THE HISTORY OF REPRESENTATIVE / INTERSTATE FOOTBALL
VFA-VFL - REP. CAPTAINS/COACHES
This is the first time such a list has been published in print or online and it remains a work in progress. If you have access to representative team lists/match reports in the Football Recorder, old newspapers, annual reports, etc, and can offer any assistance filling the gaps it would be greatly appreciated. Please contact me with any information you can provide.
Note that in the following tables:
- dark grey shading indicates exhibition matches (EX) or practice matches (PRAC), these were not official representative contests.
- an asterisk (*) after a player's name indicates he was promoted to captain/vice-captain when the original selection stood down due to injury or suspension (see the notes after each table for more details).
INTERCOLONIAL ERA (1877-1896)
DATE |
TYPE |
VENUE |
TEAM |
OPPONENT |
COACH |
CAPTAIN |
VICE-CAPTAIN |
28-6-1879 |
PRAC |
Melbourne |
Victoria |
Hotham-Essendon FC's |
(no
coaches in this era) |
John
Gardiner (Carl) |
tbd |
1-7-1879 |
I |
Melbourne |
Victoria |
South
Australia |
- |
John
Gardiner (Carl) |
Bob
Sillett (Melb) |
5-7-1879 |
I |
Melbourne |
Victoria |
South
Australia |
- |
John
Gardiner (Carl) |
Bob
Sillett (Melb) |
14-8-1880 |
I |
Adelaide |
Victoria |
South
Australia |
- |
Jack
Gibson (SM) |
James
Robertson (Hotham) |
18-8-1880 |
EX |
Adelaide |
Victoria |
SA
Natives (23) |
- |
Jack
Gibson (SM) |
James
Robertson (Hotham) |
21-8-1880 |
I |
Adelaide |
Victoria |
South
Australia |
- |
Jack
Gibson (SM) |
James
Robertson (Hotham) |
1-7-1881 |
I |
Melbourne |
Victoria |
New
South Wales |
- |
James
Wilson (Geel) |
William
Goer (Carl) |
6-8-1881 |
I |
Sydney |
Victoria |
New
South Wales |
- |
Albert
Austin (Geel) |
William
Goer (Carl) |
20-8-1881 |
I |
Melbourne |
Victoria |
South
Australia |
- |
William
Goer (Carl) |
Gilbert
F. Major (SM) |
24-8-1881 |
I |
Melbourne |
Victoria |
South
Australia |
- |
James
Wilson (Geel) |
William
Goer (Carl) |
22-5-1886 |
I |
Melbourne |
Victoria |
New
South Wales |
- |
Sam
Bloomfield (Carl) |
Ned
Powell (Ess) |
21-5-1887 |
I |
Melbourne |
Victoria |
Tasmania |
- |
Jack
Baker (Carl) |
William
Fleming (Ess) |
18-5-1889 |
I |
Melbourne |
Victoria |
Sthn Tasmania (STFA) |
- |
Peter
Burns (SM) |
William
Fleming (Ess) |
13-7-1889 |
I |
Melbourne |
Victoria |
Northern
NSW (NDFA) |
- |
Ben
Page (SM) |
tbd |
5-7-1890 |
I |
Melbourne |
Victoria |
South
Australia |
- |
Henry
'Sonny' Elms (SM) |
Jack
Worrall (Fitz) |
10-7-1890 |
I |
Melbourne |
Victoria |
South
Australia |
- |
tbd |
tbd |
13-6-1891 |
I |
Adelaide |
Victoria |
South
Australia |
- |
William
Fleming (Ess) |
Jack
Baker (Geel) |
16-6-1891 |
I |
Adelaide |
Victoria |
South
Australia |
- |
William
Fleming (Ess) |
Jack
Baker (Geel) |
25-6-1892 |
I |
Melbourne |
Victoria |
South
Australia |
- |
Thomas
Banks (Fitz) |
tbd |
10-6-1893 |
I |
Adelaide |
Victoria |
South
Australia |
- |
Thomas
Banks (Fitz) |
Colin
Campbell (Ess) |
12-6-1893 |
REP |
Adelaide |
Victoria |
Norwood
FC |
- |
Colin
Campbell (Ess)* |
- |
7-6-1893 |
I |
Hobart |
Victoria
'B' |
Sthn Tasmania (STFA) |
- |
William
Windley (SM) |
tbd |
10-6-1893 |
I |
Hobart |
Victoria
'B' |
Sthn Tasmania (STFA) |
- |
William
Windley (SM) |
tbd |
10-6-1893 |
REP |
Melbourne |
Victoria
'C' |
Port
Adelaide FC |
- |
Alec
Dick (Ess) |
Peter
Burns (Geel) |
21-7-1894 |
I |
Melbourne |
Victoria |
South
Australia |
- |
Alec
Dick (Ess) |
tbd |
24-9-1894 |
EX |
Melbourne |
Rest
of VFA |
Essendon FC |
- |
William
Strickland (Coll) |
tbd |
In this era captains and vice-captains were selected by a vote of the players, usually on the day of the match or the week before at a team meeting. This meant there was often more than one representative captain per season (in later years a selection committee chose the captains/vice-captains and those players led for all representative matches played that season, unless injuries or poor form forced a change). Note also that coaches weren't named in this era; captains filled the role of a playing coach, making positional changes from the field.
