| Essendon District Football League | |
| Pixels: | 200px |
| Sport: | Australian rules football |
| Ceo: | Andrew Johnston |
| President: | Bernie Shinners |
| Inaugural: | 1930 |
| Clubs: | 37 |
| Country: | Australia |
| Continent: | or |
| Continents: | --> |
| Champion: | (2023) |
| Most Champs: | (20) |
| Most Successful Club: | Essendon Doutta Stars (20) |
| Sponsor: | Strathmore Community Bank |
| Website: | essendondfl.com.au |
The Essendon District Football League (EDFL) is a semi-professional Australian rules football league competition based in Essendon, Victoria, consisting of teams based in the north-west suburbs of Melbourne. Founded in 1930, the men's competition consists of three leagues: Premier Division, Division 1 and Division 2, with 10 clubs in the Premier Division, 11 clubs in Division 1 and 9 clubs in Division 2. Ahead of the 2025 competition, two teams will be relegated from Division 1 to Division 2 to ensure that there are 10 teams across each of the top three divisions.
Promotion and relegation between these divisions occurs, with the lowest-placed clubs in the Premier Division and Division 1 being relegated at the end of each season replaced in their respective divisions by the winners of Division 1 and Division 2 premierships respectively[1] Each men's team also fields a reserves side and an under-18 side that play fixtures mirroring that of the senior side.
Since 2017, the League has also run a competition for women's Australian rules football. In its inaugural year, this was a joint competition featuring teams from the EDFL as well as the Western Region Football League (WRFL).[2] In 2018, 13 teams competed in a single division season, expanding to 19 teams and two divisions in 2019.
The league consists of clubs spanning as far north as Sunbury (East Sunbury Football Club), as far south-east as Moonee Ponds (Moonee Valley), and as far west as Hillside (Hillside Football Club). The furthest distance between two clubs is Moonee Valley Football Club and Sunbury Kangaroos totalling a travel distance of 35.2 km.
A number of junior players from the EDFL play for Calder Cannons in the Coates Talent League due to the geography of being based at Highgate Recreation Reserve, Craigieburn and consequently receiving the majority of players from teams in the Northern and North-West Suburbs. A smaller number of players represent Western Jets, being based at Burbank Oval, Williamstown which receive a number of players from clubs based in the western suburbs of Melbourne.
The league consists of clubs spanning as far north as Sunbury (Rupertswood), as far south as Ascot Vale (Ascot Vale) or Moonee Ponds (Moonee Valley) at a senior level, as far east as Coburg (Coburg) or Fawkner (Northern Saints), and as far west as Hillside (Hillside Football Club). The furthest distance between two clubs is Moonee Valley Football Club and Sunbury Kangaroos totalling a travel distance of 35.2 km.
The league borders the RDFNL to the north and north-west, WFNL to the south and west, and the NFNL to the east and north-east. A number of clubs have transferred to and from these various leagues throughout their respective existences.
