The Kyabram District Football Netball League (KDL) is a minor Australian rules football league in Victoria made up of 13 teams. The KDL is made up of smaller country town football clubs in the Goulburn Valley.
The majority of these towns have a population base of around 1000 people, each of these clubs aims to field four football sides in the Senior, Reserve, Under 18 and Under 15 divisions of the KDFL as well as eight netball sides in A-Grade, B-Grade, C-Grade, C Reserve, 17 & Under, 15 & Under, 13 & Under and 11 & Under divisions,
The KDL season is made up of 18 rounds in the home and away season, with each side playing 16 games, at the conclusion of the home and away season, the top six teams in each division face off in the finals series. The top two teams in this series are assured a second chance at making the Grand Final, however the third, fourth, fifth and sixth placed teams have no such luxury and are eliminated after any loss, this system works to reward the teams who have performed better over the home and away season.
During the season, each club will play eight home games and eight away games, in finals however, venues are designated to different clubs on a cycle. For over a decade the Grand Final has been hosted by Goulburn Valley Football League ground, Mooroopna hosting on most occasions and Tatura being the venue in 2013.
History The original Kyabram District Football Association was formed in 1915 at a meeting at Mate's Hotel, Kyabram from the following clubs - Kyabram Ramblers, Kyabram Rovers, Merrigum, Tongala, Undera and Wyuna, but when several club's pulled out mid season to take up lessons in rifle shooting, by the Kyabram Rifle Club, the season was abandoned, due to the local World War One movement.
The Kyabram District Football Association was formed in 1932, changing its name to Kyabram District Football League in 1960.
The Kyabram District Patriotic Football League was established in 1944 and continued on in 1945 to provide some local football in the Goulburn Valley area and also raised £400 in funds for the War.
In 2021, 18 home and away matches were played in the KDFNL, but no finals series was played due to the COVID-19 situation enforced by the Victorian Labor Government.
Clubs Locations
Current ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in KDFNLKDFNL Senior Premierships Total Years Avenel SwansAvenel Recreation Reserve, AvenelWNEFA1881 1976– 6 1978, 1979, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1994 Girgarre KangaroosGirgarre Recreation Reserve, GirgarreKDJFA1920 1932–38, 1940, 1944-47, 1949- 4 1952, 1976, 1983, 1991 Lancaster WombatsLancaster Recreation Reserve, LancasterKDJFA1910 1932– 111932, 1934, 1935, 1980, 1981, 1988, 1992, 2001, 2011, 2022, 2023 Longwood RedlegsLongwood Recreation Reserve, LongwoodBDFNL1888 2010– 0 - Merrigum BulldogsMerrigum Recreation Reserve, Merrigum KDJFA1902 1933-1939, 1946– 9 1949, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1957, 1986, 1987, 1990, 2015 Murchison-Toolamba GrasshoppersMurchison Recreation Reserve, MurchisonGVFL1881 1964– 6 1964, 1966, 1982, 2013, 2024, 2025 Nagambie LakersNagambie Recreation Reserve, Nagambie GVFL1881 1965– 14 1965, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1975, 1977, 1998, 1999, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2026 Rushworth TigersRushworth Recreation Reserve, RushworthHDFNL1882 1998– 1 2004 Shepparton East EaglesCentral