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. Today the VFL is a regional Australian semi-professional competition featuring 14 teams from throughout Victoria as well as a representative side from Tasmania. 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. After the VFL/AFL became recognised as the national competition, the VFA adopted the VFL name, which was effective from season 1996. 1877 (MDCCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The City of Melbournes coat of arms The central business district of Melbourne, viewed from the north Alternate meanings: Melbourne (disambiguation) Melbourne is the capital and largest city of the state of Victoria, and the second largest city in Australia, with a population of 52,117 in the Central... Bendigo Bombers Logo The Bendigo Bombers are an Australian rules football club based in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia playing in the Victorian Football League (VFL). ... Box Hill Hawks Logo Box Hill Football Club was formed in 1921 as the Box Hill Junior Football Club. ... Casey Scorpions Logo Casey Scorpions is an Australian football team which plays in the VFL. The club is relatively new, founded in 1982 as the Springvale Football Club, playing under the name Springvale Scorpions. ... Coburg Tigers Logo The Coburg Football Club is an Australian rules football Club based in the Northern Suburbs of Melbourne and currently playing in the Victorian Football League. ... Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club involved, and playing in the Australian Football League. ... Franskton Dolphins Logo The Frankston Football Club is an Australian Football Club based in Melbourne and currently playing in the Victorian Football League. ... Geelong Football Club logo The Geelong Football Club is a football club in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... North Ballarat Roosters Logo The North Ballarat Football Club is an Australian Football Club based in Ballarat and currently playing in the Victorian Football League. ... Northern Bullants Logo The Northern Bullants Football Club is an Australian Football Club based in Preston, Melbourne and currently playing in the Victorian Football League. ... The Port Melbourne Football Club is an Australian Football club based in Melbourne and currently playing in the Victorian Football League. ... Sandringham Zebras Logo 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 Tasmanian Devils Football Club is an Australian rules football team, in the Victorian Football League in Australia. ... Werribee Tigers Logo Werribee Football Club was formed in 1965 and currently plays in the Victorian Football League. ... Williamstown Seagulls Logo The Williamstown Football Club is an Australian Football Club based in Melbourne and currently playing in the Victorian Football League. ... Club guernsey 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 Victorian Amateur Football Association. ... The Bendigo Bombers are an Australian rules football club based in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia playing in the Victorian Football League (VFL). ... A player in club colours Brighton Football Club were an Australian Football club which played in the VFA. The club was based in the Melbourne suburb of Brighton and were nicknamed the Penguins. ... The Brunswick Football Club were an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1897 until 1990. ... The Camberwell Cobras were an Australian Rules Football team who were formed in 1896 and played in the Victorian Football Association between 1926 and 1990. ... Carlton Football Club, nicknamed The Blues, is the sixth oldest Australian rules football club and the third oldest club in the Australian Football League. ... The Castlemaine Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia. ... Caulfield Bears The Caulfield Football Club were an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1965 until 1987. ... Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club involved, and playing in the Australian Football League. ... Essendons Home and Clash Jumpers Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club that is part of the Australian Football League. ... Fitzroy Football Club, most recently nicknamed The Lions, was 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 (now the Australian Football League) on its inception in 1897. ... The Western Bulldogs, formerly known as the Footscray Football Club or The Bulldogs is an Australian Football League (AFL) club based at the Whitten Oval in western suburban Melbourne, Australia, drawing its supporter base from this traditionally poor, industrial, and less leafy part of Melbourne. ... Geelong Football Club (also known as Geelong, or The Cats) are an Australian professional Australian rules football club based in the city of Geelong, Victoria at Kardinia Park, known by its sponsored name Skilled Stadium. Playing in the Australian Football League (AFL), they are one of the most successful clubs... Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, are an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... Established in 1876, Heidelberg Football Club is one of the oldest Australian Rules Football Clubs in the country. ... The Kangaroos Football Club, is an Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League. ... Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League, based in Melbourne, Victoria. ... The Kangaroos Football Club, 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, also PAFC and PSFC) is an Australian rules football club based at Toorak Park at the corner of High Street and Orrong Road in Prahran, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ... This page is about the Aussie rules club. ... The Rochester Football Club was formed at a meeting held on June 8th, 1874 at Tidys Restdown Hotel. ... The St. ... Sydney Swans is an Australian Football League (AFL) club based in Sydney, New South Wales. ... Melbourne University Football Club – often known simply as University – is an Australian Rules Football club, which played in the games most elite competition in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the Victorian Football League (or VFL, the forerunner of the AFL). ... The West Melbourne Football Club were an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA. They were based at the North Melbourne Cricket Ground and had a red and white striped guernsey. ... The Yarraville Football Club was founded in 1903 and played in the VJFA until 1927. ... York Park (now known as Aurora Stadium) is the major Australian rules football ground located in Inveresk, an inner city suburb of Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. ... Preston City Oval during the 2007 VWFL Grand Final The Preston City Oval, under naming rights as NAB 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. ... Burbank Oval, formerly know as the Morris St. ... Coburg City Oval is an Australian Rules Football stadium located in Coburg, Australia. ... North Hobart Oval is an Australian rules football stadium located in Hobart, Australia. ... With an all-seated capacity of 35,000, MC Labour Park (or Princes Park Football Ground) has been the home ground of the Carlton Football Club since the formation of the VFL/AFL in 1897, and is the single longest serving ground in the competition. ... Punt Road Oval is a football ground located in Richmond, Australia. ... Queen Elizabeth Oval is an Australian Rules Football stadium located in Bendigo, Australia. ... Kardinia Park is an Australian Rules football (AFL) stadium located in Geelong, Victoria and is the home ground of the Geelong Football Club, an AFL team. ... TEAC Oval, originally known as North Port Oval, is an Australian rules football stadium located in Melbourne, Australia. ... 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, Victoria, a suburb in the northwest of the Melbourne metropolitan area. ... Geelong Football Club logo The Geelong Football Club is a football club in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... Sandringham Zebras Logo 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 Tasmanian Devils Football Club is an Australian rules football team, 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 was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. ... High marking is a key skill and spectacular attribute of Australian rules football Precise field and goal kicking using the oval shaped ball is the key skill in Australian rules football Australian rules football, also known as Australian football, Aussie rules, or simply football or footy is a code of... 1877 (MDCCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Australian Rules Football (also known as Aussie Rules) was devised and established in the 1850s. ... Motto: Peace and Prosperity Other Australian states and territories Capital Melbourne Governor HE Mr John Landy Premier Steve Bracks (ALP) Area 237,629 km² (6th)  - Land 227,416 km²  - Water 10,213 km² (4. ... Slogan or Nickname: Island of Inspiration; The Apple Isle; Holiday Isle Motto(s): Ubertas et Fidelitas (Fertility and Faithfulness) Other Australian states and territories Capital Hobart Government Constitutional monarchy Governor William Cox Premier Paul Lennon (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 5  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product... This article is about the national league in Australian rules football. ... VFL/AFL is the term used to refer to the competition established in 1897, which was originally known as the Victorian Football League. ...

