Autopsy Were VFL and SANFL premierships roughly equivalent prior to 1990 - state your case

[greatwhiteshark]

I have no doubt at all in any given year pre mid 80’s that top 2-3 WAFL clubs would be as good as any club in the country. After that however I think it would drop off.
The gap between the VFL and the other two top tier comps was never what many Vics think it was. Good story to tell now but not reality.

 

[btdg]

They were roughly equivalent, although the VFL was a stronger and deeper comp overall. It wasn't that much ahead, with many great players spread all round the country.

However, the VFL became the AFL and teams from outside Victoria joined this competition. Hence it is also factual to state that Carlton's 16 premierships 'count' in a way that Port Adelaide's don't.

But a proper history is nuanced and tries to tell all its stories. It is possible (and right) to celebrate Carlton and Essendon as having won the most premierships in this competition, and also celebrate Port for dominating their state league, moving across the to AFL and achieving success here. And to celebrate West Coast for their achievements in the modern era, after being formed as a hybrid/franchise entity too.

The clubs having long, varied and different histories is actually a good thing for the league. Far better than history would be if told by those who want to rule a line through 1990 or some other arbitrary date and start again (in the same way that recognising 60,000+ years of Australian history is deeper and more valuable than just counting since 1788 or 1901 or whatever)