The league recruits a number of current players listed on VFL lists from the Northern and Western Suburbs of Melbourne, such as Coburg, Essendon, Werribee, and Williamstown
| Club | Colours | Moniker | Former league(s) | Seasons | Premierships | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | data-sort-type="number" | Total | data-sort-type="number" | Total | Most recent | |||||
| Abers, Gorillas | Clifton Park, Aberfeldie | — | 1948 | 1948 | 75 | 8 | 2018 | |||
| Eagles | Hansen Reserve, Airport West | — | 1961 | 1962 | 62 | 7 | 2022 | |||
| Heights | Canning Reserve, Avondale Heights | — | 1965 | 1967 | 56 | 5 | 2004^ | |||
| Deer Park | Lions | John McLeod Reserve, Deer Park | WRFL | 1925 | 2023 | 2 | 1 | 2023^ | ||
| Cougars | Overland Reserve, East Keilor | — | 1967 | 1971 | 53 | 7 | 2021^ | |||
| Stars | Nipper Jordan Oval, Essendon | VFL | 1946 | 1946 | 78 | 20 | 2015^ | |||
| Jets | Greenvale Recreation Reserve, Greenvale | — | 1990 | 1996 | 28 | 5 | 2013 | |||
| Blues | Keilor Recreation Reserve, Keilor | KBFL | 1877 | 1932 | 88 | 12 | 2023 | |||
| Panthers | Raeburn Reserve, Pascoe Vale | VFL SD | 1918 | 1952 | 72 | 3 | 2011^ | |||
| Mores | Lebanon Reserve, Strathmore | — | 1954 | 1957 | 67 | 9 | 2022 | |||
| Club | Colours | Moniker | Former League(s) | Seasons | Premierships | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | data-sort-type="number" | Total | data-sort-type="number" | Total | Most recent | |||||
| Eagles | D.S. Aitken Reserve, Craigieburn | RDFNL | 1970 | 2001 | 23 | 3 | 2019^ | |||
| Sharks | Hillside Reserve, Hillside | — | 1999 | 2005 | 19 | 1 | 2013+ | |||
| Keilor Park | Devils | Keilor Park Recreational Reserve, Keilor Park | — | 1974 | 1986 | 372 | 3 | 2022^ | ||
| Lions | Maribyrnong Park, Moonee Ponds | — | 1980 | 1980 | 45 | 4 | 2010 | |||
| Moonee Valley | Valley | Ormond Park, Moonee Ponds | — | 1933 | 1933 | 87 | 7 | 2021+ | ||
| Oak Park | Kangaroos | J.P. Fawkner Reserve, Oak Park | — | 1957 | 1960 | 64 | 5 | 2023+ | ||
| Magpies | Lakeside Reserve, Roxburgh Park | — | 2002 | 2005 | 19 | 1 | 2018+ | |||
| Sharks | Salesian College, Sunbury | VAFA, RDFNL | 1999 | 2021 | 4 | 0 | — | |||
| St Albans | Saints | Kings Park Reserve, Kings Park | WRFL | 1947 | 2023 | 2 | 0 | __ | ||
| Demons | Leo Dineen Reserve, Tullamarine | — | 1974 | 1974 | 50 | 8 | 2003 | |||
| Burgers | Shore Reserve, Pascoe Vale South | VFA SD | 1927 | 1954 | 70 | 15 | 2014 | |||
| Club | Colours | Moniker | Former League(s) | Seasons | Premierships | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | data-sort-type="number" | Total | data-sort-type="number" | Total | Most recent | |||||
| Burnside Heights | Bears | Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve, Burnside Heights | — | 2012 | 2014 | 12 | 0 | — | ||
| Coburg Districts | Lions | Cole Reserve, Pascoe Vale | NMFL, WRFL | 1951 | 1981 | 201 | 0 | — | ||
| East Sunbury | Thunder | John McMahon Reserve, Sunbury | RDFNL | 1999 | 2013 | 113 | 0 | — | ||
| Wallabies | Sewell Reserve, Glenroy | — | 1946 | 1946 | 7 | 14 | 2017^ | |||
| Hadfield | Hawks | Martin Reserve, Hadfield | — | 1961 | 1971 | 53 | 4 | 2015 | ||
| Northern Saints | Saints | Charles Mutton Reserve, Fawkner | — | 2007 | 2008 | 16 | 1 | 2013^ | ||
| Kangaroos | Eric Boardman Reserve, Sunbury | RDFNL | 1987 | 2019 | 5 | 1 | 2019+ | |||
| Lions | Lionheart Reserve, Taylors Lakes | — | 1989 | 1993 | 31 | 1 | 2010 | |||
| Tigers | Willowbrook Reserve, Westmeadows | — | 1970 | 1977 | 47 | 1 | 1984 | |||
| Club | Colours | Moniker | Former league | Fate | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | Last | Total | |||||||
| Aberfeldie Park | 1983 | - | 1983 | 1985 | 3 | Result of a merger between Moonee Ponds and Essendon Youth Centre. After complaints from, Aberfeldie Park reverted to Moonee Ponds for the 1986 season. | |||