Park Recreation Reserve, Shepparton EastPDFNL1924 1956–1961, 2019– 4 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961 Stanhope LionsStanhope Recreation Reserve, StanhopeHDFNL1920 1933-1945, 1995– 7 1936, 1938, 1944, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2008 Tallygaroopna RedlegsTallygaroopna Recreation Reserve, TallygaroopnaPDFNL1904 1958– 6 1963, 1971, 1973, 1974, 2005, 2018 Undera LionsUndera Recreation Reserve, UnderaCGVFL1888 1940–47, 1953– 7 1947, 1955, 1962, 1968, 1972, 1997, 2009 Violet Town TownersViolet Town Recreation Reserve, Violet TownCGFL1880 2006– 1 2012
Former clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in KDFNLKDFNL Senior PremiershipsFate Total Years Ardmona Bush CatsArdmona Recreation Reserve, ArdmonaCGVFL1920 1957-2021 5 1993, 1995, 1996, 2002, 2006Folded after 2021 seasonCoomaCooma Recreation Reserve, CoomaKDJFAc.1900s1948-1954 0 -FoldedCongupnaThe RoadCongupna Recreation Reserve, Congupna–19561956-1961 1 1956Moved to Benalla Tungamah FL in 1962CoropCorop Recreation Reserve, CoropCVFAc.1920s1936 0 -Folded prior to 1937 season.Dookie United DooksDookie Recreation Reserve, DookiePDFNL19772018–2024 0 -Returned to Picola & District FNL in 2025Kyabram Imperials Kyabram Recreation Reserve, KyabramKDJFAc.1900s1948-195011948Folded in April, 1951.Kyabram SaturdaysKyabram Recreation Reserve, KyabramNGVFLc.1920s1932-1940 11933FoldedKyabram Legion RoversKyabram Recreation Reserve, Kyabram–c.1900s1948-1949 0 -FoldedKyabram ReservesBombersKyabram Recreation Reserve, Kyabram–18861946-19470–Joined senior team in Goulburn Valley FLKyabram Youth ClubKyabram Recreation Reserve, KyabramCGVFL1940s1951-195811954Folded in early 1956MiepollMiepoll, Recreation Reserve, Miepoll CGVFLc.1900s1955-1962 0 -Folded after 1962 season.POW Camp No. 1Camps–19421946 11946FoldedTatura JuniorsBulldogsTatura Showgrounds, TaturaCGVFL189419470Joined senior team in Goulburn Valley FLTongalaBluesTongala Recreation Reserve, TongalaEFL18941936-194741937, 1939, 1940, 1945Moved to Goulburn Valley FNL following 1945 season, reserves remained until 1947WyunaWyuna Recreation Reserve, WyunaPDFNLc.1900s1932-1936, 1946-1952 0 -Recess between 1937-45. Folded in April, 1953.YeaTigersYea Showgrounds, YeaYVMDFL, CGFL 18871986-1997, 2006-2007 0 -Played in Central Goulburn FL between 1998-2005. Moved to Yarra Valley Mountain District FL in 2008.
Football Records
Seniors Most flags in a row 4 – Shepparton East 1958–1961 Most consecutive grand finals 7 - Merrigum: 1947 to 1953 (Premiers: 1949, 50, 51 & 53) Most goals in a grand final 12 - 1953: Les Pell - Merrigum Highest score in a grand final 1967: Nagambie: 24.19 - 163 d Merrigum: 6.3 - 39 Highest overall score Stanhope: 62.30 - 402 d Ardmona 0.1 - 1. Rd. 12, 6 July 2019 Most McNamara Medal / KDFNL best & fairest wins 4 - Rohan Aldous: 1988, 1998, 1999, 2000. Most goals in a game 34 – Craig Whelan: Violet Town: 56.22 - 358 d Ardmona: 2.5 - 17. Rd. 12, 30 June 2012 Most goals in a season 173 – Perry Meka – Ardmona – 1992 Most wins in a row 35 – Lancaster 2001–2002, but lost the 2002 grand final to Ardmona. Most losses in a row Ardmona FC Seniors: 61 2015 - Losses: 5 - From Rd.16, 2015, 2016 - Losses: 18 2017 - Losses: 0 (Ardmona 1sts in recess in 2017) 2018 - Losses: 18 2019 - Losses:16, 2020 - Losses: 0 KDFNL / Ardmona both in recess . COVID-19 2021 - Losses: 4 Ardmona won against Longwood, Rd. 5, 2021. 2121 days since their last win.
