Resource Revised and Extended - Timeline of VFL/AFL Expansion

[giggler99]

It was clearly meant to identify to Queenslanders in general. Clearly Brisbane as a name was more important in expansion to attract young new fans to the game than a Gold Coast name.

The Bears were thrown together as worst organized new club by the VFL/AFL. No real decent help which is why they were a basket case for so long. Eagles on other hand got proper concessions. Virtually had a near strength state side a few years after starting. Bears on other hand had mostly cast offs from other clubs. It would be like starting a club from scratch now and asking the other clubs to give 2 players each to that new club. Carlton would give them Matthew Watson and Dennis Armfield, Essendon give them Dempsey and Giles, Bulldogs give them Ayce Cordy and retiring Dale Morris. You get the idea.

They did not make the mistake with GWS and Gold Coast a few decades later. Gone the opposite direction and given them a bundle of early picks in draft to virtually have best batch of youngsters to develop a super team over time. It is a very different task to start clubs from non-traditional football regions than regions already well established in football such as WA and SA.

When Brisbane and West Coast Eagles started out it was the Eagles name that baffled me most. Why did they not call them something like Perth Sharks or something. West Coast Eagles is a terrible name but they still created a club out of it. GWS is a terrible name too.
Fremantle is good name. Dockers is a terrible nickname
However all that matters in end if for those fans that support those clubs. They may well love that nickname.

They couldn't call themselves Perth because there is/was already a Perth team in the WAFL and it didn't need to alienate anyone. West Coast was logical considering at the time it was the only team from the West playing against teams from the East Coast. I think I read somewhere the Eagle was chosen due to the fact they will be flying/traveling often over to the East Coast.

 

[The_Wookie]

They couldn't call themselves Perth because there is/was already a Perth team in the WAFL and it didn't need to alienate anyone. West Coast was logical considering at the time it was the only team from the West playing against teams from the East Coast. I think I read somewhere the Eagle was chosen due to the fact they will be flying/traveling often over to the East Coast.

Sure they could. Just like there is a Brisbane in the AFL and the NRL. Just like there are several teams called Melbourne in the AFL/NRL/HAL and Super Rugby

 

[giggler99]

Sure they could. Just like there is a Brisbane in the AFL and the NRL. Just like there are several teams called Melbourne in the AFL/NRL/HAL and Super Rugby

Yeah but I think the intention at the time was to set the club up as a West V East thing hence the name West Coast to incorporate all of WA.

Also Perth Demons isn't a club from another code it's an Aussie rules club and a highly well known and popular one in WA so there definitely would have been some conflict of interest.

 

[The Speaker]

Yeah but I think the intention at the time was to set the club up as a West V East thing hence the name West Coast to incorporate all of WA.

Also Perth Demons isn't a club from another code it's an Aussie rules club and a highly well known and popular one in WA so there definitely would have been some conflict of interest.

Which is silly, because they were not a State of Origin team, and the term 'West Coast' has never been part of the Australian vernacular.

It was a typically American name that was very much in vogue at the time, and to an extent still is.

 

[giggler99]

Which is silly, because they were not a State of Origin team, and the term 'West Coast' has never been part of the Australian vernacular.

It was a typically American name that was very much in vogue at the time, and to an extent still is.

No, but as I said that was the intention's at the time it may not be it now with the inclusion of Fremantle but in 1987 it sure felt like the West V The East. and the early Eagles teams sure had a state of origin feel to it.
It has nothing to do with Americanism its actually true they are from the West Coast of Australia purely set up as a team from WA to participate in an Victorian state league (VFL) which is what it was at the time and if they couldn't or weren't going to use the name Perth what other names could they have used? It was the best name to incorporate the whole state other then purely calling the club "Western Australia" and i'll say its worked judging by the support and success the club has had with the name. I haven't heard anyone from the West wanting to change it any time soon either, so they must be content to preserve with it.

 

[SgtSchulz]

For what its worth

• 1982: John Swain (Port Adelaide chairman) and Don Roach (SANFL general manager) went to Melbourne to discuss the idea of Port Adelaide and Norwood playing in the VFL.
• 1985: Port Adelaide registered as a national club (company).
• 1986: SANFL register the name 'Adelaide Football Club'.
• 1988 Bicentennial Football Carnival (State of Origin) - 4 current SANFL players of starting 18 in South Australian team.

