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THE HISTORY OF REPRESENTATIVE / INTERSTATE FOOTBALL

REPRESENTATIVE / INTERCOLONIAL MATCHES

1880 - 1889

1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1880

Date
Type

Teams

1/2

Final

Winner
Margin

Venue

Day
Crowd

1880

JULY - exhibition match featuring players from the Hobart-based Tasmanian FA

16-7-1880

TFA Town

tbd

1.?

(draw)

Oatlands

Sat (D)

(EX.)

TFA Country

tbd

1.?

Recreation Ground

unknown

AUGUST - Victoria tour of South Australia

14-8-1880

South Australia

1.7

2.9

VIC

Adelaide Oval

Sat (D)

(INTER-C.)

Victoria (VFA)

2.8

5.14

3 goals

4500

18-8-1880

SA "Natives" (23)*

0.2

1.2

VIC

Adelaide Oval

Wed (D)

(EX.)

Victoria (VFA)

0.10

5.18

4 goals

1500

21-8-1880

South Australia

0.2

0.6

VIC

Adelaide Oval

Sat (D)

(INTER-C.)

Victoria (VFA)

1.13

3.21

3 goals

2500-3000

 

*The SA "Natives" team was comprised of locally-born SAFA players, an early form of the State of Origin concept.
1881

Date
Type

Teams

1/2

Final

Winner
Margin

Venue

Day
Crowd

1881

MAY - exhibition match featuring players from the Hobart-based Tasmanian FA

7-5-1881

TFA Seniors

Match cancelled due to many
players not turning up

Upper CG, Queens Domain

Sat (D)

(EX.)

TFA Juniors

(TCA Ground)

-

JULY - New South Wales tour of Victoria

25-6-1881

New South Wales

tbd

3.5

NSW

Moore Park,

Sat (D)

(PRAC.)

All-Comers (25)

tbd

0.5

3 goals

Sydney

unknown

1-7-1881

Victoria (VFA)

7.16

9.24

VIC

MCG

Fri (D)

(INTER-C.)

New South Wales

0.0

0.1

9 goals

3000-4000

2-7-1881

Squadron / Victorians

Match cancelled

East Melbourne CG

Sat (D)

(EX.)

New South Wales

-

5-7-1881

Bendigo FC

1.4

1.7

NSW

Back Creek CG,

Tue (D)

(REP.)

New South Wales

2.7

4.11

3 goals

Sandhurst

2000-4000

JULY - Hotham FC tour of Tasmania

2-7-1881

Northern Tasmania (23)

0.0

0.2

HFC

Western Swamp

Sat (D)

(REP.)

Hotham FC (NMFC)

2.1

4.18

4 goals

(York Park)

1000

5-7-1881

Southern Tasmania (23)*

1.2

3.15

S.TAS

Upper CG, Queens Domain

Tue (D)

(REP.)

Hotham FC (NMFC)

2.13

2.16

1 goal

(TCA Ground)

1500

AUGUST - Victoria tour of New South Wales

6-8-1881

New South Wales

1.2

1.6

VIC

NSWCA Ground,

Sat (D)

(INTER-C.)

Victoria (VFA)

6.5

9.16

8 goals

Randwick (SCG)

5000

AUGUST - South Australia tour of Victoria

13-8-1881

South Australia

1.9

6.14

SA

Montefiore Hill,

Sat (D)

(PRAC.)

SAFA

1.2

1.8

5 goals

Adelaide

unknown

20-8-1881

Victoria (VFA)

5.11

9.22

VIC

East Melbourne CG

Sat (D)

(INTER-C.)

South Australia

1.4

1.8

8 goals

3000-4000

22-8-1881

Bendigo District**

No records found of this match
being played

Back Creek CG,

Mon (D)

(REP.)

South Australia

Sandhurst

-

24-8-1881

Victoria (VFA)

3.9

4.14

VIC

East Melbourne CG

Wed (D)

(INTER-C.)