| All Nations Youth Club | 1953 | 1955 | 3 | Unknown | |||||
| Ascot Imperials | 1946 | 1946 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| Ascot Presbyterians | 1964 | 1964 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| Ascot Rovers | 1954 | 1956 | 3 | Unknown | |||||
| Ascot United | [3] | 1946 | 1949 | 4 | Played as Maribyrnong-Ascot United for 1950 Season | ||||
| Ascot Vale | Devils | 1930 | — | 1930 | 1987 | 54† | Transferred to FDFL at conclusion of 1987 season. Folded in 1997. | ||
| Ascot Vale Methodists | 1946 | 1949 | 2 | Unknown - Played the 1946 and 1949 Seasons | |||||
| Ascot Vale Wanderers | 1937 | 1940 | 4 | Unknown | |||||
| Ascot Youth Centre | 1950 | Unknown | |||||||
| Australian National Airways | 1941 | 1949 | 2 | Unknown - Played two seasons either side of WW2, in 1941 and 1949. | |||||
| ? | — | 1973 | Merged with at conclusion of 1973 season to form . | ||||||
| Batman | 1981 | Changed name in 1981 and now known as Coburg Districts | |||||||
| Broadmeadows | 1946 | 1947 | 2 | Unknown | |||||
| Brunswick City | Eagles | 1948 | 1948 | 1986 | 37 | Folded at the end of 1986 season | |||
| Brunswick Colts | 1950 | Unknown | |||||||
| Brunswick Presbyterians | 1974 | 1974 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| Brunswick Sons of Soldiers | 1936 | 1947 | 2 | Unknown | |||||
| Brunswick United | 1947 | 1947 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| Coburg Amateurs | 1920s | VAFA | 1941 | 1941 | 1 | Folded in 1987 | |||
| Coburg Rovers | 1896 | 1940 | 1941 | 2 | Unknown | ||||
| Coburg Sons of Soldiers | 1937 | 1940 | 4 | Unknown | |||||
| Coburg South | 1941 | 1941 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| Coburg Stars | 1950 | 1954 | 5 | Unknown | |||||
| Corpus Christi | Unknown. Active during 1980s as a junior club. | ||||||||
| Don Rovers | 1936 | 1939 | 4 | Unknown | |||||
| East Brunswick | [4] | Magpies | 1922 | Metropolitan | 1975 | 1982 | 8 | Transferred to YCW Football League, played at Fleming Park | |
| East Coburg | Unknown. Played at McDonald Reserve, Coburg as a junior club. | ||||||||
| Essendon All Blacks | 1950 | Unknown | |||||||
| Essendon Baptist | 1949 | 1950 | 2 | Merged with St John's | |||||
| Navy with White EBSJ [5] | 1951 | — | 1951 | 1973 | 23 | Merged with at conclusion of 1973 season to form . | |||
| Essendon Bombers | 1950 | 1955 | 6 | Unknown | |||||
| Essendon Church of Christ | 1940 | 1940 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| Essendon High School Ex Students | Panthers | 1949 | 1992 | 44 | Played at Aberfeldie Park until mid 1980s then relocated to Buckley Park's top oval. Renamed as North Essendon in the early 1990s then folded a few seasons later | ||||
| Essendon Imperials | 1937 | 1940 | 4 | Unknown | |||||
| Essendon Returned Soldiers | 1946 | 1946 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| Essendon Sons of Soldiers | 1936 | 1936 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| Essendon Stars | 1940 | 1940 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| Essendon Swimmers | 1950 | 1951 | 2 | Unknown | |||||
| Essendon United | 1936 | 1940 | 5 | Unknown | |||||
| Essendon Youth Centre | 1975 | 1982 | 8 | Merged with Moonee Ponds to become Aberfeldie Park. | |||||
| Fairbairn Rovers | 1950 | 1950 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| Fairbairn Socials | 1938 | 1938 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| Fawkner Districts | 1937 | 1952 | 10 | Club played until EDFL suspended competition due to WW2 in 1942. They reformed when the EDFL resumed in 1946, changing their name from Fawkner Districts to Fawkner. | |||||
| Flemington/Kensington | 1930 | 1938 | 9 | Unknown | |||||
| Footscray Technical College | 1963 | 1963 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| Gisborne (Women's team only) | Bulldogs | 2017 | AFL Goldfields | 2021 | 2023 | 3 | In recess | ||
