# Heathcote District Football League

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
### Current clubs

| Club | Colours | Moniker | Home Ground | Former | Est. | Years in HDFNL | HDFNL Senior Premierships | HDFNL Senior Premierships |
| Club | Colours | Moniker | Home Ground | Former | Est. | Years in HDFNL | Total | Years |
| Colbinabbin | | Grasshoppers | MJ Morgan Reserve, Colbinabbin | CVFA | 1915 | 1935- | 12 | 1939, 1949, 1950, 1975, 1978, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008 |
| Elmore | | Bloods | Elmore Recreation Reserve, Elmore | EFL | 1882 | 1938-1939, 1948- | 5 | 1954, 1960, 1963, 1985, 2007 |
| Heathcote | | Saints | Barrack Reserve, Heathcote | – | 1967 | 1967- | 7 | 1970, 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, Gunbower | CMFNL | 1995 | 2010- | 2 | 2017, 2018 |
| Lockington Bamawm United | | Cats | Lockington Recreation Reserve, Lockington | BFNL | 1990 | 2001- | 5 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2022 |
| Mount Pleasant | | Blues | Toolleen Recreation Reserve, Toolleen | CVFA | 1889 | 1935- | 20 | 1962, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2023 |
| North Bendigo | | Bulldogs | North Bendigo Recreation Reserve, North Bendigo | BFNL | 1945 | 1996- | 3 | 2015, 2016, 2019 |
| White Hills | | Demons | White Hills Recreation Reserve, White Hills | BFNL | 1924 | 1984- | 2 | 1988, 2024 |

### Former clubs

| Club | Colours | Moniker | Home Ground | Former | Est. | Years in HDFNL | HDFNL Senior Premierships | HDFNL Senior Premierships | Fate |
| Club | Colours | Moniker | Home Ground | Former | Est. | Years in HDFNL | Total | Years | Fate |
| Aloysians | | | | – | c.1900s | 1912 | 0 | - | Folded |
| Axedale | | | | – | 1921 | 1921, 1928-1932 | 0 | - | Moved to Golden City FL |
| Broadford | | Kangaroos | Harley Hammond Reserve, Broadford | RDFNL | 1890 | 1985-2008 | 1 | 1996 | Returned to Riddell District FNL in 2009 |
| Costerfield | | | | – | 1900 | 1905-1947 | 8 | 1912, 1913, 1914, 1919, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1926 | Folded |
| Emu Flat | | | | – | c.1900s | 1906 | 0 | - | Folded |
| Eppalock Weir | | | | – | c.1920s | 1928 | 0 | - | Folded |
| Goornong | | | Goornong Recreation Reserve, Goornong | GCFL | c.1910s | 1947-1951 | 0 | - | Folded |
| Heathcote | | | | – | c.1900s | 1905-1921 | 2 | 1918, 1921 | Split to form Heathcote North and Heathcote South in 1922 |
| Heathcote Blues | | Blues | | – | 1924 | 1924-1926 | 0 | - | Merged with Heathcote Reds to form Heathcote North and Heathcote Rovers |
| Heathcote Centrals | | | | – | c.1900s | 1907 | 0 | - | Folded |
| Heathcote Dons | | Dons | | – | 1934 | 1934 | 1 | 1934 | Merged with Heathcote Ramblers and Heathcote McIvors to form Heathcote North and Heathcote Rovers in 1935 |
| Heathcote McIvors | | McIvors | | – | 1934 | 1934 | 0 | - | Merged with Heathcote Dons and Heathcote Ramblers to form Heathcote North and Heathcote Rovers in 1935 |
| Heathcote North | | | | – | 1922 | 1922-1966 | 8 | 1922, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1964 | Merged with Heathcote Rovers to form Heathcote in 1967 |
| Heathcote Ramblers | | Ramblers | | – | 1924 | 1924, 1934 | 0 | - | Merged with Heathcote Dons and Heathcote McIvors to form Heathcote North and Heathcote Rovers in 1935 |
| Heathcote Reds | | Reds | | – | 1924 | 1924-1927 | 0 | - | Merged with Heathcote Blues to form Heathcote North and Heathcote Rovers in 1928 |
| Heathcote Rovers | | Magpies | | – | 1927 | 1927-1966 | 9 | 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1940, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1951 | Merged with Heathcote North to form Heathcote in 1967 |
| Heathcote South | | | | – | 1922 | | 0 | - | Folded |
| Knowsley | | | | – | c.1900s | 1924-1927, 1946 | 1 | 1946 | Folded |
| Moormbool | | | | – | c.1910s | 1918-1925 | 0 | - | Folded |
| Provincial | | Pros | Weeroona Oval, Bendigo | BFNL | 1945 | 1983-1985 | 0 | - | Merged with Huntly JFC to form Huntly-Provincial in 1986 |
| Pyalong | | | Pyalong Recreation Reserve, Pyalong | – | c.1900s | 1914 | 0 | - | Folded |
| Redesdale | | | | BFA | c.1900s | 1930-1932 | 0 | - | Folded |
| Rushworth | | Tigers | Rushworth Recreation Reserve, Rushworth | GVFL | 1882 | 1965-1998 | 3 | 1965, 1969, 1977 | Moved to Kyabram District FNL in 1999 |
| Stanhope | | Lions | Stanhope Recreation Reserve, Stanhope | GVFL | 1920 | 1976-1994 | 3 | 1976, 1986, 1987 | Moved to Kyabram District FNL in 1995 |
| Tooborac | | Cats | Tooborac Recreation Reserve, Tooborac | – | c.1900s | 1905-1986 | 11 | 1931, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1953, 1961, 1973, 1974 | Folded in 1987 |
| Toolleen | | | Toolleen Recreation Reserve, Toolleen | CVFA | c.1900s | 1919–1920, 1933–1934 | 0 | - | Folded |

## 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 | Suspended during World War I | Suspended during World War I |
| 1916 | Suspended during World War I | Suspended during World War I | Suspended during World War I |
| 1917 | Suspended during World War I | Suspended during World War I | Suspended during World War I |
| 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 | Suspended during World War II | Suspended during World War II |
| 1942 | Suspended during World War II | Suspended during World War II | Suspended during World War II |
| 1943 | Suspended during World War II | Suspended during World War II | Suspended during World War II |
| 1944 | Suspended during World War II | Suspended during World War II | Suspended during World War II |
| 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 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria |
| 2021 | Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria | Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria | Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria |
| 2022 | Lockington Bamawm United (5) | Mount Pleasant | 13.11 (89) – 10.9 (69) |
| 2023 | Mount Pleasant (20) | Heathcote | 12.7 (79) – 9.6 (60) |
| 2024 | White Hills (2) | Leitchville Gunbower | 17.11 (113) – 6.6 (42) |

## Recent seasons

The 2021 season ladder prior to abandonment of season:

### 2021 season
#### Ladder

2021 ladder (cancelled) :
| 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