The Goulburn Valley League (GVL), also known as the Goulburn Valley Football Netball League (GVFNL), is an Australian rules football and netball competition based in the Goulburn Valley region of Victoria.
History The league was initially called the Goulburn Valley District Football Association (GVDFA) and dates back to May 1893. Clubs from the townships of Kyabram, Mooroopna, Nagambie, Nathalia, Numurkah, Shepparton, Shepparton Ramblers, Tatura, Undera and Wunghnu were present at the inaugural meeting, with club's deciding to play on a Wednesday afternoon.
The five original clubs that chose to play on Wednesdays that made up the 1893 GVDFA draw were – Kyabram, Mooroopna, Shepparton, Shepparton Ramblers and Tatura with Mooroopna defeating the Shepparton Ramblers in the 1893 GVDFA grand final.
In 1894, the following six teams competed in the Goulburn Valley District Football Association - Kyabram, Mooroopna, Shepparton, Shepparton Ramblers, Tatura and Undera.
Murchison came into the GVDFA in 1895 and Kyabram did not join, but were active playing a number of friendly matches against other local teams.
In 1896, the Shepparton FC and Shepparton Ramblers FC merged to form the "Shepparton and Ramblers United FC" and wore the following colors - blue and white jumper, with a yellow band, white knicks and black and yellow socks.
As the GVDFA went into recess in 1897, this newly merged club appears to of reformed in 1898 in the GFDVA as just the Shepparton FC.
In 1910, Shepparton Imperials defeated Kialla in the East and West Goulburn Valley Football Association grand final.
At the 1914 – GVDFA – Annual General Meeting, the club delegate's voted to change the name of the competition to the Goulburn Valley Football League to save a lot of confusion with another local football competition, the Goulburn Valley Football Association, which was based out of Numurkah, which was made up from club's in the northern Goulburn Valley region.
Later clubs from Rushworth, Murchison, Tongala and Echuca would spend time in this league.
In 1924, the Goulburn Valley Football League: 15.17 - 107 defeated Collingwood: 14.15 - 99.
Between 1926 and 1936, there was a Goulburn Valley Second Eighteens Football Association competition that was based in and around Shepparton, that was superseded by the Goulburn Valley Football Association in 1937.
Rushworth FC had a golden era between 1929 and 1940, where they played off in ten grand finals and they managed to win five premierships.
Rushworth footballer, Bernie Collins played in Rushworth's four premierships from 1930 to 1933, then moved to Shepparton with his employment and then played in Shepparton's 1934 premiership too.
In 1935, Mooroopna FC pulled out the GVFL and played in the Goulburn Valley Second Eighteens Football Association competition.
Prior to World War II this league used to play on Wednesday afternoon, but in 1939 the league decided to change to Saturday afternoon, Shepparton and Mooroopna objected and refused to play on Saturdays so both clubs went into recess.
In 1948, the GVFL introduced the Reserves football competition, with Kyabram taking out the first premiership.
In 1995 the league absorbed the clubs from the Tungamah Football League and had a second division for three seasons (1996–1998). These second division clubs left and formed the Central Goulburn Football League in 1999. This league ceased in 2005.
Kyabram FC seniors went through 2016 and 2017 as undefeated premiers and were still undefeated leading into the 2018 grand final, but lost to Shepparton FC, ending a winning streak of 62 games, which is a GVFNL record.
Kyabram then went on to be undefeated premiers in 2019, thus only losing one game since their 2015 GVFNL grand final loss to Benalla FC.
