| Ground Address | |
| President | Dean Mahoney |
| Vice President | Ross Panther
|
| Secretary | Linda Perkins
|
| Treasurer | Paul Hicks
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| Website | |
The Otway Districts Football Netball Club, proudly known as the Demons, is a resilient, community-driven club at the heart of Victoria’s Otways region. With a legacy built from a long line of township teams and community collaborations, the club continues to provide a welcoming and inclusive home for players, families, and supporters from across the district.
The story of Otway Districts begins well before the modern club’s formation. Records indicate that predecessor clubs were active in the early 1900s, with teams at various times representing Johanna, Chapple Vale, Wyelangta, Weeaproinah, Gellibrand, Carlisle River, Lavers Hill, and Beech Forest.
In 1957, three of those clubs—Beech Forest, Johanna, and Lavers Hill—merged to form the Otway Rovers Football Netball Club, which entered the Colac & District Football League (CDFNL). The Rovers achieved immediate success, claiming senior premierships in 1957, 1958, and 1961.
Further consolidation occurred in 1975, when the Rovers absorbed Carlisle River Football Club. Then in 1981, a final merger between the Otway Rovers and the Gellibrand Football Netball Club gave rise to the present-day Otway Districts Football Netball Club.
Otway Districts competed in the CDFNL until 1995, when the club transferred to the Heytesbury Mount Noorat Football League (HMNFL) seeking new challenges and competitive balance. The move paid off, culminating in a Grand Final appearance in 2002 against Heytesbury.
When the HMNFL disbanded in 2003, Otway Districts returned to the Colac & District Football Netball League, where the club remains today. Initially, the senior footballers performed admirably, finishing mid-table and playing competitive footy. In more recent years, while results have placed the side lower on the ladder, the core playing group has remained united, focused on development, culture, and a return to on-field success.
Netball has always played a major role in the club’s identity. Over the years, Otway Districts has fielded multiple teams across all grades, including a strong A Grade team that has consistently featured in finals and grand finals in recent seasons. The club continues to provide a vital pathway for junior girls and senior women to play, develop, and thrive in netball.
The club’s home ground is the scenic Gellibrand Recreation Reserve, nestled in the Otways and serving as a central meeting place for the wider district. In recent years, the club has made major strides in upgrading its facilities, including:
Through the COVID-affected seasons of 2020 and 2021, Otway Districts doubled down on its values of sustainability, inclusiveness, and community connection. The club remained a consistent and reliable hub for locals—offering a place for people to stay connected, healthy, and involved.
The Demons are a family-oriented, volunteer-powered club, with a reputation for warmth, resilience, and long-standing community spirit. Whether on the field, the court, or in the canteen, the Otway Districts FNC is built on loyalty, service, and pride.
The future of Otway Districts is full of optimism. With a stable playing group, an active committee, and strong junior participation, the club is working hard to improve both on-field performance and off-field culture.
Efforts continue to attract new players, members, and supporters—while building a fun, respectful, and welcoming environment for all.
The support of loyal sponsors has been and remains vital to the success of the club. Without them, facility upgrades, uniforms, equipment, and junior development programs would not be possible.
The Otway Districts Football Netball Club continues to grow from its deep community roots—offering locals of all ages a place to belong, compete, and connect. With continued hard work and community backing, the Demons are striving to write the next chapter of a proud and enduring legacy.
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