1879 vs Hotham-Essendon FCs - Sillett (VC) did not play (he was required by the Melbourne team which played at Geelong that day).
1880 vs SA - James Robertson (VC) was also known as 'Jimmie' and had previously played for Carlton as far back as the pre-VFA Challenge Cup era.
1881 (Aug.6) vs NSW - Austin, captain from the match in July, did not play (reason unknown).
1881 (Aug.20) vs SA - neither Wilson nor Austin, the captains against NSW, played (both were part of the Geelong team which played a top of the table clash against Melbourne that day). Goer was promoted from the vice-captaincy.
1889 vs NDFA - Burns, captain from the match in May, did not play (he led South Melbourne on their Tasmanian tour). Fleming, vice-captain in May, also did not play (he was part of the Essendon team which played at Geelong that day). In their absence the VFA team was led by Page, a South Melbourne player who had not made the trip to Tasmania.
1890 (July 10) vs SA - The Australasian (12-7-1890) says not a single Victorian player from the Saturday match took the field for this game - this was most likely due to the match being played during the working week. Elms, captain in the first match, did not play for reasons unknown. Worrall, vice-captain in the first match, did not play due to Fitzroy making a visit to Ballarat.
1893 vs Norwood - Banks did not play (injured in the match against SA two days earlier). Campbell was promoted from the vice-captaincy.
1894 vs Essendon - Dick, captain from the match in July, led the opposition in this exhibition match. Strickland replaced him as VFA captain.
REPRESENTATIVE ERA (1897-1949)
DATE |
TYPE |
VENUE |
TEAM |
OPPONENT |
COACH |
CAPTAIN |
VICE-CAPTAIN |
31-7-1897 |
REP |
Ballarat |
VFA |
Ballarat FA |
- |
Robert
Dick (Foots.) |
tbd |
9-7-1898 |
REP |
Ballarat |
VFA |
Ballarat FA |
- |
- |
- |
15-9-1900 |
EX |
Melbourne |
Rest
of VFA |
Footscray FC |
- |
Dave
Powell (Port) |
tbd |
4-9-1902 |
REP |
Melbourne |
VFA |
VFL |
- |
William
'Billy' McGee (Port) |
Dave
Noonan (NM) |
24-6-1905 |
REP |
Melbourne |
VFA |
South
Australia |
- |
Hugh
Gavin (Ess.A) |
Arthur
Knox (Port) |
5-8-1905 |
REP |
Adelaide |
VFA |
South
Australia |
- |
Hugh
Gavin (Ess.A) |
Arthur
Knox (Port) |
9-8-1905 |
EX |
Stawell |
VFA |
Stawell FC (21) |
- |
Hugh
Gavin (Ess.A) |
Arthur
Knox (Port) |
20-6-1906 |
EX |
Stawell |
VFA |
Stawell FC (21) |
- |
Tom
Hedley (Foots.) |
tbd |
23-6-1906 |
REP |
Adelaide |
VFA |
South
Australia |
- |
Tom
Hedley (Foots.) |
tbd |
11-8-1906 |
REP |
Melbourne |
VFA |
South
Australia |
- |
Jack
Geggie (Rich.) |
tbd |
29-8-1906 |
REP |
Bendigo |
VFA |
Bendigo-Northern FA's |
- |
Henry
Chase (B'wick) |
tbd |
8-6-1907 |
REP |
Melbourne |
VFA |
South
Australia |
- |
J.
'Dookie' McKenzie (Ess.A) |
Ern McDonald (Rich.) |
24-7-1907 |
EX |
Stawell |
VFA |
Stawell FC (20) |
- |
J.
'Dookie' McKenzie (Ess.A) |
Arthur
Williams (Foots.) |
27-7-1907 |
REP |
Adelaide |
VFA |
South
Australia |
- |
J.
'Dookie' McKenzie (Ess.A) |
Arthur
Williams (Foots.) |
20-6-1908 |
REP |
Adelaide |
VFA |
South
Australia |
- |
Henry
Chase (B'wick) |
Jim
Munday (Ess.A) |
24-6-1908 |
REP |
Broken
Hill |
VFA |
Barrier
Ranges FA |
- |
Henry
Chase (B'wick) |
Jim
Munday (Ess.A) |
27-6-1908 |
REP |
Broken
Hill |
VFA |
Barrier
Ranges FA |
- |
Henry
Chase (B'wick) |
Jim
Munday (Ess.A) |
16-6-1909 |
EX |
Stawell |
VFA |
Stawell FC (21) |
- |
J.
'Dookie' McKenzie (B'wick) |
Edward
Alley (W'town) |
19-6-1909 |
REP |
Adelaide |
VFA |
South
Australia |
- |
J.
'Dookie' McKenzie (B'wick) |
Edward
Alley (W'town) |
22-6-1909 |
REP |
Broken
Hill |
VFA |
Barrier
Ranges FA |
- |
J.
'Dookie' McKenzie (B'wick) |
Edward
Alley (W'town) |
26-6-1909 |
REP |
Broken
Hill |
VFA |
Barrier
Ranges FA |
- |
J.
