Omeo & District Football League

The Omeo and District Football League (ODFL) is an Australian rules football League based on the Omeo 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.

Swifts Creek and Buchan playing off in the 2001 ODFL Grand Final at Buchan

Bruthen

Buchan

Lindenow South

Omeo-Benambra

Swan Reach

Swifts Creek

Locations of current ODFL teams as of 2016

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]

History

The first recorded football competition in the Omeo District, dates back to 1893. Other than short recesses resulting from the two World Wars, some type of official competition has continued 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. Up until around World War I, when the population of the region was significantly higher due to the lingering effects of the gold rushes, a team from the now minor locality of Cassilis (originally known as Long Gully) was also involved in most seasons and experienced considerable success.[5][6] Records indicate other historical localities from the district also occasionally fielded teams, including Bindi, Glen Wills, Little River, Reedy Creek, and Tambo Crossing. Since 1893 Omeo, or its later incarnation as the merged Omeo-Benambra team, has competed in all but possibly two seasons, while Swifts Creek has never missed a season, making it one of the oldest continuously operating Australian Rules Football or general sporting clubs in the country.[7][8]

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.[9]

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 (1893–96)

The earliest recorded history of a football competition in the Omeo District was the Boyle and Mac's Challenge Cup,[5][10] referred to alternatively as the Boyle and Mac Cup,[3] Boyle Mac Challenge Cup,[6] or Boyle Mac trophy.[11] 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,[10] 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,[12] 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
1893

with a separate engraving on the back presenting the trophy to the club's secretary.[10] The Boyle and Mac's Challenge Cup ran from 1893 until 1896.[3]

Noble Explosives Cup (1897–98)

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.[13]

Omeo District Football Association (ODFA) (1899–1907, 1914–21)

Swifts Creek's 1919 ODFA premiership team; note the variety of club jumper designs, all significantly different to the current design

The Omeo District Football Association (ODFA) was formed in 1899, replacing the Noble Explosives Cup.[13] The competition ran under this name from 1899 to 1907, then from 1914 to 1921.[14] Clubs that competed in the ODFA over this time were Cassilis, Omeo, Benambra, Swifts Creek, and Ensay, although only Omeo played in every season that the ODFA was operational.[7] After a year's absence in 1922, the competition would relaunch in 1923 as the Omeo District Football League. Further discussion is included below on the interaction between the ODFA and the Tambo Valley Football Association during their overlapping years of operation between 1907 and 1921.

Tambo Valley Football Association (TVFA) (1907–25)

The mainstays of the early football competitions up to the ODFA were Swifts Creek and Omeo, with Long Gully/Cassilis, Benambra, and Ensay also fielding teams in some or most years. In 1907 the competition split into two branches. The ODFA continued as an 'above the gap' competition involving Omeo, Benambra, and Cassilis, while a new 'below the gap' competition, the Tambo Valley Football Association (TVFA), was formed by Swifts Creek, Ensay, and a new team from the small locality at Bindi.[7][8][15][16] At this time roads were poor and transport options limited, making the 70 km between Benambra and Ensay for example very significant, so presumably this split was largely to help with travel as the competition expanded to more clubs over a larger area.

In 1908, after just one year of the split competition, the ODFA temporarily folded, leaving the TVFA as the only competition in the district. In 1909 the short-lived Bindi club was discontinued, and after a year's hiatus Omeo and Cassilis joined Swifts Creek and Ensay in the TVFA competition, taking it back to four of the regular teams from the previous ODFA. Benambra did not field a team again until 1914 when the TVFA/ODFA split was again implemented. For this split competition in 1914 Bindi temporarily reformed to make up numbers in the TVFA, and the dominant Swifts Creek club which had won the last six straight premierships fielded a one-time only second team, Swifts Creek A, which would lead to the unusual situation of Swifts Creek A defeating Swifts Creek in the 1914 TVFA Grand Final.[7][8]

