The old VFA?

[Bentleigh]

Talking to and old feller at my local bowls club (beer is cheap , refer to crackerjack) he told me abit about the old VFA, Victoria Football Association i assume.

Could you give me abit more detail about this? What years did it go for? how did it operate with the VFL? Was it effectivly a 2 teir comp. I also heard the Doggies beat a VFL side to get promotion??

cheers

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

The VFA is still going. It has just changed names to the VFL. Exactly the same scenario as the VFL changing names to the AFL. The only real difference is that the VFA had divisions and accepted AFL reserves teams into its structure.

 

[Palace03]

The Bulldogs beat Essendon in a Champions of Victoria match as we were the VFA premiers and Essendon VFL premiers, and we then joined the VFL in 1925.

 

[bac]

It was 16 a side (no wings), until proabaly, 15 years ago.

 

[Fullarton Power]

At maximum popularity had 24 teams in 2 divisions.
Sadly around 1987 several clubs ( Geelong West, Northcote, Waverley, Caulfield, Moorabbin. Kilsyth, Yarraville, Berwick, Mordialloc, Sunshine, Brunswick, Camberwell, Kilsyth ) folded and it became a single division competition in about 1989.
Was a fairly tough competition to play in, spent 12 years at Werribee ( 1984 - 1995 ) and saw many good stoushes.

 

[pazza]

Known more for the physical side of the game than the skills of it. Seemed every week there was a massive brawl.

Very good standard all the same..and was the first football to be shown live on tv on Sundays into Melbourne.

 

[Gabbie]

Great memories of Sunday arvos watching VFA games on Ch 0/10 after World of Sport on 7. Mainly watched them for the fights - wot rippers they were in those days. The best I can recall off the top of my head was Sandy v Oakleigh in 1976 (i think) - Half the players of both sides got reported but the best part of the blue was the crowd getting stuck into each other, players stopped fighting & watched the crowd go at it - fence broke - (no one seriously hurt for you PC folk out there).

 

[dogsbody]

...the Doggies beat a VFL side to get promotion??

cheers

Three teams from the VFA were invited to join the VFL from the beginning of the 1925 season. The negotiations and talks had gone for some years before the end of 1924. Prahran was keen to join, too. The VFL only wanted 3. Footscray and Hawthorn ahd already been invited and accepted by 1924. Footscray was the VFA premier in 1924. Both North and Prahran applied and North chosen at the last hour. At the end of the season a match between the VFA premiers and the VFL premiers, Essendon was arranged, the winner to be titled the Champion Team of Victoria.” Footscray won. It was rumoured at the time, only rumoured though and consistently denied, that a number of Essendon players ahd taken money to play dead.fell out with their team mates and were accused of throwing the match.

I’ve seen it written a few times, now that the 1924 win was the reason that Footscray was invited to join the AFL. Not true, of course. The decision had been made well before the game was even thought of.

 

[finders]

Three teams from the VFA were invited to join the VFL from the beginning of the 1925 season. The negotiations and talks had gone for some years before the end of 1924. Prahran was keen to join, too. The VFL only wanted 3. Footscray and Hawthorn ahd already been invited and accepted by 1924. Footscray was the VFA premier in 1924. Both North and Prahran applied and North chosen at the last hour. At the end of the season a match between the VFA premiers and the VFL premiers, Essendon was arranged, the winner to be titled the Champion Team of Victoria.” Footscray won. It was rumoured at the time, only rumoured though and consistently denied, that a number of Essendon players ahd taken money to play dead.fell out with their team mates and were accused of throwing the match.

I’ve seen it written a few times, now that the 1924 win was the reason that Footscray was invited to join the AFL. Not true, of course. The decision had been made well before the game was even thought of.

Footscray still have the 1925 "champions of Victoria" flag at the Western Oval.
Essendon also recruited a number of Footscrays best players the next year and the Dogs took many seasons to find their feet in the VFL after having been very successfull in the VFA having won 9 premierships up tp 1924.