'Dookie' McKenzie (B'wick) |
Edward
Alley (W'town) |
7-8-1909 |
REP |
Melbourne |
VFA |
South
Australia |
- |
J.
'Dookie' McKenzie (B'wick) |
Michael
Madden (Ess.A) |
18-6-1910 |
REP |
Melbourne |
VFA |
South
Australia |
- |
J.
'Dookie' McKenzie (B'wick) |
tbd |
27-7-1910 |
EX |
Stawell |
VFA |
Stawell FC (21) |
- |
J.
'Dookie' McKenzie (B'wick) |
F.
'Son' Dowsing (Prah.) |
30-7-1910 |
REP |
Adelaide |
VFA |
South
Australia |
- |
J.
'Dookie' McKenzie (B'wick) |
F.
'Son' Dowsing (Prah.) |
10-6-1911 |
REP |
Melbourne |
VFA |
South
Australia |
- |
J.
'Dookie' McKenzie (B'wick) |
tbd |
8-7-1911 |
REP |
Adelaide |
VFA |
South
Australia |
- |
J.
'Dookie' McKenzie (B'wick) |
Thomas
Wenborn (Brighton) |
12-7-1911 |
REP |
Broken
Hill |
VFA |
Barrier
Ranges FA |
- |
J.
'Dookie' McKenzie (B'wick) |
Thomas
Wenborn (Brighton) |
15-7-1911 |
REP |
Broken
Hill |
VFA |
Barrier
Ranges FA |
- |
J.
'Dookie' McKenzie (B'wick) |
Thomas
Wenborn (Brighton) |
29-6-1912 |
REP |
Broken
Hill |
VFA |
Barrier
Ranges FA |
- |
J.
'Dookie' McKenzie (B'wick) |
Bert
Amey (W'town) |
3-7-1912 |
REP |
Broken
Hill |
VFA |
Barrier
Ranges FA |
- |
J.
'Dookie' McKenzie (B'wick) |
Bert
Amey (W'town) |
19-7-1913 |
REP |
Warrnambool |
VFA |
Western
District FA |
- |
tbd |
tbd |
9-9-1916 |
EX |
Melbourne |
Rest
of VFA |
North
Melbourne FC |
- |
Tom
Sevior (Ess.A) |
- |
1-8-1920 |
REP |
Kalgoorlie |
VFA |
Goldfields
FA |
- |
Syd Barker snr
(NM) |
Joe
Moroney (Prah.) |
4-8-1920 |
REP |
Kalgoorlie |
VFA |
Goldfields
FA |
- |
Syd Barker snr
(NM) |
Joe
Moroney (Prah.) |
8-8-1920 |
REP |
Kalgoorlie |
VFA |
Goldfields
FA |
- |
Syd Barker snr
(NM) |
Joe
Moroney (Prah.) |
6-8-1921 |
REP |
Melbourne |
VFA |
Goldfields
FA |
- |
William
Walton (Haw.) |
Joe
Moroney (Prah.) |
8-7-1923 |
REP |
Kalgoorlie |
VFA |
Goldfields
FA |
- |
William
Walton (Haw.) |
Morrie Ewans
(Brighton) |
11-7-1923 |
REP |
Kalgoorlie |
VFA |
Goldfields
FA |
- |
William
Walton (Haw.) |
Morrie Ewans
(Brighton) |
15-7-1923 |
REP |
Kalgoorlie |
VFA |
Goldfields
FA |
- |
William
Walton (Haw.) |
Morrie Ewans
(Brighton) |
2-8-1924 |
REP |
Melbourne |
VFA |
Perth
FC |
- |
John
'Con' McCarthy (Foots.) |
tbd |
25-9-1926 |
REP |
Warragul |
VFA |
Central
Gippsland FA |
- |
tbd |
tbd |
22-9-1927 |
REP |
Melbourne |
VFA |
Central
Gippsland FA |
- |
tbd |
tbd |
6-6-1931 |
REP |
Melbourne |
VFA |
VFL |
- |
Gilbert
Taylor (Pres.) |
George
Rudolph (Oak.) |
15-8-1931 |
REP |
Sydney |
VFA |
New
South Wales |
- |
Cyril
Lilburne (Brighton) |
William
Koop (Prah.) |
6-6-1932 |
REP |
Melbourne |
VFA |
VFL |
(captain-coach) |
A.T.
'Horrie' Mason (C'well) |
Gordon
Hellwig (W'town) |
16-6-1934 |
REP |
Melbourne |
VFA |
VFL |
Frank
Maher (Oak.) |
George
Rudolph (Cob.) |
Con
Sheehan (Y'ville) |
13-4-1935 |
EX |
Melbourne |
VFA |
Richmond
FC |
(captain-coach) |
Danny
Warr (Pres.) |
tbd |
29-6-1936 |
REP |
Melbourne |
VFA |
VFL |
(captain-coach) |
Ralph
Goullet (Brighton) |
Stan
Plumridge (Port) |
24-9-1936 |
EX |
Melbourne |
VFA |
VFL |
(captain-coach) |
Neville
Huggins (W'town) |
Alec
Gray (N'cote) |
12-5-1937 |
REP |
Melbourne |
VFA |
VFL |
(captain-coach) |
Neville
Huggins (W'town) |
Jack
Bisset (Port) |
16-6-1947 |
EX |
Bendigo |
VFA |
Bendigo FA |
tbd |
tbd |
tbd |
1905 vs SA - Gavin later captained Western Australia at the 1911 National Carnival.
