Victoria

How it all started

Messrs, William Hammersley, Tom Smith, James Thompson, Tom Wills and Jerry Bryant Wills, called for a game to keep cricketers fit during the winter months of 1858. During the same time on August 7th. Melbourne Grammar began a ‘football’ contest against Scotch College, that took three Saturdays to complete.

Basic rules

It was on 17th May, 1859, when Hammersley, Smith, Thompson and Wills, met at Bryant’s Hotel in East Melbourne. They penned at set of basic rules which was the beginning of a game we know today.

VFA formed

The inaugural competition formed in 1877 was known as the Victorian Football Association (VFA).

The six foundation senior clubs were, Albert Park (South Melbourne), Carlton, Geelong, Hotham (North Melbourne), Melbourne, and St. Kilda.

First inter-colony match

First inter-colony match (Victoria v South Australia).

Essendon visited Tasmania

Visiting VFA club Essendon, played four matches in Tasmania.

Match No. 1, Wednesday 23rd August 1882 Essendon played a Northern Tasmanian team, selected from Launceston clubs plus Ross and Longford clubs. The game was played on what was known as the 'Western Swamp'. Essendon scored 8 goals to Northern Tas. 2 goals.

Match No. 2, Saturday 26th August, Essendon played a combined STFA team in Hobart. Essendon won 6.15  (51) to STFA 2.18  (30).

Match No. 3, played 3rd September in Hobart (first ever Tasmanian team)  the team was chosen from the North, North West and South of the State Tasmania  v  Essendon. Scores Essendon 6.27  (63) to Tasmania 1.8  (14).

Tasmania team travels to Victoria

In 1887 a Tasmania team travelled to Victoria for the first time to play a series of matches in the Victorian capital. The team played six matches, won three, drew one and suffered two defeats.

First Australian Club Championship

Norwood and South Melbourne played a three match series to determine the first Australian Club Championship of the respective SA/Vic. Premiers. Norwood won all three games.

National Championship game

Port Adelaide defeats South Melbourne in National Championship game.

Interstate visting teams

Norwood (SA) and Essendon (VIC) visited Tasmania.

Clubs that formed VFL

Geelong, Essendon, Collingwood, Fitzroy, Melbourne and South Melbourne met to form the Victorian Football League as a break-away competition, with Carton and St. Kilda later invited to join.

VFL First Year

First year of eight teams in VFL competition and introduction of a finals series to determine the premier.

VFL First Game

The first VFL game played was on 18th May 1897.

Fitzroy visit

VFL club Fitzroy visited the State to play two matches against the STFA winning both games.

Essendon visit

Essendon also played two matches in both the North and South of the State, winning both games.

Collingwood visit

Highlight of the season was a visit of VFL powerhouse club Collingwood who played two games in Launceston and Hobart. The result of the Southeners match was Collingwood 17.17 (119) defeated STFA 8.11 (59).

South Melbourne visit

South Melbourne came to Tasmania to play two game. But after the first game against the NTFA, the Southern match was cancelled due to an outbreak of smallpox in the capital.

WA interstate matches

West Australia played its first Interstate match against Victoria and South Australia.

Essendon and St Kilda visit

VFL clubs Essendon and St. Kilda arrived in Hobart to play the STFA and convincingly won both games.

Inter-State Matches

VFL Clubs Fitzroy and Collingwood visited Tasmania for a challenge against a STFA side made up from the following selected players: E. Russell, Lee, Mills, Orpwood, Langford, Hill, P. Dodge, Heathorn, Bridges, Brain, Burrell, Weare, P. Williams, Carroll, Able, Anderson, & Laurie Lobdale. Emergencies: C. Williams, Cook, W. Dodge, Donoghue, Searl and C. Williams.

The Fitzroy match was held in June and the visitors won comfortably 6.18 (54) to the STFA 5.5 (35).

The second match against Collingwood in August was a whitewash for the touring team, giving the locals a lesson in what the game was all about. Collingwood 16.8 (104) to the STFA scoring the same outcome as its previous game, 5.5 (35).

National Championship game

Norwood defeats Carlton in the National Championship game.

Inter-State matches

Top VFL clubs Melbourne and St. Kilda visited the State for two games against the TFL. In the match against Melbourne, the League scored 4.6 (30) to Melbourne 14.14 (98) and in the other game against St. Kilda (which at the time was the leading club in the VFL competition) the TFL scored 8.11 (59) to the Saints 17.15 (117).

New clubs in VFL

Both Richmond and University Clubs were admitted to the VFL.

National Championship game

West Adelaide defeated Carlton in National Championship game.