After just one year of this re-split competition, World War I would then cause both competitions to enter recess from 1915 to 1918. Following the war in 1919 both competitions again recommenced, but Swifts Creek now returned to the ODFA along with Omeo, Benambra, and Cassilis in their last ever season. The TVFA meanwhile would consist of Ensay and two nearby minor localities, Reedy Creek and Little River. At the end of 1921 the ODFA wound up for the last time, and Omeo and Swifts Creek rejoined Ensay in the TVFA for the 1922 season. The commencement of the rebranded ODFL in 1923 would see Omeo and Swifts Creek again leave the TVFA to take part in that competition, with the TVFA having its last ever season in 1925 with Ensay, Reedy Creek, and a once only team from Tambo Crossing. After this Ensay would again join Benambra, Omeo, and Swifts Creek in the new ODFL.[7][8]

Omeo District Football League (ODFL)/Omeo District Football Netball League (ODFNL) (1923–present)

In 1923 the Omeo District Football League (ODFL) was formed to replace the ODFA, and has continued with that name ever since.[4][14] Following the termination of the TVFA after the 1925 season, the ODFL competition ran for more than fifty years with a stable four club structure involving the four main Tambo Valley/Omeo District towns, Benambra, Ensay, Omeo, and Swifts Creek.[7]

In 1978 the league first expanded beyond its traditional range, with Bruthen and Buchan being admitted.[7] Following on from this the competition later became more often referred to as the Omeo and District Football League (still abbreviated to ODFL), with the "and" recognising that it now incorporated teams from beyond the original Omeo District. In 1995 one of the four traditional clubs, Ensay, folded due a lack of players. In 1997 the league admitted two more new clubs from beyond its original range, Swan Reach and Lake Tyers. Lake Tyers would only play for two seasons, but in 2004 another outside team, Lindenow South was also admitted.[7]

By the 2000s many clubs were struggling to find sufficient players every week, and the two historic 'above the gap' teams, Benambra and Omeo, would make the difficult decision to merge and form Omeo-Benambra from the 2007 season onwards. By this era most of the football teams in the competition had also already fully affiliated with their associated netball teams, and the competition eventually officially adopted the title of Omeo District Football Netball League (ODFNL).[17]

Key events in competition history

Note: unless otherwise stated, all items refer to senior football teams. Netball and junior teams often, but not always, follow the senior football teams. There are also insufficient available data sources relating to netball and juniors, including when the competitions originated.

• 1893: The first recorded football competition in the Omeo District, the Boyle and Mac's Challenge Cup was formed, consisting of Long Gully (Cassilis), Omeo, and Swifts Creek. Swifts Creek won the first 'cup'.[3][10]
• 1895: Benambra joined the competition.[7]
• 1897: The Noble Explosives Cup replaced the Boyle and Mac's Challenge Cup, which had been disbanded after the 1896 season.[13]
• 1899: After just two years the Noble Explosives Cup was disbanded, being replaced by the Omeo District Football Association (ODFA).[14]
• 1900: Ensay is thought to have joined the competition.[7]
• 1907: The competition split into the ODFA and the Tambo Valley Football Association (TVFA).[7][8][16]
• 1908–13: The TVFA was the only active competition after the ODTA ceased to operate.[7][8]
• 1914: The ODFA reformed, again resulting in a split competition.[7][8]
• 1915–18: Both the ODFA and TVFA were in recess due to the large number of young men from the district involved in World War I.[7][8]
• 1919: Both the ODFA and TVFA recommenced competition. Founding club Cassilis (originally Long Gully) played their last season.[7][8]
• 1921: Last season of the ODFA, again leaving only the TVFA operational.[7][8]
• 1923: The Omeo District Football League (ODFL) was formed.[4][14]
• 1925: Last season of the TVFA.[7][8]
• 1926: Ensay from the TVFA joined Benambra, Omeo, and Swifts Creek to form the stable four team ODFL.[7][8]
• 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,[18] 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's last season. In Round 4 Benambra scored 52.24.342 against them. Ensay folded after Round 5 due to being unable to field a team. Ensay's record for the 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, returning the league to six teams.[19]
• 1997: Swan Reach were admitted from the Riviera Football League after spending a year in recess, making a seven team competition.
• 1997: Lake Tyers were ejected from the league following conflicts with other clubs, after having made the 1997 Grand Final, returning the league to six teams.[19]
• 2000s: Most towns fully affiliated their long associated football and netball clubs, and the league officially adopted the title Omeo District Football Netball League (ODFNL).[17]
• 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	Colours	Nickname	Home ground	Years in Competition	Senior Premierships (known)	Total
Bruthen		Bulldogs	Bruthen Rec. Reserve 37°42′47″S 147°50′05″E	1978 – present	1979, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 2003, 2017, 2018, 2019	9
Buchan		Cavemen	Buchan Rec. Reserve 37°29′51″S 148°10′38″E	1978 – present	1983, 1987, 1998, 2004, 2005	5
Lindenow South		Swampies (Swamp Hawks)	Lindenow South Rec. Res. 37°49′58″S 147°25′50″E	2004 – present	2012, 2013, 2015, 2016	4
Omeo–Benambra		Ranges (Alpine Ranges)	Omeo Recreation Reserve 37°05′40″S 147°35′52″E	2007 – present	2007 NB: the two clubs merged in 2007 – see below for prior records, inc. a combined 54 flags	1
Swan Reach		Swans	Swan Reach Rec. Reserve 37°49′28″S 147°51′34″E	1997 – present	1999, 2009, 2014	3
Swifts Creek		Demons	Swifts Creek Rec. Reserve 37°15′55″S 147°42′54″E	1893 – present	1893, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1919, 1920, 1925, 1926, 1931, 1935, 1938, 1945, 1959, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2010, 2011	28

