Riddell District Football Netball League

The Riddell District Football Netball League is an Australian rules football and netball league in Victoria, Australia. The RDFNL covers towns in the Macedon Ranges and an area from Melton in the south to Kyneton and Lancefield in the north.
The league also runs junior competitions from Under 9 to Under 17 age groups.

𝕏 rdfnl FB RDFNL

Brief history

1910s

The Riddell District Football Association was formed in May 1912 from the following clubs: New Gisborne, Riddell, and Sunbury. Riddell FC won the 1912 premiership and the Raftis Trophy.

1920s

In September 1925, the Riddell DFA hosted the St. Kilda Reserves side in a match at Riddell, with St. Kilda: 15.13 - 103 defeating Riddell DFA: 5.3 - 33
Romsey played off in nine grand finals in ten years in the 1920s, winning seven premierships, while Lancefield also played off in nine grand finals in ten years in the 1920s and into the early 1930s, but won only three of their nine grand finals.

1970s

This decade saw Hesket club go into recess and the introduction of new clubs Craigieburn, Melton and Melton South. In 1975 the league went two divisional, with eight teams in First Division and six clubs in Second Division. Numbers were boosted by the return of Trentham and Hesket clubs. 1977 saw Broadford and a second team from Sunbury join the league. Diggers Rest joined in 1978.

1980s

1985 saw the league return to one division with twelve clubs. In 1987 the league went two divisional again as clubs were admitted from the Panton Hill Football League and North Fawkner from the disbanded YCW league. The league had nineteen clubs.

1990s

By the mid-1990s some clubs were struggling to compete, and clubs went into recess.
The strongest clubs, Darley, Melton, Melton South and Sunbury, left for the Ballarat Football League after 1996 season. This reduced the league to one division again. North Fawkner went into recess after 1998 after the club struggled for years to secure sufficient numbers to field two teams, which resulted in many large defeats many over 30 goals.

2000s

Gisborne decided to play in the Bendigo Football League from 2000. This was due to the fact that Gisborne was by far the strongest club in the league and felt that it needed to play stronger opponents
Macedon went into recess for 2001 and 2002. Due to this it was thought that the league was becoming no longer viable.
Wallan FC left for the Diamond Valley Football League in 2002. After a restructure the Riddell District Football League stabilised.
2008 saw Wallan FC return.
2009 saw Broadford FC recommence in the League.

2010s

Rupertswood joined in full in 2013. It had been fielding juniors for some years. The senior side transferred in from the VAFA.
Kilmore transferred to the Northern Football League in 2016.
Sunbury Kangaroos transferred to the Essendon District Football League from 2019.

2020s

2020 saw Broadford FC transfer to the AFL Outer East League.
2021 saw Rupertswood FC transfer to the Essendon District Football League
2024 saw Kyneton join the senior ranks after crossing over from the Bendigo Football Netball League
2025 will see the Gisborne Giants field senior teams for the first time, as well as the return of Melton South to the league
2025 February 10, the Riddell District Football Netball League voted not to accept the Kyneton Women's Football Club into its league for the 2025 season. It's the third time the club has been rejected.

Clubs

Current Men's Clubs

*No finals were played in 2021 due to lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Wallan finished the season as minor premiers, and the decision was made to award them the premiership as a result.

Football Premiers

;Seniors

1912 Riddell
1913 Sunbury
1914 Woodend
1915 Sunbury
1916-18 WW1
1919 Macedon
1920 Romsey
1921 Romsey
1922 Sunbury
1923 Lancefield
1924 Lancefield
1925 Romsey
1926 Romsey
1927 Romsey
1928 Romsey
1929 Romsey
1930 Woodend
1931 Woodend
1932 Lancefield
1933 Romsey
1934 Gisborne
1935 Romsey
1936 Romsey
1937 Woodend
1938 Romsey
1939 Romsey
1940-45 WW2
1946 Lancefield
1947 Riddell
1948 Romsey
1949 Lancefield
1950 Romsey
1951 Romsey
1952 Lancefield
1953 Sunbury
1954 Woodend
1955 Sunbury
1956 Trentham
1957 Sunbury
1958 Lancefield
1959 Trentham
1960 Hesket
1961 Trentham
1962 Gisborne
1963 Romsey
1964 Woodend
1965 Gisborne
1966 Lancefield
1967 Gisborne
1968 Romsey
1969 Sunbury
1970 Riddell
1971 Kilmore
1972 Gisborne
1973 Melton
1974 Sunbury
1975 Gisborne
1976 Sunbury
1977 Sunbury
1978 Gisborne
1979 Gisborne
1980 Sunbury
1981 Melton
1982 Sunbury
1983 Melton
1984 Melton
1985 Wallan
1986 Melton
1987 Sunbury
1988 Sunbury
1989 Darley
1990 Sunbury
1991 Riddell
1992 Riddell
1993 Craigieburn
1994 Melton South
1995 Darley
1996 Sunbury
1997 Gisborne
1998 Gisborne
1999 Gisborne
2000 Jacana
2001 Kilmore
2002 Woodend/Hesket
2003 Romsey
2004 Lancefield
2005 Riddell
2006 Riddell
2007 Woodend/Hesket
2008 Riddell
2009 Lancefield
2010 Riddell
2011 Romsey
2012 Sunbury Kangaroos
2013 Riddell
2014 Romsey
2015 Romsey
2016 Diggers Rest
2017 Macedon
2018 Diggers Rest
2019 Rupertswood
2020 RDFL in recess > COVID-19
2021 Wallan. Minor premiers. Shortened season > COVID-19
2022 Riddell
2023 Diggers Rest
2024 Riddell
2025 Riddell

