Resource A History of Interstate Football Uniforms

[Rainier Wolfcastle]

A History of Interstate Football Uniforms is a joint project by Dave Eastman and Rob Meredith - better known here on BigFooty as Rainier Wolfcastle and Mero.

Dave has spent the past few years researching all the representative, interstate and State of Origin uniforms worn by Australian football's state and territory leagues, now Mero's powering through the artwork. You can expect the finished product to be unveiled very soon on our respective websites (www.hardballget.net and www.footyjumpers.com)

The first state to be featured will be Victoria. Between 1879 and 2008 the Vics have worn 63 variations of their various uniform designs! Prepare to be surprised, there are some classics amongst them.

All Victorian jumpers will be uploaded next week, in the meantime here's a preview of the uniform they wore in 2008's Hall of Fame Tribute match...

 

[Rainier Wolfcastle]

All this time we thought it was Hawthorn in 1996 that pioneered the diamond jumpers - turns out they were just copying Victoria's 1889 shocker which was described by a journalist of the day as: "...reminding one strongly of the antics of a circus clown".

 

[Rainier Wolfcastle]

The countdown is on until all of Victoria's jumper's 1879-2008 are revealed!

Here's Victoria's 1908 Carnival design (the first Big V)...

 

[Obi fella]

My '97 Big V. I remember the outrage from various past greats that such a sacred guernsey could be sold to the general public.

 

[Rainier Wolfcastle]

One day until Victoria's interstate uniforms from 1879-2008 are revealed! Here's a final preview: the seagull design worn at the 1927 National Carnival...

 

[Rainier Wolfcastle]

I'm happy to announce all Victorian jumpers (1879-2008) have been published!



They are viewable via two sources:

https://www.hardballget.net/rep-uniforms-vic.html

You'll find a timeline on that page featuring all of the jumpers. Also the following links explain the history behind the evolution of the uniform and note all the changes over the years:

https://www.hardballget.net/rep-uniforms-vic-1877-1896.html
https://www.hardballget.net/rep-uniforms-vic-1897-1914.html
https://www.hardballget.net/rep-uniforms-vic-1919-1941.html
https://www.hardballget.net/rep-uniforms-vic-1945-1975.html
https://www.hardballget.net/rep-uniforms-vic-1976-1989.html
https://www.hardballget.net/rep-uniforms-vic-1990-2008.html
https://www.hardballget.net/rep-uniforms-vic-sponsors.html

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http://www.footyjumpers.com/Vic-Uni.htm

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NOTE that the jumpers featured on each site are a little different:

At footyjumpers.com all the jumpers have shadowing
At hardballget.net they have no shadowing

Compare the difference, choose your favourite, collect the set... unfortunately no stick of bubble gum on offer

Enjoy!

Easty

 

[royals1922]

I'm happy to announce all Victorian jumpers (1879-2008) have been published and are viewable via two sources:

http://www.hardballget.net/state-jumper-history-victoria.html
You'll find a timeline on that page featuring all of the jumpers, follow the tabs to find out more about the designs that were worn in each era.

www.footyjumpers.com
Click on State jumpers and all the 63 Victoria uniforms are there where it was formerly 4 or 5 State of Origin jumpers.

-------------------

NOTE that the jumpers featured on each site are a little different:

At footyjumpers.com all the jumpers have shadowing
At hardballget.net they have no shadowing

Compare the difference, choose your favourite, collect the set... unfortunately no stick of bubble gum on offer

Enjoy!

Easty

Rainer great site. What I will say is with the WaFl jumpers they are not all accurate on Footyjumpers ( unless my phone is playing up and I can't access them all. North Fremantle were known as the magpies and played in black and white stripes as well.

Midland Junction and also wore colours apart from black and gold which were their final colours.

 

[royals1922]

IWest australian 12 April 1905 at page 8. Midland Junction admitted wearing blue jacket, yellow sash and black stockings.

 

[Rainier Wolfcastle]

Rainer great site. What I will say is with the WaFl jumpers they are not all accurate on Footyjumpers ( unless my phone is playing up and I can't access them all. North Fremantle were known as the magpies and played in black and white stripes as well.

Midland Junction and also wore colours Sparta from black and gold which were their final colours.

Thanks, Royals - appreciate the feedback, hardballget.net has been a labour of love for me past 18 months... the State jumpers I've been researching over 5 years (without Trove it would have been longer!). A lot of content to add, time is the enemy at the moment.

Re: the WAFL jumpers, that's Mero's domain. Shall pass on the message and let him follow it up with you direct

 

[Rainier Wolfcastle]

G'Day All
It's been a long off-season and work on the state uniforms has been continuing throughout - I'm happy to announce the VFA-VFL uniforms from 1877 to 2014 are soon to be launched. Here's a sneak peek... VFA 1984-1986 vs the VAFA

 

[Rainier Wolfcastle]

VFA-VFL rep jumpers history has now launched!



https://www.hardballget.net/rep-uniforms-vfa-vfl.html

That page will take you to a timeline showing all the various designs.
The following links will give you background on the evolution of their uniform and explain all the various changes over the years:

https://www.hardballget.net/rep-uniforms-vfa-vfl-1877-1896.html
https://www.hardballget.net/rep-uniforms-vfa-vfl-1897-1949.html
https://www.hardballget.net/rep-uniforms-vfa-vfl-1950-1969.html
https://www.hardballget.net/rep-uniforms-vfa-vfl-1970-1995.html
https://www.hardballget.net/rep-uniforms-vfa-vfl-1996-today.html
https://www.hardballget.net/rep-uniforms-vfa-vfl-sponsors.html

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They are also available at footyjumpers.com

http://www.footyjumpers.com/VFA-Uni.htm

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Some background for those outside of Victoria not too familiar with the old VFA (now VFL)...