| Gladstone Park | 1978 | 1997 | 20 | Transferred to WRFL, folded in 2007 | |||||
| Glenbervie | 1952 | 1955 | 4 | Unknown | |||||
| Jacana | Jaguars | 1961 | RDFNL | 2001 | 2022 | 22 | Went into recess prior to 2023 season following poor performances throughout the 2022 Division 2 season | ||
| Kensington Methodists | 1930 | 1930 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| Knox Presbyterians | 1949 | 1949 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| La Mascotte | 1938 | 1941 | 4 | Club played until EDFL suspended competition due to WW2 in 1942. They did not reform when the EDFL resumed in 1946. | |||||
| Lincoln Rovers | 1949 | 1949 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| Lincoln Stars | 1950 | Unknown | |||||||
| Lincoln Tigers | 1950 | 1951 | 2 | Unknown | |||||
| Maribyrnong-Ascot United | 1950 | 1950 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| Marrows | 1950 | 1957 | 8 | Unknown | |||||
| Meadow Heights | Kangaroos | 1997 | Folded early 2000s | ||||||
| Monash Rovers | 1950 | 1951 | 2 | Unknown | |||||
| Imperials | 1946 | — | 1946 | 1979 | 34 | Merged with at conclusion of 1979 season to form . | |||
| Moonee Ponds | 1978 | 1982 | 5 | Moonee Ponds YCW entered the EDFL in 1978, playing as Moonee Ponds. In 1983 they merged with Essendon Youth Centre and became Aberfeldie Park. After complaints from, Aberfeldie Park reverted to Moonee Ponds in 1986. | |||||
| EDFL | 1986 | 1989 | 4 | ||||||
| North Coburg1 | Saints | 1947 | — | 1978 | 2007 | 30 | Began as St Olivers JFC in 1947 with a Senior club forming in 1978. Renamed North Coburg in 1990. Played at Hosken Reserve until they merged with Fawkner Park at conclusion of 2007 season to form and moved to Charles Mutton Reserve. | ||
| North Essendon Methodists | 1949 | Unknown | |||||||
| Northern Juniors | 1930 | 1930 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| Northern Rovers | 1941 | 1941 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| Old Coburgians | 1940 | 1940 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| Bombers | 1968 | — | 1968 | 1969 | 1 | Transferred to FDFL at conclusion of 1982 season. Currently competes in VAFA. | |||
| VAFA | 1972 | 1982 | 11 | ||||||
| Raeburn | 1952 | VFL Sub District | 1952 | 1953 | 2 | changed their name to Raeburn to enter the EDFL and played under that name for two seasons. They reverted to Pascoe Vale from 1954 onward. | |||
| Regal Sports | 1934 | 1934 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| Stars | 1946 | — | 1946 | 1979 | 34 | Merged with at conclusion of 1979 season to form . | |||
| Royal Park | 1979 | 1980 | 2 | Unknown | |||||
| South Kensington | 1931 | 1931 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| St Andrews | Saints | 1980 | 1985 | 5 | Played at Brearley Reserve, Pascoe Vale South in the EDFL. Left EDFL after 1985 season for VAFA. Moved to DVFL in 1995 and folded after the 1996 season. | ||||
| St Christophers | Maroon and Blue | 1974 | 1976 | 3 | Unknown. Played at school oval in Airport West. | ||||
| St Davids | 1952 | Unknown | |||||||
| St Francis | Unknown. Senior Club folded, Junior Club still active. Played at Oak Park Reserve. | ||||||||
| St Johns | 1930 | 1930 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| St Monicas CYMS | 1937 | 1938 | 2 | Unknown | |||||
| St Patricks | 1938 | 1938 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| St Pauls | 1947 | 1947 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| Strathmore Stars | 1954 | 1954 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| Vespa | Purple and Gold | 1959 | 1961 | 3 | Unknown | ||||
| West Brunswick | 1949 | 1958 | 10 | Transferred to VAFA | |||||
| West Coburg Amateurs | 1959 | 1959 | 1 | Unknown | |||||
| West Moreland | 1937 | 1940 | 4 | Unknown | |||||