RDFL - Minor Premiers

;Seniors
A shield was presented by the RDFA by JW Imms, Romsey to the Minor Premiers, who finished on top of the ladder. Then in 1958, this Shield was changed to the W V Shannon Shield to commemorate Bill Shannon from the Lancefield Football Club.

1948 - Kilmore
1949 - Lancefield
1950 - Sunbury
1951 - Romsey
1952 - Lancefield
1953 - Romsey
1954 - Trentham
1955 - Sunbury
1956 - Trentham
1957 - Sunbury
1958 - Sunbury
1959 - Sunbury
1960 - Gisborne
1961 - Trentham
1962 - Lancefield
1963 - Lancefield
1964 - Woodend
1965 - Gisborne
1966 - Lancefield
1967 - Woodend
1968 - Romsey
1969 - Woodend
1970 - Woodend
1971 - Gisborne
1972 - Gisborne
1973 - Melton

Division Two: Football Premiers

1975 Romsey
1976 Macedon
1977 Wallan
1978 Woodend/Hesket
1979 Craigieburn d Broadford
1980 Riddell
1981 Broadford
1982 Riddell
1983 Woodend/Hesket
1984 Broadford: 19.13 - 127 d Digger's Rest: 15.15 - 105
1985 No RDFL Division Two
1986 No RDFL Division Two
1987 Kilmore
1988 Northern Eagles
1989 Wallan
1990 Riddell
1991 Moomba Park
1992 Wallan
1993 Diggers Rest
1994 Kilmore
1995 Lancefield
1996 Lancefield
1997 RDFL returns to one division

Reserves Premiers

1953 - Lancefield d Kilmore
1954 - Romsey d Gisborne
1955 - Woodend d Sunbury
1956 - Woodend d Romsey
1957 - Woodend d Romsey
1958 - Sunbury: 11.12 - 78 d Woodend: 10.9 - 69
1959 - Lancefield d Woodend
1960 - Woodend d Lancefield
1961 - Woodend d Kilmore
1962 - Lancefield d Woodend
1963 - Sunbury d Lancefield
1964 - Sunbury d Trentham
1965 - Sunbury d Gisborne
1966 - Sunbury: 12.9 - 81 d Kilmore: 9.6 - 60
1967 - Gisborne d Romsey
1968 - Sunbury: 7.8 - 50 d Lancefield: 6.11 - 47
1969 - Gisborne d Lancefield
1970 - Gisborne: 11.10 - 76 d Sunbury: 9.8 - 62
1971 - Sunbury d Kilmore
1972 - Sunbury: 12.11 - 83 d Lancefield: 7.9 - 51
1981 - Broadford: 9.8 - 62 d Diggers Rest: 8.13 - 61
2011 - Macedon: 13.16 - 94 d Sunbury Kangaroos: 7.2 - 44
2012 - Riddell: 9.8 - 62 d Diggers Rest: 7.13 - 55
2013 - Diggers Rest: 10.9 - 69 d Riddell: 8.12 - 60
2014 - Sunbury Kangaroos: 9.10 - 64 d Riddell: 8.11 - 59
2015 - Sunbury Kangaroos: 9.13 - 67 d Diggers REst: 7.7 - 49
2016 - Diggers Rest: 17.14 - 116 d Sunbury Kangaroos: 5.4 - 34
2017 - Sunbury Kangaroos: 11.17 - 83 d Wallan: 8.11 - 59
2018 - Diggers Rest: 6.8 - 44 d Wallan: 2.1 - 13
2019 - Wallan: 9.10 - 64 d Rupertswood: 6.7 - 43
2020 - RDFNL in recess due to COVID-19
2021 - Wallan: 1st - Diggers Rest: 2nd. Minor Premiers > Shorten COVID-19 season > no finals.
2022 - Diggers Rest: 5.8 - 38 d Wallan: 2.4 - 16
2023 - Diggers Rest: 11.9 - 75 d Wallan: 5.7 - 37
2024 - Diggers Rest: 11.5 - 71 d Romsey: 4.4 - 28
2025 - Wallan: 5.6 - 36 d Romsey 3.2 - 20

Thirds Premiers

In 1965, the RDFL Thirds started as an Under 14 competition, then in 1966, became an Under 16 competition.
The Under 18.5 years of age Thirds competition came into effect in ?, while the Thirds competition change to an Under 19.5 years of age competition in 2018.

