THE HISTORY OF REPRESENTATIVE / INTERSTATE FOOTBALL

VFA-VFL - REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES

Quarter-by-quarter scores, venues and crowds for every match involving the VFA-VFL Representative team, 1877 to today...

• 1877-1896 (Intercolonial era)
• 1897-1949 (Representative era)
• 1950-1969 (ANFC Interstate era)

• 1970-1989 (Post-ANFC era)
  
• 1990-present (State League era)
  
• Second Division & Reserves
  

1877-1896
(THE INTERCOLONIAL ERA)

The Victorian Football Association (VFA) was the governing body of Victorian football during this period and the dominant force in representative football with a record of 17 wins and 2 losses in intercolonial matches. They also defeated Port Adelaide and Norwood; two of South Australia's strongest clubs.

Note that prior to 1897 behinds were recorded but did not count towards the final score, so matches that would be a loss under today's scoring system, such as those in 1893 versus Southern Tasmania (6.8 to 6.11 and 5.5 to 5.7), were considered a draw at that time. Matches shaded in grey were practice/exhibition matches and are not considered official representative contests.

DATE	TYPE	TEAMS	1/4	1/2	3/4	FINAL	W-L MARG.	VENUE	CROWD
28-6-1879	PR	Victoria (VFA)	x	0.2	x	1.3	W	East Melbourne	1,000
		Hotham & Essendon (23)	x	0.3	x	0.3	1 goal	Cricket Ground
1-7-1879	I	Victoria (VFA)	x	4.8	x	7.14	W	East Melbourne	10,000*
		South Australia	x	0.3	x	0.8	7 goals	Cricket Ground
5-7-1879	I	Victoria (VFA)	x	2.4	x	4.9	W	East Melbourne	6,000
		South Australia	x	0.4	x	1.4	3 goals	Cricket Ground	to 8,000
14-8-1880	I	Victoria (VFA)	x	2.8	x	5.14	W	Adelaide Oval	4,500
		South Australia	x	1.7	x	2.9	3 goals
18-8-1880	EX	Victoria (VFA)	x	0.10	x	5.18	W	Adelaide Oval	1,500
		SA Natives XXIII (23)	x	0.2	x	1.6	4 goals
21-8-1880	I	Victoria (VFA)	x	1.13	x	3.21	W	Adelaide Oval	2,500
		South Australia	x	0.2	x	0.6	3 goals		to 3,000
1-7-1881	I	Victoria (VFA)	x	7.16	x	9.24	W	MCG	3,000
		New South Wales	x	0.0	x	0.1	9 goals		to 4,000
6-8-1881	I	Victoria (VFA)	x	6.5	x	9.16	W	NSWCA Ground,	5,000
		New South Wales	x	1.2	x	1.6	8 goals	Randwick (SCG)
20-8-1881	I	Victoria (VFA)	x	5.11	x	9.22*	W	East Melbourne	3,000
		South Australia	x	1.4	x	1.8	8 goals	Cricket Ground	to 4,000
24-8-1881	I	Victoria (VFA)	x	3.9	x	4.14*	W	East Melbourne	1,000
		South Australia	x	0.0	x	1.5*	3 goals	Cricket Ground	to 2,000
22-5-1886	I	Victoria (VFA)	1.4	4.10	5.15	8.20	W	MCG	12,000
		New South Wales	1.2	1.2	2.2	3.3	5 goals		to 15,000
21-5-1887	I	Victoria (VFA)	2.2	2.4	5.9	7.15	W	MCG	15,000
		Tasmania	1.1	4.3	4.5	4.6	3 goals		to 20,000
18-5-1889	I	Victoria (VFA)	1.3	4.3	5.6	6.9	W	MCG	20,000
		Southern Tasmania (STFA)	1.2	1.4	1.5	1.6	5 goals		to 25,000
13-7-1889	I	Victoria (VFA)	2.5	3.10	4.12	6.14	W	MCG	6,000
		Northern NSW (NDFA)	1.3	1.6	2.7	2.8	4 goals		to 8,000*
5-7-1890	I	Victoria (VFA)	2.4	4.5	8.8	13.8	W	MCG	20,000
		South Australia	2.1	4.2	4.3	6.5	5 goals		to 30,000*
10-7-1890	I	Victoria (VFA)	2.2	3.3	3.5	4.6	L	South Melbourne CG	2,000
		South Australia	0.3	1.5	4.8	6.8	2 goals	(Lake Oval)
13-6-1891	I	Victoria (VFA)	2.3	3.5	5.8	7.8	W	Adelaide Oval	8,000
		South Australia	1.3	1.3	2.4	5.9	2 goals
16-6-1891	I	Victoria (VFA)	2.1	3.4	4.6	4.7	L	Adelaide Oval	-
		South Australia	2.2	3.3	4.5	5.6	1 goal
25-6-1892	I	Victoria (VFA)	2.2	4.3	8.6	10.9	W	MCG	20,000
		South Australia	2.0	6.2	7.3	8.6	2 goals
10-6-1893	I	Victoria (VFA 1st 20)	2.2	4.3	4.5	4.7	W	Adelaide Oval	5,000
		South Australia	0.3	0.4	0.8	2.9	2 goals
12-6-1893	REP	Victoria (VFA 1st 20)	1.4	1.5	4.7	6.9	W	Adelaide Oval	1,500
		Norwood FC	1.0	2.7	2.9	2.10	4 goals
7-6-1893	I	Victoria 'B' (VFA 2nd 20)	4.2	4.2	5.8	6.8	(draw)	STFA Ground, Risdon	5,000
		Southern Tasmania (STFA)	0.0	3.5	4.8	6.11		(Cornelian Bay)
10-6-1893	I	Victoria 'B' (VFA 2nd 20)	1.0	3.0	5.4	5.5	(draw)	STFA Ground, Risdon	3,000
		Southern Tasmania (STFA)	1.0	1.2	2.5	5.7		(Cornelian Bay)	to 5,000
10-6-1893	REP	Victoria 'C' (VFA 3rd 20)	3.4	6.8	8.12	12.14	W	MCG	12,000
		Port Adelaide FC	0.1	1.3	2.5	4.8	8 goals
21-7-1894	I	Victoria (VFA)	3.7	4.9	10.13	13.15	W	MCG	-
		South Australia	0.0	0.3	0.4	0.6	13 goals
24-9-1894	EX	Rest of the VFA	1.4	2.5	5.9	5.11	W	Victoria Park,	3,000
		Essendon FC	0.0	0.3	0.4	0.7	5 goals	Collingwood
No intercolonial matches played: 1877-78 / 1882-85 / 1888 / 1895-96

 

SCORE DISCREPANCIES / CROWD​ NOTES / MATCH NOTES...

SCORE DISCREPANCIES:

1881 (Aug.20) vs South Australia
- The Argus has 8.24 to 1.8, Australasian 9.22 to 1.8, Advertiser 9.23 to 1.8, Register 9.24 to 1.8.
- The Advertiser (27-6-1908) subsequently amends the Victorian's score to 9.22

1881 (Aug.24) vs South Australia
- Argus has 4.12 to 1.4, Australasian and Register 4.13 to 1.5, Age and Advertiser 4.14 to 1.5 

CROWD NOTES

1879 (July 1) vs South Australia
- the total attendance was estimated at 10,000 spectators (5,000 paid for admission)

1889 (July 13) vs Northern NSW
- the total attendance was estimated at between 6,000 and 8,000 spectators (5,300 paid for admission)

1890 (July 5) vs South Australia
- the total attendance was estimated at between 20,000 and 30,000 spectators (16,092 paid for admission)

MATCH NOTES

1877 vs South Australia
- the SAFA challenged the VFA to field a Victorian side against them. The match was scheduled for Carlton's home ground, the Madeline Street Reserve, but the ground owners (Melbourne University) refused to allow admission to be charged. The game was subsequently transferred to Flinders Park (near the current site of the National Tennis Centre) but the SAFA cancelled their trip before the match could be played.

1879 vs Hotham-Essendon
- a pre-tour practice match played at the EMCG. Four of the selected VFA team did not play (they were required by Melbourne who played at Geelong that day) and were replaced by fill-in players. Combined Hotham-Essendon fielded 20 players in the first half, 21 in the second half.

1880 vs South Australia
- no Carlton, Geelong or Melbourne players selected because their clubs refused to let them tour due to a risk of injury.

1880 vs SA Natives
- the Natives team was, in effect, an early version of the State of Origin concept. The team comprised only SAFA players born in South Australia, unlike the official colonial team which comprised all of the SAFA's best players, regardless of their birthplace.

1881 (Aug.20) vs South Australia
- no Geelong or Melbourne players selected (these teams played a top of the table match at Corio Oval the same day).

1882
- the SAFA proposed matches in Adelaide against the VFA on Aug.5,7,12. The VFA match committee put out a call for players interested in making the trip but could not get the numbers to form a team. Adelaide Oval also had a grandstand under construction which would have caused problems had the tour gone ahead. [Argus 22-7-1882, Advertiser 22-8-1882]

1886 vs New South Wales
- this match was played in 1886, not 1888 as previously shown in some sources.

1887 vs Tasmania
- no Fitzroy, Geelong, Melbourne, Port Melbourne, South Melbourne or St Kilda players selected so the VFA team was comprised mainly of Carlton, Essendon and Hotham (NM) players. This was because on the day of the intercolonial match Fitzroy played at South Williamstown, Melbourne played at Williamstown, Port Melbourne played at Geelong, and South Melbourne and St Kilda played at Ballarat.

1888
- a proposed match against Southern Tasmania on July 14 did not go ahead. The VFA set aside July 14 for a match at the MCG but this caused a problem for the Tasmanians as Geelong were scheduled to visit Hobart on July 21. The STFA requested the VFA play them in Melbourne the following season instead. [Argus 9-6-1888, p.13, Mercury 26-3-1938, p.9] The VFA had also been invited to send a team to play NSW but declined for financial reasons. [SMH 24-9-1887]

1889 vs Southern Tasmania
- the VFA's opponents were a representative team from Southern Tasmania's main league, the STFA. Many sources incorrectly list this team as Tasmania but the northern league (NTFA) had no involvement in the tour.

1889 vs Northern New South Wales
- the VFA's opponents were a representative team from the Newcastle-based Northern District Football Association (NDFA). Many sources incorrectly list this team as New South Wales but the main NSW league, the Sydney-based NSWFA, had no involvement in the tour. The Victorian side was, at best, half-strength and comprised a handful of veterans plus several players from the Ballarat clubs (even though they were no longer affiliated with the VFA).
This was due to a full round of premiership matches being played the same day and the absence of North Melbourne (on tour in Adelaide), Port Melbourne (returning from a tour of NSW), and South Melbourne (on tour in Tasmania). In addition, Fitzroy's Jack Worrall - one of the best players in Victoria's line-up - was forced to withdraw from the match because Fitzroy refused him permission to play.

1890 (July 10) vs South Australia
- transferred to the Lake Oval due to an unplayable surface at the MCG.