Current clubs
Locations Club locations - Shepparton/MooroopnaClub locations - Goulburn Valley ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in GVFLGVFL Senior PremiershipsTotalYears Benalla SaintsBenalla Showgrounds, Benalla BMFL, OMFL 1896 1940, 1997– 21940, 2015 Echuca Murray BombersVictoria Park, EchucaBFL 1876 1909–1923, 1974– 91977, 1979, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026 Euroa Magpies Memorial Oval, EuroaWNEFA 18801939–1940, 1971–21971, 1990 Kyabram BombersKyabram Recreation Reserve, Kyabram – 1886 1893–1894, 1899-161919, 1921, 1922, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1948, 1950, 1958, 1975, 1996, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2025 Mansfield EaglesMansfield Recreation Reserve, MansfieldTFL 1880s 1998–22004, 2009 Mooroopna CatsMooroopna Recreation Reserve, Mooroopna CGVFL 1877 1893–1934, 1936–1938, 1949–121893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1907, 1923, 1924, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1985, 1986 Rochester TigersRochester Recreation Reserve, Rochester BFL 1874 1913–1914, 1973–41914, 1992, 1999, 2008 Seymour LionsKings Park, SeymourWNEFA 1880 1939, 1976–71976, 1981, 1982, 1991, 2005, 2006, 2007 Shepparton BearsDeakin Reserve, Shepparton CGVFL 1880s 1893–1895, 1898–1938, 1949–271899, 1903, 1906, 1908, 1909, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1920, 1925, 1929, 1934, 1951, 1957, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1993, 1994, 2000, 2018 Shepparton Swans SwansPrincess Park, Shepparton GVFA 19281946–41959, 1960, 1970, 2014 Shepparton United DemonsDeakin Reserve, Shepparton – 1950 1950–121954, 1955, 1956, 1962, 1967, 1974, 1980, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2010, 2011 Tatura Bulldogs Tatura Recreation Reserve, Tatura – 1894 1894–121898, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1904, 1905, 1952, 1953, 1995, 1998, 2003, 2012
Former clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in GVFLGVFL Senior PremiershipsFateTotal YearsAvenelSwansAvenel Recreation Reserve, AvenelWNEFAc. 1890s19390—Moved to Euroa District FA following 1939 seasonEchuca EastHoppersEchuca Recreation Reserve, EchucaEFL c. 1890s1949-19520—Returned to Echuca FL following 1952 seasonMurchisonHoppersMurchison Recreation Reserve, MurchisonWFA, WNEFA, EDFA18791895, 1908-1912, 1919-1939, 1946-196311910Moved to Upper Goulburn FA in 1897. Played in Waranga North East FA in 1913-14. Moved to Kyabram District FNL following 1963 season Nagambie Lakers Nagambie Recreation Reserve, NagambieWNEFA 1881 1912, 1939–196431939, 1946, 1947 Moved to Kyabram District FNL following 1964 seasonPrisoner of War Group 13–194219460—FoldedRushworthTigersRushworth Recreation Reserve, RushworthWNEFA18821908-1912, 1919-196451930, 1931 1932, 1933, 1935Moved to Heathcote District FNL following 1964 seasonShepparton & Ramblers United Shepparton Recreation Reserve–189618960—Club & GVDFA entered recess in 1897, then the club name went back to just Shepparton FC in 1898.Shepparton (Shepparton Imperials)Deakin Reserve, SheppartonGVSEFA192419300—Returned to Goulburn Valley Second Eighteen FA in 1931Shepparton RamblersShepparton Recreation Reserve–18931893-18950—Merged with Shepparton to form Shepparton & Ramblers United in 1896.StanhopeLionsStanhope Recreation Reserve, StanhopeKDFNL19211946-1947, 1956-19740—Played merged with Girgarre between 1948-55. Moved to Heathcote District FNL following 1964 seasonStanhope-Girgarre–19481948-19550—De-merged following 1955 season to re-form Stanhope and Girgarre Tongala Blues Tongala Recreation Reserve, TongalaKDJFA 1894 1924-1931, 1946-200541949, 1961, 1983, 1984 Recess in 1932, re-formed in Echuca FL in 1933. Moved to Murray FNL after 2005 seasonUnderaUndera Recreation Reserve, Undera, Victoria18881894, 1898-19010—Folded in 1902, joined East Goulburn FA in 1910.
Division 2 Following the demise of the Tungamah Football League following the 1995 season, 8 of its 9 clubs formed the new second division of the Goulburn Valley Football League. This division ran separately to the first division with no promotion or relegation between the two. The newly-formed Rumbalara club debuted in Division 2 in 1997. Congupna left for the Murray FL in 1998 and Mansfield joined Division 1 the same year. Following the 1998 season, the Division 2 clubs split from the GVFL to form the Central Goulburn Football League.
Final clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in GVFLGVFL Division 2 PremiershipsFateTotal YearsAlexandraRebelsAlexandra Showgrounds, AlexandraTFL18841996-199811997Moved to Central Goulburn FL in 1999Benalla All BlacksPanthersFriendlies Oval, BenallaTFL19341996-19980—Moved to Central Goulburn FL in 1999Dookie UnitedKangaroosDookie Recreation Reserve, DookieTFL19771996-19980—Moved to Central Goulburn FL in 1999RumbalaraRumbaRumbalara Recreation Reserve, Shepparton–19971997-199811998Moved to Central Goulburn FL in 1999Shepparton EastEaglesCentral Park Recreation Reserve, Shepparton EastTFL19251996-19980—Moved to Central Goulburn FL in 1999Thornton-EildonShinbonersThornton Recreation Reserve, ThorntonTFL19581996-19980—Moved to Central Goulburn FL in 1999Violet TownTownersViolet Town Recreation Reserve, Violet TownTFL18801996-19980—Moved to Central Goulburn FL in 1999
Former clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in GVFLGVFL Division 2 PremiershipsFateTotal YearsCongupnaThe RoadCongupna Recreation Reserve, CongupnaTFL19561996-19970—Moved to Murray FNL after 1997 seasonMansfieldDemonsMansfield Recreation Reserve, MansfieldTFL1880s1996-199711996Joined GVFL Division 1 in 1998
Football Premiers