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]. Many Victorian AFL clubs affiliate with VFL clubs, and as a result the league partly serves as a reserves competition for the AFL. The South Australian National Football League (SANFL) is the premier league and governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in the state of South Australia. ... The West Australian Football League (WAFL) (pronounced waffle) is the premier state based Australian rules football league in Western Australia. ...

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. 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. This article is about the Australian Prime Minister. ... High marking is a key skill and spectacular attribute of Australian rules football Precise field and goal kicking using the oval shaped ball is the key skill in Australian rules football Australian rules football, also known as Australian football, Aussie rules, or simply football or footy is a code of... Australian Rules Football (also known as Aussie Rules) was devised and established in the 1850s. ...

Foundation Senior clubs of the VFA were Albert Park, Carlton, East Melbourne, Essendon, Hotham, Melbourne, St. Kilda & West Melbourne. 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 return at various times. Club guernsey 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 Victorian Amateur Football Association. ... Carlton Football Club, nicknamed The Blues, is the sixth oldest Australian rules football club and the third oldest club in the Australian Football League. ... Essendons Home and Clash Jumpers Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club that is part of the Australian Football League. ... NMFC redirects here. ... Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League, based in Melbourne, Victoria. ... The St. ... The West Melbourne Football Club were an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA. They were based at the North Melbourne Cricket Ground and had a red and white striped guernsey. ... Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, are an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... The Northcote Football Club were an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1908 until 1987. ... 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. ...

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. Australian Rules Football (also known as Aussie Rules) was devised and established in the 1850s. ...