1906 (Aug.11) vs SA - Hedley, captain in the matches in June, also played in this match but Geggie was chosen as captain.
1906 (Aug.29) vs Bendigo & Northern District FAs - Neither Hedley nor Geggie played (probably due to the match being played midweek). Chase replaced them as captain.
1907 (July) vs Stawell & SA - McDonald, vice-captain in the June match, did not play due to injury. Williams replaced him as vice-captain. Williams was a veteran of 13 VFA seasons and later retired at the end of the 1907 season.
1909 (Aug.7) vs SA - Alley, vice-captain in the matches played in June, did not play due to suspension. Madden replaced him as vice-captain.
1921 vs GFA - Walton was previously a member of Collingwood's 1919 premiership team in the VFL.
1923 vs GFA - Walton controversially transferred from Port Melbourne to Hawthorn in 1922. However, Port Melbourne insisted he was their player so the clubs reached an unusual agreement: Walton would coach Hawthorn during the week and play for Port on the weekend. By the time of this match he had moved to Hawthorn full-time.
1931 vs NSW - Taylor and Rudolph, captain and vice-captain against the VFL in June, did not play and were replaced in these roles by Lilburne and Koop. Lilburne had previously played 74 games for Richmond and was vice-captain of the VFL side that played NSW in 1929.
1932 vs VFL - Mason had played 137 games for St Kilda and captained them in 1931 before crossing to the VFA.
1935 vs Richmond - a VFA team was selected with Danny Warr (ex-St Kilda) named as captain, but the match was postponed due to gale force winds then postponed a second time due to torrential rain. With the VFA and VFL premiership seasons due to begin the match was then cancelled.
1936 (Sept.24) vs VFL - Goullet and Plumridge, captain and vice-captain against the VFL in June, did not play and were replaced in these roles by Huggins and Gray. Huggins had played 90 games for Fitzroy and North Melbourne before crossing to the VFA.
INTERSTATE ERA (1950-1969)
DATE |
TYPE |
VENUE |
TEAM |
OPPONENT |
COACH |
CAPTAIN |
VICE-CAPTAIN |
11-6-1950 |
I |
Canberra |
VFA |
Canberra
(A.C.T.) |
Bill
Faul (Prah.) |
Arch
Baxter (Oak.) |
Pat
'Paddy' Walsh (Prah.) |
19-7-1950 |
I
(C) |
Brisbane |
VFA |
Tasmania |
Bill
Faul (Prah.) |
Jack
Whelan (B'wick) |
Pat
'Paddy' Walsh (Prah.) |
24-7-1950 |
I
(C) |
Brisbane |
VFA |
South
Australia |
Bill
Faul (Prah.) |
Jack
Whelan (B'wick) |
Pat
'Paddy' Walsh (Prah.) |
26-7-1950 |
I
(C) |
Brisbane |
VFA |
Victoria
(VFL) |
Bill
Faul (Prah.) |
Jack
Whelan (B'wick) |
Pat
'Paddy' Walsh (Prah.) |
29-7-1950 |
I
(C) |
Brisbane |
VFA |
Western
Australia |
Bill
Faul (Prah.) |
Jack
Whelan (B'wick) |
Pat
'Paddy' Walsh (Prah.) |
9-5-1951 |
I |
Adelaide |
VFA |
South
Australia |
Bill
Faul (Prah.) |
Pat
'Paddy' Walsh (Prah.)* |
Geoff
Turner (Brighton) |
30-6-1951 |
I |
Hobart |
VFA |
Tasmania |
Bill
Faul (Prah.) |
Jack
Whelan (B'wick) |
Pat
'Paddy' Walsh (Prah.) |
14-7-1951 |
I
(C) |
Canberra |
VFA |
Aust.