* 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 (known)	Total
Benambra		Bloods	Benambra Memorial Recreation Reserve 36°56′38″S 147°41′59″E	1895 – 2006; merged with Omeo	1900, 1927, 1928, 1930, 1932, 1939, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1961, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1990, 1994, 2000, 2006	20
Bindi		Unknown	Unknown	1907, 1908, 1914; folded	–	0
Cassilis (aka Long Gully)	Unknown	Unknown	Long Gully Oval[20]	1893 – 1919; folded	1894, 1895, 1896, 1898, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1914	8
Ensay		Eagles	Ensay Recreation Reserve 37°22′57″S 147°49′23″E	1900 – 1995; folded	1907, 1919, 1920, 1934, 1936, 1940, 1946, 1947, 1950, 1960	10
Glen Wills		Unknown	Unknown	1894 – 1895; folded	–	0
Lake Tyers		Sea Eagles	Lake Tyers Oval 37°50′10″S 148°06′03″E	1996 – 1997; voted out of league	–	0
Little River		Unknown	Unknown	1919 – 1921; folded/merged with Ensay	1921	1
Omeo		Maroons	Omeo Recreation Reserve 37°05′40″S 147°35′52″E	1893 – 2006; merged with Benambra	1897, 1899, 1901, 1903, 1904, 1921, 1922, 1923, 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	34
Reedy Creek		Unknown	Unknown	1919 – 1921, 1925; folded/merged with Ensay	–	0
Tambo Crossing		Unknown	Unknown	1925; folded	–	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