1891 (June 13) vs South Australia
- The Advertiser [15-6-1891] reports that: "During the second half one of the most prominent men belonging to the Norwoods had his knickers literally torn off him, amid the derisive laughter of the spectators. He fell on his back and remained there until an overcoat was procured from one of the lookers-on, when he was enabled to retire to the dressing room to get a fresh 'rig-out'".

1892 vs South Australia
- the South Australians started the match a player short due to Bushby taking the wrong tram from the city. [Advertiser 27-6-1892]

1893 (June 7) vs Southern Tasmania
- this was a scheduled tour match against the STFA in the lead-up to the intercolonial match on June 10. Many sources incorrectly list this as Victoria vs Tasmania but the NTFA had no involvement in the match.

1893 (June 10) vs Southern Tasmania
- meant to be an intercolonial match against a combined Tasmanian team but due to local football politics the NTFA refused to participate. [Argus 7-6-1893, p.6]  Despite this, many sources still incorrectly list this match as Victoria vs Tasmania. Perhaps fittingly for a match tainted by controversy in the lead-up, it ended poorly when a VFA player kicked the ball into a nearby paddock late in the game to waste time and avoid a draw, sparking a melee that involved players, police and spectators.

1894
- Newcastle's Northern District FA planned a match against a VFA 20 in July at the MCG but this did not proceed for financial reasons. A planned VFA premiership match at the SCG between Melbourne and Essendon also did not proceed. [Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser 1-8-1893 and 8-8-1893]

1894 vs South Australia
- this was the first time the VFA decided not to schedule club matches the same day and picked at least one player from each of the clubs involved in the competition. The South Australian team was severely weakened when selected players from Norwood, one of the colony's strongest clubs, decided to stay in Adelaide to participate in the Norwood vs Essendon exhibition match.

1894 vs Essendon
- an end of season match between the VFA Premiers and the rest of the Association played to raise funds for various charities. Essendon's gun forward Thurgood was one of numerous late withdrawals from both line-ups. Players for the combined VFA team wore their various club uniforms rather than a representative jumper causing confusion both on-field and for the spectators.

1895
- in November 1892, delegates from the major affiliated football bodies held a conference in Melbourne. At that meeting a number of rule changes were made and an Australasian Football Council (AFC) was formed. Despite agreeing to the rule changes at the time, two or three years later a VFA committee realised the delegates to the 1892 conference had exceeded their powers so they declared the rule changes null and void and immediately abolished the AFC. All of this was done without consulting the SAFA. [Chronicle 13-7-1895, p.14]  As a result the relationship between the South Australians and Victorians broke down and intercolonial football ceased.

Thus, instead of an intercolonial match in 1895 the VFA conducted their first Charity Day, held June 8 at the EMCG. It featured a baseball match, running races between footballers and two exhibition matches (Fitzroy drew with Collingwood, and Melbourne defeated Essendon). These matches were significant because they were the first time the use of boundary umpires had been trialled.

1896
- June 6 at the MCG was the second Charity Day featuring a baseball match, and a lightning premiership between the top 4 teams, the winner (Essendon) received the inaugural Charity Cup.

1897-1949
(THE REPRESENTATIVE ERA)

The VFA's strongest clubs broke-away in late-1896 to form the rival Victorian Football League (VFL) which quickly established itself as the dominant football body in the colony and assumed the role of Victoria's official representative team.

The Association briefly returned to the representative spotlight in 1905, playing a series of annual matches against the South Australian Football Association (SAFA) after the South Australians had fallen out with the VFL over the sharing of gate revenue. Plans to continue the series beyond 1911 were scuttled when the Australasian Football Council (AFC) pressured the SAFA to terminate the arrangement and only play against AFC-affiliated opponents. The SAFA eventually buckled, resuming matches against the VFL in 1912 and leaving the VFA on the outer once more.

Other than 1931-37 when a period of détente saw regular matches against the VFL and an AFC-approved match against New South Wales, the VFA remained frozen out of top level representative football until late-1949.

DATE	TYPE	TEAMS	1/4	1/2	3/4	FINAL	W-L MARG.	VENUE	CROWD
31-7-1897	REP	VFA	2.1 (13)	6.4 (40)	6.6 (42)	7.8 (50)	W	Eastern Oval,	-
		Ballarat FA	0.4 (4)	3.7 (25)	5.8 (38)	6.11 (47)	3	Ballarat
9-7-1898	REP	VFA	match cancelled				-	Eastern Oval,	0
		Ballarat FA						Ballarat
15-9-1900	EX	Rest of the VFA	2.6 (18)	3.7 (25)	7.10 (52)	8.13 (61)	W	Arden Street Oval,	-
		Footscray FC	0.0 (0)	3.2 (20)	3.3 (21)	3.6 (24)	37	North Melbourne
4-9-1902	REP	VFA	0.3 (3)	2.3 (15)	3.3 (21)	4.3 (27)*	L	MCG	7,000
		VFL	1.3 (9)	2.6 (18)	6.11 (47)	9.17 (71)	44
24-6-1905	REP	VFA	1.4 (10)	4.9 (33)	4.13 (37)	6.19 (55)	L	Richmond CG	10,000
		South Australia	1.5 (11)	4.10 (34)	7.13 (55)	8.14 (62)	7	(Punt Road Oval)
5-8-1905	REP	VFA	1.1 (7)	4.4 (28)	6.6 (42)	7.9 (51)	L	Adelaide Oval	7,000
		South Australia	2.6 (18)	5.7 (37)	6.12 (48)	7.12 (54)	3
9-8-1905	EX	VFA	-	-	-	6.18 (54)	L	Central Park,	-
		Stawell FC (21)	-	-	-	9.9 (63)	9	Stawell
20-6-1906	EX	VFA	-	-	-	14.20 (104)	W	Central Park,	-
		Stawell FC (21)	-	-	-	9.1 (55)	49	Stawell
23-6-1906	REP	VFA	1.1 (7)	4.2 (20)	6.7 (43)	10.8 (68)	W	Adelaide Oval	7,000
		South Australia	3.3 (21)	6.5 (41)	7.8 (50)	7.9 (51)	17
11-8-1906	REP	VFA	6.11 (47)	9.13 (67)	13.18 (96)	14.19 (103)	W	East Melbourne	-
		South Australia	1.1 (7)	4.3 (27)	6.4 (40)	13.9 (87)	16	Cricket Ground
29-8-1906	REP	VFA	1.0 (6)	2.4 (16)	2.8 (20)	3.10 (28)	L	Upper Reserve,	3,000
		Bendigo & Nthn Dist. FA's	1.4 (10)	1.4 (10)	3.9 (27)	3.12 (30)	2	Bendigo
8-6-1907	REP	VFA	3.5 (23)	7.5 (47)	9.9 (63)	13.14 (92)	L	East Melbourne	12,000
		South Australia	0.3 (3)	6.5 (41)	10.9 (69)	14.9 (93)	1	Cricket Ground
24-7-1907	EX	VFA	-	-	10.14 (74)	12.16 (88)	W	Central Park,	-
		Stawell FC (20)	-	-	3.14 (32)	9.24 (78)	10	Stawell
27-7-1907	REP	VFA	2.1 (13)	3.3 (21)	3.3 (21)	9.4 (58)	W	Adelaide Oval	9,000
		South Australia	3.2 (20)	3.6 (24)	4.11 (35)	6.11 (47)	11
20-6-1908	REP	VFA	1.2 (8)	3.2 (20)	8.8 (56)	8.9 (57)	L	Adelaide Oval	8,000
		South Australia	2.5 (17)	5.8 (38)	5.8 (38)	9.10 (64)	7
24-6-1908	REP	VFA	2.1 (13)	3.6 (24)	4.9 (33)	5.11 (41)	L	Western Oval,	-
		Barrier Ranges FA	3.3 (21)	5.6 (36)	6.9 (45)	7.14 (56)	15	Broken Hill
27-6-1908	REP	VFA	2.0 (12)	4.4 (28)	5.7 (37)	5.12 (42)	W	Western Oval,	-
		Barrier Ranges FA	4.2 (26)	5.2 (32)	6.2 (38)	6.5 (41)	1	Broken Hill
16-6-1909	EX	VFA	-	-	-	17.20 (122)	W	Central Park,	-
		Stawell FC (21)	-	-	-	7.8 (50)	72	Stawell
19-6-1909	REP	VFA	1.2 (8)	1.3 (9)	2.7 (19)	4.7 (31)	L	Adelaide Oval	10,000
		South Australia	0.4 (4)	4.6 (30)	5.6 (36)	7.8 (50)	19
22-6-1909	REP	VFA	match cancelled				-	Western Oval,	0
		Barrier Ranges FA						Broken Hill
26-6-1909	REP	VFA	match cancelled				-	Western Oval,	0
		Barrier Ranges FA						Broken Hill
7-8-1909	REP	VFA	2.1 (13)	6.3 (39)	6.3 (39)	9.11 (65)	W	Arden Street Oval,	7,000
		South Australia	3.3 (21)	4.4 (28)	5.8 (38)	5.8 (38)	27	North Melbourne
18-6-1910	REP	VFA	3.4 (22)	4.6 (30)	8.11 (51)	9.12 (66)	W	Arden Street Oval,	10,000
		South Australia	2.1 (13)	5.3 (33)	6.3 (39)	8.6 (54)	12	North Melbourne
27-7-1910	EX	VFA	-	10 goals	-	11.13 (79)	W	Central Park,	-
		Stawell FC (21)	-	0 goals	-	5.13 (43)	36	Stawell
30-7-1910	REP	VFA	3.1 (19)	5.2 (32)	8.4 (52)	11.8 (74)	L	Adelaide Oval	8,000
		South Australia	1.3 (9)	4.10 (34)	8.13 (61)	10.16 (76)	2
10-6-1911	REP	VFA	0.2 (2)	3.7 (25)	3.10 (28)	7.10 (52)	L	Arden Street Oval,	4,000
		South Australia	3.2 (20)	3.4 (22)	7.6 (48)	9.7 (61)	9	North Melbourne
8-7-1911	REP	VFA	2.2 (14)	3.6 (24)	4.11 (35)	6.12 (48)	W	Adelaide Oval	5,000
		South Australia	1.2 (8)	2.2 (14)	5.5 (35)	5.5 (35)	13
12-7-1911	REP	VFA	6.5 (41)	10.9 (69)	11.9 (75)	13.12 (90)	W	Jubilee Oval,	1,500
		Barrier Ranges FA	2.0 (12)	3.1 (19)	7.11 (53)	8.13 (61)	31	Broken Hill
15-7-1911	REP	VFA	2.1 (13)	7.6 (48)	8.6 (54)	11.10 (76)	W	Jubilee Oval,	6,000
		Barrier Ranges FA	2.3 (15)	2.3 (15)	3.5 (23)	5.7 (37)	39	Broken Hill
29-6-1912	REP	VFA	3.2 (20)	6.9 (45)	8.12 (60)	9.16 (70)	W	Jubilee Oval,	5,000
		Barrier Ranges FA	1.3 (9)	3.5 (23)	4.8 (32)	8.12 (60)	10	Broken Hill
3-7-1912	REP	VFA	3.2 (20)	4.2 (26)	5.4 (34)	6.6 (42)	L	Jubilee Oval,	1,000
		Barrier Ranges FA	1.1 (7)	3.6 (24)	4.10 (34)	8.10 (58)	16	Broken Hill
19-7-1913	REP	VFA	8.7 (55)	15.10 (100)	19.14 (128)	20.19 (139)	W	Friendly Societies	-
		Western District FA	1.0 (6)	5.1 (31)	5.2 (32)	10.3 (63)	76	Park, Warrnambool
9-9-1916	EX	Rest of the VFA	2.4 (16)	2.5 (17)	5.7 (37)	6.7 (43)	L	Arden Street Oval,	-
		North Melbourne FC	0.2 (2)	2.5 (17)	3.5 (23)	8.8 (56)	13	North Melbourne
1-8-1920	REP	VFA	1.3 (9)	3.8 (26)	4.13 (37)	6.18 (54)	L	Boulder Reserve,	-
		Goldfields FA	4.4 (28)	5.10 (40)	7.12 (54)	9.14 (68)	14	Kalgoorlie
4-8-1920	REP	VFA	6.2 (38)	8.6 (54)	9.10 (64)	11.11 (77)	(draw)	Boulder Reserve,	-
		Goldfields FA	2.2 (14)	6.2 (38)	7.8 (50)	11.11 (77)		Kalgoorlie
8-8-1920	REP	VFA	1.6 (12)	4.9 (33)	5.12 (42)	6.17 (53)	L	Boulder Reserve,	6,000
		Goldfields FA	2.0 (12)	6.3 (39)	8.5 (53)	11.6 (72)	19	Kalgoorlie
6-8-1921	REP	VFA	6.2 (40)	8.4 (52)	11.8 (74)	18.10 (118)	W	East Melbourne	6,000
		Goldfields FA	1.0 (6)	1.2 (8)	1.5 (11)	2.5 (17)	101	Cricket Ground
8-7-1923	REP	VFA	7.1 (43)	8.2 (50)	10.4 (64)	13.5 (83)	L	Boulder Reserve,	5,000
		Goldfields FA	3.2 (20)	11.5 (71)	12.9 (81)	14.13 (97)	14	Kalgoorlie
11-7-1923	REP	VFA	5.2 (32)	11.9 (75)	14.11 (95)	20.22 (142)	W	Boulder Reserve,	-
		Goldfields FA	5.3 (33)	8.5 (53)	12.10 (82)	13.10 (88)	54	Kalgoorlie
15-7-1923	REP	VFA	3.2 (20)	6.10 (46)	9.11 (65)	15.17 (107)	W	Boulder Reserve,	-
		Goldfields FA	3.6 (24)	6.9 (45)	11.12 (78)	11.15 (81)	26	Kalgoorlie
2-8-1924	REP	VFA	2.2 (14)	3.4 (22)	4.10 (34)	4.12 (36)	L	Arden Street Oval,	5,000
		Perth FC	0.1 (1)	3.5 (23)	4.6 (30)	5.8 (38)	2	North Melbourne
25-9-1926	REP	VFA	4.3 (27)	5.6 (36)	10.9 (69)	10.10 (70)	L	Warragul FG	-
		Central Gippsland FA	1.2 (8)	7.8 (50)	8.10 (58)	16.19 (115)	45
22-9-1927	REP	VFA	5.3 (33)	8.7 (55)	13.12 (90)	18.16 (124)	W	Motordrome	-
		Central Gippsland FA	3.2 (20)	7.9 (51)	7.11 (53)	7.13 (55)	69	(Olympic Park)
6-6-1931	REP	VFA	1.2 (8)	3.5 (23)	3.5 (23)	3.10 (28)	L	MCG	16,500
		VFL	2.4 (16)	2.5 (17)	8.5 (53)	12.17 (89)	61
15-8-1931	REP	VFA	5.5 (35)	8.6 (54)	11.11 (77)	16.11 (107)	W	SCG	8,608
		New South Wales	4.4 (28)	8.12 (60)	10.15 (75)	13.17 (95)	12
6-6-1932	REP	VFA	4.3 (27)	7.6 (48)	8.13 (61)	14.15 (99)	L	Princes Park,	31,000
		VFL	3.2 (20)	7.5 (47)	14.10 (94)	15.17 (107)	8	Carlton
16-6-1934	REP	VFA	3.2 (20)	8.5 (53)	14.6 (90)	17.8 (110)	L	MCG	17,931
		VFL (2nd XVIII)	4.3 (27)	8.8 (56)	13.11 (89)	21.17 (143)	33
14-4-1935	EX	VFA	match cancelled				-	Olympic Park,	-
		Richmond FC						Melbourne
29-6-1936	REP	VFA	6.3 (39)	7.6 (48)	7.7 (49)	10.10 (70)	L	Princes Park,	12,000
		VFL	6.5 (41)	6.7 (43)	12.15 (87)	16.21 (117)	47	Carlton
24-9-1936	EX	VFA	-	7.7 (49)	-	10.10 (70)	L	Olympic Park,	2,000
		VFL	-	6.4 (40)	-	14.15 (99)	29	Melbourne
12-5-1937	REP	VFA	2.2 (14)	6.5 (41)	10.9 (69)	11.11 (77)	L	Junction Oval,	11,000
		VFL	4.3 (27)	13.13 (91)	19.19 (133)	26.25 (181)	104	St Kilda
16-6-1947	EX	VFA	5.0 (30)	10.4 (64)	-	17.5 (107)	L	Golden Square	1,500
		Bendigo FA	5.2 (32)	11.4 (70)	-	19.7 (121)	14	Oval, Bendigo
No representative matches played: 1899 / 1901 / 1903-04 / 1914-19 / 1922 / 1925 / 1928-30 / 1933 / 1938-49

