcote 2009–2011
Most losses in a row	34 – Redesdale 1930–1932
Most flags in a row	5 – Heathcote North 1955–1959
AFL Victoria league rank	21 (2018)^[1]

Australian rules football in Victoria
Representative side	Victoria
Governing bodies	AFL Victoria (metropolitan) AFL Victoria Country (regional)
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
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 (2017–2023) 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) Ararat (1931-1999) 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) Heytesbury Mount Noorat (1992-2002) 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)