| Woodlands | [6] | 1930 | 1934 | 4 | Unknown. They 'played at the Holmes Road reserve, which was located in the parkland at the end of Holmes Road in Moonee Ponds'[7] | ||||
Aside from the clubs mentioned in the table above, the EDFL 75th Anniversary History Book [8] also listed the following clubs as having been affiliated with the EDFL between 1930 to 2005
| Reserves | ||||||
| Year | Premier Division (A Grade) | Division 1 (B Grade) | Division 2 (C Grade) | Premier Division (A Grade) | Division 1 (B Grade) | Division 2 (C Grade) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Keilor | Deer Park | Oak Park | Strathmore | Hillside | Northern Saints |
| 2022 | Strathmore | Airport West | Keilor Park | Keilor | Airport West | Keilor Park |
| 2021 | Strathmore | East Keilor | Moonee Valley | Keilor | East Keilor | Moonee Valley |
| 2020 | Competition not held due to COVID-19 | |||||
| 2019 | Keilor | Craigieburn | Sunbury Kangaroos | Aberfeldie | Hillside | Sunbury Kangaroos |
| 2018 | Aberfeldie | Airport West | Roxburgh Park | Greenvale | Airport West | Moonee Valley |
| 2017 | Aberfeldie | Glenroy | Jacana | Greenvale | Taylors Lakes | Roxburgh Park |
| 2016 | Keilor | Craigieburn | East Keilor | Keilor | Taylors Lakes | Roxburgh Park |
| 2015 | Aberfeldie | Essendon Doutta Stars | Hadfield | Keilor | Taylors Lakes | Coburg Districts |
| 2014 | Strathmore | West Coburg | East Keilor | Greenvale | Taylors Lakes | Moonee Valley |
| 2013 | Greenvale | Northern Saints | Hillside | Greenvale | West Coburg | Hillside |
| 2012 | Greenvale | Airport West | East Keilor | Greenvale | Airport West | Hillside |
| 2011 | Strathmore | Pascoe Vale | Competition in recess | Oak Park | Airport West | Competition in recess |
| 2010 | Maribyrnong Park | Taylors Lakes | Greenvale | Pascoe Vale | ||
| 2009 | Maribyrnong Park | Oak Park | Aberfeldie | Airport West | ||
| 2008 | Keilor | Glenroy | Keilor | Taylors Lakes | ||
| 2007 | Greenvale | Maribyrnong Park | Greenvale | Maribyrnong Park | ||
| 2006 | Strathmore | West Coburg | Essendon Doutta Stars | Maribyrnong Park | ||
| 2005 | Strathmore | Craigieburn | Keilor | Craigieburn | ||
| 2004 | Greenvale | Avondale Heights | Oak Park | West Coburg | ||
| 2003 | Oak Park | Tullamarine | Oak Park | Westmeadows | ||
| 2002 | Oak Park | Greenvale | Oak Park | Craigieburn | ||
| 2001 | Keilor | Keilor Park | Keilor | Pascoe Vale | ||
| 2000 | Keilor | West Coburg | Keilor | Pascoe Vale | ||
| 1999 | Doutta Stars | Moonee Valley | Keilor | Moonee Valley | ||
| 1998 | Strathmore | Doutta Stars | Strathmore | Essendon Doutta Stars | ||
| 1997 | Keilor | Glenroy | Strathmore | Hadfield | ||
| 1996 | Keilor | West Coburg | Strathmore | Pascoe Vale | ||
| 1995 | Keilor | Aberfeldie | Keilor | Pascoe Vale | ||
| 1994 | East Keilor | Moonee Valley | Oak Park | Essendon Doutta Stars | ||
| 1993 | Airport West | Tullamarine | Airport West | North Coburg Saints | ||
| 1992 | Airport West | East Keilor | Oak Park | Tullamarine | ||
| 1991 | Essendon Doutta Stars | West Coburg | Essendon Doutta Stars | Tullamarine | ||
| 1990 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Keilor Park | Keilor | Keilor Park | ||
| 1989 | Strathmore | Hadfield | Keilor | Tullamarine | ||
| 1988 | Keilor | Pascoe Vale | Essendon Doutta Stars | Hadfield | ||
| 1987 | Avondale Heights | West Coburg | Keilor | West Coburg | ||
| 1986 | Glenroy | Moonee Valley | Strathmore | Tullamarine | ||
| 1985 | Keilor | Airport West | Strathmore | Moonee Valley | ||
| 1984 | Strathmore | Westmeadows | Strathmore | Ascot Vale | ||
| 1983 | Glenroy | Oak Park | Strathmore | Oak Park | ||
| 1982 | Glenroy | Aberfeldie | Gladstone Park | Glenroy | Oak Park | Essendon High School Ex-Students |
| 1981 | Strathmore | Tullamarine | Essendon Youth Centre | West Coburg | Aberfeldie | Gladstone Park |
| 1980 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Glenroy | Brunswick City7 | West Coburg | Glenroy | St Andrews |