 

SCORE DISCREPANCIES / CROWD​ NOTES / MATCH NOTES...

SCORE DISCREPANCIES:

1902 vs VFL
- The Age has the VFA scoring 4.2 (26), The Argus and The Australasian have 4.3 (27), and some other sources have 4.5 (29)

MATCH NOTES:

1897
- at the start of the season the VFA proposed that a match against the VFL be played on June 22 for charity, however, it did not eventuate. [Argus 24-4-1897]

1898 vs Ballarat FA
- this match appeared in the original season fixture but was cancelled. The VFA chose to play their postponed premiership matches from the May 24 King's Birthday holiday instead.

1899
- the VFA tried to arrange a representative match with the VFL the week after their final premiership match. The VFL declined the invitation as they had already agreed to support a match between the Victorian Junior Football Association (VJFA) and the Ballarat Juniors that week. [Argus 25-8-1899]

1900
- the VFA received a letter from the VFL advising they had abandoned the idea of a match with the Association. [Argus 21-7-1900]

1900 vs Footscray
- a fundraiser for the family of the late Frank Mitchell, played between the VFA premiers and the rest of the Association. Mitchell was a long-serving secretary of North Melbourne FC and life member of the VFA who had helped keep the Association going when the strongest clubs broke away to form the VFL and he had been "principally responsible for Brunswick, West Melbourne and Prahran joining the ranks". [(Footscray) Independent 25-8-1900, p.3] Robertson (Brunswick), McKinley (Williamstown) and Brown (Prahran) played for Footscray who were without four of their premiership team.

1901
- a further request to the VFL for a representative match was rejected leaving the Association with no opponents while the VFL played interstate football against South Australia and representative matches against the Ballarat FA.

1902 vs VFL
- fundraiser for Fred McGinis who had been a star player for Melbourne in the VFA and early VFL before losing his sight due to illness. The match was played on a Thursday for the Show Day holiday. 

1904
- a dispute between the VFL and the South Australian Football Association (SAFA) over gate takings saw the South Australians call an end to interstate matches between the two bodies. The VFA seized on this opportunity, initiating annual matches against the SAFA. Note that although these contests were described as "interstate" and "Victoria versus South Australia" - especially in the Adelaide press - they are not categorised as interstate matches in the above table because the VFL was the state's major league in 1905 and was Victoria's only affiliated league with the game's national governing body, the Australasian Football Council (AFC/ANFC) from 1906 onwards.

1905 (June 24) vs South Australia
- the first match played in defiance of the VFL. Both teams wore numbers, and scorecards listing the players and their numbers were printed. The VFL vs Ballarat FA match was played the same day at the nearby MCG.

1905 vs Stawell FC
- played on the way home from Adelaide. Stawell had 21 players in the first half, 19 in the second half.

1906 vs Stawell FC
- played en-route to Adelaide. Stawell had 21 players throughout, the VFA had 18.

1906 (Aug.11) vs South Australia
- VFL teams originally had the day off while the League XVIII played in Ballarat. The VFL rescheduled two matches from the previous week - including the top of the table Carlton vs Fitzroy match - in order to clash with the VFA's match against SA. It had the desired effect with the VFA crowd reported as "only moderate" whilst an estimated 25,000 fans watched Carlton take on Fitzroy. The VFL's actions destroyed what had been a relatively amiable relationship between the two football bodies and the VFA responded by banning their clubs from playing any future matches against VFL teams.

1906 (Aug.29) vs Bendigo & Northern District FAs
- played midweek with barely a mention in the Melbourne press. The Bendigo Advertiser notes this was the Association's first visit to Bendigo. The reason for the VFA's visit remains unknown but it was likely due to a local public holiday (the VFL's representative team occasionally played midweek in Bendigo for the same reason). The VFA team was far from a full-strength line-up, with only 7 of the players from the South Australia match a fortnight earlier being selected (and two of those were late withdrawals). The lack of big names was probably due to the match being played in the middle of the working week.

1907 vs Stawell FC
- played en-route to Adelaide. Stawell had 20 players throughout.

1908
- no visit to Stawell due to the addition of matches at Broken Hill.

1909
- matches against Barrier Ranges FA were cancelled due to an economic recession in Broken Hill.

1910
- the AFC formally banned their member leagues, associations and clubs from playing non-affiliated bodies such as the VFA.

1911
- final match of the deal between the VFA and SAFL. A new 5 year contract was signed but later terminated due to pressure from the AFC who only wanted the SAFL to play against affiliated leagues such as the VFL.

1912
- final match of the deal between the VFA and the BRFA, despite both parties expressing a desire to continue. The BRFA were affiliated with the AFC at the time and were acting illegally by playing a league or association not recognised by the AFC, leaving their players liable to disqualification by the national body. [Barrier Miner, 1-7-1912]

1913 vs Western District FA
- the VFA attempted to organise matches with local leagues at Warrnambool (July 19) and Colac (July 23). The Argus (10-6-1913, p.4) reported that these matches did not eventuate, however, it was only the Colac game that fell through. VFA premiership matches were played the same day back in Melbourne so selectors chose two players from each club. Tom Clarke (Essendon A) kicked a then VFA representative record 10 goals.

