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.