Ovens & King Football League

The  Ovens & King Football Netball League is a minor country Australian rules football league based in North-Eastern Victoria in the vicinity of Wangaratta and more recently Benalla.

History
The Ovens & King Football League was formed on the 13th of June 1903, after a handful of men met at The Bulls Head Hotel in Wangaratta to consider forming a football competition. One week later, the first matches of the Ovens & King Football Association were played. The competition changed its name to the Ovens and King Football League after the 1928 season.

Today, more than 100 years later, teams from Benalla, Bright, Greta, King Valley, Milawa, Moyhu, North Wangaratta, Tarrawingee and Whorouly participate in seniors, reserves and five netball grades.

Located in the rich Ovens Valley and King Valley of northeast Victoria, the league has produced a number of elite football who have gone on to play in the AFL, including the cousins Nigel (Brisbane Lions) and Matthew Lappin (St Kilda/Carlton), ruckman Mark Porter (Kangaroos/Carlton) and most recently Michael Newton (Melbourne), Ben Reid (Collingwood) and Sam Reid (Sydney Swans).

Community support is strong in the Ovens and King districts with crowds attending games usually greater than most neighbouring competitions. The local football is an important social outlet for many local communities and finals matches draw especially strong crowd numbers.

In 2010, the league added Tatong, Swanpool, Goorambat and Bonnie Doon, who had previously played in the now-defunct Benalla & District Football League. After four years of heavy losses, Swanpool and Tatong were thrown out of the competition by AFL County Victoria, ending nearly 100 years of tradition. A two-way merge proposed by the clubs was rejected, as was a transfer to the Picola District FL.

In 2019 Glenrowan were forced into recess following a player, coach and volunteer shortage.

A Grade Netball Grand Finals

 * 2021 - Minor Premiership awarded. 12 matches played, but no finals played due to COVID-19

League Hall Of Fame
This pretigious honour for O&KFNL players & officials was first awarded in 2006.
 * 2006: Ray Burns, Clyde Baker, Clem Goonan, Mick Nolan, Richie Shanley, Jim Skinns, Lionel Wallace.
 * 2007: Ray Price, Vin Shelley, Ken Stewart.
 * 2008: Fay Morgan, Fred Baker, Allan Dickson, Kevin Allen.
 * 2009: Fred Jensen.
 * 2010: Daryl Everitt, Neville Pollard, Laurie Stewart.
 * 2011: Norm Bussell, Bob Comensoli, Kath Dobson, Max Newth.
 * 2012: Brendan Allan, Mark Allan, Jeff Clarke.
 * 2013: Ken Ellis, Gladys Townsend, Dawn Wallace, Rex Walter.
 * 2014: Des Sheridan.
 * 2015: Scott Douglas, Robyn Hogan, Wendy Hogan, Jock Lappin.
 * 2016:
 * 2017:
 * 2018: Mal Dinsdale, Lionel Schutt, Kevin Rhodes, Gerard Nolan
 * 2019:
 * 2020: O&K in recess due to COVID-19
 * 2021:
 * 2022: Chris Donald, Paul Hickey, Chris O'Keefe
 * 2023:

League Life Members
Charlie H. Butler (Sec) G. Ray Barker (Pres) Ron Marks (Tribunal) John Keogh (Auditor) Cyril C. Johnson (Tribunal) Harold H. Wellington (Tribunal) Bert H.G. Harman (Reporter) J R Mummery (Delegate)

William Smith (Sponsor etc.) Clyde Baker (Sec) Albert (Bert) A. Clarke (Pres) Jack M. Wood (Tribunal)

D.P. Jones (Auditor)

H. Peter Nolan (Pres)

Ken Stewart (Delegate)

Angry J.A. Ferguson (Auditor)

Fred Jensen (Delegate)

E.J (Ted) Lester (Delegate)

Fred Baker (Sec)

Vin Shelley (Pres)

D.R. (Toby) Schultz (Tribunal)

Les O`Keefe (Tribunal)

