Victorian Football League
Encyclopedia
The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association (VFA), taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football
league in Victoria (not counting the Australian Football League
. For historical purposes, the present VFL is sometimes referred to as the VFA/VFL. The VFA was formed in 1877, immediately after the foundation of a similar body in South Australia
and is the second-oldest Australian rules football
league, replacing the loose affiliation of clubs that had been the hallmark of the early years of a game which was first played as early as 1850s.
Today, the VFL is one of many regional Australian semi-professional competitions. It comprises 13 teams from throughout Victoria, nine of which have a continuous VFA heritage.
The VFL should not be confused with the previously-mentioned national Australian Football League
, which evolved from the former Victorian Football League in the early 1990s. The AFL is now a national competition but still has 10 of its 17 clubs based in Victoria. The VFL broke away from the VFA prior to the 1897 season. Because of its history, it is sometimes referred to as the VFL/AFL. Many Victorian AFL clubs affiliate with VFL clubs, and as a result, the league partly serves as a reserves competition for the AFL.
The Victorian Football Association (VFA) was founded in 1877 on 17 May. The new governing body replaced an earlier system where club delegates met informally to decide on the rules, the selection of the winner of the Challenge Cup, the division of clubs into Senior and Junior status, and other matters of mutual interest. The VFA continued to list its teams as being of either Senior or Junior status.
Foundation Senior clubs of the VFA were Albert Park
, Carlton
, East Melbourne, Essendon
, Hotham
, Melbourne
, St. Kilda & Geelong
. The Junior section of the VFA originally included such clubs as Ballarat
, Hawthorn
, Northcote
, South Melbourne
, Standard, Victoria United, Victorian Railways and Williamstown
. During its early years, many clubs dropped in and out and there were erratic promotions between the Senior and Junior sections. Hawthorn, Northcote, Standard, Victoria United, Victorian Railways and Williamstown dropped out within a year or so but Hawthorn, Northcote and Williamstown were all to return at various times.
Interestingly, in the early years, the compilation of fixtures was not done by the VFA but was the responsibility of each club secretary (a system that had evolved before the formation of the Association). Therefore, in a typical season, a club would play against other VFA teams (both Senior and Junior), non-VFA Victorian clubs, and even interstate teams.
At the end of each season, the VFA announced the Premier team. This was usually the club with the most wins, but that may not have been the case if the VFA felt that the leading team had had too many wins against junior clubs. Therefore, there are examples of the Premiership being given to the club with the second-highest number of wins.
From 1878 the Association recorded the number of behinds, but with only goals counting towards a win, thus the number of draws was extremely high. The number of players on the field was usually 20 but when a Senior and Junior team met, the Junior club was usually allowed to field extra players; there were no reserves and if a player was injured the team was a man short.
After 1889, the often-changeable collection of clubs in the VFA became settled at twelve consistent clubs: , , Fitzroy
, Footscray, , , , Port Melbourne
, , , South Melbourne
and Williamstown
; they were joined by a thirteenth club, , in 1892.
In the late 1920s, the VFA expanded to twelve teams, including six new clubs, and those twelve teams remained unchanged for several decades thereafter. Those clubs were: Port Melbourne; Williamstown; Brunswick
(joined 1897); Prahran
(1898); Brighton
(1908); Northcote
(1908); Coburg (1925); Camberwell
(1926); Preston
(1926, after a temporary period between 1903-1911); Yarraville
(1928); Oakleigh
(1929); Sandringham (1929).
A number of rule changes were adopted during the last years of the 19th Century and the first years of the 20th:
Between at least 1900 and 1902, there was a short-lived VFA 2nd Division consisting of junior clubs such as Heidelberg
.
The first regular radio broadcasts of VFA games were made by 3XY, a little after the station commenced operations in 1935. The commentator was Wallace ("Jumbo") Sharland who had earlier been the first to describe VFL matches, that being on 3AR in 1923. (Jumbo Sharland was a former Geelong player and, at one time, a newspaper football reporter.) In 1954 3AK
began broadcasting VFA games, albeit only for a season or two. In 1966 Network Ten
began to televise Sunday games. The 1970s also saw broadcasts on 3UZ
, while local Geelong station, 3GL, broadcast all Geelong West matches. In 1982, the then-dominant Melbourne sports radio station, 3AW
, broadcast the Grand Final
. In 2003 3AK evolved into sports radio station SEN
1116, and provided a coverage of VFL matches, but this was discontinued after they won the rights to broadcast the AFL (Australian Football League
), as from the 2007 season. In the 2007 and 2008 seasons, Radio 1611 Double X began broadcasting VFL matches. The station was the first to podcast
replays.
(Details of current broadcasts are found below – "Radio".)
During the 1940s, there were talks between the VFA and VFL
towards an amalgamation of the two bodies with the VFA initially forming a second division of the VFL. The negotiations broke down over the issue of promotion and relegation. The VFA wanted an automatic promotion of each Division Two premier, while the bottom Division One team at the end of each season, would have been automatically relegated. On the other hand, the VFL wanted these two teams to play off for promotion and relegation.
The VFA also pioneered night and Sunday games. After years of losing ground to the VFL, the VFA's launch of Sunday games in 1960 was a turning point for the better. Eventually, most games were played on a Sunday, while the VFL played its games on Saturdays. This was similar to the College/Pro football day divide still present in the US. The Victorian Government
supported the VFA's new-found vigour, and banned the VFL from holding games on Sundays. In 1982, the then-dominant sports radio station 3AW
broadcast the Grand Final.
home games were played on Sunday and televised. This move basically destroyed the VFA's television ratings, and in 1986 Network Ten stopped broadcasting matches. This role was later taken on by the ABC
, but on a much lower-profile basis. VFA support declined. Increasing player payments and declining financial support and sponsorship forced clubs to leave the association, many unable to finish seasons. With fifteen teams remaining at the start of 1989, the VFA reverted to a single division.
In 1989, after the Seven Network
was given exclusive rights to broadcast VFL/AFL, the ABC
increased its television commitment to the VFA in lieu of telecasting the VFL/AFL games. It attracted good ratings. Despite this, the early 1990s was a difficult period for the association, with many sides, including stalwart sides such as Oakleigh, Prahran and Dandenong leaving the competition or becoming defunct, and others, such as Williamstown, on the verge of folding.
At its nadir in 1995, only nine teams remained. The teams were a mixture of vintages, with two (Port Melbourne and Williamstown) still in the league from before 1897, three (Preston, Coburg and Sandringham) surviving from the 1920s expansion, and four (Box Hill, Frankston
, Springvale and Werribee
) surviving from the more recent expansion. In 1996, the VFL began a brief period of expansion into regional areas, with existing powerhouse country clubs North Ballarat
and Traralgon joining the nine existing teams. Traralgon's tenure was short-lived but they were replaced by another regional club, Bendigo.
In 1990, the VFL renamed itself the Australian Football League
. The VFA evolved into the Victorian Football League in 1995, a change which caused much debate at the time. The new VFL adopted the original League logo, but featured a gold "V" and football, to reflect the colours of the former VFA logo. The logo reverted to the original VFL's blue and white, a few years later.
This new configuration received much media attention at the season launch. The main point of interest was that there were matchups that had not occurred since the 1897 VFA/VFL schism.
Also notable, but short-lived was the playing of feature matches on Monday nights, a time when no AFL matches were played. However, these matches were not shown on free-to-air television, but on Channel 7's C7 Sport
subscription channel. This was at a time when pay TV penetration was very poor; there was no access to this channel in most of Melbourne, and in the parts of Melbourne that could receive it there was a much more popular competing subscription platform, Foxtel
.
There was also a small continuation of the expansion of the league into regional areas, with the Murray Kangaroos Football Club
representing the Ovens & Murray Football League
and an expansion into Tasmania
, although both of these teams have since folded.
These days the VFL is moderately popular in Victoria, although not nearly as well-supported as the dominant Australian Football League
. Matches now attract both traditional fans of the VFA/VFL clubs, and fans of affiliated AFL clubs keen to watch their reserves players in action.
but well after the inauguration of the SANFL's Magarey Medal
, first awarded in 1898.
competition.