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]. 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. Carlton Football Club, nicknamed The Blues, is the sixth oldest Australian rules football club and the third oldest club in the Australian Football League. ... Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club involved, and playing in the Australian Football League. ... Essendons Home and Clash Jumpers Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club that is part of the Australian Football League. ... Fitzroy Football Club, most recently nicknamed The Lions, was 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 (now the Australian Football League) on its inception in 1897. ... Geelong Football Club (also known as Geelong, or The Cats) are an Australian professional Australian rules football club based in the city of Geelong, Victoria at Kardinia Park, known by its sponsored name Skilled Stadium. Playing in the Australian Football League (AFL), they are one of the most successful clubs... Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League, based in Melbourne, Victoria. ... The St. ... Sydney Swans is an Australian Football League (AFL) club based in Sydney, New South Wales. ... This page is about the Aussie rules club. ... Melbourne University Football Club – often known simply as University – is an Australian Rules Football club, which played in the games most elite competition in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the Victorian Football League (or VFL, the forerunner of the AFL). ... The Western Bulldogs, formerly known as the Footscray Football Club or The Bulldogs is an Australian Football League (AFL) club based at the Whitten Oval in western suburban Melbourne, Australia, drawing its supporter base from this traditionally poor, industrial, and less leafy part of Melbourne. ... Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, are an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... The Kangaroos Football Club, 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. Established in 1876, Heidelberg Football Club is one of the oldest Australian Rules Football Clubs in the country. ...

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") 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. 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. (Details of current broadcasts are found below - "Radio".) 3EE began in 1992 although it was originally the legendary radio station 3XY which began transmission in 1935. ... 3AK is a former Melbourne talk-back radio and music station, which, in 2003, leased its licence to sports network SEN 1116. ... Network Ten, or Channel Ten, is one of Australias three major commercial television networks. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... 3UZ trading as Radio Sport 927 situated in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, is Melbournes oldest commercial radio station. ... - - Nickname: City by the Bay Geography Area: 1,240 km² Coordinates: Time Zone UTC +10:00 Population (2003) 200,067 Among Australian cities: Density: persons/km² Political Mayor: Shane Dowling Governing body: City of Greater Geelong Geelong is a port city of 200,067 people (2003 census) located on Corio... 3GL was an AM radio station in Geelong, Australia. ... 3AW is a radio station in Melbourne, Australia on 693KHz AM. It began transmission in February 1932 as Melbournes fifth commercial radio station. ... A Grand Final is the culmination of a series of final matches played between a number of sporting teams to decide the premier team. ... Look up sen in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article is about the national league in Australian rules football. ...

Northcote's 1929 premiership side. Second from right, front row, is Doug Nicholls.

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. 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. Sir Douglas Doug Ralph Nicholls, KCVO, OBE (1906–1988) was an Australian Aborigine from the Yorta Yorta people of the Murray river region of New South Wales and Victoria. ... The Victorian Football Association (1877-1995) or the VFA for short, was the first Australian Football body established in Australia, formed in 1877, almost 20 years before that of the Victorian Football League (VFL). ... VFL can refer to: Victorian Football League, an Australian rules football league formerly known as the Victorian Football Association prior to 1996. ...

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. 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 Liston Trophy (now in the form of a medal) is still presented annually. The Charles Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal, is the medal awarded to the best and fairest player in the Australian Football League during the regular season (ie not including finals matches) as decided upon by umpires. ... The Magarey Medal is an Australian Rules Football award, given annually since 1897 to the best and fairest player in the South Australian National Football League as adjudged by the field umpires. ...

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. 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. There was a promotion and relegation system between the two Divisions. The 1950s decade refers to the years 1950 to 1959 inclusive. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... This article is about the Australian city; the name may also refer to City of Melbourne or Melbourne city centre (also known as The CBD). ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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 form of the Government of Victoria is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1855, although it has been amended many times since then. ...

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. 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. Sydney Swans is an Australian Football League (AFL) club based in Sydney, New South Wales. ... The Australian Broadcasting Corporation or ABC is Australias national non-profit public broadcaster. ...

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. In the same year (1995) powerhouse clubs North Ballarat and Traralgon joined the nine existing teams. 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 article is about the year. ... This article is about the national league in Australian rules football. ... The North Ballarat Football Club is an Australian Football Club based in Ballarat and currently playing in the Victorian Football League. ...

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. 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. The Seven Network is an Australian television network, owned by the Seven Media Group. ... The Australian Broadcasting Corporation or ABC is Australias national non-profit public broadcaster. ...