As ODFL

Season	Premier	Runner Up	Score	Margin
2019	Bruthen	Omeo-Benambra	10.12 (72) – 8.11 (59)	13
2018	Bruthen	Swifts Creek	14.11 (95) – 10.9 (69)	26
2017	Bruthen	Lindenow South	18.11 (119) – 14.16 (100)	19
2016	Lindenow South	Swan Reach	19.22 (136) – 9.7 (61)	75
2015	Lindenow South	Buchan	22.13 (145) – 13.20 (98)	47
2014	Swan Reach	Omeo-Benambra	28.24 (192) – 12.13 (85)	107
2013	Lindenow South	Swifts Creek	19.10 (124) – 12.17 (89)	35
2012	Lindenow South	Swifts Creek	20.15 (135) – 10.10 (70)	65
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	Benambra	Swifts Creek	19.16 (130) – 9.9 (63)	67
	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	Swifts Creek	21.9 (135) – 17.18 (120)	15
1976	Omeo	Benambra	17.14 (116) – 6.11 (47)	69
1975	Omeo	Benambra	17.20 (122) – 11.8 (74)	48
1974	Benambra	Swifts Creek	16.12 (108) – 14.17 (101)	7
1973	Benambra	Omeo	10.8 (68) – 10.4 (64)	4
1972	Omeo	Ensay	11.18 (84) – 12.8 (80)	4
1971	Omeo	Swifts Creek	17.17 (119) – 12.8 (80)	39
1970	Omeo	Swifts Creek	16.17 (113) – 3.14 (32)	81
1969	Benambra	Omeo	13.22 (100) – 6.14 (50)	50
1968	Benambra	Omeo
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	Benambra	9.12 (66) – 10.5 (65)	1
1953	Benambra
1952	Omeo	Ensay	8.17 (65) – 6.13 (49)	16
1951	Omeo	Swifts Creek	9.13 (67) – 8.12 (60)	7
1950	Ensay
1949	Omeo	Ensay	9.17 (71) – 8.6 (54)	17
1948	Omeo	Swifts Creek	8.12 (60) – 8.10 (58)	2
1947	Ensay
1946	Ensay
1945	Swifts Creek
1944	No competition (World War II)
1943	No competition (World War II)
1942	No competition (World War II)
1941	No competition (World War II)
1940	Ensay	Omeo	11.7(73) – 9.9 (63)	10
1939	Benambra
1938	Swifts Creek
1937	Omeo	Ensay	10.18 (78) – 10.8 (68)	10
1936	Ensay
1935	Swifts Creek
1934	Ensay
1933	Omeo	Ensay	12.18 (90) – 12.17 (89)	1
1932	Benambra
1931	Swifts Creek
1930	Benambra
1929	Omeo	Benambra	6.10 (46) – 5.14 (44)	2
1928	Benambra
1927	Benambra
1926	Swifts Creek	Omeo	10.5 (65) – 5.12 (42)	23
1925	Swifts Creek	Omeo	5.9 (39) – 5.5 (35)[21]	4
1924	Omeo	Swifts Creek	6.12 (48) – 6.4 (40)	8
1923	Omeo	Swifts Creek	3.11 (29) – 3.7 (25)	4

Pre-ODFL

Season	Premier*	Runner Up	Score	Margin
1922	Omeo (TVFA)	Swifts Creek	3.9 (27) – 1.8 (14)	13
1921	Omeo (ODFA)
	Little River (TVFA)
1920	Swifts Creek (ODFA)
	Ensay (TVFA)	Reedy Creek	5.11 (41) – 3.10 (28)	13
1919	Swifts Creek[22] (ODFA)
	Ensay (TVFA)
1918	No competition (World War I)
1917	No competition (World War I)
1916	No competition (World War I)
1915	No competition (World War I)
1914	Cassilis (ODFA)
	Swifts Creek A (TVFA)	Swifts Creek	8.7 (55) – 6.3 (39)	16
1913	Swifts Creek (TVFA)	Cassilis	5.11 (41) – 1.2 (8)	33
1912	Swifts Creek (TVFA)
1911	Swifts Creek (TVFA)
1910	Swifts Creek (TVFA)
1909	Swifts Creek (TVFA)
1908	Swifts Creek (TVFA)
1907	Cassilis (ODFA)
	Ensay (TVFA)
1906	Cassilis [23] (ODFA)	Omeo
1905	Cassilis (ODFA)
1904	Omeo (ODFA)	Cassilis	8.11 (59) – 2.7 (19)	40
1903	Omeo (ODFA)	Cassilis	3.3 (21) – 2.6 (18)	3
1902	Unknown (ODFA)
1901	Omeo (ODFA)
1900	Benambra (ODFA)
1899	Omeo (ODFA)
1898	Cassilis[13] (NEC)	Omeo
1897	Omeo[13] (NEC)	Cassilis	2.7 (19) – 1.2 (8)	11
1896	Long Gully (BMC)
1895	Long Gully (BMC)
1894	Long Gully (BMC)
1893	Swifts Creek[10] (BMC)	Omeo

* Key: BMC – Boyle and Mac's Challenge Cup; NEC – Noble Explosives Cup; ODFA – Omeo District Football Association; TVFA – Tambo Valley Football Association.