 

[The_Wookie]

For what its worth

• 1982: John Swain (Port Adelaide chairman) and Don Roach (SANFL general manager) went to Melbourne to discuss the idea of Port Adelaide and Norwood playing in the VFL.
• 1985: Port Adelaide registered as a national club (company).
• 1986: SANFL register the name 'Adelaide Football Club'.
• 1988 Bicentennial Football Carnival (State of Origin) - 4 current SANFL players of starting 18 in South Australian team.

Whats the reference for the 82, 95 and 86 dates?

 

[SgtSchulz]

Whats the reference for the 82, 95 and 86 dates?

Bruce Abernethy

 

[The_Wookie]

Bruce Abernethy

his book i assume? I still need to grab that

 

[SgtSchulz]

his boom i assume? I still need to grab that

His book does a great job going through from early 1980's to 1997.

 

[royals1922]

1914 - first talk about Hawthorn joining the VFL

Camberwell and HAwthorn Advertiser of 3 October 1914 to replace University

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article153616759

 

[The_Wookie]

Added this morning to the end of the timeline

• 2014 - August 25. North Melbourne and Hobart City Council announce a two year contract extention until the end of 2016. The Council will provide $300,000 a year towards three games a season in Hobart.
• 2015 -July 31. Tasmania and Hawthorn announce a new deal to keep the Hawks playing in Tasmania until 2021. The deal is worth 20 million and consists of jumper sponsorship as well as 4 premiership matches and a preseason game.
• 2015 - August 5. North Melbourne announce they are seeking a five year contract extension for its games in Hobart
• 2015 - August 19 - Gillon Mclachlan says that Tasmania cant financially support its own AFL side. ""The brutal reality right now, the economy and scale of growth mean they financially can't support their own team playing 11 games, you need $45 million,"
• 2015 - September 12. The Western Bulldogs announce a partnership with the Victorian Government which will result in a 5 year plan to bring games to Ballarat and promote the city. The announcement included a 31.5 million upgrade to facilities in Ballarat.
• 2015 - September 16. St Kilda announces that it will look at its options in NZ after Wellington City council declined to extend the deal to play matches there after 2015.

 

[1892]

From Collingwood 1892-1948 book

1921 - reported Footscray had been selected from the clubs applying for admittance. When it came to allocation of districts however the clubs affected could not agree and the proposal was thrown out.

1924 - deputations were received from Footscray, North Melbourne and Brunswick, each urging their claims to join the league

1925 - Collingwood asks the league to establish equal payment of players of all league clubs

1933 - VFA proposed scheme of union, but it was not thought the League would adopt it. The committee approved the Association premiers displacing the lowest League team annually.

 

[Heardy_101]

That would of been interesting, a promotion and regulation system. I wonder which teams would have kept getting relegated and promoted.

 

[The_Wookie]

The following dates to be added (from the book 'From Port to a Power' by Bruce Abernethy.)

• 1990. May. The SANFL hold a conference in Victor Harbour. The clubs accept a SANFL proposal not to join the AFL before 1993. Port Adelaides representative, Dave Boyd, voted for this proposal. (From Port to a Power pg 46)
• 1990. July 6 - Port Adelaide board members are advised by Bruce Weber of discussions he'd held with AFL Commissioner Alan Schwab.(From Port to a Power pg 48)
• 1990 - July 7. First meetings between Port Adelaide and the AFL at AFL House. The proposed deal included no fee for joining the AFL and Port would keep its development zone. (Bruce Weber, From Port to a Power pg 47)
• 1990 - July 30. Port Adelaide sign Heads of Agreement with the AFL. (Football limited pg. 350) The Agreement apparently allowed Port to wear black and white with minor changes for games against Collingwood .(From Port to a Power pg 65-66)
  