Amateurs |
Bill
Faul (Prah.) |
Jack
Whelan (B'wick) |
Pat
'Paddy' Walsh (Prah.) |
2-6-1953 |
EX |
Melbourne |
VFA
North |
VFA
South |
- |
Frank
Nielsen (B'wick) |
Jack
Rogan (Cob.) |
VFA
South |
VFA
North |
- |
Pat
'Paddy' Walsh (Prah.)* |
- |
|||
8-7-1953 |
I
(C) |
Adelaide |
VFA |
Tasmania |
George
Smeaton (Oak.) |
Norm
Tindal (Oak.) |
Don
'Mopsy' Fraser (Port) |
13-7-1953 |
I
(C) |
Adelaide |
VFA |
Victoria
(VFL) |
George
Smeaton (Oak.) |
Norm
Tindal (Oak.) |
Don
'Mopsy' Fraser (Port) |
15-7-1953 |
I
(C) |
Adelaide |
VFA |
South
Australia |
George
Smeaton (Oak.) |
Roy
Stabb (N'cote)* |
tbd |
18-7-1953 |
I
(C) |
Adelaide |
VFA |
Western
Australia |
George
Smeaton (Oak.) |
Norm
Tindal (Oak.) |
Roy
Stabb (N'cote)* |
14-6-1956 |
I
(C) |
Perth |
VFA |
South
Australia |
Bill
Faul (N'cote) |
Frank
Johnson (Port) |
Gerry
Callahan (W'town) |
16-6-1956 |
I
(C) |
Perth |
VFA |
Victoria
(VFL) |
Bill
Faul (N'cote) |
Frank
Johnson (Port) |
tbd |
19-6-1956 |
I
(C) |
Perth |
VFA |
Tasmania |
Bill
Faul (N'cote) |
Frank
Johnson (Port) |
tbd |
21-6-1956 |
I
(C) |
Perth |
VFA |
Western
Australia |
Bill
Faul (N'cote) |
Frank
Johnson (Port) |
tbd |
2-12-1956 |
PRAC |
Melbourne |
VFA-VFL |
VAFA |
Bruce
Andrew (ANFC) |
Denis
Cordner (Melbourne) |
Keith
Woolnough (N'cote) |
7-12-1956 |
EX |
Melbourne |
VFA-VFL |
VAFA |
Bruce
Andrew (ANFC) |
Denis
Cordner (Melbourne) |
Keith
Woolnough (N'cote) |
13-7-1957 |
REP |
Launceston |
VFA |
NTFA-NWFU |
(captain-coach) |
Frank
Johnson (Port) |
Gerry
Callahan (W'town) |
23-7-1957 |
I |
Melbourne |
VFA |
South
Australia |
(captain-coach) |
Frank
Johnson (Port) |
Gerry
Callahan (W'town) |
20-8-1957 |
I |
Adelaide |
VFA |
South
Australia |
(captain-coach) |
Frank
Johnson (Port) |
Gerry
Callahan (W'town) |
2-7-1958 |
I
(C) |
Melbourne |
VFA |
Tasmania |
Col
Austen (B.Hill) |
Ken
Ross (C'well) |
Len
Gilder (Moor.) |
7-7-1958 |
I
(C) |
Melbourne |
VFA |
Victoria
(VFL) |
Col
Austen (B.Hill) |
Ken
Ross (C'well) |
Len
Gilder (Moor.) |
9-7-1958 |
I
(C) |
Melbourne |
VFA |
Western
Australia |
Col
Austen (B.Hill) |
Ken
Ross (C'well) |
Len
Gilder (Moor.) |
11-7-1958 |
I
(C) |
Melbourne |
VFA |
South
Australia |
Col
Austen (B.Hill) |
Ken
Ross (C'well) |
Len
Gilder (Moor.) |
26-6-1960 |
I
(C) |
Sydney |
VFA |
Canberra
(A.C.T.) |
Gerry
Callahan (W'town) |
Jim
Whiley (B'wick) |
tbd |
29-6-1960 |
I
(C) |
Sydney |
VFA |
Queensland |
Gerry
Callahan (W'town) |
Jim
Whiley (B'wick) |
tbd |
3-7-1960 |
I
(C) |
Sydney |
VFA |
New
South Wales |
Gerry
Callahan (W'town) |
Jim
Whiley (B'wick) |
Les
Moroney (Moor.) |
30-7-1960 |
I
(C) |
Canberra |
VFA |
Aust.
Amateurs |
Gerry
Callahan (W'town) |
Jim
Whiley (B'wick) |
Les
Moroney (Moor.) |
12-6-1961 |
I |
Hobart |
VFA |
Tasmania |
Jim
Cleary (Dand.) |
Ray
Smith (W'town) |
Jim
Whiley (B'wick) |
4-6-1962 |
I |
Devonport |
VFA |
Tasmania |
Gerry
Callahan (W'town) |
Len
Gilder (Moor.) |
tbd |
6-6-1964 |
I |
Launceston |
VFA |
Tasmania |
Gerry
Callahan (W'town) |
M.J.
'Shaun' Crosbie (Sun.) |
Bob
Freyer (Port) |
12-6-1965 |
I |
Perth |
VFA |
Western
Australia |
Gerry
Callahan (W'town) |
M.J.
'Shaun' Crosbie (Sun.) |
Bob
Freyer (Port) |
18-7-1965 |
I |
Melbourne |
VFA |
Tasmania |
Gerry
Callahan (W'town) |
M.J.
'Shaun' Crosbie (Sun.) |
tbd |
9-6-1966 |
I
(C) |
Hobart |
VFA |
Western
Australia |
Percy
Bushby (Cob.) |
Keith
Burns (B'wick) |
Tom
Crosher (Port) |
11-6-1966 |
I
(C) |
Hobart |
VFA |
Tasmania |
Percy
Bushby (Cob.) |
Keith
Burns (B'wick) |
Tom
Crosher (Port) |
13-6-1966 |
I
(C) |
Hobart |
VFA |
Victoria
(VFL) |
Percy
Bushby (Cob.) |
Keith
Burns (B'wick) |
Tom
Crosher (Port) |
16-6-1966 |
I
(C) |
Hobart |
VFA |
South
Australia |
Percy
Bushby (Cob.) |
Keith
Burns (B'wick) |
Tom
Crosher (Port) |
26-5-1968 |
I |
Canberra |
VFA |
Canberra
(A.C.T.) |
(captain-coach) |
Keith
Burns (B'wick) |
Max
Papley (W'town) |
29-6-1968 |
I |
Launceston |
VFA |
Tasmania |
Keith
Burns (B'wick) |
Max
Papley (W'town)* |
tbd |
1950 National Carnival - Baxter was injured in the match against the Amateurs in June and struggled for fitness afterwards, eventually costing him his place in the Carnival side. Whelan was elected to the VFA captaincy, despite not being a captain or vice-captain of his club, due to his leadership on the Canberra tour in June.