In 2007 the league had a salary cap
of $185,000 excluding service payments. There are a significantly higher number of AFL reserves due to affiliations with Victorian clubs, but player payments for these appearances is apparently not included in the VFL's salary cap.
, with an average of between 1,000–2,000 in attendance.
The VFL does not publish home and away attendance figures as some games are played as AFL curtain raisers, however various sources quote attendances for some games of the stronger clubs that maintain home records of their own.
broadcasts one match a week live on Saturday afternoons during the home and away season, as well as broadcasting most finals matches.
In 2006 and 2007 ABC2
showed replays of VFL matches late on Wednesday nights to a national audience.
C31 Melbourne currently covers VFL football on The Local Footy Show and telecasts live league games as well as the TAC Cup
, Victorian Country Football League
, Victorian Women's Football League
and the AFL Victoria Youth Girls Competition.
(Casey FM) has broadcast at least one VFL match per weekend. It was the only radio station to cover both the VFL reserves and seniors Grand Finals. Their coverage can be picked up on radio on 97.7 FM or via the web on www.3ser.org.au http://www.3ser.org.au.
In 2008, 3WBC
94.1 FM began broadcasting Box Hill Hawks home games. This began with the Round 2 game between Box Hill Hawks and Tasmania. This coverage can also be heard on the web at www.3wbc.org.au http://www.3wbc.org.au.
Although no longer broadcasting on a regular basis (see history section) SEN
(1116 AM) has reserved the right to broadcast VFL finals and certain other games. They also have a weekly VFL panel show.
In 2009 the VFL announced that, as from the 2010 season, 774 ABC Melbourne
will simulcast the ABC TV
VFL coverage.
Internet radio station Live VFL (at www.livevfl.com.au http://www.livevfl.com.au) currently broadcasts one VFL game per round.
Details of earlier broadcasts are listed in the History section (above).
* Note: the Northern Blues will switch to a navy blue and white design for 2012, which is yet to be revealed. The guernsey displayed is the 2011 guernsey, when the club participated as the Northern Bullants.
Finals series (initially the Argus system, and from 1933 the Page-McIntyre system) were introduced in 1903 and, therefore from that date, the listing (below) reflects that situation after the finals.
In 1989 the VFA changed from a final four to a final five.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
league in Victoria (not counting the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. For historical purposes, the present VFL is sometimes referred to as the VFA/VFL. The VFA was formed in 1877, immediately after the foundation of a similar body in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
and is the second-oldest Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
league, replacing the loose affiliation of clubs that had been the hallmark of the early years of a game which was first played as early as 1850s.
Today, the VFL is one of many regional Australian semi-professional competitions. It comprises 13 teams from throughout Victoria, nine of which have a continuous VFA heritage.
The VFL should not be confused with the previously-mentioned national Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
, which evolved from the former Victorian Football League in the early 1990s. The AFL is now a national competition but still has 10 of its 17 clubs based in Victoria. The VFL broke away from the VFA prior to the 1897 season. Because of its history, it is sometimes referred to as the VFL/AFL. Many Victorian AFL clubs affiliate with VFL clubs, and as a result, the league partly serves as a reserves competition for the AFL.
Formative years
Foundation Senior clubs of the VFA were Albert Park
Albert Park Football Club
Albert Park Football Club is an Australian rules football club located 3 km south of Melbourne in the suburb of Albert Park.Originally affiliated with the VFA during the 19th century.The club colours are red and white....
, Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
, East Melbourne, Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
, Hotham
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
, Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
, St. Kilda & Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
. The Junior section of the VFA originally included such clubs as Ballarat
Ballarat Football Club
The Ballarat Football Club competes in the Ballarat Football League in the Ballarat region of Victoria, Australia. The club, nicknamed the Swans, has a history dating back to 1860. Ballarat once competed in the Victorian Football Association....
, Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
, Northcote
Northcote Football Club
Northcote Football Club, nicknamed The Dragons, was an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1908 until 1987. The club's colours were green and yellow and it was based in the Melbourne suburb of Northcote...
, South Melbourne
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
, Standard, Victoria United, Victorian Railways and Williamstown
Williamstown Football Club
The Williamstown Football Club, nicknamed The Seagulls, is an Australian rules football club based in Melbourne and are currently playing in the Victorian Football League...
. During its early years, many clubs dropped in and out and there were erratic promotions between the Senior and Junior sections. Hawthorn, Northcote, Standard, Victoria United, Victorian Railways and Williamstown dropped out within a year or so but Hawthorn, Northcote and Williamstown were all to return at various times.
Interestingly, in the early years, the compilation of fixtures was not done by the VFA but was the responsibility of each club secretary (a system that had evolved before the formation of the Association). Therefore, in a typical season, a club would play against other VFA teams (both Senior and Junior), non-VFA Victorian clubs, and even interstate teams.
At the end of each season, the VFA announced the Premier team. This was usually the club with the most wins, but that may not have been the case if the VFA felt that the leading team had had too many wins against junior clubs. Therefore, there are examples of the Premiership being given to the club with the second-highest number of wins.
From 1878 the Association recorded the number of behinds, but with only goals counting towards a win, thus the number of draws was extremely high. The number of players on the field was usually 20 but when a Senior and Junior team met, the Junior club was usually allowed to field extra players; there were no reserves and if a player was injured the team was a man short.
After 1889, the often-changeable collection of clubs in the VFA became settled at twelve consistent clubs: , , Fitzroy
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
, Footscray, , , , Port Melbourne
Port Melbourne Football Club
The Port Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Borough, is an Australian rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of Port Melbourne and is currently playing in the Victorian Football League ....
, , , South Melbourne
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
and Williamstown
Williamstown Football Club
The Williamstown Football Club, nicknamed The Seagulls, is an Australian rules football club based in Melbourne and are currently playing in the Victorian Football League...
; they were joined by a thirteenth club, , in 1892.
Split and re-establishment
After the 1896 season, eight of the thirteen clubs broke away to form the Victorian Football League (VFL): Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Fitzroy, Geelong, Melbourne, St Kilda and South Melbourne. All twenty VFA premierships to that stage had been shared by six of those eight clubs. The VFA continued to be an independent body, with only five of its original clubs – Footscray, North Melbourne, Port Melbourne, Richmond and Williamstown – but within five years it had expanded to ten clubs, a size it maintained until the 1920s. Although its size was constant, its membership was not, with many new clubs lasting only a few years before leaving, and four clubs switching to the VFL: Richmond in 1908, and North Melbourne, Footscray and (who joined the VFA in 1914) in 1925.In the late 1920s, the VFA expanded to twelve teams, including six new clubs, and those twelve teams remained unchanged for several decades thereafter. Those clubs were: Port Melbourne; Williamstown; Brunswick
Brunswick Football Club
Brunswick Football Club was an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1897 until 1990. They were originally nicknamed the Pottery Workers before being renamed the Magpies and were based in Brunswick, Victoria. The club wore black and white guernseys...
(joined 1897); Prahran
Prahran Football Club
Prahran Football Club, nicknamed The Two Blues, is an Australian rules football club based at Toorak Park in Orrong Road between High Street and Malvern Road, Armadale, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Since 2007, the club has competed in D1 Section of the Victorian Amateur Football Association...
(1898); Brighton
Brighton Football Club
Brighton Football Club was an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA. The club was based in the Melbourne suburb of Brighton and were nicknamed the Penguins...
(1908); Northcote
Northcote Football Club
Northcote Football Club, nicknamed The Dragons, was an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1908 until 1987. The club's colours were green and yellow and it was based in the Melbourne suburb of Northcote...
(1908); Coburg (1925); Camberwell
Camberwell Football Club
Camberwell Football Club was an Australian rules football club who were formed in 1896 and competed in the Victorian Football Association between 1926 and 1990. Nicknamed the Cobras, Camberwell wore dark blue, white and red club colours...
(1926); Preston
Northern Bullants
Northern Blues Football Club is a long-established Australian rules football club based in Preston and currently playing in the Victorian Football League representing the central and outer areas of Melbourne...
(1926, after a temporary period between 1903-1911); Yarraville
Yarraville Football Club
Yarraville Football Club was an Australian rules football club founded in 1903 and played in the VJFA until 1927. In 1928, the club joined the VFA where it played until 1984 when the club went into recess. In 1996, the Kingsville Football Club in the FDFL who by this time had taken over the...
