The Picola & District Football Netball League (PDFNL) is an Australian rules football and netball league.
The league covers a large area of northern Victoria and southern New South Wales from Shepparton in the south to Jerilderie in the north, and consists of teams from the smaller communities and towns.
As of 2024, the PDFNL is the only Australian rules football league in Victoria that is not affiliated with AFL Victoria.
History In 1897, the Murray River District Football Association was formed from the following teams - Barmah, Kotupna, Nathalia Ramblers and Picola, with Kotupna finishing first on the ladder and claiming the premiership.
The original Picola & District Football Association was formed on Saturday 13 May 1905 at the Picola Hotel, with delegates representing the following clubs – Barmah, Koptupna, Moira, Nathalia and Picola present and was active until 1907.
At a meeting of club delegates on Tuesday, 26 May 1908 at the Federal Hall, Picola from the – Federal, Koptupna, Moira, Nathalia and Picola football clubs, it was decided to form an association called the Western and Moira Ridings Football Association and was a strong competition up until 1933.
At the 1934 annual general meeting of the Western and Moira Football Association it was decided to change the official name of the football association to the Picola & District Football Association. The founding clubs were Barmah, Kotupna, Moira, Nathalia Seconds, Picola, and Yalca North.
Former Moria footballer, Picola & DFL President and Life Member, Cyril W. Pearce was the Picola & DFL President from 1940 to 1949 and also from 1952 to 1974.
Between 1945 and 1958 Nurmukah and Nathalia both field second XVIII sides in the PDFNL.
In 1971 founding clubs Picola and Yalca North merged to form Picola United.
Former Picola and Fitzroy player and four times Picola & DFL best and fairest winner, David McKenzie was the Picola & DFL President from 1979 to 2008. The Reserves football competition best and fairest winner receives the Picola & DFNL McKenzie Medal.
Former VFL/AFL umpire, Glenn James was a former Wunghnu player, before he took up umpiring.
Dookie United and Shepparton East joined the Picola & DFNL in 2006 from the Central Goulburn Football League.
In 1992 Danny Irwin of Waaia kicked 215 goals in a season, which was bettered by Aaron Purcell in 2013 with 232 goals.
In 2006, Dookie United and Shepparton East made their debut with the league. They were previously in the now defunct Central Goulburn Football League.
In 2011, the Wunghnu FC folded after a long struggle with player numbers and off field support.
From 2021, the winner of the best on ground award in the Reserves football grand final receives the Michael Fleming Award.
Splitting the league In the 2009 season, the Picola League split into South East and North West divisions based on the geographical location of each club. The league copped a lot of criticism by making this move but has generally been successful and has resulted in reduced travel. The exception has been Wunghnu, which inexplicably was placed in the NW division despite being surrounded by SE division clubs. Wunghnu folded less than two seasons after the split.
In 2014, Tocumwal transferred from the stronger Murray Football League after struggling to be competitive in that competition.
In 2018 the North West and South East were merged as the PDFNL was reduced to one 13 team competition as the PDFNL chose not to be affiliated with AFL Goulburn Murray as 4 clubs Tungamah, Katandra, Dookie United and Shepparton East decided split away wanting to stay affiliated with AFLGM.
In 2019 the Picola & District FNL re-affiliated with the AFL Goulburn Murray but remained as one division in a 13-team competition.
The Operations Manager of the Picola & DFNL is Shane Railton, who has been in charge since December 2016.