1951 (May 9) vs SA - Whelan (C) did not play due to suspension. Walsh was promoted from the vice-captaincy.
1953 North vs South - Box Hill's Bill Morris was originally named captain of VFA South but withdrew due to injury. Walsh replaced him as captain.
1953 (July 15) vs SA - Tindal (C) and Fraser (VC) did not play due to injury. Stabb filled-in as captain.
1953 (July 18) vs WA - Tindal (C) returned to lead the team but Fraser (VC) remained out due to injury. Stabb filled in as vice-captain.
1956 VFA-VFL vs VAFA - this was a demonstration event at the 1956 Olympic Games and not an official VFA representative match. The combined team was coached by Bruce Andrew, Victoria's delegate to the ANFC and captained by the VFL's Denis Cordner. Northcote's Keith Woolnough was named vice-captain.
1960 (June 25) vs Canberra - Moroney (VC) did not play due to injury.
1960 (June 29) vs QLD - Moroney (VC) did not play due to injury.
1961 vs Tasmania - Cleary, coach of Second Division club Dandenong, was a surprise choice as coach. After a single season in charge he was replaced by Callahan who had coached the team the year before.
1968 vs Tasmania - Burns (C) did not play due to injury. Papley was promoted from the vice-captaincy.
POST-ANFC ERA (1970-1989)
DATE |
TYPE |
VENUE |
TEAM |
OPPONENT |
COACH |
CAPTAIN |
VICE-CAPTAIN |
14-6-1975 |
REP |
Wangaratta |
VFA |
Ovens
& Murray FL |
(captain-coach) |
Colin
Hobbs (Cob.) |
tbd |
25-4-1976 |
REP |
Nth
Albury |
VFA |
Ovens
& Murray FL |
Tony
Jewell (Caul.) |
Howard
Smith (G.West) |
David
Holt (Port) |
12-6-1977 |
REP |
Brisbane |
VFA |
Queensland |
Norm
Brown (Port) |
Fred
Cook (Port) |
Bill
Thompson (Dand.) |
4-6-1978 |
REP |
Brisbane |
VFA |
Queensland |
Norm
Brown (Port) |
Fred
Cook (Port) |
Bill
Thompson (Dand.) |
17-6-1979 |
REP |
Prahran |
VFA |
Queensland |
Mick
Erwin (Prah.) |
Fred
Cook (Port) |
Laurie
Burt (Cob.) |
14-6-1980 |
REP |
Launceston |
VFA |
Northern
Tas. FA |
Mick
Erwin (Prah.) |
Fred
Cook (Port) |
Robert
Anderson (Prah.) |
5-7-1980 |
REP |
Adelaide |
VFA |
South
Australia |
Mick
Erwin (Prah.) |
Fred
Cook (Port) |
Robert
Anderson (Prah.) |
7-6-1981 |
REP |
Devonport |
VFA |
Greater
Nthn FL |
Mick
Erwin (Prah.) |
Laurie
Burt (Cob.) |
Vic
Aanensen (Port) |
30-5-1982 |
REP |
Sandringham |
VFA |
Greater
Nthn FL |
Gary
Brice (Port) |
Fred
Cook (Port) |
Laurie
Burt (Cob.) |
13-6-1982 |
REP |
Sandringham |
VFA |
VAFA |
Gary
Brice (Port) |
Fred
Cook (Port) |
Laurie
Burt (Cob.) |
22-5-1983 |
REP |
Sandringham |
VFA |
VAFA |
Gary
Brice (Port) |
Ray
Shaw (Pres.) |
Glen
Robertson (Port) |
17-6-1984 |
REP |
Elsternwick |
VFA |
VAFA |
Gary
Brice (-) |
Ray
Shaw (Pres.) |
Glen
Robertson (Port) |
9-6-1985 |
REP |
Preston |
VFA |
VAFA |
Gary
Brice (Port) |
David
Brine (Pres.) |
Bill
Swan (Port) |
7-6-1986 |
REP |
Elsternwick |
VFA |
VAFA |
Phil
Cleary (Cob.) |
Peter
Geddes (F'ston) |
Kevin
Sait (W'town) |
10-5-1987 |
I
(C) |
Canberra |
VFA |
A.C.T. |
Terry
Wheeler (W'town) |
Jeff
Sarau (F'ston) |
Barry
Round (W'town) |
13-5-1987 |
I |
Lavington |
VFA |
New
South Wales |
Terry
Wheeler (W'town) |
Jeff
Sarau (F'ston) |
Barry
Round (W'town) |
