- Omeo & District Football League
-
The logo of the Omeo & District Football League (ODFL)
The Omeo and District Football League (ODFL) is an Australian Rules Football League based out of the Tambo Valley region of East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. The ODFL has existed in some form since 1893, and operates under the auspices of the Victorian Country Football League (VCFL).[1] The league is situated in an area with a small population, resulting in the league playing 16-a-side rather than the standard 18-a-side, and not fielding a reserve grade.
Clubs involved in the ODFL are invited to field a men's Senior football team and boys' Junior (Under 16) football team. Clubs can also enter a women's Senior netball team, and girls' Junior (Under 16) and Midget (primary school age) netball teams competing in a concurrent netball league.[2]
Contents
History
The first recorded football competition in the upper Tambo Valley region, often referred to as the Omeo District, dates from 1893, and some type of official competition has continued essentially uninterrupted from this time.[3] In 1923 the competition was renamed the Omeo District Football League (ODFL), and it has continued with this name until the present day.[4]
Throughout most of its history the ODFL and its precedents has contained teams from the four main towns of the Omeo District, namely Benambra, Ensay, Omeo, and Swifts Creek. In earlier days, during the times of gold rushes and shortly thereafter when the population of the region was significantly higher, a team from the now minor locality of Cassilis (originally known as Long Gully) was also regularly involved,[5][6] and records indicate other historical localities also fielded teams.
The league was named for Omeo, the largest town and traditionally the administrative centre of the region. The area was commonly referred to as the Omeo District, and existed as the independent local government Shire of Omeo, or Omeo Shire, until it was amalgamated with several other shires into the newly formed Shire of East Gippsland in 1994.[7]
In historical times the region was relatively isolated, with the remote 52 km section of the Omeo Highway (now the Great Alpine Road) between Ensay and Bruthen mainly unsealed and regularly impassable, especially during the winter months. This made the road slow to navigate, especially before readily available motorised transport became common. This was the reason for the historical governmental separation of the region despite its low population, and explained the need for the small isolated football league.
Boyle and Mac's Challenge Cup
The earliest recorded history of a football competition in the Omeo District was the Boyle and Mac's Challenge Cup,[5][8] referred to alternatively as the Boyle and Mac Cup,[3] Boyle Mac Challenge Cup,[6] or Boyle Mac trophy.[9] This competition began in 1893, four years before the formation of the Victorian Football League (now Australian Football League), the premier football league in Victoria and Australia. It is unknown exactly why the competition had the Boyle and Mac's title,[8] however the captain of Omeo was named Boyle.[5]
Records indicate that the 1893 trophy was awarded following a series of games between Long Gully, Omeo, and Swifts Creek Football Clubs, with each club playing the others two times for a total of six matches. A newspaper report from early in the season suggests a final match was scheduled,[5] presumably between the top two sides, however the same paper reported at the end of the season that the winner of the cup was decided on the top placed team at the end of the six matches, with no actual final being played.[6]
Swifts Creek defeated Omeo in the final match of the season,[10] placing them two points clear at the top of the ladder with two wins and a draw (for ten points), from Omeo with two wins (eight points), and Long Gully with one win and a draw (six points).[6] The 1893 trophy is engraved on the front with:
BOYLE & MAC'S
CHALLENGE CUP
Won by
SWIFT'S CREEK
1893with a separate engraving on the back presenting the trophy to the club's secretary.[8] The Boyle and Mac's Challenge Cup ran from 1893 until 1896.[3]
Noble Explosives Cup
Following the 1896 season the Boyle and Mac's Challenge Cup was disbanded, being replaced with the Noble Explosives Cup. This competition only ran for two seasons, 1897 and 1898, with its two premiers being Omeo and Cassilis.[11]
Omeo District Football Association (ODFA)
The Omeo District Football Association (ODFA) was formed in 1899, replacing the Noble Explosives Cup.[11] The competition ran under this name from 1899 to 1907, then from 1914 to 1921.[12]
Tambo Valley Football Association (TVFA)
For a period of time, at least including 1907 to 1925, another association based between Ensay and Swifts Creek operated as the Tambo Valley Football Association (TVFA).[13][14]
Omeo District Football League (ODFL)
In 1923 the Omeo District Football League (ODFL) was formed to replace the ODFA, and has continued with that name ever since.[4][12] The competition is now usually referred to as the Omeo and District Football League (still abbreviated to ODFL), with the "and" being used to recognise that it has incorporated teams from beyond the original Omeo District since 1978.
