THE HISTORY OF REPRESENTATIVE / INTERSTATE FOOTBALL
VICTORIA - UNIFORMS
THE TIMELINE
EVOLUTION OF THE JUMPER
SPONSOR PATCHES
THE TIMELINE
THE TIMELINE
(click on any image to see a full-sized version)
1879-1881
|
1886-1887
|
1889 (May)
|
1889 (July)
|
1890-1892
|
1893 v SA & Tasmania
|
1893 v Port Adelaide
|
1894
|
1899
|
1900-1902
|
1903 (June)
|
1903 (Aug.)
|
1904
|
1905
|
1906
|
1908
|
1911
|
1912
|
1913-1914
|
1919
|
1920
|
1921-1923
|
1921 (VIC-B v SA)
|
1924-1926
|
1927-1928 (June)
|
1928 (July)-1929
|
1930
|
1930 vs QLD
|
1931 (June)
|
1931 (Aug.)
|
1932 (June 6 v VFA)
|
1932 (June 11 v SA)
|
1932 (Aug. v SA)
|
1933-1935
|
1936
|
1937-1941
|
1938 vs WA
|
1945
|
1946-1947
|
1948-1949
|
1950-1960
|
1961-1975
|
1962 / 1964 v WA
|
1967 / 70 / 73 v WA
|
1976
|
1977-1985 (May)
|
1979 v TAS / 1982 v WA
|
1985 (July) v WA
|
1986
|
1987 v SA
|
1987 v WA
|
1988 Carnival
|
1988 v WA
|
1989 v WA
|
1989 v SA
|
1989 v TAS
|
1990
|
1990 v TAS
|
1991
|
1991 VIC-B v TAS
|
1991 VIC-B v QLD
|
1992
|
1993
|
1994
|
1995
|
1996
|
1997
|
1998
|
1999
|
2008
|
EVOLUTION OF THE JUMPER
|
The Big V emblazoned across the Victorian state jumper is a footballing classic; immediately recognisable to football fans across Australia. Today, the design remains much-loved (or much-loathed... depending on your place of birth!).
What most fans would not realise is today's classic V (pictured at right) only made its first appearance in 1950. Prior to this Victoria wore a wide array of designs, ranging from stripes to sashes, hoops and even diamonds, with the first V being introduced in 1908 for the inaugural National Carnival. |
|
From 1908 to 1949 there were no less than 18 different types of V worn by the Vics. In contrast, since 1950 there have been only two. Don't let the Big V down: click on the tabs below to discover more about the history of each design...
1879
1886
1889 A
1889 B
1890
1893
1894
1899
1900
1903
1905
1906
1908
1909
1911
1912
1913
1919
1924
1927
1930
1931
1932
1933
1936
1937
1945
1946
1948
1950
1961
1879
1879 - 1881
|
July 1st, 1879 marked the official birth of representative football with an intercolonial match between Victoria and South Australia at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground. The South Australian Football Association (SAFA) had first challenged the Victorian Football Association (VFA) to a match in 1877 but that tour was cancelled before a match could be played. For the 1879 intercolonial matches the Victorian side adopted the colours of the colony (red, white and blue); the new uniform making its first appearance on June 28 when the colonial side played a practice match against a Combined Hotham-Essendon 23. Note: the exact design of the 1879 and 1880 uniforms remains unknown (newspaper articles of the day refer only to the colours). However, an 1881 article in The Argus [2-7-1881] confirms the players would be wearing red, white and blue stripes that season. |
|
1886
1886 - 1887
|
May 22, 1886 vs New South Wales
Intercolonial matches resumed after a four year recess but the VFA found themselves facing an unexpected problem: during the intervening years Footscray had switched from blue and white hoops to a new design that featured Victoria's old colours. The solution? The Association simply borrowed Footscray's uniforms for the intercolonial match. May 21, 1887 vs Tasmania Victoria again wore red, white and blue. A pre-match report in The Argus [19-5-1887, p.7] states: "Last year when the Victorians met New South Wales, the former had the use of the uniforms of the Footscray team, which are similar to the footballing colours of the colony. The Association has since, however, purchased a special set of colours (uniforms) for its representatives". |
|
The Australasian [12-5-1887] reports: "The following will be the representative colours in the match next Saturday - Victoria: red, white and blue".
