Eastern Football Netball League facts for kids

The Eastern Football Netball League (also known as the EFNL) is a sports league for Australian rules football and netball. It's located in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. Before its current name, it was called the Eastern Districts Football League and then the Eastern Football League.

History of the EFNL

The Eastern Football Netball League officially started on February 15, 1962. But its history goes back even further! It grew from earlier football groups in the area.

One of the first groups was the Reporter District Football League, formed in 1903. It included teams like Bayswater and Ringwood. Other groups, like the Ringwood District Football Association (1922) and the Croydon Mail Football League (1945), also played a part.

In 1950, some of these groups joined to become the Croydon-Ferntree Gully Football League. This league even had three different levels of competition!

A big change happened in 1997. The Eastern District Football League joined with the Knox Junior Football Association. This created the Eastern Football League, which was bigger and better.

In 2018, the league changed its structure. It now has five different divisions for its teams. By 2019, there were 45 clubs playing. The top two divisions had 10 clubs each. The next two had eight clubs, and the last division had nine.

Another important change happened on October 15, 2019. The league changed its name to the Eastern Football Netball League. This new name shows that netball is now a very important part of the league, alongside football.

Sadly, the EFNL had to cancel its 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the league bounced back! In 2022, two new clubs, Beaconsfield and Oakleigh District, joined. This brought the total number of clubs to 48.

EFNL Clubs

Here are some of the clubs that play in the EFNL.

Men's Premier Division (2024)

Club	Jumper	Nickname	Home Ground	Former League	Est.	Years in EFNL	EFNL Senior Premierships	Most recent
Balwyn		Tigers	Balwyn Park, Balwyn	SFNL	1909	2007-	5	2016
Berwick		Wickers	Edwin Flack Reserve, Berwick	OEFNL	1903	2021-	0	-
Blackburn		Panthers	Morton Park, Blackburn	CFGFL	1890	1962-	3	2002
Doncaster East		Lions	Zerbes Reserve, Doncaster East	VAFA (as Beverley Hills)	1972	1982-	4	2019
East Ringwood		Roos	East Ringwood Reserve, East Ringwood	CFGFL	1929	1962-	5	2022
Noble Park		Bulls	Pat Wright Senior Oval, Noble Park	SFNL	1918	2000-	5	2022
Norwood		Norsemen	Mullum Mullum Reserve, Ringwood	–	1960	1962-	5	2014
Rowville		Hawks	Seebeck Oval, Rowville	–	1964	1965-	6	2023
South Croydon		Bulldogs	Cheong Park, South Croydon	–	1969	1969-	8	2017
Vermont		Eagles	Vermont Recreation Reserve, Vermont	CFGFL	1919	1962-	21	2019

Men's Division 1 (2024)

Club	Jumper	Nickname	Home Ground	Former League	Est.	Years in EFNL	EFNL Senior Premierships	Most recent
Bayswater		Waters	Marie Wallace Bayswater Park, Bayswater	CFGFL	1895	1962-	7	2016
Beaconsfield		Eagles	Holm Park Reserve, Beaconsfield	OEFNL	1890	2022-	0	-
Doncaster		Sharks	Schramms Reserve, Doncaster	ESFL	1902	1962-	7	2015
Mitcham		Tigers	Walker Park, Mitcham	CFGFL	1888	1962-	8	2023
Montrose		Demons	Montrose Recreation Reserve, Montrose	CMFL	1924	1964-	3	2013
Mooroolbark		Mustangs	Mooroolbark Heights Reserve, Mooroolbark	–	1966	1966-	2	2009
North Ringwood		Saints	Quambee Reserve, Ringwood North	–	1962	1962-	5	2014
Park Orchards		Sharks	Domeney Reserve, Park Orchards	–	1969	2012	1	2017
South Belgrave		Saints	Belgrave South Recreation Reserve, Belgrave South	YVMDFL	1946	1969, 2008-	3	2022
Wantirna South		Devils	Walker Reserve, Wantirna South	MDFA	1952	1962	5	2014

Men's Division 2 (2024)