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. This article is about the national league in Australian rules football. ...

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. The South Australian National Football League, or SANFL as it is usually referred to, is the premier league for Australian Rules football in the state of South Australia. ... The West Australian Football League (WAFL) (pronounced waffle) is the premier state based Australian rules football league in Western Australia. ...

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

With an all-seated capacity of 35,000, MC Labour Park (or Princes Park Football Ground) has been the home ground of the Carlton Football Club since the formation of the VFL/AFL in 1897, and is the single longest serving ground in the competition. ... With an all-seated capacity of 35,000, MC Labour Park (or Princes Park Football Ground) has been the home ground of the Carlton Football Club since the formation of the VFL/AFL in 1897, and is the single longest serving ground in the competition. ...

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. As from 2006, ABC2 has shown replays of VFL matches late on Wednesday nights to a national audience.^[4]. ABV is a television station in Melbourne, Victoria owned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ... This article is about the Australian television channel. ...

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. Their coverage can be picked up on radio on 97.7FM or via the web on www.3ser.org.au. 3SER on 97. ...

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. radio1611.com.au 3XX (Radio 1611am) is a broadcasting station in Melbourne, Australia. ... A podcast is a series of digital-media files which are distributed over the Internet using syndication feeds for playback on portable media players and computers. ...

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. Look up sen in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Clubs

Current Clubs

Bendigo Bombers Logo The Bendigo Bombers are an Australian rules football club based in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia playing in the Victorian Football League (VFL). ... For the electoral division in the Australian House of Representatives, see Division of Bendigo. ... Queen Elizabeth Oval is an Australian Rules Football stadium located in Bendigo, Australia. ... Essendons Home and Clash Jumpers Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club that is part of the Australian Football League. ... Box Hill Hawks Logo Box Hill Football Club was formed in 1921 as the Box Hill Junior Football Club. ... For other places with the same name, see Box Hill. ... Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, are an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... Casey Scorpions Logo Casey Scorpions is an Australian football team which plays in the VFL. The club is relatively new, founded in 1982 as the Springvale Football Club, playing under the name Springvale Scorpions. ... The City of Casey is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. ... Cranbourne East is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ... The St. ... Coburg Tigers Logo The Coburg Football Club is an Australian rules football Club based in the Northern Suburbs of Melbourne and currently playing in the Victorian Football League. ... Coburg is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ... This page is about the Aussie rules club. ... Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club involved, and playing in the Australian Football League. ... Collingwood is an inner city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ... Victoria Park was named after Queen Victoria in the 19th century and is both a large park and the name of an Australian rules football stadium in inner-city of Melbourne, Australia, and is located in the suburb of Abbotsford. ... Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club involved, and playing in the Australian Football League. ... Franskton Dolphins Logo The Frankston Football Club is an Australian Football Club based in Melbourne and currently playing in the Victorian Football League. ... Frankston is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ... Geelong Football Club logo The Geelong Football Club is a football club in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... This article is about the Victorian city; the name may also refer to City of Geelong or Geelong city centre. ... Kardinia Park is an Australian Rules football (AFL) stadium located in Geelong, Victoria and is the home ground of the Geelong Football Club, an AFL team. ... Geelong Football Club logo The Geelong Football Club is a football club in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... North Ballarat Roosters Logo The North Ballarat Football Club is an Australian Football Club based in Ballarat and currently playing in the Victorian Football League. ... A view of Ballarat East and Eureka from Sovereign Hill. ... NMFC redirects here. ... Northern Bullants Logo The Northern Bullants Football Club is an Australian Football Club based in Preston, Melbourne and currently playing in the Victorian Football League. ... High Street, Preston Preston is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ... Carlton Football Club, nicknamed The Blues, is the sixth oldest Australian rules football club and the third oldest club in the Australian Football League. ... Port Melbourne Borough Logo The Port Melbourne Football Club is an Australian rules football Club based in Melbourne and currently playing in the Victorian Football League. ... Port Melbourne is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ... TEAC Oval, originally known as North Port Oval, is an Australian rules football stadium located in Melbourne, Australia. ... Sandringham Zebras Logo 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. ... The Trevor Barker Oval is an Australian rules football ground in Beach Road, Sandringham, Victoria Australia. ... Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League, based in Melbourne, Victoria. ... The Tasmanian Devils Football Club is an Australian rules football team, in the Victorian Football League in Australia. ... Slogan or Nickname: Island of Inspiration; The Apple Isle; Holiday Isle Motto(s): Ubertas et Fidelitas (Fertility and Faithfulness) Other Australian states and territories Capital Hobart Government Constitutional monarchy Governor William Cox Premier Paul Lennon (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 5  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product... Bellerive Oval is a sports ground in Bellerive, eastern shore of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. ... York Park (now known as Aurora Stadium) is the major Australian rules football ground located in Inveresk, an inner city suburb of Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. ... Werribee Tigers Logo Werribee Football Club was formed in 1965 and currently plays in the Victorian Football League. ... Werribee is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ... NMFC redirects here. ... Williamstown Seagulls Logo The Williamstown Football Club is an Australian Football Club based in Melbourne and currently playing in the Victorian Football League. ... Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, Williamstown Nelson Place, a popular street to visit in Williamstown consisting of many cafés. ... Burbank Oval, formerly know as the Morris St. ... The Western Bulldogs, formerly known, and occasionally still referred to, as the Footscray Football Club, is an Australian Football League (AFL) club based at the Whitten Oval in Footscray, an inner western suburb of Melbourne. ...

