Benalla Tungamah Football League Explained

Benalla Tungamah Football League

General Information
Founded	1938 as the Benalla Tungamah Football League^[1]
Name Changes	1967 – Tungamah Football League
	1996 – Goulburn Valley Football League – Division Two
	1999 – Central Goulburn Football League
Folded	2005 after 67 seasons

The Benalla Tungamah Football League (TBFL) was established in May, 1938, from the following North Eastern Victoria, Australian rules football clubs – Benalla, Devenish, Katamatite, St. James, Tungamah and Yabba – Dookie.^[2]

History

The Benalla Tungamah Football League (BTFL) was established in May, 1938, from the following North Eastern Victorian, Australian rules football clubs – Benalla, Devenish, Katamatite, St. James, Tungamah and Yabba – Dookie.

This newly formed league came about when Mulwala Football Club left the Benalla Mulwala Football League to join the Coreen & District Football League in 1938.^[3]

The BTFL went into recess from 1940 to 1947 due to World War II and was reformed in March, 1948.^[4]

In 1951, 12 teams competed in the BTFL.^[5]

Benalla made six grand finals in their seven years in the BTFL, winning three premierships, before Benalla and Wangaratta reserves sides both entered the Ovens and Murray Football League's newly formed seconds competition in 1953.

The BTFL changed its name to the Tungamah Football League in 1967.

In 1996, the league changed its name to the Goulburn Valley Football League – Division Two competition. The GVFL absorbed the clubs from the Tungamah Football League and had a second division for three years (1996–1998).

Then in 1999, the league's name was changed to the Central Goulburn Football Netball League, which lasted until 2005, when club's went into other competitions under the demise of the VCFL. The CGFNL had four grades of football – Seniors, Reserves, Under 17's and Under 14's, plus five grades of netball – A, B, B Reserve, D & E Grade.

The Lawless family donated a medal to the senior football best and fairest winners from 1954 to 2005, across the four different football league names.

Interestingly, Alexandra's George Steiner won three league best and fairest Lawless Medals, one in each of the following – Tungamah Football League – 1994, Goulburn Valley – Division Two – 1996 and Central Goulburn Football League – 2000.

Clubs

Final Clubs - Central Goulburn Football League (1999-2005)

Club	Colours	Nickname	Home Ground	Former League	Est.	CGFL Seasons	CGFL Senior Premierships		Fate
							Total	Years
Alexandra		Rebels	Alexandra Showgrounds, Alexandra	GVFL	1872	1999-2005	1	2000	Moved to Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League in 2006
Dookie United		Dooks	Dookie Recreation Reserve, Dookie	GVFL	1977	1999-2005	0	-	Moved to Picola & District Football Netball League in 2006
Rumbalara		Rumba	Rumbalara Recreation Reserve, Shepparton	GVFL	1997	1999-2005	2	1999, 2002	Moved to Murray Football Netball League in 2006
Shepparton East		Eagles	Central Park Recreation Reserve, Shepparton East	GVFL	1924	1999-2005	2	2001, 2004	Moved to Picola & District Football Netball League in 2006
Thornton-Eildon		Shinboners	Thornton Recreation Reserve, Thornton	GVFL	1957	1999-2005	0	-	Moved to Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League in 2006
Violet Town		Towners	Violet Town Recreation Reserve, Violet Town	GVFL	1880	1999-2005	0	-	Moved to Kyabram District Football Netball League in 2006
Yea		Tigers	Yea Showgrounds, Yea	GVFL	1887	1999-2005	2	2003, 2005	Moved to Kyabram District Football Netball League in 2006

Final Clubs - Tungamah Football League (1938-1995)