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
2019	Lindenow South	Bruthen	18.18 (126) – 3.4 (22)	104
2018	Omeo-Benambra	Swan Reach	11.17 (83) – 5.6 (36)	47
2017	Swan Reach	Omeo-Benambra	8.13 (61) – 4.6 (30)	31
2016	Swan Reach	Omeo-Benambra	11.19 (85) – 5.3 (33)	52
2015	Bruthen	Buchan	10.12 (72) – 6.8 (44)	28
2014	Bruthen	Omeo-Benambra	11.13 (79) – 11.9 (75)	4
2013	Buchan	Swan Reach	17.10 (112) – 13.7 (85)	27
2012	Buchan	Swan Reach	12.12 (84) – 5.9 (39)	45
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)[24]	84
1980	Buchan	Bruthen		72
1979	Bruthen	Buchan	12.17 (89) – 5.1 (31)[25]	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
2019	Lindenow South	Buchan	55 - 37	18
2018	Bruthen	Lindenow South	35 - 31	4
2017	Bruthen	Buchan	47 – 27	20
2016	Omeo-Benambra	Bruthen	49 – 25	24
2015	Swan Reach	Bruthen	39 – 36	3
2014	Swan Reach	Omeo-Benambra	53 – 45	8
2013	Omeo	Swan Reach		3
2012	Omeo
2011	Omeo	Buchan	28 – 19	9
2010	Omeo
2009
2008
2007	Omeo
2006
2005
2004	Omeo
2003
2002	Swifts Creek	Omeo		3
2001
2000

"B" Grade

Season	Premier	Runner Up	Score	Margin
2019	Lindenow South	Buchan	26 - 11	15
2018	Lindenow South	Bruthen	27 - 23	4

Junior netball (17 and Under)

Junior netball is open to all female players seventeen years of age and under as of the first of January each year. Prior to 2019 it was an Under 16 competition, open to girls under sixteen years of age as of the first of January. While potentially any juniors can play in these teams, in practical terms girls under twelve will generally only play midgets. Junior boys (generally primary school age) may also participate in the netball teams.

Season	Premier	Runner Up	Score	Margin
2019	Buchan	Lindenow South	29 – 26	3
2018	Lindenow South	Swifts Creek	27 – 26	1
2017	Swifts Creek	Bruthen	32 – 29	3
2016	Swan Reach	Swifts Creek	30 – 24	6
2015	Swan Reach	Omeo	15 – 13	2
2014	Omeo	Swifts Creek	21 – 9	12
2013	Buchan	Omeo-Benambra
2012
2011	Swifts Creek	Bruthen	23 – 21	2
2010
2009	Swifts Creek	Omeo	23 – 20	3

Midget netball (Under 12)

Midget netball is open to players under twelve years of age as at the first of January of each year; while it is primarily a female sport, boys may also compete. Prior to 2019 is was open to players attending primary school, effectively making it approximately an under eleven competition. 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
2019	Swifts Creek	Omeo-Benambra
2018	Omeo-Benambra	Swifts Creek
2017	Buchan	Swifts Creek
2011	Swifts Creek

Senior football final ladders

2010 Ladder

Omeo DFL	Wins	Byes	Losses	Draws	For	Against	%	Pts		Final	Team	G	B	Pts	Team	G	B	Pts
Swan Reach	11	0	4	0	1734	1341	129.31%	44		1st Semi	Swifts Creek	31	11	197	Lindenow South	11	9	75
Bruthen	11	0	4	0	1653	1322	125.04%	44		2nd Semi	Bruthen	14	8	92	Swan Reach	6	10	46
Swifts Creek	10	0	5	0	1823	1194	152.68%	40		Preliminary	Swifts Creek	18	13	121	Swan Reach	12	11	83
Lindenow South	7	0	8	0	1249	1311	95.27%	28		Grand	Swifts Creek	22	12	144	Bruthen	13	10	88
Omeo Benambra	3	0	12	0	1288	1779	72.40%	12
Buchan	3	0	12	0	1191	1991	59.82%	12