Senior Football Grand Finals Seniors YearPremiersScoreRunners upScoreCaptain/CoachVenueGate Kyabram DFA 1932Lancaster 8.6 - 54 Kyabram Saturdays7.7 - 49 W McKenzie Wyuna £2/10 1933Kyabram Saturdays6.11 - 47Lancaster 6.6 - 42 Ross Cooper Wyuna £16/6/6 1934Lancaster 9.4 - 58 Stanhope 8.8 - 56 F Schefferle Kyabram £29/11 1935Lancaster 8.15 - 63Stanhope 5.9 - 39 F Schefferle Kyabram £34/5 1936Stanhope 13.10 - 88 Tongala 11.12 - 78W Buzza Kyabram £33 9/6 11/ 1937Tongala 13.14 - 92 Lancaster 13.14 - 92G Fraser Kyabram 1938Stanhope 10.5 - 65 Tongala 9.7 - 61 Bert PattisonKyabram 1939Tongala 15.9 - 98 Stanhope 13.12 - 90G Fraser Kyabram 1940Tongala 9.11 - 65 Stanhope 4.8 - 32 G Fraser Kyabram £15 6/6 1941-43 In recess > WW2. Kyabram Patriotic FL 1944Stanhope 15.16 - 106Ky Valley 8.15 - 63 A Pattison Kyabram £51/10/- 1945Tongala 18.17 - 125Stanhope 11.9 - 75 K Aldous Kyabram £97 2/6 Kyabram DFA 1946POW Camp No.1 14.8 - 92 Undera 13.10 - 88 Kyabram 1947Undera 10.8 - 68 Merrigum 7.16 - 58 B Tyndell Kyabram "More than £50" 1948Kyabram Imperials12.14 - 86 Merrigum 9.14 - 68 W Connors Kyabram 1949Merrigum 8.15 - 63Kyabram Imperials7.5 - 47 M Turnbull Cooma 1950Merrigum 10.10 - 70 Lancaster 6.12 - 48 Kyabram 1951Merrigum 14.12 - 96 Girgarre 10.6 - 66 M Fitzgerald Kyabram 1952Girgarre 8.12 - 60 Merrigum 4.9 - 33 Kyabram 1953Merrigum 24.11 - 155Kyabram Boy's Club11.15 - 81J Davies Kyabram 1954Kyabram Boy's Club10.12 - 72 Lancaster 10.5 - 65Lindsay DillonKyabram 1955Undera 6.8 - 44 Lancaster 5.7 - 37 Dick OughKyabram £121 1956Congupna 10.10 - 70Merrigum 9.4 - 58 1957Merrigum 10.6 - 66 Congupna 6.6 - 42 1958Shepparton East7.6 - 48 Merrigum 6.10 - 46 1959Shepparton East4.8 - 32 Girgarre 1.7 - 13 Kyabram DFL 1960Shepparton East11.12 - 78Congupna 7.6 - 48 1961Shepparton East 9.4 - 58Undera 7.12 - 54 1962Undera 14.6 - 90 Tallygaroopna 10.9 - 69 1963Tallygaroopna 14.11 - 95 Girgarre 13.16 - 94 1964Murchison 14.14 - 98 Merrigum 3.7 - 25 1965Nagambie 10.13 - 73 Tallygaroopna9.7 - 61 1966Murchison 10.15 - 75 Nagambie 8.15 - 63 1967Nagambie 24.19 - 163Merrigum 6.3 - 39 1968Undera 11.26 - 92 Merrigum 8.13 - 61 1969Nagambie 11.12 - 78 Tallygaroopna5.6 - 36 1970Nagambie 11.8 - 74 Undera 8.9 - 57 1971Tallygaroopna 11.15 - 81 Nagambie 11.8 - 74 1972Undera 9.8 - 62 Tallygaroopna 7.10 - 52 1973Tallygaroopna 15.14 - 104 Lancaster 12.7 - 79 1974Tallygaroopna 19.11 - 125 Ardmona 9.13 - 67 1975Nagambie 10.19 - 79 Merrigum 14.13 - 97 1976Girgarre 17.13 - 115 Nagambie 14.13 - 97 1977Nagambie 16.13 - 109 Avenel 12.10 - 82 1978Avenel 15.13 - 103 Lancaster 9.13 - 67 1979Avenel 20.12 - 132 Undera 7.12 - 54 