We spent our time productively during the cancelled 2020 season and delved into the history books to find out some interesting info and stats in relation to the great game of Victorian country footy.
Since the first VFL season in 1897, footballers from the country have been involved in the 'big league', so we thought, which country footy club has produced the most VFL/AFL footballers? We trawled through lists of every player to ever play VFL/AFL to find out those who were recruited from Victorian country clubs.
There are a couple of things you need to know regarding how we created our list and therefore our numbers.
- We checked the lists of every player to play at least 1 game of VFL/AFL.
- Our list also includes those who were drafted since 1987 but may not have played a game of VFL/AFL.
- The list includes players we know who were recruited before the drafts began, but didn't play any VFL/AFL
games. - 2020 draftees are included.
While we think our list is pretty close to being complete, we do know we may have missed players as we had no record of where they were recruited from prior to 1987 and the implementation of the national draft.
To simplify things, as there have been many clubs that have merged or changed names since their inception, we have simply recorded the player under the club they were originally recruited or drafted from.
Complete List
Position | Recruited from | # of VFL/AFL players recruited or drafted |
1 | Sandhurst | 59 |
2 | Ballarat | 58 |
3 | South Bendigo | 57 |
4 | Maryborough | 55 |
5 | Albury | 53 |
6 | Sale | 52 |
7 | Eaglehawk | 51 |
8 | Shepparton | 48 |
9 | Castlemaine | 45 |
10 | Horsham | 39 |
11 | Warragul | 39 |
12 | Echuca | 36 |
13 | Golden Point | 36 |
14 | Colac | 35 |
15 | Geelong West | 35 |
16 | Kyabram | 35 |
17 | Traralgon | 35 |
18 | Rutherglen | 34 |
19 | Barwon | 33 |
20 | Warrnambool | 33 |
21 | South Warrnambool | 32 |
22 | Yarrawonga | 32 |
23 | Benalla | 31 |
24 | Wodonga | 31 |
25 | Ararat | 30 |
26 | North Ballarat | 30 |
27 | South Ballarat | 30 |
28 | Bairnsdale | 29 |
29 | East Geelong | 29 |
30 | Stawell | 29 |
31 | Swan Hill | 29 |
32 | North Geelong | 28 |
33 | St Joseph's | 28 |
34 | Chilwell | 27 |
35 | Morwell | 27 |
36 | Wangaratta | 27 |
37 | Chelsea | 26 |
38 | Maffra | 26 |
39 | Golden Square | 25 |
40 | Hamilton | 25 |
41 | Newtown & Chilwell | 25 |
42 | Kerang | 24 |
43 | Moe | 24 |
44 | Myrtleford | 24 |
45 | Newtown | 24 |
46 | Cobden | 23 |
47 | Rochester | 23 |
48 | Beaconsfield | 22 |
49 | Camperdown | 22 |
50 | East Ballarat | 22 |
51 | Frankston Bombers | 22 |
52 | Leongatha | 22 |
53 | Mooroopna | 22 |
54 | Redan | 22 |
55 | Wangaratta Rovers | 22 |
56 | Casterton | 21 |
57 | Cobram | 21 |
58 | North Albury | 21 |
59 | Grovedale | 20 |
60 | Queenscliff | 20 |
61 | Wonthaggi | 20 |
