Australian rules football in Victoria

Australian rules football in Victoria is the most watched and second most participated code of football. Australian rules football originated in Melbourne in the late 1850s and grew quickly to dominate the sport, which it continues to. Victoria has more than double the number of players of any other state in Australia accounting for approximately 42% of all Australian players in 2023 and continues to grow strongly. Only Soccer in Victoria has more football participants, though the code's growth in Victoria has made up much ground lost to that code over previous decades such that they have now a similar number of players. The sport is governed by AFL Victoria based in Melbourne. The national governing body, the AFL Commission is also based in Melbourne.

Australian rules football in Victoria
The grand final of the Omeo & District Football League in 2001.
Governing bodyAFL Victoria
Representative teamVictoria
First played1858, Melbourne
Registered players235,970 (2023)[1]
Clubs1,242 (76 competitions)
Club competitions
Audience records
Single match121,696 (1970 VFL Grand Final)

The national Australian Football League (AFL) grew out of the Victorian competition (the VFL, founded in 1896 and rebadged in 1990) as it expanded nationally in the 1980s (10 of 18 AFL clubs remain Victorian-based including the 4 oldest and the most successful with two thirds of all premierships). Victoria is home to the Cordner–Eggleston Cup, first contested in 1858 and the longest continuously running football competition in the world. It is home to the oldest club in the sport, the Melbourne Football Club which wrote the first rules in 1859 also is the oldest professional football club of any code in the world. It was home to the first official tournament in the sport, the Challenge Cup in 1861. It is home to the second oldest football league in Australia, the semi-professional Victorian Football Association founded in 1877 which, like the AFL has also begun to expand nationally. While Victoria in 2017 accounted for just 30% of all players worldwide, and 40% of Australian players, more than 60% of professional AFL players are recruited from the state.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground, with a capacity of 100,024 people (and has filled to over 120,000 in the past), is considered the "spiritual home" of the game, and is contracted to host the sport's largest event, the AFL Grand Final, annually until 2058 traditionally staged on the afternoon of the last Saturday in September.[2] The state also holds regular blockbusters including the annual Anzac Day match, King's Birthday match and Dreamtime at the 'G.[3]

The Victoria Australian rules football team has won more championships than any other state (until the introduction of State of Origin rules) winning 16 of the 19 carnivals up until 1975. Since other states were removed from contesting State of Origin, Victoria has been undefeated, having won against a combined rest of Australia team at home in both 2008 and 2020. Victorian teams have also dominated the National underage championships with two thirds of the titles since it went national in 1976. Victorian clubs have also won 10 of the 19 Championships of Australia.

Victoria has produced the most greats in the history of the game. All three of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Australian Football legends are Victorian: Ron Barassi, Ted Whitten and Leigh Matthews. More than half of the Australian Football Hall of Fame Legends are from the state.

Victoria also holds the world record for attendance with 121,696 attending the 1970 VFL Grand Final between Carlton and Collingwood.

History
See also Origins of the Game, History of Australian rules football in Victoria (1859–1900)
A game at the Richmond Paddock in the 1860s. A pavilion at the MCG is on the left in the background. (A wood engraving made by Robert Bruce on 27 July 1866)

Tom Wills began to devise Australian rules in Melbourne in 1858. (Although H.C.A. Harrison, Wills' cousin, was also named, much later, as an official father of the game his role does not, now, seem to have been significant at this very early stage.) A letter by Wills was published in Bell's Life in Victoria & Sporting Chronicle on 10 July 1858, calling for a "foot-ball club" with a "code of laws" to keep cricketers fit during winter. A match, played at the Richmond Paddock (later known as Yarra Park next to the MCG) on 31 July 1858, was probably a game of folk football, or one based on unidentified English school rules. However, few details of the match have survived.

The Melbourne Football Club was founded on Saturday 14 May 1859, one of the world's first football clubs in any code. For many years unjustified claims have been made about a football match between Melbourne Grammar School and Scotch College. It began on 7 August 1858, umpired by Wills and John McAdam. A second day of play took place on 21 August and a third, and final, day on 4 September. The two schools have competed annually ever since. However, the rules used by the two teams in 1858 had little in common with the eventual form of Australian football since that code had not yet been written.

