The Victorian Football League, formerly known as the Victorian Football Association (VFA), and also known as the VFA/VFL, is the second-oldest Australian rules football league, formed in 1877, 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 1859. North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is an Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League. This article is about the Australian rules club for the Football (soccer club see Melbourne Victory FC. North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is an Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League. The Northcote Football Club were an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1908 until 1987 Oakleigh Football Club were an Australian rules football club from Oakleigh which played in the VFA from 1929 until 1994 Prahran Football Club ( Prahran Footy Club, PFC, PAFC and PFSC) is an Australian rules football club based at Toorak Park in Orrong Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, competes in the Australian Football League. The Rochester Football Club was formed at a meeting held on June 8th 1874 at Tidy's Restdown Hotel The St Kilda Football Club, nicknamed The Saints, is an Australian Football League club based in Melbourne Victoria Australia The Sydney Swans is an Australian Football League (AFL club based in Sydney, New South Wales. Melbourne University Football Club &ndash often known simply as "University" &ndash is an Australian rules football club The West Melbourne Football Club were an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA. History The VJFA years (1903 - 1927 Yarraville Football Club was formed on April 1, 1903. The Preston City Oval is an Australian rules football stadium in Cramer Street in Preston Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne. Bellerive Oval is a sports ground in Bellerive, eastern shore of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Box Hill City Oval is an Australian rules football and Cricket stadium located in Box Hill, Australia. Burbank Oval, formerly know as the Morris St Oval is located at Morris Street Williamstown Victoria. Coburg City Oval is an Australian rules football /cricket Stadium located in Coburg, Australia. North Hobart Oval is a sports venue in North Hobart, Tasmania used for Australian rules football. Punt Road Oval (also known as the Richmond Cricket Ground) is a sporting ground located in Yarra Park, East Melbourne Victoria. Queen Elizabeth Oval is an Australian rules football Stadium located in Bendigo, Australia. Not to be confused with Skilled Park, home ground of the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL. TEAC Oval, also known as North Port Oval and previously as the Port Melbourne Cricket and Recreation Reserve, is an Australian rules football and The Trevor Barker Oval is an Australian rules football ground in Beach Road Sandringham Victoria Australia. Windy Hill (officially known as Essendon Recreation Reserve) is an Australian rules football ground located in Essendon, a northwestern Suburb Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club based in the city of Geelong. Sandringham Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Melbourne that was formed in 1929 and plays in the Victorian Football League The Tasmania Football Club, nicknamed The Devils, is an Australian rules football club in the Victorian Football League in Australia. The J J Liston Trophy is awarded to the Best and fairest senior player in the Victorian Football League (formerly the VFA) James Byrne may refer to James Byrne (VC, Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross James Joseph Byrne, Roman Catholic prelate who served as Australian (rules football, or simply known as football, footy or Aussie rules, is a Team sport played between two teams of 18 players Year 1877 ( MDCCCLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Today the VFL is a regional Australian semi-professional competition featuring 14 teams from throughout Victoria as well as a representative side from Tasmania. Tasmania is an Australian island and state of the same name It is located south of the eastern side of the Continent, being separated from it by Bass It should not be confused with the national Australian Football League, which was a breakaway competition originally known as the Victorian Football League (VFL) until 1990 and sometimes still referred to as the VFL/AFL. The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest After the VFL/AFL became recognised as the national competition, the VFA adopted the VFL name, which was effective from season 1996.

The VFL is regarded as Australia's second most competitive league after the AFL and the most competitive regional league in front of the South Australian National Football League^[1] and closely followed by the West Australian Football League^[2]. Clubs Several clubs share their nicknames with AFL/VFL clubs This is purely coincidental the teams are not named after each other Current teams The teams currently playing in the WAFL are Salary Cap The WAFL is classed as a Semi-professional competition and has a Salary Many Victorian AFL clubs affiliate with VFL clubs, and as a result the league partly serves as a reserves competition for the AFL.