| 1979 | Essendon Tullamarine | Hadfield | Moonee Ponds | Essendon Doutta Stars | Oak Park | Competition not yet formed |
| 1978 | Essendon Tullamarine | East Keilor | Brunswick City7 | Pascoe Vale | Oak Park | |
| 1977 | Essendon Tullamarine | Ascot Vale | West Coburg | Aberfeldie | Ascot Vale | |
| 1976 | Essendon Tullamarine | Avondale Heights | Old Essendon Gramarians6 | Airport West | Ascot Vale | |
| 1975 | Essendon Tullamarine | Moonee Valley | Essendon Youth Centre | Aberfeldie | Oak Park | |
| 1974 | Aberfeldie | Glenroy | Brunswick Presbyterians | Strathmore | Glenroy | |
| 1973 | Keilor | Strathmore | Tullamarine Ascot Presbyterians1 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Brunswick City7 | |
| 1972 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Ascot Vale1 | Riverside Stars4 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Competition not yet formed | |
| 1971 | West Coburg | Strathmore | Hadfield | Essendon Baptist St John's 1 | ||
| 1970 | West Coburg | Broadmeadows | Moonee Valley | Pascoe Vale | ||
| 1969 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Ascot Vale1 | St. Davids | Pascoe Vale | ||
| 1968 | West Coburg | Keilor | Batman5 | West Coburg | ||
| 1967 | West Coburg | Strathmore | Riverside Stars4 | Pascoe Vale | ||
| 1966 | Glenroy | West Coburg | Ascot Youth Centre | Competition not yet formed | ||
| 1965 | West Coburg | Essendon High School Ex-Students | Essendon Baptist St John's1 | |||
| 1964 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Ascot Vale Presbyterians | Pascoe Vale | |||
| 1963 | Essendon Doutta Stars | West Coburg | Glenroy | |||
| 1962 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Broadmeadows | Moonee Imperials4 | |||
| 1961 | Essendon Doutta Stars | North Essendon Methodists | Doutta Stars | |||
| 1960 | Moonee Imperials | Essendon High School Ex-Students | Competition not yet formed | |||
| 1959 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Aberfeldie | ||||
| 1958 | Essendon Baptist St John's1 | West Coburg | ||||
| 1957 | Essendon Doutta Stars | North Essendon Methodists | ||||
| 1956 | Brunswick City7 | Essendon Baptist St John's1 | ||||
| 1955 | Moonee Imperials4 | Lincoln Stars | ||||
| 1954 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Brunswick7 | ||||
| 1953 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Aberfeldie | ||||
| 1952 | Moonee Valley | St Davids | ||||
| 1951 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Glenroy | ||||
| 1950 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Lincoln Tigers | ||||
| 1949 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Glenroy | ||||
| 1948 | Essendon Doutta Stars | Competition not yet formed | ||||
| 1947 | Ascot Vale United1 | |||||
| 1946 | Ascot Vale United1 | |||||
| 1945 | Competition not held due to World War II | |||||
| 1944 | ||||||
| 1943 | ||||||
| 1942 | ||||||
| 1941 | La Mascotte3 | |||||
| 1940 | Ascot Vale1 | |||||
| 1939 | La Mascotte3 | |||||
| 1938 | Ascot Vale1 | |||||
| 1937 | Ascot Vale1 | |||||
| 1936 | Ascot Vale1 | |||||
| 1935 | Ascot Vale1 | |||||
| 1934 | Woodland2 | |||||
| 1933 | Ascot Vale1 | |||||
| 1932 | Woodland2 | |||||
| 1931 | Woodland2 | |||||
| 1930 | Essendon Baptist St John's1 | |||||
The EDFL was first formed in 1930 at the instigation of the Essendon Football Club to increase the pool of local talent available for recruitment. Consequently, the league has consistently had positive ties with Essendon Football Club which can also be seen with the use of former Essendon home ground Essendon Football Ground, now known as Windy Hill as the headquarters of the EDFL since 1958 and hosting training for umpires of the league and occasional use of the ground for home and away season matches as well as being a commonly featuring ground for men's grand finals.
