Victorian Amateur Football Association
The Victorian Amateur Football Association is an Australian rules football league in Victoria, Australia consisting purely of amateur players. Unlike the Victorian Football League and the VFL/AFL, the VAFA has always been strictly a purely amateur league and has affiliations with both AFL Victoria and the Australian Amateur Football Council.
The league is the largest amateur league in Australia and consists of 7 senior divisions (with each club fielding a firsts and reserves team) and multiple Under 19 divisions.
The league's administration base is at Elsternwick Park, a former Victorian Football Association stadium in suburban Elsternwick, Victoria that was home to the now defunct Brighton Football Club. It has a small grandstand and capacity for around 15,000 spectators.
In addition there are also three Club XVIII divisions, primarily made up of either clubs only able to field one team, or clubs from higher divisions that can field a third team after their seniors and reserves. The league operates a promotion and relegation system between divisions with various rules dictating which division clubs can play in.
Many of the clubs are private school based where school old boys play.
The reigning premiers for the A Section are Old Xaverians.
History
The Victorian Amateur Football Association was founded in 1892 as the Metropolitan Junior Football Association.In 1912 the MJFA became the Metropolitan Amateur Football Association. In 1933 it changed its name to the Victorian Amateur Football Association.[1]
The foundation clubs were [1] ;
- Alberton F.C.
- Brighton F.C.
- Collegians FC
- Footscray District F.C.
- St. Jude’s F.C.
- St Mary’s F.C.
- Toorak-Grosvenor F.C.
- YMCA F.C.
Movement in and out of senior competition since inception
From a history of the VAFA [1]
| Year | New clubs admitted | Exited prior to commencement of following season | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1892 | Alberton, Brighton, Collegians, Footscray Districts, St. Jude's, St. Mary's, Toorak-Grosvenor, YMCA |
||
| 1893 | Olinda , University 2nd and South St. Kilda | ||
| 1894 | Nunawading , Scotch Collegians, Windsor and Caulfield | Olinda, University 2nd, Footscray District, St Jude's. |
|
| 1895 | Waltham | Toorak-Grosvenor, YMCA (Disbanded) | |
| 1896 | Old Melbournians, Malvern | Alberton, Scotch Collegians | |
| 1897 | Old Melbournians, Booroondara, Waltham(disbanded) | ||
| 1898 | Leopold, Beverley | St Mary's (banned) | |
| 1899 | Parkville, St Francis Xaviers, Kew | St Francis Xaviers (replaced by Kew) | |
| 1900 | Sth Melbourne Juniors | ||
| 1904 | Fitzroy District | ||
| 1905 | Melbourne University | Booroondara(merged with Hawthorn) | |
| 1906 | Fitzroy renamed Collingwood Districts | ||
| 1908 | Oakley | Brighton, Melbourne University(-VFL) | |
| 1909 | Carlton Districts | Port Rovers | |
| 1913 | Fitzroy Juniors | ||
| 1914 | Elsternwick | Hawthorn | |
| 1915 | Caulfied merge with Malvern | ||
| 1916- 1920 |
In recess due to WWI | ||
| 1920 | (Reestablishment of league, limit 8 teams); Old Melburnians, Old Caulfield, Melbourne Swimming Club, Melbourne Teachers College,Collegians, Elsternwick, University B, Sth Yarra |
||
| 1921 | Old Brighton, Old Scotch Collegians, University A, Old Trinity, Sandringham, Hampton, |
Melbourne Teachers College (expelled) | |
| 1922 | *2 Sections(8); Old Brighton, Murrumbeena, Elwood, Melbourne Shipping Company,Melbourne Teachers College |
Melbourne Shipping Company (disbanded) | |
| 1923 | *2 Sections(A8,B9); Old Xaverians, Elsternwick B | ||
| 1924 | Burwood, Caulfield City, Old Brighton(readmitted) | Elwood | |
| 1925 | Old Hailebury, Caulfied City renamed Caulfield FC | Caulfied FC Expelled | |
| 1926 | *3 Sections (A10,B8,C8); Geelong, Sandringham Jnrs, St Paul's Ascot Vale, Old Melburnians B, Teachers College B, Kew Jnrs, Brunswick Amateurs, Sth Caulfield, Gardenvale-Middle Brighton |
||
| 1927 | Glenhuntly B, West Hawthorn, Kingsville Rovers, Oakley Amateurs, Pascoe Vale, Black Rock, Naval Base Flinders, State Savings Bank |
Oakley Amateurs( expelled) | |
| 1928 | Oakley readmitted, Sandringham B, Burwood, Surrey Hills, | Old Haileybury & Old Trinity merge, Sandrinham, Oakley (expelled), Pascoe Vale (expelled) | |
| 1929 | Melbourne Highschool Old Boys, Old Ivanhoe Grammarians, Old Paradians, Bentleigh | ||
| 1930 | Dandenong KSP, Brighton Technical OB, Glenhuntly B | Old Ivanhoe(disbanded), Black Rock (expelled) | |
| 1931 | Canterbury United Churches | ||