History

Brunswick during the early 1900s. The highlighted section in the bottom right-hand corner shows the future Australian Prime Minister John Curtin

The Victorian Football Association (VFA) was the first Australian rules football league. John Joseph Curtin (8 January 1885 &ndash 5 July 1945 Australian politician and 14th Prime Minister of Australia, led Australia when the Australian mainland came under direct Australian (rules football, or simply known as football, footy or Aussie rules, is a Team sport played between two teams of 18 players It was founded in 1877, replacing 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 & West Melbourne. The Albert Park Football Club is an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA during the 19th century and now plays in Carlton Football Club, nicknamed The Blues, is the third oldest club in the Australian Football League and one of the oldest Australian rules football Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club and is part of the Australian Football League. North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is an Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League. This article is about the Australian rules club for the Football (soccer club see Melbourne Victory FC. The St Kilda Football Club, nicknamed The Saints, is an Australian Football League club based in Melbourne Victoria Australia The West Melbourne Football Club were an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA. The Junior section of the VFA originally included such clubs as Ballarat, Hawthorn, Northcote, South Melbourne, Standard, Victoria United, Victorian Railways and Williamstown. Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, are an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL founded in 1902 The Northcote Football Club were an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1908 until 1987 The Sydney Swans is an Australian Football League (AFL club based in Sydney, New South Wales. The Williamstown Football Club 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.

As the Association continued the earlier practice of recording the number of behinds, but with only goals counting towards a win, 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 the 1896 season, eight clubs broke away to form the Victorian Football League (VFL) [ie. Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Fitzroy, Geelong, Melbourne, St Kilda and South Melbourne]. Carlton Football Club, nicknamed The Blues, is the third oldest club in the Australian Football League and one of the oldest Australian rules football Collingwood Football Club, officially nicknamed The Magpies is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club and is part of the Australian Football League. Fitzroy Football Club, most recently nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club based in the city of Geelong. This article is about the Australian rules club for the Football (soccer club see Melbourne Victory FC. The St Kilda Football Club, nicknamed The Saints, is an Australian Football League club based in Melbourne Victoria Australia The Sydney Swans is an Australian Football League (AFL club based in Sydney, New South Wales. The VFA contined to be an independent body. In 1908 Richmond also shifted to the VFL (along with Metropolitan Football League club University) and in 1925 VFA clubs Footscray, Hawthorn and North Melbourne) also defected to the VFL. Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, competes in the Australian Football League. Melbourne University Football Club &ndash often known simply as "University" &ndash is an Australian rules football club The Western Bulldogs, formerly referred to as the Footscray Football Club, is an Australian Football League (AFL club based at the Whitten Oval in Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, are an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL founded in 1902 North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is an Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League.

A number of rule changes were adopted during the last years of the 19th Century and the first years of the 20th:

• From 1897 points were counted towards the score. From 1878 until 1896, behinds were tallied but were not counted. (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 metres) generally from a pack of players. It was difficult for umpires to pick out 'little marks' in scrimages. 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 a year 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 consiting of junior clubs such as Heidelberg. Heidelberg Football Club is an Australian rules football club in Heidelberg Victoria, currently competing in the Northern Football League.

The first regular radio broadcasts of VFA games were made by 3XY, a little after the station commenced operations in 1935. Magic 1278 (call sign 3EE) is a radio station operating in Melbourne, Australia. The commentator was Wallace ("Jumbo") Shallard who had earlier been the first to describe VFL matches, that being on 3AR in 1923. (Jumbo Shallard 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. 3AK is a former Melbourne Talk-back radio and music station which in 2003 leased its licence to sports network SEN 1116. In 1966 Network Ten began to televise Sunday games. Network Ten, or Channel Ten, is one of Australia 's three major commercial television networks. The 1970s also saw broadcasts on 3UZ, while local Geelong station, 3GL, broadcast all Geelong West matches. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. 3UZ is the official callsign of a Medium-wave Radio station in Melbourne, Australia which broadcasts under the name Sport 927 MCite/Citephp.--> Geelong (dʒəˈlɔŋ is the second largest city in the state In 1982, the then-dominant Melbourne sports radio station, 3AW, broadcast the Grand Final. 3AW is a Radio station in Melbourne, Australia on 693 KHz AM. A Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sporting term used to describe a final that decides a league champion 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. The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest (Details of current broadcasts are found below - "Radio". )

Northcote's 1929 premiership side. Second from right, front row, is Doug Nicholls. Pastor Sir Douglas Ralph "Doug" Nicholls, KCVO, OBE, (9 December 1906 - 4 June 1988 was an Australian Aborigine from the Yorta

Oakleigh's 1950 premiership side

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. History The Victorian Football Association (VFA was founded in 1877 on 17 May. History The Victorian Football Association (VFA was founded in 1877 on 17 May. 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.