A retrospective of the 1887 match in The Mercury [7-8-1930] and a May 1889 article in The Argus (see below) also confirm Victoria wore these colours.
A retrospective of the 1887 match in The Mercury [7-8-1930] and a May 1889 article in The Argus (see below) also confirm Victoria wore these colours.
1889 A
1889 (MAY)
|
May 18, 1889 vs Southern Tasmania
During the 1996 AFL pre-season Hawthorn wore a navy blue jumper adorned with brown and gold diamonds. Rarely has a football uniform aroused such contempt as the Hawks' diamond disaster, which is still mocked by many fans as the worst jumper ever worn. That diabolical design appeared for one game and was banished thereafter. History tells us the Victorian diamond jumper of 1889 illicited similar emotions and suffered the same fate. The week before the match against Southern Tasmania, The Argus [13-5-1889] provided background (and an incorrect description) for the new design: "... the new uniforms, which are half blue and half gold, will be worn for the first time by a Victorian team in this match. The old colours (red, white and blue) have been discarded as these were adopted by the Footscray club, and in securing new colours an effort has been made to obtain something unique and easily identifiable". |
|
The Argus [20-5-1889] described the uniform as: "...motley royal blue and gold suggesting strongly the harlequin".
The North Melbourne Advertiser's reporter was clearly not a fan of the new design:
"The new uniform of which we heard so much as being a beautiful blue and gold, and which was soon to take with the public and especially attract the ladies, is an ugly combination of dirty yellow and light blue most peculiarly striped, reminding one very strongly of the antics of a circus clown".[18-5-1889]
"The remarks made last week regarding the Victorian uniform were fully borne out upon the team making their appearance on the field. the general opinion being that the newly adopted costume was hideously ugly and entirely unsuitable". [25-5-1889]
The North Melbourne Advertiser's reporter was clearly not a fan of the new design:
"The new uniform of which we heard so much as being a beautiful blue and gold, and which was soon to take with the public and especially attract the ladies, is an ugly combination of dirty yellow and light blue most peculiarly striped, reminding one very strongly of the antics of a circus clown".[18-5-1889]
"The remarks made last week regarding the Victorian uniform were fully borne out upon the team making their appearance on the field. the general opinion being that the newly adopted costume was hideously ugly and entirely unsuitable". [25-5-1889]
1889 B
1889 (JULY)
|
July 13, 1889 vs Northern NSW
Following the uproar in May, a change of uniform in July was something of an inevitability. The Argus [13-7-1889] on the morning of the match re-assured their readers: "The Victorians will not wear the harlequin-pattern colours as in the match with Tasmania, but the blue and gold in narrow vertical stripes, something after the pattern of the jackets worn by the St Kilda, North Melbourne and Richmond clubs". It was also noted: "So that spectators may have a chance of picking out the representatives of the different clubs, they will wear their own club caps. This is not likely to be a very great assistance, as the Ballarat and South Ballarat colours are very like those of the South Melbourne and Melbourne clubs". The caps, combined with the Northern New South Wales uniform of royal blue and white in diagonal bands, would likely have added to the confusion for spectators. |
|
1890
1890 - 1892
|
July 5, 1890 vs South Australia
The Victorians adopted another design, pairing royal blue jumpers with a gold sash. The Australasian's correspondent, Markwell was impressed by the new uniform: "The (Victorians) certainly commanded the admiration of the thousands of ladies who graced the scene, though it was perhaps the particularly well-chosen and neatly arranged colours of the uniform they wore that gained for them this enviable distinction. The richness of the blue of their jerseys and hose, and the immaculateness of their white knickerbockers, together with the excellently contrasted bright golden band with which the upper garment was diagonally accoutred, constituted just about the most taking football costume yet invented by Mr. Theo S. Marshall, and the worthy hon. secretary has had some experience at the business. The sterling and durable colours worn by the South Australians would probably have carried off the palm against any other costume, but they were certainly in the background on this occasion". [The Australasian 12-7-1890] |
|
The South Australian Register [9-7-1890] was also favourable to the new uniform: "The Victorians, in their very pretty costume of royal blue jersey, hose, and cap, and a gold sash and white knickerbockers, were led into the field by their captain, and were well received".