1916 vs North Melbourne FC
- due to the First World War the VFA ended their 1915 season early and went into recess during 1916-17. However, the players re-united for this one-off match: a fundraiser for former South Melbourne and North Melbourne player Harry Todd who lost his hands in a workplace accident. North Melbourne fielded their 1915 premiership team and players on both sides were reported to be out of form having had no football for a year. The following week a fundraiser was also played between retired North Melbourne and South Melbourne champions with South winning 4.4 (28) to 1.0 (6).

1920 vs Goldfields FA
- the VFA became the first top-level Victorian league or association to send a representative team to Western Australia (the VFL would send their first representative side the following year for the National Championships held in Perth). As with the 1913 match versus Western District, two players from each VFA club were chosen for the tour.

1923 vs Goldfields FA
- whilst in Western Australia the VFA attempted to organise a match against local clubs or leagues in Perth. The VFL lobbied the AFC who successfully blocked this move. [Argus 2-7-1923, p.12]

1924 vs Perth FC
- played in defiance of the AFC who did not want a WAFL club playing a non-affiliated league or club. Despite threats of heavy sanctions, the match went ahead and was played in heavy rain and strong winds.

1926 vs Central Gippsland FA
- charity fundraiser for the West Gippsland hospital played the week after the VFA Grand Final.

1927 vs Central Gippsland FA
- played on the Show Day holiday in front of a small crowd; the VFL Reserves 2nd semi final between Carlton and Collingwood was played at the same time on the MCG, drawing a larger crowd of 8,500. The venue was known at the time of this match as the Motordrome (it was renamed Olympic Park in 1933). The first half was even and the VFA held a 2 point lead at half-time. The second half was a massacre as the VFA scored 71 points to just 4 by the CGFA.

1929
- the VFA challenged the VFL to a representative match at the end of the season. The VFL denied the request but offered up Carlton against a VFA representative team or club instead, with Richmond to play if Carlton was unavailable. The sole proviso was the match needed to be played no later than October 5th. Carlton agreed to play a charity match against a VFA club but this became unfeasible when a drawn final delayed the VFA season by a week. Carlton then agreed to play Richmond for charity but Richmond refused. Ultimately, the match was not played and the VFA played their preliminary final at the MCG on Oct.5 instead. [Argus 6-9-1929 / 14-9-1929 / 30-9-1929]

1931 vs VFL
- the VFA and VFL brought an end to their hostilities, signing a permit agreement that cleared the way for player transfers between both organisations. After years of acrimony the League also agreed to play the Association with the proceeds going to charity.

1931 vs New South Wales
- The VFL had been playing regular interstate matches against New South Wales since 1920 but were unable to send a team to Sydney in 1931. The NSW league approached the VFA to take the VFL's place but this required ANFC approval because the VFA was not an affiliated competition.

Initially the ANFC refused to approve the match because of the VFA's non-affiliation and because their playing rules were not in strict conformity with the ANFC laws of the game. However, when the VFL decided not to vote against the game on the basis that it would improve football in NSW, the ANFC subsequently allowed the match - on the condition it was played under their national rules. [SMH  10-6-1931, p.15]

1932
- The Argus mentions a possible match against NSW in Sydney in August but it did not proceed because the VFA posted a loss from the 1931 trip and the VFL had resumed their annual contests against the NSW team. On the King's Birthday holiday the VFA confronted the VFL at Princes Park and were unlucky to lose a hard-fought match by 8 points.

1933
- with the VFL focused on the National Carnival being played that year no representative match was played against the Association. The VFA later challenged the VFL to an end of season charity match between their respective premier teams but the League declined as the date proposed clashed with the Caulfield Cup. [Argus 16-9-1933]

1934 vs VFL 2nd XVIII
- the VFL's 1st XVIII played South Australia in Adelaide the same day.

1935 vs Richmond
- on March 30th Richmond and South Melbourne played a Grand Final re-match under lights at Olympic Park; this was the first night football match in Victoria since 1879. Although it was only a pre-season practice match the game drew a crowd of 25,000 eager fans and Richmond were keen to test the market further. A night match against Collingwood was proposed for the following Saturday but needed VFL approval to proceed. After much discussion about the merits of night football, the League announced on the eve of the match that it refused to permit the game.  

An alternative proposal was then put to the League for Richmond to play a VFA representative side under lights on April 13th. Again, much debate ensued but this time the League reluctantly granted its approval and the Association selected a representative team to be led by Preston's Danny Warr. On the day of the match Melbourne was lashed by gale force winds, forcing a late postponement. The match was rescheduled to the night of Tuesday the 16th but torrential rains forced another postponement. 

The VFA proposed the match be held on Wednesday the 24th but this date was rejected by Richmond because it was only three days before their first premiership game of the season. Richmond suggested Tuesday the 30th might be possible but this was never followed-up officially and with the opening round of the VFA and VFL seasons fast approaching the night match quietly disappeared from the schedule.

1936 (June 29) vs VFL
- played on the King's Birthday holiday.

1936 (Sept.24) vs VFL
- Prince Henry's Hospital fundraiser played under lights on the Show Day holiday. Neither team was full-strength due to the match being played during the VFA/VFL finals series.

1936
- the VFA received a request from the Cumeragunga Aboriginal team for an exhibition match but the request was ignored. Reflecting the prevailing attitude of the time Councillor T. Griffen of Port Melbourne commented that "a match of this kind would make a burlesque of the Association". [Argus 8-9-1936, p.10]

1937 vs VFL
- played on the Coronation Day holiday. At the end of the season the VFA proceeded with plans to alter their rules to make the Association game more popular, including reducing the number of players on-field from 18 to 16 per team and introducing a throw pass. These changes ended their permit agreements with the VFL and created conflict with the ANFC; forcing an end to the Association's presence on the representative scene.

1945
- Coburg and Williamstown toured Broken Hill in October, playing each other on Oct.20 with Ron Todd kicking 6 goals for Williamstown. The following day a Combined Coburg-Williamstown team defeated the local league with Todd kicking 10 of the combined team's 14 goals (including 8.2 of 8.3 in the first quarter). The local press refers to the Combined Coburg-Williamstown team as a VFA representative team but this was not correct. Thus, the match has not been included in the above table.

1947 vs Bendigo FA
- an exhibition match held to increase regional interest in the VFA, played on a Monday public holiday. Four VFA players took the field for the opposition: Egan and Brokenshire (Sandringham), Jack Blackman (Preston captain-coach) and Laurie Taylor (Camberwell). Egan was the BFA's best player and Brokenshire kicked 10 goals for the locals.

1950-1969
(ANFC / INTERSTATE ERA)

After several months of negotiations the VFA joined the ANFC in 1949 as a non-voting member. This provided them access to interstate matches against the top-level leagues across Australia and a place in the National Carnival, but the cost was high: the VFA were forced to surrender rules such as the throw pass that had made the Association an attractive alternative to the VFL throughout the late-1930s and 1940s.

The VFA made an immediate impact at the top level by recording a shock 8-point victory over South Australia at the 1950 National Carnival. Results over the rest of the era varied with some strong performances against the major states offset by some huge defeats. In 1953 the Association was promoted to full-member status in the ANFC and formed strong bonds with the Tasmanian League; leading to a number of interstate contests between the two bodies.

However, by 1965 old wounds were re-opening: the VFA was infuriated by VFL clubs moving onto their turf (St Kilda had taken control of Moorabbin Oval and North Melbourne had relocated to Coburg). The Association responded by ending their permit agreement with the VFL. Throughout 1967-68 the League exerted its influence within the ANFC to pressure the Association into signing a new player permit agreement that would work in the League's favour.

Only voting support from the Tasmania and Canberra leagues stopped the VFL proposal being passed but in 1969 Canberra officials finally bowed to pressure, voting in the VFL's favour and forcing the VFA to make a decision. The Association refused to sign and were left out of the 1969 National Carnival in Adelaide. By March 1970, the ANFC had run out of patience and the VFA was expelled from the national governing body, bringing an unfortunate end to their time on the interstate scene.

