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Yarra Junior Football League

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Yarra Junior Football League
FormerlyDoncaster & Districts Junior Football League + Hawthorn Districts Junior Football League
SportAustralian rules football
Founded1997
CEOTim Murray
PresidentJeff Hooper
No. of teams30
Country Australia
Venue(s)AFL Victoria
Sponsor(s)Hiredepot, VRGF, TAC, Collingwood FC
Official website

The Yarra Junior Football League (YJFL) is the largest junior Australian rules football league in Australia. The league has a total of 30 clubs, who are based around northern, eastern and north-eastern Melbourne. There is a total of 66 divisions throughout the league.

History

The YJFL was formed through the merging of the Doncaster & Districts Junior Football League (DDJFL) and the Hawthorn Districts Junior Football League (HDJFL) in 1997. The league began with a total of 4628 registered players. They were spread out between 180 teams and 25 foundation clubs. Since then, the number of players is over double the original number, with 10,614 players participating in 2019. It has also grown to 508 teams between 30 clubs, as per data gathered in 2019.

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.

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.

Clubs

Current clubs

Club Colours Moniker Home ground Est. Former league Joined
YJFL 		Associated senior club
Aquinas
Bloods JW Manson Reserve, Wantirna 2013 − 2015 Aquinas - VAFA
Ashburton
Redbacks Burwood Reserve and Ferndale Reserve, Glen Iris 1971 HDJFL 2006 None
Balwyn
Tigers Balwyn Park, Balwyn and Gordon Barnard Reserve, Balwyn North 2023 − 2024 Balwyn - EFNL
Banyule
Bears Beverley Road Reserve and AJ Burkitt Oval, Heidelberg 1967 DDJFL 1997 Banyule - NFNL
Beverley Hills
Lions Zerbes Reserve,

Doncaster East

1967 DDJFL 1997 Doncaster East - EFNL
Brunswick
Dragons Gillon Oval, Brunswick 2010 − 2010 Brunswick - VAFA
Bulleen Templestowe
Bullants Ted Ajani Reserve, Templestowe Lower 1990 DDJFL 1997 Bulleen Templestowe - EFNL
Bundoora
Bulls N J Telfer Reserve, Bundoora 1961 DDJFL 1997 Bundoora - NFNL
Camberwell
Sharks Lynden Park, Camberwell 1997 − 1997 None
Canterbury
Cobras Canterbury Sportsground, Canterbury 1997 − 1997 Canterbury - VAFA
Carlton
Blues Number 1 Oval, Princes Park, Carlton North 2016 − 2016 None
Doncaster
Cats Schramms Reserve, Doncaster 1968 DDJFL 1997 Doncaster - EFNL
Fitzroy
Lions Cox and Olney Ovals, Fairfield; Alfred Crescent and W.T. Peterson Ovals, Fitzroy North; Ramsden Street Reserve, Clifton Hill; Victoria Park, Abbotsford 1993 HDJFL 1997 Fitzroy - VAFA
Glen Iris
Gladiators T.H. King and Righetti Oval, Glen Iris 1987 HDJFL 1997 None
Hawthorn Citizens
Citz Victoria Road and Rathmines Road Reserves, Hawthorn East; Glenferrie Oval, Hawthorn 1992 HDJFL 1997 Hawthorn AFC - VAFA
Heidelberg
Tigers Heidelberg Park and Warringal Park, Heidelberg 2000 − 2000 Heidelberg - NFNL
Ivanhoe
Hoes Ivanhoe Park, Ivanhoe 1966 DDJFL 1997 Ivanhoe - NFNL
Kew
Comets Victoria Park, Kew 1971 HDJFL 1997 Kew - VAFA
Kew Rovers
Rovers Stradbroke Park, Kew East 1971 DDJFL 1997 Kew - VAFA
Macleod
Eagles Macleod Reserve, Macleod; Greensborough College, Greensborough; De Winton Reserve, Rosanna 1968 NFNL 1997 Macleod - NFNL
Northcote
Cougars McDonnell Park, Northcote 1962 NFNL 2020 Northcote Park - NFNL
North Brunswick
Giants Allard Park, Brunswick East 2005 − 2005 North Brunswick - VAFA
Parade St Damians
Saints Binnak Park, Watsonia North 1979 NFNL 1997 None
Park Orchards North Ringwood Parish
Sharks Domeney Reserve and Stintons Reserve, Park Orchards 1991 DDJFL 1997 Park Orchards - EFNL
Parkside
Devils Pitcher Park, Alphington 2005 − 2006 Parkside - VAFA
Preston Bullants
Bullants H P Zwar Park, Preston 2000 − 2001 Preston Bullants - VAFA
Richmond
Tigers Citizens Park, Richmond and Kevin Bartlett Complex, Burnley 1973 HDJFL 1997 Richmond Central - VAFA
St Marys Greensborough
Burras Whatmough Park, Greensborough 1973 DDJFL 1997 St Marys - NFNL
Surrey Park
Panthers Surrey Park, Box Hill 1994 1997 Surrey Park - EFNL
Templestowe
Dockers Templestowe Reserve, Templestowe 1969 DDJFL 1997 Templestowe - EFNL
Warrandyte
Bloods Warrandyte Reserve, Warrandyte 1975 EDJFL, DDJFL 1997 Warrandyte - EFNL
Whitehorse
Colts Springfield Reserve, Box Hill North 1997 − 1997 Whitehorse Pioneers - EFNL
  • Templestowe known as Doncaster Heights until 2014