The Argus [5-7-1890] incorrectly stated that the Victorians would wear dark knickerbockers to avoid a clash with South Australia's colours (red, white and blue) but correctly noted: "Although the colours blue and gold have of late been adopted as the colours of the colony for intercolonial football, every year finds a variation in the method of wearing them". This continued to be the case throughout the 1890s.
July 10, 1890 vs South Australia (not shown)
Played midweek, this match would have been an absolute shambles for spectators and players alike. The South Australians again wore their red, white and blue uniforms but, for reasons unknown, the Victorians took to the field with each player wearing his own club uniform instead of the new state jumpers.
The Argus [11-7-1890] reports: "The jumble of colours - each man playing in his own club colours, with the exception of the white knickerbockers - had rather confused the Victorians, and several times they had managed in this way to give little marks to the wrong men".
To put this in perspective, here is a description of the various VFA club colours on display in this match:
Carlton - navy blue with white shoulders, white undershirts.
Essendon - navy blue with red sash, navy blue sleeves.
Fitzroy - maroon with yellow shoulders/centre stripe, white undershirts.
Footscray - red/white/blue stripes, white undershirts.
Melbourne - navy blue with red centre stripe, white undershirts.
North Melbourne - royal blue/white stripes, white undershirts.
Port Melbourne - blue with a red stripe down each side, no undershirts.
South Melbourne - red/white hoops with red centre stripe, white undershirts.
St Kilda - red/white/black stripes, no undershirts.
June 1891 vs South Australia
The South Australian Register [15-6-1891] incorrectly describes the gold sash as a "gold hoop".
June 25, 1892 vs South Australia
Match reports in The Argus and The Leader [25-6-1892] confirm the continued use of royal blue.
Played midweek, this match would have been an absolute shambles for spectators and players alike. The South Australians again wore their red, white and blue uniforms but, for reasons unknown, the Victorians took to the field with each player wearing his own club uniform instead of the new state jumpers.
The Argus [11-7-1890] reports: "The jumble of colours - each man playing in his own club colours, with the exception of the white knickerbockers - had rather confused the Victorians, and several times they had managed in this way to give little marks to the wrong men".
To put this in perspective, here is a description of the various VFA club colours on display in this match:
Carlton - navy blue with white shoulders, white undershirts.
Essendon - navy blue with red sash, navy blue sleeves.
Fitzroy - maroon with yellow shoulders/centre stripe, white undershirts.
Footscray - red/white/blue stripes, white undershirts.
Melbourne - navy blue with red centre stripe, white undershirts.
North Melbourne - royal blue/white stripes, white undershirts.
Port Melbourne - blue with a red stripe down each side, no undershirts.
South Melbourne - red/white hoops with red centre stripe, white undershirts.
St Kilda - red/white/black stripes, no undershirts.
June 1891 vs South Australia
The South Australian Register [15-6-1891] incorrectly describes the gold sash as a "gold hoop".
June 25, 1892 vs South Australia
Match reports in The Argus and The Leader [25-6-1892] confirm the continued use of royal blue.
1893
1893
|
June 1893 - Victoria 'A' tour of Adelaide
June 1893 - Victoria 'B' tour of Hobart The uniform had finally achieved some consistency with blue jumpers and a gold sash worn each season during this decade. However, 1893 saw the Victorians wearing dark/navy blue for the first time. It was also the first year that Victoria would select more than one representative team to play on the same weekend (a concept later championed by the VFL with their regular selection of Victorian 'B' teams). This new dark blue jumper with gold sash was worn in Adelaide by Victoria 'A' (June 10 versus South Australia, June 12 versus Norwood) and in Hobart by Victoria 'B' (June 7 and 10 versus the Southern Tasmanian Football Association). |
|
|
June 1893 - VFA vs Port Adelaide
A third VFA representative team also played on June 10, defeating Port Adelaide at the MCG. The team wore the uniforms of Essendon, the reigning VFA premiers. |
|
1894
1894
|
July 21 vs South Australia
The Victorian uniform was altered to all black with a gold sash [The Advertiser 23-7-1894, p.5] (note that Richmond did not adopt black jumpers with a gold sash until 1914). |
|
September 24 - VFA vs Essendon (not shown)
An end-of-season exhibition match between Essendon (the 1894 VFA Premiers) and a representative team comprised of players from the other VFA clubs (except Geelong).