1965 - Sunbury: 10.4 - 64 d Riddell: 3.1 - 19
1966 - Riddell: 10.20 - 80 d Sunbury: 10.4 - 64
1967 - Sunbury d Woodend
1968 - Woodend d Sunbury
1969 - Sunbury d Gisborne
1970 - Sunbury d Wallan
1971 - Sunbury d Gisborne
1972 - Lancefield d Woodend
1973 -
2002 - Diggers Rest d Kilmore
2003 - Woodend Hesket
2004 -
2005 -
2006 -
2007 - Woodend Hesket
2008 -
2009 - Woodend Hesket
2010 -
2011 - Woodend Hesket: 12.12 - 84 d Sunbury Kangaroos: 8.16 - 64
2012 - Riddell: 14.11 - 95 d Wallan: 10.12 - 72
2013 - Riddell: 8.7 - 55 d Rupertswood: 7.12 - 54
2014 - Rupertswood: 23.19 - 157 d Macedon: 4.4 - 28
2015 - Rupertswood: 25.13 - 163 d Woodend Hesket: 11.6 - 72
2016 - Rupertswood: 19.14 - 128 d Woodend Hesket: 7.11 - 53
2017 - Wallan: 14.14 - 98 d Rupertswood: 5.11 - 41
2018 - Rupertswood: 11.8 - 74 d Wallan: 2.8 - 20
2019 - Rupertswood: 7.8 - 50 d Woodend Hesket: 4.10 -34
2020 - RDFNL in recess due to COVID-19
2021 - Wallan: 1st. Diggers Rest: 2nd. Minor Premiers > Shorten COVID-19 season > no finals.
2022 - Wallan: 14.5 - 89 d Riddell: 9.5 - 59
2023 - Macedon: 17.7 - 109 d Gisborne Giants: 1.4 - 10
2024 - Gisborne Giants: 10.14 - 74 d Kyneton: 7.7 - 49
2025 - Macedon: 6.6 - 42 d Kyneton 5.7 - 37

