The Riddell District Football Netball League (RDFNL) 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.
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.
Clubs
Current Men's Clubs ClubJumperNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in CompRDFNL Senior Premierships Total Years Diggers Rest BurrasDiggers Rest Recreation Reserve, Diggers Rest–1978 1978- 5 , 2016, 2018, 2023, 2026Gisborne GiantsGiantsMacedon Ranges Sports Precinct, New Gisborne–20162025-0– Kyneton TigersKyneton Showgrounds, KynetonBFNL1868 2024- 0 – Lancefield TigersLancefield Park, Lancefield–1872 1920- 111923, 1924, 1932, 1946, 1949, 1952, 1958, 1966, , , 2009 Macedon CatsTony Clarke Reserve, MacedonGDFA, TFA1887 1919-2000, 2003- 3 1919, , 2017 Melton Central Blues Melton West–1996 1996- 0 –Melton SouthPanthersMelton Recreation Reserve, MeltonBFNL19731973-1996, 2025-1 Riddell BombersRiddells Creek Recreation Reserve, Riddells CreekGDFA1888 1912- 161912, 1947, 1970, , , , , , 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2022, 2024, 2025 Romsey RedbacksRomsey Park, Romsey–1874 1920- 221920, 1921, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1939, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1963, 1968, , 2003, 2011, 2014, 2015 Wallan MagpiesGreenhill Reserve, WallanHHFA, PHFL, NFL1891 1947-1953, 1965-2001, 2008- 5 , , , , 2021* Woodend-Hesket HawksGilbert Gordon Reserve, Woodend–1978 1978- 4 , , 2002, 2007 *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.
Club 18 Only ClubJumperNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in CompRDFNL Senior Premierships Total YearsBacchus Marsh ThirdsCobrasMaddingley Park, Maddingley–19792017-0 – Darley Thirds DevilsDarley Park, Darley–1919 2025- 0 –EynesburyEaglesEynesbury Recreation Reserve, EynesburyWFNL20142016-2023, 2025-0–
Current Women's Clubs ClubJumperNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in CompRDFNL Senior PremiershipsTotalYears Lancefield TigersLancefield Park, Lancefield–1872 2024- 0 – Macedon CatsTony Clarke Reserve, Macedon–1887 2023- 3 2024, 2025, 2026Mt AlexanderFalconsHarcourt Recreation Reserve, HarcourtCVFL20212023-0 – Riddell BombersRiddells Creek Recreation Reserve, Riddells Creek–1888 2026- 0 –
Women's clubs in recess ClubJumperNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in CompRDFNL Senior PremiershipsFateTotalYearsKynetonTigersKyneton Showgrounds, KynetonCVFL18682023–202412023In recess since 2024 seasonMeltonBloodsMacPherson Park, HarknessBFL18792023-20250–In recess since 2025 seasonRomseyRedbacksRomsey Park, Romsey–18742023-20250–In recess since 2025 seasonWoodend-HesketHawksGilbert Gordon Reserve, Woodend–19782023-20250–In recess since 2025 season Junior Comp Only Club Jumper Nickname Home GroundSenior AffiliationGisborne RookiesBulldogsGardiner Reserve, GisborneGisborne (BFL)MeltonBloodsMacPherson Park, HarknessMelton (BFL)SunburyLionsClarke Oval, SunburySunbury (BFL)Sunbury KangaroosKangaroosEric Boardman Reserve, SunburySunbury Kangaroos (EDFL)
Former ClubJumperNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in CompRDFNL Senior PremiershipsFate Total Years Broadford KangaroosHarley Hammond Reserve, BroadfordHDFL1884 1977-1984, 2009-2019 2 , Played in Heathcote District FL between 1985-2008. Moved to Outer East FNL after 2019 season Craigieburn EaglesD.S. Aitken Reserve, Craigieburn–19701972-20002 , Moved to Essendon District FL after 2000 season Darley DevilsDarley Park, DarleyCHFL1919 1986-1996 2 , Moved to Ballarat FL after 1996 seasonDarraweit GuimHHFA1947-19480 -Folded c.1950s Gisborne BulldogsGardiner Reserve, GisborneGDFA1879 1904-1999 111934, 1962, 1965, 1967, 1972, , , , 1997, 1998, 1999Moved to Bendigo FNL after 1999 season Hesket BohemiansWJFA1873 1936-1971, 1975-1977 1 1960Recess from 1972-74. Merged with Woodend after 1977 season to form Woodend/Hesket Jacana Jacana Reserve, JacanaYCWFL1961 1986-2000 1 2000Moved to Essendon District FL after 2000 seasonKilmoreBluesJJ Clancy Reserve, KilmoreHHFA, PHFL18731947-1984, 1987-20154 1971, , , 2001Played in Panton Hill FL in 1985-86. Moved to Northern FL after 2015 seasonMalmsburyDark with light MFC monogramMalmsbury Recreation Reserve, MalmsburyCDFA1879 19560 -Folded in 1956 Melton BloodsMacPherson Park, Toolern ValeBMFL1879 1973-1996 51973, , , , Moved to Ballarat FL after 1996 season Moomba Park CatsMoomba Park, FawknerYCWFL 1982 1987-1996 1 Merged with Fawkner Amateurs to form Fawkner Park in Western Region FL in 1997 North Fawkner Seth Raistrick Reserve, CampbellfieldYCWFL 1986-1998 0 -Folded after 1998 season Northern Eagles EaglesWhittlesea Showgrounds, WhittleseaPHFL1896 1987-1991 1 Moved to Northern FNL after 1991 season, now known as WhittleseaRupertswoodSharksSalesian College, SunburyVAFA19992013-201912019Moved to Essendon District FL after 2019 seasonSunburyLionsClarke Oval, SunburyGDFA18791904-1996131922, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1969, , , , , , , , Moved to Ballarat FL after 1996 seasonSunbury Kangaroos KangaroosEric Boardman Reserve, Sunbury–19871987-201812012Moved to Essendon District FL after 2018 seasonTrentham(1953-58)(1959-90)Trentham Reserve, TrenthamCDFA, CFL18921953-1965, 1975-199031956, 1959, 1961Played in Clunes FL between 1966-74. Moved to Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL following 1990 seasonWestern Rams (?-2010s)(?-2023)RamsIan Cowie Recreation Reserve, RockbankWRFL1992 2000-2023 0 -Returned to Western FNL after 2023 seasonWoodend RebelsGilbert Gordon Reserve, WoodendWFL, KDFL, CDFL18801914-1915, 1920-1921, 1923-1925, 1930-1939, 1953-197761914, 1930, 1931, 1937, 1954, 1964Played in Woodend FL in 1922. Played in Kyneton DFL between 1926-29. Played in Castlemaine DFL between 1940-52. Merged with Hesket after 1977 season to form Woodend/Hesket
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 RDFL in recess > COVID-19 2022 Riddell 2023 Diggers Rest 2024 Riddell 2025 Riddell 2026 Diggers Rest
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