In 1897, the Murray River District Football Association was formed from the following teams - Barmah, Kotupna, Nathalia Ramblers and Picola, with Kotupna finishing first on the ladder and claiming the premiership. The original Picola & District Football Association was formed on Saturday 13 May 1905 at the Picola Hotel, with delegates representing the following clubs – Barmah, Koptupna, Moira, Nathalia and Picola present and was active until 1907. At a meeting of club delegates on Tuesday, 26 May 1908 at the Federal Hall, Picola from the – Federal, Koptupna, Moira, Nathalia and Picola football clubs, it was decided to form an association called the Western and Moira Ridings Football Association and was a strong and vibrant competition up until 1933. At the 1934 annual general meeting of the
Western and Moira Football Association it was decided to change the official name of the football association to the Picola & District Football Association. The founding clubs were Barmah, Kotupna, Moira, Nathalia Seconds, Picola, and Yalca North. Former Moria footballer, Picola & DFL President and Life Member, Cyril W. Pearce was the Picola & DFL President from 1940 to 1949 and also from 1952 to 1974. Between 1945 and 1958 Nurmukah and Nathalia both field second XVIII sides in the PDFNL. In 1971 founding clubs Picola and Yalca North merged to form Picola United. Former
Picola and
Fitzroy player and four times Picola & DFL best and fairest winner,
David McKenzie was the Picola & DFL President from 1979 to 2008. The Reserves football competition best and fairest winner receives the Picola & DFNL McKenzie Medal. Former VFL/AFL umpire,
Glenn James was a former
Wunghnu player, before he took up umpiring.
Dookie United and
Shepparton East joined the Picola & DFNL in 2006 from the
Central Goulburn Football League. In 1992 Danny Irwin of Waaia kicked 215 goals in a season, which was bettered by Aaron Purcell in 2013 with 232 goals. In 2006,
Dookie United and
Shepparton East made their debut with the league. They were previously in the now defunct
Central Goulburn Football League. From 2021, the winner of the best on ground award in the Reserves football grand final receives the Michael Fleming Award. ;Splitting the league In the 2009 season, the Picola League split into South East and North West divisions based on the geographical location of each club. The league copped a lot of criticism by making this move but has generally been successful and has resulted in reduced travel. The exception has been Wunghnu, which inexplicably was placed in the NW division despite being surrounded by SE division clubs. Wunghnu folded less than two seasons after the split. In 2014,
Tocumwal transferred from the stronger
Murray Football League after struggling to be competitive in that competition. In 2018 the North West and South East were merged as the PDFNL was reduced to one 13 team competition as the PDFNL chose not to be affiliated with AFL Goulburn Murray as 4 clubs Tungamah, Katandra, Dookie United and Shepparton East decided split away wanting to stay affiliated with AFLGM. In 2019 the Picola & District FNL re-affiliated with the AFL Goulburn Murray but remained as one division in a 13-team competition. The Operations Manager of the Picola & DFNL is Shane Railton, who has been in charge since December 2016. ==Clubs==