Katandra Football Club

After much talk in the district for many years the Katandra Football club was founded in 1911 and the initial club colours were blue and white.^[1] Their first opponents were Rockville and Pine Grove.

Reforming after World War I in May 1922, the club played on an oval next to the Memorial Hall and played in the Dookie & District Football Association from 1922 to 1925.

Katandra FC reformed in late 1934 and applied to join the Goulburn Valley Second Eighteens Football Association for the 1935 season, but were rejected.^[2]

In 1935 the club reformed to play in the Chaney Cup, prior to joining the Goulburn Valley Second Eighteens Football Association in 1936.

The new Katandra West Sports Ground was officially opened by Sir John Gladstone Black McDonald in March 1937.^[3]

In July, 1946, former Richmond player and Katandra captain, Eddie Ford collided with an Ardmona player, but played out the game and went home, but later became ill. Ford was taken to the Mooroopna Hospital, where he later died.^[4]

In 2005, the senior football team were undefeated minor premiers, but then lost Qualifying Final, won First Semi Final, then lost the Preliminary Final.

Despite the blemish of 2012, the club has experienced success over the past decade. Winning premierships in all grades of football and many grades of netball. The most recent Senior premiership was in 2004. The A Grade netball team won their first premiership in 2009 and were able to follow this by being Runners Up in 2011 and winning the 2012 pennant. The Senior team recently completed a remarkable feat of completing 8 seasons with no worse finish than being Preliminary Finalists. This 8 season streak included 2 Premierships, 3 Runners Up and 3 Preliminary Finals losses. Unfortunately, the proud club has not competed in finals since 2010 and received its first wooden spoon in 2012 after finishing last in the eight team PDFL-South East competition.

The club changed leagues following an administration disagreement between the AFL Goulburn-Valley and the Picola & District Football League.^[5]

The club wanted to remain under the AFL umbrella for player development and insurance so they joined the Murray Football League. They rejoined the Picola & District Football League in 2020.

Past players to play AFL include Footscray ruckman Les Bartlett, Melbourne back pocket Rod Grinter and Carlton best and fairest winner and former Carlton coach, David Teague.

Katandra FC have played in the following football competitions.

• 1911 - Katandra FC first established. Played some friendly matches against other local teams.
• 1912 - 1915: Katandra Football Association.^[6] competition abandoned mid way through 1915 due to World War One.^[7]
• 1916 - 1918: Club in recess due to World War One
• 1919 - 1921: Club still in recess.
• 1922 - 1925: Club reformed in May 1922^[8] and joined the Dookie & District Football Association.^[9]
• 1926: Dookie & DFA folds and the club goes into recess.^[10]
• 1927 - Dookie & District Football Association.^[11][12]
• 1928 - 1932: Katandra & District Football Association^[13]
• 1933 - 1934: The Katandra & DFA folds and Katandra FC goes into recess.^[14][15]
• 1935 - Chaney Cup^[16]
• 1936: Goulburn Valley Second Eighteens Football Association^[17]
• 1937 - 1941: Goulburn Valley Football Association
• 1942 - 1944: Club in recess due to World War Two
• 1945 - Goulburn Valley Football Association
• 1946 - 1951: Central Goulburn Valley Football League
• 1952 - 1966: Benalla Tungamah Football League
• 1967 - 1995: Tungamah Football League
• 1996 - 2017: Picola & District Football Netball League
• 2018 - 2019: Murray Football Netball League
• 2020: Club in recess due to COVID-19
• 2021 - 2025: Picola & District Football Netball League

Seniors

• Picola & District Football League (3):
  • 1998, 2003, 2004
• Tungamah Football League (8):
  • 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1992
• Benalla Tungamah Football League (5):
  • 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1966
• Central Goulburn Valley Football League (2):
  • 1950, 1951
• Katandra Football Association
  • 1914 - Katandra:^[18]
  • 1913 - Katandra:^[19]

Under 17's

• Picola & District Football League
  • 2024^[20]

Seniors

The club was runner-up in the –

Picola & District Football League

• 2006, 2007, 2008

Tungamah Football League

• 1970, 1971, 1972, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1989, 1991

Benalla Tungamah Football League

• 1960

Central Goulburn Valley Football League

• 1952

Katandra Football Association

• 1929 - Drumanure: 1.0 - 6 d Katandra: 0.0 - 0. Katandra did not show up for the grand final.^[21][22][23]
• 1912 - Dookie: 2.8 - 20 d Katandra: 2.3 - 15^[24]

Seniors

• Wooden Spoon
  • Picola & District Football League (1):
    • 2012: 8th - (4 wins, 14 losses)^[25]
    • 2013: 8th - (0 wins, 18 losses)
    • 2017: 8th - (1 win, 17 losses)

• Most consecutive losses
  • 24: From round 15, 2012 to round 3, 2014.

Seniors

• Goulburn Valley Football Association
  • 1940 – Sandy McIntosh^[26]
• Benalla Tungamah Football League – Lawless Medal
  • 1956 & 1963: Harry Brittain
• Picola & District Football League
  • 2014 - Luke Minogue

The following footballers played with Katandra, prior to playing senior football in the VFL/AFL, and / or drafted, with the year indicating their VFL/AFL debut.

• 1938 - Jack Burgmann, Richmond
• 1942 – Eddie Ford, Richmond
• 1945 – Stan Le Lievre, St Kilda
• 1951 - Joe Hickey - Fitzroy
• 1951 - Tom Magee - Fitzroy
• 1968 – Les Bartlett, Footscray
• 1972 – Lloyd Burgmann, Melbourne
• 1985 – Rod Grinter, Melbourne
• 2001 – David Teague (footballer), North Melbourne & Carlton
• 2020 - Lachie Ash, Greater Western Sydney

The following footballers played senior VFL / AFL football prior to playing and / or coaching with Katandra with the year indicating their first season at Katandra.

• 1990 - Ian Sartori - St Kilda & Richmond
• 2008 – Derek Hall, West Coast and Geelong

Senior Football

• - 1950 & 1958: Undefeated Premiers

As of 2025 the club fields the following netball sides in the Picola & DFNL competitions - A, B, C, C Reserve, Under 17's, 15's and 13's.

Premierships

• Picola & District Football League^[62]
  • A. Grade
    • 2009, 2013, 2014,

• B. Grade
  • 2000, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016^[63]

• C. Grade
  • 2002, 2009, 2013,

• C. Reserve
  • 1998, 2001, 2016, 2024,

Under 17's

• • 2003

• Under 13's
  • 2001, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2022,