The Melbourne Football Club rules of 1859 are the oldest surviving set of laws for Australian football. They were drawn up at the Parade Hotel, East Melbourne, on 17 May, by Wills, W. J. Hammersley, J. B. Thompson and Thomas Smith (some sources include H. C. A. Harrison). The 1859 rules did not include some elements that soon became important to the game, such as the requirement to bounce the ball while running, and Melbourne's game was not immediately adopted by neighbouring clubs. Before each match the rules had to be agreed by the two teams involved. By 1866, however, several other clubs had agreed to play by an updated version of Melbourne's rules.

First Organised Competitions
Main article: Challenge Cup (Australian rules football)

While many early Victorian teams participated in one-off matches, most had not yet formed clubs for regular competition until 1860. To ensure the supremacy of the Melbourne rules, the first-club level competition in Australia, the Caledonian Society's Challenge Cup (1861–64), stipulated that only the Melbourne rules were to be used.[4] This law was reinforced by the Athletic Sports Committee (ASC), which ran a variation of the Challenge Cup in 1865–66.[5] With input from other clubs, the rules underwent several minor revisions, establishing a uniform code known as "Victorian rules".[6] In 1866, the "first distinctively Victorian rule", the running bounce, was formalised at a meeting of club delegates chaired by H. C. A. Harrison,[7] an influential pioneer who took up football in 1859 at the invitation of Wills, his cousin.[8]

VFA era
See also: Victorian Football Association
Carlton, VFA first premiers in 1877

On 17 May 1877, the Victorian Football Association (VFA), Victoria's first governing body for Australian football, was formed. The foundation Senior clubs of the VFA were Albert-park, Carlton, Hotham, Melbourne, St Kilda. The Junior section of the VFA originally included such clubs as Ballarat, East Melbourne, Essendon, Hawthorn, Northcote, South Melbourne, Standard, Victoria United, Victorian Railways, West Melbourne and Williamstown. During its early years, many clubs dropped in and out and there were erratic promotions between the Senior and Junior sections. Hawthorn, Northcote, Standard, Victoria United, Victorian Railways and Williamstown dropped out within a year or so but Hawthorn, Northcote and Williamstown were all to return at various times.

There were also numerous rules changes in this early period.

Growth outside of Melbourne

Not all football was played in Melbourne and the Goldfields experienced its own boom in competition in the 1880s and 1890s. By 1881, the Sandhurst Football Association had formed with a number of clubs in what is now Bendigo. Ballarat was to follow with its own Ballarat Football Association in 1893, giving some of the oldest clubs outside of Melbourne including Ballarat (1860) and Sandhurst (1861) clubs and the growing number of clubs in country Victoria some regular competition. While strong popular competitions in their own right, their member clubs were to become strong feeder clubs to the big metropolitan leagues.

Formation of the VFL

A rift in the VFA led to the formation of the Victorian Football League (VFL), which commenced play in 1897 as an eight-team breakaway of the stronger clubs in the VFA competition: Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Fitzroy, Geelong, Melbourne, St Kilda and South Melbourne. The first season concluded with Essendon finishing as the premiers (winners).

Another four VFA clubs joined the VFL later, as Richmond joined the VFL in 1908. Footscray, Hawthorn and North Melbourne joined in 1925, by which time VFL had become the most prominent league in the game. University also joined the VFL in 1908 but left in 1915.

National league and current issues
Victoria State of Origin guernsey.

In 1982, in a move which heralded big changes within the sport, one of the original VFL clubs, South Melbourne Football Club, relocated to the rugby league stronghold of Sydney and became known as the Sydney Swans.

In the late 1980s, strong interstate interest in the VFL led to a more national competition; two more non-Victorian clubs, the West Coast Eagles and the Brisbane Bears began playing in 1987.

The league changed its name to the Australian Football League (AFL) following the 1989 season, later gaining further West Australian and South Australian teams.