Bill Lowen (300 games) Bright

William. O`Brien (300 games) Greta

Rob Forrest (300 games) Beechworth

Rowdy Lappin (300 games) Chiltern

Rex Walter (300 games) North Wangaratta

Ross Nightingale (300 games) Bright

Gary Bussell (300 games) King Valley

Trevor Blair (300 games) Tarrawingee

Mark Allan (300 games) Milawa

Brendan Allan (300 games) Milawa

Lionel Schutt (300 games) Milawa, North Wang, Tarrawingee, Moyhu

Allan Dickson (League President)

Andrew Smith (300 games) Greta, Glenrowan

Mal Dinsdale (400 games) Tarrawingee

Geoff Robinson (400 games) Milawa

Russell Ferguson (400 games) Milawa

Steve Masin (300 games) Whorouly

Peter Hawkins (400 games) Moyhu

Bruce Nightingale (300 games)

Ab (Alan) Gillett (300 games) Bright

John Munari Moyhu

Patrick O'Shea (Bright)

Peter Jones (Bright)

Scott Douglas (Moyhu)

Robert Burrowes (Moyhu, King Valley)

Paul Hogan (Greta)

Senior Football Best and Fairest / Clyde Baker Medal Winners

 * 1950: Jack Sullivan (Tarrawingee) runner up on count back. He has never been awarded a retropective best & fairest medal like others have in the 1956 and 1978 Baker Medals.


 * 1971: John Lappin (Chiltern) was ineligible to win the Baker Medal due to suspension during the season.


 * 1994: Mark Porter, born 11/10/1976 was the youngest ever winner of the O&K Medal, aged 17 years, 10 months.


 * 2000: In 2000, Greg Hogan and Tim Lowe were awarded the 1956 medal retrospectively, after finishing equal second on a countback.


 * 2000: In 1978 Neville Pollard originally won the Baker Medal on a countback from John Lappin (Chiltern) and Terry Wadley (Greta). Lappin & Wadley were both awarded the medal, after a change in the O&K rules in 2000.


 * 2000: In 2000, after former Moyhu player, Greg Hogan was retrospectively awarded the 1956 medal, after finishing equal second on a countback, he became part of the first father / son combination to win the medal. His son, Paul, won the medal in 1995 with Greta Football Club.

Senior Leading Goal Kicking Winners
1903 Bob Condron (Rainbows)

1906 N.Pinkerton (Wangaratta)                     7 plus

1907 H.Walker (Eldorado)                         16 plus

1909 Laidler (Wangaratta)                        10 plus

1910 Cupples (Wangaratta)                        16 plus

1911 N.Pinkerton (Wangaratta)

1913 H.Hill (Moyhu)                              10 plus

1914 H.Hill (Moyhu)                              15 plus

1919 Ivo Atkinson (Wangaratta)

1920 Ivo Atkinson (Wangaratta)                   32 plus

1921 Flegg (Wangaratta)                          21 plus

1922 Andy “Andyfox” Ferguson (Milawa)

1923 Andy “Andyfox” Ferguson (Milawa)

1924 R. McNamara (Gapsted)                       24 plus

1925 A. (Andyfox) Ferguson (Milawa)              31 plus

1926 Ossie Carter (Whorouly)                     26

1928 A.(Andyfox) Ferguson (Milawa)               81

1929 Norm Wallace (Myrtleford)                   46 plus

1930 Eric Johnstone (Moyhu)                      35 plus

1931 Bert Carey (Wangaratta)                     85

1932 Bert Carey (Wangaratta)                     76

1933 Neville Justice (Myrtleford)                58 plus

1934 Syd Wortmann (Whorouly)                     79 plus

1935 Ford Barton (Myrtleford)                    46 plus

1936 Norm Wallace (Myrtleford)                   70 plus

1937 Ford Barton (Myrtleford)                    37 plus

1938 Len Jordon (Eldorado)                       53 plus

1939 Sidney Londrigan (Beechworth)               41

1940 Jim Corker (Moyhu)                          30 plus

1941 Ernie Ward (Rainbows)                       59

1945 Jock Gardner (Milawa)                       35 plus

1946 Len Ablett (Myrtleford)                    108

1947 Jim Corker (Moyhu)                          47 plus

1948 A. “Wally” Cunneen (Myrtleford)             64 plus

1949 A. “Wally” Cunneen (Myrtleford)             52 plus

1950 ?