Club	Colours	Nickname	Home Ground	Former League	Est.	BTFL/TFNL Seasons	BTFL/TFL Senior Premierships		Fate
							Total	Years
Alexandra		Rebels	Alexandra Showgrounds, Alexandra	YVMDFL	1872	1986-1995	1	1988	Moved to Goulburn Valley Football League (Div. 2) in 1996
Benalla All-Blacks		Panthers	Friendlies Oval, Benalla	BDFL	1934	1981-1995	1	1981	Moved to Goulburn Valley Football League (Div. 2) in 1996
Congupna		The Road, Roaders	Congupna Recreation Reserve, Congupna	KDFNL	1956	1962-1995	5	1963, 1971, 1978, 1991, 1993	Moved to Goulburn Valley Football League (Div. 2) in 1996
Dookie United		Dooks	Dookie Recreation Reserve, Dookie	–	1977	1977-1995	0	-	Moved to Goulburn Valley Football League (Div. 2) in 1996
Katandra		Kats	Katandra Recreation Reserve, Katandra West	CGVFL	1911	1952-1995	13	1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1966, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1992	Moved to Picola & District Football Netball League in 1996
Mansfield		Eagles	Mansfield Recreation Reserve, Mansfield		1881	1977-1995	2	1987, 1989	Moved to Goulburn Valley Football League (Div. 2) in 1996
Shepparton East		Eagles	Central Park Recreation Reserve, Shepparton East	MFNL	1924	1968-1995	6	1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1994, 1995	Moved to Goulburn Valley Football League (Div. 2) in 1996
Thornton-Eildon		Shinboners	Thornton Recreation Reserve, Thornton	BDFL	1957	1995	0	-	Moved to Goulburn Valley Football League (Div. 2) in 1996

Former Clubs - Tungamah Football League and Benalla Tungamah Football League (1938-1995)

Club	Colours	Nickname	Home Ground	Former League	Est.	BTFL/TFNL Seasons	BTFL/TFL Senior Premierships		Fate
							Total	Years
Benalla		Demons	Benalla Showgrounds, Benalla		1871	1938-1939	1	1939	Moved to Goulburn Valley Football League in 1940
Benalla Reserves		Demons	Benalla Showgrounds, Benalla		1871	1948-1952	2	1950, 1952	Moved to Ovens & Murray Football League in 1953
Burramine						1951-?	2	1953, 1954	Unknown
Devenish		Barbers	Devenish Recreation Reserve, Devenish		1884	1938-1939, 1948-1952	0	-	Moved to Benalla & District Football League in 1953
Dookie		Magpies	Dookie Recreation Reserve, Dookie	CGVFL	1887	1949-1976	2	1962, 1965	Merged with Dookie College to form Dookie United in 1977
Dookie College	Navy Blue and Red		Dookie College	CGVFL	1946	1953-1976	1	1970	Merged with Dookie to form Dookie United in 1977
Dookie Yabba					1932	1938-1939	0	-	Moved to Goulburn Valley Football League in 1940
Invergordon			Invergordon Recreation Reserve, Invergordon			1952	0	-	Unknown
Katamatite		Tigers	Katamatite Recreation Reserve, Katamatite	PDFNL	1891	1938-1939, 1956-1994	1	1979	Moved to Picola & District Football Netball League in 1995
Mulwala		Lions	Lonsdale Reserve, Mulwala		1882	1949-1986	3	1959, 1968, 1969	Moved to Murray Football Netball League in 1987
North Wangaratta		Hawks	North Wangaratta Sports Reserve, North Wangaratta	OKFNL	1892	1951-1952	0	-	Moved to Benalla & District Football League in 1953
St. James					1880s	1938-1939, 1948-1955	2	1948, 1949	Merged with Devenish to form St. James-Devenish United in 1956
Tungamah		Hoppers	Tungamah Recreation Reserve, Tungamah		1882	1938-1939, 1949-1994	3	1938, 1976, 1986	Moved to Picola & District Football Netball League in 1995
Violet Town		Towners	Violet Town Recreation Reserve, Violet Town	EDFA	1880	1950-1977	2	1960, 1961	Moved to Benalla & District Football League in 1978
Wangaratta Reserves		Magpies	Norm Minns Oval, Wangaratta		1875	1949-1952	1	1951	Moved to Ovens & Murray Football League in 1953
Wilby		Saints	Wilby Recreation Reserve, Wilby			1951-1970	1	1967	Folded after 1970 season
Yarrawonga Rovers		Rovers				1951	0	-	Left competition^[6]