 

[finders]

The VFA's best days were the 1930s and mid 1960s to early 1980s when crowds of 10-12,000 were not uncommon.The largest VFA crowd was the 1939 GF at the MCG between Williamstown and Brunswick 48,000.When the GF was played at the Junction Oval in the 1970s it quite often drew in excess of 30,000.

 

[onslaught]

From the VFA / VFL website:

1877
Victorian Football Association established. Foundation Senior clubs Albert Park, Carlton, East Melbourne, Essendon, Geelong, Hotham, Melbourne, St. Kilda and West Melbourne.

1878
East Melbourne withdrew. Throughout this period apart from matches between the Senior VFA clubs, all Senior clubs (20 players a side) played numerous matches against minor and junior clubs (25 players a side).

1879
South Melbourne admitted. East Melbourne rejoined.

1880
St. Kilda ceased to be a Senior club. Albert Park amalgamated with South Melbourne under the name South Melbourne.

1881
West Melbourne disbanded as a Senior club but continued in junior ranks. St. Kilda returned to Senior ranks.

1882
Essendon moved headquarters from Flemington Hill to the East Melbourne Cricket Ground. East Melbourne as a consequence disbanded.

1883
St. Kilda withdrew as a Senior club, reducing the VFA to 6 Senior clubs.

1884
Fitzroy and Williamstown joined the VFA.

1885
Richmond and University joined the VFA bringing the total number of clubs in the competition to 10.

1886
Footscray, Port Melbourne, Prahran, South Williamstown admitted. St. Kilda rejoined.

1887
Ballarat, Ballarat Imperial and South Ballarat clubs were admitted to full membership of the VFA and competed in home and away matches but were not eligible for the Premiership. Other teams had to play at least 18 Senior matches to be eligible for the Premiership which was awarded to the side completing the season at the top of the Premiership table.

1888
Hotham became known as North Melbourne.

1889
Williamstown and South Melbourne combine and moved from the Gardens Reserve to the Williamstown Cricket Ground (Point Gellibrand). Combined club known as Williamstown University amalgamated with Melbourne. Prahran amalgamated with St. Kilda under the name St. Kilda.

1892
Collingwood joined the VFA.

1893
Ballarat Football Association formed and the three Ballarat clubs ceased to play regular matches against the VFA clubs.

1896
Collingwood and South Melbourne both completed the season with 14 wins and same tally of goals scored for and against necessitating a play-off to decide the Premiership (first ever finals series). At the end of the season Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Fitzroy, Geelong, Melbourne, South Melbourne and St. Kilda broke away from the VFA to form the Victorian Football League. Footscray, North Melbourne, Port Melbourne Richmond and Williamstown remained.

1897
Brunswick admitted. New scoring system introduced, whereby a goal counted for 6 points and a behind 1 point. Previously, behinds had only been recorded but had not been included in a team’s score to determine the result of a match. No finals play-off, teams completing the season on top of the Premiership ladder continued to be awarded the Premiership.

1898
Association reduced the number of players in a team from 20 to 18.

1899
Prahran and West Melbourne re-admitted.

1900
Essendon Town admitted.

1903
Preston admitted. First season of VFA final series. Two semi-finals, first team versus third team, second team versus fourth team. Winners to meet in final to decide Premiership. Team finishing at the top of the Premiership table at the completion of the home and away season known as the minor premiers. Minor premiers had the right to challenge the winner of the final in which case the season could extend if required to a Grand or Challenge Final.

1905
Essendon town became known as Essendon Association or more commonly Essendon A.

1907
Association introduced numbering of players.

1908
Richmond joined the League and West Melbourne dropped out. Brighton and Northcote admitted. Association reduced the number of players in team 18 to 17. North Melbourne made an unsuccessful attempt to join the VFL. Footscray won the Premiership before a record crowd of 44,000 at the MCG. The final followed the first ANFC Carnival and coincided with the arrival of the American Fleet in Melbourne.

