Portfolio Another alternate history thread

[jle101]

Hi all, first thread here. Have enjoyed reading some of the alternate histories on here & thought I’d give it a crack.

Like a lot of alt histories on here, mine begins in the early 80’s before the game went national. A hypothetical league such as this would be pretty unrealistic & I’m sure the VFL would have found a way to crush it in real life but it’s nice to dream. I’ve provided a little backstory, jumpers & teams from this alternate national league that commenced in 1985.

I’m not much of a graphic designer, I know that the jumper designs are quite basic & the logos are utterly shite (I used MS paint) so please go easy on me. Besides, this is 1985, so nothing too elaborate design-wise would have existed anyway.

I’d love to hear what you like/dislike about the league & teams, & encourage anyone who wants to do any redesigns or put their own spin on things.

 

[jle101]

The genesis of this alternate timeline lies within the power struggle between the NFL (formerly the ANFC) & the Victorian Football League over the direction of the game heading into the 1980’s.

For years the NFL had been at the forefront of administration & innovation within the Australian game. The NFL had previously pioneered a variety rule changes to the sport &, in 1976, the NFL created the Night Series. This archetypical national club competition invited the top teams from each of the major leagues in Australia to contest one another & gave Australians their first glimpse at a national competition.

The inaugural Night Series was a watershed in Australian football. The success of the Night Series (the first ever Australian football tournament broadcasted nationwide) opened the doors for TV generated sponsorship revenue in Australian football & fuelled speculation over the possibility of a fully representative Australian football league.

Due in part to the new financial potential created by nationwide sports broadcasting, the VFL withdrew its clubs from the Night Series the following season & established its own rival series, the Australian Football Championship. By 1980 the VFL-ran tournament had superseded Night Series as the premier national tournament by virtue of having snared the SANFL & WAFL clubs, as well as the remaining representative state sides, away from the Night Series. WAFL club East Perth had even made a failed bid to join the VFL during the season.

This rendered the Night Series defunct & the NFL void of any real remaining power in football administration & lead to an increasingly Victorian-centric domination governance of the game. The most glaring example of the VFL’s administrative strongarming came during the 1982 AFC when the West Australian club, Swan Districts, sent a second-string side to Melbourne for its AFC quarter-final against Richmond in protest to the date of match having been changed.

The main article of indignation that Swan Districts had with the rescheduling of the match was that it was all to do with the benefit of the VFL & the Victorian clubs, whilst no thought was paid in regards to Swan Districts, or for that matter, any of the non-Victorian clubs. Overall, this did little to create the impression of equality within Australian football administration.

It was amongst this backdrop of discontent that the NFL approached each of the major Australian footballing boards with their offer at a general meeting in May, 1982. Present at this meeting were delegates from the SANFL, WAFL, the three Tasmanian Leagues, the VFA, QAFL & the Sydney Football League. A proposal for a new 12-team ‘national’ league was made which would operate in direct competition with the recently expanded, semi-national, VFL.

The new league, set to commence in 1985, would be comprised of three Perth clubs (controlled by the WAFL), five Adelaide clubs (SANFL), a team from Tasmania (controlled equally by the Tasmanian leagues), and a team each from Melbourne (VFA), Sydney (SFL) & Brisbane (QAFL). From 1985, the existing leagues would function as feeder leagues to the new clubs, whilst overseeing the game at regional level in their respective states.

A week later, the NFL & the league board members reconvened on the matter. The cash-strapped WAFL were in favour of the move & announced that it had reached a consensus amongst its ten clubs to merge into three. The VFA, losing money & eager to compete with the VFL once again, also announced they would be joining the new league. The heads of the Three Tasmanian leagues – the TFL, NTFA & NWFU – announced that they will be taking joint ownership of the Tasmanian venture. Likewise, the QAFL confirmed they will be directing the Brisbane team’s entry into the national competition.

Not all negotiations were successful though. The new competition suffered a setback when the Sydney Football League declined to join the new league after the mixed on & off-field successes of the VFL-backed Sydney Swans. The SFL reasoned that an over-saturated Sydney market would be harmful overall to Australian football’s image in the Rugby-mad city of Sydney.