Honour Board

Benalla – Tungamah Football League

• 1938 to 1966.
• Senior Football

Year	Premiers	Score	Runners Up	Score	Venue	Most Goals	Club	Comments
1938	Tungamah	11.12 – 78	Benalla 1sts	9.8 – 62	St. James			^[7]
1939	Benalla 1sts	15.16 – 106	Dookie Yabba	6.13 – 49	Devenish			^[8] Undefeated Premiers
1940–47	BTFL in recess							BTFL in recess. WW2
1948	St. James	10.8 – 68	Benalla 2nds	2.5 – 17	Devenish			^[9]
1949	St. James	10.12 – 72	Benalla 2nds	7.15 – 57	Devenish			^[10]
1950	Benalla 2nds	8.16 – 64	Dookie	8.13 – 61	?			^[11]
1951	Wangaratta 2nds	21.17 – 143	Burramine	2.3 – 15	Benalla Showgrounds	Ivan Vincent. 120	Wangaratta	^[12]
1952	Benalla 2nds	13.12 – 90	Violet Town	11.16 – 82	?			^[13] ^[14]
1953	Burramine	8.21 – 69	Dookie College	8.2 – 50	Tungamah			^[15] ^[16]
1954	Burramine	11.8 – 74	Dookie College	9.11 – 65	St. James	P O'Kane. 68	Burramine	^[17]
1955	Katandra	14.27 - 111	Burramine	10.9 - 69	?
1956	Katandra	12.11 – 83	Mulwala	7.7 – 49	?
1957	Katandra	11.8 – 74	Dookie College	10.8 - 68
1958	Katandra	9.9 – 63	Mulwala	6.4 – 40	?
1959	Mulwala	12.16 – 88	Violet Town	6.10 – 46	?
1960	Violet Town	6.12 - 48	Katandra	5.6 - 36	?
1961	Violet Town	14.17 – 101	Mulwala	6.12 – 48	?
1962	Dookie	10.7 - 67	Congupna	8.11 - 59	?
1963	Congupna	10.9 – 69	Mulwala	4.11 – 35	?
1964	Congupna	12.15 – 87	Tungamah	8.14 – 62	?			Seniors
	Katandra	6.4 – 40	Congupna	4.3 – 27.				Seconds
1965	Dookie	11.9 – 75	Congupna	7.10 – 52	?
1966	Katandra	9.5 – 59	Katamatite	6.9 – 51	Tungamah

Tungamah Football League:

