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A HISTORY OF THE VFA-VFL

PREMIERSHIP CAPTAINS/COACHES

FIRST DIVISION
SECOND DIVISION
FIRST DIVISION

SENIORS
​(inc. First Division 1961-1988)

NOTE - a single name indicates the premiership side was led by a playing coach (captain/coach)

YEAR

VFA PREMIERS

COACH

CAPTAIN

1877

Carlton

-

John Gardiner

1878

Geelong

-

James Wilson

1879

Geelong

-

James Wilson

1880

Geelong

-

James Wilson

1881

South Melbourne

-

Gilbert F. Major

1882

Geelong

-

James Wilson

1883

Geelong

-

Charles Brownlow

1884

Geelong

-

F. H. 'Harry' Steedman

1885

South Melbourne

-

Henry 'Sonny' Elms

1886

Geelong

-

David Hickinbotham

1887

Carlton

-

Tommy Leydin

1888

South Melbourne

-

Henry 'Sonny' Elms

1889

South Melbourne

-

Henry 'Sonny' Elms

1890

South Melbourne

-

Henry 'Sonny' Elms

1891

Essendon

-

William Fleming / Alec Dick*

1892

Essendon

-

Alec Dick

1893

Essendon

-

Alec Dick

1894

Essendon

-

Alec Dick

1895

Fitzroy

-

Thomas Banks

1896

Collingwood

-

William 'Bill' Strickland

YEAR

VFA PREMIERS

COACH

CAPTAIN

1897

Port Melbourne

-

Dave Powell

1898

Footscray

-

Dave Decoit

1899

Footscray

-

Dave Decoit

1900

Footscray

-

Dave Decoit

1901

Port Melbourne

-

William 'Billy' McGee

1902

Richmond

-

Alec Edmond

1903

North Melbourne

-

Paddy Noonan

1904

North Melbourne

-

Paddy Noonan

1905

Richmond

-

Alec Edmond

1906

West Melbourne

-

P. Johnson

1907

Williamstown

-

Ted Alley

1908

Footscray

Jim Cassidy

Tom McKinley

1909

Brunswick

Jack 'Dookie' McKenzie

Jack Johnson*

1910

North Melbourne

George Johnson

1911

Essendon Association

-

Dave McNamara

1912

Essendon Association

-

Dave McNamara

1913

Footscray

Jim Cassidy

Johnny Craddock

1914

North Melbourne

-

Charlie Hardy

1915

North Melbourne

-

Syd Barker

1916-17 - play suspended due to WWI

1918

North Melbourne

-

Syd Barker

1919

Footscray

Bill Sewart

Johnny Craddock

1920

Footscray

Johnny Craddock

1921

Williamstown

Harry Haughton

1922

Port Melbourne

Gus Dobrigh

1923

Footscray

John 'Con' McCarthy

1924

Footscray

John 'Con' McCarthy

1925

Brunswick

Wally Raleigh

1926

Coburg

Charlie Hardy

Harry Kerley

1927

Coburg

Charlie Hardy

Harry Kerley

1928

Coburg

Harry Kerley

1929

Northcote

Percy Rowe

1930

Oakleigh

Frank Maher

1931

Oakleigh

Frank Maher

1932

Northcote

Percy Rowe

1933

Northcote

Percy Rowe

1934

Northcote

Ralph Goullet

1935

Yarraville

Allan Hopkins

1936

Northcote

Alex Gray & Jack Lyngcoln*

Alex Gray

1937

Prahran

Leo Westcott

Norman Williams

1938

Brunswick

Roy McKay

1939

Williamstown

Gordon Ogden

1940

Port Melbourne

Frank Kelly

1941

Port Melbourne

Tommy Lahiff

1942-44 - play suspended due to WWII

1945

Williamstown

Maurie Hearn

1946

Sandringham

Len Toyne

1947

Port Melbourne

Bill Findlay

1948

Brighton

Col Williamson

1949

Williamstown

Gordon Ogden

Ron Todd

1950

Oakleigh

George Smeaton

Archie Baxter

1951

Prahran

Bill Faul

Paddy Walsh

1952

Oakleigh

George Smeaton

Archie Baxter

1953

Port Melbourne

Don 'Mopsy' Fraser

1954

Williamstown

Wally Carter

Gerry Callahan

1955

Williamstown

Wally Carter

Gerry Callahan

1956

Williamstown

Wally Carter

Gerry Callahan

1957

Moorabbin