62 | Geelong Amateur | 19 |
63 | Terang | 19 |
64 | Bacchus Marsh | 18 |
65 | Mildura | 18 |
66 | Seymour | 18 |
67 | Shepparton United | 18 |
68 | Tatura | 18 |
69 | Yallourn | 18 |
70 | Corowa Rutherglen | 17 |
71 | Daylesford | 17 |
72 | Gisborne | 17 |
73 | Koroit | 17 |
74 | Ballarat Imperials | 16 |
75 | Edithvale Aspendale | 16 |
76 | Korrunburra | 16 |
77 | Kyneton | 16 |
78 | Mildura Imperials | 16 |
79 | Yea | 16 |
80 | Broadford | 15 |
81 | Red Cliffs | 15 |
82 | Berwick | 14 |
83 | Cohuna | 14 |
84 | Corowa | 14 |
85 | Euroa | 14 |
86 | Hamilton Imperials | 14 |
87 | Healesville | 14 |
88 | Mansfield | 14 |
89 | Mortlake | 14 |
90 | Pakenham | 14 |
91 | Frankston | 13 |
92 | Mount Eliza | 13 |
93 | Numurkah | 13 |
94 | St Mary's | 13 |
95 | Finley | 12 |
96 | Melton | 12 |
97 | Minyip | 12 |
98 | Mornington | 12 |
99 | Narre Warren | 12 |
100 | Port Fairy | 12 |
101 | Sunbury | 12 |
102 | Warrackanbeal | 12 |
103 | Berrigan | 11 |
104 | Dimboola | 11 |
105 | Frankston YCW | 11 |
106 | Lavington | 11 |
107 | Nhill | 11 |
108 | Ocean Grove | 11 |
109 | South Barwon | 11 |
110 | Trentham | 11 |
111 | Warracknabeal | 11 |
112 | Beechworth | 10 |
113 | Birregurra | 10 |
114 | Donald | 10 |
115 | Drouin | 10 |
116 | Fish Creek | 10 |
117 | Hopetoun | 10 |
118 | Merbein | 10 |
119 | Nathalia | 10 |
120 | Shepparton Swans | 10 |
121 | St Arnaud | 10 |
122 | Torquay | 10 |
123 | Barooga | 9 |
124 | Beaufort | 9 |
125 | Bendigo | 9 |
126 | Doveton | 9 |
127 | Hastings | 9 |
128 | Heyfield | 9 |
129 | Koo Wee Rup | 9 |
130 | Lara | 9 |
131 | Murtoa | 9 |
132 | Seaford | 9 |
133 | Trafalgar | 9 |
134 | Wodonga Raiders | 9 |
135 | Avenel | 8 |
136 | Ballarat YCW | 8 |
137 | Bell Park | 8 |
138 | Coragulac | 8 |
139 | Dromana | 8 |
140 | Lake Boga | 8 |
141 | Leopold | 8 |
142 | Nagambie | 8 |
143 | Nar Nar Goon | 8 |
144 | Portland | 8 |
145 | Robinvale | 8 |
146 | Rosebud | 8 |
147 | Rupanyup | 8 |
148 | Wentworth | 8 |
149 | Winchelsea | 8 |
150 | Alexandra | 7 |
151 | Birchip | 7 |
152 | Bunyip | 7 |
153 | Deniliquin Rams | 7 |
154 | Foster | 7 |
155 | Katandra | 7 |
156 | Somerville | 7 |
157 | Tocumwal | 7 |
158 | Tyntynder | 7 |
159 | Warburton | 7 |
160 | Yarram | 7 |
161 | Belgrave | 6 |
162 | Bungaree | 6 |
163 | Darley | 6 |
164 | Drysdale | 6 |
165 | East Point | 6 |
166 | Emerald | 6 |
167 | Garfield | 6 |
168 | Inverleigh | 6 |
169 | Jeparit | 6 |
170 | Kaniva | 6 |
171 | Katamatite | 6 |
172 | Langwarrin | 6 |
173 | Modewarre | 6 |
174 | North Shore | 6 |
175 | Orbost | 6 |
176 | Portarlington | 6 |
177 | South Mildura | 6 |
178 | Stratford | 6 |
179 | Strathmerton | 6 |
180 | Woomelang | 6 |
181 | Beulah | 5 |
182 | California Gully | 5 |
183 | Congupna | 5 |
184 | Creswick | 5 |
185 | Crib Point | 5 |
186 | Dunnolly | 5 |
187 | East Albury | 5 |
188 | Lang Lang | 5 |