Club	Jumper	Nickname	Home Ground	Former League	Est.	Years in EFNL	EFNL Senior Premierships	Most recent
Boronia		Hawks	Tormore Reserve, Boronia	CFGFL	1927	1962-	6	2023
Croydon		Blues	Croydon Oval, Croydon	CFGFL	1906	1962-	2	1997
East Burwood		Rams	East Burwood Reserve, East Burwood	CFGFL	1910	1962-	12	2000
Heathmont		Jets	HE Parker Reserve, Heathmont	CFGFL	1956	1962-	4	2011
Lilydale		Falcons	Lilydale Recreation Reserve, Lilydale	YVFL	1872	1965-	6	2011
Mulgrave		Lions	Mulgrave Reserve, Wheelers Hill	CFGFL	1925	1962-	3	2010
Ringwood		Redbacks	Jubilee Park, Ringwood	CFGFL	1899	1962-	3	2005
Templestowe		Dockers	Templestowe Reserve, Templestowe	NFNL	1892	1991-	2	2010
The Basin		Bears	Batterham Reserve, The Basin	CFGFL	1947	1962-	4	2012
Waverley Blues		Blues	Mt Waverley Reserve, Mount Waverley	–	1998	1999-	4	2022

Men's Division 3 (2024)

Club	Jumper	Nickname	Home Ground	Former League	Est.	Years in EFNL	EFNL Senior Premierships	Most recent
Coldstream		Cougars	Halley Supple Reserve, Coldstream	CFGFL	1890	1962-	3	2001
Donvale		Magpies	Donvale Reserve,Donvale	ESCFL	1971	1992-2013, 2015-	6	2023
Fairpark		Lions	Fairpark Reserve, Ferntree Gully	YVMDFL	1969	1981-	2	2019
Ferntree Gully		Eagles	Wally Tew Reserve, Ferntree Gully	MDFA	1892	1965-	3	2016
Knox		Falcons	Knox Gardens Reserve, Wantirna South	ESCFL	1980	1989-	4	2017
Oakleigh District		Districts	Princes Highway Reserve, Oakleigh East	SFNL	1950	2022	0	-
Silvan		Cats	Silvan Recreation Ground, Silvan	YVMDFL	1921	1962-1965, 2011-	2	2022
Surrey Park		Panthers	Surrey Park Reserve, Box Hill	SFNL	1994	2002	1	2023
Upper Ferntree Gully		Kings	Kings Park, Upper Ferntree Gully	MDFA	1948	1966-	5	2016
Warrandyte		Bloods	Warrandyte Reserve, Warrandyte	CFGFL	1906	1962-	6	2015

Men's Division 4 (2024)

Club	Jumper	Nickname	Home Ground	Former League	Est.	Years in EFNL	EFNL Senior Premierships	Most recent
Chirnside Park		Panthers	Kimberley Reserve, Chirnside Park	VAFA	1978	2000-	1	2009
Croydon North MLOC		Rams	Hughes Park, Croydon North	–	2018	2019-	0	-
Forest Hill		Zebras	Forest Hill Reserve, Forest Hill	–	1967	1970-	1	1984
Kilsyth		Cougars	Pinks Reserve, Kilsyth	VFA	1910	1962-1981, 1986-	3	1995
Nunawading		Lions	Koonung Reserve, Blackburn North	ESFL	1927	1962-	1	2002
Scoresby		Magpies	Scoresby Recreation Reserve, Scoresby	CFGFL	1925	1962-	6	2006
Whitehorse Pioneers		Pioneers	Springfield Park, Box Hill North	SFNL	1954	1998-	2	2018

Women's Premier Division (2024)

Club	Jumper	Nickname	Home ground	Former League	Est.	Years in EFNL	EFNL Senior Premierships	Most recent
Boronia		Hawks	Tormore Reserve, Boronia	–	1927	1962-	1	2023
Eastern Devils		Devils	Mulgrave Reserve, Wheelers Hill	SEWF	1999	2021-	2	2023
Mount Evelyn		Rovers	Mount Evelyn Recreation Reserve, Mount Evelyn	–	1931	2022-	0	-
South Belgrave		Saints	Belgrave South Recreation Reserve, Belgrave South	–	1946	1969, 2008-	0	-
South Croydon		Bulldogs	Cheong Park, South Croydon	–	1969	1969-	1	2019
The Basin		Bears	Batterham Reserve, The Basin	–	1947	1962-	0	-
Vermont		Eagles	Vermont Recreation Reserve, Vermont	–	1919	1962-	2	2022
Whitehorse Pioneers		Pioneers	Springfield Park, Box Hill North	NFNL	1954	1998-	0	-