1951 Lex Nicholl (Whorouly)                      37 plus

1952 Doug Ferguson (Eldorado)                    75

1954 Gerry O’Neill (Chiltern)  87

1955 John Farmer (Tarrawingee)                   86 plus

1956 Ron Howes (Chiltern)                       103

1957 Ron Howes (Chiltern)                        71

1959 Ivan Chant (Chiltern)                       54

1960 Ted McSweeney (Whorouly)                    62

1961 Ted McSweeney (Whorouly)                    71

1962 Maurie Hogan (Greta)                        96

1963 Maurie Hogan (Tarrawingee)                  78

1964 John Farmer (Tarrawingee)                   68

1965 Brian McDonald (Beechworth)                 63

1966 Bob Stone (Tarrawingee)                     73

1967 Bob Stone (Tarrawingee)                     57

1968 Bill Cassidy (Chiltern)                     76

1969 Bob McWaters (Beechworth)                  112

1970 Ray Hooper (King Valley)                   102

1971 Ray Hooper (King Valley)                   109

1972 Bob McWaters (Beechworth)                  111

1973 Graham Hill (Beechworth)                    92

1974 Graham Hill (Beechworth)                   115

1975 Graham Hill (Beechworth)                   110

1976 Dave Piggott (Whorouly)                     89

1977 Alan Sewell (Whorouly)                     126

1978 Alan Sewell (Whorouly)                     104

1979 Ron “Jock” Lappin (Chiltern)                88

1980 Glenn Daws (King Valley)                    61

1981 Glenn Daws (King Valley)                    68 plus

1982 Steve Thompson (Bright)                    123

1983 Jim McNamara (Whorouly)                     88

1984 John Michelini (Milawa)                    114

1985 Graham Hill (Beechworth)                   110

1986 Mal Dinsdale (Tarrawingee)                  74

........ Vere Mounsey (Bright)                   74

1987 Mick Worthington (Whorouly)                106

1988 John Iwanuch (Moyhu)                       113

1989 Tim Wallace (Beechworth)                    85 or 143

1990 Chris Long (Tarrawingee)                   106

1991 Mark Higgs (Milawa)                         76

1992 Mark O’Connor (Milawa)                        71

1993 Peter Smith (Bright)                        81

1994 Damian Lord (Whorouly)                     107

1995 Alan Millard (Chiltern)                     84

1996 Ray Robbins (Rutherglen)                     81

1997 Peter Busch (Rutherglen)                   101

1998 Darren Bate (Beechworth)                   100

1999 Dale Andrews (Chiltern)                     93

2000 Darren Bate (Beechworth)                    79

2001 Darren Bate (Beechworth)                   117

2002 Darren Bate (Beechworth)                    97

2003 Shane Moore (Moyhu)                        103

2004 Shane Moore (Moyhu)                        108

2005 Shane Moore (Moyhu)                        132

2006 Shane Moore (Moyhu)                        103

2007 Shane Moore (Moyhu)                         81

2008 Brendan Sessions (Tarrawingee)             135

2009 Brendan Sessions (Tarrawingee)             116

2010 Daniel West (Whorouly)                      96

2011 Duane Haebich (Benalla All Blacks)         108

........ Daniel Lewis (Milawa)              108 & 9

........ Brendan Sessions (King Valley)     97 & 12

........ Jeremy Wilson Moyhu                85 & 16

2012 Richard Leahy (Whorouly)                   147

2013 Brendan Sessions (King Valley)             105

2014 Hamish Moore (Tarrawingee)                 136

2015 Josh Evans (Bonnie Doon)                    92

2016 Kyle Raven (Tarrawingee)                   107

2017 Justin Hoggan (Tarrawingee)                104

2018 James McClonan (Tarrawingee)                94

2019 Tom Mullane Grant (Bright)                 113

2020 O&KFNL in recess due to COVID-19

2021 Daniel Cassidy (Greta)                      56

2022 Lachlin Thompson (Benalla All Blacks)      109

2023 Cooper Thomason (Bright)                  90