The Limestone Coast Football Netball League is an Australian rules football competition based in the Lower South East region of South Australia, and south-western border region of Victoria. It is an affiliated member of the South Australian National Football League. The league used to be regarded as the premier country football league in South Australia, and a leading country Victorian league, however the number of clubs and standard has declined in recent years.
History
Western Border FL (1964–2023) In 1964, after almost a decade of discussions, the Western District Football League in Victoria and the South-East & Border Football League in South Australia merged to form the Western Border Football League. The founding 12 clubs were Casterton, Coleraine, East Gambier, Hamilton, Hamilton Imperials, Heywood, Millicent, North Gambier, Penola, Portland, South Gambier and West Gambier.Western Border FL at the Footypedia
Hamilton and Millicent both had jumpers similar to 's, so an agreement was made that the team that finished lower on the ladder for 1964 had to change jumpers. Hamilton finished ninth, while Millicent finished 11th of 12, so Millicent was forced to change to the strip.
Penola left and joined the Kowree Naracoorte Football League in 1988; Coleraine left and joined the South West District Football League in 1995.
In 2011, the Heywood Football Club left the Western Border Football League due to the club struggling to compete with the larger town clubs in the league. Their first application to leave was rejected, so they were forced to go to higher levels at the VCFL to resolve issues between the League and the Heywood Football Netball Club.
In 2012, the Hamilton and Hamilton Imperials club merged upon recommendation from the VCFL and competed in the Hampden Football Netball League from 2013. Portland also transferred to the Hampden Football Netball League for 2013, leaving just 6 teams in the competition today. Casterton merged with neighbouring club Sandford (from the South West District Football League) in 2014.
When the VFL had zoning from 1968 to 1986, the league was allocated to .
Some famous players that have played in the Western Border Football League have been Billy Picken, Matthew Clarke, Nick Daffy, Nathan Lovett-Murray, Mal Michael, John Mossop, Wally Lovett, and Brad Close.
Limestone Coast FNL (2024–) In late 2023, it was announced that the WBFL would be wound up and replaced by the Limestone Coast Football Netball League for the 2024 season. It was also announced that for the 2025 season, one club each from the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League and the Mid South Eastern Football League would transfer to the competition. Penola joined the LCFNL from the KNTFL prior to the 2025 season, however no Mid South Eastern club made the move over.
Clubs Limestone Coast FNL (2024–) Locations Club locations - Mount GambierClub locations - Limestone Coast
Current clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in LCFNLLCFNL Senior Premierships Total Years Casterton-Sandford CatsIsland Park, CastertonWBFL2014 2024– 0 – East Gambier BulldogsMcDonald Park, Mount GambierWBFL1934 2024– 0 – Millicent SaintsMcLaughlin Park, MillicentWBFL1906 2024– 1 2025 North Gambier TigersVansittart Park, Mount GambierWBFL1926 2024– 0 – Penola EaglesMcCorquindale Park, PenolaKNTFL1865 2025– 0 – South Gambier DemonsBlue Lake Sports Park, Mount GambierWBFL1926 2024– 1 2026 West Gambier RoosMalseed Park, Mount GambierWBFL1938 2024– 1 2024
