Australian rules football

:Australian Rules redirects here. For the movie, see Australian Rules (film).

The clubs and competitions

The modern day Australian Football League (AFL) has many teams dating back to the beginnings of the game: apart from the Melbourne Football Club, other early clubs still in existence include: Geelong (1860), Carlton (1864), North Melbourne (aka Hotham, now Kangaroos) (1869), Port Adelaide (1870), Essendon and St Kilda (1873), South Melbourne (now Sydney Swans) (1874) and Footscray (now the Western Bulldogs) (1877).

Related Topics:
Australian Football League - Geelong - 1860 - Carlton - 1864 - Kangaroos - 1869 - Port Adelaide - 1870 - Essendon - St Kilda - 1873 - Sydney Swans - 1874 - Western Bulldogs - 1877

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In 1877, the Victorian Football Association (VFA), the game's first league, was formed by 14 clubs: Albert Park, Ballarat, Barwon, Beechworth, Carlton, Castlemaine, East Melbourne, Essendon, Geelong, Hotham (later North Melbourne), Inglewood, Melbourne, Rochester and St Kilda. Six of these clubs were from the Victorian country. At the time, Essendon was regarded as a semi-junior club rather than a full member, and was allowed concessions such as fielding teams of 25 players, instead of the standard 20.

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Gradually the game spread from Victoria into other Australian colonies, especially South Australia (SA), Tasmania and Western Australia (WA). The first intercolonial match, between Victoria and SA, was held in 1879. The precursors of the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) and the Western Australian Football League (WAFL) were strong, separate competitions by the 1890s. Meanwhile, a rift in the VFA led to the formation of the Victorian Football League (VFL), which commenced play in 1897 as an eight-team breakaway of the stronger clubs in the VFA competition: Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Fitzroy, Geelong, Melbourne, St Kilda and South Melbourne.

Related Topics:
Intercolonial match - 1879 - South Australian National Football League - Western Australian Football League - Victorian Football League - 1897 - Collingwood - Fitzroy

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Another five VFA clubs joined the VFL later: Richmond and University joined the VFL in 1908, although University withdrew in 1915. Footscray, Hawthorn and North Melbourne joined in 1925, by which time VFL had become the most prominent league in the game.

Related Topics:
Richmond - University - 1908 - Hawthorn - 1925

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For much of the 20th century the SANFL and the WAFL were considered peers of the VFL. Although the VFL was generally accepted as the strongest league, clubs from all three leagues frequently played each other on an even footing in challenge matches and occasional nationwide club competitions.

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Interstate football

For most of the 20th century, the absence of a national club competition — and the inability of players to compete internationally — meant that matches between state representative teams were regarded with great importance. Because VFL clubs increasingly recruited the best players in other states, Victoria dominated these games. However, State of Origin rules were introduced in 1977, and in the first such game, at Subiaco Oval in Perth, Western Australia defeated Victoria, 23.13 (151) to 8.9 (57), a huge reversal of the results in most previous games. Western Australia and South Australia began to win many of their games against Victoria. However, during the 1990s, following the emergence of the Australian Football League, state of origin games declined in importance, relative to Origin games in the rival code of rugby league, especially after an increasing number of withdrawals by AFL players, who were under increasing pressure from clubs concerned by the risk of injuries. Australian rules State of Origin matches ceased in 1999. The second-tier state and territorial leagues still contest interstate matches.

Related Topics:
State of Origin - 1977 - Subiaco Oval - Perth - Origin games in the rival code of rugby league - 1999

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Towards a national club competition

In 1982, in a move which heralded big changes within the sport, one of the original VFL clubs, South Melbourne Football Club, relocated to the Rugby League stronghold of Sydney and became known as the Sydney Swans. In the late 1980s, strong interstate interest in the VFL led to a more national competition; two more non-Victorian clubs, the West Coast Eagles and the Brisbane Bears began playing in 1987. The league changed its name to the Australian Football League (AFL) following the 1989 season. In 1991, it gained its first South Australian team, Adelaide. West Coast's local derby rivals Fremantle were admitted in 1995. Fitzroy merged with Brisbane after 1996 due to financial difficulties to form the Brisbane Lions and the proud old SANFL club, Port Adelaide joined in 1997, immediately becoming fierce local rivals to Adelaide. The AFL, currently with 16 member clubs, is the sport's elite competition.

Related Topics:
1982 - South Melbourne Football Club - Rugby League - Sydney - Sydney Swans - West Coast Eagles - Brisbane Bears - 1987 - Australian Football League - 1989 - 1991 - Adelaide - Local derby - Fremantle - 1995 - 1996 - Brisbane Lions - Port Adelaide - 1997

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All of the clubs which have competed in the VFL or AFL still exist in one form or another. For example, the Fitzroy Football Club still exists in the Victorian Amateur Football Association as the Fitzroy Reds, who wear Fitzroy Lions guernseys and play their home games at the Brunswick Street Oval.

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With the introduction of the AFL, the SANFL, WAFL and other state leagues rapidly declined to a secondary status. Apart from these there are many semi-professional and amateur leagues around Australia, where they play a very important role in the community, and particularly so in rural areas.

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The VFA, still in existence a century after the original schism, merged with the former VFL reserves competition in 1998. The new entity adopted the VFL name.

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Even at the elite level, the game still retains some links to its suburban roots. AFL players run on to the field through a crepe paper banner depicting some message (for instance, congratulating players on a milestone number of games) constructed by volunteer supporter groups.

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All AFL clubs also have a club song, most of which were composed during the early 20th century, or mimic the musical styles of that era. At least two teams use club songs set to the tunes of well-known American marches:

Related Topics:
Club song - 20th century - American

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• The Adelaide Crows' song, "The Pride of South Australia", is set to the tune of "The Marine Corps Hymn", the official song of the United States Marine Corps.
• The Sydney Swans' song, "The Red and the White", uses the tune of and borrows a large part of its lyrics from the "Notre Dame Victory March" of the University of Notre Dame.