The first season in 1930 consisted of eight clubs, Ascot Vale, Flemington and Kensington, St John's, Kensington Methodist, Essendon High School Old Boys, Northern Juniors, West Essendon and Woodlands. None of the original foundation clubs exist in their current state as a result of participating in mergers or folding since. The completion of the season saw Les Rennie recruited by Essendon, the first successful recruitment of a player from the EDFL, he went on to play for Essendon throughout the 1931 VFL season. Later, in 1933 the great Dick Reynolds, one of just four players to have won three Brownlow Medals was recruited from Woodlands in the EDFL and began his successful 320 game career with Essendon.
In 1936, the first juniors competition was launched which contained a solitary under 16s division, once more at the instigation of the Essendon Football Club however this was abandoned and resumed at a later date in 1948 with the introduction of under-17s. By 1949, 32 teams took part in 3 grades of junior age football. 1962 saw the induction of under-15s to the EDFL and the competition was won by Essendon Doutta Stars, however as a result of fielding an overage player forfeited all their points for the season. In 1967, the inaugural A grade under-13s competition was launched which was a resounding success and resulted in demand for a B grade competition after just one year in 1968.
As a result of World War II the competition went into recess in 1941 with many players fighting in the war, once the war had ended two clubs (La Mascotte and Fawkner District) chose not to resume participation in the competition, despite this, After four years of recess a successful resumption of the leagues activities in this year. A 10 team competition on resumption resumed the success of the pre War Competition.
1949 saw the first split of the teams into two divisions (A grade and B grade) with Essendon Doutta Stars taking out the first ever undefeated season and Glenroy winning the inaugural B grade competition. Later in 1961, C grade was introduced to help facilitate the introduction of more clubs into the EDFL and was won by Doutta Stars, believed to be a reserve team for Essendon Doutta Stars. However, this competition did not last for long before going into recess after the 1982 season and only returning after the 30-year hiatus in 2012.
In 1961, The Umpires Association (EDFLUA) was inaugurated to help with the recruitment of umpires to officiate games. Despite this the league was consistently short of umpires. Notably in 1990, the season commenced with a desperate shortage of umpires. The problem was solved in the short term by former umpires who came out of retirement to assist the league.
in 1989, then prime minister of Australia Bob Hawke attended the A-grade seniors grand final.
| EDFL Women's | |
| Upcoming Season: | 2023 |
| Sport: | Women's Australian rules football |
| Inaugural: | 2018 |
| Teams: | 22 |
| Countries: | --> |
| Continent: | or |
| Continents: | --> |
| Most Champs: | ,, (1) |
In partnership with the Western Region Football League (WRFL), in 2016 the two leagues established the Western Region & Essendon District Women's Football League, an eleven-team open-age competition for women. Five EDFL clubs fielded teams in the competition –,,, and – with prevailing against WRFL side Manor Lakes in the grand final.[9]
In 2018, the EDFL established its own Women's competition, consisting of 13 teams. Of those 13 teams, two came from outside of the League – the Ballarat Football League-side ; and, at the time competing in the Riddell District Football League., despite competing in the 2017 joint competition, did not field a side, while and fielded a joint team under the Avondale Heights–Taylors Lakes moniker.
