The Heathcote District Football League (HDFL) is an
Australian rules football
Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...
league based in the
Heathcote Heathcote may refer to:
Places
in Australia
*Heathcote, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney
**Electoral district of Heathcote, a seat in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
**Heathcote National Park
** Parish of Heathcote a parish of Cumberla ...
region and major
Bendigo
Bendigo ( ) is a city in Victoria, Australia, located in the Bendigo Valley near the geographical centre of the state and approximately north-west of Melbourne, the state capital.
As of 2019, Bendigo had an urban population of 100,991, makin ...
area with clubs based in the regions of
City of Greater Bendigo
The City of Greater Bendigo is a local government area in Victoria, Australia, located in the central part of the state. It covers an area of and, in June 2021, had a population of 123,632. It includes the city of Bendigo and the towns of Axe ...
,
Shire of Campaspe
The Shire of Campaspe is a local government area in Victoria, Australia, located in the northern part of the state. It covers an area of and in June 2018 had a population of 37,592.
It includes the towns of Girgarre, Echuca, Kyabram, Roches ...
, and
Shire of Gannawarra
The Shire of Gannawarra is a local government area in Victoria, Australia, located in the northern part of the state. It covers an area of and, in June 2018 had a population of 10,547.
It includes the towns of Cohuna, Kerang, Koondrook, Le ...
History
The Heathcote District Football League became a league in 1955. Previous names for the competitions in the area were the Heathcote District Football Association (1905), McIvor District Football Association (1906) and again the Heathcote District Football Association (1907–1954).
In recent years the Heathcote & District Football League has become one of, if not the strongest of the minor leagues in Victoria. During the Victoria Country Championships (Interleague) the HDFL has accounted for major league side Central Murray Football League as well as established a higher ranking than the North Central Football League. The strength & depth of the league is all the more remarkable considering the size of the league, 9 teams
Over the past few years the HDFL has beaten the Geelong & District & Horsham & District Leagues but fell short to AFL Barwon league, Bellarine in 2016.
The HDFL has had many representatives playing for Victoria Country, including recent players Grant Weeks, Andy Grant, Hadleigh Sirett & Jye Keath.
Clubs
Location
Current clubs
Former clubs
List of Premierships
Recent seasons
The ''2021 season'' ladder prior to abandonment of season:
2021 season
Ladder
Books
* History of Football in the Bendigo District – John Stoward –
References
Notes
Citations
External links
League Official Website
{{Aussie Rules in Victoria
Australian rules football competitions in Victoria (Australia)