Clubs Locations
Current ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in PDFNLPDFNL Senior Premierships Total YearsBaroogaHawksBarooga Recreation Reserve, Barooga, New South WalesMFNL18941959–1988, 2026-101959, 1960, 1961, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987 Berrigan SaintsBerrigan Recreation Reserve, Berrigan, New South WalesMFNL1891 2003– 1 2011 Blighty RedeyesBlighty Recreation Reserve, Blighty, New South WalesCDFNL1949 1969– 4 1969, 1971, 1975, 2000 Deniliquin Rovers RoversMemorial Park, Deniliquin, New South Wales–1977 1977– 0 –Dookie UnitedDooksDookie Recreation Reserve, DookieCGFL, KDFNL19772006–2017, 2025–12007 Jerilderie DemonsJerilderie Recreation Reserve, Jerilderie, New South WalesCDFNL1891 2008– 4 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014 Katamatite TigersKatamatite Recreation Reserve, Katamatite, VictoriaTFL1891 1950–55, 1995– 5 1950, 1996, 2001, 2025, 2026KatandraKatsKatandra Recreation Reserve, Katandra West, VictoriaTFL, MFNL19111996–2017, 2020– 31998, 2003, 2004 Katunga SwansKatunga Recreation Reserve, Katunga, Victoria–1950 1950– 4 1968, 1977, 1983, 1984 Mathoura TimbercuttersMathoura Recreation Reserve, Mathoura, New South WalesEFL1909 1990– 1 1993 Picola United BluesPicola Recreation Reserve, Picola, Victoria–1971 1971- 2 2016, 2017 Rennie HoppersRennie Recreation Reserve, Rennie, New South WalesHFNL1932 2009– 3 2011, 2017, 2018 Strathmerton BulldogsStrathmerton Recreation Reserve, Strathmerton, VictoriaMFNL1894 1936–1937, 1994– 6 1936, 1937, 1997, 2010, 2015, 2019TocumwalBloodsTocumwal Recreation Reserve, Tocumwal, New South WalesMFNL18912014–2022, 2024–0–TungamahBearsTungamah Recreation Reserve, Tungamah, VictoriaTFL, MFNL18821995–2017, 2020– 61999, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015 Waaia BombersWaaia Recreation Reserve, Waaia, VictoriaW&MRFA1894 1935 – 13 1953, 1974, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2005, 2022, 2023, 2024
Former clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in PDFNLPDFNL Senior PremiershipsFate Total Years Barmah Riversiders, BarmsidersP&DFA1896 1934–1948 2 1934, 1938Folded after 1948 seasonKotupnaP&DFA18961934–19350–Merged with Wyuna after 1935 seasonMoiraRamblersNarioka Recreation Reserve, PicolaP&DFAc.1890s1934–196441940, 1946, 1948, 1957FoldedNathalia second XVIIIPurplesNathalia Recreation Reserve, Nathalia–18871934–195811947Joined first XVIII in Murray FNL following 1958 seasonNumurkah second XVIIIBluesNumurkah Showgrounds, Numurkah–18821946–195811951Joined first XVIII in Murray FNL following 1958 seasonPicolaBluesPicola Recreation Reserve, Picola, VictoriaN&DFA, W&MRFA18971905–1907, 1934–1970101906, 1907, 1935, 1949, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1962, 1967Played in Western & Moira Ridings FA between 1908 and 1933. Merged with Yalca North to form Picola United in 1971Shepparton EastEaglesCentral Park Recreation Reserve, Shepparton EastCGFL19242006–201742006, 2010, 2012, 2016Moved to Murray FNL following 2017 seasonTallygaroopnaRedlegsTallygaroopna Recreation Reserve, TallygaroopnaCGVFL19041953–1957 0 –Moved to Kyabram District FNL following 1957 seasonWunghnuMagpiesWunghnu Recreation Reserve, WunghnuCGVFL18851951–201051958, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1973Folded in 2011WyunaWyuna Recreation Reserve, WyunaKDJFAc.1900s1929–19310 –Moved to Kyabram District FL in 1932. Yalca North(1934-?)(?-1972)Yalca North Recreation Reserve, Yalca–19091934–197111939Merged with Picola following 1971 season to form Picola UnitedYarroweyahHoppersYarroweyah Recreation Reserve, Yarroweyah, Victoria–19551956–202461963, 1970, 1972, 1980, 1985, 1988Entered recess after 2024 season
Picola & DFNL Premiers Senior Football - 1934 to 2008