189 | Leitchville | 5 |
190 | Longwarry | 5 |
191 | Lorne | 5 |
192 | Lucknow | 5 |
193 | Mirboo North | 5 |
194 | Mulwala | 5 |
195 | Nyah West | 5 |
196 | Terang Mortlake | 5 |
197 | Union | 5 |
198 | Upwey Tecoma | 5 |
199 | West Albury | 5 |
200 | West Gambier | 5 |
201 | Barwon Heads | 4 |
202 | Beeac | 4 |
203 | Belmont | 4 |
204 | Chiltern | 4 |
205 | Coleraine | 4 |
206 | Cororooke | 4 |
207 | Edenhope | 4 |
208 | Hay | 4 |
209 | Heywood | 4 |
210 | Horsham Saints | 4 |
211 | Jerilderie | 4 |
212 | Koondrook | 4 |
213 | Lake Wendouree | 4 |
214 | Lalbert | 4 |
215 | Maldon | 4 |
216 | Murchison | 4 |
217 | Northern United | 4 |
218 | Pearcedale | 4 |
219 | Penshurst | 4 |
220 | Pines | 4 |
221 | Poowong | 4 |
222 | Powelltown | 4 |
223 | Rosedale | 4 |
224 | Rushworth | 4 |
225 | Rye | 4 |
226 | Sorrento | 4 |
227 | Tongala | 4 |
228 | Toora | 4 |
229 | Tungamah | 4 |
230 | Wedderburn | 4 |
231 | Whorouly | 4 |
232 | Woori Yallock | 4 |
233 | Yarragon | 4 |
234 | Allansford | 3 |
235 | Anglesea | 3 |
236 | Bannockburn | 3 |
237 | Bell Post Hill | 3 |
238 | Bonbeach | 3 |
239 | Boort | 3 |
240 | Carlsruhe | 3 |
241 | Colac Imperials | 3 |
242 | Corio | 3 |
243 | Corryong | 3 |
244 | Dalyston | 3 |
245 | Derimallum | 3 |
246 | Devon Meadows | 3 |
247 | Dookie | 3 |
248 | Dookie College | 3 |
249 | Gunbower | 3 |
250 | Hawkesdale | 3 |
251 | Hume Weir | 3 |
252 | Inglewood | 3 |
253 | Irymple | 3 |
254 | Kilcunda Bass | 3 |
255 | Lakes Entrance | 3 |
256 | Lismore | 3 |
257 | Loch | 3 |
258 | Macedon | 3 |
259 | Mangalore | 3 |
260 | Monbulk | 3 |
261 | Noorat | 3 |
262 | North Gambier | 3 |
263 | North Warrnambool | 3 |
264 | Nullawil | 3 |
265 | Quambatook | 3 |
266 | Queenscliff Garrison | 3 |
267 | Rainbow | 3 |
268 | Rythdale Officer Cardinia | 3 |
269 | Sea Lake | 3 |
270 | Sebastopol | 3 |
271 | St Peters | 3 |
272 | Strathfieldsaye | 3 |
273 | Tallangatta | 3 |
274 | Thorpdale | 3 |
275 | Tooleybuc | 3 |
276 | Waaia | 3 |
277 | Walpeup | 3 |
278 | Wandin | 3 |
279 | Warburton Millgrove | 3 |
280 | Welshpool | 3 |
281 | Wickliffe Lake Bolac | 3 |
282 | Wycheproof | 3 |
283 | Yarra Glen | 3 |
284 | Alvie | 2 |
285 | Apsley | 2 |
286 | Aspendale | 2 |
287 | Avoca | 2 |
288 | Ballan | 2 |
289 | Barrabool | 2 |
290 | Bellarine | 2 |
291 | Bendigo City | 2 |
292 | Boolarra | 2 |
293 | Campbells Creek | 2 |
294 | Carrum | 2 |
295 | Churchill | 2 |
296 | Cohuna Union | 2 |
297 | Colac-Coragulac | 2 |
298 | Cora Lynn | 2 |
299 | Cressy | 2 |
300 | Cudgewa | 2 |
301 | Devenish | 2 |
302 | Devon | 2 |
303 | Dunnstown | 2 |
304 | DWWWW | 2 |
305 | Edenhope Apsley | 2 |
306 | Edithvale | 2 |
307 | Elmore | 2 |
308 | Gaffney's Creek | 2 |
309 | Geelong District | 2 |
310 | Granya | 2 |
311 | Harrow Balmoral | 2 |
312 | Heathcote | 2 |
313 | Heathmere | 2 |