The players on the representative team wore their own club uniforms, leading to a number of turnovers throughout the match.
An end-of-season exhibition match between Essendon (the 1894 VFA Premiers) and a representative team comprised of players from the other VFA clubs (except Geelong).
The players on the representative team wore their own club uniforms, leading to a number of turnovers throughout the match.
1899
1899
|
July 1, 1899 vs South Australia
On October 2, 1896, the day before a controversial premiership playoff, the VFA suffered a crippling blow when its strongest clubs broke away to form the Victorian Football League (VFL). At the time Collingwood, Essendon, Fitzroy, Geelong, Melbourne and South Melbourne were the undoubted leaders of the competition on and off-field, and they invited St Kilda and the former powerhouse Carlton - on the proviso the Blues could secure a suitable home ground - to join them in the new venture. In 1897-98 the VFL's representative team played against the Ballarat Football Association and the Bendigo Football Association but it wasn't until 1899 that intercolonial football resumed. The VFL had quickly established itself as Victoria's new leading football competition and by 1899 had also assumed the role of providing the colony's representative team. For this first match of the new era the South Australians continued to wear their old uniforms of the 1890s whilst the Victorians had no special representative jumpers made for the occasion, opting to play in Melbourne's uniforms. |
|
1900
1900 - 1902
|
July 1900 to August 1902
Searching for a new representative uniform, Victoria turned to the 1890-1892 jumper of royal blue with a gold sash; the only design of that decade to last more than a season. These colours again proved popular and were worn in various forms until 1904. |
|
|
September 4, 1902 vs VFA
Following the split of late-1896, the VFA had repeatedly challenged the VFL to a representative match to decide the matter of Victoria's top football competition. Unsurprisingly, the latter showed no interest in such a contest. After all, what did the league have to gain from accepting such a challenge? It took the serious illness of Fred McGinis, a champion player for Melbourne in both competitions, to bring the bitter rivals together for this benefit match in 1902. The VFL deferred to the VFA on the matter of uniforms, allowing the association to wear the old 1890-1892 intercolonial design. The league donned Melbourne uniforms as a show of respect for McGinis. |
|
1903
1903
June 27, 1903 vs South Australia
As far back as 1893 it is common in Victorian team photographs to see two or three players wearing their sash the "wrong" way compared to their teammates.
However, images from this 1903 match at the MCG show the entire team wore their sash inverted, on their right shoulder instead of the left.
As far back as 1893 it is common in Victorian team photographs to see two or three players wearing their sash the "wrong" way compared to their teammates.
However, images from this 1903 match at the MCG show the entire team wore their sash inverted, on their right shoulder instead of the left.