• 1990 - August 2. Nine SANFL Clubs have a crisis meeting. Amongst the options are a counter submission to the AFL, and kicking Port out of the SANFL. The SANFL announces that Port will not be allowed to use Football Park for AFL games (From Port to a Power, pg 68)
• 1990 - August 3. Eleveln SANFL officials fly to Melourne to lobby against Port Adelaides entry into the AFL. (from Port to a Power pg 68)
• 1990 - August 6. The SANFL makes its first counter-offer. The AFL declines to accept. (from Port to a Power pg 70)
  
• 1990 - August 9. Glenelg wins an injunction against Port Adelaide. Justice Olssen prohibits Port from having further contact with the AFL, but doest prohibit the SANFL from talking to the AFL. (from Port to a Power pg 68)
• 1990 - September 12. The AFL reported to be seriously looking at a SANFL offer for a composite side.(From Port to a Power pg 71)
• 1990 - September 20. The AFL Board of Directors formally votes in favoir of the SANFL composite application. Only Richmond vote against. The AFL pays $125,000 for Ports legal costs, and the SANFL are required to drop all legal action against Port Adelaide. (From Port to a Power pg 73)
• 1992 - June 8. Port Adelaide launches its bid for the next AFL license. (from Port to a Power pg 105)
  
• 1993 - September. Port Adelaide launch Club 96 with the specific aim of generating funds for its next AFL license bid. (From Port to a Power pg 104)
• 1994 - April 6. Port Adelaide submits a comprehensive business plan to the SANFL for its AFL bid. (from Port to a Power pg 112)
• 1994 - June 15. The SANFL Future Directions committee hands down a report recommending the second license go to a team formed of the amalgamation of two clubs. (from Port to a Power pg.113)
  
• 1994 - June 16. Norwood-Sturt officially launch a bid for the AFL license. (From Port to a Power pg 113)
• 1994 - June 23. Glenelg-South Adelaide launch a bid for the AFL license (from Port to a Power pg 113)
• 1994 - July 1. A SANFL strategy paper says that the license should go to Port Adelaide, while the Crows should be adopted by Norwood. (From Port to a Power pg 114)
• 1994 - September 14. All SA license bids are officially lodged with the SANFL. Port Adelaides bid document is almost a thousand pages. (from Port to a Power pg 116)
• 1994 - October 11. A SANFL 9 member committee begins to evaluate the bids. The Committee takes 34 days to go through the process. (From Port to a Power pg 116)
• 1994 - December 9. The SANFL informs Port Adelaide that it has won the license, with minor changes to its bid recquired. (From Port to a Power pg 119)
• 1995 - August 31. Port Adelaide officially announces it will be called the Power. (from Port to a Power pg 126)
  
• 1995 - October 27. Port Adelaide advised they wont be in the 1996 AFL competition. (from Port to a Power pg 137)
  
• 1996 - May 21. Port Adelaide advised they will be in the 1997 AFL competition. (from Port to a Power pg 146)

 

[Heardy_101]

The following dates to be added (from the book 'From Port to a Power' by Bruce Abernethy.)

• 1990. May. The SANFL hold a conference in Victor Harbour. The clubs accept a SANFL proposal not to join the AFL before 1993. Port Adelaides representative, Dave Boyd, voted for this proposal. (From Port to a Power pg 46)
• 1990. July 6 - Port Adelaide board members are advised by Bruce Weber of discussions he'd held with AFL Commissioner Alan Schwab.(From Port to a Power pg 48)
• 1990 - July 7. First meetings between Port Adelaide and the AFL at AFL House. The proposed deal included no fee for joining the AFL and Port would keep its development zone. (Bruce Weber, From Port to a Power pg 47)
• 1990 - July 30. Port Adelaide sign Heads of Agreement with the AFL. (Football limited pg. 350) The Agreement apparently allowed Port to wear black and white with minor changes for games against Collingwood .(From Port to a Power pg 65-66)
  
• 1990 - August 2. Nine SANFL Clubs have a crisis meeting. Amongst the options are a counter submission to the AFL, and kicking Port out of the SANFL. The SANFL announces that Port will not be allowed to use Football Park for AFL games (From Port to a Power, pg 68)
• 1990 - August 3. Eleveln SANFL officials fly to Melourne to lobby against Port Adelaides entry into the AFL. (from Port to a Power pg 68)
• 1990 - August 6. The SANFL makes its first counter-offer. The AFL declines to accept. (from Port to a Power pg 70)
  