314 | Inverloch Kongwak | 2 |
315 | Kalkee | 2 |
316 | Kangaroo Flat | 2 |
317 | Karingal | 2 |
318 | Katunga | 2 |
319 | Kennington | 2 |
320 | Korong Vale | 2 |
321 | Laanecoorie | 2 |
322 | Lake Bolac | 2 |
323 | Leitchville Gunbower | 2 |
324 | Lethbridge | 2 |
325 | Lexton | 2 |
326 | Lindenow | 2 |
327 | Lockington | 2 |
328 | Long Gully | 2 |
329 | Macarthur | 2 |
330 | Macorna | 2 |
331 | Marysville | 2 |
332 | Melton South | 2 |
333 | Metung | 2 |
334 | Millicent | 2 |
335 | Moama | 2 |
336 | Moulamein | 2 |
337 | Moyhu | 2 |
338 | Nandaly | 2 |
339 | Natimuk | 2 |
340 | Neerim Neerim South | 2 |
341 | Newborough | 2 |
342 | Newbridge | 2 |
343 | Newlyn | 2 |
344 | Nyah-Nyah West United | 2 |
345 | Olinda | 2 |
346 | Omeo | 2 |
347 | Ouyen | 2 |
348 | Ouyen Rovers | 2 |
349 | Phillip Island | 2 |
350 | Pyalong | 2 |
351 | Pyramid Hill | 2 |
352 | Red Hill | 2 |
353 | Rennie | 2 |
354 | Riversdale | 2 |
355 | Rokewood | 2 |
356 | Sea Scouts | 2 |
357 | Seville | 2 |
358 | SMW Rovers | 2 |
359 | South Colac | 2 |
360 | St Albans | 2 |
361 | St James | 2 |
362 | St Patrick's | 2 |
363 | Stanhope | 2 |
364 | Stony Creek | 2 |
365 | Thomson | 2 |
366 | Thornton | 2 |
367 | Thornton Eildon | 2 |
368 | Timboon | 2 |
369 | Tyabb | 2 |
370 | Ultima | 2 |
371 | Violet Town | 2 |
372 | Wahgunyah | 2 |
373 | Walpeup Underbool | 2 |
374 | Warrack Eagles | 2 |
375 | Watchem-Corack | 2 |
376 | Willaura | 2 |
377 | Won Wron Woodside | 2 |
378 | Wonthaggi Rovers | 2 |
379 | Woorinen | 2 |
380 | Acheron Valley | 1 |
381 | Alberton | 1 |
382 | Albury Rovers | 1 |
383 | Ardmona | 1 |
384 | Bairnsdale District | 1 |
385 | Ballarat East | 1 |
386 | Ballarat Mines | 1 |
387 | Ballarat Second Twenty | 1 |
388 | Balmoral | 1 |
389 | Barham | 1 |
390 | Barnawartha | 1 |
391 | Barwon Downs | 1 |
392 | Bass Valley | 1 |
393 | Bayles | 1 |
394 | Bealiba | 1 |
395 | Bena | 1 |
396 | Bendigo CYMS | 1 |
397 | Bendigo District | 1 |
398 | Bendigo East | 1 |
399 | Bendigo YCW | 1 |
400 | Border United | 1 |
401 | Bridgewater | 1 |
402 | Brim | 1 |
403 | Bruthen | 1 |
404 | Buffalo | 1 |
405 | Buninyong | 1 |
406 | Caniambo | 1 |
407 | Carisbrook | 1 |
408 | Carngham Linton | 1 |
409 | Catani | 1 |
410 | Cavendish | 1 |
411 | Charlton | 1 |
412 | Chewtown | 1 |
413 | Chiltern Valley | 1 |
414 | Chinkapook | 1 |
415 | Clunes | 1 |
416 | Colbinabbin | 1 |
417 | Coopers Creek | 1 |
418 | Costerfield | 1 |
419 | CYMS Geelong | 1 |
420 | Dalyesford | 1 |
421 | Dartmoor | 1 |
422 | Dederang Mt Beauty | 1 |
423 | Dookie United | 1 |
424 | Drumanure | 1 |
425 | Dunnolly | 1 |
426 | East Bendigo | 1 |
427 | East Warrnambool | 1 |
428 | Echuca East | 1 |
429 | Echuca United | 1 |
430 | Ellerslie | 1 |
431 | Excelsior | 1 |
432 | Flinders Naval Depot | 1 |
433 | Forrest | 1 |
434 | Forrest (Smithton) | 1 |