Bill Faul

Alan Murphy

1958

Williamstown

Gerry Callahan

1959

Williamstown

Gerry Callahan

1960

Oakleigh

Alby Pannam

John Coughlan

1961

Yarraville

Keith Drinan

1962

Sandringham

Neil Bencraft

Fred Webster

1963

Moorabbin

Graham Dunscombe

Max Papley

1964

Port Melbourne

Laurie Mithen

1965

Waverley

Ian Thorogood

1966

Port Melbourne

Brian Buckley

1967

Dandenong

Alan Morrow

1968

Preston

Alan Joyce

1969

Preston

Alan Joyce

1970

Prahran

Kevin Rose

1971

Dandenong

Hugh Mitchell

Peter Stedwell

1972

Oakleigh

Bob Johnson

1973

Prahran

Kevin Rose

Ken Emselle

1974

Port Melbourne

Norm Brown

1975

Geelong West

Bill Goggin

Peter Stephens

1976

Port Melbourne

Norm Brown

1977

Port Melbourne

Norm Brown

1978

Prahran

Mick Erwin

Robert Anderson

1979

Coburg

Col Kinnear

Ron Beattie

1980

Port Melbourne

Gary Brice

1981

Port Melbourne

Gary Brice

1982

Port Melbourne

Gary Brice

1983

Preston

Ray Shaw

David Brine*

1984

Preston

Ray Shaw

1985

Sandringham

Bob Keddie

Ross Brewer

1986

Williamstown

Terry Wheeler

1987

Springvale

Phil Maylin

1988

Coburg

Phil Cleary

Brad Nimmo

1989

Coburg

Phil Cleary

Brad Nimmo

1990

Williamstown

Barry Round

1991

Dandenong

Tony Elshaug

1992

Sandringham

Trevor Barker

Anthony Allen

1993

Werribee

Donald McDonald

1994

Sandringham

Trevor Barker

Anthony Allen

1995

Springvale

Michael Ford

Denis Knight

YEAR

VFL PREMIERS

COACH

CAPTAIN

1996

Springvale

Brad Gotch

Kain Taylor

1997

Sandringham

Andy Collins

Darren Mitchelson

1998

Springvale

Peter Nicholson

Kain Taylor

1999

Springvale

Peter Nicholson

Kain Taylor

2000

Sandringham

Graeme Yeats

David MacGeorge

2001

Box Hill

Donald McDonald

Matthew Brewer

2002

Geelong Reserves

Ron Watt

Tim McGrath

2003

Williamstown

Brad Gotch

Troy West & Brad Lloyd

2004

Sandringham

Mark Williams

Chad Liddell

2005

Sandringham

Mark Williams

Chad Liddell

2006

Sandringham

Mark Williams

Chad Liddell

2007

Geelong Reserves

Leigh Tudor

James Byrne

2008

North Ballarat

Gerard FitzGerald

Shaune Moloney

2009

North Ballarat

Gerard FitzGerald

Shaune Moloney

2010

North Ballarat

Gerard FitzGerald

Shaune Moloney

2011

Port Melbourne

Gary Ayres

John Baird

2012

Geelong Reserves

Matthew Knights

Troy Selwood

2013

Box Hill

Damien Carroll

David Mirra

2014

Footscray Bulldogs

Chris Maple

Jordan Russell*

2015

Williamstown

Andy Collins

Ben Jolley

2016

Footscray Bulldogs

Ashley Hansen

Jordan Russell

2017

Port Melbourne

Gary Ayres

Toby Pinwill

2018

Box Hill

Chris Newman

Andrew Moore

2019

Richmond Reserves

Craig McRae

Steven Morris

 


​1891
- Fleming resigned from the captaincy sometime after leading the Victorian team in the intercolonial matches that were played in June. Dick was promoted from the vice-captaincy.

1909 - Brunswick's captain-coach, 'Dookie' McKenzie was unable to play due to an injury received the week before (his opponent from Essendon 'A' received a two year suspension for the incident); the side was captained in the Challenge Final by Jack Johnson.

1936 - Gray and Lyngcoln acted as joint coaches throughout the season.

1983 - Preston's captain-coach, Ray Shaw was unable to play due to injury; the side was captained on Grand Final day by David Brine.

