History of Australian rules football in Victoria (1859–1900)

Tom Wills

On 17 May 1859, the first rules for a local code of football were written during a meeting of four members of the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC): Tom Wills, William Hammersley, J. B. Thompson and Thomas Smith.[13] The meeting was held at the Parade Hotel on the site of the present MCG Hotel. Wills, a renowned cricketer, was secretary of the MCC at the time. He had attended Rugby School and was familiar with the argument between the proponents of allowing players to handle the ball (i.e., Rugby football) and those who wanted players to use their feet only, the style later adopted by the Football Association.

Below are the rules for Australian Rules Football, alleged to have been used by the Geelong Football Club in 1859. They were originally written down by hand.[12] This is strange, as when Geelong formed in July 1859, they used the Melbourne rules.[14] Graeme Atkinson, writing in Everything You Wanted Know About Australian Rules Football ... considers it likely that these Geelong rules were drawn up prior to the first rules of the Melbourne Football Club which were drafted on 17 May 1859.:[12]

1. Distance between goals and the goal posts to be decided by captains.

2. Teams of 25 in grand matches, but up to 30 against odds.

3. Matches to be played in 2 halves of 50 minutes. At the end of first 50 teams may leave ground for 20 minutes for refreshments but must be ready to resume on time otherwise rival captain can call game off or (if his side has scored) claim it as a win.

4. Game played with 200 yard [sic.] [182.9 metre] space, same to be measured equally on each side of a line drawn through the centre of the two goals, and two posts to be called "kick off" posts shall be erected at a distance of 20 yards [18.3 metres] on each side of the goal posts at both ends and in a straight line between them.

5. When kicked behind goal, ball may be brought 20 yards in front of any portion of the space between the kick off and kicked as nearly as possibly [sic.] in line with opposite goal.

6. Ball must be bounced every 10 or 20 yards if carried.

7. Tripping, holding, hacking prohibited. Pushing with hands or body is allowed when any player is in rapid motion or in possession of ball, except in the case of a mark.

8. Mark is when a player catches the ball before it hits the ground and has been clearly kicked by another player.

9. Handball only allowed if ball held clearly in one hand and punched or hit out with other. If caught, no mark. Throwing prohibited.

10. Before game captains toss for ends.

11. In case of infringements, captain may claim free from where breach occurred. Except where umpires appointed, opposing captain to adjudicate.

12. In all grand matches two umpires – one from each side – will take up position as near as possible between the goal posts and centre. When breach is made appeal to go to nearest umpire.

It is usually agreed that it was Rule 8, which covers marking, is the one that differentiated the Australian game from any other set of football rules. Rule 9, which covers handballing, also defines a major feature of the Australian game. The lack of any offside rule is also considered a vital differentiation from other forms of football.

Reference to "the 'kick off' posts" in Rule 4 is important. These are obviously what are now known as behind posts and which have always been an important feature of the game. Until 1878, kicks between the goal-post and kick off posts were not recorded. However, after that date, behinds were noted but did not count towards the score.

Despite the fact that Tom Wills had helped referee the Melbourne Grammar v Scotch College game in 1858, Field Umpires did not become a regular feature of the game until 1872. Under Rule 11 the captains were usually responsible for adjudicating on infringements and disputations. Rule 12 does make provision for the appointment of two Umpires but these are really only goal umpires.[12]

Of course, rules continued (and still continue) to evolve. More information on the features that make Australian Rules distinctive, is found under the heading: "Features of the Game" (below).

Below are the rules as refined in 1860 by a meeting of the Melbourne Football Club but with some input from other existing clubs.[12]

1. The distance between the goals and the goal posts shall be decided upon by the captains of the sides playing.

2. The captains on each side toss for choice of goal; the side losing the toss has the kick-off from the centre point between the goals.

3. A goal must be kicked fairly between the posts without touching either of them or any portion of the person of one of the opposite side. In case of the ball being forced between the goal posts in a scrimmage, a goal shall be awarded.

A game at the Richmond Paddock in the 1860s. A pavilion at the MCG is on the left in the background. (A wood engraving made by Robert Bruce on July 27, 1866.)

4. The game shall be played within a space of not more than 200 yds [182.9 metres] wide, the same to be measured equally on either side of a line drawn through the centre of the two goals; and the two posts, to be called kick-off posts, shall be erected at a distance of twenty yards [18.3 metres] on each side of the goal posts at both ends, and in a straight line with them.

