The Essendon District Football League (EDFL) is a semi-professional Australian rules football league competition based in Essendon, Victoria, consisting of teams based in the north-west suburbs of Melbourne. Founded in 1930, the men's competition consists of three leagues: Premier Division, Division 1 and Division 2, with 10 clubs in the Premier Division, 11 clubs in Division 1 and 9 clubs in Division 2. Ahead of the 2025 competition, two teams will be relegated from Division 1 to Division 2 to ensure that there are 10 teams across each of the top three divisions.

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Promotion and relegation between these divisions occurs, with the lowest-placed clubs in the Premier Division and Division 1 being relegated at the end of each season replaced in their respective divisions by the winners of Division 1 and Division 2 premierships respectively^[1] Each men's team also fields a reserves side and an under-18 side that play fixtures mirroring that of the senior side.

Since 2017, the League has also run a competition for women's Australian rules football. In its inaugural year, this was a joint competition featuring teams from the EDFL as well as the Western Region Football League (WRFL).^[2] In 2018, 13 teams competed in a single division season, expanding to 19 teams and two divisions in 2019.

The league consists of clubs spanning as far north as Sunbury (East Sunbury Football Club), as far south as Deer Park (Deer Park Football Club), as far east as Fawkner (Northern Saints Football Club) and as far west as Hillside (Hillside Football Club). The furthest distance between two clubs is Moonee Valley Football Club and Sunbury Kangaroos totalling a travel distance of 35.2 km.

A number of junior players from the EDFL play for Calder Cannons in the Coates Talent League due to the geography of being based at Highgate Recreation Reserve, Craigieburn and consequently receiving the majority of players from teams in the Northern and North-West Suburbs. A smaller number of players represent Western Jets, being based at Burbank Oval, Williamstown which receive a number of players from clubs based in the western suburbs of Melbourne.

Notes

(R) denotes that the player was selected in the rookie draft.

(F-S) denotes that the player was selected as a father-son pick.

(M-S) denotes that the player was selected in the mid-season draft.

¹ Playing statistics correct as of the end of the 2023 season.

More information Club, Colours ...