The SANFL faced its own difficulties with the league proposal, which suggested that it should reduce its numbers by half by merging each of its ten clubs. When meeting with its clubs during the week, Port Adelaide & Norwood resisted the move, insisting that if they were not allowed to remain as stand-alone clubs in the new league, then they would defect to the VFL, taking their ‘flagship rivalry’ with them. So, the NFL, unwilling to have more than five South Australian teams, granted Port & Norwood individual licenses & declared that the rest of the existing SANFL teams would receive financial supplements to assist them with the merger transition into three new clubs.

With the backing of five separate representative leagues across Australia the new league was beginning to take shape, however, the withdrawal of the Sydney FL the meant that the new league had only 11 teams. This was until the NFL received another bid to join the, as yet unnamed, new league from a group representing the former board of the South Melbourne football club. This group, headed by the same people who fronted the fledgling ‘Keep South at South’ committee, had obtained its own financial backing via new sponsorship deals & had stitched a deal with the South Melbourne cricket club for use of South’s former home in the VFL, Lake Oval.

The relaunched South Melbourne team also promised to sign top names from the VFL to join their ranks & so the NFL granted their 12th license to the new South Melbourne team. Finally, with a bit of money behind them, South Melbourne was back & now on its greatest player recruitment campaign since the 1930’s.

The announcement was made the Australian press on the morning of August 29th, 1982. The ‘National Australian Football League’, a new nationwide football league, live & exclusive to the Australian Broadcasting Commission, would begin in 1985. Three Perth teams, five Adelaide teams, two teams from Melbourne & one each from Tasmania & Brisbane; these are the clubs that will contest the inaugural NAFL season…

 

[jle101]

Adelaide City Roosters – (North Adelaide/Sturt)

The Roosters play out of Adelaide Oval & host pre-season games at their traditional homes, Unley & Prospect Ovals.

Coach: Michael Nunan

B Stephen Riley - Paul Arnold - Robbert Klomp

HB David Tiller - Peter Motley - Trevor Clisby

C Matthew Campbell - Andrew Jarman - Todd Viney

HF Darren Jarman - Eddie Fry - Peter Bennett

F Tony Antrobus - Grenville Dietrich - Greg Whittlesea

R Mick Redden - Darel Hart (vc) - Neil Craig (c)

I David Robertson - David Ey - Brenton Phillips

 

[jle101]

Brisbane Bulls


Playing out of the newly renovated GABBA, the Bulls are a team filled with stars from the top-end that are proudly non-dependant on interstate talent.

Coach: Norm Dare

B Michael Gibson - John Blair (vc) - Barry Denny

HB Craig Brittain - Barry Clarke (c) - Scott McIvor

C Tony Beckett - Zane Taylor - Kevin Caton

HF Simon Hose - Dale Woodhall - Greg McAdam

F Gavin Crosisca - Jason Dunstall - Gilbert McAdam

R Bob Jones - Gary Shaw - Brendon McMullen

I Carl Herbert - Dean McRae - Craig Potter

 

[jle101]

More to come...

 

[Fizzler]

These are looking good. I hope to see more.

 

[jle101]

Elizabeth Eagles – (Central District/West Torrens/Woodville)

Representing the northern district of Adelaide, the newly-christened Eagles play their home matches at Football Park.

Captain/Coach: Malcolm Blight

B Bob Enright - Peter Bubner - Scott Lee

HB Stephen Boehm - Malcolm Blight (c) - Bruce Lindsay (vc)

C Steven Stretch - Andrew Rogers - Andrew Payze

HF Ron Fuller - Richard Cousins - Andrew Taylor

F Peter Beythien - John Roberts - Ian Dettmann

R Max Parker - Bob Beecroft - John Platten

I Mark Boettger - David Buckley - Dale Eichner

 

[jle101]

Fremantle Mariners – (East Fremantle/South Fremantle)


The Fremantle Mariners play their home games out of the new 20,000 capacity Mariner Oval (formerly, East Fremantle Oval).