South Australia

0.0

1.5

3 goals

1000-1500

27-8-1881

Geelong FC XVIII***

1.15

8.26

GFC

Corio Oval,

Sat (D)

(EX.)

South Australia

0.1

0.1

8 goals

Geelong

1500

AUGUST - exhibition match played while the SA colonial team was away on tour

27-8-1881

SAFA Firsts (20)

1.?

abandoned (torrential rain)

(draw)

Montefiore Hill,

Sat (D)

(EX.)

SAFA Seconds (25)

1.?

Adelaide

unknown

 

*Southern Tasmania comprised players from the four TFA clubs (City, Cricketers, New Town and Railway) plus non-TFA clubs/regions North Hobart, Oatlands, and Richmond

**South Australia were scheduled to play in Sandhurst on August 22nd. The match was mentioned in Melbourne and Adelaide papers that day, yet no further mention of the match has been found in contemporary sources. It appears that, for reasons unknown, the South Australians did not travel to Sandhurst.

***Geelong FC were led by their former captain, Jack Baker (who was playing for Carlton FC at that time) 
1882

Date
Type

Teams

1/2

Final

Winner
Margin

Venue

Day
Crowd

1882

JUNE - exhibition match featuring players from the Hobart-based Tasmanian FA

10-6-1882

TFA Town

tbd

4.26

TOWN

Upper CG, Queens Domain

Sat (D)

(EX.)

TFA Country

tbd

2.9

2 goals

(TCA Ground)

unknown

JULY - representative match played during Geelong FC's tour of New South Wales

15-7-1882

New South Wales

1.1

1.8

GFC

NSWCA Ground,

Sat (D)

(REP.)

Geelong FC

3.6

6.21

5 goals

Randwick (SCG)

2500

AUGUST - Essendon FC tour of Tasmania

12-8-1882

TFA (1st 16)

tbd

4.?

TFA-1

Upper CG, Queens Domain

Sat (D)

(PRAC.)

Hobart (20)

tbd

3.?

1 goal

(TCA Ground)

unknown

19-8-1882

TFA (1st 20)

tbd

6.?

TFA-1

Upper CG, Queens Domain

Sat (D)

(PRAC.)

TFA (2nd 24)

tbd

2.?

4 goals

(TCA Ground)

unknown

23-8-1882

Northern Tasmania (NTFA)*

1.1

1.4

EFC

Western Swamp

Wed (D)

(REP.)

Essendon FC

2.9

6.17

5 goals

(York Park)

1500

26-8-1882

Southern Tasmania (TFA)

1.3

2.18

EFC

Upper CG, Queens Domain

Sat (D)

(REP.)

Essendon FC

5.7

6.15

4 goals

(TCA Ground)

1600

29-8-1882

Tasmania

1.3

1.8

EFC

Upper CG, Queens Domain

Tue (D)

(REP.)

Essendon FC

4.13

6.27

5 goals

(TCA Ground)

3000

31-8-1882

Oatlands/Ross/Richmond FCs

1 goal

1 goal

EFC

Oatlands

Sat (D)

(EX.)

Essendon FC

1 goal

8 goals

7 goals

Recreation Ground

unknown

 

*The Northern Tasmanian FA existed from 1886 to 1986 and is well-known as one of Tasmanian football's three main competitions throughout the twentieth century (along with the TFL in the south and the NWFU in the north-west).

However, an earlier version of the NTFA was formed on May 5, 1882 and was the controlling body for football in the north of the state until 1885. Due to internal tensions the association disbanded that year and the surviving clubs spent the 1885 season affiliated with the Northern Tasmanian Junior FA before forming the second NTFA in 1886.
1883

Date
Type

Teams

1/2

Final

Winner
Margin

Venue

Day
Crowd

1883

JULY - representative match played during South Melbourne FC's tour of New South Wales

14-7-1883

New South Wales

2.4

4.7

SMFC

Association CG

Sat (D)

(REP.)