Club	Colours	Moniker	Est.	Former league	EDFL senior seasons			Fate
					First	Last	Total
Aberfeldie Park					1983	1985	3	Unknown
All Nations Youth Club					1953	1955	3	Unknown
Ascot Imperials					1946	1946	1	Unknown
Ascot Presbyterians					1964	1964	1	Unknown
Ascot Rovers					1954	1956	3	Unknown
Ascot United	[3]				1946	1949	4	Played as Maribyrnong-Ascot United for 1950 Season
Ascot Vale		Devils	1930	—	1930	1987	54†	Transferred to FDFL at conclusion of 1987 season. Folded in 1997.
Ascot Vale Methodists					1946	1949	2	Unknown - Played the 1946 and 1949 Seasons
Ascot Vale Wanderers					1937	1940	4	Unknown
Ascot Youth Centre					1950			Unknown
Australian National Airways					1941	1949	2	Unknown - Played two seasons either side of WW2, in 1941 and 1949.
Ascot Vale Presbyterians			?	—		1973		Merged with Essendon Baptist-St John's at conclusion of 1973 season to form Essendon-Tullamarine.
Broadmeadows					1946	1947	2	Unknown
Brunswick City		Eagles	1948		1948	1986	37	Folded at the end of 1986 season
Brunswick Colts					1950			Unknown
Brunswick Presbyterians					1974	1974	1	Unknown
Brunswick Sons of Soldiers					1936	1947	2	Unknown
Brunswick United					1947	1947	1	Unknown
Coburg Amateurs					1941	1941	1	Unknown
Coburg Rovers			1896		1940	1941	2	Unknown
Coburg Sons of Soldiers					1937	1940	4	Unknown
Coburg South					1941	1941	1	Unknown
Coburg Stars					1950	1954	5	Unknown
Don Rovers					1936	1939	4	Unknown
East Brunswick	[4]	Magpies	1922	Metropolitan	1975	1982	8	Transferred to YCW Football League, played at Fleming Park
Essendon All Blacks					1950			Unknown
Essendon Baptist					1949	1950	2	Merged with St John's
Essendon Baptist-St John's	Navy with White EBSJ [5]		1951	—	1951	1973	23	Merged with Ascot Vale Presbyterians at conclusion of 1973 season to form Essendon-Tullamarine.
Essendon Bombers					1950	1955	6	Unknown
Essendon Church of Christ					1940	1940	1	Unknown
Essendon High School Old Boys					1949	1956	8	Unknown
Essendon Imperials					1937	1940	4	Unknown
Essendon Returned Soldiers					1946	1946	1	Unknown
Essendon Sons of Soldiers					1936	1936	1	Unknown
Essendon Stars					1940	1940	1	Unknown
Essendon Swimmers					1950	1951	2	Unknown
Essendon United					1936	1940	5	Unknown
Essendon Youth Centre					1975	1982	8	Unknown
Fairbairn Rovers					1950	1950	1	Unknown
Fairbairn Socials					1938	1938	1	Unknown
Fawkner Districts					1937	1952	10	Club played until EDFL suspended competition due to WW2 in 1942. They reformed when the EDFL resumed in 1946, changing their name from Fawkner Districts to Fawkner.
Flemington/Kensington					1930	1938	9	Unknown
Footscray Technical College					1963	1963	1	Unknown
Gisborne (Women's team only)		Bulldogs	2017	AFL Goldfields	2021	2023	3	In recess
Gladstone Park					1978	1997	20	Transferred to WRFL, folded in 2007
Glenbervie					1952	1955	4	Unknown
Jacana		Jaguars	1961	RDFNL	2001	2022	22	Went into recess prior to 2023 season following poor performances throughout the 2022 Division 2 season
Kensington Methodists					1930	1930	1	Unknown
Knox Presbyterians					1949	1949	1	Unknown
La Mascotte					1938	1941	4	Club played until EDFL suspended competition due to WW2 in 1942. They did not reform when the EDFL resumed in 1946.
Lincoln Rovers					1949	1949	1	Unknown
Lincoln Stars					1950			Unknown
Lincoln Tigers					1950	1951	2	Unknown
Maribyrnong-Ascot United					1950	1950	1	Unknown
Marrows					1950	1957	8	Unknown
Meadow Heights	Light Green with Yellow Kangaroo							Folded early 2000s
Monash Rovers					1950	1951	2	Unknown
Moonee Imperials		Imperials	1946	—	1946	1979	34	Merged with Riverside Stars at conclusion of 1979 season to form Maribyrnong Park.
Moonee Ponds					1981	1981	1	Unknown
North Coburg1		Saints	1947	—	1978	2007	30	Began as St Olivers JFC in 1947 with a Senior club forming in 1978. Renamed North Coburg in 1990. Merged with Fawkner Park at conclusion of 2007 season to form Northern Saints.
North Essendon Methodists					1949			Unknown
Northern Juniors					1930	1930	1	Unknown
Northern Rovers					1941	1941	1	Unknown
Old Coburgians					1940	1940	1	Unknown
Old Essendon Grammarians		Bombers	1968	—	1968	1969	1	Transferred to FDFL at conclusion of 1982 season. Currently competes in VAFA.
				VAFA	1972	1982	11
Raeburn			1952	VFL Sub District	1952	1953	2	Pascoe Vale changed their name to Raeburn to enter the EDFL and played under that name for two seasons. They reverted to Pascoe Vale from 1954 onward.
Regal Sports					1934	1934	1	Unknown
Riverside Stars		Stars	1946	—	1946	1979	34	Merged with Moonee Imperials at conclusion of 1979 season to form Maribyrnong Park.
Royal Park					1979	1980	2	Unknown
South Kensington					1931	1931	1	Unknown
St Andrews					1980	1980	1	Unknown
St Christophers					1974	1976	3	Unknown
St Davids					1952			Unknown
St Johns					1930	1930	1	Unknown
St Monicas CYMS					1937	1938	2	Unknown
St Patricks					1938	1938	1	Unknown
St Pauls					1947	1947	1	Unknown
Strathmore Stars					1954	1954	1	Unknown
Vespa	Purple and Gold				1959	1961	3	Unknown
West Brunswick					1949	1958	10	Transferred to VAFA
West Coburg Amateurs					1959	1959	1	Unknown
West Moreland					1937	1940	4	Unknown
Woodlands	[6]				1930	1934	4	Unknown. They 'played at the Holmes Road reserve, which was located in the parkland at the end of Holmes Road in Moonee Ponds'[7]

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Notes

North Coburg competed as St Olivers between 1978 and 1989.

^† denotes that the club did not participate between 1942 and 1945 due to World War II.

Aside from the clubs mentioned in the table above, the EDFL 75th Anniversary History Book ^[8] also listed the following clubs as having been affiliated with the EDFL between 1930 to 2005

• 6th Melbourne Scouts
• Ascot Rovers/Maribyrnong
• Ascot Vale West
• Batman (changed name in 1981 and now known as Coburg Districts)
• Catholic Boys Club
• Corpus Christi
• East Coburg
• East Essendon
• Essendon Tullamarine (now known as Tullamarine)
• Ford Company
• Keilor Regal Sports
• Maribyrnong
• Maribyrnong Regal Sport
• Maribyrnong Youth Club
• Moonee Ponds YCW
• Moonee Valley Juniors
• Northcote Excelsior
• Parkville
• St. Bernards
• St. Bernards Juniors
• St. Francis
• Tullamarine-Airport West
• Tullamarine Ascot Presbyterians (now known as Tullamarine)
• West Brunswick Laurels
• West Essendon
• West Essendon Youth Centre
• West Coburg Juniors (listed as different club to West Coburg)
• West Coburg Seniors (listed as different club to West Coburg)

Notes

¹ Merger occurred between Essedon Baptist St Johns and Ascot Vale Presbyterians in 1973 to form Tullamarine Ascot Presbyterians, then later Essendon Tullamarine and finally shortened to Tullamarine Football Club in 1981.