(1928); Oakleigh
Oakleigh Football Club
Oakleigh Football Club, nicknamed the Devils, was an Australian rules football club from Oakleigh which played in the VFA from 1929 until 1994...
(1929); Sandringham (1929).
A number of rule changes were adopted during the last years of the 19th Century and the first years of the 20th:
- From 1897 behinds (1 point) were counted towards the score. (The VFL also changed its scoring system in the same year.)
- The 'little mark' was abolished in 1897. A 'little mark' was taken when a player passed the ball by foot at least two yards (1.83 m) generally from a pack of players. It was difficult for umpires to pick out 'little marks' in scrimmages. It was abolished to open up play. (The VFL also abolished it in the same year.)
- Also in 1897 the number of players was reduced from 20 to 18. This worked well as it gave players more freedom around the packs. Since then there have been a few modifications to the VFA's on-field numbers: 1908 – to 17; 1912 – to 16; 1918 – reverted to 18; 1959 – to 16; 1992 – reverted to 18. (The VFL changed from 20 to 18 two years after the VFA [1899] and has had 18 players on the ground ever since.)
- An order-off rule was also introduced in 1898 but only lasted for two seasons as it was not popular with either players or umpires. Umpires were never sure how rough things had to get before they could order a player off, rather than awarding a free kick to an opponent. (The VFL has never had an order-off rule.)
- In 1903 the VFA introduced its first finals. Prior to this, the four teams at the top of the ladder at the end of what are now called home-and-away games made up the 'final four'. (The VFL had introduced finals in 1897.)
Between at least 1900 and 1902, there was a short-lived VFA 2nd Division consisting of junior clubs such as Heidelberg
Heidelberg Football Club
Heidelberg Football Club is an Australian rules football club in Heidelberg, Victoria, currently competing in the Northern Football League.-History:...
.
The first regular radio broadcasts of VFA games were made by 3XY, a little after the station commenced operations in 1935. The commentator was Wallace ("Jumbo") Sharland who had earlier been the first to describe VFL matches, that being on 3AR in 1923. (Jumbo Sharland was a former Geelong player and, at one time, a newspaper football reporter.) In 1954 3AK
3AK
3AK is the call sign of SEN 1116 and earlier the on-air name of a former Melbourne talk-back radio and music station, which, in 2003, leased its licence to sports network SEN 1116...
began broadcasting VFA games, albeit only for a season or two. In 1966 Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
began to televise Sunday games. The 1970s also saw broadcasts on 3UZ
3UZ
3UZ is the official callsign of a medium-wave radio station in Melbourne, Australia which broadcasts under the name Radio Sport National.-History:...
, while local Geelong station, 3GL, broadcast all Geelong West matches. In 1982, the then-dominant Melbourne sports radio station, 3AW
3AW
3AW is a talkback radio station in Melbourne, Australia on 693 kHz AM. It began transmission on 22 February 1932 as Melbourne's fifth commercial radio station.-History:...
, broadcast the Grand Final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
. In 2003 3AK evolved into sports radio station SEN
SEN 1116
SEN 1116 , the acronym standing for Sports Entertainment Network, is a commercial AM radio station based in Melbourne, Australia, operating on 1116 kHz...
1116, and provided a coverage of VFL matches, but this was discontinued after they won the rights to broadcast the AFL (Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
), as from the 2007 season. In the 2007 and 2008 seasons, Radio 1611 Double X began broadcasting VFL matches. The station was the first to podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
replays.
(Details of current broadcasts are found below – "Radio".)
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
towards an amalgamation of the two bodies with the VFA initially forming a second division of the VFL. The negotiations broke down over the issue of promotion and relegation. The VFA wanted an automatic promotion of each Division Two premier, while the bottom Division One team at the end of each season, would have been automatically relegated. On the other hand, the VFL wanted these two teams to play off for promotion and relegation.
Expansion
During the 1950s and 1960s, as Melbourne expanded geographically, the VFA embarked on a deliberate plan to establish its presence in new areas by expanding the number of teams, most of these coming from the newer, outer suburbs. By 1960, the league had expanded to seventeen teams; when the eighteenth club joined in 1961, the VFA was split into First and Second Divisions, the First Division originally having 10 teams, and Second Division eight. There was a promotion and relegation system between the two Divisions, with one team promoted and one relegated each season. Although the league was fairly constant at twenty teams during the 1970s, it expanded again (into the outer eastern suburbs) in the 1980s. At its peak in 1983, there were 24 teams competing in the VFA.The VFA also pioneered night and Sunday games. After years of losing ground to the VFL, the VFA's launch of Sunday games in 1960 was a turning point for the better. Eventually, most games were played on a Sunday, while the VFL played its games on Saturdays. This was similar to the College/Pro football day divide still present in the US. The Victorian Government
Government of Victoria
The Government of Victoria, under the Constitution of Australia, ceded certain legislative and judicial powers to the Commonwealth, but retained complete independence in all other areas...
supported the VFA's new-found vigour, and banned the VFL from holding games on Sundays. In 1982, the then-dominant sports radio station 3AW
3AW
3AW is a talkback radio station in Melbourne, Australia on 693 kHz AM. It began transmission on 22 February 1932 as Melbourne's fifth commercial radio station.-History:...
broadcast the Grand Final.
Decline
The decline of the VFA may be said to have commenced in 1982 when the VFL moved the struggling South Melbourne Swans to Sydney. All Sydney SwansSydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
home games were played on Sunday and televised. This move basically destroyed the VFA's television ratings, and in 1986 Network Ten stopped broadcasting matches. This role was later taken on by the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
, but on a much lower-profile basis. VFA support declined. Increasing player payments and declining financial support and sponsorship forced clubs to leave the association, many unable to finish seasons. With fifteen teams remaining at the start of 1989, the VFA reverted to a single division.
In 1989, after the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
was given exclusive rights to broadcast VFL/AFL, the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
increased its television commitment to the VFA in lieu of telecasting the VFL/AFL games. It attracted good ratings. Despite this, the early 1990s was a difficult period for the association, with many sides, including stalwart sides such as Oakleigh, Prahran and Dandenong leaving the competition or becoming defunct, and others, such as Williamstown, on the verge of folding.
At its nadir in 1995, only nine teams remained. The teams were a mixture of vintages, with two (Port Melbourne and Williamstown) still in the league from before 1897, three (Preston, Coburg and Sandringham) surviving from the 1920s expansion, and four (Box Hill, Frankston
Frankston Football Club
Frankston Football Club, nicknamed The Dolphins, is an Australian rules football club based in Frankston, Victoria and currently playing in the Victorian Football League. The club was formed in 1887. The Dolphins have no alignments to any AFL clubs.-Peninsula Football Association:Frankston was a...
, Springvale and Werribee
Werribee Football Club
The Werribee Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club, based in Werribee, was formed in 1965 and currently plays in the Victorian Football League. Werribee was defeated by the Sandringham Football Club in the 2005 VFL Grand Final.-History:The Werribee Football Club...
) surviving from the more recent expansion. In 1996, the VFL began a brief period of expansion into regional areas, with existing powerhouse country clubs North Ballarat
North Ballarat Football Club
North Ballarat Football Club, nicknamed The Roosters, is an Australian rules football club based at Northern Oval in Ballarat. The club is locally known as the Roosters and plays in the Victorian Football League are current competition premiers and one of only four clubs based outside of Melbourne...
and Traralgon joining the nine existing teams. Traralgon's tenure was short-lived but they were replaced by another regional club, Bendigo.
In 1990, the VFL renamed itself the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. The VFA evolved into the Victorian Football League in 1995, a change which caused much debate at the time. The new VFL adopted the original League logo, but featured a gold "V" and football, to reflect the colours of the former VFA logo. The logo reverted to the original VFL's blue and white, a few years later.
Since 2000: affiliation with the AFL
After the 1999 season, the VFL merged with the VSFL, the latter of which was a reserves competition for the AFL's Victorian clubs (and Sydney). The resulting competition contained a mixture of existing VFL clubs, reserves teams of AFL clubs, and affiliation arrangements between VFL and AFL clubs (whereby reserves players for the AFL would join the senior team of the VFL when not playing in the AFL). The affiliation deals greatly improved the financial viability of the clubs in question, but they diluted their ability to represent their suburb. There have been many changes to the affiliation arrangements in the decade since the VFL and VSFL merged. For a full list of the league's affiliation arrangements since 2000, see Reserves affiliations of Australian Football League clubs.This new configuration received much media attention at the season launch. The main point of interest was that there were matchups that had not occurred since the 1897 VFA/VFL schism.