Former clubs

Club Colours Moniker Home Ground Former League Est. Joined
YJFL 		Final
season 		Associated senior club Current status
Balwyn
Tigers Balwyn Park, Balwyn and Gordon Barnard Reserve, Balwyn North 2001 2020 Balwyn - EFNL Merged
2020 with Greythorn
Balwyn-Greythorn
Jets Balwyn Park, Balwyn and Gordon Barnard Reserve, Balwyn North − 2019 2020 2023 Balwyn - EFNL Merged
2023 with Boroondara
Bayswater Bombers
Bombers Marie Wallace Bayswater Park, Bayswater − 2012 2012 None Folded
Boroondara
Hawks Gordon Barnard Reserve, Balwyn North − 2008 2008 2023 None Merged
2023 with Balwyn-Greythorn
Chirnside Park
Panthers Kimberley Reserve, Chirnside Park − 1978 2011 2015 Chirnside Park − EFNL EFNL
East Brighton Vampires
Vampires Hurlingham Reserve, Brighton East − 1948 2015 2015 East Brighton - SFNL SMJFL
East Malvern
Knights Basil Reserve, Malvern East − 1986 2011 2015 East Malvern − SFNL SMJFL
Eastern Devils
Devils Bulleen Park, Bulleen − 1999 2011 20?? Eastern Devils − EFNL EFNL
Greythorn
Falcons Greythorn Park, Balwyn North 2001 2020 None Merged
2020 with Balwyn
Healesville
Bloods Don Road Sporting Complex, Healesville − 1888 2011 2014 Healesville − OEFNL OEFNL
Highett
Bulldogs Peterson Street Reserve, Highett − 1988 2015 2015 Highett - SFNL SMJFL
Montmorency
Magpies Montmorency Park, Montmorency 1968 1997 2022 Montmorency - NFNL NFNL
Seville Ranges
Rangers Wandin East Recreation Reserve, Wandin East − 20?? 2011 2015 Seville Ranges - VWFL Folded
20??
South Yarra
Lions Leigh Park, Balwyn North − 2015 2016 2021 South Yarra - SFNL Folded
2022
St Peters
Bulldogs Centenary Park, Bentleigh East − 1957 2015 2015 None SMJFL

Girls football

Beginnings

The first girls division was introduced in the 2011 season as a "Youth Girls" (under-18s) division, which had a total of 10 teams participating. This division also included teams from other leagues that did not have any girls-only divisions. In 2012, a girls under-12s 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. One year later, an under 14 girls division was formed to 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. The number of teams in these divisions nearly doubled in 2014, rising from 17 to 31.

2019−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. 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.

Community

North East Link Controversy

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. The North East Link Authority proposed a new headquarters location at Ford Park, Bellfield, 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.

AFL/AFLW players

Many players who went on to play in the Australian Football League (AFL) and AFL Women's (AFLW) began their football careers in the YJFL.

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

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. "Our Club". Archived from the original on 16 March 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024. In 2014 we changed our name to Templestowe Junior Football Club to reflect our new home and strong pathways program whilst preserving the proud 'Heighters' history.
  12. "Yarra JFL 2011 Annual Report" (PDF). Wayback Machine. Yarra Junior Football League. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  13. "2012 YJFL Annual Report" (PDF). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  14. "YJFL Annual Report 2013" (PDF). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  15. "2014 YJFL Annual Report" (PDF). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  16. "YJFL Annual Report 2019" (PDF). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  17. "YJFL Girls Football- About". Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  18. 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.
  19. "Magpies support grassroots football". CollingwoodFC Media. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  20. "CURRENT AFL & AFLW Players". Yarra Junior Football League. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
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