1909
Northcote moved from Westgarth to Croxton Park.

1910
Honorary Commissioners appointed by the Association.

1912
Preston amalgamated with Northcote under the title Northcote-Preston but reference to Preston in the title soon disappeared. Melbourne City admitted, playing home matches at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground. Boundary umpires introduced by the Association.

1913
Agreement between Association and League whereby each body recognised each other’s clearances. Association reduced number of players to 16. Last season Melbourne City competed, the club having failed to win a game in it’s two seasons with the VFA.

1914
Hawthorn admitted.

1915
Northcote returned to Westgarth. Season curtailed in July and finals commenced due to World War One.

1916
Football in the VFA suspended due to war.

1918
Association resumed with six teams: Brunswick, Footscray, Northcote, Port Melbourne, Prahran and North Melbourne. Number of players in a team increased from 16 to 18.

1919
Agreement between Association and League cancelled. Brighton, Hawthorn, Essendon A and Williamstown resumed. North Melbourne won 49 consecutive VFA matches between 1914-1919, a VFA record. North Melbourne lost the second semi-final to Brunswick, their first defeat in 50 games.

1920
The semi-final between North Melbourne and Footscray could not be finished as the crowd rushed the ground.

1921
The final Association match between Williamstown and Footscray abandoned during the third quarter due to a terrific hailstorm. Last season in which Essendon A. played in the VFA. North Melbourne forfeited 10 games in an unsucssessful attempt to join the VFL.

1922
Essendon A. amalgamated with North Melbourne. An Association team from the Geelong region, Geelong A. admitted. Hawthorn kicked a record score of 30 goals 31 behinds, 211 points against Prahran.

1923
Recorder Cup introduced.

1924
Footscray premiers of the Association played Essendon premiers of the League for the Victorian Championship. Footscray won.

1925
Footscray , Hawthorn and North Melbourne joined the League and Coburg admitted.

1926
Camberwell admitted and Preston re-admitted.

1927
Last season Geelong A. member of the Association. Brunswick played in the VFA after an unsuccessful attempt to join the League.

1928
Yarraville admitted. Coburg won their third Premiership in a row. Brighton moved from Brighton Beach Oval to Elsternwick Park.

1929
VFA expanded to 12 teams with the admission of Oakleigh and Sandringham. Association introduced a rule providing for a substitute to take the place of an injured player.

1931
A reciprocal agreement was entered whereby the League and the Association recognised each other’s clearances.

1933
Page system of playing finals introduced. Two Semi Finals, Preliminary & Grand Finals.

1934
Centenary Premiership won by Northcote.

1938
Agreement with League cancelled. Association introduced amendment Laws of the Game, including throwing the ball. The throw pass contributing to higher scores. First broadcast of a VFA match (3AR). Williamstown finished last but rose to premiers the following season.

1939
Record crowd for a VFA match, 48,238 saw Williamstown defeat Brunswick by 9 points in the Grand Final at the MCG.

1941
Third year in a row Grand Final played at the MCG. Port Melbourne scored 43 goals, 29 behinds, 287 points against Sandringham, a new VFA record.

1942
Football in the VFA suspended due to war.

1945
Football resumed after 3 years. Records broken. Finals played at St.Kilda and previous records smashed. J.J. Liston Trophy awarded to the Best and Fairest player replaced the Recorder Cup.

1946
Association registered as a Company. New Constitution printed and VFA Rules of the Game copyrighted.

1947
Finals again played at St.Kilda, attendances for season a new record. VFA introduced kicking in danger.

1948
Independent Umpire’s Board appointed. Brighton won their first and only VFA Premiership.

1949
VFA affiliated with the Australian National Football Council.

1950
VFA represented at the all Australian Football Championships for the first time.

1951
Box Hill and Moorabbin admitted. Moorabbin played at Cheltenham in their first year before moving to Moorabbin.

1952
Commencement of VFA Thirds as Curtain Raisers.

1953
VFA granted full voting power on Australian National Football Council. Port Melbourne and Oakleigh met at Wagga, NSW in a match for Premiership points.