5. In case the ball is kicked behind the goal, any one of the side behind whose goal it is kicked, may bring it twenty yards in front of any portion of the space between the "kick-off" posts, and shall kick it nearly as possible in line with the opposite goal.

6. Any player catching the ball directly from the foot may call "mark". He then has a free kick; no player from the opposite side being allowed to come inside the spot marked.

7. Tripping, holding and hacking are strictly prohibited. Pushing with the hands or body is allowed when any player is in rapid motion or in possession of the ball, except in the case provided for in Rule 6.

8. The ball may not be lifted from the ground in any circumstances, or taken in hand, except as provided for in Rule 6 (catch from the foot) or when on the pick-up. It shall not be run with in any case.

9. When a ball goes out of bounds (same being indicated by a row of posts) it shall be brought back to the point where it crossed the boundary line, and thrown in at right angles with that line.

10. The ball, while still in play, must under no circumstances, be thrown.

11. In case of a deliberate infringement of any of the above rules, by either side, the captain of the opposite side may claim that any one of his party may have a free kick from the place where the breach of the rules was made; the two captains in all cases, save where umpires are appointed, to be the sole judges of "infringements".

Until the 1980s, the earliest known rules were a printed set that came out of a meeting of delegates of the various clubs, held at the Freemason's Hotel, Melbourne on 8 May 1866. Copies [made at unknown date] of the 1859 set of rules and the 1860 rules, referred to above, both hand-written, have been unearthed in recent years.

A Geelong junior team. Note the variety of jumpers. Nevertheless, there a good number of players wearing horizontal stripes, presumably in the Geelong colours of blue and white.

Within a few years of the drafting of the early rules, there were no fewer than 19 football clubs using the rules drafted at the Parade Hotel. The following clubs are known to have existed by the mid-1860s:

1858 teams

Melbourne Football Club (1858–present)

South Yarra Football Club (1858 - 1873)

1859 teams

St Kilda Football Club (1858 - 1864)

Geelong Football Club (July 1859 – present)

Elsternwick Football Club

Coast Football Club

Stitt Jenkins of Geelong

University Football Club (1859 - various)

Brighton Football Club

Ballarat Football Club

Emerald Hill Football Club

Prahran Football Club

Hamilton Football Club

Other early clubs

Albert-park (originally South Melbourne, then Emerald-hill)[22]
Ballarat
Brunswick
Carlton[22]
Castlemaine
Collingwood (no association with the present club, formed in 1892)
Geelong[22]
Melbourne[22]
Melbourne Grammar School
Northcote
Richmond (no association with the present club, formed in 1885)
Royal Park
Scotch College
University
Wharehousemen
Williamstown[20]

Among clubs formed in the late-1860s/early 1870s were Regiment and Studley Park. Most of the other clubs formed during this era are mentioned below.

In 1861 the first moves towards the establishment of a roof body were seen when the Athletic Sports Committee presented a Challenge Cup for the champion Senior team, which was donated by the Royal Caledionian Society of Melbourne. The result was disputed in 1869 with both Carlton and Melbourne claiming the Cup. In the following year, Melbourne and South Yarra both claimed champion status. In 1870, South Yarra put up a new Challenge Cup for competition. A few years after the Challenge Cup was first presented, Junior teams were able to compete for a Junior Challenge Cup.[20]

Prior to the actual establishment of an official football-only roof body in 1877, there was still a great degree of organisation and cooperation between the various clubs. Regular meetings were held between the secretaries of the clubs at which, inter alia, the following matters were discussed:
- changes and refinements to the rules;
- fixtures for each season;
- the naming of the Champion club at the end of each season.

These meetings would have also discussed the ratings of each club, which were by the early 1870s listed in the following categories:
* Senior clubs
* Junior clubs
* Minor clubs
* Country clubs
* School clubs.[23]

Fixtures did not necessarily confine clubs to playing other teams with a similar rating but if, for example, a Senior club played a Junior club, the Junior club would be allowed to have a greater number of players on the field. Clubs did not only play against other Victorian clubs and games between interstate teams were surprisingly frequent, particularly for the days before the establishment of interstate railway links, when the most common way of travelling from Melbourne to, say, Sydney or Adelaide, was by sea.[12]

In the mid/late-1870s an annual called The Footballer was published.[24] The Footballer provides readers with an insight into the early days of the game. It includes the results of all matches and a full and comprehensive listing of all contemporary teams, Senior, Public School, Junior, Minor, Country and School Clubs. The listing for most clubs includes details of its uniform, officials, playground (sic), year of formation, number of members and, importantly, potted biographies of most players.[lower-alpha 3]

