Yarra Junior Football League

The Yarra Junior Football League is the largest junior Australian rules football league in Australia.[1][2][3] The league has a total of 32 clubs, who are based around northern, eastern and north-eastern Melbourne.[4] There is a total of 66 divisions throughout the league.[5]

Yarra Junior Football League
FormerlyDoncaster & Districts Junior Football League + Hawthorn Districts Junior Football League
SportAustralian rules football
Founded1997
CEOTim Murray
PresidentJeff Hooper
No. of teams32
Country Australia
Venue(s)AFL Victoria
Sponsor(s)Seda College, Club Warehouse, Day2Day Rewards
Official website

History

The Yarra Junior Football League was first formed through the merging of the old Doncaster & Districts and the Hawthorn Districts Junior Football Leagues in 1997.[6] The league began with a total of 4628 registered players. They were spread out between 180 teams and 25 foundation clubs.[7] Since then, the number of players is over double the original amount, with 10,614 players participating in 2019. It has also grown to 508 teams between 32 clubs, as per data gathered in 2019.[8]

In 2000, the Heidelberg Tigers moved into the YJFL after a major club reform. Over the next ten years, 5 teams joined the league, those teams being the Preston Bullants in 2001, the North Brunswick Giants in 2005 (at that time known as the 'Bulls'), the Parkside Devils and certain divisions from the Ashburton Redbacks in 2006, the Boroondara Hawks and the rest of the divisions from the Ashburton Redbacks in 2008, and the Brunswick Dragons in 2010.

In 2011, the first Youth Girls divisions were launched, with some teams given the support of the AFL.[9]

In 2015 and 2016, the league witnessed spikes in growth after they introduced an Under 8s competition and the new South Yarra Junior Football Club.

In January 2020, the presidents from the former Greythorn Falcons and Balwyn Tigers decided to merge their clubs into the Balwyn Greythorn Jets Junior Football Club, to create a more powerful club, as they were already located very close together.[10]

Clubs

Current
Club Nicknames Jumper Entered Comp Club President
Ashburton Redbacks 'Ashy', 'The Redbacks'
2006[11] Simon Martin[12]
Balwyn-Greythorn Jets 'Jets', 'The Jets' 2020[13] Grant Chisnall[14]
Banyule Lions 'Bears', 'The Bears'
1997 Tim Car[15]
Beverley Hills Lions 'Beverley', 'Lions', 'The Lions'
1997 Jim Pahos[16]
Boroondara Hawks 'Hawks', 'The Hawks'
2008[17] Peter Clark[18]
Brunswick Dragons 'Dragons', 'The Dragons'
2010[19] Beth Scott[20]
Bulleen Templestowe Bullants 'Bullies', 'Bullants', 'The Bullants'
1997 Nic Moore[21]
Bundoora Bulls 'Bulls', 'The Bulls'
1997 Paul Trapani[22]
Camberwell Sharks 'Sharks', 'The Sharks'
1997[23] Shane Myers
Canterbury Cobras 'Cobras', 'The Cobras'
1997 Shaun LaMotte
Doncaster Cats 'Cats, 'The Cats'
1997 Ross Martin[24]
Fitzroy Lions 'Lions, 'The Lions'
1997 Ben Harrison[25]
Glen Iris Gladiators 'The Gladiators, 'Gladiators'
1997 Andrew Chambers[26]
Hawthorn Citizens 'Hawks', 'The Hawks', 'Citizens', 'The Citizens' 1997[27] David Stanford[28]
Heidelberg Tigers 'Tigers', 'Tiges', 'The Tigers'
2000[29] Brian Anderson[30]
Ivanhoe N/A
1997 Mark Centofanti[31]
Kew Comets 'Comets', 'The Comets'
1997 Domenic Rotella[32]
Kew Rovers 'Rovers', 'The Rovers'
1997 Caz Lorenz[33]
Macleod Eagles 'Eagles', 'The Eagles'
1997 Paul Starmans[34]
Northcote Cougars 'Cougars', 'The Cougars'
2020[35] Chris Niall[36]
North Brunswick Giants 'Giants', 'The Giants'
2005[37] Heidi van Delft[38]
Parade Saint Damians 'Saints', 'The Saints', 'St Damians' 1997[39] Greg Schroeders[40]
Park Orchards North Ringwood Parish Sharks 'Sharks', 'The Sharks'
1997 Ritchie Appleby[41]
Parkside Devils 'Devils', 'Red Devils', 'The Devils'
2006[42] Donna Buchanan[43]
Preston Bullants 'Bullies', 'Bullants', 'The Bullants'
2001[44] Suki Styant-Browne[45]
Richmond Tigers 'Tigers', 'The Tigers'
1997[46] Andrew O'Halloran[47]
St Marys Greensborough Kookaburras 'Burras', 'Kookaburras', 'The Burras', 'The Kookaburras'
1997[48] Dean Arnel[49]
South Yarra
2016[50] Owen Pearse
Surrey Park Panthers 'Panthers', 'The Panthers'
1997 Rohan Sutherland[51]
Templestowe Dockers 'Dockers'
1997 Brett Burgess[52]
Warrandyte Bloods 'Bloods', 'The Bloods'
1997[53] Travis Reddaway[54]
Whitehorse Colts 'Colts', 'The Colts'
1997 Andrew Norris[55]

Former
  • Balwyn Tigers
  • Doncaster Heights
  • Greythorn Falcons
  • Montmorency
  • North Ringwood Parish
  • Park Orchards

Girls Football

Beginnings

The first girls division was introduced in the 2011 season as a 'Youth Girls' (under 18) division, which had a total of 10 teams participating.[56] This division also included teams from other leagues that did not have any girls-only divisions.