1934 - Barmah 1935 - Picola 1936 - Strathmerton 1937 - Strathmerton 1938 - Barmah 1939 - Yalca North 1940 - Moira 1941 - In recess > World War II 1942 - In recess > World War II 1943 - In recess > World War II 1944 - In recess > World War II 1945 - In recess > World War II 1946 - Moira 1947 - Nathalia Seconds 1948 - Moira 1949 - Picola 1950 - Katamatite 1951 - Numurkah Seconds 1952 - Picola 1953 - Waaia 1954 - Picola 1955 - Picola 1956 - Picola 1957 - Moira 1958 - Wunghnu 1959 - Barooga 1960 - Barooga 1961 - Barooga 1962 - Picola 1963 - Yarroweyah 1964 - Wunghnu 1965 - Wunghnu 1966 - Wunghnu 1967 - Picola 1968 - Katunga 1969 - Blighty 1970 - Yarroweyah 1971 - Blighty 1972 - Yarroweyah 1973 - Wunghnu 1974 - Waaia 1975 - Blighty 1976 - Barooga 1977 - Katunga 1978 – Barooga 1979 – Barooga 1980 – Yarroweyah 1981 – Barooga 1982 – Barooga 1983 – Katunga 1984 – Katunga 1985 – Yarroweyah 1986 – Barooga 1987 – Barooga 1988 – Yarroweyah 1989 – Waaia 1990 – Waaia 1991 – Waaia 1992 – Waaia 1993 – Mathoura 1994 – Waaia 1995 – Waaia 1996 – Katamatite 1997 – Strathmerton 1998 – Katandra 1999 – Tungamah 2000 – Blighty 2001 – Katamatite 2002 – Waaia 2003 – Katandra 2004 – Katandra 2005 – Waaia 2006 – Shepparton East 2007 – Dookie United 2008 – Tungamah
Picola & DFNL - Two Divisions - North West & South East (2009 to 2017)
2009 North West – Jerilderie South East – Tungamah 2010 North West – Strathmerton South East – Shepparton East 2011 North West – Berrigan South East – Rennie 2012 North West – Jerilderie South East – Shepparton East 2013 North West – Jerilderie South East – Tungamah 2014 North West – Jerilderie South East – Tungamah 2015 North West – Strathmerton South East – Tungamah 2016 North West – Picola United South East – Shepparton East 2017 North West – Picola United South East – Rennie
Senior Football - 2018 to 2025
2018 – Rennie 2019 – Strathmerton 2020 - P&DFNL in recess > COVID-19 2021 - 1st:Strathmerton. 2nd: Waaia. (No finals series > COVID-19) 2022 – Waaia 2023 – Waaia 2024 – Waaia 2025 - Katamatite 2026 - Katamatite
Reserves Football
1962 - Katunga 1963 - Yarroweyah 8.8 d Katunga 3.7 1964 - 1965 - Yarroweyah 5.5 d Katunga 3.15 1966 - Katunga 8.9 d Yarroweyah 7.11 1967 - Waaia 6.9 d Yarroweyah 5.4 1968 - Yarroweyah 12.6 d Waaia 11.3 1969 - 1970 - 1971 - Katunga 11.7 d Yarroweyah 3.6 1972 - 1973 - 1974 - 1975 - 1976 - 1977 - 1978 - 1979 - 1980 - Barooga 7.4 d Blighty 6.6 1981 - Deniliquin Rovers 8.11 d Barooga 4.13 1982 - Barooga 1983 - Katunga 23.10 d Deni Rovers 7.3 1984 - Deniliquin Rovers 7.9 d Barooga 5.14 1985 - Waaia 1986 - Deniliquin Rovers 8.13 d Barooga 8.9 1987 - Barooga 14.18 d Deniliquin Rovers 6.2 1988 - Barooga 19.13 d Katunga 6.2 1989 - Katunga 1990 - Waaia 1991 - Waaia 1992 - Waaia 1993 - 1994 - Waaia 1995 - 1996 - 1997 - 1998 - 1999 - 2000 - Blighty 5.5 d Katunga 5.4 2001 - Katunga 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008 - 2009 NW: Picola United 6.7 d Deniliquin Rovers 5.6 SE: Tungamah 10.7 d Katandra 7.8 2010 NW: Picola United 8.5 d Mathoura 2.3 SE: Shepparton East 12.17 d Tungamah 5.6 2011 NW: Deniliquin Rovers 4.10 d Jerilderie 4.9 SE: Tungamah 10.13 d Shepparton East 9.4 2012 NW: Deniliquin Rovers 7.8 d Jerilderie 4.5 SE: Shepparton East 11.13 d Waaia 5.7 2013 NW: Deniliquin Rovers 12.8 d Strathmerton 10.4 SE: Tungamah 12.20 d Shepparton East 9.3 2014 NW: Strathmerton 16.12 d Jerilderie 6.3 SE: Dookie United 12.4 d Shepparton East 3.11 2015 NW: Picola United 13.10 d Jerilderie 3.9 SE: Shepparton East 12.7 d Dookie United 10.3 2016 NW: Picola United 9.13 d Deniliquin Rovers 6.4 SE: Dookie United 8.7 d Shepparton East 5.8 2017 NW: Picola United 13.8 d Strathmerton 5.9 SE: Waaia 12.7 v Shepparton East 11.9 2018 - Waaia 6.4 d Deni Rovers 5.7 2019 - Blighty 16.10 d Waaia 6.5 2020 - P&DFNL in recess > COVID-19 2021 - 1st: Katandra. 2nd: Tungamah.(No finals series > COVID-19) 2022 - Strathmerton 6.8 d Tungamah 3.9 2023 - Waaia 7.11 d Strathmerton 4.6 2024 - Tungamah 9.16 d Katandra 7.9 2025 - Tungamah 11.5 d Deni Rovers 7.7 2026 - Katamatite 9.15 d Barooga 5.5
Thirds Football
1968 - Katunga 1969 - 1970 - 1971 - Blighty 10.7 d Picola 4.5 1972 - Katunga 1973 - 1974 - 1975 - 1976 - Katunga 1977 - Katunga 1978 - Katunga 1979 - Katunga 1980 - Katunga 1981 - Deniliquin Rovers 12.10 d Katunga 2.4 1982 - 1983 - Barooga 17.17 d Katunga 12.6 1984 - Barooga 16.8 d Yarroweyah ? 1985 -