Resource Revised and Extended - Timeline of VFL/AFL Expansion

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The_Wookie

The_Wookie

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Revised and Extended Timeline of VFL Expansion
 
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  • 1987 - East and South Fremantle apparently lauched a joint bid for a VFL team to enter in 1990. (The Phoenix Rises pg. 156)
  • 1987 - February 18. The VFL annual report reveals that without the funds from the two new licenses, the VFL clubs would have lost a combined 3 million. They have no facilities for training, and the change rooms were basically a van.
  • 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 - March 11. The VFL Board of Directors recieves a proposal for a team in New Zealand (The Phoenix Rises pg.117)
  • 1987 - April 21. ACT announces its seeking a team in Canberra by 1988.
  • 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)
  • 1987 - September 18. ACT supporters announce plan to lobby VFL clubs to get around Commission opposition to an ACT club entering the VFL. The ACT proposal appeared aimed at Fitzroy including paying off a relocated clubs debts and retain its traditional name, logo and jumper.
  • 1987 - October 2. A proposal was forwarded to the League by a Western Australian entrepreneur, which called for the re-location of an existing VFL team to Los Angeles and that such team be known as the Los Angeles Crocodiles. (The Phoenix Rises pg. 117)
  • 1987 - IPL requires bailing out. A rescue package of $5 million was hastily organised, with five people putting in $1 million each: Neil Hamilton, Colless, McHenry, Mark Hohnen and Robert
    Armstrong. (The Phoenix Rises pg. 132)
  • 1987 - December. Richmond posts a loss of 1.4 million and required league assistance to pay bills over Christmas. The league considered appointing an administrator, but instead sent the leagues finance supervisor to the club. Richmond, St Kilda and North Melbourne all request advances on their 1988 disbursements. (The Phoenix Rises pg.136)
  • 1988 - May 7. The AFL buys remaining shares in Sydney from Powerplay and becomes owner of the Swans.
  • 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.
  • 1988 - December 13. A Mike Willesee led consortium takes over the Sydney Swans.
  • 1989 -February 2. Ross Oakley announces talks to commence with the SANFL over an SA VFL license.
  • 1989 - February 21. The VFL announces an all time high revenue of 25 million. Carlton, Collingwood, Geelong, Fitzroy, Hawthorn and Melbourne all make a profit. Essendon, Footscray, North Melbourne and St Kilda all make losses exceeding $200,000.
  • 1989 - The Bulldogs were insolvent and close to being placed in adminstration, having lost 3.9 million (The Phoenix Rises pg. 140)
  • 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)
  • 1989 - October 3. The VFL Board of Directors was advised that an agreement had been reached between Footscray and Fitzroy. "Mr Oakley expressed the commission’s view that the Footscray Football Club Limited was currently insolvent and by continuing to trade and incur debt, the directors were, in the commission’s view, in breach of Section 556 of the Companies Code and if this situation was allowed to continue, then directors could be exposed to convictions, resulting in personal fines and/or jail sentences as well as ultimately becoming responsible on a personal basis for the club’s liabilities" (The Phoenix Rises pg 140)
  • 1989 - October 3. The Fitzroy Bulldogs is announced at 5pm The new club would be debt free, with the accumulated deficits of both Fitzroy and Footscray paid out by redeploying the
    allocations from the League that would otherwise have gone to Footscray. The Bulldogs would play in Fitzroy’s colours with a Bulldog symbol. The new team would be allowed to exceed the salary cap for two years until a new playing list bedded down that would be drawn from the 125 players at both clubs. The team would train at the Western Oval and play its home games at Princes Park, and the new coach would be Rod Austin. (The Phoenix Rises pg. 143)
  • 1989 - October 6. The Save the Dogs group takes the VFL to the Supreme Court.
  • 1989 - October 7. Footscray is given a three week reprieve by the VFL Commission. Collingwood offers to tip in money if they got got close to meeting the required amount, in return for being given Tony McGuiness. (The Phoenix Rises pg. 143).