In 2012 a girls under 12 division was formed, with 5 clubs fielding teams in the division. The 'Youth Girls' division grew to a total of 12 teams, up two from the year before.[57] One year later, an under 14 girls division was formed to help help bridge the gap between the Youth Girls and under 12 girls divisions. It had a total of 4 teams participating in its first year.[58] The amount of teams in these divisions nearly doubled in 2014, rising from 17 to 31.[59]

Present

After only 10 teams in the first year of female-only teams in the Yarra Junior Football League, the total spiked to 122 female-only teams in 2019. There were 2810 female players in the league in 2019, which meant that female-players made up just over a quarter of all players in the league.[60] There are now eight female divisions: Under 10 Girls, Under 11 Girls, Under 12 Girls, Under 13 Girls, Under 14 Girls, Under 15 Girls, Under 16 Girls and the Youth Girls.[61]

Community

The Yarra Junior Football League community rallied against the controversial North East Link project, due to the removal of their headquarters, which was in the path of the proposed road.[62] The North East Link Authority proposed a new headquarters location at Ford Park, Ivanhoe, but met resistance from the league due to worries that Ford Park is too far away for many teams in the league.

Partnership with Collingwood

In early July 2020, it was announced that the Collingwood Football Club would enter a 'Major Community Partnership' with the Yarra Junior Football League. This partnership was formed as a part of an initiative to support grassroots football. Six main projects were announced as part of the partnership, including junior development programs to encourage participation in junior football, sport medical programs and research, fundraising events to raise money, support for talent pathways for junior players through to the elite levels, female football development programs and the development of projects to expand community facilities.[63]

AFL Talent

The Yarra Junior Football League has been home to many players who went on to play in the AFL. Players who played in the Yarra Junior Football League who made it to the AFL are listed by club below:

[64]

Adelaide Football Club

Brisbane Lions Football Club

  • Toby Wooller

Carlton Football Club

Collingwood Football Club

Essendon Football Club

Gold Coast Football Club

Greater Western Sydney Football Club

Hawthorn Football Club

Melbourne Football Club

North Melbourne Football Club

Port Adelaide Football Club

Richmond Football Club

St Kilda Football Club

Sydney Swans Football Club

West Coast Football Club

Western Bulldogs Football Club

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References
  1. "Yarra Junior Football League confirms 2020 season start". Herald Sun. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  2. Colangelo, Anthony (27 May 2020). "Australia's biggest junior footy competition to resume in mid-July". The Age. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  3. "To infinity and beyond…". Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  4. "YJFL Member Clubs". Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  5. "Fixtures YJFL". Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  6. "Yarra Junior Football League - About". Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  7. "YJFL Annual Report 2016" (PDF). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  8. "YJFL Annual Report 2019" (PDF). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  9. Kennedy, Joel (24 May 2011). "Colts at gallop". Herald Sun. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  10. "Message From The Presidents - Balwyn and Greythorn" (PDF). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  11. "Ashburton JFC - Club History". Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  12. "Ashburton Redbacks - Committee". Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  13. "Greythorn-Balwyn Jets - About Us". Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  14. "Balwyn-Greythorn Jets - Contact". Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  15. "Banyule F.C - Committee". Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  16. "BHJFC - Committee". Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  17. "BOROONDARA HAWKS - CLUB OVERVIEW". Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  18. "Boroondara Hawks JFC-Committee". Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  19. "Brunswick JFC- History". Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  20. "BrunswickJFC - Committee". Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  21. "BTJFC - Committee". Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  22. "Bundoora JFC - Committee". Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  23. "Camberwell Sharks Club HIstory". Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  24. "BJFC - Contact Us". Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  25. "FJFC - Committee". Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  26. "Contacts - GIJFC". Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  27. "Hawthorn Citizens JFC - Our Club". Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  28. "Hawthorn Citizens JFC - Committee". Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  29. "Heidelberg JFC - History" (PDF). Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  30. "Heidelberg JFC - Officials". Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  31. "Ivanhoe JFC -About - Club Contacts". Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  32. "Kew Comets JFC - Contacts Us". Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  33. "Kew Rovers - Contact Us". Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  34. "Macleod JFC - Club Officials". Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  35. "Northcote Cougars join the Yarra Junior Football League". Yarra Junior Football League. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  36. "Northcote JFC - Committee". Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  37. "NBJFC-History". Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  38. "NBJFC-Committee". Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  39. "PSDJFC - History". Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  40. "PSDJFC - Committee". Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  41. "PONRPJFC - Committee". Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  42. "Parkside Junior Football Club - About us". Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  43. "Parkside Junior Football Club - Management Committee". Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  44. "Preston Bullants JFC - Club History and Song". Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  45. "Preston Bullants JFC - Committee". Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  46. "Richmond JFC - History". Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  47. "Richmond JFC - Committee". Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  48. "St Marys GJFC - History". Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  49. "St Marys GJFC - Contacts". Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  50. "South Yarra Junior Football Club - Home Page". Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  51. "Surrey Park JFC - Committee". Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  52. "Templestowe JFC - Committee". Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  53. "Warrandyte JFC - HIstory". Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  54. "Warrandyte JFC - President". Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  55. "Whitehorse Colts - Contacts". Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  56. "Annual YJFL Report 2011" (PDF). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  57. "2012 YJFL Annual Report" (PDF). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  58. "YJFL Annual Report 2013" (PDF). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  59. "2014 YJFL Annual Report" (PDF). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  60. "YJFL Annual Report 2019" (PDF). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  61. "YJFL Girls Football- About". Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  62. Colangelo, Anthony (30 October 2019). "Premier asked to step in to end footy league's North East Link dispute". The Age. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  63. "Magpies support grassroots football". CollingwoodFC Media. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  64. "YJFL Current AFL Players 2020". Retrieved 3 July 2020.
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