Australian Football League | A.F.L. |
Australian Rules is the oldest coded sporting competition in the world
The Australian Rules Football League [men] comprises 18 teams in 6 states, played over 23 rounds, a finals series culminating in a grand final.
Originally known as the Victorian Football League (VFL), it was founded in 1896 as a breakaway competition from the Victorian Football Association (VFA), with its inaugural season commencing the following year. The VFL, aiming to become a national competition, began expanding beyond Victoria to other Australian states in the 1980s, and changed its name to the AFL in 1990.
Short History
The game of football was devised by Tom Wills, H.C.A. Harrison, W.J. Hammersley and J.B. Thompson. The Melbourne Football Club was formed on August 7, 1858 - the year of the code's first recorded match between Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar School.
Originally the Victorian Football League (VFL) emerged from the Victorian Football Association (VFA) in 1897. The VFL aiming to become a national competition and officially changed its name to the AFL in 1990.
The Victorian Football League (VFL) foundation clubs were Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Fitzroy, Geelong, Melbourne, St Kilda and South Melbourne. In 1908, Richmond, 1925, Footscray (now the Western Bulldogs), Hawthorn and North Melbourne (now the Kangaroos).
The Victorian Football League (VFL) became the Australian Football League (AFL) in 1990 with clubs in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.
The 12 VFL clubs expanded to include the West Coast Eagles and the Brisbane Bears. By 1997, the competition comprised 16 clubs after Adelaide (1991), Fremantle (1995), and Port Adelaide (1997) joined the AFL and Fitzroy merged with the Brisbane Bears to form the Brisbane Lions (1997).
In 2011, Gold Coast Suns joined the competition as the 17th club followed by Greater Western Sydney Giants (GWS) in 2012 as the 18th club.
Australian Football League Clubs | Premierships
Hawthorn has WON the most premierships in the AFL era with (5)
Adelaide (2) Brisbane Lions (3) Carlton (1) Collingwood (2) Essendon (2) Fremantle (0) Geelong (3) Gold Coast (0) Greater Western Sydney (0) Hawthorn (5) Melbourne (0) North Melbourne (2) Port Adelaide (1) Richmond (3) St Kilda (0) Sydney (2) West Coast (4) Western Bulldogs ()AFL Premiers
1990 - Collingwood
1991 - Hawthorn
1992 - West Coast
1993 - Essendon
1994 - West Coast
1995 - Carlton
1996 - North Melbourne
1997 - Adelaide
1998 - Adelaide
1999 - North Melbourne
2000 - Essendon
2001 - Brisbane Lions
2002 - Brisbane Lions
2003 - Brisbane Lions
2004 - Port Adelaide
2005 - Sydney Swans
2006 - West Coast
2007 - Geelong
2008 - Hawthorn
2009 - Geelong
2010 - Collingwood
2011 - Geelong
2012 - Sydney Swans
2013 - Hawthorn
2014 - Hawthorn
2015 - Hawthorn
2016 - Western Bulldogs
2017 - Richmond
2018 - West Coast
2019 - Richmond
2020 - Richmond
2021 - Melbourne
2022 - Geelong
Victorian Football Clubs
The Carlton Football Club is acknowledged as one of Australia's pre-eminent sporting institutions.
It is also one of the world's oldest, having been founded in 1864 when a grou.. Show More..
Born in depths of depression in 1892, the Collingwood Football Club garnered support like no other team before its time.
Our humble, yet proud, beginnings fostered an unbreakab.. Show More..
Sixteen premiership cups, seven Brownlow medals, the 1874 best & fairest trophy, the league's first premiership team, 'talking lockers' and much, much more.
Where can you see i.. Show More..
Based in Geelong, the Geelong Football Club (Cats) has some of the most dedicated fans in the AFL.
Geelong has a proud history, having won TEN AFL and seven VFA premierships in .. Show More..
The Hawthorn Football Club competes in the Australian Football League (AFL).
The Hawthorn Football Club has a proud history, having grown from a small suburban club to become a.. Show More..
Red legs | Dees | Demons
The Melbourne Football Club is the oldest professional football club in the world.
The club has had many significant events influence its histor.. Show More..
The North Melbourne Football Club emerged from humble origins in 1869 out of a need to provide local cricketers with a sport throughout the idle winter months.
While the Club cl.. Show More..
The Richmond Football Club are the reigning 2020 AFL premiers.
Richmond Football Club enjoyed its most successful era in the 1960s and 80s, when it won five flags. The last Tige.. Show More..
The St Kilda Football Club is one of the foundation clubs of the Victorian Football League which evolved into the AFL in 1990.
The Saints are one of 18 clubs who compete in the .. Show More..
Since joing the league in 1925, the doggies based at the Whitten Oval have won two premierships in 1954 and 2016, enjoying a strong and passionate supporter base.
The Western Ov.. Show More..
❊ Web Links ❊
➼ Australian Football League | A.F.L.
➼ www.afl.com.au
➼ www.footballvic.com.au
➼ www.sanfl.com.au
➼ www.aflq.com.au
➼ www.wafootball.com.au
➼ www.aflnswact.com.au
➼ www.aflnt.com.au
➼ www.footballtas.com.au
❊ Also See... ❊
➼ AFLW: Australian Football League | Women's League
➼ History of Australian Football
Disclaimer: Check with the venue (web links) before making plans, travelling or buying tickets.
Accessibility: Contact the venue for accessibility information.
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