  • 1989 - October 11. The Fight for Football Campaign puts forward a plan that would see each state competition play a 20 round season, followed by a 10 week superleague season featuring amalgamated clubs from each state. The idea was reported to have the strong support of the SANFL.
  • 1989 - October 22. Richmond hold a rally to raise funds to prevent further merger talk.
  • 1989 - October 22. Footscray was given back its license. Leon Wiegard claims that he wasnt told anything about it until he saw it in the media.
  • 1989 - November. Brisbane is effectively Broke. Mr Cronin had indicated that the companies involved in the Brisbane Bears structure could survive providing a capital injection of $3 million prior to Christmas and a further $3 million by February 1990 was provided. Mr Cronin further advised that none of the club’s existing creditors were likely to make a move against the club prior to Christmas, however they needed the League’s co-operation to bring forward its December distribution entitlement of $100,000 in order that staff salaries could be met. (The Phoenix Rises pg 151)
  • 1990 - February 2. Reuben Pelerman launches his takeover of the Bears
  • 1990 - February 16. Pelerman finalises his takever and formally takes control of Brisbane.
  • 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 - May. The SANFL tells the AFL that it would “consider” entering a team in the AFL competition in 1993, “subject to there not being more than 14 clubs—nor would it pay a licence fee” (The Phoenix Rises pg 155)
  • 1990. July 3. Ports Ian Mckenzie calls Alan Schwab at the VFL and invites him to be guest speaker at the club.
  • 1990 - July 5. Alan Schwab is told by Bruce Weber that Port Adelaide is willing to have a crack at the AFL. (Football limited pg 349)
  • 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 1. Port Adelaide announces its intention to join the AFL.
  • 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. The SANFL unanimously voted to kick Port out of the SANFL if it proceeded with its AFL plans. Eleven 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 6. Oakley says that the AFL should stop waiting for a SANFL application and accept Port Adelaide
  • 1990 - August 6. Port Adelaide informs its members that it has an agreement with the AFL.
  • 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. August 20. The SANFL launches its own AFL bid.
  • 1990 - August 25. Port Director, Dave Boyd, resigns over the clubs AFL application.
  • 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 13. Max Basheer says that he is almost certain there will be a SANFL side in the AFL for 1991. Sometime about now, it is leaked that Norwood had also been prepared to breakaway. (Football Limited pg. 351)
  • 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)
  • 1990. October 9. The SANFL and AFL formally sign an agreement for Adelaide to enter the competition.
  • 1990. October 12. The SANFL appoints an interim board for Adelaide. It included Max Basheer, Leigh Whicker, Bob Lee, Ed Betro, Bob Hammond, Ric allert and Adrian Salter. Graham Cornes was apponted coach and Neil Kerley football manager.
  • 1995, October 25. Adelaide announces an initial squad of 57, later increased to 61, before finally being set at 52.
  • 1990. October. The WAFC proceeds with a feasibility study into a second side. (Behind the play pg 284)
  • 1992 - Reuben Pelerman voluntarily returns Brisbane to the AFL and subsequently to a member owned structure. (The Phoenix Rises pg.153)
  • 1992 - June 8. Port Adelaide launches its bid for the next AFL license. (from Port to a Power pg 105)
  • 1992 - October 22. AFL Board of Directors votes to keep Sydney in the competition for a futher three years.
  • 1992 - Sometime in 1992, Alan Schwab signs off on a list of draft requirements for a new club based in Fremantle, and due to begin operating in 1993. (Football Limited pg. 354)
  • 1993 - June. The AFL Commission sits down with the WAFC to look at the issues involved in getting a second team off the ground. (The Phoenix Rises pg 156)
  • 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)
  • 1993 - December 15. The AFL announces that it has reached its ceiling of teams with the inclusion of Fremantle, and no more than 16 teams will be in the AFL. Plans for a second SA license hinge on relocation or merging of Victorian sides.