1954
First regular broadcast of VFA matches by 3AK.

1956
Williamstown wins Olympic Premiership making it three Senior Premierships in a row. Preston played home matches at Coburg.

1957
VFA staged night matches for Premiership points.

1958
Further night matches for Premiership points. Dandenong and Mordialloc admitted. Moorabbin and Williamstown in first Grand Final draw in VFA history. Williamstown won the replay.

1959
Prahran lose ground qualifications and is expelled from VFA. Sunshine admitted to VFA. 16 players a side adopted .

1960
VFA experiments “final 6” in second round matches. Prahran re-admitted. Sunday matches authorised – first match Brunswick v Coburg on 23/4/60. Oakleigh played home matches at Camberwell.

1961
VFA introduced two divisions with promotion and relegation and revert to “final four” second round matches. Waverley admitted. Purchase of VFA House. Inaugural members of First Division – Oakleigh, Sandringham, Williamstown, Yarraville, Coburg, Moorabbin, Mordialloc, Port Melbourne, Brunswick and Box Hill. The remaining clubs Prahran, Sunshine, Preston, Camberwell, Northcote, Brighton and Dandenong formed Second Division. Brighton lost sole use of Elsternwick Park and played home matches at Sandringham.

1962
Brighton became Brighton-Caulfield and moved to Princess Park. Dandenong moved to Shepley Oval from the Dandenong Showgrounds.

1963
Geelong West, a successful Ballarat League club admitted.

1964
Moorabbin forfeits VFA membership by St. Kilda taking over Moorabbin ground. Werribee admitted to VFA from 1965 season.

1965
Frankston admitted to VFA from 1966 season. Coburg play at Port Melbourne because of North Melbourne takeover of Coburg Oval. VFA cancels permit agreement with VFL. Brighton-Caulfield becomes Caulfield.

1966
Coburg retains its oval after Council Election results. Direct telecasting of VFA matches first commenced by ATV Channel 10.

1967
VFA adopts Transfer Fee on players to VFL. 1st Division Finals staged at Richmond Cricket Ground.

1968
Television Channel ATV-10 contract for telecast of matches for next three seasons.

1970
VFA drops out of the ANFC

1972
VFA conducts Lightning Premiership matches as Curtain Raisers to Finals. 3UZ and 3GL broadcast VFA matches.

1974
Record Final Series conducted at Junction Oval.

1975
Television contract with ATV-10 reviewed for further three seasons from 1976.

1976
100th year as an Association completed. Port Melbourne Premiers.

1977
CENTENARY SEASON. Port Melbourne and Mordialloc win Centenary Premierships. Port Melbourne also win VFA McWilliams Centenary Cup. Four clubs, Port Melbourne, Dandenong, Preston and Caulfield play on NFL Ardath Cup. Interchange rule adopted.

1978
Television contract with ATV-10 reviewed for further three seasons.

1979
Coburg premiers Division One after 51 years. Camberwell win first Premiership since entering VFA in 1926 in Second Division. VFA withstand threat by VFL to exclusivity to Sunday games.

1980
Order off rule adopted. Stewards appointed to supervise new interchange rule. Two umpires used in both division Grand Finals. Umpires carry tape recorders for reports. VFA seconds matches played as Curtain Raisers to main games.

1981
Divisional structure re-organised. Kilsyth and Springvale admitted for season 1982. Waverley set a new record score - 52 goals, 31 behinds, 343 points to defeat Sunshine by 290 points.

1982
Berwick and Moorabbin admitted for season 1983. VFA Community Development Programme launched. Live telecast by ATV-10 of finals series. Live broadcast by 3AW. Two umpires used for all home and away games in both Senior Divisions. Port Melbourne wins its third consecutive Premiership in Division One.