Also notable, but short-lived was the playing of feature matches on Monday nights, a time when no AFL matches were played. However, these matches were not shown on free-to-air television, but on Channel 7's C7 Sport
C7 Sport
C7 Sport was a pay-TV service in Australia, owned and run by Kerry Stokes' Seven Network. The service was carried on the Austar and Optus Vision pay-TV networks between 1995 and 2002, when it was removed in controversial circumstances...
subscription channel. This was at a time when pay TV penetration was very poor; there was no access to this channel in most of Melbourne, and in the parts of Melbourne that could receive it there was a much more popular competing subscription platform, Foxtel
Foxtel
Foxtel is an Australian pay television company, operating cable, direct broadcast satellite television and IPTV services. It was formed in 1995 through a joint venture established between Telstra and News Corporation....
.
There was also a small continuation of the expansion of the league into regional areas, with the Murray Kangaroos Football Club
Murray Kangaroos Football Club
Murray Kangaroos Football Club, officially nicknamed The Kangaroos, was an Australian rules football club which competed in the Victorian Football League between 2000 and 2002...
representing the Ovens & Murray Football League
Ovens & Murray Football League
The Ovens and Murray Football League, often referred to locally as the O&M, is a semi-professional Australian rules football league based around ten clubs in north-eastern Victoria and the southern Riverina region of New South Wales, and affiliated with the Victorian Country Football League...
and an expansion into Tasmania
Tasmanian Devils Football Club
Tasmania Football Club, nicknamed The Devils, was an Australian rules football club which competed in the Victorian Football League in Australia. Formed in 2001, it was the youngest and the only non-Victorian club in the league. The club was based in the state of Tasmania at Bellerive Oval and was...
, although both of these teams have since folded.
These days the VFL is moderately popular in Victoria, although not nearly as well-supported as the dominant Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. Matches now attract both traditional fans of the VFA/VFL clubs, and fans of affiliated AFL clubs keen to watch their reserves players in action.
Recorder Cup
Awarded to the best and fairest player in each VFA season, 1923-41. It was first awarded one year before the VFL's Brownlow MedalBrownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
but well after the inauguration of the SANFL's Magarey Medal
Magarey Medal
For the biography award of the same name, see Magarey Medal for biography. For a list of winners, see List of Magarey Medallists.The Magarey Medal is an Australian rules football honour awarded annually since 1898 to the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football...
, first awarded in 1898.
VFA Medal
Awarded to the best and fairest player in each VFA season, 1933-1940, concurrent with the Recorder Cup.J. J. Liston Trophy
Awarded to the best and fairest player in each VFA/VFL season, since 1942.Frosty Miller Medal
Awarded annually to the leading goal-kicker in the VFL season.Norm Goss Memorial Medal
Awarded annually to the player voted best afield in the VFL grand final.Fothergill-Round Medal
Awarded annually to the most promising young talent in the VFL competition.Frank Johnson Medal
Awarded to the player voted best afield for the VFL in interstate football games.Salary cap
The VFL is classed as a semi-professionalSemi-professional
A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...
competition.
In 2007 the league had a salary cap
Salary cap
In professional sports, a salary cap is a cartel agreement between teams that places a limit on the amount of money that can be spent on player salaries. The limit exists as a per-player limit or a total limit for the team's roster, or both...
of $185,000 excluding service payments. There are a significantly higher number of AFL reserves due to affiliations with Victorian clubs, but player payments for these appearances is apparently not included in the VFL's salary cap.
Attendance
Attendances are small by AFL standards, and generally less than the SANFL and WAFLWest Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
, with an average of between 1,000–2,000 in attendance.
The VFL does not publish home and away attendance figures as some games are played as AFL curtain raisers, however various sources quote attendances for some games of the stronger clubs that maintain home records of their own.
Recent finals series
| Year | Grand Final Clubs | Venue | Crowd | Total Finals Series Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Port Melbourne def Williamstown | Etihad Stadium | 11,879 | ||
| 2010 | North Ballarat def Northern Bullants | Etihad Stadium | 11,000 | ||
| 2009 | North Ballarat def Northern Bullants | Etihad Stadium | 14,026 | ||
| 2008 | North Ballarat def Port Melbourne | Telstra Dome Telstra Dome Docklands Stadium is a multi-purpose sports and entertainment stadium in the Docklands precinct of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia... |
11,641 | ||
| 2007 | Geelong def Coburg | Princes Park | 13,842 | ? | |
| 2006 | Sandringham def Geelong | Princes Park | 6,000 | ? | |
| 2005 | Sandringham def Werribee | Princes Park | 9,000 | 45,118 | |
| 2004 | Sandringham def Port Melbourne | Princes Park | 8,196 | 38,656 | |
| 2003 | Williamstown def Box Hill | Princes Park | 10,500 | 43,573 | |
| 2002 | Geelong def Port Melbourne | Princes Park | 11,500 | ? | |
| 2001 | Box Hill Hawks def Werribee | Princes Park | 11,500 |
Television
ABC VictoriaABV (TV station)
ABV is the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's television station in Melbourne, Victoria. The station began broadcasting on 19 November 1956 and is transmitted throughout the state via a network of relay transmitters and also ABV is the second television station in Victoria with HSV-7 which...
broadcasts one match a week live on Saturday afternoons during the home and away season, as well as broadcasting most finals matches.
In 2006 and 2007 ABC2
ABC2
ABC2 is a national public television channel in Australia. Launched on 7 March 2005, it is the responsibility of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's television division, and is available nationally to digital television viewers in Australia...
showed replays of VFL matches late on Wednesday nights to a national audience.
C31 Melbourne currently covers VFL football on The Local Footy Show and telecasts live league games as well as the TAC Cup
TAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
, Victorian Country Football League
Victorian Country Football League
The Victorian Country Football League is the governing body for Australian rules football in Victoria outside of metropolitan Melbourne on behalf of AFL Victoria...
, Victorian Women's Football League
Victorian Women's Football League
The Victorian Women's Football League is the oldest and largest Australian rules football league for women in the world, consisting of 22 clubs and 30 teams from Victoria, Australia across four divisions and a total of over 1,000 players....
and the AFL Victoria Youth Girls Competition.
Radio
Commencing in 1993, 3SER-fm3SER
CASEY RADIO on 97.7 FM is a non-commercial community radio station which caters to the south-east of Melbourne, Australia, an area which includes the City of Casey and the City of Greater Dandenong.-Overview:...
(Casey FM) has broadcast at least one VFL match per weekend. It was the only radio station to cover both the VFL reserves and seniors Grand Finals. Their coverage can be picked up on radio on 97.7 FM or via the web on www.3ser.org.au http://www.3ser.org.au.
In 2008, 3WBC
3WBC
3WBC FM is a local radio station in Melbourne, Australia with a frequency of 94.1 MHz. The station is operated under licence byWhitehorse-Boroondara Community FM Radio Incorporated. It often involves local school students in its programs and is developing a larger audience...
94.1 FM began broadcasting Box Hill Hawks home games. This began with the Round 2 game between Box Hill Hawks and Tasmania. This coverage can also be heard on the web at www.3wbc.org.au http://www.3wbc.org.au.
Although no longer broadcasting on a regular basis (see history section) SEN
SEN 1116
SEN 1116 , the acronym standing for Sports Entertainment Network, is a commercial AM radio station based in Melbourne, Australia, operating on 1116 kHz...
(1116 AM) has reserved the right to broadcast VFL finals and certain other games. They also have a weekly VFL panel show.
In 2009 the VFL announced that, as from the 2010 season, 774 ABC Melbourne
774 ABC Melbourne
774 ABC Melbourne is an ABC Local Radio station in Melbourne, Australia. Originally known by its callsign 3LO, it began transmission on 13 October 1924 – Melbourne's second radio station after 3AR.-History:...
will simulcast the ABC TV
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
VFL coverage.