435 | Frankston East | 1 |
436 | Frankston Peninsula | 1 |
437 | Frankston Rovers | 1 |
438 | Garvoc | 1 |
439 | Geelong Artillery | 1 |
440 | Geelong Post & Telegraph | 1 |
441 | Gembrook Cockatoo | 1 |
442 | Gippsland | 1 |
443 | Glenrose | 1 |
444 | Glenthompson | 1 |
445 | Gol Gol | 1 |
446 | Goroke | 1 |
447 | Gorya | 1 |
448 | Grassmere | 1 |
449 | Great Western | 1 |
450 | Greta | 1 |
451 | Hazelwood | 1 |
452 | Hill End | 1 |
453 | Homers | 1 |
454 | Horsham United | 1 |
455 | Huntly | 1 |
456 | Inverloch | 1 |
457 | Iona | 1 |
458 | Kenmare | 1 |
459 | Kerang Rovers | 1 |
460 | Kiewa Sandy Creek | 1 |
461 | Kilcunda | 1 |
462 | Kinglake | 1 |
463 | Kolora | 1 |
464 | Kolora Noorat | 1 |
465 | Koondrook Barham | 1 |
466 | Korumburra-Bena | 1 |
467 | Lake Rovers | 1 |
468 | LBU | 1 |
469 | Little River | 1 |
470 | Longwood | 1 |
471 | Maffra Rovers | 1 |
472 | Manangatang | 1 |
473 | Marnoo | 1 |
474 | Marrar | 1 |
475 | Maryborough Rovers | 1 |
476 | Mathoura | 1 |
477 | Meeniyan | 1 |
478 | Miga Lake | 1 |
479 | Mildura Rovers | 1 |
480 | Mildura South | 1 |
481 | Millgrove | 1 |
482 | Minyip-Murtoa | 1 |
483 | Mitiamo | 1 |
484 | Mitta United | 1 |
485 | Mt Pleasant | 1 |
486 | Muckatah | 1 |
487 | Murrayville | 1 |
488 | Narracoorte | 1 |
489 | Navarre | 1 |
490 | Neerim | 1 |
491 | Newcomb | 1 |
492 | Newstead | 1 |
493 | Nilma Darnum | 1 |
494 | North Ballarat City | 1 |
495 | Nyah | 1 |
496 | Nyah Nyah West | 1 |
497 | Nyora | 1 |
498 | Officer | 1 |
499 | Orbost Snowy Rovers | 1 |
500 | Otway Rovers | 1 |
501 | Patchewollock | 1 |
502 | Peninsula | 1 |
503 | Picola | 1 |
504 | Port Fairy Rovers | 1 |
505 | Queenscliff Artillery | 1 |
506 | Queenscliff Engineers | 1 |
507 | Robinvale-Euston | 1 |
508 | Rumbalara | 1 |
509 | Sale City | 1 |
510 | Seaford United | 1 |
511 | Smeaton | 1 |
512 | Snowy Rovers | 1 |
513 | South Belgrave | 1 |
514 | South Gambier | 1 |
515 | Strathbogie | 1 |
516 | Swan Marsh | 1 |
517 | Talbot | 1 |
518 | Tallygaroopna | 1 |
519 | Tarnagatta | 1 |
520 | Tarwin Lower | 1 |
521 | Tatyoon | 1 |
522 | Tempy | 1 |
523 | Tempy-Gorya-Patchewollock | 1 |
524 | Tiega | 1 |
525 | Traralgon Tyers United | 1 |
526 | Underbool | 1 |
527 | Walhalla | 1 |
528 | Walwa | 1 |
529 | Wandella | 1 |
530 | Wangaratta Combined Churches | 1 |
531 | Warragul Industrials | 1 |
532 | Warrnambool West End | 1 |
533 | Watchupga | 1 |
534 | Waubra | 1 |
535 | Wendouree | 1 |
536 | West Geelong | 1 |
537 | West St Peters | 1 |
538 | Wonthaggi East | 1 |
539 | Wonthaggi Tech Old Collegions | 1 |
540 | Woods Point | 1 |
541 | Wron Wron | 1 |
542 | Wunghnu | 1 |
543 | Wy Yung | 1 |
544 | Wycheproof-Narraport | 1 |
545 | Yabba | 1 |
546 | Yallourn Blues | 1 |
547 | Yallourn North | 1 |
548 | Yallourn Yallourn North | 1 |
549 | Yarra Junction | 1 |
550 | Yinnar | 1 |