By the time of the publishing of its first edition in 1875, there were already believed to be 143 football clubs in Victoria. The following eight clubs as Senior Clubs:Albert Park, Carlton, Carlton Imperials, East Melbourne, Hotham, Melbourne, St Kilda, and University.[25]

The following four clubs were listed as "Principal School Clubs": Church of England Grammar School, Hofwyl-House School,[26] Scotch College, and Wesley.[27]

There were as many as 33 junior clubs listed in the 1875 The Footballer, viz: Adeplhian, Abbotsford United, Albion Union, Alma, Brunswick, Carlton Rifles, Cambridge Union, Clifton, East St. Kilda (late Alpaca), Elwood, Esplanade, Essendon, Excelsior, Fawkner Park, Hawthorn, Hotham United, Jolimont, Richmond (no relation to the present club), Richmond Standard, Sands and McDougall,[lower-alpha 4] St. Kilda Alma, South Melbourne, South Melbourne Imperial (late Stanley), South Park, Southern Rifles, Southern, Star of Richmond, Vaucluse, Victoria Parade, West Melbourne, West Melbourne, Williamstown, Windsor.[28]

A list of 14 minor clubs then followed, proceeded by the names (but no details) of 51 clubs who "also play under the Victorian Rules of Football".[29]

Thirteen Provincial clubs were then listed, followed by the names and details of six Geelong clubs.[30][lower-alpha 5] Apart from Geelong Football Club, the following provincial clubs that were later to be regarded by the VFA as Senior Clubs, were listed by The Footballer: Ballarat, Ballarat Imperial, Beechworth, Castlemaine, Inglewood, Rochester and South Ballarat.[12]

The final club list in The Footballer was 20 country clubs in the process of forming.[32]

Events during the early- and mid-1870s rightly appeared to be leading towards the establishment of a roof body for football in Victoria. The need for an organisation with some control over clubs is illustrated by an anecdote from 1875: the East Melbourne v Williamstown game was cancelled when the East Melbourne players decided that they would rather watch the Carlton v Melbourne game.[23]

The Victorian Football Association (VFA) was formed on 7 May 1877 at Oliver's Cafe in Melbourne, which was just seven days after the SAFA (later SANFL), which formed on 30 April 1877. The VFA took over and controlled the Victorian Junior Football Association (VJFA), although the VJFA had its own administration. It had an initial membership of 10 senior clubs and a number of junior clubs, seven of which are listed below:[12][20] Junior clubs did not mean underage, a club was classed as junior on it ability and experience. In the 1880s there were up to 300 junior clubs in Victoria. Some of these clubs were only social clubs who played a couple of games a year, other played weekly and had the desire to become a senior club. Country clubs played when they could as they did not get the half holidays as they did in the city. It was not uncommon for junior clubs to emerge or re-form under a different name.

Carlton, VFA first premiers in 1877

In the early days, any club was eligible to join the VFA upon payment of an annual subscription. However, Senior clubs were mainly selected on merit but there were other criteria. For example, Senior clubs were required to have a minimum membership of 80.[12]

George Coulthard (1856–83) – Carlton

During the first decades, the VFA was not responsible for the setting of fixtures, which continued to be the province of meetings between the secretaries of the various clubs.[23] However, by the late 1880s, a rule had been introduced that made any club that didn't play at least 18 games in a season, ineligible for the Premiership. As an example, in 1889 bottom club Footscray had only played 16 games. Finally, in 1891, the association set up a sub-committee under North Melbourne's W. R. Mullins which took on the responsibility of setting fixtures.[33]

However, a lot of the other organisational work was now done by the VFA, from its inception, including the setting of rules and the naming of the premiers (or champion team). The number of players continued to vary according to the strength of the opposition, but if two equally ranked teams were pitted against each other, there were usually 20 players on each team.[20]

From 1878, points were listed but only goals counted towards the score and, therefore, there were a great number of drawn games. Even though behinds did not count towards a result, in 1893 the VFA awarded the Stars and Stripes Trophy to the team kicking the fewest behinds in ratio to the number of goals scored in premiership matches. This was done to encourage accurate kicking for goal. Melbourne won the trophy with a percentage of 78.6, barely ahead of Williamstown at 78.5.[33] The unusual trophy name comes from the fact that the trophy was awarded by Messrs Jacobs, Hart & Co., manufacturers of Stars and Stripes cigarettes.[34]

Between 1873 and 1893 no fewer than six teams went through a season undefeated:[12]

South Melbourne was undefeated in 1886 until playing the undefeated Geelong in a special game to determine the premiership (see below: "The Game of the Century").