South Melbourne FC

5.7

9.17

5 goals

(SCG)

5000

JULY - Combined Sydney vs Combined Albury / Wagga

30-7-1883

NSWFA (Combined Sydney)

Match cancelled (many of the country players were unable to tour)

Association CG

Mon (D)

(REP.)

Combined Albury / Wagga

(SCG)

-

SEPTEMBER - inaugural New South Wales intra-state match

8-9-1883

Northern Districts

0.2

1.10

NSWFA

Newcastle CG

Sat (D)

(REP.)

NSWFA (Combined Sydney)

0.7

3.13

2 goals

1000

SEPTEMBER - inaugural Tasmanian intra-state matches

8-9-1883

Southern Tasmania (TFA)

2.9

6.18

TFA

Upper CG, Queens Domain

Sat (D)

(REP.)

Northern Tasmania (NTFA)

0.6

1.11

5 goals

(TCA Ground)

unknown

29-9-1883

Northern Tasmania (NTFA)

Match cancelled due to a dispute between the northern clubs

Western Swamp

Sat (D)

(REP.)

Southern Tasmania (TFA)

(York Park)

-

 

1884

Date
Type

Teams

1/2

Final

Winner
Margin

Venue

Day
Crowd

1884

JUNE - NSW intra-state: Combined Sydney vs Combined Newcastle region

21-6-1884

NSWFA (Combined Sydney)

4.9

7.16

NSWFA

Moore Park,

Sat (D)

(REP.)

Northern Districts

0.0

0.1

7 goals

Sydney

unknown

JUNE / JULY - South Adelaide FC tour of New South Wales

28-6-1884

New South Wales

0.8

3.15

(draw)

Association CG

Sat (D)

(REP.)

South Adelaide FC

3.2

3.9

(SCG)

2000

5-7-1884

New South Wales

2.4

5.7

SAFC

Association CG

Sat (D)

(REP.)

South Adelaide FC

3.3

9.8

4 goals

(SCG)

1500

JULY - Essendon FC tour of Tasmania

2-7-1884

Southern Tasmania (TFA)

4.4

6.12

TFA

Upper CG, Queens Domain

Wed (D)

(REP.)

Essendon FC

3.11

5.18

1 goal

(TCA Ground)

3000-5000

5-7-1884

Southern Tasmania (TFA)

2.4

3.11

EFC

Upper CG, Queens Domain

Sat (D)

(REP.)

Essendon FC

2.5

5.13

2 goals

(TCA Ground)

3500

9-7-1884

Southern Tasmania (TFA)

1.2

2.4

EFC

Upper CG, Queens Domain

Wed (D)

(REP.)

Essendon FC

3.11

8.26

6 goals

(TCA Ground)

2000

JULY - NSW intra-state: Combined Sydney vs Combined Newcastle region

26-7-1884

Northern Districts

Match cancelled (many of the city
players were unable to tour)

Newcastle CG

Sat (D)

(REP.)

NSWFA (Combined Sydney)

-

AUGUST - Tasmanian intra-state: North (NTFA) vs South (TFA)

9-8-1884

NTFA

1.3

3.3

(draw)

Launceston CC Ground

Sat (D)

(REP.)

TFA

1.2

3.10

(NTCA Ground)

2000

AUGUST - New South Wales tour of Queensland

2-8-1884

New South Wales

tbd

tbd

tbd

Moore Park,

Sat (D)

(PRAC.)

Next Best (25)

tbd

tbd

Sydney

unknown

9-8-1884

New South Wales

tbd

6.12

NSW

Moore Park,

Sat (D)

(PRAC.)

Sydney/East Sydney (25)

tbd

3.0

3 goals

Sydney

unknown

20-8-1884

Queensland

3.11

3.17

NSW

Albert Sports Ground,

Wed (D)

(INTER-C.)

