| Sport | Australian rules football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2023; 3 years ago (2023) |
| First season | 2024 |
| No. of teams | 7 |
| Country | Australia |
| Related competitions | SANFL |
| Official website | lcfnl |
TheLimestone Coast Football Netball League is anAustralian rules football competition based in theLower South East region ofSouth Australia, and south-western border region ofVictoria. It is an affiliated member of theSouth Australian National Football League. The league used to be regarded as the premier country football league in South Australia, and a leading country Victorian league, however the number of clubs and standard has declined in recent years.
In 1964, after almost a decade of discussions, theWestern District Football League in Victoria and theSouth-East & Border Football League in South Australia merged to form theWestern Border Football League. The founding 12 clubs were Casterton, Coleraine, East Gambier, Hamilton, Hamilton Imperials, Heywood, Millicent, North Gambier, Penola, Portland, South Gambier and West Gambier.[1][2]
Hamilton and Millicent both had jumpers similar toCollingwood's, so an agreement was made that the team that finished lower on the ladder for 1964 had to change jumpers. Hamilton finished ninth, while Millicent finished 11th of 12, so Millicent was forced to change to theSt Kilda strip.
Penola left and joined theKowree Naracoorte Football League in 1988; Coleraine left and joined theSouth West District Football League in 1995.
In 2011, the Heywood Football Club left the Western Border Football League due to the club struggling to compete with the larger town clubs in the league. Their first application to leave was rejected, so they were forced to go to higher levels at theVCFL to resolve issues between the League and the Heywood Football Netball Club.
In 2012, the Hamilton and Hamilton Imperials club merged upon recommendation from the VCFL and competed in theHampden Football Netball League from 2013. Portland also transferred to theHampden Football Netball League for 2013, leaving just 6 teams in the competition today. Casterton merged with neighbouring club Sandford (from theSouth West District Football League) in 2014.
When the VFL had zoning from 1968 to 1986, the league was allocated toCollingwood.
Some famous players that have played in the Western Border Football League have beenBilly Picken,Matthew Clarke,Nick Daffy,Nathan Lovett-Murray,Mal Michael,John Mossop,Wally Lovett, andBrad Close.
In late 2023, it was announced that the WBFL would be wound up and replaced by theLimestone Coast Football Netball League for the 2024 season. It was also announced that for the 2025 season, one club each from theKowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League and theMid South Eastern Football League would transfer to the competition.[3] Penola joined the LCFNL from the KNTFL prior to the 2025 season,[4] however no Mid South Eastern club made the move over.
| Club locations - Mount Gambier | Club locations - Limestone Coast |
|---|---|
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in LCFNL | LCFNL Senior Premierships | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | |||||||
| Casterton-Sandford | Cats | Island Park,Casterton | WBFL | 2014 | 2024– | 0 | – | |
| East Gambier | Bulldogs | McDonald Park,Mount Gambier | WBFL | 1934 | 2024– | 0 | – | |
| Millicent | Saints | McLaughlin Park,Millicent | WBFL | 1946 | 2024– | 1 | 2025 | |
| North Gambier | Tigers | Vansittart Park,Mount Gambier | WBFL | 1926 | 2024– | 0 | – | |