² Woodland Football Club folded at the end of the 1934 Season.

³ La Mascotte played until the EDFL suspended competition due to WW2 in 1942 and didn't reform when the EDFL resumed in 1946.

⁴ Moonee Imperials merged with Riverside Stars at conclusion of 1979 season to form Maribyrnong Park.

⁵ Later renamed to Coburg Districts Football Club in 1981 to greater recognise the local community.

⁶ Old Essendon Gramarians joined the EDFL in 1968 for just two seasons until joining the VAFA (Victorian Amateur Football Association) for the 1970 and 1971 seasons before returning to the EDFL between 1972 and 1983, then departing to play in the Footscray District Football League, now the Western Region Football League in 1983.

⁷ Renamed from Brunswick to Brunswick City in 1955, Folded at the end of the 1986 season

⁸ Left the EDFL to join the Footscray District Football League, now the Western Region Football League at the conclusion of the 1987 season, folded in 1997. Later reformed in 2017, only participating in under-age football.

The EDFL was first formed in 1930 at the instigation of the Essendon Football Club to increase the pool of local talent available for recruitment. Consequently, the league has consistently had positive ties with Essendon Football Club which can also be seen with the use of former Essendon home ground Essendon Football Ground, now known as Windy Hill as the headquarters of the EDFL since 1958 and hosting training for umpires of the league and occasional use of the ground for home and away season matches as well as being a commonly featuring ground for men's grand finals.

The first season in 1930 consisted of eight clubs, Ascot Vale, Flemington and Kensington, St John's, Kensington Methodist, Essendon High School Old Boys, Northern Juniors, West Essendon and Woodlands. None of the original foundation clubs exist in their current state as a result of participating in mergers or folding since. The completion of the season saw Les Rennie recruited by Essendon, the first successful recruitment of a player from the EDFL, he went on to play for Essendon throughout the 1931 VFL season. Later, in 1933 the great Dick Reynolds, one of just four players to have won three Brownlow Medals was recruited from Woodlands in the EDFL and began his successful 320 game career with Essendon.

In 1936, the first juniors competition was launched which contained a solitary under 16s division, once more at the instigation of the Essendon Football Club however this was abandoned and resumed at a later date in 1948 with the introduction of under-17s. By 1949, 32 teams took part in 3 grades of junior age football. 1962 saw the induction of under-15s to the EDFL and the competition was won by Essendon Doutta Stars, however as a result of fielding an overage player forfeited all their points for the season. In 1967, the inaugural A grade under-13s competition was launched which was a resounding success and resulted in demand for a B grade competition after just one year in 1968.

As a result of World War II the competition went into recess in 1941 with many players fighting in the war, once the war had ended two clubs (La Mascotte and Fawkner District) chose not to resume participation in the competition, despite this, After four years of recess a successful resumption of the leagues activities in this year. A 10 team competition on resumption resumed the success of the pre War Competition.

1949 saw the first split of the teams into two divisions (A grade and B grade) with Essendon Doutta Stars taking out the first ever undefeated season and Glenroy winning the inaugural B grade competition. Later in 1961, C grade was introduced to help facilitate the introduction of more clubs into the EDFL and was won by Doutta Stars, believed to be a reserve team for Essendon Doutta Stars. However, this competition did not last for long before going into recess after the 1982 season and only returning after the 30-year hiatus in 2012.

In 1961, The Umpires Association (EDFLUA) was inaugurated to help with the recruitment of umpires to officiate games. Despite this the league was consistently short of umpires. Notably in 1990, the season commenced with a desperate shortage of umpires. The problem was solved in the short term by former umpires who came out of retirement to assist the league.

in 1989, then prime minister of Australia Bob Hawke attended the A-grade seniors grand final.

The juniors consist of: Under 8s, Under 10s, Under 14s, Under 16s and Under 18.5s. There are also youth girls teams in the junior divisions. There are eight junior divisions at this level and each team listed in the senior section has at least one junior team in divisions 1, 2 or 3 for each age group, however many clubs have more in divisions 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

Junior Only Clubs

More information Club, Colours ...

Club	Colours	Moniker	Home venue	Est.	Former league	EDFL senior seasons
						First	Total
Ascot Vale		Panthers	Walter Street Reserve, Ascot Vale	2017	—	2017	8
Coburg		Lions	Jackson Reserve, Coburg North	-	__	2022	3
Dallas			Jacana Reserve, Jacana	2024	__	2024	1
Hume		Bombers	Kalkallo Reserve, Kalkallo	2018	__	2017	7
Merrifield		Panthers	Merrifield Recreation Reserve, Mickleham	2024	__	2024	1
St Francis		Saints	Oak Park Reserve, Oak Park	2015	__	2017	10

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