Women's Division 1 (2024)

Club	Jumper	Nickname	Home ground	Former League	Est.	Years in EFNL	EFNL Senior Premierships	Most recent
Beaconsfield		Eagles	Holm Park Reserve, Beaconsfield	SEWF	1890	2022-	0	-
Donvale		Magpies	Donvale Reserve,Donvale	–	1971	1992-2013, 2015-	1	2018
East Ringwood		Roos	East Ringwood Reserve, East Ringwood	–	1929	1962-	1	2023
Knox		Falcons	Knox Gardens Reserve, Wantirna South	SEWF	1980	1989-	1	2022
North Ringwood		Saints	Quambee Reserve, Ringwood North	–	1962	1962-	1	2019
Park Orchards		Sharks	Domeney Reserve, Park Orchards	–	1969	2012	0	-

Women's Division 2 (2024)

Club	Jumper	Nickname	Home ground	Former League	Est.	Years in EFNL	EFNL Senior Premierships	Most recent
Berwick		Wickers	Edwin Flack Reserve, Berwick	VWFL	1903	2020-	0	-
Blackburn		Panthers	Morton Park, Blackburn	–	1890	1962-	0	-
Chirnside Park		Panthers	Kimberley Reserve, Chirnside Park	SEWF	1978	2000-	0	-
East Burwood		Rams	East Burwood Reserve, East Burwood	–	1910	1962-	1	2022
Kilsyth		Cougars	Pinks Reserve, Kilsyth	–	1910	1962-1981, 1986-	1	2023
Montrose		Demons	Montrose Recreation Reserve, Montrose	–	1924	1964-	0	-
Ringwood		Redbacks	Jubilee Park, Ringwood	–	1899	1962-	0	-
Surrey Park		Panthers	Surrey Park Reserve, Box Hill	–	1994	2002	0	-
Waverley Blues		Blues	Mt Waverley Reserve, Mount Waverley	–	1998	1999-	0	-

Women's Division 3 (2024)

Club	Jumper	Nickname	Home ground	Former League	Est.	Years in EFNL	EFNL Senior Premierships	Most recent
Coldstream		Cougars	Halley Supple Reserve, Coldstream	–	1890	1962-	0	-
Croydon North MLOC		Rams	Hughes Park, Croydon North	–	2018	2019-	0	-
Eastern Devils Reserves		Devils	Mulgrave Reserve, Wheelers Hill	SEWF	1999	2021-	2	2023
Heathmont		Jets	HE Parker Reserve, Heathmont	–	1956	1962-	0	-
Mitcham		Tigers	Walker Park, Mitcham	–	1888	1962-	0	-
Mooroolbark		Mustangs	Mooroolbark Heights Reserve, Mooroolbark	–	1966	1966-	1	2023
North Ringwood Reserves		Saints	Quambee Reserve, Ringwood North	–	1969	1969-	1	2019
South Croydon Reserves		Bulldogs	Cheong Park, South Croydon	–	1969	1969-	1	2019

Women's Division 4 (2024)

Club	Jumper	Nickname	Home ground	Former League	Est.	Years in EFNL	EFNL Senior Premierships	Most recent
Bayswater		Waters	Marie Wallace Bayswater Park, Bayswater	VWFL	1895	1962-	1	2017
Boronia Reserves		Hawks	Tormore Reserve, Boronia	–	1927	1962-	0	-
Fairpark		Lions	Fairpark Reserve, Ferntree Gully	–	1969	1981-	0	-
Ferntree Gully		Eagles	Wally Tew Reserve, Ferntree Gully	–	1892	1965-	0	-
Nunawading		Lions	Koonung Reserve, Blackburn North	–	1927	1962-	0	-
The Basin Reserves		Bears	Batterham Reserve, The Basin	–	1947	1962-	0	-
Upper Ferntree Gully		Kings	Kings Park, Upper Ferntree Gully	–	1948	1966-	0	-
Wantirna South		Devils	Walker Reserve, Wantirna South	–	1952	1962	0	-
Warrandyte		Bloods	Warrandyte Reserve, Warrandyte	–	1906	1962-	0	-

Junior Only Clubs

These clubs only have junior teams playing in the EFNL.