Coach: Ron Alexander

B David Hart - Michael Brennan - Stephen Rowe

HB Craig Edwards - Glen Jakovich - Shane Ellis

C Chris Mainwaring - Murray Wrensted - Roger Kerr

HF Nicky Winmar - Wayne Henwood - Allen Jakovich

F Mark Bairstow - Jon Dorotich - Clinton Browning

R Stephen Michael - Brian Peake (c) - Noel Carter (vc)

I Gerard Neesham - Peter Wilson - Wally Matera

 

[jle101]

Leederville Lions – (East Perth, Subiaco, West Perth)

The Lions, born from three of the WAFL’s most powerful & popular clubs, call the Subiaco Oval their home.

Coach: Haydn Bunton Jr

B Dwayne Lamb - Michael Christian - David Bain

HB Mark Zanotti - John Gastev - Neil Taylor (c)

C Peter Menaglio (vc) - Derek Kickett - Peter Featherby

HF Craig Turley - Laurie Keene - Karl Langdon

F Andrew Macnish - Glen Bartlett - Darren Bewick

R Alex Ishchenko - Peter Spencer - Wayne Otway

I Steven Da Rui - John Duckworth - Kevin Bryant

 

[jle101]

Melbourne Rebels

Playing out of Junction Park, the Rebels are a fully representative side of the oldest footballing organisation in Victoria, the VFA.

Coach: Phil Cleary

B Mark Eaves - Tony Pastore - Laurie Fowler

HB Jeff Sarau - Brad Nimmo - Brett McTaggart

C David Brine (c) - Bill Swan - Neil MacLeod

HF Ian Morrison - Ian Rickman - Ray Shaw (vc)

F Jamie Shaw - Fred Cook - Mark Fotheringham

R Vic Aanensen Tony West - Daryl Vernon

I Kim Kershaw - Mark Weideman - Stephen Allender

 

[jle101]

Norwood Redlegs

Norwood, one of two stand-alone SA teams, have retained their original SANFL identity in the new league & play out of Adelaide Oval whilst training at Norwood Oval.

Coach: Neil Balme

B Rodney Maynard - Craig Balme - Bruce Winter

HB Danny Jenkins - Tom Warhurst - Michael Taylor

C Philip Gallagher - Garry McIntosh - Duncan Fosdike

HF Neil Hein - Neil Button - David Payne

F Neville Roberts (c) - Jim Michalanney - Peter Laughlin

R John Hall - Michael Aish (vc) - Keith Thomas

I Andrew Aish - Glen Vardanega - Justin Scanlon

 

[jle101]

Perth Swans – (Claremont/Perth/Swan Districts)

The Swans play their home matches at the WACA ground & represent three of the more successful WAFL clubs in recent history.

Coach: Ron Todd

B Michael Mitchell - Tom Mullooly - Dean Laidley

HB Guy McKenna - Murray Rance - Don Langsford

C Phil Narkle - Bryan Cousins - Keith Narkle (c)

HF Peter Bosustow - Brent Hutton - Don Holmes

F Steve Malaxos - Mick Rea - Kevin Taylor

R Peter Sartori - Jon Fogarty - Robert Wiley (vc)

I Earl Spalding - Tony Solin - Bruce Monteath

 

[jle101]

Port Adelaide Magpies

Port Adelaide, South Australia’s mightiest club, play as a stand-alone club at Football Park whilst also hosting minor round games at their traditional home, Thebarton Oval.

Coach: John Cahill

B George Fiacchi - Roger Delaney - Ben Harris

HB Stephen Curtis - Martin Leslie - Tony Giles

C Greg Anderson - Russell Ebert (c) - Darryl Borlase

HF Stephen Clifford - Darren Smith - Andrew Obst

F Stephen Williams - Tim Evans - Max James

R Russell Johnston (vc) - Craig Bradley - Paul Belton

I Greg Boyd - David Hynes - Tim Ginever

 

[jle101]

South Melbourne Bloods

Having lost their identity in the VFL, the South Melbourne Bloods are a new club that will play their home games at their old VFL stronghold, Lake Oval.