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.

• 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. 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)

Club guernsey 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 Victorian Amateur Football Association. ... The Bendigo Bombers are an Australian rules football club based in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia playing in the Victorian Football League (VFL). ... Bendigo Bombers Logo The Bendigo Bombers are an Australian rules football club based in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia playing in the Victorian Football League (VFL). ... A player in club colours Brighton Football Club were an Australian Football club which played in the VFA. The club was based in the Melbourne suburb of Brighton and were nicknamed the Penguins. ... The Brunswick Football Club were an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1897 until 1990. ... Carlton Football Club, nicknamed The Blues, is the sixth oldest Australian rules football club and the third oldest club in the Australian Football League. ... This article is about the national league in Australian rules football. ... The Castlemaine Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia. ... Caulfield Bears The Caulfield Football Club were an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1965 until 1987. ... Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club involved, and playing in the Australian Football League. ... This article is about the national league in Australian rules football. ... Essendons Home and Clash Jumpers Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club that is part of the Australian Football League. ... This article is about the national league in Australian rules football. ... The Kangaroos Football Club, is an Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League. ... Fitzroy Football Club, most recently nicknamed The Lions, was 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 (now the Australian Football League) on its inception in 1897. ... This article is about the national league in Australian rules football. ... The Western Bulldogs, formerly known as the Footscray Football Club or The Bulldogs is an Australian Football League (AFL) club based at the Whitten Oval in western suburban Melbourne, Australia, drawing its supporter base from this traditionally poor, industrial, and less leafy part of Melbourne. ... This article is about the national league in Australian rules football. ... Geelong Football Club (also known as Geelong, or The Cats) are an Australian professional Australian rules football club based in the city of Geelong, Victoria at Kardinia Park, known by its sponsored name Skilled Stadium. Playing in the Australian Football League (AFL), they are one of the most successful clubs... This article is about the national league in Australian rules football. ... Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, are an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... This article is about the national league in Australian rules football. ... Established in 1876, Heidelberg Football Club is one of the oldest Australian Rules Football Clubs in the country. ... NMFC redirects here. ... Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League, based in Melbourne, Victoria. ... This article is about the national league in Australian rules football. ... The Kangaroos Football Club, is an Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League. ... This article is about the national league in Australian rules football. ... 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, also PAFC and PSFC) is an Australian rules football club based at Toorak Park at the corner of High Street and Orrong Road in Prahran, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ... This page is about the Aussie rules club. ... This article is about the national league in Australian rules football. ... The Rochester Football Club was formed at a meeting held on June 8th, 1874 at Tidys Restdown Hotel. ... The St. ... This article is about the national league in Australian rules football. ... Sydney Swans is an Australian Football League (AFL) club based in Sydney, New South Wales. ... This article is about the national league in Australian rules football. ... 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 – often known simply as University – is an Australian Rules Football club, which played in the games most elite competition in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the Victorian Football League (or VFL, the forerunner of the AFL). ... The West Melbourne Football Club were an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA. They were based at the North Melbourne Cricket Ground and had a red and white striped guernsey. ... The Yarraville Football Club was founded in 1903 and played in the VJFA until 1927. ...

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. 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

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