• 1967 to 1995

Year	Premiers	Score	Runners Up	Score	Venue	Most Goals	Club	Comments
1967	Wilby	11.16 – 82	Congupna	7.12 – 58	Mulwala
1968	Mulwala	13.17 – 95	Wilby	5.8 – 38	Katandra			Umpire: Bill Deller
1969	Mulwala	15.15 – 105	Dookie College	10.11 – 71
1970	Dookie College	13.8 – 86	Katandra	11.11 – 77
1971	Congupna	16.17 - 113	Katandra	14.12 - 96
1972	Shepparton East	13.12 – 90	Katandra	10.13 – 73	Dookie
1973	Katandra	22.18 - 150	Shepparton East	9.8 - 62
1974	Katandra	11.9 – 75	Mulwala	8.12 – 60
1975	Katandra	19.23 – 137	Congupna	10.13 - 73
1976	Tungamah	14.21 - 105	Shepparton East	15.13 - 103	Congupna	Les Parish 89 (105)	Tungamah
1977	Katandra	15.12 – 72	Dookie United	14.17 - 101
1978	Congupna	15.16 - 106	Katandra	15.14 - 104
1979	Katamatite	17.11 – 113	Katandra	14.15 – 99	Dookie
1980	Shepparton East	19.13 – 127	Katandra	13.12 – 90
1981	Benalla All Blacks	20.11 – 131	Shepparton East	13.10 – 88
1982	Shepparton East	18.14 – 110	Congupna	14.12 – 96
1983	Katandra	20.18 – 136	Mansfield	14.13 – 97
1984	Katandra	18.15 – 123	Benalla All Blacks	14.9 – 93
1985	Shepparton East	19.10 – 124	Benalla All Blacks	11.14 – 80		B Frampton: 90	All Blacks
1986	Tungamah	13.11 – 89	Katandra	10.13 – 73
1987	Mansfield	18.7 – 115	Alexandra	11.15 – 81	Dookie
1988	Alexandra	15.16 – 106	Shepparton East	10.10 – 70	Benalla			^[18]
1989	Mansfield	12.19 – 91	Katandra	8.9 – 57		W Armstrong: 59	All Blacks
1990	Katandra	13.9 - 87	Shepparton East	10.17 - 77
1991	Congupna	8.12 - 60	Katandra	3.16 - 34
1992	Katandra	9.13 - 67	Mansfield	9.6 - 60
1993	Congupna	15.12 - 102	Benalla All Blacks	15.7 - 97
1994	Shepparton East	17.13 - 115	Mansfield	16.11 - 107
1995	Shepparton East	20.10 - 130	Benalla All Blacks	12.12 - 84

Goulburn Valley Football League: Division Two

• 1996 to 1998

Year	Premiers	Score	Runners Up	Score	Venue	Most Goals	Club	Comments
1996	Mansfield	21.20 - 146	Shepparton East	2.16 - 28
1997	Alexandra	20.13 – 133	Mansfield	19.12 – 126	Dookie
1998	Rumbalara	21.18 – 124	Alexandra	14.10 – 94				GVFL – Div 2, changed to CGFL

Central Goulburn Football League:

• 1999 to 2005

Year	Premiers	Score	Runners Up	Score	Venue	Most Goals	Club	Comments
1999	Rumbalara	16.11 – 107	Shepparton East	11.12 – 78
2000	Alexandra	12.9 – 81	Yea	8.14 – 62	Dookie
2001	Shepparton East	19.12 – 126	Yea	10.10 – 70
2002	Rumbalara	17.9 – 111	Yea	16.9 – 105
2003	Yea	27.15 - 177	Violet Town	9.9 - 63
2004	Shepparton East	17.10 - 112	Rumbalara	16.10 - 106
2005	Yea	9.12 – 66	Rumbalara	8.9 – 57		B.Firebrace: 62	Rumbalara

- Brackets includes goals kicked in finals.

Tungamah Football League:

• Reserves Grand Finals

Year	Premiers	Score	Runners Up	Score	Comments
1964	Katandra	6.4 - 28	Congupna Road	4.3 - 27
1965	Congupna Road	10.12 - 72	Mulwala	2.13 - 25
1966	Congupna Road	6.11 - 47	Katandra	5.1 - 31
1967	Congupna Road	8.13 - 61	Dookie College	8.1 - 49
1968	Mulwala	3.12 - 30	Katandra	3.8 - 26
1969
1970	Dookie College	16.12 - 108	Mulwala	6.7 - 43
1971
1972	Shepparton East	12.? - ?	Congupna	11.10 - 76
1979	Congupna	12.9 - 81	Shepparton East	9.9 - 63
1980	Shepparton East	14.14 - 98	Benalla All Blacks	9.9 - 63
1981	Benalla All Blacks	12.18 - 90	Mansfield	11.18 - 84
1982	Mansfield	13.14 - 92	Dookie United	9.9 - 63
1983	Mansfield	14.9 - 93	Shepparton East	14.9 - 93	Drawn G Final
1983					G Final Replay
1984	Katandra	9.6 - 60	Benalla All Blacks	8.12 - 60	Drawn G Final
1984					G Final Replay
1985	Benalla All Blacks	12.11 - 83	Mansfield	7.5 - 47
1986	Shepparton East	9.8 - 62	Katandra	7.7 - 49

Tungamah Football League:

• Thirds / Under 17's Grand Finals

Tungamah Football League:

• Fourths / Under 12's Grand Finals

Senior Football Best & Fairest Awards

Benalla Tungamah Football League

• 1938 to 1966
• The Lawless Family Medal

The Lawless Family Medal for the BTFL senior football best and fairest award was first donated in 1954, by John J. Lawless – Senior, with the winner receiving a canteen of cutlery.

Year	Winner	Club	Votes	Runners Up	Club	Votes	Comments
1954	N Elliott	Tungamah	28	Harry Brittain &	Katandra	22	^[21]
				Les Squires	Mulwala	21
1955	Les Squires	Mulwala		R Hood	Dookie College		^[22]
1956	Harry Brittain	Katandra
1957	Jim Clancy	Burramine
1958	Laurie Gleeson	Burramine
1959	Malcom Hughes	Burramine
1960	N Trewin	Katamatite
1961	H Davidson	Violet Town
1962	Jim Clancy	Burramine
1963	Harry Brittain	Congupna
1964	T Donovan	Mulwala
1965	E Donovan	Dookie College		William Saunders	Tungamah
1966	Lance McMillan	Violet Town	20&1/2	Tony Murphy	Katamatite	19

Tungamah Football League

• 1967 to 1995
• The Lawless Family Medal

Year	Winner	Club	Votes	Runners Up	Club	Votes	Comments
1967	Tony Murphy	Katamatite	19	Terry Putt	Dookie	16
1968	Terry Putt	Dookie
1969	Ray Henderson &	Shepparton East
	T Murphy	Katamatite
1970	J Walduck	Dookie College
1971	D Read	Dookie College
1972	V Edwards  &	Violet Town
	Ray Henderson	Shepparton East
1973	Stan Jacques	Shepparton East		Laurie Flanigan	Katamatitie
1974	Stan Jacques	Shepparton East
1975	Stan Jacques	Shepparton East
1976		Tungamah	26	Ross McKellar	Dookie	22
1977	B Cooper	Mulwala
1978	Bernie Lonergan	Katamatite
1979	P J Cooper &	Tungamah
	Andy Alterton	Katamatite
1980		Congupna
1981	P J Cooper	Tungamah
1982	Andy Alterton	Katamatite
1983	Chris Drum	Congupna
1984	John Brunner	Benalla All Blacks
1985	John Brunner	Benalla All Blacks
1986	Gary Cameron &	Katamatite
		Alexandra
1987	Bruce McCormack	Mansfield
1988	Bruce McCormack	Mansfield
1989		Alexandra
1990	G Currie	Benalla All Blacks
1991	G Mifka &	Tungamah
	Andrew Walker	Alexandra
1992	Noel Coutts	Violet Town
1993	John Keady &	Shepparton East
	John Martinello	Benalla All Blacks
1994	George Steiner	Alexandra
1995	S Joyce	Congupna

Goulburn Valley Football League – Division Two

• 1996 to 1998
• The Lawless Family Medal

Year	Winner	Club	Votes	Runners Up	Club	Votes	Comments
1996	George Steiner	Alexandra
1997	Denis Sheahan	Mansfield
1998	Chris Pollard	Yea

Central Goulburn Football League

• 1999 to 2005
• The Lawless Family Medal

Year	Winner	Club	Votes	Runners Up	Club	Votes	Comments
1999	Chris Ludeman	Dookie United
2000	George Steiner	Alexandra
2001	Noel Coutts	Violet Town
2002	Leighthen Briggs &	Rumbalara
	Luke Maher	Dookie United
2003	Matthew Sharpe	Violet Town
2004	Michael Bretherton	Alexandra
2005	Scott Greig	Dookie United