Coach: Mal Brown

B Francis Jackson - Terry O'Neill - David Winbanks

HB Paul Morwood - David Rhys-Jones (c) - Mario Bortolotto

C Chris Burton - Paul Couch - Doug Koop

HF Maurice Boyse - Michael Smith - Michael Wright

F Kevin Taylor - Brian Taylor (vc) - David Young

R Graham Teasdale - Grant Fowler - Kevin Goss

I Robbie McGhie - Greg Smith - Michael Oaten

 

[El_Scorcho]

Actually naming sides is something I don't believe i've seen before, well done! Very interesting backstory

 

[jle101]

Thanks El Scorcho, I really enjoyed your SANFL alt history thread too. Was one of the threads that inspired me to have a crack at this. I figured a believable back story & team lineups would add to the whole thing as my jumper designs are quite basic & nothing really special. I compiled the teams from players who were active in '85 & actually playing for the teams represented here (ie. the 'Adeliade City Roosters' team is sourced from Sturt & North Adelaide in the SANFL, & the 'Melbourne Rebels' are a team made up of VFA players in 1985. The 'Brisbane Bulls' are a squad made up from players who were playing football in either QLD or the NT in '85).

The only team that's a bit of an anomaly is South, who have a team of ex-South Melbourne Swans VFL players, as well as some talent they managed to "lure away" from the VFL with the big bucks. I tried to be realistic with the sponsors too. For example, Standard Chartered really were Port's sponsor in 85, Avco Finance really did sponsor Sturt in '85, likewise, Toyota sponsored East Freo & Swan Lager sponsored Swan Districts IOT. Mitsubishi Motors were the real-life sponsors of the VFA in 1985, &, the Tasmanian team, which I will reveal soon, will be sponsored by Winfield tobacco, who sponsored the TFL in real-life in '85.

 

[jle101]

St Vincent Sharks – (Glenelg/South Adelaide/West Adelaide)

The Sharks, comprised of three of the SANFL’s finest clubs, also play their home matches at Football Park.

Coach: Graham Cornes

B David Kernahan - Tony Burgess - Chris Duthy

HB David Grenvold - Ron Andrews - Peter Carey (c)

C Geoff Morris - Grantley Fielke - David Marshall

HF Mark Naley - Tony Hall - Stephen Copping

F Roger Luders - Stephen Kernahan - Rick Davies (vc)

R Mark Mickan - Chris McDermott - Tony McGuinness

I Scott Salisbury - Craig Williams - Bruce Lindner

 

[jle101]

Tasmania Tigers

The Tigers are a team representative of the three major Tasmanian leagues; the TFL, NTFA & NWFU. They play both games in Hobart (Bellerive Oval) & Launceston (York Park).

Captain/Coach: Robert Shaw

B David Code - Jamie Shanahan - Robert Shaw (c)

HB Phil Manassa - Graham Hunnibell - Andy Bennett

C Craig Davis - Matt Armstrong - Scott Wade

HF Darryl Sutton (vc) - John Klug - Michael Gale

F Tony Martyn - Alastair Lynch - Stephen Nichols

R Romano Negri - Darrin Pritchard - Cameron Clayton

I James Manson - Neville Muir - John Korporshoek

 

[Marauders5]

Fremantle Mariners – (East Fremantle/South Fremantle)

View attachment 171146
The Fremantle Mariners play their home games out of the new 20,000 capacity Mariner Oval (formerly, East Fremantle Oval).

Coach: Ron Alexander

B David Hart - Michael Brennan - Stephen Rowe

HB Craig Edwards - Glen Jakovich - Shane Ellis

C Chris Mainwaring - Murray Wrensted - Roger Kerr

HF Nicky Winmar - Wayne Henwood - Allen Jakovich

F Mark Bairstow - Jon Dorotich - Clinton Browning

R Stephen Michael - Brian Peake (c) - Noel Carter (vc)

I Gerard Neesham - Peter Wilson - Wally Matera

Glen Jakovich was 12 back in 1985