In 1877, Carlton became the first Victorian football team to play in New South Wales. They played two games against Waratah, winning one under Victorian rules and losing a rugby game.[33]

In 1886 there were as many as 18 VFA clubs. The VFA decided to reduce the numbers and in 1888 they merged the Williamstown Football Club with the South Williamstown Football Club, merged the St Kilda Football Club with the original Prahran Football Club, and removed the three Ballarat clubs; Ballarat, Ballarat Imperials and South Ballarat (these clubs then became the base of a local Ballarat League). In 1889, the Melbourne Football Club and the original University Football Club were also merged.[20]

John "Jack" Worrall (1861–1937) – Fitzroy

By 1896, there were 13 teams in the VFA Senior competition. The ladder in that year was:[33]

Albert Thurgood (1874–1927) – Essendon

A play-off was held at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground to determine the premiership: Collingwood 6.9 d. South Melbourne 5.10.

The VFA did not have regular finals during this period and the above table represents the situation at the end of what is now called the home-and-away matches.

In 1886 a rule change was introduced, with the two halves being replaced by four quarters of football, that is, three breaks of varying lengths.[20]

Until 1886, the ball was thrown into the air to start a quarter but in 1887 the bounce, now a traditional part of Australian football, was introduced.[33]

The supposed unpopularity of interstate games in the late 20th and early 21st centuries is reminiscent of the situation in the 1880s. The first intercolonial game was played in 1879 but similar games were hard to organise during the next few years. The following appeared in The Australasian on 22 July 1882: "Victoria versus South Australia. On account of a sufficient number of players not having intimated their desire to take part in the intercolonial matches against South Australia in Adelaide on the 5th, 7 and 12 August next, the match committee of the VFA had to postpone the selection of the team until 4.45 p.m. on Tuesday next. Players desirous of playing are requested to send their names to Messrs. Boyle and Scott before that time, and those selected will leave by steamer on the 29th inst. ..." None of the games took place.[12]

During the VFA's first 24 years, four teams showed sustained periods of greatness:

South Melbourne 1879–91

South finished in the top four teams for 13 consecutive years, and were Premiers in 1881, 1885 and 1888-1890. In 1881, Geelong had a slightly superior record to South (Geelong played 18, won 15, lost 1, drawn 2; South Melbourne played 21, won 14, lost 4, drawn 3), but under the rules of the time, the only tie-breaker was head-to-head record: the first match between South and Geelong at Corio Oval was drawn, and South won the second match at the Lake Oval; on this basis, the VFA ruled South won the premiership, with Geelong runners-up.

Amongst South's finest players were Peter Burns 1885 & 1891, and Dinny McKay 1888. Peter Burns (who was Vice-Captain from 1888 to 1890) is considered to be one of the champions of any era. Another good player in this era was Arch McMurray.[lower-alpha 6] See below for more of South's top players.

The club also headed the list of top goalkickers twice during this period: 1888 D. D. McKay (50), and 1889 J. E. Barrett (40).

Geelong 1878–88

Geelong were also among the top four teams for 11 consecutive years during a similar era to South Melbourne. Geelong won the 1878, 1879, 1880, 1882, 1883, 1884 and 1886 Premierships, which, of course, included two hat-tricks of three consecutive Premierships. Had they won the 1881 Premiership [rather than it going to South Melbourne] they would have ended up with seven consecutive Premierships.

During these 11 years, Geelong played 236, won 190, drew 27 and lost only 19 games this excluded games on tour or against inter-colonial teams – which they rarely lost). They were undefeated in 1879 and 1886, and they provided the top goalkicker six times (1880 H. P. Douglass [33 – tied with Carlton's George Coulthard], 1882 H. McLean [29], 1883 Phil McShane [29], 1884 Phil McShane [33], 1886 Phil McShane [51], 1887 Tom McShane [36]). In 1886 their players took the top five places on the leading goallkickers list.

The following are among the top Geelong players of the era: H. H. Austin, S. Bloomfield, J. Boyd, Charles Brownlow, H. Curdie, H. P. Douglass, L. A. Fairburn, H. Furnell, W. Hall, Dave Hickenbotham, J. Julien (who also played with Essendon during their golden era [see below]), G. Kearney, J. T. Kerley, H. McLean, Harry McShane, Jack McShane, Joe McShane, Phil McShane, Tom McShane, Tom Mullen, E. Pike, W. Reid, G. Steedman, R. Talbot, G. Watson and James Wilson.