1983
Thirds competition completely intergraded with the VFA. Preston finished on top of the ladder in Division One in Firsts, Seconds and Thirds and wins all three Premierships. Springvale wins the Division Two Premiership. VFA Under 12 series launched. Live telecast by ATV-10 of finals series. Competitive scheduling successfully introduced into VFL Thirds draw. Norm Goss Medal introduced for the best player in the VFA Grand Final.

1984
Preston wins back-to-back Division One Premierships with First, Seconds and Thirds. Box Hill wins Division Two Premiership and is promoted to Division One. VFA Under 14 series launched. VFA Under 15 side plays ACT in Canberra. Extended live telecast by ATV-10 of Finals and Match of the Day in last two rounds. Yarraville disaffiliated before season starts. Kilsyth’s last season in the VFA.

1985
Sandringham wins Division One Premiership. Brunswick wins Division Two Firsts and Seconds Premiership and is promoted to Division One. Prahran, Box Hill and Werribee relegated to Division Two. Division One reduced to a ten team competition with Division Two of twelve teams. Introduction of double-header Senior Finals. VFA Under 16 series launched. Live telecasting ATV-10 of Final Series and Match of the Day in last two rounds.

1986
Williamstown wins all three Premierships in Division One, Box Hill wins Division Two Premiership and is promoted to Division One. Camberwell relegated to Division Two. Thirds competition reverts to Divisional football. VFA established F.O.R.T. (Football Organisation Review Team) as a major and independent undertaking with reference to the VFA’s future direction. 1985 VFA Premier’s Sandringham plays a practice match with VFL Premier’s Essendon. VFA conducts First Division senior double-header at MCG. VFA live telecast by ATV-10 of Final Series and Match of the Day in last four rounds. Williamstown kick a new VFA record score – 55 goals, 17 behinds, 374 points versus Camberwell, a new record winning margin of 315 points.

1987
Springvale wins first Division One Premiership. Prahran wins Division Two Premiership and is promoted to First Division. Geelong West relegated to Division Two. Moorabbin is suspended mid-season from the VFA. Caulfield and Northcote are put into recess at conclusion of season. Berwick withdraws from VFA. ABC Channel 2 telecasts live the last 3 weeks of the Final Series. VFA wins NFL Shield.

1988
Coburg wins only their second First Division Premiership in sixty years. Oakleigh wins the last Second Division Premiership. Channel 2 televise the match of the Day on Saturday afternoon. Waverley, Mordialloc and Geelong West withdraw from the competition. Brett McTaggart and Gary Sheldon tie for the Liston Medal. Grand Final played at Windy Hill resulting in record gate takings. VFA participate in the Bi-Centennial Carnival in Adelaide. Decision made to steamline the competition to one division in 1989.

1989
Single 15 team competition. Sunshine withdrew from the Senior and Reserve Grade competition. Channel 2 telecast of the Match of the Day live on Saturday afternoon. Saade Ghazi becomes the third Williamstown player in three years to win the JJ Liston Trophy. VFA won the NFL Shield Carnival held in Tasmania. Fothergill-Round Medal introduced to honour Les Fothergill and Barry Round, the only two players to have won the Brownlow and Liston Medals. Final Five system introduced.

1990
Williamstown premiers with a two point win over Springvale. Senior Representative team defeated ACT at Football Park, Canberra. Frank Johnson Medal introduced for best Victorian player in Representative Games. Standard player contracts and salary cap introduced. Revamped transfer agreement between the VFA, VCFL and VMFL. ABC TV ratings for VFA football reached their highest levels during the season and Grand Final. Four players tied for the JJ Liston Trophy. Last year Camberwell member of the VFA. All Grand Finals, Senior, Reserve & U/19’s, staged at Princes Park, Carlton.