An award for the Best and Fairest VFA player was instigated in 1923, one year prior to the VFL's Brownlow Medal but many years after the South Australian Magarey Medal was first awarded in 1898. For the list of winners of the award see List of Brownlow Medal winners. For the list of winners of the award see List of Magarey Medallists. The VFA award was originally known as the Recorder Cup but, from 1945, it was renamed the Liston Trophy after John James Liston who was VFA President for 15 years (1929-1943), and Life Member of the Association prior to his death in 1944. The J J Liston Trophy is awarded to the Best and fairest senior player in the Victorian Football League (formerly the VFA) The J J Liston Trophy is awarded to the Best and fairest senior player in the Victorian Football League (formerly the VFA) The Liston Trophy (now in the form of a medal) is still presented annually.

During the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, 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. The 1950s Decade refers to the years of 1950 to 1959 inclusive The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3 In 1960, because of the large number of teams, the VFA was split into First and Second Divisions, the First Division originally having 10 teams, and Second Division seven. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. There was a promotion and relegation system between the two Divisions.

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 newfound vigour, and banned the VFL from holding games on Sundays. The Government of Victoria, under the Constitution of Australia, ceded certain legislative and judicial powers to

The VFA's demise may be said to have commenced in 1982 when the VFL moved the struggling South Melbourne Swans to Sydney. All Sydney Swans home games were played on Sunday and televised. The Sydney Swans is an Australian Football League (AFL club based in Sydney, New South Wales. 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. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly abbreviated to the 'ABC' is Australia's national public broadcaster.

In 1990, the VFL renamed itself the Australian Football League. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest The VFA evolved into the Victorian Football League in 1995, a change which caused much debate at the time. In the same year (1995) powerhouse clubs North Ballarat and Traralgon joined the nine existing teams. The North Ballarat Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Ballarat and is the current VFL Premiers 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.

In 1989, after the Seven network was given exclusive rights to broadcast VFL/AFL, the ABC increased its television commitment to the VFA/VFL in lieu of telecasting the VFL/AFL games. The Seven Network is an Australian television network, owned by the Seven Media Group. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly abbreviated to the 'ABC' is Australia's national public broadcaster. It attracted good ratings. Despite this, the early 1990s was a difficult period for the League, with many sides, including stalwart sides such as Oakleigh, Prahran and Dandenong leaving the competition or becoming defunct, and others, like the competition's oldest member Williamstown, on the verge of folding.

In the 1990s, AFL sides began affiliating with VFL clubs, effectively making the VFL for some a reserves competition for Victorian clubs in the national competition. Some clubs thought of this as a means of not only improving their player list and onfield success, but to attract support from AFL fans and members. More recently, some clubs, such as Frankston and Port Melbourne have resisted or abandoned this trend and seen it as being more advantageous not to affiliate.

Following season 1999, the AFL's reserves competition was disbanded, and most AFL clubs launched their own "stand alone" VFL team. Those clubs were Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Geelong, Kangaroos, Richmond and St Kilda. Box Hill aligned with Hawthorn, Port Melbourne with the Sydney Swans, Sandringham with the Demons, while the Western Bulldogs aligned half their list with Werribee and the other half with Williamstown. Eventually the stand alone teams folded or merged with older VFA clubs. In the meantime, clubs began switching affiliation with different AFL clubs, Collingwood linking with Williamstown from 2001-2007, Essendon with Bendigo, becoming the Bendigo Bombers from 2003-2008, Carlton with the Northern Bullants from 2003-2008, Richmond with Coburg (2001-2008), and St Kilda with the Casey (nee Springvale) Scorpians (2001-2008). Meanwhile, the Western Bulldogs spent 2001-2007 aligned with Werribee before again returning to an affiliation with Williamstown, to commence in season 2008. Sydney dropped out of the competition, allowing the Kangaroos to have an allegiance with Port Melbourne (2003-2004), before sharing those on their playing list who were not selected for AFL duty between North Ballarat and Tasmania (2006-2007). A body of the North Melbourne Kangaroos from 2001-2003, the Murray Kangaroos, was also created as clubs from both leagues shuffled around in an attempt to find the right balance. Due to the AFL making it easier for AFL Clubs to field their own VFL teams in 2008, Collingwood will now join Geelong as a club with teams in both football Leagues.

