AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
VFL (1897–1989) / AFL (1990–PRESENT)
FORMATIONOn October 2, 1896, the day before a controversial premiership playoff, the VFA's strongest clubs (Collingwood, Essendon, Fitzroy, Geelong, Melbourne and South Melbourne) broke away to form the Victorian Football League (VFL). These six clubs invited St Kilda and the former VFA powerhouse Carlton to join them in the new venture.
The VFL quickly established itself as Victoria's dominant football body and in 1908 the league expanded to ten clubs with the addition of Richmond (ex-VFA) and University (ex-Metropolitan Junior FA). World War One had a devastating effect on Victorian football, forcing the VFA to end their 1915 season early and cease play in 1916-17. The VFL continued, albeit under increasing duress. University did not survive beyond the 1914 season, and in 1916 the number of clubs dropped from nine to four with only Carlton, Collingwood, Fitzroy and Richmond taking the field. POST-WARIn 1917 Geelong and South Melbourne re-formed, and they were joined by Essendon and
St Kilda in 1918. Melbourne were the last of the pre-war clubs to re-form, and their return in 1919 established the VFL as a nine-club competition. Expansion in 1925 strengthened the VFL, and further destabilised the rival VFA competition, with three more teams crossing from the Association to the League: Footscray (1924 VFA Premiers), Hawthorn, and North Melbourne. With the exception of seasons 1942-43 when Geelong were unable to field a team due to wartime travel restrictions, the VFL remained stable as a twelve-team competition until 1987. NATIONAL EXPANSIONThe first step towards national expansion occurred in 1982 when South Melbourne moved north on a 'trial basis' to become the Sydney Swans. The addition of the Brisbane Bears and West Coast Eagles in 1987 transformed the VFL into a fourteen-team national competition. However, the league was not officially renamed as such until 1990 when it became the Australian Football League (AFL).
With the Adelaide Crows joining the competition in 1991, the AFL had finally established a presence across the Australian mainland. |
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Foundation club the Fitzroy Lions were forced to merge with Brisbane in 1996 but the addition of second teams in Western Australia (Fremantle Dockers in 1995), South Australia (Port Adelaide in 1997), Queensland (Gold Coast Suns in 2011) and New South Wales (Greater Western Sydney in 2012) has grown the AFL into an eighteen-team competition.
Today, premiership matches are also played in Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory, providing the AFL with a presence in all Australian states and territories.
A far cry from the league's first seasons when long-running suburban rivalries took priority over football in other states and the longest trip each season was the journey to Geelong by train or steamship.
Today, premiership matches are also played in Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory, providing the AFL with a presence in all Australian states and territories.
A far cry from the league's first seasons when long-running suburban rivalries took priority over football in other states and the longest trip each season was the journey to Geelong by train or steamship.