League modifications
- 1893: The first recorded football competition in the Omeo District, the Boyle and Mac's Challenge Cup was formed.[3][8]
- 1897: The Noble Explosives Cup replaced the Boyle and Mac's Challenge Cup, which had been disbanded after the 1896 season.[11]
- 1899: After just two years the Noble Explosives Cup was disbanded, being replaced by the Omeo District Football Association (ODFA).[12]
- 1913: For a period of time, at least including this year, the league operated as the Tambo Valley Football Association.[14]
- 1925: The ODFA was renamed the Omeo District Football League (ODFL).[12]
- 1941–44: The league was in recess due to the large number of young men from the district involved in World War II.[4]
- 1978: Bruthen (from the East Gippsland Football League) and Buchan (after an eight year recess from the Snow Valley Football League) were admitted,[15] extending the league beyond the traditional 'Omeo District' of the upper Tambo Valley for the first time, and taking the number of teams to six.
- 1995: Ensay folded after five rounds due to being unable to field a team; their record for that season was expunged.
- 1996: Lake Tyers reformed after many years in recess, affiliating with the ODFL for the first time, and competing in 1996–97.[16]
- 1997: Swan Reach were admitted from the Riviera Football League after spending a year in recess.
- 1997: Lake Tyers were ejected from the league following conflicts with other clubs, abusive the crowd behavior was the reason .[16]
- 2004: Lindenow South were admitted after the Riviera Football League folded, making seven teams, and introducing a bye.
- 2007: Benambra and Omeo merged to form Omeo-Benambra, returning the league to six teams.
Clubs
Note that details given in this section refer to senior football teams. In terms of colours and jumper designs, junior football teams generally follow the same design as senior teams. Netball teams share much the same colour combination, typically with a skirt of one of the primary team colours and a top of the other colour. Years in the league for other teams are also mainly in line with the club's senior football, although clubs are not always able to field all teams in any given year.
Current
Club Jumper* Nickname Home ground Years in Competition Senior Premierships (since 1923) Total Bruthen 
Bulldogs Bruthen Rec. Reserve
37°42′47″S 147°50′05″E / 37.71306°S 147.83472°E1978 – present 1979, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 2003 6 Buchan 
Cavemen Buchan Recreation Reserve
37°29′51″S 148°10′38″E / 37.4975°S 148.17722°E1978 – present 1983, 1987, 1998, 2004, 2005 5 Lindenow South 
Swampies
(Swamp Hawks)Lindenow South Rec. Res.
37°49′58″S 147°25′50″E / 37.83278°S 147.43056°E2004 – present – 0 Omeo-Benambra 
Ranges
(Alpine Ranges)Omeo Recreation Reserve
37°05′40″S 147°35′52″E / 37.09444°S 147.59778°E2007 – present 2007 1 Swan Reach 
Swans Swan Reach Rec. Reserve
37°49′28″S 147°51′34″E / 37.82444°S 147.85944°E1997 – present 1999, 2009 2 Swifts Creek 
Demons Swifts Creek Rec. Reserve
37°15′55″S 147°42′54″E / 37.26528°S 147.715°E1893 – present 1925, 1926, 1931, 1935, 1938, 1945, 1959, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2010, 2011 18 * Note that the jumper design shown is a representation of the club's most recent jumper design. Most designs have been changed over the years, some quite significantly.
Previous
Club Jumper* Nickname Home ground Years in Competition Senior Premierships (since 1923) Total Benambra 
Bloods Benambra Memorial Recreation Reserve
36°56′38″S 147°41′59″E / 36.94389°S 147.69972°EFounding – 2006;
merged with Omeo1927, 1928, 1930, 1932, 1939, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1961, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1990, 1994, 2000, 2006 19 Cassilis
(Long Gully)Unknown Unknown Long Gully Oval[17] 1893 – ?;
folded– 0 Ensay 
Eagles Ensay Recreation Reserve
37°22′57″S 147°49′23″E / 37.3825°S 147.82306°EFounding – 1995;
folded1934, 1936, 1946, 1947, 1950, 1960 6 Lake Tyers 
Sea Eagles Lake Tyers Oval
37°50′10″S 148°06′03″E / 37.83611°S 148.10083°E1996 – 1997;
voted out of league– 0 Omeo 
Maroons Omeo Recreation Reserve
37°05′40″S 147°35′52″E / 37.09444°S 147.59778°E1893 – 2006;
merged with Benambra1923, 1924, 1929, 1933, 1937, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1986, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996 27 Tongio Unknown Unknown – 0 * Note that the jumper design shown is a representation of the club's final known jumper design. Where the design is unknown, a representation of the club colours, if known, is displayed instead.
Premierships
Senior football
Season Premier Runner Up Score Margin League B&F Leading goalkicker Goals 2011 Swifts Creek Lindenow South 17.17 (119) – 11.15 (81) 38 2010 Swifts Creek Bruthen 22.12 (144) – 13.10 (88) 56 2009 Swan Reach Swifts Creek 25.19 (169) – 21.7 (133) 36 2008 Swifts Creek Bruthen 16.12 (108) – 13.9 (87) 21 2007 Omeo-Benambra Swan Reach 24.12 (156) – 13.8 (86) 70 2006 Replay Benambra Swifts Creek 19.16 (130) – 9.9 (63) 67 2006 Benambra Swifts Creek 15.11 (101) – 16.5 (101) Draw 2005 Buchan Omeo 18 12 (120) – 14.13 (97) 23 2004 Buchan Omeo 14.10 (94) – 9.15 (69) 25 2003 Bruthen Swan Reach 17.15 (117) – 15.12 (102) 15 2002 Swifts Creek Omeo 16.12 (108) – 11.16 (82) 26 2001 Swifts Creek Buchan 16.12 (108) – 10.12 (72) 36 2000 Benambra Omeo 10.17 (77) – 11.9 (75) 2 1999 Swan Reach Bruthen 25.15 (165) – 5.10 (40) 125 1998 Buchan Benambra 19.8 (122) – 11.3 (69) 53 1997 Swifts Creek Lake Tyers 28.14 (182) – 13.9 (87) 95 1996 Omeo Swifts Creek 10.15 (75) – 9.6 (60) 15 1995 Omeo Swifts Creek 18.5 (113) – 10.9 (69) 44 1994 Benambra Swifts Creek 20.19 (139) – 14.12 (96) 43 1993 Swifts Creek Bruthen 20.12 (132) – 15.7 (97) 35 1992 Omeo Swifts Creek 12.12 (84) – 9.18 (72) 12 1991 Omeo Benambra 18.18 (126) – 17.12 (114) 12 1990 Benambra Buchan 25.17 (167) – 8.2 (50) 117 1989 Bruthen Benambra 16.18 (114) – 6.11 (47) 67 1988 Bruthen Benambra 18.18 (126) – 11.18 (84) 44 1987 Buchan Bruthen 20.14 (134) – 18.16 (124) 10 1986 Omeo Bruthen 13.8 (86) – 12.9 (81) 5 1985 Bruthen Omeo 24.14 (158) – 12.16 (88) 70 1984 Bruthen Buchan 23.14 (152) – 11.9 (75) 77 1983 Buchan Benambra 14.14 (98) – 14.12 (96) 2 1982 Swifts Creek Benambra 18.7 (115) – 15.17 (107) 8 1981 Swifts Creek Bruthen 24.17 (161) – 3.7 (25) 136 1980 Swifts Creek Buchan 18.14 (122) – 10.10 (70) 52 1979 Bruthen Swifts Creek 18.12 (120) – 15.18 (108) 12 1978 Swifts Creek Omeo 16.10 (106) – 9.19 (73) 33 1977 Omeo 1976 Omeo 1975 Omeo 1974 Benambra 1973 Benambra 1972 Omeo 1971 Omeo 1970 Omeo 1969 Benambra 1968 Benambra 1967 Omeo 1966 Omeo 1965 Omeo 1964 Omeo 1963 Omeo 1962 Omeo 1961 Benambra 1960 Ensay 1959 Swifts Creek 1958 Benambra 1957 Benambra 1956 Benambra 1955 Benambra 1954 Omeo 1953 Benambra 1952 Omeo 1951 Omeo 1950 Ensay 1949 Omeo 1948 Omeo 1947 Ensay 1946 Ensay 1945 Swifts Creek 1944 No competition (WWII) 1943 No competition (WWII) 1942 No competition (WWII) 1941 No competition (WWII) 1940 Ensay Omeo 11.7(73) to 9.9 (63) 10 1939 Benambra 1938 Swifts Creek 1937 Omeo 1936 Ensay 1935 Swifts Creek 1934 Ensay 1933 Omeo 1932 Benambra 1931 Swifts Creek 1930 Benambra 1929 Omeo 1928 Benambra 1927 Benambra 1926 Swifts Creek 1925 Swifts Creek Omeo 5.9 (39) – 5.5 (35)[18] 4 1924 No competition 1923 No competition Season Premier Runner Up Score Margin 1922 No competition 1921 Omeo 1920 Swifts Creek 1919 Swifts Creek[19] 1918 No competition 1917 No competition 1916 No competition 1915 No competition 1914 Cassilis 1913 No competition 1912 No competition 1911 No competition 1910 No competition 1909 No competition 1908 No competition 1907 Cassilis 1906 Cassilis [20] Omeo 1905 Cassilis 1904 Omeo 1903 Omeo 1902 Unknown 1901 Omeo 1900 Benambra 1899 Omeo 1898 Cassilis[11] 1897 Omeo[11] 1896 Long Gully 1895 Long Gully 1894 Long Gully 1893 Swifts Creek[8] Omeo Junior football (Under 16)
Junior football is open to all players under sixteen years of age on the first of January each year. Due to the low population and the number of players needed for football teams this is the only junior competition available, raising the unusual challenge that teenagers as old as sixteen may be playing against children as young as six.
Season Premier Runner Up Score Margin 2011 Omeo-Benambra Swifts Creek 12.8 (80) – 8.10 (58) 22 2010 Bruthen Swifts Creek 13.8 (86) – 3.3 (21) 65 2009 Bruthen Omeo-Benambra 8.13 (61) – 7.5 (47) 14 2008 Bruthen 2007 Bruthen 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 Omeo Swifts Creek 13.18 (96) – 7.7 (49) 47 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 Bruthen 1996 Bruthen 1995 Swifts Creek 1994 Swifts Creek 1993 Swifts Creek Benambra 70 1992 Benambra 1991 Bruthen 1990 Buchan 1989 Omeo 1988 Omeo 1987 Bruthen 1986 Bruthen 1985 Bruthen 1984 Bruthen Swifts Creek 1983 Ensay 1982 Swifts Creek Ensay 23 1981 Bruthen Swifts Creek 15.12 (102) – 3.0 (18)[21] 84 1980 Buchan Bruthen 72 1979 Bruthen Buchan 12.17 (89) – 5.1 (31)[22] 58 1978 Buchan Swifts Creek 1977 Swifts Creek 1976 Swifts Creek 1975 Swifts Creek 1974 Ensay 1973 Omeo 1972 Omeo 1971 Omeo 1970 Ensay 1969 Omeo 1968 Swifts Creek 1967 Omeo Senior netball
Season Premier Runner Up Score Margin 2011 Omeo-Benambra Buchan 28 – 19 9 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 Swifts Creek Omeo 3 2001 2000 Junior netball (Under 16)
Junior netball is open to all players under sixteen years of age on the first of January each year. While potentially any juniors can play in these teams, in practical terms girls under eleven will generally only play midgets.
Season Premier Runner Up Score Margin 2011 Swifts Creek Bruthen 23 – 21 2 2010 2009 Swifts Creek Omeo 23 – 20 3 Midget netball (primary school age)
Midget netball is open to players attending primary school, effectively making this competition approximately under eleven. Finals are not played in midget netball; the team that finishes at the top of the ladder at the end of the regular season is regarded as the premier team.