New South Wales

2.3

7.10

4 goals

Brisbane

1500-2000

22-8-1884

Brisbane FC

3.7

3.8

(draw)

Albert Sports Ground,

Fri (D)

(REP.)

New South Wales

0.3

3.18

Brisbane

unknown

23-8-1884

Wallaroo FC

0.7

0.9

(draw)

Albert Sports Ground,

Sat (D)

(REP.)

New South Wales

0.1

0.9

Brisbane

unknown

25-8-1884

Comb. Darling Downs

0.4

2.6

NSW

Aubigny CG,

Mon (D)

(REP.)

New South Wales

1.3

3.7

1 goal

Toowoomba

700

27-8-1884

Excelsior FC

0.5

2.8

NSW

Albert Sports Ground,

Wed (D)

(REP.)

New South Wales

4.5

8.11

6 goals

Brisbane

unknown

28-8-1884

Ipswich FC

0.3

0.6

NSW

Grange Racecourse,

Thu (D)

(REP.)

New South Wales

3.6

5.12

5 goals

Ipswich

1200

30-8-1884

Queensland

2.6

3.7

QLD

Albert Sports Ground,

Sat (D)

(INTER-C.)

New South Wales

1.3

2.9

1 goal

Brisbane

2000

 

1885

Date
Type

Teams

1/2

Final

Winner
Margin

Venue

Day
Crowd

1885

MAY - Combined North-West Tasmania inaugural visit to Launceston

23-5-1885

Launceston FC

9.9

13.15

LFC

Launceston CC Ground

Sat (D)

(REP.)

North-West Coast

0.0

0.1

13 gls

(NTCA Ground)

unknown

25-5-1885

City FC (Launceston)

8 goals

8.17

CFC

Launceston CC Ground

Mon (D)

(REP.)

North-West Coast

0 goals

0.3

8 goals

(NTCA Ground)

unknown

JUNE - Tasmanian intra-state: North (NTJFA) vs South (TFA)

27-6-1885

TFA

4.10

14.20

TFA

Upper CG, Queens Domain

Sat (D)

(REP.)

NT Junior FA*

2.4

3.4

11 goals

(TCA Ground)

1300

JULY / AUGUST - NSW intra-state: Combined Sydney vs Combined Newcastle region

11-7-1885

Northern Districts

4.5

6.16

ND

Newcastle CG

Sat (D)

(REP.)

NSWFA (Combined Sydney)

1.0

2.2

4 goals

500

29-8-1885

NSWFA (Combined Sydney)

2.1

2.5

NSWFA

Moore Park,

Sat (D)

(REP.)

Northern Districts

0.1

1.5

1 goal

Sydney

2000

SEPTEMBER - Tasmanian intra-state: North (NTJFA) vs South (TFA)

5-9-1885

NT Junior FA

0.4

2.15

(draw)

Launceston CC Ground

Sat (D)

(REP.)

TFA

2.5

2.7

(NTCA Ground)

2000

SEPTEMBER - Combined North-West Tasmania representative match

12-9-1885

North-West Coast

1 goal

1 goal

CFC

Latrobe

Sat (D)

(REP.)

City FC (Launceston)

3 goals

8 goals

7 goals

Recreation Ground

200-300

 

*The original NTFA folded and the two remaining senior clubs (Launceston FC and City FC) were affiliated with the
​ Northern Tasmanian Junior FA in 1885
1886

Date
Type

Teams

1/4

1/2

3/4

Final

Winner
Margin

Venue

Day
Crowd

1886

MAY - New South Wales tour of Victoria

8-5-1886

New South Wales

-

-

-

1 goal

(draw)

Moore Park,

Sat (D)

(PRAC.)

All-Comers (23)

-

-

-

1 goal

Sydney

500

15-5-1886

New South Wales

-

-

-

2 goals

(draw)

Moore Park,

Sat (D)

(PRAC.)

All-Comers (23)

-

-

-

2 goals

Sydney

unknown

22-5-1886

Victoria (VFA)

1.4

4.10

5.15

8.20

VIC

MCG

Sat (D)

(INTER-C.)

New South Wales

1.2

1.2

2.2

3.3

5 goals

12 to 15,000

24-5-1886

Williamstown FC

2.1

2.8

3.11

6.15

WFC

Gardens Reserve,

Mon (D)

(REP.)

New South Wales

0.2

0.3

0.6

0.7

6 goals

Williamstown

5000-6000

26-5-1886

Sandhurst FA

1.2

3.4

3.?

3.8

SFA

Back Creek CG,

Wed (D)

(REP.)

New South Wales

0.0

1.1

2.?

2.9

1 goal

Sandhurst

2000

29-5-1886

Geelong FC

3.2

6.6

11.11

14.16

GFC

Corio Oval,

Sat (D)

(REP.)

New South Wales

0.0

0.1

0.1

0.2

14 gls

Geelong

2000-3000

MAY - Essendon FC tour of Tasmania

15-5-1886

NTFA (1st 17)

-

-

-

2 goals

NTFA1

NTCA Ground,

Sat (D)

(PRAC.)

NTFA (2nd 25)

-

-

-

5 goals

3 goals

Launceston

unknown

22-5-1886

Northern Tasmania (NTFA)

0.3

1.5

1.5

2.5

NTFA

NTCA Ground,

Sat (D)

(REP.)

Essendon FC

1.3

1.7

1.9

1.12

1 goal

Launceston

1500

24-5-1886

Southern Tasmania (TFA)

1.2

1.5

2.7

2.9

(draw)

TFA Ground, Risdon

Mon (D)

(REP.)

Essendon FC

0.7

1.11

2.14

2.18

(Cornelian Bay)

6000

29-5-1886

Southern Tasmania (TFA)

2.4

2.8

2.12

2.16

TFA

TFA Ground, Risdon

Sat (D)

(REP.)

Essendon FC

0.1

0.2

1.5

1.6

1 goal

(Cornelian Bay)

2000-3000

JUNE - Queensland tour of New South Wales

19-6-1886

New South Wales

3.1

3.1

4.10

4.13

NSW

Association CG

Sat (D)

(INTER-C.)

Queensland

0.0

0.0

1.1

1.5

3 goals

(SCG)

1200

21-6-1886

Sydney FC

1.3

3.6

5.9

6.13

SFC

Association CG

Mon (D)

(REP.)

Queensland

1.1

1.4

1.4

1.4

5 goals

(SCG)

200-400

23-6-1886

East/West Sydney FCs

0.5

0.6

1.14

1.14

QLD

Association CG

Wed (D)

(REP.)

Queensland

0.0

0.5

0.6

3.13

2 goals

(SCG)

300

24-6-1886

Northern District

0.1

1.3

1.6

2.9

ND

Newcastle CG

Thu (D)

(REP.)

Queensland

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

2 goals

1500-1800

26-6-1886

New South Wales

2.6

3.7

5.10

9.11

NSW

Association CG

Sat (D)

(INTER-C.)

Queensland

1.3

1.5

1.6

1.7

8 goals

(SCG)

600-1000

28-6-1886

City/Waratah FCs

0.2

1.4

1.4

2.6

CWFC

Association CG

Sat (D)

(REP.)

Queensland

1.2

1.4

1.4

1.6

1 goal

(SCG)

600-1000

JUNE - Tasmanian intra-state: North (NTFA) vs South (TFA)

26-6-1886

TFA

1.6

3.11

3.17

4.18

TFA

TFA Ground, Risdon

Sat (D)

(REP.)

NTFA

0.1

0.2

0.2

0.5

4 goals

(Cornelian Bay)

2000-3000

JULY - Melbourne FC tour of Tasmania

10-7-1886

Northern Tasmania (NTFA)

0.4

0.6

1.13

2.14

MFC

NTCA Ground,

Sat (D)

(REP.)

Melbourne FC

2.1

4.3

4.6

5.10

3 goals

Launceston

1500-2000

14-7-1886

Southern Tasmania (TFA)

2.3

2.4

5.8

8.11

TFA

TFA Ground, Risdon

Wed (D)

(REP.)

Melbourne FC

0.4

0.7

0.9

1.9

7 goals

(Cornelian Bay)

3000

17-7-1886

Southern Tasmania (TFA)

1.3

1.4

1.5

2.6

MFC

TFA Ground, Risdon

Sat (D)

(REP.)

Melbourne FC

1.2

1.5

3.8

3.12

1 goal

(Cornelian Bay)

3000-4000

AUGUST - NSW intra-state: Combined Sydney vs Combined Newcastle region

7-8-1886

NSWFA (Combined Sydney)

2.3

2.4

2.7

7.13

NSWFA

Association CG

Sat (D)

(REP.)

Northern District

0.0

0.3

1.5

1.5

6 goals

(SCG)

500

AUGUST - Tasmanian intra-state: North (NTFA) vs South (TFA)

28-8-1886

NTFA

Match cancelled due to torrential rain

NTCA Ground,

Sat (D)

(REP.)

TFA

Launceston

-

SEPTEMBER - inaugural Perth-Fremantle derby

11-9-1886

Combined Perth

-

-

-

2.9

Perth

Perth Recreation

Sat (D)

(EX.)

Combined Fremantle

-

-

-

1.3

1 goal

Ground

unknown

 

1887

Date
Type

Teams

1/4

1/2

3/4

Final

Winner
Margin

Venue

Day
Crowd

1887

MAY / JUNE - Tasmania tour of Victoria

21-5-1887

Victoria (VFA)

2.2

2.4

5.9

7.15

VIC

MCG

Sat (D)

(INTER-C.)

Tasmania

1.1

4.3

4.5

4.6

3 goals

15 to 20,000

24-5-1887

Essendon FC

0.4

0.6

1.6

2.7

(draw)

South Melbourne CG

Tue (D)

(REP.)

Tasmania

0.2

2.2

2.7

2.7

(Lake Oval)

12,000

26-5-1887

University FC

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.7

TAS

University Oval,

Thu (D)

(REP.)

Tasmania

1.2

4.3

5.4

6.5

6 goals

Parkville

1000-2000

28-5-1887

Ballarat FC

0.1

1.5

1.8

4.11

TAS

Saxon's Paddock,

Sat (D)

(REP.)

Tasmania

1.4

3.5

5.10

5.12

1 goal

Ballarat

7000

30-5-1887

Adelaide FC

2.1

3.4

3.5

3.6

TAS

MCG

Mon (D)

(REP.)

Tasmania

1.6

3.7

7.11

13.14

10 gls

5000

1-6-1887

Melbourne FC

1.1

1.5

2.7

3.10

MFC

MCG

Wed (D)

(REP.)

Tasmania

1.2

1.8

2.8

2.8

1 goal

1600

JUNE - Tasmanian intra-state: North (NTFA) vs South (STFA)

4-6-1887

NTFA

0.1

1.6

1.6

3.9

(draw)

NTCA Ground,

Sat (D)

(REP.)

STFA

3.3

3.4

3.11

3.11

Launceston

1500

JUNE / JULY - Hotham FC tour of Tasmania

25-6-1887

Northern Tasmania (NTFA)

1.4

1.4

3.7

3.7

NTFA

NTCA Ground,

Sat (D)

(REP.)

Hotham FC (NMFC)

0.1

2.7

2.7

2.14

1 goal

Launceston

unknown

29-6-1887

Southern Tasmania (STFA)

0.1

2.7

3.8

4.8

HFC

STFA Ground, Risdon