  • 1993 - Canberra launches another bid for an AFL side to relocate.
  • 1994 - The AFL announces a second license for South Australia. This kicks off a round of applications from Port Adelaide, as well as joint applications from Norwood-Sturt, and Glenelg-South, however Port Adelaide was the AFLs preferred choice (The Phoenix Rises pg 156). Norwood spent $150,000 putting together a joint Norwood-Sturt bid to claim the second licence. After Oakley briefed the SANFL delegates at a hotel on North Tce, Norwood director Phil Gallagher left the meeting declaring the bidding process was a farce - the AFL wanted Port Adelaide.
  • 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 - May 8. Tasmania invited to particpiate in the AFL reserves competition, the VSFL.
  • 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 22. A Cartel of Four SA clubs - Central Districts, North Adelaide, West Adelaide and Woodville West Torrents launch a bid for the second SA license. By this time all SANFL sides are involved in bids.
  • 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 - August. Dyson Hore-Lacy, who had taken over the presidency of Fitzroy from Leon Wiegard in 1992, and Ian Ridley of Melbourne fronted the commission with a proposal for a Fitzroy-Melbourne merger given Fitzroy’s debt, which was then revealed to the commission as $2 million but later that month became $2.6 million. (The Phoenix Rises pg 158)
  • 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 - Novermber 21. The SANFL meets with the AFL concerning a second license for SA. The AFL says ""This matter has not yet been considered in detail by the AFL Commission and no an nouncement will be made today or in the foreseeable future by the AFL".
  • 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)
  • 1994 - December 13. Port Adelaide wins the tender for the second SA license over its various state rivals, however it cant enter the competition before 1996 (as stipulated in the Crows license agreement).
  • 1994 - In 1994 outspoken Collingwood president Allan McAlister called for a three-way merger between Richmond, Melbourne and North. In August of the same year it was revealed that the name "Melbourne Lions" had been registered and speculation continued that the Demons would amalgamate with Fitzroy despite the Lions continually vowing to go it alone. The Lions were in massive financial trouble but still demanded the club be known as the Fitzroy-Melbourne Football Club. They were preciously short of bargaining chips and couldn't bring financial benefits, a large fanbase or a training ground to the union. Other clubs also complained that Melbourne would be able to boost their list with the best six Lions players. (Demonwiki)
  • 1995 - Fremantle begin playing in the AFL.
  • 1995. May 15 - Footscray says it will oppose any attempt to introduce Port Adelaide into the 1996 season
  • 1995 - August 31. Port Adelaide officially announces it will be called the Power. (from Port to a Power pg 126)
  • 1995 - Carlton and St Kilda hold talks on a merger. Talks cease when Blues win the grand final.
  • 1995 - October 10. Port Adelaide appoints John Cahill as senior coach for the 1996 season if it enters the league.
  • 1995 - October 27. Port Adelaide advised they wont be in the 1996 AFL competition. (from Port to a Power pg 137)
  • 1996 - April 16. Fitzroy chief says future is secure.
  • 1996 - March 6. Fitzroy board authorises board members Dyson Hore-Lacy, Elaine Findlay and Robert Johnstone to enter non-binding merger agreements with other AFL clubs.
  • 1996 - May 6. Fitzroy and North Melbourne hold first merger talks.
  • 1996 - May 11. A non-binding agreement to merge and the basic terms of name is struck between Fitzroy and North Melbourne. A Heads of Agreement document detailing the conditions of the merge in writing is signed.
  • 1996 - May 13. A Brisbane merger offer is formally rejected by the Fitzroy board.
  • 1996 - May 20. First Fitzroy shareholders’ meeting to explain the conditions of a North Melbourne – Fitzroy merge.
  • 1996 - May 21. Port Adelaide advised they will be in the 1997 AFL competition. (from Port to a Power pg 146)
  • 1996 - June 18. A meeting between North and Fitzroy to execute the merger document canceled. Greg Miller, North Melbourne’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) tells Dyson Hore-Lacy that North Melbourne wanted to change the name of the merged club from the already agreed ‘Fitzroy-North Melbourne Kangaroos’ to ‘North Melbourne-Fitzroy Kangaroos’.