In 2019, the competition expanded to 19 teams and was split into two divisions – a 10-club Premier Division and a nine-club Division 1. became the first team to field two sides, one in each division.
| Club | Colours | Moniker | Former league | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | Total | Total | Most recent | |||||||
| Premier Division | ||||||||||
| Abers | Clifton Park, Aberfeldie | 2018 | — | 2018 | 5 | 1 | 2019 | |||
| Stars | Nipper Jordan Oval, Essendon | 2019 | — | 2019 | 1 | 2 | 2023 | |||
| Sharks | Hillside Reserve, Hillside | 2018 | — | 2018 | 5 | 0 | — | |||
| Blues | Keilor Recreation Reserve, Keilor | 2017 | 2018 | 5 | 1 | 2022 | ||||
| Valley | Ormond Park, Moonee Ponds | 2021 | — | 2021 | 2 | 0 | — | |||
| Lions | Maribyrnong Park, Moonee Ponds | 2019 | — | 2019 | 4 | 0 | — | |||
| Oak Park | Kangaroos | J.P. Fawkner Reserve, Oak Park | 2022 | — | 2022 | 1 | 1 | 2023 | ||
| Tigers | Willowbrook Reserve, Westmeadows | 2018 | — | 2018 | 5 | 0 | — | |||
| Division 1 | ||||||||||
| Airport West | Eagles | Hansen Reserve, Airport West | 2021 | __ | 2021 | 2 | 1 | 2023 | ||
| Bears | Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve, Burnside Heights | 2018 | — | 2018 | 5 | 0 | — | |||
| Jets | Greenvale Reserve, Greenvale | 2019 | — | 2019 | 4 | 0 | — | |||
| Keilor Park | Devils | Keilor Park Recreational Reserve, Keilor Park | 2018 | — | 2018 | 3 | — | — | ||
| /Pascoe Vale | Mores | Boeing Reserve, Strathmore Heights | 2018 | — | 2018 | 5 | 1 | 2022 | ||
| Demons | Leo Dineen Reserve, Tullamarine | 2019 | — | 2019 | 4 | 1 | 2022 | |||
| Division 2 | ||||||||||
| Lions | Cole Reserve, Pascoe Vale | 2019 | — | 2019 | 4 | 0 | — | |||
| East Sunbury | Thunder | John McMahon Reserve, Sunbury | 2024 | — | 2024 | 1 | — | — | ||
| Wallabies | Sewell Reserve, Glenroy | 2023 | — | 2024 | 1 | — | — | |||
| Magpies | Lakeside Reserve, Roxburgh Park | 2017 | 2018 | 3 | — | — | ||||
| Lions | Clarke Oval, Sunbury | 2017 | 2018 | 5 | 0 | — | ||||
| Sunbury Kangaroos | Kangaroos | Eric Boardman Reserve, Sunbury | 2022 | — | 2022 | 1 | 0 | — | ||
| Lions | Lionheart Reserve, Taylors Lakes | 2024 | — | 2024 | 1 | — | — | |||
| denotes that the club's most recent senior premiership was in Division 1. Notes:1 competed as Avondale Heights- in 2018. | ||||||||||
The juniors consist of: Under 8s, Under 10s, Under 14s, Under 16s and Under 18.5s. There are also youth girls teams in the junior divisions. There are eight junior divisions at this level and each team listed in the senior section has at least one junior team in divisions 1, 2 or 3 for each age group, however many clubs have more in divisions 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
| Club | Colours | Moniker | Former league | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | Total | |||||||
| Ascot Vale | Panthers | Walter Street Reserve, Ascot Vale | 2017 | - | 2017 | 8 | ||
| Coburg | Lions | Jackson Reserve, Coburg North | 1891 | - | 2022 | 3 | ||
| Dallas | Jacana Reserve, Jacana | 2024 | - | 2024 | 1 | |||
| Hume | Bombers | Kalkallo Reserve, Kalkallo | 2018 | - | 2017 | 7 | ||
| Merrifield | Panthers | Merrifield Recreation Reserve, Mickleham | 2024 | - | 2024 | 1 | ||
| St Francis | Saints | Oak Park Reserve, Oak Park | 2015 | - | 2017 | 10 | ||