Season Premier Runner Up 2011 Swifts Creek 2009 Ladder
Omeo DFL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Swifts Creek 13 0 2 0 2024 1069 189.34% 52 Swan Reach 11 0 4 0 2463 1152 213.80% 44 Omeo Benambra 8 0 6 1 1569 1308 119.95% 34 Bruthen 7 0 7 1 1377 1795 76.71% 30 Buchan 3 0 12 0 1038 2136 48.60% 12 Lindenow South 2 0 13 0 983 1994 49.30% 8 FINALS
Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts 1st Semi Omeo Benambra 19 14 128 Bruthen 13 8 86 2nd Semi Swan Reach 33 21 219 Swifts Creek 14 15 99 Preliminary Swifts Creek 16 15 111 Omeo Benambra 16 9 105 Grand Swan Reach 25 19 169 Swifts Creek 21 7 133 2010 Ladder
Omeo DFL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Swan Reach 11 0 4 0 1734 1341 129.31% 44 Bruthen 11 0 4 0 1653 1322 125.04% 44 Swifts Creek 10 0 5 0 1823 1194 152.68% 40 Lindenow South 7 0 8 0 1249 1311 95.27% 28 Omeo Benambra 3 0 12 0 1288 1779 72.40% 12 Buchan 3 0 12 0 1191 1991 59.82% 12 FINALS
Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts 1st Semi Swifts Creek 31 11 197 Lindenow South 11 9 75 2nd Semi Bruthen 14 8 92 Swan Reach 6 10 46 Preliminary Swifts Creek 18 13 121 Swan Reach 12 11 83 Grand Swifts Creek 22 12 144 Bruthen 13 10 88 2011 Ladder
Omeo DFL Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Lindenow South 15 0 0 0 2091 1240 168.63% 60 Swifts Creek 11 0 4 0 2155 1433 150.38% 44 Bruthen 8 0 7 0 1813 1848 98.11% 32 Swan Reach 6 0 9 0 1825 1764 103.46% 24 Omeo Benambra 4 0 11 0 1410 1781 79.17% 16 Buchan 1 0 14 0 1054 2282 46.19% 4 FINALS
Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts 1st Semi Swan Reach 19 13 127 Bruthen 10 25 85 2nd Semi Lindenow South 17 7 109 Swifts Creek 16 8 104 Preliminary Swifts Creek 33 13 211 Swan Reach 15 10 100 Grand Swifts Creek 17 17 119 Lindenow South 11 15 81 References
- ^ "East Leagues, Clubs & Umpire Associations". Official website. Victorian Country Football League. 2010. http://www.vcfl.com.au/index.php?id=50. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ^ "Omeo & District Football League". Australian Football. SportingPulse Network Partners. http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-6188-0-0-0. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
- ^ a b c d Devaney, John. "Boyle and Mac Cup". Full Points Footy. http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/boyle_and_mac_cup.htm. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
- ^ a b c "ODFL Honour Board". Albion Hotel, Swifts Creek.
- ^ a b c d "Football: Boyle and Mac's Challenge Cup". The Omeo Telegraph. 7 July 1893.
- ^ a b c d "Football: Swifts Creek vs Omeo". The Omeo Telegraph. 28 July 1893.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (1 August 1995). Victorian local government amalgamations 1994-1995: Changes to the Australian Standard Geographical Classification. Commonwealth of Australia. p. 4,6. ISBN 0-642-23117-6. http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/free.nsf/0/76E601D6DB55E88ACA25722500049195/$File/12570_1994-95.pdf. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ^ a b c d e "Cup poses questions". The Bairnsdale Advertiser: p. 12. 31 May 1993.
- ^ The Omeo Telegraph. 21 July 1893.
- ^ "Could history repeat itself in centenary year". The Bairnsdale Advertiser: p. 6. 7 June 1993.
- ^ a b c d e Devaney, John. "Noble Explosives Cup". Full Points Footy. http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/noble_explosives_cup.htm. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
- ^ a b c d Devaney, John. "Omeo District Football League". Full Points Footy. http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/omeo_district_football_league.htm. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
- ^ "Football club celebrates its centenary". The News (published by The Bairnsdale Advertiser group): p. 28. 17 June 1993.
- ^ a b "A town celebrates". The Bairnsdale Advertiser: p. 8. 15 June 1993. "Also of note and a treasured historical item was a cup from 1913 and inscribed "Tambo Valley Football Association - Premiership Cup""
- ^ Devaney, John. "Buchan". Full Points Footy. http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/buchan.htm. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
- ^ a b McKinnon, Malcolm (2007). "Looking for a Game at Lake Tyers". Football Stories from Country Victoria. Culture Victoria. http://www.cv.vic.gov.au/stories/football-stories-from-country-victoria/1593/looking-for-a-game-at-lake-tyers/. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
- ^ "Football: Boyle and Mac's Challenge Cup". The Omeo Telegraph. 21 July 1893.
- ^ "Football: Omeo District Association: Final Encounter". Omeo Standard. 1925.
- ^ "No tea up the spout, spout up the creek". Bairnsdale Advertiser: pp. 12. 31 May 1993.
- ^ "COUNTRY FOOTBALL.". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956) (Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia): p. 9. 16 August 1906. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9672945. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- ^ "'Creek romp in from Bruthen". The News (published by The Bairnsdale Advertiser): p. 32. 2 September 1981.
- ^ "Bruthen in dual premiership win". The News (published by The Bairnsdale Adertiser group): p. 14. 7 September 1979.
External links
Clubs in the Omeo & District Football League Bruthen | Buchan | Lindenow South | Omeo-Benambra | Swan Reach | Swifts Creek
Categories:- Netball competitions in Australia
- Australian rules football competitions in Victoria (Australia)
- East Gippsland
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