1980Lancaster 12.10 - 82 Avenel 8.9 - 57 1981Lancaster 13.12 - 90Merrigum 8.17 - 65 1982Murchison 14.9 - 93 Avenel 10.14 - 74 1983Girgarre 12.5 - 77 Tallygaroopna9.17 - 71 1984Avenel 17.9 - 111 Nagambie 12.14 - 86 1985Avenel 20.9 - 129 Nagambie 16.15 - 111 1986Merrigum 24.12 - 156 Avenel 9.9 - 63 1987Merrigum 16.16 - 112 Lancaster 12.6 - 78 1988Lancaster 19.19 - 133 Murchison 13.15 - 93 1989Avenel 13.7 - 85 Girgarre 10.12 - 72 1990Merrigum 15.19 - 109 Avenel 12.11 - 83 1991Girgarre 12.10 - 82 Lancaster 7.14 - 56 1992Lancaster 10.7 - 67 Ardmona6.10 - 46 1993Ardmona 14.14 - 98 Lancaster 13.9 - 87 1994Avenel 23.12 - 150 Merrigum 16.8 - 104 1995Ardmona 13.7 - 85 Yea 9.15 - 69 1996Ardmona 20.6 - 126 Undera 7.6 - 48 1997Undera 18.8 - 126 Ardmona 11.6 - 72 1998Nagambie 10.17 - 77 Undera 8.8 - 56 1999Nagambie 24.5 - 149 Rushworth 10.6 - 66 2000Stanhope 23.11 - 149Nagambie 11.11 - 77 2001Lancaster 14.17 - 101 Stanhope 9.11 - 65 2002Ardmona 21.12 - 138Lancaster 12.20 - 92 2003Stanhope* 15.11 - 101 Lancaster 9.13 - 67 2004Rushworth 19.9 - 123 Lancaster 14.9 - 93 2005Tallygaroopna 9.9 - 63Stanhope 9.8 - 62 2006Ardmona 15.9 - 99Stanhope 14.13 - 93 2007Stanhope 18.13 - 121 Ardmona 4.10 - 34 2008Stanhope 17.14 - 116 Ardmona 10.6 - 66 2009Undera 16. 13 - 109Nagambie 13. 14 - 92Terry Mahoney Mooroopna2010Nagambie 12.17 - 89 Undera 10.14 - 74 Robert Auld Mooroopna 2011Lancaster 17.9 - 111 Rushworth 9.13 - 67 Paul Burnett Mooroopna 2012Violet Town 23.18 - 156 Undera 11.14 - 80 Hayden LamaroMooroopna 2013Murchison 16.19 - 115 Stanhope 12.12 - 84 Steve Reeves Mooroopna 2014Nagambie 18.12 - 120Merrigum 13.7 - 85 Linc Sullivan Mooroopna 2015Merrigum 11.9 - 75 Stanhope 8.2 - 50 Christian BarnettMooroopna 2016Nagambie 17.16 - 118Avenel 15.10 - 100Linc Sullivan Mooroopna 2017Nagambie 21.16-142 Violet Town 13.11-89 Linc Sullivan Mooroopna 2018Tallygaroopna11.18 - 81 Nagambie 9.6 - 60 Kevin O'Donoghue Mooroopna 2019Nagambie 18.9 - 117 Tallygaroopna9.5 - 59 Anthony Haysom Mooroopna 2020 KDFNL in recess > COVID-19 2021Lancaster1st Avenel 2nd Tom Davies & Corey Carver No finals series > COVID-19 2022Lancaster 6.10 - 46 Murchison Toolamba5.6 - 36 Tom Davies Mooroopna 2023Lancaster 19.11 - 125Nagambie 8.12 - 60Tom Davies Mooroopna 2024Murchison-Toolamba13.13 - 91Shepparton East6.8 - 44Brett FoleyMooroopna2025Murchison-Toolamba13.8 - 87Lancaster12.13 - 85Brett FoleyMooroopna2026Nagambie13.14 - 92Lancaster11.19 - 85MooroopnaYearPremiersScoreRunner upScoreCaptain / CoachVenueGate
In 1944 and 1945, the competition was called the Kyabram District Patriotic Football League.
Awards
Football Premierships