1991
Dandenong won its first Premiership since 1971 with a nine point win over first time Grand Finalists Werribee. VFA’s Under 12 defeated Ballarat, Under 15 defeated ACTFL and the Under 19’s won the VicHealth State Championship for the first time. VFA-Quit Junior Development Program expands with continuing success. Television ratings increase. Attendances increase. VFA Corporate Sponsorship at a record level. VFA to revert to 18 men a side in 1992. Brunswick withdraws early in the season.

1992
Sandringham wins its first Premiership since 1985 defeating Williamstown by 44 points in a game of very high standards. Grand Final covered by ABC TV and achieved the highest ratings of the last five years. 3LO and 3EE broadcast the game live. VFA representative side defeated the VCFL by 102 points at the MCG prior to the Vic-WA State of Origin game. ABC TV agreement extended until the end of season 1997.

1993
Werribee scores its first Senior Premiership with a spirited and professional win over Port Melbourne. TV ratings for the Grand Final were the highest ever for VFA football on the ABC. VFA clubs voted for a commission style board with sweeping powers. The VFA signs an affiliation agreement with the VSFL.

1994
VSFL Board oversee VFA football. VFL defeated by Northern Territory in Pre-Season Representative Game played at Victoria Park, Collingwood. Sandringham wins Senior, Reserve and Under 19’s Premierships. VFA Grand Finals played at Victoria Park, Collingwood.

1995
VFA abolish Under 19 Grade. VFL defeats NSW as curtain raiser game at the MCG prior to AFL State of Origin. Springvale wins last VFA Premiership at Victoria Park, Collingwood.

1996
North Ballarat and Traralgon join the existing nine (9) VFA teams to form the Victorian Football League. VFL defeats Tasmania as a curtain raiser game at the MCG prior to the AFL State of Origin. Springvale wins first VFL Premiership defeating Frankston at Princes Park, Carlton.

1997
VFL defeats ACT at Football Park, Canberra. VFL Grand Final between Sandringham and Frankston held at Port Melbourne with 10,000 in attendance and large TV audience. 20 year record financial return from VFL Final Series. 3AW and 3LO broadcast VFL Grand Final.

1998
VFL introduced Final 6 Finals system. Bendigo Diggers join VFL, Traralgon withdrew & return to Gippsland LaTrobe Football League. Preston known as the Preston Knights after alignment with U/18 Northern Knights. North Ballarat finish third, highest placing since inception in VFL. Springvale defeats hot favourite Werribee in the Grand Final at Port Melbourne. Werribee’s Michael Frost polls 32 votes to win the JJ Liston Trophy by 16 votes.

1999
Springvale defeats North Ballarat in Grand Final at Port Melbourne. Springvale’s fourth Premiership in five years. SANFL defeats VFL by 4 goals at the MCG as a curtain raiser to the AFL State of Origin game. AFL Reserve Grade competition disbanded. Frosty Miller Medal introduced for VFL Leading Goalkicker.

2000
VFL Competition re-vamped & AFL teams field VFL clubs together with VFL/AFL Alignments. 18 team competition. Season starts early due to Sydney Olympics. Major redevelopment at all VFL venues begins with upgrading of club facilities. Stand Alone AFL Clubs – Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Geelong, Kangaroos, Richmond & St. Kilda. Stand Alone VFL Clubs – Bendigo Diggers, Coburg-Fitzroy, Frankston, North Ballarat, Northern Bullants & Springvale. VFL/AFL Alignments – Box Hill Hawks/Hawthorn, Port Melbourne/Sydney Swans, Sandringham/Melbourne, Werribee/Western Bulldogs & Williamstown/Western Bulldogs. Monday night games televised on C7 from Waverley Park. Each TAC Cup team is aligned to a VFL club. VFL play a number of AFL Curtain Raiser games. VFL introduces Final 8 Finals system. Sandringham defeats North Ballarat in Grand Final, in the last ever game at Waverley Park.

