BFNL announces 2025 Hall of Fame Inductees
The Bendigo Football Netball League (BFNL) is proud to announce the induction of ten remarkable individuals into the BFNL Hall of Fame, celebrating their exceptional contributions to the league both on and off the field.
The 2025 inductees join an illustrious group of players, coaches, officials, and volunteers who have helped shape the BFNL, creating a lasting impact on the League through their dedication, leadership, and lifelong commitment to football and netball and the broader Bendigo community.
The BFNL Hall of Fame continues to highlight the depth of talent and passion that has defined our league for more than 100 years and each of this year’s inductees had a large influence whether through their brilliance on the field, their influence as mentors and leaders, or their tireless service to our clubs and league.
The Hall of Fame is our opportunity to celebrate those contributions and ensure their legacies are remembered for generations to come.
The 2025 BFNL Hall of Fame inductees in alphabetical order are:
MATTHEW ASTON – Maryborough FNC
Matthew Aston is one of the most respected footballers in Maryborough FNC history, pulling on the famous Maryborough jumper 208 times between 1992 & 2007. He also added the 2002 Michelsen Medal to his trophy cabinet after a stellar season.
An MFNC Life Member, Matthew is a three-time winner of the Maryborough Senior Best & Fairest award and was named on the wing in the Club’s team of the century.
An incredibly skilful and highly respected player, Matthew was the Club’s captain and was a key cog in Maryborough’s back-to-back Premierships in 1998 and 1999. In desperate need of a leader, Matthew stepped up to lead the Club as head coach in 2011 & 2012.
GARY COWLING – South Bendigo FNC
Gary started his football journey with the South Bendigo U13’s as a 10-year-old, leading to a highly credentialed junior career culminating in a South Bendigo Senior Best & Fairest Award as a 17-year-old in 1976.
A sublime left foot kick, Gary combined his high-level skills with an uncompromising hard at the ball approach to play a total of 115 Senior games despite being hampered by constant knee injuries. Gary also claimed back-to-back Best & Fairest awards with the Bloods in 1979 & 1980.
Gary was the runner up in the 1979 Michelsen Medal and despite polling the same number of votes as Eric Pascoe and Peter Tyack, they were declared the eventual winners on a “count back”. Shortly after Gary’s passing, in 2020 he was posthumously awarded his 1979 Michelsen Medal.
DANNY ELLIS – Sandhurst FNC
Danny was the lifeblood of the Sandhurst Dragons for 40 years beginning his playing career with the Club in 1984. Danny led the Club’s goalkicking in 1986 before leading the BFNL goalkicking in 1988 with 78 goals.
Passionate about the SFNC, Danny joined the club committee in 1996 as the players representative before holding roles as Secretary, Treasurer and Presidents with Sandhurst.
Danny is a Sandhurst FNC Life Member and Hall of Fame Member and was awarded the 2012 Sports Administrator of the Year before being introduced as a BFNL Life Member in 2019.
Danny’s induction into the BFNL Hall of Fame in the same year as his wife, Kylie is due recognition for his long lasting administrative impact with both the Sandhurst FNC and BFNL.
KYLIE ELLIS - Sandhurst FNC
Kylie became a BFNL Life Member in 2021 as recognition for her services as a member of the League’s Netball Executive from 2004-2011 and her role as the League’s Publicity Officer, hosting regular regular segments on radio, writing reviews of all BFNL Netball matches for the Record and interviewing our ‘Rising Stars’ weekly.
Kylie is currently the League’s vote reader for all grades of football and netball including reading all Michelsen & Thompson Medal votes live.
Like her husband, Danny, Kylie is synonymous with Sandhurst having first joined the Sandhurst FNC social committee in 1998 before moving to the Clubs Executive Committee in 2000 where she held roles including Secretary, Registrar and Club Netball Representative over the next 22 years.
Kylie played an instrumental role in introducing junior netball to Sandhurst FNC and held the position of junior netball coordinator for 4 years (2012 – 2015). Kylie also prepared all Club vote counts and presentations for almost 20 seasons.
A terrific ambassador for Sandhurst and the BFNL, the breadth of Kylie’s roles, her commitment and selflessness over the course of 24 years can only now be fully appreciated as she is inducted into the BFNL Hall of Fame.
ROSE GALLAGHER – Sandhurst FNC
Rose’s BFNL netball journey began in 1993 when she played one season for Kennington before another single season at South Bendigo. In 1995, Rose moved to Sandhurst where she would play from 1995-2000 taking her total games played to 125.
A speedy midcourter, Rose had an extremely fruitful six seasons at Sandhurst, claiming two Club Best & Fairest medals (1995 & 1997) and two League Best & Fairest Awards (1995 – Fulton medal and 1997 – Betty Thompson Medal).