• 1990 - August 9. Glenelg wins an injunction against Port Adelaide. Justice Olssen prohibits Port from having further contact with the AFL, but doest prohibit the SANFL from talking to the AFL. (from Port to a Power pg 68)
• 1990 - September 12. The AFL reported to be seriously looking at a SANFL offer for a composite side.(From Port to a Power pg 71)
• 1990 - September 20. The AFL Board of Directors formally votes in favoir of the SANFL composite application. Only Richmond vote against. The AFL pays $125,000 for Ports legal costs, and the SANFL are required to drop all legal action against Port Adelaide. (From Port to a Power pg 73)
• 1992 - June 8. Port Adelaide launches its bid for the next AFL license. (from Port to a Power pg 105)
  
• 1993 - September. Port Adelaide launch Club 96 with the specific aim of generating funds for its next AFL license bid. (From Port to a Power pg 104)
• 1994 - April 6. Port Adelaide submits a comprehensive business plan to the SANFL for its AFL bid. (from Port to a Power pg 112)
• 1994 - June 15. The SANFL Future Directions committee hands down a report recommending the second license go to a team formed of the amalgamation of two clubs. (from Port to a Power pg.113)
  
• 1994 - June 16. Norwood-Sturt officially launch a bid for the AFL license. (From Port to a Power pg 113)
• 1994 - June 23. Glenelg-South Adelaide launch a bid for the AFL license (from Port to a Power pg 113)
• 1994 - July 1. A SANFL strategy paper says that the license should go to Port Adelaide, while the Crows should be adopted by Norwood. (From Port to a Power pg 114)
• 1994 - September 14. All SA license bids are officially lodged with the SANFL. Port Adelaides bid document is almost a thousand pages. (from Port to a Power pg 116)
• 1994 - October 11. A SANFL 9 member committee begins to evaluate the bids. The Committee takes 34 days to go through the process. (From Port to a Power pg 116)
• 1994 - December 9. The SANFL informs Port Adelaide that it has won the license, with minor changes to its bid recquired. (From Port to a Power pg 119)
• 1995 - August 31. Port Adelaide officially announces it will be called the Power. (from Port to a Power pg 126)
  
• 1995 - October 27. Port Adelaide advised they wont be in the 1996 AFL competition. (from Port to a Power pg 137)
  
• 1996 - May 21. Port Adelaide advised they will be in the 1997 AFL competition. (from Port to a Power pg 146)

Wow Glenelg-South - never knew that one. Crows to be adopted by Norwood - would that have meant a name change or Norwood becoming the Crows' reserves?

 

[The_Wookie]

Wow Glenelg-South - never knew that one. Crows to be adopted by Norwood - would that have meant a name change or Norwood becoming the Crows' reserves?

Everyone got into bed with someone (except Port) - and they all came out within days of the Future Directions report. There was a proposal for the Crows to stay Adelaide and train out of Norwood, or changing their name to be Norwood at one point, but according to Abernethy, the Crows flatly refused to move to the Parade - a situation he found bemusing, given that Adelaide were a SANFL entity, and it was a SANFL committee recommendation.

 

[The_Wookie]

The following dates to be added come from 'Behind the Play - The History of Football in Western Australia since 1868' by Anthony J Barker.

• 1980, October 15. East Perth makes formal application to join the VFL. (Behind the Play pg 179)
• 1981, April. The SANFL investigated the feasbility of having two of its teams included in the SANFL (Behind the Plau pg 180)
• 1981, July 1. The WAFL board resolved to ask the VFL of their opinion of a WA team joining the VFL competition and for an iundication of the VFLs intentions regarding the development of football in Australia (Behind the Play pg 180)
• 1982, April. The WAFL calls a special meeting of its Directors to discuss the formation of a policy on a national competition. (Behind the play pg 183)
  