ANFC Jubilee Carnival (Victoria) - First National Carnival

Victoria was host State for the 1908 Carnival that included representation from New Zealand. The carnival was conducted under a two section system as indicated by the below carnival ladder and played at the MCG:

‘A’ Section

‘B’ Section

New Zealand player G. Gillett, played Rugby Union for the New Zealand All Blacks.

National Championship game

South Melbourne defeats West Adelaide in National Championship game.

Norwood and Melbourne visit

Norwood (SA) and VFL club Melbourne arrived to play matches against the TFL. Victory was attained by the League in the match against Norwood, but the TFL had to concede to Melbourne.

National Championship game

Port Adelaide defeats Collingwood in National Championship game.

National Championship game

West Adelaide defeats Essendon in National Championship game.

Second AFC National Carnival

The second AFC Carnival conducted in Adelaide was successful from Tasmania’s view point, as it finished in third position on the points table behind carnival winner South Australia and Victoria second.

Inter-State visits

Three Inter-State clubs came to Hobart to play one game each against the League.

The result of which, was a morale boosting year for the TFL when its combined League team defeated VFL club Melbourne in Hobart. On the deficit side, Port Adelaide (SA) and Richmond (VFL) won their respective games. Scores were : TFL 11.14 (80) defeated Melbourne 9.8 (62), Port Adelaide 7.13 (55) defeated TFL 6.6 (42) and Richmond 11.11 (77) defeated TFL 8.9 (57)

Player numbers

VFL introduced numbers on player guernseys.

National Championship game

Port Adelaide defeats Fitzroy in National Championship game.

National Championship game

Port Adelaide defeated Carlton in National Championship game.

University leaves VFL

University withdrew from the Victorian Football League.

AFC Carnival -Third National Carnival

This was the third such carnival conducted by the Australian Football Council and it was conducted in Sydney and won by Victoria. The result for Tasmania was not as encouraging as first hoped, as it fell far below what was achieved at the previous carnival.

Leagues in recess

SAFL, VFA, and QFA all in recess for WW1, whilst VFL continued with only four clubs, and WAFL continued with full competition.

Interstate visting teams

During the season matches were played against three visiting mainland teams, with the TFL winning one game. Results were: South Adelaide 12.9 (81) defeated TFL 8.13 (61), TFL 14.9 (93) defeated Glenelg (SA) 10.19 (79), Richmond (VFL) 10.9 (69) defeated TFL 9.12 (66).

Brownlow Medal

Introduction of Brownlow Medal for Beat & Fairest player in VFL (now AFL).

New clubs in VFL

Footscray, Hawthorn and North Melbourne join the Victorian Football League.

Interstate visits

Two VFL Clubs, Essendon and Carlton came to Hobart in 1926. Essendon played one match against the TFL. Carlton played local TFL club New Town. Game results were : TFL 6.12 (48) defeated Essendon 4.9 (33). After one of the best games seen in recent years Carlton ran out winners 16.10 (106) to New Town 12.8 (80)

South Australian club Norwood also arrived, but did not play a match.

Visiting teams

Visiting mainland teams included East Fremantle (WA) and VFL club Carlton. In the first match the TANFL Combined team defeated East Fremantle 8.14 (62) to 7.12 (54). This was a most satisfying experience as later in the season, East Fremantle won the WA premiership. The second match1Carlton 5.13 (103) defeated TANFL 13.9 (87).

Gordon Coventry - 100 goals in a season

Gordon Coventry kicked 124 goals becoming the first player in the VFL, WAFL or SANFL to score a century in a season.

New finals system

Page McIntyre final system adopted in the VFL, SANFL and WAFL.

National Championship game

Carlton defeated Sturt in National Championship game.

National Champinship game

Richmond defeated Sturt in National Championship game.

Waverly Park Stadium

VFL opens its own stadium at Waverley Park.

National Championship game

Carlton defeated Sturt in National Championship game.

VFL Grand Final

Grand-final between Carlton and Collingwood is the largest attended game in Australian history with 121,696 present.

National Championship game

Hawthorn defeated North Adelaide in National Championship game.

National Championship game

North Adelaide defeated Carlton in the National Championship game.

Final Five

VFL introduced a final five system.

National Championship game

Richmond defeated Subiaco in the National Championship game.

National Championship game

Richmond defeated Sturt in the National Championship game.

National Championship game

North Melbourne defeated Norwood in National Championship game.

South Melbourne

South Melbourne relocated to Sydney.

Independent Commission

Independent Commission became VFL’s decision-making body.

VFA single division

VFA reverts to a single division of 14 teams.

Western Bulldogs

Footscray name change to Western Bulldogs Football Club.

Brisbane Lions

Brisbane/Fitzroy merged (Brisbane Lions continued in AFL competition in 1997).