1890-1892
|
1893
|
1894
|
1900-1902
|
June 27, 1903 vs SA
|
|
August 1, 1903 vs South Australia
Victoria adopted a new all-navy blue design (referred to as Oxford blue at that time) that was simple yet menacing in appearance. From this point onward the various design features often changed but the Victorian team always took the field in a navy blue jumper. As noted by Michael Riley in his article Origin of the Big V, the new design for this game possibly led to dark/navy blue becoming the standard colour for all Victorian sporting teams, with state rowing and athletics teams adopting dark blue uniforms the following year and other sports later following suit. |
|
1904
|
August 6, 1904 vs Western Australia
The gold sash made a brief return for this inaugural contest against the West Australians. The design was the same as that worn in 1893 (see image above), this time paired with navy blue trousers instead of white. This would be the last time a Victorian team wore a sash on their jumpers. |
|
1905
1905
|
August 12, 1905 vs New South Wales
The classic Victorian uniform starts to take shape with the switch from navy blue to white trousers. White quickly became the official trousers/shorts colour for Victorian interstate football teams, being worn in all but a handful of interstate games over the next eighty seasons. |
|
1906
1906 - 1907
|
June 23, 1906 vs Ballarat Football Association
Interstate matches against South Australia ceased after 1904 due to a dispute between the VFL and the South Australian Football Association (SAFA) over the sharing of gate takings. The VFA sensed an opportunity to return from the football wilderness, quickly stepping-in to arrange a series of representative matches against the SAFA. The unavailability of New South Wales, Tasmania and Western Australia meant that the VFL had to settle for representative matches against the Ballarat FA and Bendigo District FA in 1906 and 1907; the first league seasons without an interstate match since 1897-98. Despite the lack of interstate football, this period was an important one for the evolution of the Victorian uniform. Between 1897 and 1905 the VFL's representative teams had simply worn club uniforms for their matches against Ballarat and Bendigo. |
|
However, season 1906 saw the introduction of a special jumper for the league's representative team, with the letters "VFL" added to the front of the navy blue state jumpers worn the previous year.
1908
1908
|
1908 National Carnival
Following the VFA's representative matches against South Australia in 1905, the VFL reacted by arranging a meeting of Australasia's major football bodies which led to the formation in 1906 of the Australasian Football Council (AFC). Season 1908 marked the jubilee of Australian football and the newly-formed AFC organised a National Carnival to be held in Melbourne, featuring interstate matches between Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland, and New Zealand. A number of teams adopted new uniform designs for the carnival and Victoria was no exception, wearing the first (not so) Big V in the state's footballing history. All VFL-AFL teams representing Victoria since have worn a V on their jumpers. This was also the first season Victorian intersate players wore knee-length "shorts" (instead of the traditional football pants that had been a mainstay since the birth of the game in the 1850's). |
|
1909
1909 - 1910
1909 vs Boulder City FC
1909 vs East Fremantle FC
After the 1908 carnival the South Australians returned to their annual contests against the VFA and, as had been the case in 1897-98 and 1906-07, the VFL were left to play representative matches instead of interstate football.
Two such games were played in 1909 against touring Western Australian club sides Boulder City and East Fremantle.
It remains unknown what uniform was worn by the VFL in these matches.
1910
No representative or interstate matches were held in 1910.
This was the only time this occurred in VFL history outside of the First and Second World War years when league football was played on a restricted basis.
1909 vs East Fremantle FC
After the 1908 carnival the South Australians returned to their annual contests against the VFA and, as had been the case in 1897-98 and 1906-07, the VFL were left to play representative matches instead of interstate football.
Two such games were played in 1909 against touring Western Australian club sides Boulder City and East Fremantle.
It remains unknown what uniform was worn by the VFL in these matches.
1910
No representative or interstate matches were held in 1910.
This was the only time this occurred in VFL history outside of the First and Second World War years when league football was played on a restricted basis.
1911
1911
1911 National Carnival
In 1911 Victoria adopted a new, much more prominent V on the jumper front and wore small numbers on the back of their jumpers for the first time.
The wearing of numbers by all teams was a unique feature of the second Australian football championships. To this point in the game's history they had only been trialled on a handful of occasions:
Later in 1911 the VFL clubs adopted numbers during their finals series. By 1912 numbers had become a standard part of club and representative uniforms.
In 1911 Victoria adopted a new, much more prominent V on the jumper front and wore small numbers on the back of their jumpers for the first time.
The wearing of numbers by all teams was a unique feature of the second Australian football championships. To this point in the game's history they had only been trialled on a handful of occasions:
- May 28, 1887: Carlton v Adelaide FC (MCG) [the numbers were worn on the chest rather than the back]
- May 30, 1887: Tasmania v Adelaide FC (MCG)
- May 23, 1903: Fitzroy v Collingwood (SCG)
- May 28, 1904: Melbourne v Essendon (SCG)
- June 24, 1905: VFA v South Australia (Punt Road Oval)
- 1905: Port Melbourne FC wore numbers throughout the season.
