The world was in turmoil in 1929, the year the Benalla District Football League was formed.
Despite the financial hardships placed upon thousands of local residents, an infant was born. Its name was the Benalla District Football League.
It would provide entertainment for spectators and players alike for 80 years until the AFL dumped it in 2009.
More than 20 clubs played in it, over that period of time, ranging from Thornton-Eildon, Tolmie, Strathbogie, to clubs much closer to Benalla such as Devenish, Dookie and Benalla clubs, the main club’s seconds and thirds teams, as well as Benalla Rovers.
In that time, seven of the 14 clubs in the Ovens and King league also participated in the BDFL.
A parallel organisation, the Line Association, also existed and occasionally Dookie would play its matches there.
Premierships were won, at times, by dominant teams, who also might languish nearer the bottom of the ladder when circumstances changed.
Tatong won 14 flags over that distance followed by Goorambat with 12.
The All Blacks and Bonnie Doon were not far behind, with nine and seven, respectively.
Dookie, Strathbogie and North Wangaratta managed a single year of glory, which doubtlessly is still talked about when locals remember the good old days.
Some grand finals were contentious affairs. When, in 1934, the All Blacks won their first grand final, due to a protest by Glenrowan, a second grand final was played without Benalla.
Glenrowan lost that one too, with Tatong picking up the title.
Another notable final of more recent times occurred when Tatong and Swanpool played in a drawn semi-final, which on replay was drawn again.
Eventually, a winner was established on the third weekend.
So Benalla residents had been well treated during those winter Saturday afternoons, and should be proud of the role the good old BDFL provided.