Essendon 1891–94

Essendon is the only VFA team to have won four consecutive Premierships, in 1891–94.[lower-alpha 7] They played 77, won 66, drew 8 and lost 3 premiership games during this period, and won all 18 intercolonial games they played. They had a VFA unbeaten streak of 47 consecutive games. During these four years they scored 552 goals, with only 258 being kicked against them.

Albert Thurgood topped the goalkicking three times – 1892 (56), 1893 (64) & 1894 (63).

The following played starring roles for Essendon during this golden era: J. Anderson, S. Angwin, W. Ball,[lower-alpha 8] Colin Campbell, Alf Carter, W. E. Chadwick, A. Christian, L. Clarke, Don Coleman, Bill Crebin, Alec Dick (captain), Bill Finlay, Bill Fleming, Charlie "Tracker" Forbes, H. Furrell, Barney Grecian, Alex "Joker" Hall, Rev. B. S. B. Hammond, J. J. Julien (who also played with South Melbourne during their golden era [see above]), Gus Kearney, Dr J. R. Mouritz, H. Nixon, T. Parsons, J. B. Pearson, Dr Ned Officer, George Stuckey, J. A. Sykes, Albert Thurgood, George Vautin, P. Watson, W. B. Welch, H. W. Webb, Reginald Wilmot, Mat Wilson, W. Young and Rev. C. H. Zercho.

Footscray 1898–1900

During the last three years of the 19th century, Footscray won a hat-trick of Premierships, as well as winning 46 out of their 54 games. Their only loss in 1900 was by 5 points to Williamstown.

Champion players in that period included: "Skeeter" Armstrong, Charlie Brockwell, Lou Daily, Dave de Coite, Dickens, Davey Drew, R. Dick, Art Gregory, Grunden, W. "Ching" Harris, "Paddy" Hinch, James, Kruse, McCance, Billy McCarthy, Joe Marmo, Mitchell, Molyneux, William Robinson, Todd, Arthur Williams and Wilson.[12]

Jim McShane, one of the six McShane brothers to play for Geelong

Geelong v South Melbourne played on 4 September 1886 is, arguably, the most important Aussie Rules game to be played in the 19th century. Although regular final games had not yet been instituted, the VFA arranged this game so as to determine the Premiers for 1886; both teams had gone through the season undefeated. The strong contemporary records of both teams is shown above (The VFA's Top 19th Century Teams).

The game was held at South's Emerald Hill ground and a then-record crowd of 34,121 paid 6d[lower-alpha 9] per head for a total revenue of £747/7/-.[12] It was said that many more crowded into the ground without paying.

Two special trains brought the local team and two thousand supporters from Geelong. An attempt was made to wreck one of these trains by removing a section of rail, near Newport – luckily the attempt was aborted. There were long lines of people and overcrowded Hansom cabs taking people from Melbourne to South Melbourne, prior to the game. After the game, thousands of people lined Clarendon Street, South Melbourne, to cheer the victorious Geelong on their way.

Geelong 4.19 defeated South Melbourne 1.5.[lower-alpha 10] At half-time Geelong were leading 1.12 to 0.3.

Geelong captain Dave Hickinbotham was one of the best players on the ground, even though he was up against Alf Bushby, reputed to be one of the finest players in Australia, and imported by South Melbourne from South Adelaide just for this game.[lower-alpha 11] Other outstanding players were: Geelong – A. Boyd, Sam Boyd, J .J. Julien, Kearney, Kerley, Mc Lean and Phil McShane;[lower-alpha 12] South – Docherty, "Sonny" Elms, Greaves, Harper, Hill, M. Minchin and H. Smith.[12]

Until as late as 1921, the area formerly known as the Police Paddocks or, earlier, Captain Lonsdale's Cow Paddock, and now Yarra Park, contained no less than three grounds used for senior standard football and cricket; from east to west they were: Richmond Cricket Ground; MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) and East Melbourne Cricket Ground. The first two are still extant, however after the end of the 1921 VFA finals which were held at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground,[lower-alpha 13] the land on which the ground was sited was compulsorily acquired by the Victorian Government as an extension to the Jolimont Railway Yards. The East Melbourne Ground had seen senior cricket and football matches since 1860. The East Melbourne Football Club played there until the club disbanded in 1881.