DATE	TYPE	TEAMS	1/4	1/2	3/4	FINAL	W-L MARG.	VENUE	CROWD
11-6-1950	I	Victoria (VFA)	1.7 (13)	11.15 (81)	16.20 (116)	24.27 (171)	W	Manuka Oval,	1,600
(Carnival)		Canberra (A.C.T.)	2.1 (13)	2.2 (14)	6.6 (42)	6.8 (44)	127	Canberra
19-7-1950	I	Victoria (VFA)	4.0 (24)	6.7 (43)	6.11 (47)	9.15 (69)	L	Brisbane Exhibition	5,200
(Carnival)		Tasmania	5.2 (32)	5.2 (32)	8.5 (53)	14.7 (91)	22	Ground
24-7-1950	I	Victoria (VFA)	4.4 (28)	5.5 (35)	6.6 (42)	6.6 (42)	W	Brisbane Exhibition	1,678
(Carnival)		South Australia	0.3 (3)	2.8 (20)	4.9 (33)	4.10 (34)	8	Ground
26-7-1950	I	Victoria (VFA)	1.0 (6)	1.0 (6)	4.3 (27)	6.5 (41)	L	Brisbane Exhibition	3,214
(Carnival)		Victoria (VFL)	5.5 (35)	9.9 (63)	16.11 (107)	18.13 (121)	80	Ground
29-7-1950	I	Victoria (VFA)	3.4 (22)	3.6 (24)	6.6 (42)	8.6 (54)	L	Brisbane Exhibition	4,500
(Carnival)		Western Australia	2.5 (17)	7.10 (52)	11.11 (77)	15.20 (110)	56	Ground
9-5-1951	I	Victoria (VFA)	4.4 (28)	5.6 (36)	12.8 (80)	13.14 (92)	L	Adelaide Oval	21,000
		South Australia	10.4 (64)	15.10 (100)	21.14 (140)	28.19 (187)	95
30-6-1951	I	Victoria (VFA)	6.3 (39)	13.9 (87)	18.11 (129)	26.15 (171)	W	North Hobart	6,949
		Tasmania	3.1 (19)	7.3 (45)	9.5 (59)	12.11 (83)	88	Oval
14-7-1951	I	Victoria (VFA)	6.3 (39)	12.5 (77)	14.9 (93)	20.17 (137)	W	Manuka Oval,	2,500
(Carnival)		Australian Amateurs	4.3 (27)	8.5 (53)	11.11 (77)	12.12 (84)	53	Canberra
2-6-1953	EX	VFA North	2.3 (15)	3.10 (28)	5.14 (44)	11.20 (86)	17	Junction Oval,	8,000
		VFA South	4.6 (30)	6.8 (44)	9.8 (62)	10.9 (69)		St Kilda
8-7-1953	I	Victoria (VFA)	2.3 (15)	6.11 (47)	9.14 (68)	11.18 (84)	W	Adelaide Oval	9,500
(Carnival)		Tasmania	1.3 (9)	2.7 (19)	3.8 (26)	5.11 (41)	43		(D/H)
13-7-1953	I	Victoria (VFA)	2.3 (15)	6.4 (40)	10.8 (68)	11.10 (76)	L	Adelaide Oval	8,600
(Carnival)		Victoria (VFL)	3.4 (22)	8.10 (58)	12.11 (83)	16.13 (109)	33		(D/H)
15-7-1953	I	Victoria (VFA)	2.4 (16)	5.7 (37)	7.10 (52)	7.11 (53)	L	Adelaide Oval	10,500
(Carnival)		South Australia	2.0 (12)	7.5 (47)	9.5 (59)	16.8 (104)	51
18-7-1953	I	Victoria (VFA)	2.2 (14)	3.7 (25)	5.9 (39)	8.14 (62)	L	Adelaide Oval	52,632
(Carnival)		Western Australia	3.3 (21)	5.4 (34)	11.6 (72)	12.8 (80)	18		(D/H)
5-9-1954	EX	VFA Former Champions	-	-	-	12.5 (77)	L	Punt Road Oval,	7,000
		VFL Former Champions	-	-	-	12.8 (80)	3	Richmond
14-6-1956	I	Victoria (VFA)	1.1 (7)	7.7 (49)	7.8 (50)	11.10 (76)	L	Subiaco Oval,	11,000
(Carnival)		South Australia	6.3 (39)	7.5 (47)	14.13 (97)	16.14 (110)	34	Perth	(D/H)
16-6-1956	I	Victoria (VFA)	1.3 (9)	3.3 (21)	3.3 (21)	3.5 (23)	L	Subiaco Oval,	31,894
(Carnival)		Victoria (VFL)	6.3 (39)	9.7 (61)	16.13 (109)	21.17 (143)	120	Perth	(D/H)
19-6-1956	I	Victoria (VFA)	2.3 (15)	7.8 (50)	10.8 (68)	12.12 (84)	L	Subiaco Oval,	11,957
(Carnival)		Tasmania	8.7 (55)	15.8 (98)	23.16 (154)	27.22 (184)	100	Perth	(D/H)
21-6-1956	I	Victoria (VFA)	5.3 (33)	7.5 (47)	7.9 (51)	9.15 (69)	L	Subiaco Oval,	9,400
(Carnival)		Western Australia	4.5 (29)	13.11 (89)	19.17 (131)	22.20 (152)	83	Perth
7-12-1956	EX	VFA-VFL	1.0 (6)	6.0 (36)	6.2 (38)	8.7 (55)	L	MCG	21,236
		VAFA	6.1 (37)	9.4 (58)	11.8 (74)	12.9 (81)	26
13-7-1957	REP	VFA	5.1 (31)	11.3 (69)	15.5 (95)	18.8 (116)	W	York Park,	8,000
		Nthn Tas. (NTFA-NWFU)	4.4 (28)	8.7 (55)	8.7 (55)	12.11 (83)	33	Launceston
23-7-1957	I	Victoria (VFA)	1.1 (7)	2.4 (16)	4.6 (30)	6.8 (44)	L	Lake Oval,	3,500
		South Australia	1.2 (8)	2.7 (19)	8.7 (55)	11.12 (78)	34	South Melbourne
20-8-1957	I	Victoria (VFA)	-	-	-	8.8 (56)	L	Norwood Oval,	9,000
		South Australia	-	-	-	20.17 (137)	81	Adelaide
2-7-1958	I	Victoria (VFA)	5.4 (34)	6.7 (43)	11.9 (75)	15.12 (102)	W	MCG	5,852
(Carnival)		Tasmania	3.2 (20)	5.5 (35)	9.14 (68)	13.16 (94)	8
7-7-1958	I	Victoria (VFA)	3.2 (20)	4.6 (30)	4.8 (32)	7.10 (52)	L	Lake Oval,	7,200
(Carnival)		Victoria (VFL)	3.6 (24)	9.14 (68)	10.21 (81)	13.23 (101)	49	South Melbourne
9-7-1958	I	Victoria (VFA)	2.1 (13)	5.2 (32)	6.4 (40)	11.8 (74)	L	MCG	3,074
(Carnival)		Western Australia	4.5 (29)	10.10 (70)	18.14 (122)	21.16 (142)	68
11-7-1958	I	Victoria (VFA)	2.3 (15)	3.5 (23)	4.9 (33)	5.13 (43)	L	Lake Oval,	1,750
(Carnival)		South Australia	4.2 (26)	9.3 (57)	15.10 (100)	16.15 (111)	68	South Melbourne
26-6-1960	I	Victoria (VFA)	1.10 (16)	9.17 (71)	12.25 (97)	17.31 (133)	W	Trumper Park,	6,000
(Carnival)		Canberra (A.C.T.)	1.5 (11)	1.7 (13)	2.8 (20)	3.11 (29)	104	Sydney
29-6-1960	I	Victoria (VFA)	6.9 (45)	12.9 (81)	20.13 (133)	22.20 (152)	W	Trumper Park,	-
(Carnival)		Queensland	1.2 (8)	2.4 (16)	2.6 (18)	3.7 (25)	127	Sydney
3-7-1960	I	Victoria (VFA)	3.6 (24)	9.14 (68)	12.15 (87)	23.24 (162)	W	Trumper Park,	-
(Carnival)		New South Wales	3.4 (22)	4.5 (29)	8.7 (55)	8.9 (57)	105	Sydney
30-7-1960	I	Victoria (VFA)	3.2 (20)	4.3 (27)	9.4 (58)	12.9 (81)	W	Manuka Oval,	4,000
(Carnival)		Australian Amateurs	4.4 (28)	5.4 (37)	7.5 (47)	8.9 (57)	24	Canberra
12-6-1961	I	Victoria (VFA)	0.10 (10)	3.15 (33)	7.22 (64)	11.25 (91)	L	North Hobart	14,017
		Tasmania	5.3 (33)	9.7 (61)	12.8 (80)	17.12 (114)	23	Oval
4-6-1962	I	Victoria (VFA)	3.7 (25)	6.9 (45)	10.10 (70)	12.15 (87)	W	Devonport	13,000
		Tasmania	3.0 (18)	5.2 (32)	8.6 (54)	12.9 (81)	6	Oval
6-6-1964	I	Victoria (VFA)	5.3 (33)	7.4 (46)	12.7 (79)	14.11 (95)	W	York Park,	9,288
		Tasmania	3.2 (20)	6.6 (42)	7.6 (48)	10.8 (68)	27	Launceston
12-6-1965	I	Victoria (VFA)	4.2 (26)	7.4 (46)	8.6 (54)	12.8 (80)	L	Subiaco Oval,	24,595
		Western Australia	2.7 (19)	4.10 (34)	9.17 (71)	12.17 (89)	9	Perth
18-7-1965	I	Victoria (VFA)	3.0 (18)	8.3 (51)	9.5 (59)	12.11 (83)	W	Toorak Park,	12,000
		Tasmania	6.4 (40)	7.7 (49)	10.10 (70)	11.10 (76)	7	Prahran
9-6-1966	I	Victoria (VFA)	1.0 (6)	2.2 (14)	4.5 (29)	5.11 (41)	L	North Hobart	20,047
(Carnival)		Western Australia	3.10 (28)	11.12 (78)	20.14 (134)	26.18 (174)	133	Oval	(D/H)
11-6-1966	I	Victoria (VFA)	3.3 (21)	4.5 (29)	5.5 (35)	7.11 (53)	L	North Hobart	23,764
(Carnival)		Tasmania	4.6 (30)	6.13 (49)	13.22 (100)	19.27 (141)	88	Oval	(D/H)
13-6-1966	I	Victoria (VFA)	1.2 (8)	3.3 (21)	6.6 (42)	9.7 (61)	L	North Hobart	13,969
(Carnival)		Victoria (VFL)	3.3 (21)	7.7 (49)	12.12 (84)	14.17 (101)	40	Oval	(D/H)
16-6-1966	I	Victoria (VFA)	3.2 (20)	5.7 (37)	8.10 (58)	9.11 (65)	L	North Hobart	10,199
(Carnival)		South Australia	6.4 (40)	8.8 (56)	14.13 (97)	21.20 (146)	81	Oval
26-5-1968	I	Victoria (VFA)	3.2 (20)	13.3 (81)	17.9 (111)	21.16 (142)	W	Manuka Oval,	3,000
		Canberra (A.C.T.)	1.6 (12)	2.11 (23)	3.13 (31)	6.15 (51)	91	Canberra
29-6-1968	I	Victoria (VFA)	5.2 (32)	10.4 (64)	14.10 (94)	19.15 (129)	W	York Park,	10,688
		Tasmania	5.2 (32)	12.3 (75)	14.4 (88)	18.8 (116)	13	Launceston
No interstate match played: 1952 / 1954 / 1955 / 1959 / 1963 / 1967 / 1979

 

SCORE DISCREPANCIES / CROWD​ NOTES / MATCH NOTES...

MATCH NOTES:

1950 National Carnival
- at its first national championships the VFA finished equal with Tasmania on 1 win from 4 matches but dropped to last place because of a lower percentage. This meant they had to win a playoff match in 1951 against the Section 2 champions (Australian Amateurs) to decide who would be promoted/relegated for the next championships in 1953/54.

1951 vs Tasmania
- a second match against Tasmania or a combined NTFA or NWFU team in Northern Tasmania was proposed. However, this did not proceed due to the Association's crowded schedule with premiership fixtures and a match against the Australian Amateurs yet to be played.

1951 vs South Australia
- played midweek on the Jubilee Day public holiday.

1951 vs Australian Amateurs
- promotion playoff between the winner of Section 2 at the 1950 National Carnival (Australian Amateurs) and the last-placed team in Section 1 (VFA). Winning this match ensured the VFA would compete in Section 1 at the 1953 National Carnival.

1953 VFA North vs VFA South
- a selection trial played on the Coronation Day holiday between teams located North and South of the Yarra. The game came about because of arguments between officials of north and south clubs about where the real strength of the Association lay.
[The Age 2-6-1953]

1953 National Carnival
- a 43 point victory over Tasmania and a hard-fought 18 point loss to Western Australia earned the VFA a 4th place finish.

1954 Legends Match
- on Sept.5 a team of former VFA Champions played a team of former VFL Champions at Punt Road Oval. Despite poor weather the exhibition match drew 7,000 fans who saw the VFL's legends win by 3 points: 12.8 (80) to 12.5 (77).

1956 National Carnival
- the VFA never recovered from their tough opening match against South Australia. Injuries from that game hampered the team through the carnival and meant they started the following match against the VFL with only sixteen fit players. The VFA subsequently suffered three huge defeats and limped home in last place with a 0-4 record. There was no Section 2 championships played in 1956/57 so the VFA retained their place in Section 1 for the 1958 Carnival, avoiding a promotion playoff against a Section 2 team.

1956 vs VAFA
- not an official VFA representative match. A combined VFA and VFL side played the VAFA as a demonstration event at the Melbourne Olympic Games. The team comprised players from the VFL and VFA who were still of amateur status rather than professional, i.e. they were not receiving payment to play. This was a key requirement for the match to proceed because at that time all Olympic athletes were required to be of amateur status to compete in the Games.

The game was held before the Men's Soccer gold medal match and, amongst other challenges on a modified MCG arena, players had to dodge a flag pole at centre wing. According to The Argus [7-12-1956] the two teams also played a practice match the previous weekend, but to date no scores or venue information have been found.