2001
Further restructuring of the VFL competition. 16 team competition. Tasmania admitted & Collingwood aligned with Williamstown, Richmond with Coburg to be known as the Coburg Tigers, St. Kilda aligned with Springvale, Western Bulldogs with Werribee. The Kangaroos linked into the Ovens & Murray Region and played three games in Lavington & known as the Murray Kangaroos. Stand Alone AFL Clubs – Carlton, Essendon, & Geelong. Stand Alone VFL Clubs – Bendigo Diggers, Frankston, North Ballarat, Northern Bullants, Tasmania. VFL/AFL Alignments – Box Hill Hawks, Coburg Tigers, Murray Kangaroos, Port Melbourne, Sandringham, Springvale, Werribee, & Williamstown. Ezra Poyas & Brett Backwell tie for the JJ Liston Trophy. VFL Grand Final won by the Box Hill Hawks in the club’s first Premiership, the game was played at Princes Park. SANFL defeated VFL by 38 points at Adelaide Oval. VFL Fixture linked directly with the AFL Fixture.

2002
VFL celebrate 125th year of VFA/VFL Football. ABC TV games commence at 1pm to avoid AFL TV coverage. Tasmania known as the Tasmania Devils. Competition remains at 16 teams, no changes from 2001. VFL defeats SANFL by 56 points at Adelaide Oval. Sam Mitchell of the Box Hill Hawks becomes the youngest winner of the JJ Liston Trophy at 19 years of age, polling 31 votes in 11 games. Geelong defeats Port Melbourne in the Grand Final at Optus Oval in front of 11,500 spectators. VFL Grand Final achieve record TV audiences. Increased media profile of VFL thoughout the year. Nick Sautner, Frankston, wins the Frosty Miller Medal for the fourth year in a row.

2003
Further restructuring of the VFL. Competition reduced from 16 teams to 13 teams. Carlton aligned with Northern Bullants, Essendon with the Bendigo Diggers known as the Bendigo Bombers, Sydney Swans withdrew its association with Port Melbourne which aligned with the Kangaroos.


That was from the history page over at http://vfl.footballvic.com.au
I run one of the few VFL fansites over at http://www.vflfooty.com

 

[Captain Sensible]

.


1889
Williamstown and South Melbourne combine and moved from the Gardens Reserve to the Williamstown Cricket Ground (Point Gellibrand). Combined club known as Williamstown University amalgamated with Melbourne. Prahran amalgamated with St. Kilda under the name St. Kilda.

You mean South Williamstown Onslaught.

 

[onslaught]

You mean South Williamstown Onslaught.

Thats a typo on the VFL site.

 

[mocaholic]

1990
Williamstown premiers with a two point win over Springvale. Senior Representative team defeated ACT at Football Park, Canberra. Frank Johnson Medal introduced for best Victorian player in Representative Games. Standard player contracts and salary cap introduced. Revamped transfer agreement between the VFA, VCFL and VMFL. ABC TV ratings for VFA football reached their highest levels during the season and Grand Final. Four players tied for the JJ Liston Trophy. Last year Camberwell member of the VFA. All Grand Finals, Senior, Reserve & U/19’s, staged at Princes Park, Carlton.

I was at this game. An absolute belter. Princes Park, if not full, was close to it. Springvale leading all day, Billy West, Chops Rickman kick goals late in the day to win it. I was in a box with Willy legend Kevin Sait who went absolutely spare when Chops kicked the last goal. He then got us into the rooms where Big Barry Round was supping VB at a great rate. As I was too. He is still one huge mother Barry. (What were you thinking, Ricky Quade??)

I then remember this Ch 10 reporter Eddie McGuire (who?) getting into the rooms and was roundly booed by all & sundry - he'd predicted a Springvale win I seem to recall.

Great day for grass roots footy. A highlight in an otherwise dull and forgettable year for Australian Rules Football. (!!!!)

