Question About The Vfa

[emuboy]

I purchased a VFA history book some time ago, and found it very interesting to read about the association, its clubs and their history.

However, there was one thing that puzzled me. Towards the end of the 1980s, many of the clubs ran into severe financial difficulties and were forced out of the VFA. This led to the end of the second division; however, some clubs pulled out mid season (for example, Sunshine after 8 games in 1989 and Brunswick after 3 games in 1991, Mordialloc after 3 games in 1988), and the records for games played by these teams for the season was wiped.

I am curious as to how this worked, as the remaining clubs all played 18 games in those years. Were extra games played to make up the shortfall? If you remember, please let me know.

 

[onslaught]

From memory the fixture was just rejigged to play sides multiple times.

I remember when my former club (Camberwell) had been winless all season and came up against Yarraville (or was it Sunshine?). We were getting well beaten once again and were trailing by 45 points at three quarter time.

Well after a firey 3/4 time huddle, the club came out and smashed them winning by 25 points... A massive turn around of 65 points in the last quarter.

The small crowd was ecstatic.

During the following week Yarraville withdrew from the competition and the 4 points were taken off the Cobras, and we finished up winless for the season.

 

[emuboy]

From memory the fixture was just rejigged to play sides multiple times.

I remember when my former club (Camberwell) had been winless all season and came up against Yarraville (or was it Sunshine?). We were getting well beaten once again and were trailing by 45 points at three quarter time.

Well after a firey 3/4 time huddle, the club came out and smashed them winning by 25 points... A massive turn around of 65 points in the last quarter.

The small crowd was ecstatic.

During the following week Yarraville withdrew from the competition and the 4 points were taken off the Cobras, and we finished up winless for the season.

Thanks for the information - poor old Camberwell though, having its only win of the season taken off it!

Imagine the bitching and carrying on if an AFL club was forced to withdraw mid season, which nearly happened in 1996 when Fitzroy went into Administration. Everybody complains about the draw in the AFL at the best of times.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

it is to do with publicity i think...

prior to the mid 70's the VFL and VFA were neck and neck in promoting themselves, however, somehow, the VFL kicked it up a gear, and left the VFA for dead.

I have seen old VFA footage, which i was astounded to see sell out crowds in exess of 20,000 to the suburban grounds. where, basically, if u tried to move, it would have been like trying to break out of a cement block


I guess the fact that the VFL was cashed up whilst the VFA had to work for it was the deciding factor

 

[Derby103]

emuboy

Moorabbin withdrew after two rounds in 1987, leaving 11 clubs in second division. Their remaining 16 matches were recorded as forfeits to the opposing teams. That is why it looks like all teams played 18 matches that year. In fact, Sunshine played only 15 matches in 1987, as their scheduled round 18 match at home to Caulfield was also forfeited by the visitors.

The withdrawal of Berwick, Northcote, Waverley and Caulfield reduced second division to 7 clubs at the start of 1988. Mordialloc dropped out shortly after the season began, leaving six clubs. That meant that a re-draw was necessary. The games that Mordialloc had played were declared 'no-matches' and not included in the ladder. The re-draw had each of the six clubs playing 18 matches, which meant that some clubs met four times in the home and away season. Oakleigh played Werribee five times in 1988, including once in the finals.

The VFA began 1989 as a single-division competition of 15 clubs following the withdrawal of Geelong West. Sunshine only lasted half a dozen weeks or so, reducing that number to 14. Again, a re-draw was necessary, and the games that Sunshine had played were declared 'no-matches'. The re-drawn fixture had all clubs playing 18 matches.

The same situation occurred in 1991. Camberwell had dropped out before the beginning of the season, and Brunswick-Broadmeadows lasted only two or three matches, again forcing a re-draw to ensure an 18-match season was played

 

[emuboy]

emuboy

Moorabbin withdrew after two rounds in 1987, leaving 11 clubs in second division. Their remaining 16 matches were recorded as forfeits to the opposing teams. That is why it looks like all teams played 18 matches that year. In fact, Sunshine played only 15 matches in 1987, as their scheduled round 18 match at home to Caulfield was also forfeited by the visitors.

The withdrawal of Berwick, Northcote, Waverley and Caulfield reduced second division to 7 clubs at the start of 1988. Mordialloc dropped out shortly after the season began, leaving six clubs. That meant that a re-draw was necessary. The games that Mordialloc had played were declared 'no-matches' and not included in the ladder. The re-draw had each of the six clubs playing 18 matches, which meant that some clubs met four times in the home and away season. Oakleigh played Werribee five times in 1988, including once in the finals.

The VFA began 1989 as a single-division competition of 15 clubs following the withdrawal of Geelong West. Sunshine only lasted half a dozen weeks or so, reducing that number to 14. Again, a re-draw was necessary, and the games that Sunshine had played were declared 'no-matches'. The re-drawn fixture had all clubs playing 18 matches.

The same situation occurred in 1991. Camberwell had dropped out before the beginning of the season, and Brunswick-Broadmeadows lasted only two or three matches, again forcing a re-draw to ensure an 18-match season was played

Thanks for the information. I wonder if this ever caused any confusion - for example players driving to the Mornington Peninsula, thinking they were still playing Frankston, then realised that they in fact were playing at Werribee?

 

[daryl freame]

I remember Kilsyth and Berwick in the comp- the vfa had visions of granduer back then. But the tide had already turned, Sunday footy for the (then) VFL decimated crowds.

 

[finders]

it is to do with publicity i think...

prior to the mid 70's the VFL and VFA were neck and neck in promoting themselves, however, somehow, the VFL kicked it up a gear, and left the VFA for dead.

I have seen old VFA footage, which i was astounded to see sell out crowds in exess of 20,000 to the suburban grounds. where, basically, if u tried to move, it would have been like trying to break out of a cement block


I guess the fact that the VFL was cashed up whilst the VFA had to work for it was the deciding factor

Allen Aylett and CH7 helped the demise of the VFA when they started televising the VFL reserves from STH Melb on sundaya in direct competition with the CH10 telecasts of the VFA match of the day and then forced the Swans to relocate to sydney thus having anVFL/AFL game live into Melbourne every second week. Slowly after that the crowds ,sponsership and TV revenue started to dry up eventually crippling many VFA clubs..

The Cain Govt also hepled to put another nail in the VFAs coffin when they agreed to allow the VFL clubs to play on sundays in the early 1980s.