2014 - Footscray's co-captains Nick Lower (injured) and Lukas Markovic (not selected) did not play; the side was captained on Grand Final day by vice-captain Jordan Russell.
SECOND DIVISION

SECOND DIVISION (1961-1988)

NOTE - a single name indicates the premiership side was led by a playing coach (captain/coach)

YEAR

SECOND DIVISION
PREMIERS

COACH

CAPTAIN

1961

Northcote

Neil Doolan

1962

Dandenong

Kevin Wright

1963

Preston

Charles Stewart

George Hancock

1964

Geelong West

Eric Nicholls

1965

Preston

John McArthur

1966

Prahran

Graham Dunscombe

Garry Butler

1967

Oakleigh

Eric Beard

Norm Luff

1968

Geelong West

Bryan Brushfield

1969

Williamstown

Max Papley

1970

Coburg

Mick Erwin

1971

Sunshine

Don McKenzie

1972

Geelong West

Bill Goggin

1973

Caulfield

Tony Jewell

1974

Coburg

John Dugdale

Colin Hobbs

1975

Brunswick

Jack Cuffe

John Warden

1976

Williamstown

Malcolm Allen

1977

Mordialloc

Geoff Rosenow

1978

Frankston

Bryan Mace

John Kennedy

1979

Camberwell

Graeme Phillips

Peter Oliver

1980

Brunswick

Barry Nolan

1981

Camberwell

Leon Rice

1982

Northcote

Colin Hobbs

Jim Christou

1983

Springvale

Laurie Fowler

1984

Box Hill

Eric Moore

Geoff Withers

1985

Brunswick

Barry Nolan

1986

Box Hill

Richard Murrie

1987

Prahran

Greg Hutchison

1988

Oakleigh

Bryan Quirk

Terry Smith

 


Written and researched by David Eastman
First published 4/5/2014
Page last updated 9/10/2019

VFA-VFL FINALS HISTORY (HOME)

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The author is a proud member of the Australian Football Heritage Group (AFHG), which is dedicated to preserving Australian football's history.

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© David Eastman 2013-2022. All rights reserved.
  • HOME
  • AFL
    • Gardiner Medal
    • Grand Final Sprint
    • Interclub Medals & Trophies
    • Night Series & Pre-Season Cup
  • VFA / VFL
    • AWARDS / MEDAL WINNERS >
      • J.J. Liston Trophy (Best & Fairest)
      • Frosty Miller Medal (Leading Goalkicker)
      • Norm Goss Medal (Grand Final B.O.G.)
      • Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal
      • Frank Johnson Medal (Rep. B.O.G.)
      • Seconds/Thirds
    • FINALS >
      • Grand Finals
      • Grand Finals - A History
      • Premiership Captains/Coaches
      • Premiership Tables
      • Finals Records
      • Minor Premiers... no GF
      • Grand Finals - Second Division
      • Challenge Finals
      • Drawn & Postponed Finals
      • Finals Systems
    • NON-PREMIERSHIP MATCHES >
      • Centenary Cup
      • Foxtel Cup
      • Lightning Premierships
      • NFL Night Series
      • Practice/Exhibition Matches
      • Pre-Season Cup
      • Premiers Cup (VSFL)
      • Promotion Playoffs
      • VFL-TFL Challenge
    • RECORDS
    • SECOND DIVISION
  • NON-PREM
    • NFL - 1976 WILLS CUP
    • NFL - 1977 ARDATH CUP
    • NFL - 1978 ESCORT CUP
    • NFL - 1979 ESCORT CUP
  • REPRESENTATIVE
    • STATE MATCHES >
      • 1870s
      • 1880s
      • 1890s
      • 1900s
      • 1910s
      • 1920s
      • 1930s
      • 1940s
      • 1950s
    • STATE UNIFORMS >
      • QLD Uniforms
      • SA Uniforms
      • WA Uniforms
    • VICTORIA >
      • VIC Matches
      • VIC Uniforms
    • VFA-VFL COMBINE >
      • VFA Rep. Awards
      • VFA Rep. Captains-Coaches
      • VFA Rep Matches
      • VFA Rep. Records
      • VFA Rep. Uniforms
  • DISCOVERIES
    • UNEARTHING
    • MYTHBUSTING
    • IN THE NEWS
    • FURTHER READING
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT