These 10 country footy leagues are more than 100 years old
A select group of country football leagues that started before the VFL in 1896 have bounced the ball for another season.
World wars, a global pandemic, droughts, floods.
Those seismic events, and more, have been challenges thrown at and overcome by a select number of country football leagues, which have started another chapter in already storied histories with a new season underway.
Founding clubs such as Coachbuilders and Cassilis have come and gone since country football began before Collingwood, Essendon, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Geelong and South Melbourne broke away from the already established VFA to form the VFL in 1896.
But leagues have remained the constant with the Geelong District league founded 145 years ago being the state’s oldest country league.
The great survivors, that are all more than a century old, range from the biggest and strongest competitions, where players fresh the elite level still head when their careers end, to two in the most remote corners of the state.
The Ballarat, Bendigo, Goulburn Valley and Ovens and Murray leagues will forever draw on large population bases for players.
But the same can’t be said for two similarly long-standing leagues on either side of the Great Dividing Range, the Upper Murray and Omeo District.
Towns still with teams in those leagues are shrinking and the Victorian government’s decision to close down the timber industry is the latest curve ball confronting them.
But they’ve shown they are once again up for the fight.
The Upper Murray league on Saturday starts its second successive season with only four clubs.
The Omeo District league began last weekend with a threat to its only junior competition from new minimum age rules overcome in the days leading up to the season starting.
In 2015, former AFL club executive Terry Dillon and Goulburn Valley born and bred former AFL player and coach Chris Connolly started a company to help grassroots clubs doing it tough.
Mr Dillon, who is also a committee member at Cora Lynn, said there was “no silver bullet” to survival.
“It all comes down to people, management and direction and the current landscape is pretty tough at the moment,” he said.
“But somehow a lot of clubs still find a way.
“The introduction of equalisation measures has certainly helped the cause.
“More so the player points system than the salary cap that is hard to manage.
“It has controlled the amount of movement of players and you can no longer recruit 20 players in one hit.
“There are a thousand factors at play in community footy, but a lot of it still boils down to administration and keeping volunteers educated.
“But they are still volunteers and juggle other stuff in their lives, like family and work.
“It’s become a part-time job.”
David Sinclair, who is in his seventh season as O&M league chairman, says even though country football’s operating environment can be challenging, there is still upside to being involved.
Corowa-Rutherglen has defied the odds and returned from a season in recess and North Albury is undefeated after three rounds after many years spent in the doldrums.
“The O & M’s success across its 130-year existence has been underpinned by volunteers,” Mr Sinclair said.
“They’re the backbone and heart and soul of club land.
“For some it’s about giving back to their community.
“But for others it’s just about the enjoyment of being involved, a part of club success and the sense of fulfilment that comes with that.
“It’s sometimes an onerous role, but still incredibly enjoyable that builds lifetime bonds and friendships.”
THE GREAT SURVIVORS
(10 LEAGUES MORE THAN 100 YEARS OLD)
BALLARAT
(Founded 1893)
CURRENT CLUBS
Bacchus Marsh, Ballarat, Darley, East Point, Lake Wendouree, Melton, Melton South, North Ballarat, Redan, Sebastopol, Sunbury
MOST FLAGS
Ballarat 18 (most recent 2008)
LEAGUE LEGENDS
Tony Lockett: Made his senior debut for North Ballarat as a 16-year-old before becoming one of the greatest goalkickers in VFL/AFL history for St Kilda and Sydney.
Jim Gull: Daylesford premiership coach who also kicked 158 goals in a season.
Jarrod Edwards: Four-time Henderson Medal winner from Redan where he won the club best and fairest six times.
BENDIGO
(Founded 1881)
CURRENT CLUBS
Castlemaine, Eaglehawk, Gisborne, Golden Square, Kangaroo Flat, Maryborough, Sandhurst, South Bendigo, Strathfieldsaye
MOST FLAGS
Eaglehawk 28 (most recent 2018)
LEAGUE LEGENDS
Greg Williams: Dual Michelsen Medal winner before winning two Brownlow Medals at Sydney and Carlton.
Tony Southcombe: Eight-time premiership player with two clubs and won the Michelsen Medal twice.
Ron Best: Kicked a record 1624 goals for three clubs including a season best 161 for Golden Square in 1980.
GEELONG DISTRICT
(Founded 1879)
CURRENT CLUBS
Anakie, Bannockburn, Bell Post Hill, Belmont, Corio, East Geelong, Geelong West Giants, Inverleigh, North Geelong, Thomson, Werribee Centrals, Winchelsea
MOST FLAGS
East Geelong 24 (most recent 2009)
LEAGUE LEGENDS
Billy Goggin: Started his career at North Geelong and went on to be a star rover for Geelong, including its 1963 flag.
Ken Hands: Also from North Geelong, Hands played in two flags for Carlton and captain-coached Victoria.