Internet radio station Live VFL (at www.livevfl.com.au http://www.livevfl.com.au) currently broadcasts one VFL game per round.
Details of earlier broadcasts are listed in the History section (above).
Current clubs
| Club | Location | Home Ground | AFL Affiliate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bendigo Bombers Bendigo Bombers The Bendigo Bombers Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia playing in the Victorian Football League .-Brief history:... |
Bendigo, Victoria Bendigo, Victoria Bendigo is a major regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia, located very close to the geographical centre of the state and approximately north west of the state capital Melbourne. It is the second largest inland city and fourth most populous city in the state. The estimated urban... |
Queen Elizabeth Oval Queen Elizabeth Oval Queen Elizabeth Oval is an Australian rules football stadium located in Bendigo, Australia. The capacity of the venue is 18,000. In previous times more than 18,000 have flocked into the ground.... |
Essendon Essendon Football Club The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League... |
| Box Hill Hawks Box Hill Hawks Box Hill Hawks Football Club is an Australian rules football club playing in the Victorian Football League. It has an alliance with the Hawthorn Football Club which plays in the Australian Football League.... |
Box Hill, Victoria Box Hill, Victoria Box Hill is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 14 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whitehorse. At the 2006 Census, Box Hill had a population of 8,616.... |
Box Hill City Oval Box Hill City Oval Box Hill City Oval is an Australian rules football and cricket stadium located in Box Hill, Victoria, Australia. It is the home ground of the Box Hill Hawks Football Club which plays in the VFL and the Box Hill Cricket Club.... |
Hawthorn Hawthorn Football Club The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys... |
| Casey Scorpions Casey Scorpions The Casey Scorpions Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the Victorian Football League . The club was founded in 1903 as the Springvale Football Club and played under the name Springvale. In its history it has won 21 premierships... |
Cranbourne, Victoria Cranbourne, Victoria Cranbourne is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 43 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Casey. At the 2006 Census, Cranbourne had a population of 14,750.... |
Casey Fields Casey Fields Casey Fields is a $30 million 70 hectare multi-sports complex in the City of Casey at Cranbourne East a southeastern suburb of Melbourne.The complex is home to Australian rules football, cricket, netball, tennis, cycling and golf.... |
Melbourne Melbourne Football Club The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria.... |
| Coburg | Coburg, Victoria Coburg, Victoria Coburg is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moreland, although a handful of properties on Coburg's Eastern boundary are located in the City of Darebin... |
Coburg City Oval Coburg City Oval Coburg City Oval is an Australian rules football/cricket stadium located in Coburg, Australia. It is home to the Coburg Tigers Football Club and the Coburg Cricket Club and served as the home ground for the North Melbourne Football Club in the 1965 VFL season only.The oval is fenced off to the... |
Richmond Richmond Football Club The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,... |
| Collingwood | Collingwood, Victoria Collingwood, Victoria Collingwood is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra... |
Victoria Park Victoria Park, Melbourne Victoria Park is a sports venue in Abbotsford a suburb of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. Built for the purpose of both Australian rules football and cricket, the stadium is oval shaped.... |
Collingwood Collingwood Football Club The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League... |
| Frankston Frankston Football Club Frankston Football Club, nicknamed The Dolphins, is an Australian rules football club based in Frankston, Victoria and currently playing in the Victorian Football League. The club was formed in 1887. The Dolphins have no alignments to any AFL clubs.-Peninsula Football Association:Frankston was a... |
Frankston, Victoria Frankston, Victoria Frankston is a suburb within the Greater Melbourne metropolitan area in Victoria, Australia. It is located 40 km southeast of the state capital Melbourne at the southernmost edge of Greater Melbourne, near the beginnings of the Mornington Peninsula... |
Frankston Park Frankston Park Frankston Park is a regional Australian rules football ground located in Frankston, Victoria in Australia. It is home to the VFL team, the Frankston Dolphins, and is a planned secondary ground of the AFL team, the St Kilda Saints, when they relocate their training base to Frankston's Belverdere... |
none |
| Geelong Geelong VFL Football Club Geelong VFL Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is an Australian rules football team that plays in the Victorian Football League. Their sister team, Geelong Football Club, plays in the Australian Football League... |
Geelong, Victoria | Kardinia Park | Geelong Geelong Football Club The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also... |
| North Ballarat North Ballarat Football Club North Ballarat Football Club, nicknamed The Roosters, is an Australian rules football club based at Northern Oval in Ballarat. The club is locally known as the Roosters and plays in the Victorian Football League are current competition premiers and one of only four clubs based outside of Melbourne... |
Ballarat, Victoria Ballarat, Victoria Ballarat is a city in the state of Victoria, Australia, approximately west-north-west of the state capital Melbourne situated on the lower plains of the Great Dividing Range and the Yarrowee River catchment. It is the largest inland centre and third most populous city in the state and the fifth... |
Northern Oval | North Melbourne North Melbourne Football Club The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world... (partial) |
| Northern Blues Northern Blues Northern Blues was released by Kristofer Åström together with Hidden Truck in 2001 on Startracks.-Overview:* All songs by Kristofer Åström* Engineered, mixed and produced by Paul Bothén* Strings and brass arrangements by Paul Bothén... |
Preston, Victoria Preston, Victoria Preston is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 9 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Darebin. At the 2006 Census, Preston had a population of 27,892.-Settlement:... |
Preston City Oval Preston City Oval - The Ground :The Preston City Oval is an Australian rules football stadium in Cramer Street in Preston, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne. It has a main grandstand and the ground is capable of holding around 5,000 spectators.... |
Carlton Carlton Football Club The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897... |
| Port Melbourne Port Melbourne Football Club The Port Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Borough, is an Australian rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of Port Melbourne and is currently playing in the Victorian Football League .... |
Port Melbourne, Victoria Port Melbourne, Victoria Port Melbourne is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 5 km southwest of Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government areas are the cities of Port Phillip and Melbourne. At the 2006 Census, Port Melbourne had a population of 13,293.... |
North Port Oval | none |
| Sandringham | Sandringham, Victoria Sandringham, Victoria Sandringham is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 16 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Bayside. At the 2006 Census, Sandringham had a population of 8693.-History:... |
Trevor Barker Beach Oval Trevor Barker Beach Oval The Trevor Barker Oval is an Australian rules football ground in Beach Road, Sandringham, Victoria Australia.It was named after the St Kilda Football Club champion Trevor Barker, who died of cancer in 1996 at the age of 39... |
St Kilda |
| Werribee Werribee Football Club The Werribee Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club, based in Werribee, was formed in 1965 and currently plays in the Victorian Football League. Werribee was defeated by the Sandringham Football Club in the 2005 VFL Grand Final.-History:The Werribee Football Club... |
Werribee, Victoria Werribee, Victoria Werribee is a city in Melbourne, Australia, 32 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham. At the 2006 Census, Werribee had a population of 36,641. Statistically, Werribee is considered part of Greater Melbourne.Werribee is... |
Chirnside Park Chirnside Park (stadium) Chirnside Park, also known as Avalon Airport Oval due to naming rights sponsorship, is an Australian rules football ground in Werribee, Victoria, Australia.... |
North Melbourne North Melbourne Football Club The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world... (partial) |
| Williamstown Williamstown Football Club The Williamstown Football Club, nicknamed The Seagulls, is an Australian rules football club based in Melbourne and are currently playing in the Victorian Football League... |
Williamstown, Victoria Williamstown, Victoria Williamstown is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hobsons Bay. At the 2006 Census, Williamstown had a population of 12,733.... |
Burbank Oval Burbank Oval Burbank Oval, formerly known as the Morris St. Oval, is located at Morris Street, Williamstown, Victoria. It backs onto Port Phillip Bay, and is next to the Esplanade.... |
Western Bulldogs Western Bulldogs The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne... |
Home guernseys
Former clubs
The VFL has undergone significant format changes since its induction which means several clubs have either left the league or changed identity for different reasons.- Albert Park Football ClubAlbert Park Football ClubAlbert Park Football Club is an Australian rules football club located 3 km south of Melbourne in the suburb of Albert Park.Originally affiliated with the VFA during the 19th century.The club colours are red and white....