Western Border FL (1964–2023)
Final clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in WBFLWBFL Senior Premierships Total Years Casterton-Sandford CatsIsland Park, Casterton–2014 2014–2023 0– East Gambier BulldogsMcDonald Park, Mount GambierSE&BFL1934 1964–2023 9 1965, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1982, 1983, 1988, 2017 Millicent (1964-?)(?-2023) SaintsMcLaughlin Park, MillicentSE&BFL1906 1964–2023 5 1984, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023 North Gambier TigersVansittart Park, Mount GambierSE&BFL1926 1964–2023 9 1964, 1979, 1987, 1989, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019 South Gambier (1964-80s, 2010s-23)(1980s-99)(2000-10s) Demons Mount GambierSE&BFL1926 1964–2023 12 1974, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2009, 2015 West Gambier (1964-?) (?-2023) Roos Mount GambierSE&BFL1938 1964–2023 3 1971, 2010, 2011
Former clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in WBFLWBFL Senior PremiershipsFate Total YearsCastertonCatsIsland Park, CastertonWDFL1920s1964–201321969, 1990Merged with Sandford to form Casterton-Sandford in 2014 Coleraine MaroonsSilvester Oval, ColeraineWDFL1900s 1964–1994 1 1967 Transferred to the South West District FL in 1995 Hamilton MagpiesMelville Oval, HamiltonWDFL1874 1964–2012 4 1968, 1970, 1981, 2004 Merged with Hamilton Imperials to form Hamilton Kangaroos in the Hampden FL in 2013 Hamilton Imperials BulldogsMelville Oval, HamiltonWDFL1948 1964–2012 6 1977, 1978, 1980, 1993, 1995, 2001 Merged with Hamilton to form Hamilton Kangaroos in the Hampden FL in 2013 Heywood (1960s)(1980s)(?-2011) LionsHeywood Recreation Reserve, HeywoodWDFLc.1921 1964–2011 0 - Transferred to the South West District FL in 2012 Penola EaglesMcCorquindale Park, PenolaSE&BFL1865 1964–1987 0 - Transferred to the Kowree Naracoorte FL in 1988 Portland TigersHanlon Park, PortlandWDFL1876 1964–2012 8 1966, 1985, 1986, 1991, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008 Transferred to the Hampden FL in 2013
Timeline of clubs (1964–2026)
League awards
Western Border FL (1964–2023) SeasonBest & FairestClubLeading GoalkickerClubGoals1964G HariottColeraineKevin MalseedHeywood751965Kevin MalseedHeywoodM GrahamPenola741966J McBainPenolaR DuncanHeywood541967David RobbieCastertonB NormanSouth Gambier751968G CayzerHamiltonL DethmoreSouth Gambier681969G CayzerHamiltonH GrahamPenola911970Michael GrahamPenolaR HarveyCasterton831971B SmithSouth GambierB NormanSouth Gambier761972Gary LazarusEast GambierGary LazarusEast Gambier641973D ClarkeEast GambierG SimsSouth Gambier671974Kevin DouglasWest GambierDes TrotterEast Gambier1171975S McKewHamilton ImperialDes TrotterEast Gambier1221976M WhitingtonMillicentM SoulsbyHamilton801977Greg CurnowNorth GambierD. MaczkowiackWest Gambier811978P CranageHamiltonW. Chapman West Gambier88M HorsborughColeraine1979G RichardsHamilton ImperialS. SkeerPenola981980J BeatonWest GambierTony RussellHamilton1011981I McGuinessHeywoodNeville OsborneHamilton Imperial841982G ReichmanHamilton ImperialR. LawsonEast Gambier1361983M GreggCastertonD. MaczkowiackWest Gambier761984Wayne FletcherNorth GambierN. CarracherHamilton Imperial1061985L KingPortlandMichael TimmsSouth Gambier1001986L BellSouth GambierMichael TimmsSouth Gambier1131987Darren WrightNorth GambierTrevor RussellHamilton1311988Andrew CloseWest GambierTrevor RussellHamilton891989Tony LithgowCastertonTony OtterPortland1041990D LaneEast