2011 Ladder

Omeo DFL	Wins	Byes	Losses	Draws	For	Against	%	Pts		Final	Team	G	B	Pts	Team	G	B	Pts
Lindenow South	15	0	0	0	2091	1240	168.63%	60		1st Semi	Swan Reach	19	13	127	Bruthen	10	25	85
Swifts Creek	11	0	4	0	2155	1433	150.38%	44		2nd Semi	Lindenow South	17	7	109	Swifts Creek	16	8	104
Bruthen	8	0	7	0	1813	1848	98.11%	32		Preliminary	Swifts Creek	33	13	211	Swan Reach	15	10	100
Swan Reach	6	0	9	0	1825	1764	103.46%	24		Grand	Swifts Creek	17	17	119	Lindenow South	11	15	81
Omeo Benambra	4	0	11	0	1410	1781	79.17%	16
Buchan	1	0	14	0	1054	2282	46.19%	4

2012 Ladder

Omeo DFL	Wins	Byes	Losses	Draws	For	Against	%	Pts		Final	Team	G	B	Pts	Team	G	B	Pts
Swifts Creek	13	0	2	0	1987	1177	168.82%	52		1st Semi	Omeo Benambra	22	22	154	Bruthen	10	6	66
Lindenow South	11	0	4	0	1954	1508	129.58%	44		2nd Semi	Swifts Creek	20	19	139	Lindenow South	20	11	131
Omeo Benambra	8	0	7	0	1886	1387	135.98%	32		Preliminary	Lindenow South	16	11	107	Omeo Benambra	13	15	93
Bruthen	7	0	8	0	1811	1589	113.97%	28		Grand	Lindenow South	20	15	135	Swifts Creek	10	10	70
Swan Reach	5	0	10	0	1682	1614	104.21%	20
Buchan	1	0	14	0	892	2937	30.37%	4

2013 Ladder

Omeo DFL	Wins	Byes	Losses	Draws	For	Against	%	Pts		Final	Team	G	B	Pts	Team	G	B	Pts
Omeo Benambra	12	0	3	0	2072	1150	180.17%	48		1st Semi	Swifts Creek	23	19	157	Buchan	2	9	21
Lindenow South	11	0	4	0	2314	948	244.09%	44		2nd Semi	Lindenow South	20	12	132	Omeo Benambra	10	9	69
Swifts Creek	11	0	4	0	1927	1099	175.34%	44		Preliminary	Swifts Creek	18	10	118	Omeo Benambra	15	15	105
Buchan	7	0	8	0	1355	1833	73.92%	28		Grand	Lindenow South	19	10	124	Swifts Creek	12	17	89
Swan Reach	3	0	12	0	1153	2171	53.11%	12
Bruthen	1	0	14	0	1020	2640	38.64%	4

2014 Ladder

Omeo DFL	Wins	Byes	Losses	Draws	For	Against	%	Pts		Final	Team	G	B	Pts	Team	G	B	Pts
Swan Reach	11	0	4	0	1828	1450	126.07%	44		1st Semi	Buchan	17	19	121	Bruthen	12	14	86
Omeo Benambra	10	0	5	0	1566	1223	128.05%	40		2nd Semi	Swan Reach	23	22	160	Omeo-Benambra	10	8	68
Buchan	8	0	7	0	1645	1469	111.98%	32		Preliminary	Omeo-Benambra	15	8	98	Buchan*	17	15	117
Bruthen	6	0	9	0	1464	1537	95.25%	24		Grand	Swan Reach	28	24	192	Omeo-Benambra	12	13	85
Lindenow South	5	0	10	0	1618	1674	96.65%	20
Swifts Creek	5	0	10	0	1194	1962	60.86%	20