Later in 1911 the VFL clubs adopted numbers during their finals series. By 1912 numbers had become a standard part of club and representative uniforms.
1912
1912
1912 vs South Australia
The V was the same size on the jumper as in 1911 but much wider at the top.
The numbers on the Victorian jumpers also went from very small to oversized, similar to those worn by all VFL clubs from the start of the 1912 season.
The V was the same size on the jumper as in 1911 but much wider at the top.
The numbers on the Victorian jumpers also went from very small to oversized, similar to those worn by all VFL clubs from the start of the 1912 season.
1913
1913 - 1914
|
1913 vs South Australia
1914 National Carnival The V was more like the 1911 design but a little wider at the top (about halfway between the 1911 and 1912 versions). Introduced for the 1913 season, this design continued to be worn for the 1914 National Carnival held in Sydney. With the arrival of World War I, Victorian representative matches ceased until 1919 and a new design was adopted when interstate football resumed. |
|
1919
1919
July 1919-August 1923 - official (left)
Following World War I another new V was introduced. It was basically the same shape as today's V, minus the serifs at the top. The design was worn throughout the 1919-1923 period, with two exceptions noted below.
July 1919-August 1923 - non-standard (centre)
A number of players during this era wore a V which was not the same as the official version. This was due to the poor production techniques of the period with the material being cut, positioned and sewn by hand which resulted in a number of such oddities.
August 6/13, 1921 - Victoria 'B' vs South Australia 2nd XVIII (right)
While Victoria's 'A' team was away at the Perth National Carnival, Victoria's 'B' team played two matches against their South Australian equivalent, known as the South Australia 2nd XVIII. The V worn on this Victorian team's jumper was noticeably smaller than that on the other state jumpers during this period.
Following World War I another new V was introduced. It was basically the same shape as today's V, minus the serifs at the top. The design was worn throughout the 1919-1923 period, with two exceptions noted below.
July 1919-August 1923 - non-standard (centre)
A number of players during this era wore a V which was not the same as the official version. This was due to the poor production techniques of the period with the material being cut, positioned and sewn by hand which resulted in a number of such oddities.
August 6/13, 1921 - Victoria 'B' vs South Australia 2nd XVIII (right)
While Victoria's 'A' team was away at the Perth National Carnival, Victoria's 'B' team played two matches against their South Australian equivalent, known as the South Australia 2nd XVIII. The V worn on this Victorian team's jumper was noticeably smaller than that on the other state jumpers during this period.
July 1919 - August 1923 (official design)
|
July 1919 - August 1923 (non-standard)
|
August 6/13, 1921 - Victoria 'B'
|
1924
1924 - 1926
|
National Carnival 1924 to July 1926
Introduced for the 1924 National Carnival played in Hobart. The circular neck introduced in 1890 was changed to a buttoned v-neck with a collar, the shorts moved to just above the knee, and the V was similar to the non-standard issue that was worn 1919-1923. |
|
1927
1927 - 1929
|
1927 National Carnival
The 1927 National Carnival was held in Melbourne and, in a design change possibly inspired by the eternal enemy of football fans at the MCG, a new V reminiscent of a seagull in flight was added to the front of the jumper. June 16, 1928 vs South Australia The "seagull" took to the field one last time, flying to the Adelaide Oval for a thrilling draw played in front of 36,000 spectators. |
|
|
July 21, 1928 vs Western Australia
Aug.25, 1928 vs South Australia A new, tighter V was introduced with angled top edges. This design was worn for the two interstate matches at the MCG played in July and August of 1928. 1929 - all matches The design introduced during the second half of the 1928 interstate series served as the sole jumper worn by Victoria throughout 1929. |
|
1930
1930
1930 National Carnival (left)
At the Adelaide carnival the V was noticeably smaller and higher on the jumper than before.
This was also the only time in Victoria's history they wore black numbers on a number panel instead of their usual white numbers sewn directly to the back of the jumper.
1930 National Carnival vs Queensland (right)
This game was one of only a handful post-1905 in which the Victorian team wore coloured shorts instead of their traditional white shorts.
At the Adelaide carnival the V was noticeably smaller and higher on the jumper than before.