The VFA/VFL became a secondary league, although even it has grown to accommodate a team from Tasmania.

Even the biggest locally grown suburban clubs, elevated into the national league, continue struggle for survival, competing for marketshare. Fourteen years after South Melbourne's difficulties led them to move to Sydney, similar problems at the Fitzroy Football Club result in a merger, forming the Brisbane Lions. Although a small consolation of these club's recent success has been establishing renewed interest with their Melbourne based supporters, other clubs, such as the historic Melbourne, Western Bulldogs (formerly Footscray), North Melbourne and Carlton Clubs are assisted by the AFL to remain in the national competition. Many suggestions have been made in response to issues of overcrowding but the AFL has been somewhat reluctant to make a drastic change, due to both the history and supporters' passion for their club – save for the merger of Fitzroy and the Bears.

Participation

Women's Australian rules football is growing in popularity in Victoria.

In 2004, with 36,900 senior players in Victoria, more than any other state in Australia.

With a total participation of 223,999, Victoria has a participation rate of around 4% per capita, makes it the equal third most supported state (with Western Australia and South Australia)

Audience

Attendance record

Major Australian rules events in Victoria
2005 Community Cup

Notable Victorian footballers

Australian Football Hall of Fame players with Legend status from Victoria (in order of induction) include: Ron Barassi, Haydn Bunton Sr., Roy Cazaly, John Coleman, Jack Dyer, Bill Hutchison, Leigh Matthews, John Nicholls, Bob Pratt, Dick Reynolds, Bob Skilton, Ted Whitten, Ian Stewart, Gordon Coventry, Kevin Bartlett, Jock McHale, Norm Smith, Kevin Murray, Tony Lockett, Kevin Sheedy and John Kennedy Sr.

Victorians represent the vast majority of male Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees.

Notable female players include: Debbie Lee (first female member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame), Daisy Pearce. Erin Phillips was born in Melbourne.

Governing body

The governing body for Australian rules football in Victoria is AFL Victoria.

Leagues and clubs

Professional clubs
An AFL premiership season match at the game's spiritual home, the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Statewide leagues
Action from the 2017 VFL Grand Final at Docklands Stadium.

Melbourne metropolitan leagues
A VAFA match at the Junction Oval. Founded in 1892, the VAFA is the largest senior community competition in Victoria

Regional leagues
A Bendigo Football League match attracts a large crowd at the Queen Elizabeth Oval
A Ballarat Football League reserves match in Melton
Action from a lower division of the Ovens & King Football League

Junior

Masters

Women's

Principal venues

The following venues meet AFL Standard criteria and have been used to host recent AFL (National Standard), VFL or AFLW level matches (Regional Standard) are listed by capacity.[9]

Many former suburban VFL/AFL venues became disused when the league consolidated at its flagship stadium at Docklands and with its increased national/regional city focus, however the AFLW (and VFL) has since seen some of these former stadiums reused and renovated albeit with downgraded or reduced capacity.

Melbourne Melbourne Geelong
Melbourne Cricket Ground Docklands Stadium Kardinia Park
Capacity: 100,024 Capacity: 55,347 Capacity: 33,500
Record: 121,696 (1970)[10] Record: 54,444 (2009)[11] Record: 49,109 (1952)[12]
Melbourne Cricket Ground Docklands Stadium Kardinia Park
Wangaratta Melbourne Melbourne
Norm Minns Oval Coburg City Oval Princes Park
Capacity: 15,000 Capacity: 15,000 Capacity: 12,000
Record: 11,000 (2013)[13] Record: 21,626 (1965)[14] Record: 62,986 (1945)[15]
The Showgrounds Oval Coburg City Oval Princes Park
Ballarat Melbourne Bendigo
Eureka Stadium Victoria Park Queen Elizabeth Oval
Capacity: 11,000 Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 10,000
Record: 10,412 (2022)[16] Record: 47,000 (1948)[17] Record: 16,600 (1957)[18]
Eureka Stadium Victoria Park Queen Elizabeth Oval
Melbourne Melbourne Melbourne
Whitten Oval Box Hill City Oval Windy Hill
Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 10,000
Record: 42,354 (1955)[19] Record: 6,200 (1983)[20] Record: 43,487 (1966)[21]
Whitten Oval Box Hill City Oval Windy Hill
Melbourne Melbourne Melbourne
Moorabbin Oval Chirnside Park Casey Fields
Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 9,000 Capacity: 9,000
Record: 51,370 (1965)[22] Record: 10,000 (1982)[23] Record: 10,099 (2007)[24]
Moorabbin Oval Chirnside Park Casey Fields
Melbourne Melbourne Melbourne
Frankston Oval Preston City Oval Arden Street Oval
Capacity: 5,000 Capacity: 5,000 Capacity: 4,000
Record: 3,722 (2023)[25] Record: unknown Record: 35,116 (1949)[26]
Frankston Park Preston City Oval Arden Street Oval