The Essendon Football Club had been playing its games in its local area since it had been formed in 1873, firstly at the back of the Robert McCracken's Ascot Vale property,[lower-alpha 14] and then at Flemington Hill. When the East Melbourne Football Club disbanded, the East Melbourne Cricket Club enticed the Essendon Football Club over to the East Melbourne ground. Although this oval was many kilometres from Essendon, the club played there for 40 years, 1882–1921. When the East Melbourne ground was no longer available, Essendon moved back to the Essendon region by making the Essendon Recreation Reserve their new home ground, after its preferred move to the North Melbourne Recreation Reserve was blocked by the State Government.[36] The Essendon Association Football Club had been using the Essendon Recreation Reserve but when this ground was no longer available to them, they were forced to disband, as from December 1921.[37]

Celebrated English cricket all-rounder W. G. Grace once said that he would like to carry the East Melbourne pitch around with him. The East Melbourne Cricket Club was formed by former Scotch College boys in about 1857 as the Abbotsford Cricket Club, but changed its name to East Melbourne Cricket Club a few years later as part of a successful bid to play at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground. Prior to 1921, the EMCG was, without doubt, the most successful cricket club in the colony/state, winning more than half the premierships competed for during that time. When their ground was resumed, they amalgamated with the Hawthorn Cricket Club to form the Hawthorn-East Melbourne Cricket Club and matches were played at the Glenferrie Oval. One of the stands from the EMCG was moved to HEMCC's new home where it stood until as late as 1965, when it was replaced by the present Dr A. S. Ferguson Stand.

In the late 1990s, the land that was formerly the site of the EMCG was resumed for housing. An unusual, semi-circular apartment block has been designed by an architect who appears to know the history of the area and has built the apartments to look like an ersatz football pavilion.[38]

Edward M. "Ted" Rowell, c1877–c1967 – Collingwood 1902–14, 1915

From as early as the mid-1880s, a number of the Senior VFA clubs showed discontent with the unevenness of the competition, its unwieldiness and the VFA's perceived lack of desire to try and solve the problems. Geelong and Essendon, both of which were among the most successful teams, were at the forefront of the moves towards reform. In 1889 Geelong proposed a more streamlined break-away competition. In 1894, Geelong, Essendon, Melbourne and Fitzroy again planned a new organisation that would consist of the aforementioned four clubs, along with teams from Ballarat and Bendigo. Ironically, Collingwood also wanted to see reforms, even though it was, itself, a new club that had only been formed in 1892, mainly out of the Junior club, Britannia. The Collingwood plan was to reduce the number of teams by amalgamation (as had been done in 1888/89 [see above]). They proposed the following mergers which were basically geographically-based: Footscray and Williamstown; Carlton and Fitzroy; South Melbourne and Port Melbourne.[33]

In 1896, Markwell the football writer for The Age noted that the VFA had not moved to try and stop the downfall of the game. He suggested that many of the rules would have to be changed and that boundary umpires should be introduced to help field umpires control on-field discipline. "Reform is urgently called for", he wrote. "Otherwise respectable young fellows will retire from the sport and leave it entirely in the hands of blackguards."[12]

This unruliness among the players of certain teams and, more particularly, the thuggery of the supporters of some clubs, had been noted for a number of years and was certainly another reason that some clubs saw a break-away from the VFA as the only solution. Another contemporary writer called the Collingwood v North Melbourne game in July 1896: "the greatest disgrace of all time in Australian football". The game itself was a cleanly played affair, which was narrowly won by Collingwood. However, at half-time spectators attacked Umpire Roberts and did so again after the game. During the second attack, the players of both sides tried to protect the umpire only to have the crowd turn on them. Female spectators slashed away with long hat pins and one male supporter even produced an iron bar, which he used. Players McDougall (North Melbourne) and Bill Proudfoot (Collingwood) were knocked unconscious and most of their teammates suffered some injuries, albeit some minor. It is often claimed that this incident led to North Melbourne not being invited to join the VFL when it was formed later that year.[12]

A few weeks later, on 22 August 1896, during a Footscray v Williamstown game, Williamstown walked off at three-quarter time, allegedly because of the rough play of Footscray. This was not the first time that such a thing had happened; in 1887, Richmond also left the ground at three-quarter time alleging rough play by Port Melbourne. This led to sustained rivalry between Port Melbourne and Richmond, which continued until Richmond's last VFA season, 1907.[12]