Rose also represented the BFNL on five separate seasons from 1995-1999 and won two A-Grade Netball Premierships in 1995 & 1996.
Post playing career, Rose has been a pillar within the Sandhurst FNC community, regularly taking the reins of the Clubs Junior Netball teams as head coach including leading the Sandhurst FNC 17 & Under squad to SIX Premierships (2017, 18, 19, 23, 24 & 25).
Still committed to her coaching roles, Rose still holds the position of Netball Operations Manager and is key part of the Sandhurst netball machine.
CHRIS GREENE – Sandhurst FNC
Chris is a legend of BFNL representative football having represented the League on three occasions in 1988 and 1990 while also being a key part of the 1989 Interleague Division One Championship winning team.
A Sandhurst FNC Life Member and Hall of Fame Member, Chris played 203 Senior matches for the Dragons and was a member of the 1991 Premiership winning team.
A Dragon through and through, Chris provided the Club with 29 years of service including 18 as a player and 11 as an administrator through his President and Coaching roles.
RICHARD JONES – Journalist
If you are a fan of the BFNL, chances are you have read an article with Richard Jones’ by-line on it.
Starting with the Bendigo Advertiser in 1977, Richard has covered Bendigo football every season since with his trademark writing style and in-depth knowledge of the BFNL synonymous the Bendigo Advertiser and more recently, the BFNL website.
Richard’s skills go past his writing ability, with his voice being attached to key BFNL moments of the past 50 years through his commentary on both radio and television through channels including 3CCC, Fresh FM, Phoenix FM and BCV8
After retiring from the Bendigo Advertiser, Richard continued to cover one game every week for the paper and writes weekly history columns for the BFNL Record.
Remarkably, 2026 will be Richards 50th year being involved with Bendigo football.
STEVE MCDOUGALL - Eaglehawk FNC
Beginning his career at Macorna, Steve kicked 92 goals for the season as a 16-year-old before a move to Eaglehawk saw him have an acclaimed career playing 145 games and kicking 123 goals while claiming two Club Best & Fairest awards in 1989 & 1990.
Steve’s representative career distinguishes him from others with no less than 18 BFNL Interleague games under his belt including the 1989 Interleague Division One Championship game. Steve is widely considered one of the greatest to ever pull on the famous Blue & Gold.
A famous Burra Premiership in 1982 to go with a Michelsen medal Runner-Up finish in 1991 behind Derrick Filo made Steve one of the most dynamic midfielders in the League.
LUKE SAUNDERS – Gisborne FNC
Luke Saunders holds one of the most extensive League representative resumes in the BFNL, wearing the Blue & Gold of the BFNL on four occasions (2003, 2004, 2006 (captain) & 2007 (captain) while also representing Vic Country three times (2004, 2006 (vice-captain), 2007 (captain).
A champion of the BFNL, Luke had a stellar 145 game career with the Gisborne Football Netball Club which includes no less than five Premierships - 1997, 2002, 2003, 2005 & 2006.
A talented midfielder who was more than capable up forward won the 2005 Michelsen medal and finished runner-up on two other occasions (2006 & 2007). Saunders also spent time as the Bulldogs’ playing coach in 2011 & 2012, taking his squad to 6 Finals including the 2012 Grand Final.
Luke would go on to play a state league level, playing games for Coburg in the VFL in 1999-2000 and the Port Adelaide Magpies in 2008.
ROD THRELFALL – Bendigo Umpires Association
Rod Threlfall joins other BUA representatives including his brother, Ron in the BFNL Hall of Fame after a distinguished 35-year umpiring career.
Rod started his umpiring journey in 1981 and quickly rose through the ranks to umpire 40 BFNL Finals including four BFNL Grand Finals (1983, 19841 1987 & 1988) while also being adjudged as the BUA’s Umpire of the Year on four occasions.
Rod also represented the BUA at Interleague level on four occasions and was appointed to the VCFL v Australian Amateur match in 1983.
Unfortunately, Rod was forced to retire early due to injuries, but he continued as a BUA Board Member before taking a role as the VCFL Umpire Development Manager until 2018.
The 2025 inductees will be formally honoured at the 2025 BFNL Hall of Fame Ceremony, to be held on 22 November at the All Seasons Resort.
The BFNL encourages people to attend the ceremony to help celebrate the achievements of all Inductees. Tickets for the event can be purchased HERE.
As part of the 2025 Hall of Fame Ceremony, the BFNL will also elevate two existing BFNL Hall of Fame Members to LEGENDS of the BFNL Hall of Fame. These individuals will be announced in due course.