External links

• Tungamah Football League
• Tungamah Football League - Clubs & Premiership List
• It's all over for Central Goulburn FNL. August, 2005
• 1967 Tungamah Football League Premiers: Wilby FC team photo
• 2005 - Last year of the Central Goulburn FNL

Notes and References

1. http://www.footypedia.com/00006151.htm Footypedia
2. Web site: 1938 - Benalla Tungamah FL - Draw. . Trove Newspapers . Benalla Ensign . 21 June 2020 . 10 June 1938. 3.
3. Web site: 1938 - Benalla Mulwala Football League - AGM . Trove Newspapers . The Age . 25 June 2020 . 4 May 1938. 8.
4. Web site: 1948 - League reformed . Trove Newspapers . Benalla Ensign . 21 June 2020 . 19 March 1948. 5.
5. Web site: 1951 - Benalla Tungamah Football League - Draw . Trove Newspapers . Benalla Ensign . 21 June 2020 . 5 April 1951. 6.
6. News: 1952-03-06 . TWO FOOTBALL TEAMS OUT . 2024-07-12 . Benalla Ensign.
7. Web site: 1938 - Benalla Tungamah FL - Grand Final match review. . Trove Newspapers . Benalla Ensign . 21 June 2020 . 7 October 1938. 8.
8. Web site: 1939 - Benalla Tungamah FL - Grand Final match review . Trove Newspapers . Benalla Ensign . 21 June 2020 . 29 September 1939. 5.
9. Web site: 1948 - Benalla Tungamah FL - Grand Final match review . Trove Newspapers . Benalla Ensign . 21 June 2020 . 10 September 1948. 6.
10. Web site: 1949 - Benalla Tungamah FL - Grand Final match review . Trove Newspapers . Benalla Ensign . 21 June 2020 . 23 September 1949. 3.
11. Web site: 1950 - Benalla Tungamah FL - Grand Final match review . Trove Newspapers . Benalla Ensign . 21 June 2020 . 7 September 1950. 2.
12. Web site: 1951 - Benalla Tungamah FL - Grand Final match review . Trove Newspapers . Benalla Ensign . 21 June 2020 . 4 October 1951. 9.
13. Web site: 1952 - Benalla Tungamah FL - Grand Final match review. . Trove Newspapers . Benalla Ensign . 21 June 2020 . 18 September 1952. 10.
14. Web site: 1952 - Benalla Tungamah FL - Premiership Shield . Trove Newspapers . Benalla Ensign . 22 June 2020 . 16 October 1952. 3.
15. Web site: 1953 - Benalla Tungamah FL - Grand Final match review . Trove Newspapers . Benalla Ensign . 22 June 2020 . 24 September 1953. 2.
16. Web site: 1953 - Benalla Tungamah FL - Grand Final match preview . Trove Newspapers . Benalla Ensign . 21 June 2020 . 24 September 1953. 1.
17. Web site: 1954 - Benalla Tungamah FL - Grand Final match review . Trove Newspapers . Benalla Ensign . 22 June 2020 . 30 September 1954. 11.
18. Web site: 1988 - Tungamah FL - Grand Final match review . Alexandra Football Club . Alexandra Standard newspaper . 4 July 2020 . September, 1988..
19. Web site: Sports Extra: Country Football . The Age . 27 November 2022 . 4 . 22 September 1986.
20. Web site: Country Football . Google . The Age . 26 November 2022 . 19 . 14 September 1970.
21. Web site: 1954 - BTFL - Lawless Medal . Trove Newspapers . Benalla Ensign . 22 June 2020 . 2 September 1954. 12.
22. Web site: 1955 - Benalla Tungamah FL - Lawless Medal . Trove Newspapers . The Argus . 28 June 2020 . 2 September 1955. 22.