| Penola | Eagles | McCorquindale Park,Penola | KNTFL | 1865 | 2025– | 0 | – | |
| South Gambier | Demons | Blue Lake Sports Park,Mount Gambier | WBFL | 1926 | 2024– | 0 | – | |
| West Gambier | Roos | Malseed Park,Mount Gambier | WBFL | 1938 | 2024– | 1 | 2024 | |
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in WBFL | WBFL Senior Premierships | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | |||||||
| Casterton-Sandford | Cats | Island Park,Casterton | – | 2014 | 2014–2023 | 0 | – | |
| East Gambier | Bulldogs | McDonald Park,Mount Gambier | SEBFL | 1934 | 1964–2023 | 9 | 1965, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1982, 1983, 1988, 2017 | |
| Millicent | Saints | McLaughlin Park,Millicent | SEBFL | 1946 | 1964–2023 | 5 | 1984, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023 | |
| North Gambier | Tigers | Vansittart Park,Mount Gambier | SEBFL | 1926 | 1964–2023 | 9 | 1964, 1979, 1987, 1989, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019 | |
| South Gambier | Demons | Blue Lake Sports Park,Mount Gambier | SEBFL | 1926 | 1964–2023 | 12 | 1974, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2009, 2015 | |
| West Gambier | Roos | Malseed Park,Mount Gambier | SEBFL | 1938 | 1964–2023 | 3 | 1971, 2010, 2011 | |
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in WBFL | WBFL Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||||
| Casterton | Cats | Island Park,Casterton | WDFL | 1920s | 1964–2013 | 2 | 1969, 1990 | Merged withSandford to formCasterton-Sandford in 2014 | |
| Coleraine | Maroons | Silvester Oval,Coleraine | WDFL | 1900s | 1964–1994 | 1 | 1967 | Transferred to theSouth West District FL in 1995 | |
| Hamilton | Magpies | Melville Oval,Hamilton | WDFL | 1874 | 1964–2012 | 4 | 1968, 1970, 1981, 2004 | Merged withHamilton Imperials to formHamilton Kangaroos in theHampden FL in 2013 | |
| Hamilton Imperials | Bulldogs | Melville Oval,Hamilton | WDFL | 1948 | 1964–2012 | 6 | 1977, 1978, 1980, 1993, 1995, 2001 | Merged withHamilton to formHamilton Kangaroos in theHampden FL in 2013 | |
| Heywood | Lions | Heywood Recreation Reserve,Heywood | WDFL | c.1921 | 1964–2011 | 0 | - | Transferred to theSouth West District FL in 2012 | |
| Penola | Eagles | McCorquindale Park,Penola | SEBFL | 1865 | 1964–1987 | 0 | - | Transferred to theKowree Naracoorte FL in 1988 | |
| Portland | Tigers | Hanlon Park,Portland | WDFL | 1876 | 1964–2012 | 8 | 1966, 1985, 1986, 1991, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008 | Transferred to theHampden FL in 2013 | |

| Season | Best & Fairest | Club | Leading Goalkicker | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | G Hariott | Coleraine | Kevin Malseed | Heywood | 75 |
| 1965 | Kevin Malseed | Heywood | M Graham | Penola | 74 |
| 1966 | J McBain | Penola | R Duncan | Heywood | 54 |
| 1967 | David Robbie | Casterton | B Norman | South Gambier | 75 |
| 1968 | G Cayzer | Hamilton | L Dethmore | South Gambier | 68 |
| 1969 | G Cayzer | Hamilton | H Graham | Penola | 91 |
| 1970 | Michael Graham | Penola | R Harvey | Casterton | 83 |
| 1971 | B Smith | South Gambier | B Norman | South Gambier | 76 |
| 1972 | Gary Lazarus | East Gambier | Gary Lazarus | East Gambier | 64 |
| 1973 | D Clarke | East Gambier | G Sims | South Gambier | 67 |
| 1974 | Kevin Douglas | West Gambier | Des Trotter | East Gambier | 117 |
| 1975 | S McKew | Hamilton Imperial | Des Trotter | East Gambier | 122 |
| 1976 | M Whitington | Millicent | M Soulsby | Hamilton | 80 |
| 1977 | Greg Curnow | North Gambier | D. Maczkowiack | West Gambier | 81 |
| 1978 | P Cranage | Hamilton | W. Chapman | West Gambier | 88 |