  • 1996 - June 20. The Fitzroy board rejects North Melbourne’s revised conditions.
  • 1996 - June 24. The Brisbane Bears are contacted by Fitzroy and advised to submit their best merger offer to Fitzroy for consideration.
  • 1996 - June 25. A compromise between North Melbourne and Fitzroy is reached.
  • 1996 - June 26. Fitzroy Football Club offers $550,000 plus $100,000 to be paid over the next two years to their only secured creditor the Nauru Insurance Company to settle their debt. This offer is rejected. Nauru wanted $750,000 by the end of August and $100,000 for the next three years to consider their debt settled.
  • 1996 - June 27. Nauru Insurance Company agrees to $750,000 by the end of August and $100,000 for the next two years and $50,000 for the third. North Melbourne board member and one of the chief merger negotiators Peter de Rauch says North Melbourne will not allow any more than $550,000 to be paid.
  • 1996 - June 28. Nauru Insurance Company appoints an administrator (Michael Brennan) to recover their debt.
  • 1996 - June 29. Fitzroy negotiates with Nauru to pay $550,000 by August 1996, $150,000 in 1997 and $100,000 in 1998. Peter de Rauch agrees to put that proposal to the North Melbourne board on Monday 1st July
  • 1996 - July 1. The Fitzroy board agrees to underwrite all monies owed to Nauru over the sum of $550,000. The AFL commission gives Fitzroy and North Melbourne until Friday 5th July to complete their merger.
  • 1996 - July 2. North Melbourne’s Greg Miller informs Dyson Hore-Lacy that North Melbourne now wants only four Fitzroy board members on the board of the merged club. Fitzroy refuses to accept that condition.
  • 1996 - July 3. North Melbourne backs down on their demand of 2nd July, but still wanted none of the current Fitzroy directors on the board. North Melbourne was asked by Dyson Hore-Lacy to give an undertaking to Fitzroy that there would be no more changes to the agreement of 25th June. No such undertaking was given.
  • 1996 - July 3. Nauru Insurance Company accepts $550,000 paid before August 31st, $350,000 paid before October 31st 1997 and the rest of the balance payable in $50,000 payments annually from 1998 onwards.
  • 1996 - July 3. The Fitzroy board re-opens merger discussions with the Brisbane Bears. The Bears are told that the merger door with Fitzroy is “open half an inch”
  • 1996 - July 3. Greg Miller the CEO of North Melbourne informs the media that without 54 players on their 1997 list there would be no merger with Fitzroy.
  • 1996 - July 4. Fitzroy is informed by the AFL that the merger would be rejected by the other AFL clubs if North Melbourne continued to demand 54 players. Dyson Hore-Lacy informs North Melbourne’s Ken Montgomery and Greg Miller of this fact.
  • 1996 - July 4. Fitzroy settles last niggling disputes in their proposed merger agreement with North Melbourne and signs a formal document setting out the merger in fine detail, which includes the new agreed name of the club to be the ‘North Fitzroy Kangaroos Football Club’. The merger agreement is set to be signed by the AFL on Friday morning (5th July) subject to the AFL clubs’ endorsement.
  • 1996 - July 4. AFL Presidents’ Meeting rejects the Fitzroy-North Melbourne merger. After a meeting between the administrator of Fitzroy and the AFL commission, the AFL commission recommends a Bears-Fitzroy merger. North Melbourne withdraws from the merger race. A reconvened AFL presidents’ meeting endorses the AFL commission’s recommendation of a Brisbane Bears-Fitzroy merger.
  • 1996 - July. The AFL Commission is informed of arrangements for a merger being discussed between Melbourne and Hawthorn. (The Phoenix Rises pg 163)
  • 1997 - Port Adelaide begin playing in the AFL.
  • 1998 -Tasmania proposes a VFL team to go along with a stadium redevelopment, however the Commission had real doubts about the ability of the Tasmanian market _ population 450,000 _ to support financially a team in the AFL competition where the larger clubs are already generating up to $14 million a year in revenue
  • 1999 - Merger talks between Carlton and North Melbourne cease when both sides make the Grand Final.
  • 1999 - North Melbourne begin playing some home games at the SCG until 2001.
 