- Ballarat Football ClubBallarat Football ClubThe Ballarat Football Club competes in the Ballarat Football League in the Ballarat region of Victoria, Australia. The club, nicknamed the Swans, has a history dating back to 1860. Ballarat once competed in the Victorian Football Association....
- Ballarat Imperial Football Club
- Barwon Football Club
- Beechworth Football ClubBeechworth Football ClubBeechworth Football Club, nicknamed the Bushrangers, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Tallangatta & District Football League...
- Bendigo Diggers (changed name to Bendigo BombersBendigo BombersThe Bendigo Bombers Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia playing in the Victorian Football League .-Brief history:...
) - Berwick Football Club (the Trojans 1983–85 and Gippslanders 1986–87)
- Brighton Football ClubBrighton Football ClubBrighton Football Club was an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA. The club was based in the Melbourne suburb of Brighton and were nicknamed the Penguins...
(later Brighton-Caulfield Football Club) - Brunswick Football ClubBrunswick Football ClubBrunswick Football Club was an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1897 until 1990. They were originally nicknamed the Pottery Workers before being renamed the Magpies and were based in Brunswick, Victoria. The club wore black and white guernseys...
(later Brunswick-Broadmeadows Football Club) (the Pottery Workers 1897–1908 and Magpies 1909–1990) - Camberwell Football ClubCamberwell Football ClubCamberwell Football Club was an Australian rules football club who were formed in 1896 and competed in the Victorian Football Association between 1926 and 1990. Nicknamed the Cobras, Camberwell wore dark blue, white and red club colours...
(the Tricolors 1926–78 and the Cobras 1979–1991) - Carlton Football ClubCarlton Football ClubThe Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
(breakaway club to the VFL/AFLAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
) - Castlemaine Football ClubCastlemaine Football ClubCastlemaine Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia and is currently a member of the Bendigo Football League.The club is notable for several reasons...
- Caulfield Football ClubCaulfield Football ClubCaulfield Football Club was an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1965 until 1987. Nicknamed The Bears, they were based in the Melbourne suburb of Caulfield and wore a blue and white guernsey.-History:...
(Brighton-Caulfield Penguins 1962–1964, Caulfield Bears 1965–1988) - Collingwood Football ClubCollingwood Football ClubThe Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
(breakaway club to the VFL/AFLAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
but the reserves side now plays in the VFL as of 2008) - Dandenong Football ClubDandenong Football ClubDandenong Football Club was an Australian rules football club which played in the Victorian Football Association . Based in the Melbourne suburb of Dandenong, the Redlegs wore navy blue and red as their club colours.-History:...
(Redlegs 1958–1993) - East Melbourne Football Club
- Essendon Football ClubEssendon Football ClubThe Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
(breakaway club to the VFL/AFLAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
) - Essendon Town Football Club (later Essendon Association Football ClubEssendon Association Football ClubEssendon Association Football Club was an Australian rules football club which played in the Victorian Football Association from 1900 until 1921. The 'Dreadnoughts', who wore black and red, played their home games at the Essendon Recreation Reserve...
) (the Dreadnaughts 1901–1922. Club then merged with North Melbourne Football ClubKangaroos Football ClubThe North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
) - Fitzroy Football ClubFitzroy Football ClubThe Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
(breakaway club to the VFL/AFLAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
) - Footscray Football Club (breakaway club to the VFL/AFLAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
) - Geelong Football ClubGeelong Football ClubThe Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
(breakaway club to the VFL/AFLAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
but the reserves side now plays in the VFL) - Geelong Association Football Club
- Geelong West Football ClubGeelong West Football ClubThe Geelong West Football Club are an Australian rules football club which played in the Victorian Football Association from 1963 until 1988. Geelong West, nicknamed the 'Roosters', wore white and red during their time in the association.-History:...
(the Roosters 1963–1988) - Gold Coast Football Club (elevated to the VFL/AFLAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
after the 2010 season) - Hawthorn Football ClubHawthorn Football ClubThe Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
(breakaway club to the VFL/AFLAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
) - Heidelberg Football ClubHeidelberg Football ClubHeidelberg Football Club is an Australian rules football club in Heidelberg, Victoria, currently competing in the Northern Football League.-History:...
(competed 1900–1902 in the short-lived VFA 2nd Division) - Hotham Football Club (changed name to North Melbourne Football Club concurrent with the change of name of the municipality in 1888)
- Inglewood Football ClubInglewood Football ClubInglewood Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Inglewood, Victoria. The club is currently affiliated with the Loddon Valley Football League.- History :...
- Kilsyth Football Club (the cougars VFA 1982/83/84 now playing in the EFLEastern Football League (Australia)The Eastern Football League is an Australian rules football League, based in the eastern suburbs of metropolitan Melbourne....
) - Melbourne Football ClubMelbourne Football ClubThe Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
(breakaway club to the VFL/AFLAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
) - Melbourne City Football Club (Disbanded after two seasons without a win.)
- Moorabbin Football ClubMoorabbin Football ClubMoorabbin Football Club, nicknamed the The Kangaroos, was an Australian rules football club which played in the Victorian Football Association from 1951 to 1963 and then from 1983 to 1987...
(the Kangaroos 1951–1964, 1983–1988) - Mordialloc Football ClubMordialloc Football ClubMordialloc Football Club, nicknamed The Bloodhounds, is an Australian rules football club which played in the Victorian Football Association from 1958 until 1988...
(the Bloodhounds 1957–1988) - Murray KangaroosMurray Kangaroos Football ClubMurray Kangaroos Football Club, officially nicknamed The Kangaroos, was an Australian rules football club which competed in the Victorian Football League between 2000 and 2002...
- North Melbourne Football ClubNorth Melbourne Football ClubThe North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
(breakaway club to the VFL/AFLAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
– later fielded the Murray KangaroosMurray Kangaroos Football ClubMurray Kangaroos Football Club, officially nicknamed The Kangaroos, was an Australian rules football club which competed in the Victorian Football League between 2000 and 2002...
as a reserves side) - Northcote Football ClubNorthcote Football ClubNorthcote Football Club, nicknamed The Dragons, was an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1908 until 1987. The club's colours were green and yellow and it was based in the Melbourne suburb of Northcote...
(originally the Brickfielders and later the Dragons) - Oakleigh Football ClubOakleigh Football ClubOakleigh Football Club, nicknamed the Devils, was an Australian rules football club from Oakleigh which played in the VFA from 1929 until 1994...
(originally the Purple and Golds, and later the Devils) - Prahran Football ClubPrahran Football ClubPrahran Football Club, nicknamed The Two Blues, is an Australian rules football club based at Toorak Park in Orrong Road between High Street and Malvern Road, Armadale, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Since 2007, the club has competed in D1 Section of the Victorian Amateur Football Association...
(the Two Blues 1886–1888, 1899–1959, 1960–1995) - Richmond Football ClubRichmond Football ClubThe Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
(breakaway club to the VFL/AFLAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
) - Rochester Football ClubRochester Football ClubThe Rochester Football Club was formed at a meeting held on 8 June 1874 at Tidy's Restdown Hotel. The club was formed with the purpose of soon "playing and beating Echuca"...
- St Kilda Football Club (breakaway club to the VFL/AFLAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
) - South Ballarat Football Club
- Standard Football Club (an original Junior Club, albeit short-lived)
- South Melbourne Football ClubSydney SwansThe Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
(breakaway club to the VFL/AFLAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
) - South Williamstown Football Club (forced by the VFA to amalgamate with Williamstown Football ClubWilliamstown Football ClubThe Williamstown Football Club, nicknamed The Seagulls, is an Australian rules football club based in Melbourne and are currently playing in the Victorian Football League...
in 1888) - Sunshine Football ClubSunshine Football ClubSunshine Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, was an Australian rules football club which played in the Victorian Football Association from 1959 until 1989. The club colours were navy blue and white.-History:...
(the Crows 1959–1989) - Tasmanian Devils Football ClubTasmanian Devils Football ClubTasmania Football Club, nicknamed The Devils, was an Australian rules football club which competed in the Victorian Football League in Australia. Formed in 2001, it was the youngest and the only non-Victorian club in the league. The club was based in the state of Tasmania at Bellerive Oval and was...