Alan Woodman: Key defender from Bannockburn who played for Geelong in the 1970s and also won two Maskell Medals in the Hampden league.
GOULBURN VALLEY
(Founded 1894)
CURRENT CLUBS
Benalla, Echuca, Euroa, Kyabram, Mansfield, Mooroopna, Rochester, Seymour, Shepparton, Shepparton Bears, Shepparton United, Tatura
MOST FLAGS
Shepparton 27 (most recent 2018)
LEAGUE LEGENDS
Dick Clay: Booted a century of goals and won the Morrison Medal for Kyabram in 1964 before becoming a four-time Richmond premiership player.
Des Campbell: Tasted premiership success with Shepparton United and Tongala and also played 50 matches in two stints with Melbourne.
Ray Willett: Three-time Morrison Medal winning ruckman for Mooroopna after also winning a Michelsen Medal in the Bendigo league.
HEATHCOTE DISTRICT
(Founded 1905)
CURRENT CLUBS
Colbinabbin, Elmore, Heathcote, Huntly, Leitchville-Gunbower, Lockington-Bamawm United, Mt Pleasant, North Bendigo, White Hills
MOST FLAGS
Mt Pleasant 19 (most recent 2023)
LEAGUE LEGENDS
Phillip “Toot” Morgan: Colbinabbin champ who won two Cheatley Medals and played in five flags as well as dominating in the Goulburn Valley league.
Grant Weeks: Champion goalkicker for Colbinabbin either side of a brilliant three seasons at Golden Square and another two at Rochester.
Peter White: Mt Pleasant senior best and fairest winner at the age of 16 and following a short stint with Carlton returned to captain-coach back-to-back flags in 1993-94.
LODDON VALLEY
(Founded 1903)
CURRENT CLUBS
Bears Lagoon Serpentine, Bridgewater, Calivil United, Inglewood, Maiden Gully-YCW, Marong, Mitiamo, Newbridge, Pyramid Hill
MOST FLAGS
Bridgewater 22 (most recent 2016)
LEAGUE LEGENDS
Ken Sheldon: Played more than 30 senior matches for Mitiamo before going onto play in three flags with Carlton.
Ron Ford: Three-time Harding Medal winner for Bears Lagoon Serpentine.
Ian Marlow: Won nine club best and fairests and one Harding Medal in a 282-match career with Marong.
MARYBOROUGH-CASTLEMAINE
(Founded 1907)
CURRENT CLUBS
Avoca, Campbells Creek, Carisbrook, Dunolly, Harcourt, Lexton, Maldon, Maryborough Giants, Natte Bealiba, Navarre, Newstead, Talbot, Trentham
MOST FLAGS
Carisbrook 17 (most recent 2018)
LEAGUE LEGENDS
Darren Rice: Kicked more than a 100 goals in a season for Maldon four times between 1987 and 1991.
Tom Noonan: Won the league best and fairest in three successive seasons from 1962 for Royal Park.
Jamie Elliott: Century goalkicker for Maryborough Rovers who also played at Fitzroy, Richmond and St Kilda.
OMEO DISTRICT
(Founded 1893)
CURRENT CLUBS
Bruthen, Buchan, Lindenow South, Omeo-Benambra, Swan Reach, Swifts Creek
MOST FLAGS*
Swifts Creek 29 (most recent 2023). *Omeo won 34 premierships before merging with Benambra for the 2007 season.
LEAGUE LEGENDS
Barry Pendergast: Benambra ruckman who won nine league best and fairests, 11 club best and fairests and played in six flags.
John Crisp: Twelve premierships and three league best and fairests with Omeo.
Bob Southen: Star ruckman turned goalkicking machine for Bruthen when it joined league in late 1970s.
OVENS AND MURRAY
(Founded 1893)
CURRENT CLUBS
Albury, Corowa-Rutherglen, Lavington, North Albury, Myrtleford, Wangaratta, Wangaratta Rovers, Wodonga, Wodonga Raiders, Yarrawonga
MOST FLAGS
Albury 22 (most recent 2018)
LEAGUE LEGENDS
Haydn Bunton: Debuted for Albury as a 13-year-old before winning three Brownlow Medals and three Sandover Medals.
Rob Walker: Five-time Morris Medal winning key forward turned midfielder from Wangaratta Rovers, who also won 12 club best and fairests.
Jim Sandral: Triple Morris Medal winner for Corowa and also played in Melbourne’s 1956 premiership team.
UPPER MURRAY
(Founded 1893)
CURRENT CLUBS
Bullioh, Corryong, Cudgewa, Tumbarumba
MOST FLAGS
Corryong 32 (most recent 2017)
LEAGUE LEGENDS
Evan Nicholas: Seven-time Corryong club best and fairest and dual league best and fairest winner.
Jon Collins: Began his career with Federal before playing at St Kilda and North Melbourne in the mid-1980s.
Ernest Whitehead: Born and bred Upper Murray star who went onto play and coach premierships in the Ovens and Murray.
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