They were the original "big league", overseeing the game from 1877 to 1896 and their players provided the Victorian representative team during that era.

In October 1896 their eight strongest teams broke away to form the VFL (now AFL) and the VFL-AFL ever since has done a hatchet job on history, continuing to sell the idea that organised football in Victoria only commenced in 1897 when the VFL was formed.

The VFA's representative uniforms are remarkably varied, with many classic designs that most of today's football fans have never seen... until now!

Easty

 

[TheOldeBadger]

Excellent work. Looking forward to the other States appearing in due course.

 

[Rainier Wolfcastle]

Thanks, Badger - SA is well on the way at the moment. Will post a link here once it's launched

 

[Jarryd27]

My '97 Big V. I remember the outrage from various past greats that such a sacred guernsey could be sold to the general public.View attachment 172806

Hi there,
Was just wondering if you knew anyone who would be selling the 1996 Victorian state of origin jumper by any chance?
Thanks

 

[Obi fella]

Hi there,
Was just wondering if you knew anyone who would be selling the 1996 Victorian state of origin jumper by any chance?
Thanks

Sorry bud. I know someone who'd be willing to sell the '97 one for the right price.

 

[Obi fella]

Jarryd, Just saw your date of birth. I collected this Fosters can from the famous Vic v SA 1989 State of Origin game at the G. I've got the promotional poster from the game as well featuring Greg Williams. From memory, Diesel didn't play.

 

[Obi fella]

Hi there,
Was just wondering if you knew anyone who would be selling the 1996 Victorian state of origin jumper by any chance?
Thanks

 

[Jarryd27]

Sorry bud. I know someone who'd be willing to sell the '97 one for the right price.

Thanks so much for your response.
Very interested in the 1997 one just wondering a few things about it. The size, material, if it's a replica or match day one and if it's wearable or framed.
Love the beer can as well that is awesome and unique memorabilia.
Thank you again I really appreciate it

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

My memory of the VFL jumper (The Big V) in the late 60s- early 70s were that they didn't taper down to a pointed "V" but had a flat bottom.

 

[Rainier Wolfcastle]

My memory of the VFL jumper (The Big V) in the late 60s- early 70s were that they didn't taper down to a pointed "V" but had a flat bottom.

No, it was always the pointed V - I sourced photos of each season when researching all of these and the only V's with a flat bottom were 1911-14 and June 1931 (see below).



Throughout the late'60s-early-70s it looked like this:

 

[Plugger46]

SANFL coming along?

 

[Rainier Wolfcastle]

SANFL coming along?

You bet, all State jumpers worn by South Australia (1879-today) have now been published at:

https://www.hardballget.net/rep-uniforms-sa.html

You'll find a timeline on that page featuring all of the uniforms.

--------------------

Also the following links explain the history behind the evolution of the uniform and note all the changes over the years:

https://www.hardballget.net/rep-uniforms-sa-1877-1907.html
https://www.hardballget.net/rep-uniforms-sa-1908-1929.html
https://www.hardballget.net/rep-uniforms-sa-1930-1945.html
https://www.hardballget.net/rep-uniforms-sa-1930-1945.html
https://www.hardballget.net/rep-uniforms-sa-1946-1978.html
https://www.hardballget.net/rep-uniforms-sa-1979-1999.html
https://www.hardballget.net/rep-uniforms-sa-2000-today.html
https://www.hardballget.net/rep-uniforms-sa-sponsors.html



--------------------

They can also be found at footyjumpers.com via this link: http://www.footyjumpers.com/SA-Uni.htm

--------------------

There's tonnes of images for you to check out and plenty of unique and long-forgotten SA jumpers. Enjoy!

Easty

 

[Plugger46]

You bet, all State jumpers worn by South Australia (1879-today) have now been published at:

http://www.hardballget.net/state-jumper-history-sa.html

You'll find a timeline on that page featuring all of the uniforms.

--------------------

Also the following links explain the history behind the evolution of the uniform and note all the changes over the years:

http://www.hardballget.net/state-jumpers---south-australia-1879-1907.html
http://www.hardballget.net/state-jumpers---south-australia-1908-1929.html
http://www.hardballget.net/state-jumpers---south-australia-1930-1945.html
http://www.hardballget.net/state-jumpers---south-australia-1946-1978.html
http://www.hardballget.net/state-jumpers---south-australia-1979-1999.html
http://www.hardballget.net/state-jumpers---south-australia-2000-today.html
http://www.hardballget.net/state-jumpers---south-australia-sponsors.html

View attachment 427467

--------------------

They can also be found at footyjumpers.com via this link: http://www.footyjumpers.com/SA-Uni.htm

--------------------

There's tonnes of images for you to check out and plenty of unique and long-forgotten SA jumpers. Enjoy!

Easty

Legend