These days the VFL is moderately popular in Victoria, although not nearly as well-supported as the dominant Australian Football League. The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest

Attendance

Attendances are small by AFL standards, and generally less than the SANFL and WAFL, with an average of between 1,000-2,000 in attendance. Clubs Several clubs share their nicknames with AFL/VFL clubs This is purely coincidental the teams are not named after each other Current teams The teams currently playing in the WAFL are Salary Cap The WAFL is classed as a Semi-professional competition and has a Salary

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

Television

ABC Victoria broadcasts one match a week live on Saturday afternoons during the home and away season, as well as broadcasting most finals matches. ABV is the Australian Broadcasting Corporation 's television station in Melbourne, Victoria. As from 2006, ABC2 has shown replays of VFL matches late on Wednesday nights to a national audience. ABC2 is a national public television channel in Australia Launched on 7 March 2005 it is the responsibility of the ABC 's television division ^[4].

Radio

Commencing in 1993 Community radio station CASEY FM 97. 7FM (3SER) has broadcast at least one VFL match per weekend across Melbourne's Outer South-Eastern Suburbs, and was the only radio station to cover both the VFL reserves and seniors Grand Finals. 3SER on 977 FM is a non-commercial Community radio station which caters to the south-east of Melbourne, Australia, an area which includes Their coverage can be picked up on radio on 97. 7FM or via the web on www. 3ser. org. au.

During the 2007 season RADIO 1611 AM DOUBLE X 3XX began broadcasting VFL Matches. They commenced with a trial during Round 3 (Geelong v Frankston at Skilled Stadium - commentators: Peter Holden, Phil Shaw & Nick Butler). However, by Round 5 3XX was broadcasting VFL Matches every Saturday and Sunday, with some broadcasts being from regional grounds at Geelong (Skilled Stadium), North Ballarat (Austar Arena) & Bendigo (Queen Elizabeth Oval). The station also became the first to podcast replays. A podcast is a series of audio or Video digital-media files which is distributed over the Internet by syndicated Download radio1611.com.au

In 2008, community radio station 3WBC 94. 1FM began broadcasting Box Hill Hawks home games for the local area. This began with the Round 2 game between Box Hill Hawks and Tasmania. This coverage can also be heard on the web at http://www.3wbc.org.au

Although no longer broadcasting on a regular basis (see history section) SEN has reserved the right to broadcast VFL finals and certain other games.

Clubs

Current Clubs

Past 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. The Bendigo Bombers are an Australian rules football club based in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia playing in the Victorian Football League Bendigo is a regional city in central Victoria Australia, located in the City of Greater Bendigo. Queen Elizabeth Oval is an Australian rules football Stadium located in Bendigo, Australia. Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club and is part of the Australian Football League. The Box Hill Hawks Football Club is an Australian rules football club playing in the Victorian Football League. Box Hill is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is in the Local Government Area of the City of Whitehorse. Box Hill City Oval is an Australian rules football and Cricket stadium located in Box Hill, Australia. Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, are an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL founded in 1902 The Casey Scorpions are an Australian football team in the VFL. The City of Casey is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the outer south eastern Suburbs of Melbourne. Cranbourne East is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The St Kilda Football Club, nicknamed The Saints, is an Australian Football League club based in Melbourne Victoria Australia The Coburg Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Coburg, a northern suburb of Melbourne, and currently playing in the Victorian Coburg (aka the burg is a mid-northern Suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Coburg City Oval is an Australian rules football /cricket Stadium located in Coburg, Australia. Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, competes in the Australian Football League. Collingwood Football Club, officially nicknamed The Magpies is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. Collingwood is an Inner city Suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Collingwood Football Club, officially nicknamed The Magpies is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The Frankston Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Frankston Victoria and currently playing in the Frankston is a seaside suburb of Melbourne, in the state of Victoria, Australia. Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club based in the city of Geelong. MCite/Citephp.--> Geelong (dʒəˈlɔŋ is the second largest city in the state Not to be confused with Skilled Park, home ground of the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL. Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club based in the city of Geelong. The North Ballarat Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Ballarat and is the current VFL Premiers Ballarat (formerly spelt "Ballaarat" is a city in Victoria, Australia, and one of the country's largest inland cities North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is an Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League. The Northern Bullants a gay Football Club is a long-established Australian rules football club based in Preston and currently playing in the Victorian Football Preston is a residential and industrial suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located 10 km north of Melbourne's Central business district The Preston City Oval is an Australian rules football stadium in Cramer Street in Preston Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne. Carlton Football Club, nicknamed The Blues, is the third oldest club in the Australian Football League and one of the oldest Australian rules football The Port Melbourne Football Club is an Australian Rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of Port Melbourne and is currently playing in the Port Melbourne is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. TEAC Oval, also known as North Port Oval and previously as the Port Melbourne Cricket and Recreation Reserve, is an Australian rules football and Sandringham Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Melbourne that was formed in 1929 and plays in the Victorian Football League Sandringham is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Bayside. The Trevor Barker Oval is an Australian rules football ground in Beach Road Sandringham Victoria Australia. This article is about the Australian rules club for the Football (soccer club see Melbourne Victory FC. The Tasmania Football Club, nicknamed The Devils, is an Australian rules football club in the Victorian Football League in Australia. Tasmania is an Australian island and state of the same name It is located south of the eastern side of the Continent, being separated from it by Bass Bellerive Oval is a sports ground in Bellerive, eastern shore of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Werribee Football Club was formed in 1965 and currently plays in the Victorian Football League. Werribee is a city near Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its local government area is the City of Wyndham. North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is an Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League. The Williamstown Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Melbourne and are currently playing in the Victorian Football League. Williamstown ( is one of the oldest suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria. Burbank Oval, formerly know as the Morris St Oval is located at Morris Street Williamstown Victoria. The Western Bulldogs, formerly referred to as the Footscray Football Club, is an Australian Football League (AFL club based at the Whitten Oval in

• Albert Park Football Club
• Ballarat Football Club
• Ballarat Imperial Football Club
• Barwon Football Club
• Beechworth Football Club
• Bendigo Diggers (changed name to Bendigo Bombers)
• Berwick Football Club (the Trojans 1983-85 and Gippslanders 1986-87)
• Brighton Football Club (later Brighton-Caulfield Football Club)
• Brunswick Football Club (later Brunswick-Broadmeadows Football Club) (the Pottery Workers 1897-1908 and Magpies 1909-1990)
• Camberwell Football Club (the Tricolors 1926-78 and the Cobras 1979-1991)
• Carlton Football Club (breakaway club to the VFL/AFL)
• Castlemaine Football Club
• Caulfield Football Club (Brighton-Caulfield Penguins 1962-1964, Caulfield Bears 1965-1988)
• Collingwood Football Club (breakaway club to the VFL/AFL)
• Dandenong Football Club(Redlegs 1958-1993)
• East Melbourne Football Club
• Essendon Football Club (breakaway club to the VFL/AFL)
• Essendon Town Football Club (later Essendon Association Football Club) (the Dreadnaughts 1901-1922. The Albert Park Football Club is an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA during the 19th century and now plays in The Bendigo Bombers are an Australian rules football club based in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia playing in the Victorian Football League The Bendigo Bombers are an Australian rules football club based in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia playing in the Victorian Football League Brighton Football Club were an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA. The Brunswick Football Club were an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1897 until 1990 The Camberwell Football Club were an Australian rules football club who were formed in 1896 and competed in the Victorian Football Association between 1926 and 1990 Carlton Football Club, nicknamed The Blues, is the third oldest club in the Australian Football League and one of the oldest Australian rules football The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest The Castlemaine Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Castlemaine Victoria, Australia and is currently a member of the Bendigo The Caulfield Football Club were an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1965 until 1987 Collingwood Football Club, officially nicknamed The Magpies is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest The Dandenong Football Club were an Australian rules football club which played in the Victorian Football Association (VFA Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club and is part of the Australian Football League. The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest Club then merged with North Melbourne Football Club)
• Fitzroy Football Club (breakaway club to the VFL/AFL)
• Footscray Football Club (breakaway club to the VFL/AFL)
• Geelong Football Club (breakaway club to the VFL/AFL)
• Geelong Association Football Club
• Geelong West Football Club (the Roosters 1963-1988)
• Hawthorn Football Club (breakaway club to the VFL/AFL)
• Heidelberg Football Club (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 Club
• Kilsyth Football Club
• Melbourne Football Club (breakaway club to the VFL/AFL)
• Melbourne City Football Club
• Moorabbin Football Club (the Kangaroos 1951-1964, 1983-1988)
• Mordialloc Football Club (the Bloodhounds 1957-1988)
• Murray Kangaroos
• North Melbourne Football Club (breakaway club to the VFL/AFL - later fielded the Murray Kangaroos as a reserves side)
• Northcote Football Club (originally the Brickfielders and later the Dragons)
• Oakleigh Football Club (originally the Purple and Golds, and later the Devils)
• Prahran Football Club (the Two Blues 1886-1888, 1899-1959, 1960-1995)
• Richmond Football Club (breakaway club to the VFL/AFL)
• Rochester Football Club
• St Kilda Football Club (breakaway club to the VFL/AFL)
• South Ballarat Football Club
• Standard Football Club (an original Junior Club, albeit shortlived)
• South Melbourne Football Club (breakaway club to the VFL/AFL)
• South Williamstown Football Club (forced by the VFA to amalgamate with Williamstown Football Club in 1888)
• Sunshine Football Club (the Crows 1959-1989)
• Traralgon Football Club (the Maroons 1996-1997)
• University Football Club
• Victoria United Football Club (an original Junior Club, albeit shortlived)
• Victorian Railways Football Club (an original Junior Club, albeit shortlived)
• Waverley Football Club (the Panthers 1961-1988)
• West Melbourne Football Club
• Yarraville Football Club (the Villains 1927-1948, the Eagles 1949-1984)