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Post 2000 developments

 
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Back One Out said:
There was a lot going on towards the end of 1996 that you appear to have left out, e.g. Port Adelaide joining
You've jumped from July 4th, 1996 to 1998
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Theres very little easy to find information on the web about the process of the second license for SA. Oakleys book makes it look like it was Port Adelaide all the way, and is very short on dates and time frames.
 
The_Wookie said:
anything ive missed that should be on this?
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No mention of the H&A matches which were played at the SCG and Gabba from 1979 to 1981 ?

When Allen Aylett, the VFL president first seriously entertained the idea of expanding the VFL into Sydney and Brisbane, they tested the waters by transferring a few H&A matches. These were played on Sunday afternoon and beamed live to Melbourne, which was a big deal back in those days. (Prior to that, all games were at 2pm on Sat arvo, no live TV)

  • 1979 - June 10. North Melb vs Hawthorn, SCG 31,395 - the replay of the 1978 Grand Final
  • 1979 - July 15. Fitzroy vs Richmond, SCG 17,140
  • 1980 - April 27. Footscray vs North Melb, SCG 13,476
  • 1980 - May 25. Essendon vs Carlton, SCG 24,545
  • 1980 - June 15. South Melb vs Geelong, SCG 13,209
  • 1980 - July 20. St Kilda vs Richmond, SCG 14,077
  • 1981 - May 03. Geelong vs Melbourne, SCG 11,077
  • 1981 - June 28. Hawthorn vs Essendon, Gabba 20,351 - the first VFL match in Brisbane??
  • 1981 - July 26. South Melb vs Collingwood, SCG 22,238
I'm pretty sure Haw v NM in 1979 was the first H&A match shown live on Melbourne TV. (1977 GF was the first live TV game.) The huge TV ratings for these Sunday interstate matches encouraged the VFL to relocate South Melbourne to Sydney for the 1982 season and have live footy on TV every second weekend. That's when the Swans became many people's "2nd side" and the VFL became a television sport and big business (which is really what the "national comp" is all about)


note: There were 3 matches played at the SCG in 1903; and another in 1952 between Rich v Coll
I'm not sure how relevant these games were to the national comp - more of a novelty or an exhibition, I suppose
 
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Back One Out said:
No mention of the H&A matches which were played at the SCG and Gabba from 1979 to 1981 ?

When Allen Aylett, the VFL president first seriously entertained the idea of expanding the VFL into Sydney and Brisbane, they tested the waters by transferring a few H&A matches. These were played on Sunday afternoon and beamed live to Melbourne, which was a big deal back in those days. (Prior to that, all games were at 2pm on Sat arvo, no live TV)