• 1983, May 2. - The WAFL requests immediate AID from the WA Goverment to meet a 1.9 million deficit that had come about due to the maintenance of league venues. The Government sets up a task force headed by Bill Mitchell to investigate footballs financial problems and long term needs. The Report would recommend ground rationalisation - down to four, including Subiaco and the WACA, as well as an independent commission. (Behind the Play pg 187)
• 1984, February 28. The WAFL board hands control of football in WA over to a newly formed WAFL board. In return the Givernment took over repayments on a 4 million loan used to finance the development of Subiaco Oval. (Behind the Play pg 190)
• 1985, October 30. The Age reports that 'the VFL was at great pains to say it is proposing an expansion of the existing competition to include interstate teams and not a national league'. (Behind the Play pg 198)
• 1985, November 7. The NFL releases its own play for a national compeition, with a 12 team structure featuring 9 teams from Melbourne and one each from Sydney, Perth and Adelaide. It also proposed an independent form of administration rather than the VFL's Melbourne centrered power base". The WAFL supports the NFL option, going so far as to send its CEO to talk to Macquarie Bank in Sydney about getting $100 million to float a competition, with six Melbourne clubs saying they'd break away. (Behind the Play pg 198)
• 1986, February. Executives from the SANFL, WAFL and VFL meet to establish the format of a new competition. (Behind the Play pg 200)
• 1986, July 31. The VFL reaffirms its commitment to a national competition in 1987, with a preference for a team from Brisbane. The league was uncertain as to whether teams from SA or WA would be involved. (Behind the Play pg 202)
• 1986, August 26. All six WAFL directors and six of the eight clubs voted to apply to join the VFL in 1987. Sth Fremantle and Swan Districts vote against. (Behind the play, pg 202). To get the clubs votes a $200,000 in finanical support was offered to each club (Behind the play pg 218) The 4 million license fee is demanded up front by the VFL instead of over 10 years as had been originally proposed (Behind the play pg 215)
  
• 1986, September. Victorian Parliament is told only three VFL clubs are solvent - Carlton, Hawthorn and Essendon. The other eight clubs had combined debts of 7 million. (Behind the play pg 203)
• 1986, September 22. Indian PAcific Limited is formed to control the Eagles license. (Behind the play pg 206)
  
• 1986, October 30. The West Coast Eagles are launched. (Behind the play pg 205)
• 1986, November 1, Moratorium begins on the recruitment of WA players by Victorian clubs. It was too late for Peter Wilson, who signed with Richmond the day the clubs voted to enter the VFL, similarly Mark Bairstow and Nicky Winmar were narrowly missed. Brad Hardie declined to come back, Gary Buckenara fought and lost in court over his Hawthorn contract. Leon Baker, Maurice Riioli, Alan Johnson, Miek Richardson and Darren Bewick all rejected the change to play for the Eagles. (Behind the play pg 210)
  
• 1986, November 1. The Eagles had to list 30 WA registered players, including not more than 5 from any club. By the end of the year it could include a maximum of six former WAFL players from Victoria or SA (and no more than one from any Victorian club). Ten players are secured from the 1986 State of Origin squad - Glendenning, Narkle, Lamb, Laidley, Davidson, Mainwaring, Wiley, Malaxos, Macnish, and Keene. (Behind the play pg 210)
  
• 1987, March 3. The Eagles play their first official night match against Footscray at Waverly Park, winning by 29 points after holiding the Bulldogs to just 4 points in the second half. (Behind the play pg 212)
  
• 1987, March 29. The Eagles play their first officiial premiership match against Richmond at Subiaco in front of 30,000 fans, winning by 14 points. (Behind the play pg 212)
• 1987, June 22. While the WAFL had budgeted for a 30% drop in attendance, the actual figure was closer to 50% as average Saturday crowds dropped from 30,000 to 15,000. The aggregate attendance across four games on that Saturday was 11,804. (Behind the play pg 213)
  
• 1987, July 24. The West Australian reports that officials of the two Fremantle sides were exploring the possibility of a second club down in the port. However, IPL had a five year exclusive rights clause in their agreement and it was not to be. (behind the play pg 214)
• 1988, June. The VFL begins pay travel arrangements for all clubs. Travel costs for the eagles in 1987 had been more than a million dollars.
• 1989, June 20. The WAFC is formed. The Government commits $850,000 over three years to set up and operate the organisation. The WAFL was 9.48 million debt, including a 6 million bank loan, an overdraft of 1.2 million and the eight clubs owed another 2.28 million. (Behind the play pg 255)
• 1990. October. The WAFC proceeds witha feasibility study into a second side. (Behind the play pg 284)
• 1993 - june.

