The Central Victoria Football League (CVFL or CVFLW) is a women's Australian rules football competition based around the Central Victoria region. It includes senior and junior competitions.
History The Central Victoria Football League was established in 2018, splitting from the Northern Country Women's League (NCWL) which had been formed one year prior. Five teams competed in the inaugural season – Bendigo Thunder reserves, Kangaroo Flat, Kyneton, North Bendigo and Strathfieldsaye. Bendigo Thunder won the 2018 grand final, defeating Strathfieldsaye by 87 points.
In 2019, Eaglehawk and Golden Square joined the CVFL, while Bendigo Thunder withdrew to compete solely in the Northern Football Netball League (NFNL).
No season was held in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 season – which saw Bendigo Thunder rejoin and Kerang compete for the first time – was also impacted by COVID-19 and curtailed without a finals series being held.
The CVFL introduced junior football in 2022 with a six-team under-14s competition, featuring clubs from the North Central Victoria region. Castlemaine formed its first senior women's team and joined the competition for the 2022 season, while Kangaroo Flat withdrew. The newly formed Mount Alexander Falcons applied to join but were rejected, although they played several CVFL practice matches throughout the year.
Woorinen joined the CVFL in 2023, while Kyneton moved to the Riddell District Football Netball League (RDFNL) and Kerang withdrew. The CVFL reached nine teams for the first time during the 2024 season, when three clubs – Marong, Sandhurst and White Hills – joined the senior competition, with Strathfieldsaye having withdrawn. Woorinen's senior women's team entered recess in 2025.
In October 2025, the CVFL Advisory Committee unanimously supported an application from the Kyneton Women's Football Club (KWFC) – a breakaway from the Kyneton Tigers – to affiliate with the CVFL for the 2026 season. The RDFNL appealed the decision and AFL Victoria upheld the appeal on 11 December 2025, preventing the KWFC from entering the CVFL.
Clubs Current Club Colours Nickname Home Ground Former league(s) Est. CVFL seasons CVFL senior premierships Total Most recent Bendigo Thunder Weeroona Oval, Bendigo NFNL 2011 2021– 0 – Castlemaine Magpies Camp Reserve, Castlemaine – 1859 2022– 5 2026 Eaglehawk Hawks; Two Blues Canterbury Park, Eaglehawk – 1880 2019– 0 – Golden Square Bulldogs Wade Street Recreation Reserve, Golden Square – 1932 2019– 1 2019 Marong Panthers Malone Park, Marong – 1900s 2024– 0 – Sandhurst Dragons Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo – 1861 2024– 0 –Wedge-Tailed EaglesEagles; WedgiesRacecourse Reserve, WoodendEDFL20242026–0– White Hills Demons White Hills Recreation Reserve, White Hills – 1924 2024– 0 –
Former Club Colours Nickname Home Ground Former league(s) Est. CVFL seasons CVFL senior premierships Fate Total Most recent Bendigo reserves ThunderWeeroona Oval, Bendigo NCWL 2017 2018 1 2018Withdrew in 2019 Kangaroo Flat Kangaroos Dower Park, Kangaroo Flat – 1890 2018–2021 0 – Withdrew in 2022 Kerang Blues Riverside Park, Kerang NCWL 1996 2020–2022 0 – Withdrew in 2023 Kyneton Tigers Kyneton Showgrounds, Kyneton NCWL 1868 2018–2022 0 – Moved to RDFNL North BendigoBulldogsNorth Bendigo Recreation Reserve, North BendigoNCWL19452018–20250 –Entered recess in 2026 Woorinen Tigers Woorinen Recreation Reserve, Woorinen – 1919 2023–2024 0 – Entered recess in 2025
Premiers Seniors Year Premiers Runners-up Venue Date Ref Club Score Club Score 2018 Bendigo reserves Strathfieldsaye Weeroona Oval 2019 Golden Square Kangaroo Flat Weeroona Oval 2020 Season not contested due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2021 Premiership not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2022 Castlemaine Golden Square Queen Elizabeth Oval 2023 Castlemaine Woorinen Queen Elizabeth Oval 2024 Castlemaine Golden Square Queen Elizabeth Oval 2025 Castlemaine Golden Square Queen Elizabeth Oval 2026Castlemaine Golden Square 3.5 (23)Queen Elizabeth Oval4 September 2026
Notes
References
External links Official website