This was also the only time in Victoria's history they wore black numbers on a number panel instead of their usual white numbers sewn directly to the back of the jumper.
1930 National Carnival vs Queensland (right)
This game was one of only a handful post-1905 in which the Victorian team wore coloured shorts instead of their traditional white shorts.
1930 - standard uniform
|
1930 vs Queensland
|
1931
1931
|
June 6, 1931 vs VFA
June 27, 1931 vs South Australia The first use of serifs since the 1908 National Carnival jumper. The bottom of the V became horizontal (like the 1911-1914 version) but with a distinctive, flared base. Additionally, the numbers returned to white (instead of the one-off number panel worn in 1930), and the players wore shorts for the first time (instead of the longer, knee-length style worn since 1908). |
|
|
August 15, 1931 vs South Australia
First sighting of the modern V, although it was oversized compared to today's version. Additionally, the bottom edges of the serifs were rounded and different heights, instead of straight and equal (see below).
|
|
1932
1932
|
June 6, 1932 vs VFA
Another new V was introduced; a larger version of the V worn at the 1930 National Carnival. Matching uniforms - for this match the VFA and VFL wore an identical V, with their respective colours the only variation between the two sides. This remains the only time in top-level interstate/representative Australian football when both teams wore matching designs. Black shorts - this game was one of only a handful post-1905 in which the Victorian team wore coloured shorts instead of their traditional white. Since 1909 the VFA's official uniform had featured white shorts, but in 1931 they had made an exception and wore black for their historic clash against the VFL. However, for this return match in 1932 the VFA insisted the league switch to coloured shorts and the VFL reluctantly agreed. |
|
When these teams met again in 1934 the league had returned to white shorts for all matches, regardless of the opponent; forcing the VFA to wear their non-traditional black shorts in future contests between the two sides.
|
June 11, 1932 vs South Australia
A return to the semi-modern V first worn in August, 1931. |
|
|
August 6, 1932 vs South Australia
For this trip to the Adelaide Oval, Victoria reverted back to their jumper from June 6 vs the VFA, now worn with their traditional white shorts. |
|
1933
1933 - 1935
|
National Carnival 1933-August 1935
A return to the semi-modern V of August 1931 and June 1932. By 1933 this jumper became the preferred design of the four different variants worn between 1930 and 1932. Note that during this period a few players in team photos are wearing the other three designs from the 1930-1932 seasons. The Great Depression was in full effect when these matches were played, so it's logical to assume that players did not receive a new jumper unless they were making their Victorian debut or, in the case of veterans, they requested one. |
|
1936
1936
|
August 8, 1936 vs South Australia
A stretched, thinner version of the V was introduced for this match at the Adelaide Oval. The design was unique but did not last beyond the 1936 season. |
|
1937
1937 - 1941
|
May 1937-July 1941
After a brief flirtation with a new design in 1936, the Victorians returned to the semi-modern V worn in the majority of matches between 1931 and 1936. This uniform was worn until the end of 1941 when the Second World War brought an end to interstate football for three seasons. |
1937-41 - standard uniform
|
|
July 1938 vs Western Australia
Although Western Australia's official uniform had featured white shorts since 1908, from the 1927 National Carnival onwards they had always chosen to wear black shorts against Victoria. However, for this match in July 1938 at the MCG the Western Australians wore white, forcing the Victorians to break with tradition and switch to black. No official reason for the swap has been found but it was likely due to the Western Australian team embarking on their Eastern States tour with only one set of shorts, leaving behind their black alternate kit. |
1938 vs Western Australia
|
1945
1945
|
Interstate football resumed at the end of the Second World War and Victoria returned to their pre-war design, minus the serifs at the top of the V.
|
|
1946
1946 - 1947
In 1945 wartime rationing on a number of materials continued, even after hostilities had ceased, and these restrictions prevented the SANFL from producing new state jumpers for their matches against Victoria that year.
The South Australians were forced to search for a similar design to their traditional state strip, eventually borrowing North Adelaide's jumpers which were red with a white V extending from the top of the shoulders to the centre of the jumper.