• Buchan were disqualified for playing an ineligible player

2015 Ladder

Omeo DFL	Wins	Byes	Losses	Draws	For	Against	%	Pts		Final	Team	G	B	Pts	Team	G	B	Pts
Buchan	14	0	1	0	2562	1041	246.11%	56		1st Semi	Swifts Creek	10	5	65	Bruthen	7	11	53
Lindenow South	12	0	3	0	2182	1433	152.27%	48		2nd Semi	Lindenow South	20	25	145	Buchan	13	14	92
Bruthen	10	0	5	0	2147	1255	171.08%	40		Preliminary	Buchan	34	19	223	Swifts Creek	0	6	6
Swifts Creek	4	0	11	0	1297	2226	58.27%	16		Grand	Lindenow South	22	13	145	Buchan	13	20	98
Omeo Benambra	3	0	12	0	1122	1968	57.01%	12
Swan Reach	2	0	13	0	1078	2465	43.73%	8

References

1. "East Leagues, Clubs & Umpire Associations". Official website. Victorian Country Football League. 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
2. "Omeo & District Football League". Australian Football. SportingPulse Network Partners. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
3. Devaney, John. "Boyle and Mac Cup". Full Points Footy. Archived from the original on 6 August 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
4. "ODFL Honour Board". Albion Hotel, Swifts Creek.
5. "Football: Boyle and Mac's Challenge Cup". The Omeo Telegraph. 7 July 1893.
6. "Football: Swifts Creek vs Omeo". The Omeo Telegraph. 28 July 1893.
7. Court, Kev. "Grouse Roots Footy – Omeo District Football League (Vic)". Footypedia.com. Footypedia. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
8. Court, Kev. "Grouse Roots Footy – Tambo Valley Football Association (Vic)". Footypedia.com. Footypedia. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
9. Australian Bureau of Statistics (1 August 1995). Victorian local government amalgamations 1994-1995: Changes to the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia. p. 4,6. ISBN 0-642-23117-6. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
10. "Cup poses questions". The Bairnsdale Advertiser. 31 May 1993. p. 12.
11. "N/A". The Omeo Telegraph. 21 July 1893.
12. "Could history repeat itself in centenary year". The Bairnsdale Advertiser. 7 June 1993. p. 6.
13. Devaney, John. "Noble Explosives Cup". Full Points Footy. Archived from the original on 6 August 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
14. Devaney, John. "Omeo District Football League". Full Points Footy. Archived from the original on 11 February 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
15. "Football club celebrates its centenary". The News (published by The Bairnsdale Advertiser group). 17 June 1993. p. 28.
16. "A town celebrates". The Bairnsdale Advertiser. 15 June 1993. p. 8. Also of note and a treasured historical item was a cup from 1913 and inscribed "Tambo Valley Football Association – Premiership Cup"
17. "Omeo District Football Netball League". SportsTG. Newscorp. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
18. Devaney, John. "Buchan". Full Points Footy. Archived from the original on 12 June 2010. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
19. McKinnon, Malcolm (2007). "Looking for a Game at Lake Tyers". Football Stories from Country Victoria. Culture Victoria. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
20. "Football: Boyle and Mac's Challenge Cup". The Omeo Telegraph. 21 July 1893.
21. "Football: Omeo District Association: Final Encounter". Omeo Standard. 1925.
22. "No tea up the spout, spout up the creek". Bairnsdale Advertiser. 31 May 1993. p. 12.
23. "COUNTRY FOOTBALL". The Argus. Melbourne. 16 August 1906. p. 9. Retrieved 19 October 2011 – via National Library of Australia.
24. "'Creek romp in from Bruthen". The News (published by The Bairnsdale Advertiser). 2 September 1981. p. 32.
25. "Bruthen in dual premiership win". The News (published by The Bairnsdale Adertiser group). 7 September 1979. p. 14.

External links

• League website
• Full Points Footy – Omeo & District Football League