24-5-1987 |
I
(C) |
Caloundra |
VFA |
Queensland |
Terry
Wheeler (W'town) |
Barry
Round (W'town)* |
Allen
Eade (Cob.)* |
6-6-1987 |
I
(C) |
Melbourne |
VFA |
Tasmania |
Terry
Wheeler (W'town) |
Jeff
Sarau (F'ston) |
Barry
Round (W'town) |
12-2-1988 |
PRAC |
Sunshine |
VFA |
Essendon FC Res. |
Terry
Wheeler (W'town) |
Barry
Round (W'town) |
Allen
Eade (Cob.) |
19-2-1988 |
PRAC |
Sunshine |
VFA |
Melbourne
FC Res. |
Terry
Wheeler (W'town) |
Barry
Round (W'town) |
Allen
Eade (Cob.) |
3-3-1988 |
I
(CS) |
Adelaide |
VFA |
Queensland |
Terry
Wheeler (W'town) |
Barry
Round (W'town) |
Allen
Eade (Cob.) |
4-3-1988 |
I
(CS) |
Adelaide |
VFA |
A.C.T. |
Terry
Wheeler (W'town) |
Barry
Round (W'town) |
Allen
Eade (Cob.) |
5-3-1988 |
I
(CS) |
Adelaide |
VFA |
Northern
Territory |
Terry
Wheeler (W'town) |
Barry
Round (W'town) |
Allen
Eade (Cob.) |
1-6-1988 |
PRAC |
Sunshine |
VFA |
VAFA |
Terry
Wheeler (W'town) |
Barry
Round (W'town) |
Allen
Eade (Cob.) |
11-6-1988 |
I |
Hobart |
VFA |
Tasmania |
Terry
Wheeler (W'town) |
Barry
Round (W'town) |
Allen
Eade (Cob.) |
5-7-1988 |
REP |
Perth |
VFA |
WAFL |
Terry
Wheeler (W'town) |
Barry
Round (W'town) |
Allen
Eade (Cob.) |
18-3-1989 |
PRAC |
Gold
Coast |
VFA |
Brisbane |
- |
- |
- |
9-6-1989 |
I
(C) |
Burnie |
VFA |
New
South Wales |
Phil
Cleary (Cob.) |
Brett
McTaggart (W'town) |
Gary
Sheldon (Cob.) |
10-6-1989 |
I
(C) |
Launceston |
VFA |
Queensland |
Phil
Cleary (Cob.) |
Brett
McTaggart (W'town) |
Gary
Sheldon (Cob.) |
12-6-1989 |
I
(C) |
Hobart |
VFA |
Aust.
Amateurs |
Phil
Cleary (Cob.) |
Brett
McTaggart (W'town) |
Gary
Sheldon (Cob.) |
1984 vs VAFA - Brice had coached Port Melbourne from 1980 to 1983 but at the time of this match he was serving as Essendon's assistant coach in the VFL. Despite this the VFA extended an invitation for him to once again coach the Association's representative team. Brice was able to accept the offer because Essendon played their Round 12 VFL match on Saturday June 16th, the day before the VFA match. The following year he returned to coach a final season at Port Melbourne.
1987 vs QLD - Sarau (C) did not play due to injury - Round was promoted from the vice-captaincy.
POST-ANFC ERA - SECOND DIVISION
DATE |
TYPE |
VENUE |
TEAM |
OPPONENT |
COACH |
CAPTAIN |
VICE-CAPTAIN |
7-7-1981 |
PRAC |
Prahran |
VFA
(2nd Div.) |
Australian
Services |
Tony
Sullivan (Waverley) |
David
Wenn (Oak.) |
tbd |
12-7-1981 |
REP |
Adelaide |
VFA
(2nd Div.) |
SAFA |
Tony
Sullivan (Waverley) |
David
Wenn (Oak.) |
tbd |
30-5-1982 |
REP |
Sandringham |
VFA
(2nd Div.) |
SAFA |
Barry
Nolan (B'wick) |
Jim
Christou (N'cote) |
Russell
Hodges (Kilsyth) |
13-6-1982 |
REP |
Sandringham |
VFA
(2nd Div.) |
VAFA
2nd XVIII |
Barry
Nolan (B'wick) |
Russell
Hodges (Kilsyth)* |
tbd |
22-5-1983 |
REP |
Sandringham |
VFA
(2nd Div.) |
SAFA |
Colin
Hobbs (N'cote) |
Jim
Christou (N'cote) |
tbd |
13-5-1984 |
REP |
Adelaide |
VFA
(2nd Div.) |
SAFA |
Geoff
Rosenow (Mord.) |
Peter
Allen (Berwick) |
John
Einsiedel (Caul.) |
1982 vs VAFA 2nd XVIII - Christou was named captain but was a late withdrawal due to injury. Hodges was promoted from the vice-captaincy.