On 2 October 1896, just after the end of the 1896 season, representatives from six clubs held a meeting at Buxton's Art Gallery in Collins Street, at which it was decided to form the VFL Victorian Football League, which would represent the stronger clubs and begin playing in the 1897 football season. The clubs with delegates at that meeting were: Collingwood; Essendon; Fitzroy; Geelong; Melbourne; South Melbourne. Although Geelong had finished 11th in a 13 team competition, they had consistently been calling for change. Their record as a top team in past years would have also ensured their place at the table.[20][39]

Carlton and St Kilda were also invited to join the VFL, initially making it an eight team competition. St Kilda had never been a strength in the VFA but their excellent home ground was seen as being a bonus for the new VFL. Not only did the Junction Oval have a good playing surface, but it was easily accessible by public transport.[12]

Carlton had not been a top team for a number of years but their dominance in the 1860s and 1870s meant that they still had one of the largest supporter bases. However, Carlton's admission to the VFL was contingent on them obtaining a suitable home ground. Since their formation in 1864 they had played at: Royal Park; Madeline Street oval (where Newman College, University of Melbourne now stands); the southern end of Princes Park; an area then known as the triangle (where University Women's College was later built). Carlton obtained permission to fence-in an area at the northern end of Princes Park and work commenced on clearing a rubbish tip from part of the site.[20][lower-alpha 15]

The VFL inaugural meeting was held just seven weeks after a special meeting of the VFA held at Young and Jackson Hotel on 6 August 1896 to discuss the 25 July affair (see above). This meeting closed the North Melbourne ground for four weeks, and insisted on better protection for umpires in the future.[20]

In its first season the VFL introduced three important reforms to the game:[33]
1. behinds were counted towards the score;
2. a finals system was introduced;
3. the 'little mark' was abolished.

The new scoring system saw six points given for a goal and one point for a behind. This system is still used. (Between 1878 and 1896, kicks between the kick off posts [behind posts] were recorded but did not count towards the score). The main advantage in the now long-established, present system is that it cuts down the number of draws [e.g. a score of 12.15 (87) against 12.9 (81) would have been a draw under the old system but a win to the first team under the current system]. However, the current system does reward inaccurate kicking [e.g. a score of 16.24 (120) against 18.10 (118) would see a win to the team that kicked the lesser number of goals]. The first game that would have been a draw under the old scoring method, but achieved a result under the new system was in Round 4 of 1897: South Melbourne 5.11 (41) d. Collingwood 5.3 (33). Later in that same season there were two games where the new system completely reversed the results, the first of these was in Round 12: Collingwood 3.17 (35) d. Fitzroy 4.4. (28). The advantage in the new system is highlighted by the fact that in 1896 the VFA had nine drawn games in one season, but there was only one draw in the VFL's 1897 season. (The greatest number of draws in any VFL/AFL season was five in 1921.)[12]

In 1897, VFL finals were held after 14 home-and-away games in which each of the eight clubs had played each other twice.[lower-alpha 16] Those first finals consisted of six round-robin matches over three weeks, between the top four clubs. A finals ladder was drawn up which saw Essendon, which had finished in second place at the end of the home-and-away matches, clearly in first place with 3 wins, 0 losses. Had there not been a clear points winner to the finals ladder, a Grand Final would have been played between the two top-placed clubs.[39][lower-alpha 17]

After experimenting with another rather complicated finals system between 1898 and 1900, the VFL used what was later to be known as the "original Argus system" in 1901, and converting that into what became known as the "amended Argus system" 1902. Except for 1924 (see above), the "amended Argus system" operated continuously from 1902 to 1930 (the VFL adopted the Page–McIntyre system, a.k.a. the McIntyre Final Four System, in 1931).

Under the amended Argus system, the team that was first at the end of the home-and-away matches played third, and second played fourth, with the two winners meeting in a Final. However, the team heading the ladder at the end of home-and-away matches was given an advantage in that if it lost either its semi-final or the Final, it could challenge the Final winner in a Grand Final.[lower-alpha 18] (Initially, the right to challenge only applied if the minor premiers had won more games than the winner of the final. This stipulation was always controversial and was dropped for the 1907 season.) The original Argus system was identical to the amended Argus system, except that with the original system, the minor premiers had no right of challenge whatsoever.