Timeline

VFA Top Four Clubs 1877-1988 / VFA Final Five 1989-1994 /
VFL Finalists 1995-

From 1888, the VFA published a list of the final four clubs at the end of what are now called home-and-away matches. North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is an Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League. Fitzroy Football Club, most recently nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest The Western Bulldogs, formerly referred to as the Footscray Football Club, is an Australian Football League (AFL club based at the Whitten Oval in The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club based in the city of Geelong. The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, are an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL founded in 1902 The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest Heidelberg Football Club is an Australian rules football club in Heidelberg Victoria, currently competing in the Northern Football League. North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is an Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League. This article is about the Australian rules club for the Football (soccer club see Melbourne Victory FC. The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is an Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League. The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest The Northcote Football Club were an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1908 until 1987 Oakleigh Football Club were an Australian rules football club from Oakleigh which played in the VFA from 1929 until 1994 Prahran Football Club ( Prahran Footy Club, PFC, PAFC and PFSC) is an Australian rules football club based at Toorak Park in Orrong Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, competes in the Australian Football League. The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest The Rochester Football Club was formed at a meeting held on June 8th 1874 at Tidy's Restdown Hotel The St Kilda Football Club, nicknamed The Saints, is an Australian Football League club based in Melbourne Victoria Australia The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest The Sydney Swans is an Australian Football League (AFL club based in Sydney, New South Wales. The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest The Williamstown Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Melbourne and are currently playing in the Victorian Football League. Melbourne University Football Club &ndash often known simply as "University" &ndash is an Australian rules football club The West Melbourne Football Club were an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA. History The VJFA years (1903 - 1927 Yarraville Football Club was formed on April 1, 1903. The listings (below) 1877-1887 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.

1916-17: VFA footabll suspended on account of World War I.

1942-44: VFA football suspended on account of World War II.

VFA evolved into the VFL.

See also

• Early VFL Final systems
• History of Australian rules football in Victoria (1853-1900)

References

External links

• VFL Official Site
• VFL Official History
• List of VFA/VFL premiers since 1877
• VFA and VFL Stats and History at Full Points Footy
• VFLFooty Unofficial Fan Site
• VFL Mark of the Year competition
• History of the VFL
• Radio 1611 AM VFL Broadcast Station
• Footynews Unofficial VFL news and results