  • 1979 - June 10. North Melb vs Hawthorn, SCG 31,395 - the replay of the 1978 Grand Final
  • 1979 - July 15. Fitzroy vs Richmond, SCG 17,140
  • 1980 - April 27. Footscray vs North Melb, SCG 13,476
  • 1980 - May 25. Essendon vs Carlton, SCG 24,545
  • 1980 - June 15. South Melb vs Geelong, SCG 13,209
  • 1980 - July 20. St Kilda vs Richmond, SCG 14,077
  • 1981 - May 03. Geelong vs Melbourne, SCG 11,077
  • 1981 - June 28. Hawthorn vs Essendon, Gabba 20,351 - the first VFL match in Brisbane??
  • 1981 - July 26. South Melb vs Collingwood, SCG 22,238
I'm pretty sure Haw v NM in 1979 was the first H&A match shown live on Melbourne TV. (1977 GF was the first live TV game.) The huge TV ratings for these Sunday interstate matches encouraged the VFL to relocate South Melbourne to Sydney for the 1982 season and have live footy on TV every second weekend. That's when the Swans became many people's "2nd side" and the VFL became a television sport and big business (which is really what the "national comp" is all about)


note: There were 3 matches played at the SCG in 1903; and another in 1952 between Rich v Coll
I'm not sure how relevant these games were to the national comp - more of a novelty or an exhibition, I suppose
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I wasnt listing every game played interstate. And the 81 game wasnt the first vfl game in Brisbane. The 79 Grand final has nothing to do with the premise, and neither the media of the time, nor other sources indicate that the ratings were a factor.
 
Back One Out said:
  • 1981 - June 28. Hawthorn vs Essendon, Gabba 20,351 - the first VFL match in Brisbane??
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This match is officially recognised as the 2nd ever match for premiership points in Brisbane.

In 1952, as part of the National round, Geelong play Essendon at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground, which remains the venue's only ever VFL/AFL match.

That round in 1952 saw the following matches:

Geelong v Essendon (Brisbane Exhibition - night!)
Richmond v Collingwood (Sydney)
Fitzroy v Melbourne (Hobart)
South Melbourne v North Melbourne (Albury)
Footscray v St. Kilda (Yallourn)
Carlton v Hawthorn (Euroa)

(Every Game Ever Played source)
 
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Back One Out said:
Thanks Wookie!!

This bit was news to me:

1986 - October 1.
VFL Board of Directors approves teams from WA and Qld to join the VFL in 1987.
Hawthorn, Collingwood, Melbourne and Essendon vote against, but all other clubs vote for.
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To flesh this out a little more - bearing in mind that only one more vote was needed to shut the National expansion down - it literally came down to the VFL Commission biribing Leon Wiegard of Fitzroy. In the initial voting, Fitzroy also voted against, but the Commission took Wiegard aside and convinced him to go along with the National plan with promises of increased financial resources from the licenses. Ron Cook (Hawthorn) is reported by Linnell and Oakley to have been absolutely livid.
 
Dyson Hore-Lacy in his book "Fitzroy" suggests that name of the new club in 1994 was to be the Melbourne - Fitzroy Football Club, trading as the Melbourne Lions. In 1986 it was to be the "Melbourne football club - Fitzroy Football Club Ltd.", trading as the "Melbourne Lions".

Fitzroy's merger policy was that any new merged club's official name involving Fitzroy should have their name first if the nickname belonged to the other club. e.g. "Melbourne-Fitzroy Lions" or "Fitzroy-Melbourne Demons". That may have been where the "demand" that Fitzroy have its name first has come from.

Melbourne weren't keen to include the name Fitzroy at all, although they were happy to adopt the lion.
 

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Roylion said:
Dyson Hore-Lacy in his book "Fitzroy" suggests that name of the new club in 1994 was to be the Melbourne - Fitzroy Football Club, trading as the Melbourne Lions. In 1986 it was to be the "Melbourne football club - Fitzroy Football Club Ltd.", trading as the "Melbourne Lions".

Fitzroy's merger policy was that any new merged club's official name involving Fitzroy should have their name first if the nickname belonged to the other club. e.g. "Melbourne-Fitzroy Lions" or "Fitzroy-Melbourne Demons". That may have been where the "demand" that Fitzroy have its name first has come from.

Melbourne weren't keen to include the name Fitzroy at all, although they were happy to adopt the lion.
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Hore-Lacys book is one Im trying very hard to source at the moment.
 