 

[The_Wookie]

Folllowing dates from The South Australian Football Story by bernard Whimpress

• 1977 - The VFL and HSV7 enter a 5 year agreement that prohibited the VFL from playing in a competition run by anyone else (The SA Football Story pg 115)
• 1977 - The NFL stages the "Ardath cup" with 22 teams including 6 from SA, 6 from WA, 4 from the VFA, and state sides from NSW, ACT, Tasmania and Queensland. It was won by Norwood over East perth (The SA Football Story pg 115)
  
• 1978 - The NFL championship is reduced to 16 teams, and became the Escort Cup. South Adelaide defeated Glenelg - the competition had 5 SA sides. (The SA Football Story pg 115)
  
• 1981 - June 12. A meeting of the SANFL directors resolves to pout a submission for the Adelaide Football club to join the VFL. (The SA Football Story pg 116)

 

[thequarry]

The_Wookie I'm sure in 100 Years of Australian Football in a 1980s season news wrap column there is mention of a St Kilda rejecting a WA consortium's bid to take it over - I don't have my copy with me though and I haven't been able to find anything out about it otherwise. Would you (or anyone else) have any idea what that was about?

 

[35Daicos]

The_Wookie I'm sure in 100 Years of Australian Football in a 1980s season news wrap column there is mention of a St Kilda rejecting a WA consortium's bid to take it over - I don't have my copy with me though and I haven't been able to find anything out about it otherwise. Would you (or anyone else) have any idea what that was about?

I hope it's okay for me to answer this. From the book:-
1985
May 19. St Kilda reject an offer to move to WA as a privately owned club (->9/8/89).

https://news.google.com/newspapers?...AIBAJ&sjid=VpUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1582,2651906&hl=en (from The Age May 20 1985 page 1)

Saints unlikely to go west
St Kilda is likely to reject an offer from a large business consortium to become the first privately owned VFL club to be based in Western Australia.

St Kilda's president-elect, David Perry, confirmed yesterday that the club had been approached by a WA consortium led by former Geelong ruckman John Watts, now an advertising executive, and a car dealer, Allan Delaney.

Perry said the club was interested in becoming privately owned, but had not considered moving west "at this time".

He could not elaborate on the nature of the offer --- "It's all confidential at this stage."

Watts, who was in Geelong's last premiership team in 1963, said a consortium of about eight business people had contacted "high ranking VFL officials" about buying a VFL club to be located in Perth. He said it was interested in St Kilda, North Melbourne and Fitzroy.

An expanded version of the story can be found on page 29 (of 34) in The Age.

(->9/8/89) (in the book this refers to)
1989
Aug. 9. North Melbourne president Bob Ansett says he is considering an offer from a Queensland entrepreneur to buy the privately owned football club and relocate to Brisbane (->6/8/90).

 

[FootyJunkie]

Western Saints?

 

[Rainier Wolfcastle]

Western Saints?

What could have been... Perth Demons in the WAFL and Perth Saints in the AFL

 

[killer]

The "Football Times" yearbook of 1990 (p26)

the NFL changed its name in November 1989 to National Australian Football Council
saying "a council is really what we are "

the NFL General manager also denounced S.A submission
for two tiered national competition followed by a domestic competition as unachievable

 

[greatwhiteshark]

Quite interesting to read that to get the formation of the Eagles vote over the line they had to pay $200'000 per club for their vote. So none of the WAFL clubs were really in favour of forming the Eagles at all, the vote was a huge 8-0 against until money purchased the votes.
Very poor by the clubs to do that for so little knowing that they are voting on killing their own comp and even poorer knowing that they had to actually purchase the support.
There is a hell of a lot of people who are all old now that have a lot to answer for and that we are stuck with their terrible decisions they made at the time.