Low capacity and lesser used venues (AFL Standard)

Low capacity and lesser used venues (non-AFL Standard)

Former venues

Representative team
Further information: Victoria Australian rules football team
The Big V running out for the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match in 2008. (From left to right – Luke Power, Adam Goodes, Robert Murphy, Darren Milburn, Scott Pendlebury, Heath Shaw, Troy Simmonds, Trent Croad, Paul Chapman, Josh Fraser, Jimmy Bartel, Brent Harvey, Ryan O'Keefe, Sam Mitchell, Steve Johnson, Jarrad Waite, Chris Judd, Jonathan Brown, Daniel Bradshaw.)

The Victorian representative team is known as the Big V and have played State of Origin representative matches against all other Australian states. However, since 1999 they have only played at Under 19 and state league level, with the senior professional team only making a once off appearance in the 2008 AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match.

See also: Interstate matches in Australian rules football

See also

References
  1. Ausplay Snaphot by State 2023
  2. Deal done on MCG grand final contract extension Sport Victoria 3 Sep 2020
  3. MCG fixture confirmed for 2023 AFL Season by the Melbourne Cricket Club 11 December 2022
  4. Pennings 2012, p. 25.
  5. Hibbins & Ruddell 2009, p. 20.
  6. Hibbins & Ruddell 2009, pp. 18–20.
  7. Hibbins & Ruddell 2009, pp. 22–23.
  8. Coventry 2015, pp. 16–17, 20.
  9. AFL PREFERRED FACILITY GUIDELINES Aflcommunityclub.com.au
  10. 26 September 1970 VFL Grand Final, Carlton v Collingwood
  11. 5 July 2009 AFL season: St Kilda vs Geelong
  12. 30 August 1952 VFL Season Geelong v Carlton
  13. 2 March 2013: AFL Pre-Season: Essendon vs. Richmond
  14. 1965 VFL North Melbourne vs Collingwood
  15. 1945 VFL Grand Final
  16. 23 April 2022 AFL Season
  17. VFL Collingwood vs South Melbourne
  18. 1957 Bendigo Football League Grand Final Eaglehawk vs Kyneton
  19. 1955 VFL season
  20. 14 August 1983 VFA season Box Hill vs Oakleigh
  21. VFL 1966 Essendon vs Collingwood
  22. VFL 1965 Round 1 St Kilda vs Collingwood
  23. VFA 1982 Werribee vs Port Melbourne
  24. 2007 NAB Cup AFL pre-season Hawthorn vs Essendon
  25. 2023 AFLW Hawthorn vs Essendon
  26. 1949 VFL Season

Sources
  • Coventry, James (2015). Time and Space: The Tactics That Shaped Australian Rules and the Players and Coaches Who Mastered Them. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-7333-3369-9.
  • Hibbins, Gillian; Ruddell, Trevor (2009). ""A Code of Our Own": Celebrating 150 Years of the Rules of Australian Football" (PDF). The Yorker (39). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  • Pennings, Mark (2012). Origins of Australian Football: Victoria's Early History: Volume 1: Amateur Heroes and the Rise of Clubs, 1858 to 1876. Connor Court Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 9781921421471.
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