kids encyclopedia robot

Eastern Football Netball League facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Eastern Football Netball League
Eastern Football Netball League logo.png
Formerly Eastern Districts Football League (1962-1997)
Eastern Football League (1998-2019)
Sport Australian rules football
Founded 1962; 63 years ago (1962)
Owner(s) Lyle Anderson
CEO Jy Bond
No. of teams
Official website efnl.org.au

The Eastern Football Netball League (EFNL) is a large sports league for Australian rules football and netball. It is located in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. The league has teams for men, women, and junior players.

It was first called the Eastern Districts Football League (EDFL) and later the Eastern Football League (EFL).

History of the League

The Eastern Districts Football League officially started on February 15, 1962. However, its roots go all the way back to 1903 with a league called the Reporter District Football League. The first clubs in that league were Bayswater, Box Hill, Canterbury, Ferntree Gully, Mitcham, and Ringwood.

Over the years, several different football groups came together to form the league we know today. In 1997, the league joined with the Knox Junior Football Association. This merger created the Eastern Football League.

In 2019, the league changed its name to the Eastern Football Netball League. This was to show that netball is also a very important part of the competition.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the EFNL had to cancel its 2020 season.

As of 2025, the league has grown to include 54 different clubs.

Clubs in the EFNL

The EFNL has many clubs spread across Melbourne's eastern suburbs. The teams are organized into different divisions based on their skill level.

Club Locations

Men's Teams (2025)

The men's competition has five divisions. The top division is called Premier Division.

Premier Division

Club Jumper Nickname Home Ground Years in EFNL EFNL Senior Premierships
Total Most recent
Balwyn
Balwyn Football Club colours.jpg
Tigers Balwyn Park, Balwyn 2007- 6 2024
Berwick
Berwick Football Club colours.svg
Wickers Edwin Flack Reserve, Berwick 2021- 0 -
Blackburn
Blackburn Football Club colours.svg
Panthers Morton Park, Blackburn 1962- 3 2002
Doncaster East
Doncaster East Football Club colours.jpg
Lions Zerbes Reserve, Doncaster East 1982- 4 2019
East Ringwood
East Ringwood Football Club colours.jpg
Roos East Ringwood Reserve, East Ringwood 1962- 5 2022
Mitcham
RichmondDesign.svg
Tigers Walker Park, Mitcham 1962- 9 2024
Noble Park
West Coast Eagles Football Club colours.jpg
Bulls Pat Wright Senior Oval, Noble Park 2000- 5 2022
Rowville
Rowville Football Club colours.jpg
Hawks Seebeck Oval, Rowville 1965- 6 2023
South Croydon
South Croydon Football Club colours.jpg
Bulldogs Cheong Park, South Croydon 1969- 8 2017
Vermont
Vermont Football Club Colours.jpg
Eagles Vermont Recreation Reserve, Vermont 1962- 21 2019

Other Men's Divisions

The league also has Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, and Division 4 for men's teams. These divisions feature many other clubs from the area. Some clubs have been in the league since it started in 1962, while others have joined more recently.

Women's Teams (2025)

The women's competition is also very popular and has grown a lot. It has five divisions, from Premier Division down to Division 4.

Premier Division

Club Jumper Nickname Home Ground Years in EFNL EFNL Senior Premierships
Total Most recent
Boronia
Boronia Football Club colours.jpg
Hawks Tormore Reserve, Boronia 2021- 1 2023
Eastern Devils
Eastern Devils Football Club colours.jpg
Devils Mulgrave Reserve, Wheelers Hill 2021- 2 2023
Park Orchards
Park Orchards Football Club.jpg
Sharks Domeney Reserve, Park Orchards 2021- 1 2024
South Belgrave
South Belgrave Football Club colours.jpg
Saints Belgrave South Recreation Reserve, Belgrave South 2024- 0 -
South Croydon
South Croydon Football Club colours.jpg
Bulldogs Cheong Park, South Croydon 2021- 2 2024
The Basin
The Basin Women's Football Club colours.jpg
Bears Batterham Reserve, The Basin 2021- 0 -
Vermont
Vermont Football Club Colours.jpg
Eagles Vermont Recreation Reserve, Vermont 2021- 2 2022
Whitehorse Pioneers
Whitehorse Pioneers Football Club colours.jpg
Pioneers (formerly Suns) Springfield Park, Box Hill North 2021- 0 -

Junior Only Clubs

Some clubs in the EFNL focus only on junior teams for younger players. This helps kids learn the game and develop their skills.