- Traralgon Football Club (the Maroons 1996–1997)
- University Football Club
- Victoria United Football Club (an original Junior Club, albeit short-lived)
- Victorian Railways Football Club (an original Junior Club, albeit short-lived)
- Waverley Football ClubWaverley Football ClubWaverley Football Club, nicknamed The Panthers, was an Australian rules football club which played in the Victorian Football Association from 1961 until 1987...
(the Panthers 1961–1988) - West Melbourne Football ClubWest Melbourne Football ClubWest Melbourne Football Club was an Australian rules football club which played in the Victorian Football Association . They were based at the North Melbourne Cricket Ground and had a red and white striped guernsey.-History:...
- Yarraville Football ClubYarraville Football ClubYarraville Football Club was an Australian rules football club founded in 1903 and played in the VJFA until 1927. In 1928, the club joined the VFA where it played until 1984 when the club went into recess. In 1996, the Kingsville Football Club in the FDFL who by this time had taken over the...
(the Villains 1927–1948, the Eagles 1949–1984)
VFA 1877–1994
From 1888, the VFA published a list of the final four clubs at the end of what are now called home-and-away matches. The listings (below) for 1877 to 1887 are based on various newspaper reports as researched by Graeme Atkinson and published in his book Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Australian Rules Football ... (1982, The Five Mile Press, Melbourne).Finals series (initially the Argus system, and from 1933 the Page-McIntyre system) were introduced in 1903 and, therefore from that date, the listing (below) reflects that situation after the finals.
In 1989 the VFA changed from a final four to a final five.
| Year | PREMIER | RUNNER-UP | THIRD | FOURTH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1877 | Carlton | Melbourne | Hotham | Albert Park |
| 1878 | Geelong | Melbourne | Carlton | Hotham |
| 1879 | Geelong | Carlton | South Melbourne | Melbourne |
| 1880 | Geelong | South Melbourne | Carlton | Melbourne |
| 1881 | South Melbourne | Geelong | Carlton | Melbourne |
| 1882 | Geelong | Essendon | South Melbourne | Carlton |
| 1883 | Geelong | South Melbourne | Carlton | Melbourne |
| 1884 | Geelong | Essendon | Hotham | South Melbourne |
| 1885 | South Melbourne | Essendon | Geelong | Carlton |
| 1886 | Geelong | South Melbourne | Carlton | Port Melbourne |
| 1887 | Carlton | Geelong | South Melbourne | Fitzroy |
| 1888 | South Melbourne | Geelong | Williamstown | Carlton |
| 1889 | South Melbourne | Carlton | Port Melbourne | Essendon |
| 1890 | South Melbourne | Carlton | Essendon | Fitzroy |
| 1891 | Essendon | Carlton | Fitzroy | South Melbourne |
| 1892 | Essendon | Fitzroy | Geelong | Melbourne |
| 1893 | Essendon | Melbourne | Geelong | South Melbourne |
| 1894 | Essendon | Melbourne | South Melbourne | Fitzroy |
| 1895 | Fitzroy | Geelong | Melbourne | Collingwood |
| 1896 | Collingwood | South Melbourne | Essendon | Melbourne |
| 1897 | Port Melbourne | North Melbourne | Footscray | Williamstown |
| 1898 | Footscray | North Melbourne | Port Melbourne | Richmond |
| 1899 | Footscray | North Melbourne | Port Melbourne | Williamstown |
| 1900 | Footscray | Williamstown | Richmond | Prahran |
| 1901 | Port Melbourne | Richmond | North Melbourne | Williamstown |
| 1902 | Richmond | Port Melbourne | North Melbourne | Williamstown |
| 1903 | North Melbourne | Richmond | Footscray | West Melbourne |
| 1904 | North Melbourne | Richmond | Footscray | Port Melbourne |
| 1905 | Richmond | North Melbourne | Williamstown | Port Melbourne |
| 1906 | West Melbourne | Footscray | Richmond | North Melbourne |
| 1907 | Williamstown | West Melbourne | Richmond | Footscray |
| 1908 | Footscray | Brunswick | Essendon Association | Williamstown |
| 1909 | Brunswick | Prahran | Essendon Association | Footscray |
| 1910 | North Melbourne | Brunswick | Essendon Association | Prahran |
| 1911 | Essendon Association | Brunswick | North Melbourne | Prahran |
| 1912 | Essendon Association | Footscray | North Melbourne | Brunswick |
| 1913 | Footscray | North Melbourne | Essendon Association | Brunswick |
| 1914 | North Melbourne | Footscray | Essendon Association | Williamstown |
| 1915 | North Melbourne | Brunswick | Williamstown | Port Melbourne |
| 1916 | In recess – WW1 | |||
| 1917 | In recess – WW1 | |||
| 1918 | North Melbourne | Prahran | Brunswick | Port Melbourne |
| 1919 | Footscray | North Melbourne | Brunswick | Northcote |
| 1920 | Footscray | Brunswick | North Melbourne | Port Melbourne |
| 1921 | Williamstown | Footscray | Port Melbourne | Brunswick |
| 1922 | Port Melbourne | Footscray | North Melbourne | Williamstown |
| 1923 | Footscray | Port Melbourne | Williamstown | Hawthorn |
| 1924 | Footscray | Williamstown | Northcote | Brunswick |
| 1925 | Brunswick | Port Melbourne | Northcote | Coburg |
| 1926 | Coburg | Brighton | Northcote | Port Melbourne |
| 1927 | Coburg | Brighton | Port Melbourne | Preston |
| 1928 | Coburg | Port Melbourne | Brighton | Preston |
| 1929 | Northcote | Port Melbourne | Preston | Brunswick |
| 1930 | Oakleigh | Northcote | Williamstown | Yarraville |
| 1931 | Oakleigh | Northcote | Preston | Port Melbourne |
| 1932 | Northcote | Coburg | Camberwell | Preston |
| 1933 | Northcote | Coburg | Port Melbourne | Yarraville |
| 1934 | Northcote | Coburg | Preston | Prahran |
| 1935 | Yarraville | Camberwell | Northcote | Coburg |
| 1936 | Northcote | Prahran | Brunswick | Camberwell |
| 1937 | Prahran | Brunswick | Brighton | Yarraville |
| 1938 | Brunswick | Brighton | Northcote | Prahran |
| 1939 | Williamstown | Brunswick | Prahran | Northcote |
| 1940 | Port Melbourne | Prahran | Williamstown | Preston |
| 1941 | Port Melbourne | Coburg | Prahran | Preston |
| 1942 | In recess – WWII | |||
| 1943 | In recess – WWII | |||
| 1944 | In recess – WWII | |||
| 1945 | Williamstown | Port Melbourne | Coburg | Camberwell |
| 1946 | Sandringham | Camberwell | Williamstown | Port Melbourne |
| 1947 | Port Melbourne | Sandringham | Williamstown | Prahran |
| 1948 | Brighton | Williamstown | Brunswick | Northcote |
| 1949 | Williamstown | Oakleigh | Brighton | Northcote |
| 1950 | Oakleigh | Port Melbourne | Brighton | Williamstown |
| 1951 | Prahran | Port Melbourne | Oakleigh | Sandringham |
| 1952 | Oakleigh | Port Melbourne | Coburg | Yarraville |
| 1953 | Port Melbourne | Yarraville | Williamstown | Prahran |
| 1954 | Williamstown | Port Melbourne | Northcote | Moorabbin |
| 1955 | Williamstown | Port Melbourne | Preston | Moorabbin |