STATE LEAGUE ERA (1990-)
DATE |
TYPE |
VENUE |
TEAM |
OPPONENT |
COACH |
CAPTAIN |
VICE-CAPTAIN |
10-6-1990 |
REP |
Canberra |
VFA |
ACTAFL |
Phil
Cleary (Cob.) |
Brett
McTaggart (W'town) |
Gary
Sheldon (Cob.) |
1991 |
- |
- |
VFA
TEAM OF THE YEAR |
Tony
Elshaug (Dand.) |
Phil
Maylin (S'vale) |
Brad
Gotch (Dand.) |
|
26-5-1992 |
REP |
Melbourne |
VFA |
VCFL |
Leon
Harris (Werr.) |
Tony
Pastore (W'town) |
Anthony
Allen (S'ham) |
9-4-1994 |
REP |
Melbourne |
VFA |
NTFL |
Trevor
Barker (S'ham) |
Donald
McDonald (Werr.) |
tbd |
17-6-1995 |
REP |
Melbourne |
VFA |
New
South Wales |
John
Murphy (B.Hill) |
Tim
Livingstone (B.Hill) |
Sean
Bowden (Port) |
1-6-1996 |
REP |
Melbourne |
VFL |
TFL |
John
Murphy (B.Hill) |
Anthony
Alessio (Cob.) |
Sean
Millane (F'ston) |
14-6-1997 |
REP |
Canberra |
VFL |
ACTAFL |
Brad
Gotch (S'vale) |
Kain Taylor (S'vale) |
tbd |
6-6-1998 |
REP |
Hobart |
VFL |
TFL |
Peter
Weightman (-) |
Simon
Atkins (Werr.) |
tbd |
29-5-1999 |
REP |
Melbourne |
VFL |
SANFL |
Peter
Weightman (-) |
John
Polkinghorne (N.Ball.) |
Michael
Frost (Werr.) |
23-6-2001 |
REP |
Adelaide |
VFL |
SANFL |
Donald
McDonald (B.Hill) |
David
MacGeorge (S'ham) |
Matthew
Brewer (B.Hill) |
15-6-2002 |
REP |
Adelaide |
VFL |
SANFL |
Gerard
FitzGerald (N.Ball.) |
Josh
Mahoney (Ess.) |
Matthew
Brewer (B.Hill) |
19-6-2004 |
REP |
Perth |
VFL |
WAFL |
Gerard
FitzGerald (Port) |
Brad
Lloyd (W'town) |
Steve
Lawrence (Port) |
21-5-2005 |
REP |
Port
Melb. |
VFL |
SANFL |
Mark
Williams (S'ham) |
Travis
Robertson (Werr.) |
Nick
Carter (Bendigo) |
26-5-2007 |
REP |
Port
Melb. |
VFL |
WAFL |
Mark
Williams (S'ham) |
James
Byrne (Geel.) |
tbd |
31-5-2008 |
REP |
Adelaide |
VFL |
SANFL |
Gerard
FitzGerald (N.Ball.) |
Brett
Johnson (W'town) |
James
Podsiadly (Werr.) |
22-5-2010 |
REP |
Perth |
VFL |
WAFL |
Gerard
FitzGerald (N.Ball.) |
Brett
Johnson (W'town) |
tbd |
26-5-2012 |
REP |
Hobart |
VFL |
TSL |
Gary
Ayres (Port) |
John
Baird (Port) |
tbd |
10-5-2013 |
REP |
Northam |
VFL |
WAFL |
Gary
Ayres (Port) |
Dom
Gleeson (Geel.) |
Marcus
Marigliani (S'ham) |
31-5-2014 |
REP |
Port
Melb. |
VFL |
SANFL |
Damien
Carroll (B.Hill) |
Sam
Pleming (Port) |
Ben
Jolley (W'town) |
16-11-2014 |
PRAC |
Sandringham |
VFL |
Ireland |
Damien
Carroll (B.Hill) |
Ben
Jolley (W'town) |
Evan
Panozza (Casey) |
Toby
Pinwill (Port) |
|||||||
29-5-2016 |
REP |
Adelaide |
VFL |
SANFL |
Andrew
Collins (W'town) |
Jordan
Russell (Foots. Res.) |
David
Mirra (B.Hill) |
27-5-2017 |
REP |
Port
Melb. |
VFL |
WAFL |
Justin
Plapp (Casey) |
Sam
Darley (Rich. Res.) |
tbd |
1991 VFA Team of the Year - the VFA were scheduled to play the NSWAFL but a fixturing change meant the match had to be cancelled in order to accommodate all of the premiership matches. This marked the first time since 1974 the VFA had not played a representative match. Despite this the Association still selected a combined team. Players were presented with representative jumpers and a team photograph appeared in the 1991 VFA Annual Report under the title of the VFA Team of the Year.
1998 vs TFL & 1999 vs SANFL - although Weightman had been the long-term coach of Preston he was not aligned with any club when he coached the VFA-VFL representative team.
2014 vs Ireland - an International Rules practice match played at the start of Ireland's tour of Australia. Evan Panozza and Toby Pinwill were named as dual vice-captains for the match.
Written and researched by David Eastman
|
First published 12/12/2013
Last updated 17/5/2019 |
All images above courtesy of Damien Green and his website Aussie Rules Collectables unless noted below:
1887 - Jack Baker: www.blueseum.org
1902 - William McGee: Port Melbourne FC website
1907/09-12 - 'Dookie' McKenzie: The Chronicle (date not recorded)
1920 - Syd Barker: Wikipedia
1956-57 - Frank Johnson: Sporting Pulse
1966/68 - Keith Burns: The Pioneers by Marc Fiddian
1978 - Fred Cook: VFA Footy: The Halcyon Days
1983-84 - Ray Shaw (Preston): as above
1987 - Jeff Sarau (Frankston): as above
1988 - Barry Round (Williamstown): 1988 NFL National Carnival programme
1996 - Anthony Alessio: Coburg FC website
2007 - James Byrne: Sporting Pulse
2012 - John Baird: as above