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Yarra Junior Football League
Formerly	Doncaster & Districts Junior Football League + Hawthorn Districts Junior Football League
Sport	Australian rules football
Founded	1997
CEO	Tim Murray
President	Jeff Hooper
No. of teams	30
Country	Australia
Venue(s)	AFL Victoria
Sponsor(s)	Hiredepot, VRGF, TAC, Collingwood FC
Official website	[1]

The Yarra Junior Football League (YJFL) is the largest junior Australian rules football league in Australia.^[1]^[2]^[3] The league has a total of 30 clubs, who are based around northern, eastern and north-eastern Melbourne.^[4] There is a total of 66 divisions throughout the league.^[5]

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.^[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 number, with 10,614 players participating in 2019. It has also grown to 508 teams between 30 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 clubs

Club	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	−	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	−	1997	Banyule - NFNL
Beverley Hills	Lions	Zerbes Reserve, Doncaster East	1967	−	1997	Doncaster East - EFNL
Brunswick	Dragons	Gillon Oval, Brunswick	1963	−	2010	Brunswick - VAFA
Bulleen Templestowe	Bullants	Ted Ajani Reserve, Templestowe Lower	1990	−	1997	Bulleen Templestowe - VAFA
Bundoora	Bulls	N J Telfer Reserve, Bundoora	1961	−	1997	Bundoora - NFNL
Camberwell	Sharks	Lynden Park, Camberwell	1997	−	1997	None
Canterbury	Cobras	Canterbury Sportsground, Canterbury	1997	−	1997	Canterbury - VAFA
Doncaster	Cats	Schramms Reserve, Doncaster	1968	−	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	−	1997	Fitzroy - VAFA
Glen Iris	Gladiators	T.H. King and Righetti Oval, Glen Iris	1987	−	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	−	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	−	1997	None
Park Orchards North Ringwood Parish	Sharks	Domeney Reserve and Stintons Reserve, Park Orchards	1991	−	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	−	1997	St Marys - NFNL
Surrey Park	Panthers	Surrey Park, Box Hill	1994	−	1997	Surrey Park - EFNL
Templestowe	Dockers	Templestowe Reserve, Templestowe	1969	−	1997	Templestowe - EFNL
Warrandyte	Bloods	Warrandyte Reserve, Warrandyte	1975	EDJFL	1997	Warrandyte - EFNL
Whitehorse	Colts	Springfield Reserve, Box Hill North	1997	−	1997	Whitehorse Pioneers - EFNL

Templestowe known as Doncaster Heights until 2014^[11]

Former clubs

Club	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.^[12] 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.^[13] 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.^[14] The number of teams in these divisions nearly doubled in 2014, rising from 17 to 31.^[15]

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.^[16] 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.^[17]

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.^[18] 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.^[19]

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.^[20]

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

^ "Yarra Junior Football League confirms 2020 season start". Herald Sun. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
^ Colangelo, Anthony (27 May 2020). "Australia's biggest junior footy competition to resume in mid-July". The Age. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
^ "To infinity and beyond…". Retrieved 17 June 2020.
^ "YJFL Member Clubs". Retrieved 13 June 2020.
^ "Fixtures YJFL". Retrieved 13 June 2020.
^ "Yarra Junior Football League - About". Retrieved 20 June 2020.
^ "YJFL Annual Report 2016" (PDF). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
^ "YJFL Annual Report 2019" (PDF). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
^ Kennedy, Joel (24 May 2011). "Colts at gallop". Herald Sun. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
^ "Message From The Presidents - Balwyn and Greythorn" (PDF). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
^ "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.
^ "Yarra JFL 2011 Annual Report" (PDF). Wayback Machine. Yarra Junior Football League. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
^ "2012 YJFL Annual Report" (PDF). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
^ "YJFL Annual Report 2013" (PDF). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
^ "2014 YJFL Annual Report" (PDF). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
^ "YJFL Annual Report 2019" (PDF). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
^ "YJFL Girls Football- About". Retrieved 21 June 2020.
^ 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.
^ "Magpies support grassroots football". CollingwoodFC Media. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
^ "CURRENT AFL & AFLW Players". Yarra Junior Football League. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.