1957 (July 23) vs South Australia
- played midweek under lights. South Australia played the VFL the previous weekend at the MCG and played Tasmania in Hobart the following weekend.

1957 (Aug.20) vs South Australia
- played Tuesday night under lights.

1958 National Carnival
- the VFA opened with an impressive victory over a strong Tasmanian side but faded after that, Although level with the injury-ravaged South Australian team on 1 win from 4 matches, the Association finished in last place due to an inferior percentage. In previous years the VFA would have faced a promotion playoff to keep their place in Section 1, but new rules meant the Association were automatically demoted to Section 2 for the 1960/61 National Championships.

1960 Section 2 National Carnival
- the VFA were clearly too strong for their Section 2 opponents, claiming the title undefeated with winning margins of 104, 129 and 105 points.

1960 vs Australian Amateurs
- a promotion playoff between the winner of Section 2 at the 1958 National Carnival (Australian Amateurs) and the last-placed team of Section 1 (VFA). Winning this match ensured the VFA would compete in Section 1 at the 1966 National Carnival.

1961 vs Tasmania
- played on the Queen's Birthday holiday.

1962 vs Tasmania
- played on the Queen's Birthday holiday.

1965 vs Western Australia
- a loss on the scoreboard but one of the VFA's finest efforts, travelling across the country and coming within 10 points of defeating the reigning national champions.

1966 National Carnival
- the VFA finished last with a 0-4 record, the sole highlight being a hard-fought loss to the eventual champions, the VFL. The record books show a seemingly easy win of 40 points for the League but they were under pressure throughout, only breaking away in the dying stages.

1968 vs Canberra
- throughout 1967-68 the ANFC held three different votes to decide a standoff between the VFL and VFA over player permits. The VFL wanted the VFA to sign a new agreement but for this to be approved it required a three-quarter majority. This was denied each time by the Canberra and Tasmanian leagues voting in support of the VFA. This 1968 match was played to help promote Australian football in the Canberra region and to thank the CANFL for their support at the ANFC voting table. Williamstown's Eddie Szyska equalled the then VFA representative record by kicking 10 goals.

1969
- five months after the match in Canberra the ANFC held a fourth vote and CANFL officials finally bowed to pressure, voting in favour of the VFL. The VFA met with the VFL and agreed to sign a new permit agreement if the League agreed to a number of conditions including not poaching any more VFA clubs (as happened in 1897, 1908 and 1925) or take over VFA grounds (1965-66). The VFL declined to sign on the basis that these events were unlikely to occur again.

In 1969 the VFA took legal action against the ANFC for acting unconstitutionally. The governing body responded with an ultimatum that the VFA comply with ANFC requirements and the issue would be finalised after the 1969 National Carnival. The VFA refused to accept these conditions and were left out of the 1969 championships. The dispute dragged on and in March 1970 the VFA's time at the top level ended when they were expelled from the ANFC.

1970-1989
(POST-ANFC ERA)

Following their expulsion from the ANFC in March 1970, the VFA was content to focus solely on premiership football. However, this changed in 1975 when the Ovens & Murray FL (OMFL) challenged the Association to a match. The VFA underestimated the strength of their opponents and paid the price for not selecting their strongest side; a mistake that wasn't repeated the following year when they levelled the series, albeit with a fight.

The football landscape changed dramatically in 1976-77 resulting in the VFA receiving a surprise invitation to return to the fold. In 1976 the ANFC (which had been renamed the NFL) ran the first national competition which featured clubs from the VFL, SANFL and WAFL. However, in 1977 the VFL broke away to form their own rival night series and the NFL asked the VFA to take their place. This return to the national level gave the VFA access to their former interstate opponents and three matches against Queensland soon followed.

By 1979 the SANFL had resumed interstate matches against the VFL and started negotiations for their involvement in the 1980 VFL Night Series. With the SANFL defecting to the VFL's night competition, the NFL had no choice but to disband their competition after 1979 and the door officially closed for the VFA once again.

The Association joined forces with the VAFA and an annual series commenced in 1982 for the "Victorian Football Cup". The two associations were surprisingly well-matched and the VFA did not claim the cup until the third year of the series, much to the chagrin of VFA administrators who had proudly declared their competition the second strongest in Victoria.

In 1987 the NFL came calling again when New South Wales dropped out of the annual Section 2 championships, the NFL Shield. The VFA accepted the invitation and over the next three seasons played matches against all states and territories other than Victoria (VFL) and South Australia. Their re-elevation to the top level was highly successful; winning the NFL Shield in 1987 and 1989, and finishing second in Section 2 at the 1988 National Carnival.

DATE	TYPE	TEAMS	1/4	1/2	3/4	FINAL	W-L MARG.	VENUE	CROWD
15-6-1975	REP	VFA	3.5 (23)	9.7 (61)	13.8 (86)	17.9 (111)	L	Showgrounds Oval,	3,500
		Ovens & Murray FL	7.7 (49)	10.10 (70)	16.17 (113)	24.23 (167)	56	Wangaratta
25-4-1976	REP	VFA	6.3 (39)	11.7 (73)	17.10 (112)	19.11 (125)	W	Bunton Park,	4,000
		Ovens & Murray FL	4.2 (26)	9.6 (60)	14.8 (92)	17.14 (116)	9	North Albury
12-6-1977	REP	VFA	3.6 (24)	7.10 (52)	12.15 (87)	13.17 (95)	L	The Gabba,	6,500
		Queensland	4.2 (26)	5.4 (34)	9.14 (68)	14.18 (102)	7	Brisbane
4-6-1978	REP	VFA	3.6 (24)	6.12 (48)	9.15 (69)	12.20 (92)	L	The Gabba,	-
		Queensland	2.0 (12)	7.4 (46)	15.9 (99)	18.14 (122)	30	Brisbane
17-6-1979	REP	VFA	8.11 (59)	11.15 (81)	20.22 (142)	28.26 (194)	W	Toorak Park,	2,500
		Queensland	0.0 (0)	4.4 (28)	5.6 (36)	5.8 (38)	156	Prahran
14-6-1980	REP	VFA	8.6 (54)	13.12 (90)	17.16 (118)	28.19 (187)	W	York Park,	2,346
		Northern Tasmanian FA	3.2 (20)	4.6 (30)	6.10 (46)	9.12 (66)	121	Launceston
5-7-1980	REP	VFA	1.5 (11)	5.10 (40)	11.13 (79)	15.15 (105)	L	Football Park,	9,468
		South Australia	3.5 (23)	9.11 (65)	15.16 (106)	19.21 (135)	30	Adelaide
6-6-1981	REP	VFA	4.2 (26)	10.3 (63)	12.7 (79)	15.10 (100)	L	Devonport	3,010
		Greater Northern FL	2.5 (17)	4.11 (35)	12.18 (90)	15.20 (110)	10	Oval
30-5-1982	REP	VFA	5.10 (40)	10.12 (72)	18.21 (129)	27.33 (195)	W	Beach Oval,	3,258
		Greater Northern FL	0.3 (3)	5.4 (34)	7.5 (47)	9.9 (63)	132	Sandringham
13-6-1982	REP	VFA	5.6 (36)	11.10 (76)	14.15 (99)	19.17 (131)	L	Beach Oval,	5,548
		Victorian Amateur FA	4.2 (26)	10.6 (60)	13.10 (88)	23.13 (151)	20	Sandringham
22-5-1983	REP	VFA	3.2 (20)	9.9 (63)	12.18 (90)	16.17 (113)	L	Beach Oval,	4,000
		Victorian Amateur FA	4.8 (32)	7.11 (53)	9.13 (67)	18.16 (124)	11	Sandringham
17-6-1984	REP	VFA	6.7 (43)	11.10 (76)	15.14 (104)	22.14 (146)	W	Elsternwick	5,000
		Victorian Amateur FA	3.2 (20)	9.6 (60)	12.9 (81)	14.11 (95)	51	Park
9-6-1985	REP	VFA	7.5 (47)	9.8 (62)	10.9 (69)	14.13 (97)	W	Preston City	5,000
		Victorian Amateur FA	4.1 (25)	9.8 (62)	12.10 (82)	13.10 (88)	11	Oval
7-6-1986	REP	VFA	4.2 (26)	6.5 (41)	11.10 (76)	14.13 (97)	W	Elsternwick	5,000
		Victorian Amateur FA	3.3 (21)	6.7 (43)	7.7 (49)	10.8 (68)	29	Park
10-5-1987	I	VFA	3.4 (22)	8.6 (54)	9.10 (64)	13.16 (94)	W	Football Park, ACT	-
(Carnival)		A.C.T.	3.3 (21)	5.7 (37)	7.11 (53)	12.14 (86)	8	(Phillip Oval)
13-5-1987	I	VFA	4.0 (24)	5.5 (35)	6.5 (41)	8.5 (53)	L	Lavington Sports	700
		New South Wales	3.5 (23)	6.8 (44)	8.10 (58)	10.12 (72)	19	Ground
24-5-1987	I	VFA	3.3 (21)	10.9 (69)	15.10 (100)	25.14 (164)	W	North Street Oval,	-
(Carnival)		Queensland	3.8 (26)	5.11 (41)	9.15 (69)	17.17 (119)	45	Caloundra
6-6-1987	I	VFA	4.4 (28)	9.9 (63)	14.17 (101)	19.18 (132)	W	Junction Oval,	867
(Carnival)		Tasmania	3.4 (22)	6.5 (41)	12.6 (78)	16.7 (103)	29	St Kilda
12-2-1988	PR	VFA	-	-	-	15.11 (101)	W	Skinner Reserve,	-
		Essendon FC Reserves	-	-	-	13.7 (85)	16	Sunshine
19-2-1988	PR	VFA	-	-	-	16.22 (118)	W	Skinner Reserve,	-
		Melbourne FC Reserves	-	-	-	2.7 (19)	99	Sunshine
3-3-1988	I (S)	VFA	4.4 (28)	7.5 (47)	14.8 (92)	17.10 (112)	W	Football Park,	C/R
(Carnival)		Queensland	1.0 (6)	1.4 (10)	2.6 (18)	4.11 (35)	77	Adelaide	(97*)
4-3-1988	I (S)	VFA	4.1 (25)	10.7 (67)	12.10 (82)	18.20 (128)	W	Norwood Oval,	-
(Carnival)		A.C.T.	2.5 (17)	4.7 (31)	7.15 (57)	9.16 (70)	58	Adelaide
5-3-1988	I (S)	VFA	2.2 (14)	6.4 (40)	7.8 (50)	9.13 (67)	L	Football Park,	C/R
(Carnival)		Northern Terrritory	4.3 (27)	10.4 (64)	15.7 (97)	17.10 (112)	45	Adelaide
1-6-1988	PR	VFA	-	-	-	unknown	W	Skinner Reserve,	-
		Victorian Amateur FA	-	-	-	unknown	18	Sunshine
11-6-1988	I	VFA	2.1 (13)	2.10 (22)	5.12 (42)	7.16 (58)	L	North Hobart	2,262
		Tasmania	2.3 (15)	5.5 (35)	8.9 (57)	11.12 (78)	20	Oval
5-7-1988	REP	VFA	1.2 (8)	6.6 (42)	10.10 (70)	11.11 (77)	L	Subiaco Oval,	C/R
		WAFL	7.3 (45)	9.11 (65)	13.15 (93)	24.19 (163)	86	Perth
18-3-1989	PR	VFA	match cancelled				-	Carrara Stadium,	0
		Brisbane FC						Gold Coast
9-6-1989	I	VFA	8.2 (50)	11.4 (70)	15.6 (96)	20.11 (131)	W	West Park,	1,743
(Carnival)		New South Wales	2.1 (13)	2.2 (14)	4.3 (27)	5.6 (36)	95	Burnie
10-6-1989	I	VFA	1.3 (9)	5.4 (34)	10.10 (70)	11.11 (77)	W	York Park,	1,236
(Carnival)		Queensland	0.2 (2)	2.7 (19)	2.7 (19)	2.10 (22)	55	Launceston
12-6-1989	I	VFA	6.1 (37)	11.6 (72)	16.13 (109)	21.15 (141)	W	North Hobart	1,304
(Carnival)		Australian Amateurs	0.1 (1)	0.1 (1)	0.2 (2)	2.3 (15)	126	Oval

 

SCORE DISCREPANCIES / CROWD​ NOTES / MATCH NOTES...