The_Wookie said:
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To what level of detail do we want this timeline to go?

Last minute changes to entry conditions demanding $4m license fees up front rather than paid back over 10 years? Conditions on player recruitment? List size constraints? Etc.

Also where does the draft fit into the picture? The first VFL draft took place in 1981, then the second in 1982. It was for non-Victorian players only and was not held again until 1986 when Brisbane and West Coast were in the frame. The changing rules around the draft from the mid 80s to the mid 90s and the removal of zones played a huge part in shaping the national competition, IMO.
 
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Scotland said:
To what level of detail do we want this timeline to go?

Last minute changes to entry conditions demanding $4m license fees up front rather than paid back over 10 years? Conditions on player recruitment? List size constraints? Etc.

Also where does the draft fit into the picture? The first VFL draft took place in 1981, then the second in 1982. It was for non-Victorian players only and was not held again until 1986 when Brisbane and West Coast were in the frame. The changing rules around the draft from the mid 80s to the mid 90s and the removal of zones played a huge part in shaping the national competition, IMO.
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If you have dates, times and references for the events in question then im happy to list them when relevant. I hadnt really considered the draft, but it makes sense I guess. Ill add some of that in later.
 
The_Wookie said:
If you have dates, times and references for the events in question then im happy to list them when relevant. I hadnt really considered the draft, but it makes sense I guess. Ill add some of that in later.
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Best I have for the entry conditions stuff is from the doco Fox Footy v1.0 did about a decade ago. They don't go into that level of detail (it's August 1986). I'm sure it exists somewhere, hopefully someone perusing this thread might have more info on it and can contribute. I doubt they went into anything that painted the VFL in a negative light in '100 years of Australian Football' or 'The Clubs', but I don't have them handy.

The draft stuff is a pretty big can with a lot of worms in it. The late 80s was a textbook example of making it up as you go along. A bit of irony in the fact that conditions imposed on West Coast to stop us becoming a superpower contributed so much to the team being so strong in the early to mid 90s. There's a fair bit of info on the draft on Wikipedia, so someone out there has put a lot of time and effort into it and got the info from somewhere. The big problem with the draft & salary cap model is that in order for it to be operated as intended it needs to be left alone, but in the last 30 years it just hasn't been., but I digress...
 
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Scotland said:
Also where does the draft fit into the picture? The first VFL draft took place in 1981, then the second in 1982. It was for non-Victorian players only and was not held again until 1986 when Brisbane and West Coast were in the frame. The changing rules around the draft from the mid 80s to the mid 90s and the removal of zones played a huge part in shaping the national competition, IMO.
Click to expand...

Added -
 
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Scotland said:
Best I have for the entry conditions stuff is from the doco Fox Footy v1.0 did about a decade ago. They don't go into that level of detail (it's August 1986). I'm sure it exists somewhere, hopefully someone perusing this thread might have more info on it and can contribute. I doubt they went into anything that painted the VFL in a negative light in '100 years of Australian Football' or 'The Clubs', but I don't have them handy.

The draft stuff is a pretty big can with a lot of worms in it. The late 80s was a textbook example of making it up as you go along. A bit of irony in the fact that conditions imposed on West Coast to stop us becoming a superpower contributed so much to the team being so strong in the early to mid 90s. There's a fair bit of info on the draft on Wikipedia, so someone out there has put a lot of time and effort into it and got the info from somewhere. The big problem with the draft & salary cap model is that in order for it to be operated as intended it needs to be left alone, but in the last 30 years it just hasn't been., but I digress...
Click to expand...

I cant find my old copy of Behind the Play - probably have to buy it again - but i dont recall specifics about it either.
 
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Damn fine body of work Wookie, :thumbsu:

In the cloudy corners of my mind, this issue bugs me to this day - 12 clubs made sense back then. Yes I know, we are past this point now, & it is the base of so many of our ongoing problems.
 
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