That design seems to have been the inspiration for the Victorian jumper worn in seasons 1946 and 1947.
The South Australians were forced to search for a similar design to their traditional state strip, eventually borrowing North Adelaide's jumpers which were red with a white V extending from the top of the shoulders to the centre of the jumper.
That design seems to have been the inspiration for the Victorian jumper worn in seasons 1946 and 1947.
South Australia 1945
|
Victoria 1946-47
|
1948
1948 - 1949
|
A modified design featuring the pre-war V, but reduced in size and with the inner edges of the V thinner than before.
|
|
1950
1950 - 1960... THE CLASSIC
As they had done many times before, Victoria chose to debut their latest design at the national championships.
This V was a modified version of the 1930's semi-modern V but smaller (the same size as the 1948-49 version), and with straight-edged serifs, instead of the earlier serifs with curved edges (refer to the 1931 tab at left for a comparison).
This is the classic Big V that continues to be worn today; it had taken over forty years and 18 different types of V but the Victorian jumper designers had finally found their winner!
This V was a modified version of the 1930's semi-modern V but smaller (the same size as the 1948-49 version), and with straight-edged serifs, instead of the earlier serifs with curved edges (refer to the 1931 tab at left for a comparison).
This is the classic Big V that continues to be worn today; it had taken over forty years and 18 different types of V but the Victorian jumper designers had finally found their winner!
1961
1961 - 1975
|
1961 National Carnival - 1975 vs SA and WA
Ever since Australian football's earliest years players who preferred a sleeveless jumper had to create one themselves by cutting off the sleeves. Although South Australia and Western Australia had experimented with sleeveless jumpers in the 1920s-30s it was not until the late 1950s/early 1960s that the use of sleeveless jumpers became widespread at club level. This 1961 design was the first Victorian State jumper to join the trend. The new jumper also featured a chunkier version of the classic V previously introduced in 1950. |
1961-1975 - standard uniform
|
1962/1964 vs WA (left)
Western Australia had switched from their traditional gold jumpers to a black jumper in 1958 and preferred to pair their new design with white shorts when playing away. As a result, Victoria wore black shorts for their home games against Western Australia in 1962 and 1964. This was the first time Victoria had worn coloured shorts since June 1932.
1967/1973 vs WA (right)
The dark shorts policy continued for Victoria's home games against Western Australia at the MCG in 1967 and Waverley Park in 1973. However, for these games the Vics changed to navy blue shorts; a rarity in an era when football shorts were either black or white (South Australia's State team were the only other notable exception at this time, having worn navy blue shorts since 1925).
Western Australia had switched from their traditional gold jumpers to a black jumper in 1958 and preferred to pair their new design with white shorts when playing away. As a result, Victoria wore black shorts for their home games against Western Australia in 1962 and 1964. This was the first time Victoria had worn coloured shorts since June 1932.
1967/1973 vs WA (right)
The dark shorts policy continued for Victoria's home games against Western Australia at the MCG in 1967 and Waverley Park in 1973. However, for these games the Vics changed to navy blue shorts; a rarity in an era when football shorts were either black or white (South Australia's State team were the only other notable exception at this time, having worn navy blue shorts since 1925).
1962 / 64 vs WA
|
1967 / 73 vs WA
|
SPONSOR PATCHES
VICTORIAN LEAGUE / STATE LOGOS
In 1976 the VFL's marketing department introduced a league logo for all club jumpers; the State team quickly followed suit, adding the VFL shield to their jumper, shorts and socks that same year. This was the first logo patch of any sort to be worn on the Victorian uniform.
VICTORIAN SPONSOR PATCHES
Sponsorship patches first appeared on VFL club jumpers in 1977. Although the Victorian representative team had been officially sponsored as early as 1980 (by Statewide Insurance) the jumper itself remained free of sponsor logos until 1986 when the addition of a Foster's Lager patch dragged the state uniform into the modern era.
VICTORIAN STATE UNIFORM HISTORY
Click on the tabs below to discover more about the history of each design...
|
Written and researched by David Eastman
Artwork by Rob Meredith |
First published 15/9/2015
Last updated 5/2/2022 |