MATCH NOTES:

1975 vs OMFL
- held on the second part of a VFA split round. The first half of the match was played 18-per-side (national standard) and the second half 16-per-side (VFA standard). The Association underestimated their opponents and sent a half-strength line-up comprised of players from five First Division clubs and six Second Division clubs. Any players involved in the second part of the split round (played the same day back in Melbourne) were not considered for selection. This meant the representative team had no players from Geelong West, Port Melbourne and Preston; three of the best VFA sides that season. The Association paid the price for not selecting their strongest combination, suffering a 56 point thrashing from their regional opponents. 

1976 vs OMFL
- the VFA sent their best side to Albury and levelled the series, albeit with a fight. The 1976 match was originally scheduled for June 13, but the Victorian Government would not allow the VFA to play a round of premiership matches on Anzac Day (April 25), so the representative game was moved to that date instead. The Association team kicked six goals in the opening term but were never able to breakaway from the OMFL throughout the match. They eventually scraped home by 9 points, thanks largely to 5 goals from Port Melbourne's Fred Cook and 4 goals from Geelong West's Joe Radojevic. Having reclaimed the Viscount Cup, the VFA returned to Melbourne and the series was later discontinued.

1977 vs Queensland
- the VFA led by as much as 41 points early in the third quarter but were overrun, with Queensland kicking 9 goals to 1 to win by 7 points. Fred Cook kicked 9 goals for the losing VFA side.

1979 vs Queensland
- the Queensland teams of 1974-78 were the strongest in the state's history, claiming their first national title and first victories over Tasmania and the VFA. Thus, the massacre that occurred in this match came as a complete shock. The VFA posted their third highest score in representative football; highest score against a top-level state team; greatest ever winning margin; and Fred Cook and Kim Smith kicked 7 goals each in a well-supplied forward line. Northcote's Michael Ryan was the only Second Division player selected for this match; an indicator of the growing gulf in standard between the VFA's divisions.

1980 vs South Australia
- one of the VFA's finest efforts pushing a full-strength South Australian team all the way on the SANFL's home turf.

1982 vs GNFL
- the VFA's second highest score in representative football. Fred Cook equalled the VFA's then representative record of 10 goals.

1982 vs VAFA
- curtain-raiser was the VFA 2nd Division against the VAFA 2nd XVIII.

1983 vs VAFA
- Williamstown's Mark Fotheringham kicked 8 goals for the VFA. Curtain-raiser was the VFA 2nd Division against the VAFA 2nd XVIII.

1986 Sandringham vs Essendon [not shown on the above list]
- a pre-season practice match played at Windy Hill between the reigning VFA and VFL premiers. The Canberra Times [13-3-1986, p.20] reports this match as VFA versus Essendon, but although a handful of players from other VFA clubs were on loan to the Zebras for the day, including Williamstown forwards Ian Rickman and Mark Fotheringham, this was not officially an Association representative team.

Essendon was comprised mainly of reserves players with a few of their premiership team also taking part (13 members of Essendon's premiership team were in their 'A' side that played in Queensland the same day). Final scores were: Essendon 'B' 18.11 (119) d. Sandringham 11.9 (75). The attendance was listed as 5,000 at a "very windy Windy Hill".

1987 NFL Shield
- NSW withdrew from the competition due to the difficulties of arranging transport and training (half their squad were based in the Riverina region near the Victorian border and the rest were based in Sydney). The VFA took their place in the series and finished with a 3-0 record, claiming their second national championship in Section 2 (the first was in 1960).

1987 vs NSW
- played under lights midweek in what were described as atrocious conditions. This remains the VFA's only loss to New South Wales.

1988 vs Essendon/Melbourne Reserves
- pre-carnival practice matches held at Skinner Reserve in Sunshine.

1988 National Carnival
- played under State of Origin rules with the Association team comprising 27 players who had started their careers in the VFA or were playing in the VFA at the time of the Carnival. Terry Wallace (ex-Camberwell) won the Dolphin Medal for the best player in Section 2 of the championships. Players in the VFA team were:

VFA (15) - Ralph Bergman, Brett Chadband, Paul Dudley, Allen Eade, Andrew Evans, Robert Evans, Brendan Griffiths, Harold Hetherton, Brett McTaggart, Adrian Marcon, Gary Sheldon, Paul Martin (ex-SANFL), Grant O'Riley (ex-Fitzroy/SANFL), Barry Round (ex-Sth Melb./Sydney), Jeff Sarau (ex-St Kilda), Rodney Wright (ex-North Melb./Melbourne)

VFL (10) - Andy Collins (Hawthorn), Alan Ezard (Essendon), Ian Fairley (NM), Ron James (Footscray), Fraser Murphy (Carlton), Graeme Osborne (Fitzroy), Tony Pastore (Richmond), Angelo Petraglia (Footscray), Ross Thornton (Fitzroy), Terry Wallace (Richmond)

SANFL (2) - Andrew Evans (Woodville), Bruce Mourney (West Adelaide)

1988 vs VAFA
- this midweek match was played on a Wednesday evening and served as a practice match for each Association ahead of their upcoming representative fixtures.

1988 vs WAFL
- played as a curtain-raiser for the WA vs VIC State of Origin match.

1989 vs Brisbane Bears FC
- a pre-season practice match scheduled for Carrara. The match was cancelled when Brisbane chose to play Essendon instead.

1989 NFL Shield
- the VFA went through the carnival undefeated and claimed their third national title. In the final against the Australian Amateurs, Oakleigh's Rino Pretto kicked 12 goals to set a new VFA representative record.

1990-PRESENT
(STATE LEAGUE ERA)

At the end of the 1980s the VFL was transforming into a national league and a clear divide became evident in representative football between:

*State of Origin:
Top-level interstate matches: teams comprised of a state or territory's best players, regardless of where they played in Australia at that time.

*State League:
Second-tier representative matches: teams comprised of a league's best players, regardless of where they were originally from.

For the VFA, whose only involvement with State of Origin football came at the 1988 National Carnival, it was initially a case of "business as usual" but this divide later provided them with clear benefits. When the VFL went national and became the AFL it left a void in Victorian football that was soon filled by the VFA; they were transformed from being spectators on the national scene to being one of Australia's three major State Leagues (along with the SANFL and WAFL).

With the national league teams focused on club competition, State of Origin football is no longer played and the State League matches have become the pinnacle of representative football. Under the current system the VFA (now renamed the VFL) enjoys a much larger role than they ever would have had the old VFL continued to squeeze them out of the Victorian football scene instead of expanding nationally.

It is in this new role of major State League that the VFA-VFL's represesentative team not only succeeds but thrives, registering their all-time biggest score and greatest winning margin against South Australia (2005), Western Australia (2007) and Tasmania (2012).

DATE	TYPE	TEAMS	1/4	1/2	3/4	FINAL	W-L MARG.	VENUE	CROWD
10-6-1990	REP	VFA	5.4 (34)	10.6 (66)	14.10 (94)	21.14 (140)	W	Football Park, ACT	5,000
		ACTAFL	2.2 (14)	5.7 (37)	9.9 (63)	13.11 (89)	51	(Phillip Oval)
1991	REP	VFA	match cancelled				-	(N.S.W.)	0
		New South Wales
26-5-1992	REP	VFA	5.2 (32)	11.6 (72)	20.7 (127)	32.7 (199)	W	MCG	C/R
		Victorian Country FL	5.1 (31)	8.2 (50)	10.5 (65)	15.7 (97)	102
9-4-1994	REP	VFA	2.0 (12)	3.1 (19)	8.8 (56)	12.8 (80)	L	Victoria Park,	600
		Northern Territory	1.6 (12)	8.8 (56)	11.10 (76)	15.13 (103)	23	Collingwood	(D/H)
17-6-1995	REP	VFA	4.6 (30)	7.11 (53)	14.14 (98)	16.15 (111)	W	MCG	C/R
		New South Wales	1.1 (7)	1.4 (10)	2.7 (19)	2.7 (19)	92
1-6-1996	REP	VFL	3.5 (23)	5.7 (37)	9.10 (64)	15.18 (108)	W	MCG	C/R
		TFL	2.2 (14)	7.3 (45)	11.5 (71)	13.8 (86)	22
14-6-1997	REP	VFL	3.7 (25)	5.13 (43)	7.20 (62)	11.25 (91)	W	Football Park, ACT	1,286
		ACTAFL	5.1 (31)	6.4 (40)	6.4 (40)	10.6 (66)	25	(Phillip Oval)
6-6-1998	REP	VFL	2.2 (14)	3.4 (22)	4.15 (39)	6.17 (53)	L	North Hobart	2,532
		TFL	4.3 (27)	7.9 (51)	8.10 (58)	13.10 (88)	35	Oval
29-5-1999	REP	VFL	1.4 (10)	4.4 (28)	4.7 (31)	8.11 (59)	L	MCG	C/R
		SANFL	0.3 (3)	4.5 (29)	7.10 (52)	12.11 (83)	24		(3,309*)
23-6-2001	REP	VFL	2.6 (18)	6.9 (45)	8.12 (60)	14.12 (96)	L	Adelaide Oval	7,300
		SANFL	3.5 (23)	9.8 (62)	13.12 (90)	20.14 (134)	38
15-6-2002	REP	VFL	5.5 (35)	8.7 (55)	15.13 (103)	18.17 (125)	W	Adelaide Oval	4,057
		SANFL	1.3 (9)	7.4 (46)	7.6 (48)	10.9 (69)	56
19-6-2004	REP	VFL	4.2 (26)	8.3 (51)	10.8 (68)	10.9 (69)	W	Leederville Oval,	5,398
		WAFL	3.4 (22)	5.9 (39)	5.9 (39)	8.10 (58)	11	Perth
21-5-2005	REP	VFL	3.4 (22)	8.10 (58)	12.16 (88)	18.16 (124)	L	North Port Oval,	2,360
		SANFL	4.2 (26)	11.3 (69)	15.4 (94)	20.8 (128)	4	Port Melbourne
26-5-2007	REP	VFL	5.2 (32)	15.4 (94)	20.6 (126)	25.11 (161)	W	North Port Oval,	2,500
		WAFL	1.6 (12)	1.8 (14)	3.10 (28)	5.12 (42)	119	Port Melbourne
31-5-2008	REP	VFL	5.2 (32)	5.4 (34)	8.6 (54)	14.12 (96)	L	Adelaide Oval	5,596
		SANFL	5.3 (33)	14.5 (89)	19.9 (123)	25.11 (161)	65
22-5-2010	REP	VFL	7.3 (45)	12.7 (79)	18.11 (119)	20.11 (131)	W	Leederville Oval,	2,930
		WAFL	1.2 (8)	3.5 (23)	6.6 (42)	11.10 (76)	55	Perth
26-5-2012	REP	VFL	2.5 (17)	7.9 (51)	13.13 (91)	20.17 (137)	W	Bellerive Oval,	1,236
		TSL	1.1 (7)	2.3 (15)	3.6 (24)	3.11 (29)	108	Hobart
11-5-2013	REP	VFL	6.5 (41)	12.6 (78)	15.9 (99)	15.11 (101)	L	Henry Street Oval,	1,800
		WAFL	2.7 (19)	7.11 (53)	12.13 (85)	17.16 (118)	17	Northam (WA)
31-5-2014	REP	VFL	2.3 (15)	6.7 (43)	10.12 (72)	14.12 (96)	L	North Port Oval,	-
		SANFL	3.2 (20)	7.5 (47)	12.9 (81)	18.10 (118)	23	Port Melbourne
16-11-2014	PR	VFL	0.1.3 (6)	0.1.5 (8)	0.3.5 (14)	1.5.6 (27)	L	Trevor Barker Oval,	-
		Ireland	4.2.1 (31)	6.6.5 (59)	9.8.6 (89)	9.11.13 (100)	77	Sandringham
29-5-2016	REP	VFL	4.2 (26)	6.5 (41)	9.6 (60)	13.9 (87)	L	Adelaide Oval	4,319
		SANFL	6.3 (39)	10.6 (66)	14.6 (90)	16.10 (106)	19
27-5-2017	REP	VFL	3.4 (22)	5.7 (37)	8.7 (55)	10.11 (71)	L	North Port Oval,	500
		WAFL	3.2 (20)	9.5 (59)	15.10 (100)	20.14 (134)	63	Port Melbourne
No representative match played: 1991 / 1993 / 2000 / 2003 / 2006 / 2009 / 2011 / 2015 / 2018-