Club	Jumper	Nickname	Home Ground	Former league	Est.	Years in EFNL
Endeavour Hills		Eagles	Barry Simon Reserve, Endeavour Hills	SEJ	1978	2021-
Glen Waverley Rovers		Rovers	Brentwood Reserve, Glen Waverley	SECYCFA	1970
Lysterfield		Wolves	Lakesfield Reserve, Lysterfield	–	2008	2011-
Rowville Knights (St. Simons)		Knights	Liberty Reserve, Rowville	KJFA	1993	1999-

EFNL Champions

Here are the teams that have won championships in the Eastern Football Netball League over the years.

Five Division Competition (2019–)

Four Division Competition (1986–2018)

Three Division competition (1962–1985)

Former Clubs

Over the years, some clubs have left the EFNL for different reasons. Here are some of them:

Club	Jumper	Nickname	Home Ground	Former League	Est.	Years in EFNL	EFNL Senior Premierships	Fate
Balwyn Combined		Demons	Macleay Park, Balwyn North	VAFA		1996	0	Folded
Bennettswood		Swans	Bennettswood Reserve, Burwood	ESFL		1968-1986	1	Merged with Blackburn South Football Club
Bennettswood-Blackburn South		Swans		–	1987	1987-1990	1	Folded
Blackburn South				–	1966	1984-1986	0	Merged with Bennettswood Football Club
Clayton		Clays	Meade Reserve, Clayton	SESFL	1908	1985-1998	1	Transferred to Southern Football Netball League
Canterbury		Cobras	Canterbury Sports Ground, Surrey Hills	SFNL	1881	2009-2013	0	Transferred to Victorian Amateur Football Association
East Hawthorn		Hawks	St. James Park, Hawthorn	NMFL	1931	1970-1972	2	Transferred to Northern Metropolitan Football League
Glen Waverley Hawks		Hawks	Central Reserve, Glen Waverley	–	1973	2005-2022	0	In recess
Mount Evelyn		Rovers	Gary Martin Oval, Mount Evelyn	CFGFL	1931	1962-2001	5	Transferred to Yarra Ranges Football & Netball League, women's team still competes in EFNL
Noble Park Bears		Bears	Parkfield Reserve, Noble Park	ESCFL		1989-1996	0	Folded
Olinda		Bloods	Olinda Recreation Reserve, Olinda	MDFA	1908	1965-1985	4	Transferred to Yarra Ranges Football & Netball League and now known as Olinda-Ferny Creek
Southern Cobras		Cobras	Edinburgh Reserve, Springvale	SESFL	1962	1977–83 as Sandown, 1984-1997 as South Waverley Sandown, 1998-05 as Southern Cobras	2	Transferred to Southern Football Netball League and now known as Sandown Cobras. Folded after 2023 season
Surrey Hills				CFGFL	1887	1962-1993	3	Merged with East Camberwell to form Surrey Park Football Club
SBL Wolves		Wolves	Belgrave South Recreation Reserve, Belgrave South	–	2017	2017-2023	0	De-merged into Lysterfield and South Belgrave Junior Football Clubs
Wandin		Bulldogs	Wandin North Reserve, Wandin North	CFGFL	1909	1962-1971	0	Transferred to Yarra Ranges Football & Netball League
Waverley		Panthers	Columbia Park Reserve, Wheelers Hill	VAFA	1908	1991-1998	0	Merged with Mount Waverley Burwood to form the Waverley Blues Football Club
Wonga Park		Kangaroos	Brushy Creek Park, Croydon North	ESCFL		1986 as Wonga Park 1987-90 as North Croydon	0	Transferred to Yarra Ranges Football & Netball League
Yarra Glen		River Pigs	Yarra Glen Recreation Reserve, Yarra Glen	CFGFL	1888	1962-1984	1	Transferred to Yarra Ranges Football & Netball League

|