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THE HISTORY OF REPRESENTATIVE / INTERSTATE FOOTBALL

VFA-VFL - REP. CAPTAINS/COACHES

Below is a list of VFA-VFL representative coaches, captains and vice-captains spanning the entire history of the Association - from the early years when the VFA team served as Victoria's representative team through to the modern State League era competing against the likes of the SANFL and WAFL.

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)

Picture
1887 - Jack Baker (Carlton)
Picture
1889 - Peter Burns (SM)
Picture
1892 - Thomas Banks (Fitzroy)
Picture
1893 - William Windley (SM)
Picture
1894 - William Strickland (Coll)

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

 

NOTES:

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)

Picture
1902 - William McGee (Port Melb.)
Picture
1906/08 - Henry Chase (Brunswick)
Picture
1907/09-12 - 'Dookie' McKenzie (Brunswick)
Picture
1920 - Syd Barker (North Melb.)

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

 

NOTES:

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)

Picture
1950-51 - Jack Whelan (Brunswick)
Picture
1956-57 - Frank Johnson (Port Melb.)
Picture
1966-68 - Keith Burns (Brunswick)
Picture
1968 - Max Papley (Williamstown)

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

 

NOTES:

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)

Picture
1977-80/82 - Fred Cook (Port Melb.)
Picture
1983-84 - Ray Shaw (Preston)
Picture
1987 - Jeff Sarau (Frankston)
Picture
1987-88 - Barry Round (Williamstown)

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.)

 

NOTES:

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.)

 

NOTES:

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-)

Picture
1996 - Anthony Alessio (Coburg)
Picture
1997 - Kain Taylor (Springvale)
Picture
2007 - James Byrne (Geelong)
Picture
2012 - John Baird (Port Melbourne)

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

 

 

NOTES:

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

VFA-VFL REP FOOTBALL (HOME)

PHOTO CREDITS:

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

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