| 1956 | Williamstown | Port Melbourne | Box Hill | Brunswick |
| 1957 | Moorabbin | Port Melbourne | Williamstown | Preston |
| 1958 | Williamstown | Moorabbin | Port Melbourne | Box Hill |
| 1959 | Williamstown | Coburg | Sandringham | Oakleigh |
| 1960 | Oakleigh | Sandringham | Williamstown | Yarraville |
| Year | Division | PREMIER | RUNNER-UP | THIRD | FOURTH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1st 2nd |
YARRAVILLE Northcote |
WILLIAMSTOWN Dandenong |
MOORABBIN Camberwell |
SANDRINGHAM Preston |
| 1962 | 1st 2nd |
SANDRINGHAM Dandenong |
MOORABBIN Prahran |
COBURG Preston |
WILLIAMSTOWN Box Hill |
| 1963 | 1st 2nd |
MOORABBIN Preston |
SANDRINGHAM Waverley |
YARRAVILLE Prahran |
COBURG Sunshine |
| 1964 | 1st 2nd |
PORT MELBOURNE Geelong West |
WILLIAMSTOWN Sunshine |
COBURG Mordialloc |
SANDRINGHAM Brighton-Caulfield |
| 1965 | 1st 2nd |
WAVERLEY Preston |
PORT MELBOURNE Mordialloc |
DANDENONG Northcote |
SANDRINGHAM Sunshine |
| 1966 | 1st 2nd |
PORT MELBOURNE Prahran |
WAVERLEY Geelong West |
PRESTON Northcote |
YARRAVILLE Sunshine |
| 1967 | 1st 2nd |
DANDENONG Oakleigh |
PORT MELBOURNE Geelong West |
SANDRINGHAM Frankston |
PRESTON Sunshine |
| 1968 | 1st 2nd |
PRESTON Geelong West |
PRAHRAN Williamstown |
SANDRINGHAM Sunshine |
DANDENONG Werribee |
| 1969 | 1st 2nd |
PRESTON Williamstown |
DANDENONG Sunshine |
PORT MELBOURNE Coburg |
SANDRINGHAM Box Hill |
| 1970 | 1st 2nd |
PRAHRAN Coburg |
WILLIAMSTOWN Box Hill |
WAVERLEY Sunshine |
PORT MELBOURNE Brunswick |
| 1971 1971 VFA Division 1 Grand Final The 1971 VFA Division 1 Grand Final was an Australian rules football match played between the Dandenong Redlegs and the Preston Bullants. The match was held on Sunday 26 September 1971 at the Junction Oval in St Kilda, Victoria, to decide Division 1 Premiership for the 1971 Victorian Football... |
1st 2nd |
DANDENONG Sunshine |
PRESTON Brunswick |
SANDRINGHAM Caulfield |
OAKLEIGH Yarraville |
| 1972 | 1st 2nd |
OAKLEIGH Geelong West |
DANDENONG Caulfield |
WILLIAMSTOWN Yarraville |
PRESTON Brunswick |
| 1973 | 1st 2nd |
PRAHRAN Caulfield |
OAKLEIGH Brunswick |
DANDENONG Waverley |
PORT MELBOURNE Camberwell |
| 1974 | 1st 2nd |
PORT MELBOURNE Coburg |
OAKLEIGH Brunswick |
GEELONG WEST Waverley |
DANDENONG Camberwell |
| 1975 | 1st 2nd |
GEELONG WEST Brunswick |
DANDENONG Camberwell |
PORT MELBOURNE Sunshine |
COBURG Frankston |
| 1976 | 1st 2nd |
PORT MELBOURNE Williamstown |
DANDENONG Mordialloc |
PRESTON Frankston |
CAULFIELD Northcote |
| 1977 | 1st 2nd |
PORT MELBOURNE Mordialloc |
SANDRINGHAM Yarraville |
C0BURG Camberwell |
BRUNSWICK Oakleigh |
| 1978 | 1st 2nd |
PRAHRAN Frankston |
PRESTON Camberwell |
PORT MELBOURNE Oakleigh |
DANDENONG Yarraville |
| 1979 | 1st 2nd |
COBURG Camberwell |
GEELONG WEST Oakleigh |
PORT MELBOURNE Mordialloc |
PRAHRAN Williamstown |
| 1980 | 1st 2nd |
PORT MELBOURNE Brunswick |
COBURG Yarraville |
GEELONG WEST Waverley |
SANDRINGHAM Williamstown |
| 1981 | 1st 2nd |
PORT MELBOURNE Camberwell |
PRESTON Waverley |
SANDRINGHAM Mordialloc |
FRANKSTON Werribee |
| 1982 | 1st 2nd |
PORT MELBOURNE Northcote |
PRESTON Caulfield |
COBURG Oakleigh |
GEELONG WEST Brunswick |
| 1983 | 1st 2nd |
PRESTON Springvale |
GEELONG WEST Brunswick |
PORT MELBOURNE Mordialloc |
SANDRINGHAM Oakleigh |
| 1984 | 1st 2nd |
PRESTON Box Hill |
FRANKSTON Oakleigh |
GEELONG WEST Brunswick |
CAMBERWELL Caulfield |
| 1985 | 1st 2nd |
SANDRINGHAM Brunswick |
WILLIAMSTOWN Oakleigh |
COBURG Sunshine |
PRESTON Caulfield |
| 1986 | 1st 2nd |
WILLIAMSTOWN Box Hill |
COBURG Sunshine |
FRANKSTON Prahran |
PRESTON Oakleigh |
| 1987 | 1st 2nd |
SPRINGVALE Prahran |
PORT MELBOURNE Waverley |
WILLIAMSTOWN Werribee |
FRANKSTON Sunshine |
| 1988 | 1st 2nd |
COBURG Oakleigh |
WILLIAMSTOWN Sunshine |
PRESTON Werribee |
PORT MELBOURNE Dandenong |
| Year | PREMIER | RUNNER-UP | THIRD | FOURTH | FIFTH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Coburg | Williamstown | Box Hill | Springvale | Frankston |
| 1990 | Williamstown | Springvale | Preston | Coburg | Werribee |
| 1991 | Dandenong | Werribee | Box Hill | Springvale | Port Melbourne |
| 1992 | Sandringham | Williamstown | Prahran | Box Hill | Werribee |
| 1993 | Werribee | Port Melbourne | Springvale | Prahran | Frankston |
| 1994 | Sandringham | Box Hill | Springvale | Dandenong Redlegs | Frankston |
VFL 1995–present
| Year | PREMIER | RUNNER-UP | THIRD | FOURTH | FIFTH | (SIXTH) | (SEVENTH) | (EIGHTH) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Springvale | Sandringham | Port Melbourne | Frankston | Werribee | |||
| 1996 | Springvale | Frankston | ||||||
| 1997 | Sandringham | Frankston | ||||||
| 1998 | Springvale | Werribee | ||||||
| 1999 | Springvale | North Ballarat | ||||||
| 2000 | Sandringham | North Ballarat | Carlton | St Kilda | Geelong | Williamstown | Box Hill Hawks | Sandringham |
| 2001 | Box Hill Hawks | Werribee | Springvale | Murray Kangaroos | Carlton | Frankston | Coburg Tigers | Essendon |
| 2002 | Geelong | Port Melbourne | Werribee | Coburg Tigers | Box Hill Hawks | Williamstown | Murray Kangaroos | Sandringham |
| 2003 | Williamstown | Box Hill Hawks | Port Melbourne | Sandringham | Tasmania | Springvale | Werribee | Geelong |
| 2004 | Sandringham | Port Melbourne | Werribee | North Ballarat | Tasmania | Coburg Tigers | Box Hill Hawks | Bendigo Bombers |
| 2005 | Sandringham | Werribee | Northern Bullants | Bendigo Bombers | Port Melbourne | Tasmania | Frankston | Box Hill Hawks |
| 2006 | Sandringham | Geelong | Northern Bullants | Williamstown | Frankston | North Ballarat | Werribee | Coburg Tigers |
| 2007 | Geelong | Coburg Tigers | Williamstown | North Ballarat | Sandringham | Port Melbourne | Casey Scorpions | Bendigo Bombers |
| 2008 | North Ballarat | Port Melbourne | Williamstown | Werribee | Casey Scorpions | Frankston | Coburg Tigers | Northern Bullants |
| 2009 | North Ballarat | Northern Bullants | Port Melbourne | Collingwood | Williamstown | Box Hill Hawks | Casey Scorpions | Geelong |
| 2010 | North Ballarat | Northern Bullants | Williamstown | Box Hill Hawks | Casey Scorpions | Port Melbourne | Collingwood | Bendigo Bombers |
| 2011 | Port Melbourne | Williamstown | Werribee | Northern Bullants | North Ballarat | Casey Scorpions | Bendigo Bombers | Box Hill Hawks |
See also
- Early VFL Final systemsEarly VFL Final systemsThroughout its history, the Victorian Football League has used a system of finals after playing a regular season to determine the winner of the premiership....
- History of Australian rules football in Victoria (1859-1900)