Football Grand Finals

;Seniors

Year	Premiers	Score	Runners up	Score	Venue / Comments

1912	Riddell	1.8 - 14	New Gisborne	0.2 - 2	New Gisborne
1913	Sunbury		Romsey		Riddell. Romsey did not contest G Final
1914	Woodend	4.7 - 31	Riddell	4.7 - 31	Woodend. Drawn G Final
	Woodend	4.2 - 26	Riddell	1.6 - 12	Woodend. G Final Reply
1915	Sunbury		Riddell		Gisborne
1916-19					RDFA in recess > WW1
1920	Romsey	3.6 - 24	Sunbury	3.4 - 22	Lancefield
1921	Romsey	5.4 - 34	Sunbury	2.2 - 14	Lancefield
1922	Sunbury	3.10 - 28	Romsey	2.4 - 16	Lancefield
1923	Lancefield	7.5 - 47	Romsey	2.9 - 21	Gisborne
1924	Lancefield	8.13 - 61	Macedon	7.4 - 46	Lancefield
1925	Romsey	6.10 - 46	Lancefield	2.13 - 25	Romsey
1926	Romsey	17.11 - 113	Riddell	5.11 - 41	Lancefield
1927	Romsey	8.18 - 66	Lancefield	5.10 - 40	Lancefield
1928	Romsey	9.10 - 64	Lancefield	5.8 - 38	Romsey
1929	Romsey	7.4 - 46	Lancefield	4.8 - 34
1930	Woodend	6.13 - 49	Lancefield	6.11 - 47	Romsey
1931	Woodend	7.16 - 58	Lancefield	7.5 - 47	Romsey
1932	Lancefield	15.6 - 96	Kilmore	10.11 - 71	Romsey
1933	Romsey	10.18 - 78	Sunbury	12.4 - 76
1934	Gisborne	15.19 - 109	Sunbury	7.16 - 58
1935	Romsey	11.10 - 76	Gisborne	7.18 - 60
1936	Romsey	10.11 - 71	Woodend	5.6 - 36	Riddell
1937	Woodend	20.11 - 131	Lancefield	12.11 - 83	Riddell
1938	Romsey	5.12 - 42	Woodend	5.12 - 42	Riddell. Drawn G Final
	Romsey	11.5 - 71	Woodend	7.8 - 50	Riddell. G Final replay
1939	Romsey	9.12 - 66	Lancefield	7.6 - 48	Woodend
1940-45					RDFA in recess > WW2
1946	Lancefield		?
1947	Riddell	15.11 - 101	Sunbury	10.10 - 70	Romsey
1948	Romsey	19.12 - 126	Kilmore	8.23 - 71	Lancefield
1949	Lancefield	11.5 - 71	Sunbury	10.6 - 66	Lancefield
1950	Romsey	9.12 - 66	Lancefield	4.6 - 30	Gisborne
1951	Romsey	7.8 - 50	Lancefield	7.7 - 49	Gisborne
1952	Lancefield	17.18 - 120	Kilmore	15.7 - 97	Romsey
1953	Sunbury	6.5 - 35	Romsey	4.0 - 24	Gisborne
1954	Woodend	10.12 - 72	Trentham	6.5 - 35	Gisborne
1955	Sunbury	11.14 - 80	Lancefield	9.11 - 65
1956	Trentham	15.10 - 100	Sunbury	6.14 - 50
1957	Sunbury	16.9 - 105	Woodend	8.8 - 56
1958	Lancefield	5.7 - 37	Sunbury	4.8 - 32
1959	Trentham		Romsey
1960	Hesket
1961	Trentham	8.9 - 57	Lancefield	7.7 - 49
1962	Gisborne	7.12 - 54	Lancefield	7.6 - 48
1963	Romsey	11.8 - 74	Lancefield	10.14 - 74	Drawn G Final
	Romsey	9.10 - 64	Lancefield	9.9 - 63	Gisborne. G Final replay
1964	Woodend	7.7 - 49	Romsey	3.6 - 24
1965	Gisborne	8.11 - 59	Sunbury	7.10 - 52
1966	Lancefield	10.9 - 69	Romsey	7.8 - 50
1967	Gisborne	14.18 - 102	Woodend	13.15 - 93
1968	Romsey	15.12 - 102	Gisborne	13.8 - 86
1969	Sunbury		Woodend
1970	Riddell	15.5 - 95	Woodend	7.16 - 58
1971	Kilmore	14.12 - 96	Sunbury	12.11 - 83
1972	Gisborne	16.21 - 117	Riddell	12.8 - 80
1973	Melton	10.21 - 81	Kilmore	10.10 - 70
1974	Sunbury
1975	Gisborne
1976	Sunbury
1977	Sunbury
1978	Gisborne
1979	Gisborne
1980	Sunbury
1981	Gisborne	21.21 - 147	Lancefield	10.11 - 71
1982	Sunbury
1983	Melton
1984	Melton
1985	Wallan		Melton
1986	Melton		Craigieburn
1987	Sunbury
1988	Sunbury
1989	Darley
1990	Sunbury
1991	Riddell
1992	Riddell
1993	Craigieburn		Darley
1994	Melton South
1995	Darley
1996	Sunbury
1997	Gisborne
1998	Gisborne
1999	Gisborne
2000	Jacana
2001	Kilmore
2002	Woodend/Hesket
2003	Romsey
2004	Lancefield
2005	Riddell
2006	Riddell
2007	Woodend/Hesket
2008	Riddell
2009	Lancefield
2010	Riddell
2011	Romsey	12.10 - 82	Sunbury	11.14 - 82	Lancefield
2012	Sunbury	12.14 - 86	Romsey	12.11 - 83	Lancefield
2013	Riddell	14.5 - 89	Diggers Rest	12.10 - 82	Lancefield
2014	Romsey	9.17 - 71	Diggers Rest	7.11 - 53	Romsey Park
2015	Romsey	15.19 - 109	Diggers Rest	14.15 - 99	Romsey Park
2016	Diggers Rest	12.14 - 86	Riddell	12.8 - 80	Romsey Park
2017	Macedon	11.14 - 80	Rupertswood	10.7 - 67	Romsey Park
2018	Diggers Rest	9.12 - 66	Riddell	6.9 - 45	Sunbury
2019	Rupertswood	21.10 - 136	Wallan	8.3 - 51	Sunbury
2020					RDFL in recess > COVID-19
2021	Wallan	1st	Macedon	2nd	Minor Premiers. Shortened year > COVID-19
2022	Riddell	14.10 - 94	Diggers Rest	9.10 - 64	Romsey Park
2023	Diggers Rest	16.9 - 105	Woodend - Hesket	9.8 - 62	Romsey Park
2024	Riddell	15.12 - 102	Wallan	11.5 - 71	Romsey Park
2025	Riddell	13.13 - 91	Macedon	12.6 - 78	Romsey Park
Year	Premiers	Score	Runner Up	Score	Venue / Comments

League Best and Fairest Awards

;Seniors

- 1952: Ken Cleve tied with Ray Russell on 14 votes, but was the official runner up on a countback and he has never received a retrospective "co-winners" medal from the RDFL.

Leading RDFL Goalkicker

;Seniors