GambierP. Harrison Millicent651991G StevensHamiltonD. Pannenburg East Gambier1121992R ElliottSouth GambierL. HampshirePortland871993M JonesEast GambierTim WilliamsonCasterton821994Michael EdmondsHamilton ImperialD. Pannenburg East Gambier1001995D JenkinsonHeywoodA. SalmonSouth Gambier731996Mick RyanSouth GambierM. LaneNorth Gambier591997Andrew NitschkeMillicentLeigh CapewellSouth Gambier 65Barry KnightPortland1998Wayne RiddleHamiltonLeigh CapewellSouth Gambier1011999Brad CooperHamilton ImperialG. GossNorth Gambier1002000Matthew SteelPortlandP. HartenSouth Gambier742001Andrew NitschkeMillicentK. CookEast Gambier542002Scott FlettNorth GambierMichael SilvyNorth Gambier89Justin MunroCasterton2003Andrew NitschkeMillicentLeigh CapewellSouth Gambier59Winis ImbiPortland2004Brent HowardSouth GambierB. Edwards Portland592005Scott FlettNorth GambierGrant EwingHamilton Imperial732006Jon CoppingSouth GambierRyan Larcombe East Gambier812007James ImbiPortlandGrant EwingHamilton Imperial 942008Marcus EnglandPortlandGrant EwingHamilton Imperial692009Marcus EnglandPortlandC.MurrayMillicent832010Justin McConnellNorth GambierCourtney JohnsHeywood782011Simon BerkefeldSouth GambierJustin McConnellNorth Gambier85Brad VassalCasterton2012Richard O'GradyNorth GambierJarrod HoltPortland652013Brad WilsonWest GambierJustin McConnellNorth Gambier702014Richard O'GradyNorth GambierJustin McConnellNorth Gambier74Dylan AytonCasterton-Sandford2015Justin McConnellNorth Gambier 1002016Nick MorettiNorth Gambier502017Brett O'NeilSouth GambierTom McLennanNorth Gambier462018Tom HutchessonMillicentBrayden KaineSouth Gambier512019Michael TelfordNorth GambierJustin McConnellNorth Gambier 462021Clint GallioMillicentGene RobinsonMillicent1032022Jayden EldridgeEast GambierBrayden KainSouth Gambier592023Daron McElroyWest GambierFrazer BradleyMillicent41
Limestone Coast FL (1964–2023) SeasonBest & FairestClubLeading GoalkickerClubGoals2024Harry TunkinMillicentFrazer BradleyMillicent59Emerson MarkSouth Gambier2025Brodie FosterPenola45
Notable players
Western Border FL (1964–2023) John Gill, Barry Gill, Max Rooke, Alan Richardson, Russell Johnston, Don Whitten, Laurie Nash, Reg Burgess, David Robbie – Casterton Sandford Brian Gray, Les Kaine, John Vickery, Eric Moore, Barry McKenzie, Michael Horsburgh – Coleraine Gary Lazarus, Simon Feast, Stephen Jankowicz – East Gambier Phil Walsh, Alan Atkinson, Paul Cranage, Tony Russell, Shannon Watt, Adam Campbell, Marcus Picken, Liam Picken – Hamilton Ian Ridley, John McMillan, Michael Edmonds, Mark Orval, Josh Thurgood – Hamilton Imperials Denis Zeunert, Billy Picken, Wally Lovett, Justin Perkins, Nathan Lovett-Murray, Mal Michael, Courtney Johns, Justin Perkins – Heywood Bob Clifford, Brian Roberts, Neil Sutherland, Mason Redman, Richard Nixon Andrew Nitschke, Triple League medalist – Millicent Nick Daffy, Dwaine Kretschmer, Glen Keast, Lucas Herbert, Nathan Stark, Brad Close – North Gambier John Mossop, Michael Graham, Colin Graham – Penola Stuart Spencer, Clyde Laidlaw, Peter Hogan, Leo King, Wayne Blackwell, Ian Hampshire, Winis Imbi, Brodie Atkinson – Portland Max James, Doug Long, Robin McKinnon, Oscar Adams – South Gambier John Yeates, Mark Yeates, Jason Walscgott, Tim O'Brien, Matthew Clarke, Robin White – West Gambier
Bibliography Encyclopedia of South Australian country football clubs compiled by Peter Lines. South Australian country football digest by Peter Lines
References
External links
Fixtures and results on PlayHQ