| M Horsborugh | Coleraine | ||||
| 1979 | G Richards | Hamilton Imperial | S. Skeer | Penola | 98 |
| 1980 | J Beaton | West Gambier | Tony Russell | Hamilton | 101 |
| 1981 | I McGuiness | Heywood | Neville Osborne | Hamilton Imperial | 84 |
| 1982 | G Reichman | Hamilton Imperial | R. Lawson | East Gambier | 136 |
| 1983 | M Gregg | Casterton | D. Maczkowiack | West Gambier | 76 |
| 1984 | Wayne Fletcher | North Gambier | N. Carracher | Hamilton Imperial | 106 |
| 1985 | L King | Portland | Michael Timms | South Gambier | 100 |
| 1986 | L Bell | South Gambier | Michael Timms | South Gambier | 113 |
| 1987 | Darren Wright | North Gambier | Trevor Russell | Hamilton | 131 |
| 1988 | Andrew Close | West Gambier | Trevor Russell | Hamilton | 89 |
| 1989 | Tony Lithgow | Casterton | Tony Otter | Portland | 104 |
| 1990 | D Lane | East Gambier | P. Harrison | Millicent | 65 |
| 1991 | G Stevens | Hamilton | D. Pannenburg | East Gambier | 112 |
| 1992 | R Elliott | South Gambier | L. Hampshire | Portland | 87 |
| 1993 | M Jones | East Gambier | Tim Williamson | Casterton | 82 |
| 1994 | Michael Edmonds | Hamilton Imperial | D. Pannenburg | East Gambier | 100 |
| 1995 | D Jenkinson | Heywood | A. Salmon | South Gambier | 73 |
| 1996 | Mick Ryan | South Gambier | M. Lane | North Gambier | 59 |
| 1997 | Andrew Nitschke | Millicent | Leigh Capewell | South Gambier | 65 |
| Barry Knight | Portland | ||||
| 1998 | Wayne Riddle | Hamilton | Leigh Capewell | South Gambier | 101 |
| 1999 | Brad Cooper | Hamilton Imperial | G. Goss | North Gambier | 100 |
| 2000 | Matthew Steel | Portland | P. Harten | South Gambier | 74 |
| 2001 | Andrew Nitschke | Millicent | K. Cook | East Gambier | 54 |
| 2002 | Scott Flett | North Gambier | Michael Silvy | North Gambier | 89 |
| Justin Munro | Casterton | ||||
| 2003 | Andrew Nitschke | Millicent | Leigh Capewell | South Gambier | 59 |
| Winis Imbi | Portland | ||||
| 2004 | Brent Howard | South Gambier | B. Edwards | Portland | 59 |
| 2005 | Scott Flett | North Gambier | Grant Ewing | Hamilton Imperial | 73 |
| 2006 | Jon Copping | South Gambier | Ryan Larcombe | East Gambier | 81 |
| 2007 | James Imbi | Portland | Grant Ewing | Hamilton Imperial | 94 |
| 2008 | Marcus England | Portland | Grant Ewing | Hamilton Imperial | 69 |
| 2009 | Marcus England | Portland | C.Murray | Millicent | 83 |
| 2010 | Justin McConnell | North Gambier | Courtney Johns | Heywood | 78 |
| 2011 | Simon Berkefeld | South Gambier | Justin McConnell | North Gambier | 85 |
| Brad Vassal | Casterton | ||||
| 2012 | Richard O'Grady | North Gambier | Jarrod Holt | Portland | 65 |
| 2013 | Brad Wilson | West Gambier | Justin McConnell | North Gambier | 70 |
| 2014 | Richard O'Grady | North Gambier | Justin McConnell | North Gambier | 74 |
| Dylan Ayton | Casterton-Sandford | ||||
| 2015 | Justin McConnell | North Gambier | 100 | ||
| 2016 | Nick Moretti | North Gambier | 50 | ||
| 2017 | Brett O'Neil | South Gambier | Tom McLennan | North Gambier | 46 |
| 2018 | Tom Hutchesson | Millicent | Brayden Kaine | South Gambier | 51 |
| 2019 | Michael Telford | North Gambier | Justin McConnell | North Gambier | 46 |
| 2021 | Clint Gallio | Millicent | Gene Robinson | Millicent | 103 |
| 2022 | Jayden Eldridge | East Gambier | Brayden Kain | South Gambier | 59 |
| 2023 | Daron McElroy | West Gambier | Frazer Bradley | Millicent | 41 |
| Season | Best & Fairest | Club | Leading Goalkicker | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Harry Tunkin | Millicent | Frazer Bradley | Millicent | 59 |
| Emerson Mark | South Gambier | ||||
| 2025 | Brodie Foster | Penola | 45 |