The importance of cricket over football is highlighted by the fact that between 1898 and 1901, the most prestigious ground, the MCG, was not used for finals because cricket pitches were being prepared.[39]

A 'little mark' was taken when a player passed the ball by foot at least two yards (1.83 metres), generally from a pack of players. It was difficult for umpires to pick out 'little marks' in scrimmages. It was abolished in 1874[40] to help open up play.[33]

The New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) was formed in Sydney in 1907/08 and the game was seen as being halfway between rugby union and Australian rules football. In 1908, there were serious talks between the NSWRL and the VFL which, it was hoped, would lead to some form of amalgamation or affiliation. Of course, this didn't happen and Rugby League's offside rule was seen as the major reason why the talks broke down.[41]

The VFL continued to go from strength to strength. In the late 20th century it evolved into a national competition and is now known as the AFL Australian Football League.

Richmond (VFA) centreman, Charlie Backhouse, who played over 200 games in a 15-year career 1891–1905; captain 1905.

Despite predictions of the demise of the VFA after the formation of the VFL, the earlier-formed competition continued for another 99 years, although the VFL immediately took its place as the senior Victorian competition. Nevertheless, under the wise presidency of Theodore Fink, the VFA continued to play a significant role.[33]

In 1897, the VFA followed the VFL and also introduced two of their reforms: the counting of behinds towards the score; and the abolition of the 'little mark'. The VFA didn't introduce a finals system until 1903 when the Argus system was used. (The Page–McIntyre system was introduced in 1933, two years after the VFL had first used it.)[12]

The following year, 1898, saw two more reforms to the VFA's rules: the number of players was reduced from 20 to 18; an order-off rule was introduced. The first change worked well as it gave players more freedom of movement around the field and also cut down the number of packs. The VFL also adopted this change a season later and has had 18 players on the field ever since 1899. However, the number of VFA on-field players has changed over the years: 1908 – to 17; 1912 – to 16; 1918 – reverted to 18; 1959 – to 16; 1992 – reverted to 18.[12]

The order-off rule was not popular with players or umpires. Umpires were never sure how rough things had to get before they could order a player off, rather than awarding a free kick to an opponent. The order-off rule was dispensed with after two seasons. Even so, the order-off rule must be seen as an attempt by the VFA to curb the rough play that was cited as one of the reasons for the formation of the VFL.[12]

Brunswick during the early 20th century. The highlighted section in the bottom right-hand corner shows the future Australian Prime Minister John Curtin

In 1897, Brunswick was admitted to the Association bringing the number of teams up to six (Brunswick, Footscray, North Melbourne, Port Melbourne, Richmond and Williamstown) who each played each other three times for a total of 15 rounds. As in previous seasons the club at the top of the ladder at the end of these home-and-away rounds was declared the Premier.[12][42]

During that 1898 season another change was made in that after 15 home-and-away matches, the four teams at the top of the ladder played an extra two games prior to the Premiership being awarded. This was not really a finals system and was only tried for one season.[33]

The VFA continued to increase the number of teams: 1899 – eight teams through the addition of West Melbourne and a re-formed Prahran; 1900 – nine teams through the addition of Essendon Town (later Essendon Association); 1903 – 10 teams through the addition of Preston.[12][42]

In the 20th century, the VFA was always Victoria's second most important football competition. However, it had a few golden eras, particularly the 1930s/40s and the 1970s.[12]

The grandstand at the Brunswick Street oval (now the W. T. Peterson Community Oval) home of the Fitzroy Football Club from its inception in 1883 until 1966. The grandstand was built in 1888 and is still exant.

In general, this list covers 19th century football grounds only but the final year of use is usually included, even if this was in the 20th or 21st century:[20][43]

The MCG in 1878, a year after the first Test cricket match had been played there. By this time permission was being granted for the occasional football match to be played at the ground.

From the earliest days of white settlement in Australia, the concept of using nicknames for people and organisations was widely adopted. Many of the 19th century football players had nicknames and most of the earliest clubs also quickly adopted a nickname; often based on the colour of the uniform, sometimes from the geographical location, or for a variety of other reasons. In earlier days, clubs often had more than one nickname, sometimes consecutively, but by the turn of the 20th century there was usually a greater stability with most clubs adopting one nickname by which they were known by both their own supporters and by the fans of opposing teams. By this time, many club followers were wearing badges, etc., which had a logo based on the nickname of their particular team.

• Origins of Australian rules football
• History of Australian rules football
• Australian rules football
• Australian Football League
• Victorian Football Association
• List of Australian rules football clubs by date of establishment
• Australian rules football in Victoria

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