 

SCORE DISCREPANCIES / CROWD​ NOTES / MATCH NOTES...

MATCH NOTES:

1990 vs ACTAFL
- Kevin Dyson (Oakleigh) won the inaugural Frank Johnson Medal awarded to the VFA's best player in a representative match .

1991 vs NSW
- 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.

1992 vs VCFL
- curtain-raiser for the VIC vs WA State of Origin match. Greg Doyle (Dandenong) kicked 8 goals and the VFA kicked their highest ever score in a representative match.

1994 vs NTFL
- played as a double-header with the Grand Final of the VFA Pre-Season-Cup.

1995 vs NSW
- curtain-raiser for the VIC vs SA State of Origin match.

1996
- the VFA was renamed the VFL in 1996 (the original VFL had been renamed the AFL in 1990).

1996 vs TFL
- curtain-raiser for the VIC vs Allies State of Origin match.

1999 vs SANFL
- although this match was a curtain-raiser for the VIC vs SA State of Origin match the Sunday Herald-Sun match report [30-5-1999] included an attendance figure of 3,309 for the early game.

2002
- a triangular agreement was reached with the SANFL and WAFL, with each team playing the others over two seasons then having the third year off.

2003
- no representative match played during the VFL's "off" year in the triangular agreement.

2004 vs Australia (not shown on the above list)
- International Rules practice session played before Australia's tour of Ireland.

[EDIT - this game originally appeared on the above list but has now been removed. My original source mentioned an Australia versus VFL practice match being played at an Australian training session. Further research contradicts this, with all newspaper articles mentioning nothing more than some "scrimmages" and short match practice sessions that may or may not have involved VFL players to make up numbers]

2005 vs SANFL
- the VFA-VFL's biggest score and greatest winning margin against South Australia.

2006
- no representative match played during the VFL's "off" year in the triangular agreement.

2007 vs WAFL
- the VFA-VFL's biggest score and greatest winning margin against Western Australia. Sandringham's Nick Sautner kicked 9 goals for the VFL.

2009
- no representative match played during the VFL's "off" year in the triangular agreement.

2011
- the scheduled representative match against the SANFL was not played due to the introduction of the Foxtel Cup.

2012 vs TSL
- the VFA-VFL's greatest winning margin against Tasmania. This match was played during what would have been the VFL's "off" year in the triangular agreement with the SANFL and WAFL.

2014 vs Ireland
- International Rules practice match played at the Trevor Barker Beach Oval. The match served as a warm-up for the Irish squad ahead of their clash against Australia in Perth. The round Gaelic ball was used in the first half and a Sherrin Australian football was used in the second half of the game.

SECOND DIVISION & RESERVES

VFA SECOND DIVISION

The VFA clubs were split into two divisions in 1961 but this initially had little impact on the composition of the Association's representative team. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s the combined team continued to be selected from both divisions, with the best players of 2nd Division often the equal of their counterparts in 1st Division. The prime example being Williamstown's Eddie Szyska who kicked 10 goals for the VFA against Canberra in 1968 whilst playing in 2nd Division.

However, by the late 1970s the standard of play in 2nd Division had slipped well below the top level and only two or three 2nd Division players were being selected in representative teams. In 1981 the VFA recognised the gulf between the divisions had widened even further and decided to select separate representative teams, with the 2nd Division team playing a lower level league (usually as a curtain-raiser for the 1st Division team).  

In 1985 the concept of a 2nd Division representative team was scrapped altogether with the VFA preferring to field an under 18 combined team against other youth sides. A mere two years later the situation in 2nd Division had diminished to such an extent that the Association's board of management was more focused on keeping the clubs solvent than forming a representative team. By 1988 the lower division was in its final season, leaving the 1984 match against the SAFA as the last of a short-lived tradition.

DATE	TYPE	VFA TEAM	SCORE		W-L	MARGIN	VENUE	CROWD
7-7-1981	PR	VFA (2nd DIVISION)	19.8 (122)		W	108	Toorak Park,	200
		Australian Services	2.2 (14)				Prahran
12-7-1981	REP	VFA (2nd DIVISION)	6.8 (44)		W	5	Thebarton Oval,	750
		South Australian FA	6.3 (39)				Adelaide
30-5-1982	REP	VFA (2nd DIVISION)	13.24 (102)		L	24	Beach Oval,	C/R
		South Australian FA	18.18 (126)				Sandringham
13-6-1982	REP	VFA (2nd DIVISION)	20.13 (133)		W	61	Beach Oval	C/R
		VAFA 2nd XVIII	10.12 (72)				Sandringham
22-5-1983	REP	VFA (2nd DIVISION)	17.19 (121)		W	59	Beach Oval	C/R
		South Australian FA	8.14 (62)				Sandringham
13-5-1984	REP	VFA (2nd DIVISION)	17.14 (116)		W	12	Thebarton Oval,	-
		South Australian FA	15.14 (104)				Adelaide

 

VFA RESERVES

The VFA Reserves also played representative football but these matches were not scheduled on a regular basis. The most consistent period was the 1930s when they regularly played the VFL Reserves (usually as a curtain-raiser for the VFA and VFL's senior representative teams). The list below shows the matches known to have been played and is likely to be incomplete. If you know of any other games involving the VFA Reserves combined team please contact us with details.

DATE	TYPE	VFA TEAM	SCORE		W-L	MARGIN	VENUE	CROWD
4-6-1934	REP	VFA SECONDS	4.10 (34)		L	80	Victoria Park,	-
		VFL Seconds	14.30 (114)				Collingwood
16-6-1934	REP	VFA SECONDS	4.10 (34)		L	102	MCG	C/R
		VFL Seconds	21.10 (136)
29-6-1936	REP	VFA SECONDS	4.12 (36)		L	30	Princes Park,	C/R
		VFL Seconds	10.6 (66)				Carlton
12-5-1937	REP	VFA SECONDS	6.14 (50)		W	9	Junction Oval,	C/R
		VFL Seconds	5.11 (41)				St Kilda
15-7-1939	REP	VFA SECONDS	16.20 (116)		W	71	Wallan	-
		Wallan District	7.3 (45)
22-7-1944	EX	VFA SECONDS (North)	9.12 (66)		-	13	Oakleigh Cricket	-
		VFA SECONDS (South)	11.13 (79)				Ground
9-5-1951	REP	VFA SECONDS	14.15 (99)		W	2	Waringah Park,	-
		Diamond Valley FL	15.7 (97)				Eltham
2-6-1953	REP	VFA SECONDS	12.15 (87)		W	16	Monbulk	-
		Mountain Districts FL	8.13 (61)

 

SCORE DISCREPANCIES / CROWD​ NOTES / MATCH NOTES...

MATCH NOTES:

1934 (June 4) vs VFL Seconds
- this was an opening round match of the Hartley Shield competition. The Hartley Shield was first played in 1927 and was run by the Victorian Junior Football Union. It involved various junior leagues from the metropolitan region including the VFA Seconds, VFL Seconds, Victorian Junior FA, Metropolitan Junior FA, Federal District FL and Eastern Suburbs Protestant Junior FA.

The Argus in 1929 says the Shield was donated by Hartley's Sports Depot but in 1933 the same newspaper says the shield was named after Councillor Hartley of Melbourne City Council (perhaps Hartley had moved into local politics during that time). The VFL Seconds won three straight titles 1932-34 giving them ownership of the Shield and they did not participate after 1934. The competition itself appears to have ended sometime around 1937-38. [Argus 3-6-1929, 9-9-1933, 13-8-1934]

1934 (June 16) vs VFL Seconds
- curtain-raiser for the VFL vs VFA representative match.

1936 (June 29) vs VFL Seconds
- curtain-raiser for the VFL vs VFA representative match.

1937 (May 12) vs VFL Seconds
- curtain-raiser for the VFL vs VFA representative match.

1939 vs Wallan District
- the trip was organised and funded by the President of the VFA Seconds, Captain Fearon. [Argus 28-6-1939, p.23] 

1944 North vs South
- exhibition match played to raise for funds for Prisoners of War charities.

1951 vs Diamond Valley FL
- played midweek.

1953 vs Mountain Districts FL
- played on the Coronation Day public holiday.

---

Written and researched by David Eastman

First published 12/12/2013
Last updated 27/10/2019

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