Club Jumper Nickname Home Ground Est. Years in EFNL
Endeavour Hills
Endeavour Hills Junior Football Club colours.jpg
Eagles Singleton Reserve, Endeavour Hills 1978 2021-
Glen Waverley Rovers
Glen Waverley Rovers Junior Football Club colours.jpg
Rovers Brentwood Reserve, Glen Waverley 1970
Lysterfield
Lysterfield Wolves Junior Football Club colours.jpg
Wolves Lakesfield Reserve, Lysterfield 2008 2011-
Rowville Knights (St. Simons)
Rowville Knights Junior Football Club colours.jpg
Knights Liberty Avenue Reserve, Rowville 1993 1999-

Recent Champions

Winning a premiership, or championship, is the biggest prize for any team in the league. Here are the recent winners for the top divisions.

Men's Recent Premiers

Year Premier Division 1 Division 2 Division 3 Division 4
2024 Balwyn Mitcham Boronia Surrey Park Scoresby
2023 Rowville Mitcham Boronia Donvale Surrey Park
2022 Noble Park East Ringwood South Belgrave Waverley Blues Silvan
2021 Competition suspended Competition suspended Competition suspended Competition suspended Competition suspended
2020 No competition No competition No competition No competition No competition
2019 Vermont Doncaster East Mitcham South Belgrave Fairpark

Women's Recent Premiers

Year Premier Division 1 Division 2 Division 3 Division 4
2024 South Croydon Park Orchards Surrey Park Mooroolbark Ferntree Gully
2023 Eastern Devils Boronia East Ringwood Kilsyth Mooroolbark
2022 Eastern Devils Rowville Knox East Burwood Vermont
2021 Competition suspended Competition suspended Competition suspended Competition suspended No competition
2020 No competition No competition No competition No competition No competition

Former Clubs

Over the years, some clubs have left the EFNL. They may have moved to a different league, merged with another club, or stopped playing.

Club Jumper Nickname Years in EFNL Fate
Balwyn Combined
Bentleigh Football Club colours.jpg
Demons 1996 Folded in 1996
Bennettswood
Bennettswood Football Jumper.jpg
Swans 1968-1986 Merged with Blackburn South to form Bennettswood-Blackburn South in 1987
Bennettswood-Blackburn South
Bennettswood Blackburn South Football Jumper.jpg
Swans 1987-1990 Folded in 1991
Blackburn South
Blackburn South Football Club.jpg
1984-1986 Merged with Bennettswood to form Bennettswood-Blackburn South in 1987
Clayton
Clunes Football Club colours.jpg
Clays 1985-1998 Moved to the Southern FNL in 1999
Canterbury
Canterbury Football Club colours.jpg
Cobras 2009-2013 Moved to the VAFA in 2014
East Hawthorn
East Hawthorn Football Club colours.jpg
Hawks 1970-1972 Moved to the Northern Metropolitan FL in 1973
Mount Evelyn
Mt Evelyn Football Club colours.jpg
Rovers 1962-2001, 2022-2024 Moved to the Yarra Ranges FNL in 2002
Noble Park Bears
Noble Park Bears Football Jumper.jpg
Bears 1989-1996 Folded in 1996
North Croydon
North Croydon.jpg
Kangaroos 1986-1990 Moved to the Yarra Ranges FNL in 1991
Olinda
SouthMelbourneDesign.png
Bloods 1965-1985 Moved to the Yarra Ranges FNL in 1986
Southern Cobras
Sandown Cobras football club colors.jpg
Cobras 1977-2005 Moved to the Southern FNL in 2006
Surrey Hills
Surrey Hills Football Jumper.jpg
1962-1993 Merged with East Camberwell to form Surrey Park in 1994
SBL Wolves
SBL Wolves Football Club colours.jpg
Wolves 2017-2023 Split into Lysterfield and South Belgrave Junior Football Clubs
Wandin
BULLDOGSDesign.svg
Bulldogs 1962-1971 Moved to the Yarra Ranges FNL in 1972
Waverley
Blackburn Football Club colours.svg
Panthers 1991-1998 Merged with Mount Waverley Burwood to form Waverley Blues in 1999
Yarra Glen
Essendon Football Club colours.svg
River Pigs 1962-1984 Moved to the Yarra Ranges FNL in 1985

Images for kids

kids search engine
Eastern Football Netball League Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.