 

[Count Zero]

The VFA is still going. It has just changed names to the VFL. Exactly the same scenario as the VFL changing names to the AFL. The only real difference is that the VFA had divisions and accepted AFL reserves teams into its structure.

What are the dates of those changes? It seems that from about 1990-1995 all three (vfa, vfl and afl) existed.

 

[Jabso]

It was 16 a side (no wings), until proabaly, 15 years ago.

Uhhhhh?? I think it was changed a long long time before that.

 

[Captain Sensible]

I was in a box with Willy legend Kevin Sait who went absolutely spare when Chops kicked the last goal.

Also played at Yarraville where he won the Field medal. Great guy.

 

[Fullarton Power]

I was at this game. An absolute belter. Princes Park, if not full, was close to it. Springvale leading all day, Billy West, Chops Rickman kick goals late in the day to win it. I was in a box with Willy legend Kevin Sait who went absolutely spare when Chops kicked the last goal. He then got us into the rooms where Big Barry Round was supping VB at a great rate. As I was too. He is still one huge mother Barry. (What were you thinking, Ricky Quade??)

I then remember this Ch 10 reporter Eddie McGuire (who?) getting into the rooms and was roundly booed by all & sundry - he'd predicted a Springvale win I seem to recall.

Great day for grass roots footy. A highlight in an otherwise dull and forgettable year for Australian Rules Football. (!!!!)

Wasn't it Bill Swan who kicked the winning goal on the siren from the centre??

 

[Fullarton Power]

Also played at Yarraville where he won the Field medal. Great guy.

Was that the Field Medal in 1979?

 

[onslaught]

Wasn't it Bill Swan who kicked the winning goal on the siren from the centre??

Swan kicked the last goal. The ball went back for the centre bounce there was only about another 20-30 seconds play left.

I think Rickmans' pass went to Brett McTaggart, who then chipped short to Swan. (I watched that last quarter recently)

 

[starkravenmad2]

Wasn't it Bill Swan who kicked the winning goal on the siren from the centre??

it was his longest kick ever to .was a great player but shocking kick ,till that moment

 

[Jabso]

it was his longest kick ever to .was a great player but shocking kick ,till that moment

His son Dane plays for Collingwood which means he plays for Williamstown. His cousin Aaron Ramsay also plays for Willy.

 

[wagstaff]

I was at this game. An absolute belter. Princes Park, if not full, was close to it. Springvale leading all day, Billy West, Chops Rickman kick goals late in the day to win it. I was in a box with Willy legend Kevin Sait who went absolutely spare when Chops kicked the last goal.

I remember that match very well too, I was a Springvale fan (born in Springvale and used to live a few hundred metres from their Newcomben Rd oval home) and was devastated at the result. But it was a great match with a great atmosphere and arguably the highpoint of the VFA in the modern era.

 

[Rusty Brookes]

What are the dates of those changes? It seems that from about 1990-1995 all three (vfa, vfl and afl) existed.

This is where it gets confusing. As I remember it - all Victorian sides who played in the AFL had reserves sides. Reserves sides competed in the VFL. The VFA was separate until the AFL abolished the reserves competition. In its place the VFA stepped in affiliating themselves with AFL clubs and renaming the competition the VFL.

 

[mocaholic]

Swan kicked the last goal. The ball went back for the centre bounce there was only about another 20-30 seconds play left.

I think Rickmans' pass went to Brett McTaggart, who then chipped short to Swan. (I watched that last quarter recently)

Apologies - you'd be correct. I'm going from an beer-effected memory of an incident 14yrs ago! I must say though that the dimensions of PP were SCG-esque in those days, with "50 metres" not quite being 50m. Still, it was an incredible kick for him.

Also played at Yarraville where he won the Field medal. Great guy.

Agreed.
He played a season at the Tiges (1980) - and missed out on the GF for freakin' DARRYL FREAME!! Also had a season at Footscray, where I believe he got best first year player. Then got cut.

Have known him for quite a while and still occasionally cross paths.