| 1932 | *D Section formed; University Highschool OB, Nth Melbourne CBC OB, Ormond, W. Brunswick, Footscray TS OB, St Ignatius, Gardiner, ES&A Bank, Old Brightonians, National Bank |
||
| 1933 | Hampton Rover, Gardiner renamed Malvern | West Hawthorn, Canterbury United Churches, Surrey Hills | |
| 1934 | Ivanhoe, Parkdale, Alphington | Dandenong | |
| 1935 | Carnegie, Coburg | St Ignatius (expelled) Old Haileybury/Old Trinity, KIngsville, National Bank | |
| 1936 | ES&A merges with National Bank,Fairfield, Mount Carmel OC, West Brunswick | Burwood | |
| 1937 | Myer, St Camberwell | Bentleigh District | |
| 1938 | Parkside Amateurs | ||
| 1939 | St Patrick's Ballarat OC, Heidelberg West | National Bank (disbanded) Carnegie, Nth Melbourne CBC OB (expelled) | |
| 1940 | Pascoe Vale, Powerhouse Season abandoned after R1 due to outbreak of Second World War |
Geelong, Brighton, Old Brightonians ( all disbanded) | |
| 1941- 1945 |
Competition in recess. | ||
| 1946 | 25 of 40 Clubs resume in 3 Sections; Balwyn Amateurs, Carnegie Church of Christ |
||
| 1947 | 34 Clubs; Elsternwick, Power House, Geelong (all readmitted), Commonwealth Bank, St. Kevins, State Electricity Commission |
||
| 1948 | Nth Alphington, University High School OB(readmitted) | State Electricity | |
| 1949 | *39 teams in 4 sections; Glenhuntly Jnrs, Moreland Amateurs, St Andrews |
||
| 1950 | Bellfield, Glenhuntly Jnrs | ||
| 1951 | St Patrick's Ballarat (readmitted) | ||
| 1952 | DS&A Bank, | Moreland, Nth Alphington (expelled) | |
| 1953 | St Columb's | ||
| 1954 | *48 Clubs in five sections; ANZ Bank, Insurance Social Clubs Association, National Bank, Old Carey, Old Geelong Grammarians Old Trinity, Power House Gold, Preston, Sth Melbourne City |
Caulfield | |
| 1955 | De La Salle, OC, Melburnians, University E, | Myer | |
| 1956 | Pt Melbourne Amateurs, | Balwyn, St Patricks OC | |
| 1957 | AJAX | Hawthorn (expelled) | |
| 1958 | Collegians Gold, St Kilda CBC OB | Insurance Social Clubs Associations | |
| 1959 | Commercial Bank, West Brunswick | Brighton, Huntingdale Jnrs, Sth Melbourne City (disbanded) | |
| 1960 | Old Camberwell | Port Melbourne | |
| 1961 | |||
| 1962 | Monash University, Pharmacy College | ||
| 1963 | St Bernards OC, Nth Melbourne CBC OB(readmitted), Kooyong, AMP Society | Murrumbeena | |
| 1964 | RAAF Cadets (Pt Cook), Old Ivanhoe Grammarians, Cassie, Monash University Whites, Assumption OB, St Patricks Ballarat (readmitted) | ||
| 1965 | Australian Postal Institute, Reservoir OB, Patricians | Pharmacy College expelled | |
| 1966 | Bellfield, API, Monash University Whites, RAAF Cadets, Cassie(*Kooyong refused readmission) | ||
| 1967 | |||
| 1968 | Old Mentonians | ||
| 1969 | |||
| 1970 | Old Essendon Grammarians, Dookie, Longernong OC, La Trobe University | ES&A merge with ANZ | |
| 1971 | Marcellin OC, North Brunswick, La Trobe University Reds, Monash University White (readmitted) | ||
| 1972 | St Bedes OC | ||
| 1973 | Fawkner, Thornbury, University Reds (readmitted) | ||
| 1974 | Glenroy, Beverley Hills | ||
| 1975 | Bullen United, Heatherton, Bullen-Templestowe | ||
| 1976 | |||
| 1977 | State Savings Bank renamed State Bank, Glenroy renamed Therry CC OB | St Patricks Ballarat, | |
| 1978 | Reservoir OB | ||
| 1979 | St Pius, Clayton, Princes Hill | National Bank | |
| 1980 | St John's OC, Peninsula OB, Coolaroo Rovers, Thomastown, Banyule | ||
| 1981 | |||
| 1982 | AMP Society became Balaclava | Geelong Amateurs | |
| 1983 | Williamstown CMYS, | Assumption OC, Alphington (Suspended 2 Seasons) | |
| 1984 | Old Essendon Grammarians (readmitted)Preston MB OB | Thornbury | |
| 1985 | St Andrew, St Leonards OC, Whitefriars OC (on probation) GTV-9, Eltham Collegians | ||
| 1986 | |||
| 1987 | Aquinas OC,(F) Bloods, Port Colts(G), Richmond Central(H) | ||
| 1988 | Footscray TS OB renamed FIT | Coburg Amateurs, Clayton(merged with Waverly VFA=Waverley Amateurs) | |
| 1989 | Mazenod OC (F), Salesian OC (H) Waverley Amateurs | ||
| 1990 | Boronia Park(F), St Mary's (F) | FIT, Port Colts | |
| 1991 | St John's OC (F), Old Westbourne Grammarians (G), Monash Gryphons (G), St Patricks-Mentone (F) Balaclava renamed Glen Huntly, | Waverley Amateurs, State Bank & Commonwealth Bank merged = State Commonwealth Bank, St Kilda CB OC merge with Murrumbeena= St Kilda Sth Caulfield | |
| 1992 | State Commonwealth Bank renamed Commonwealth Bank(C), St Kilda Sth Caulfield (C), St Leo's-Wattle Park, Camberwell | Albanvale, Kontias, | |
| 1993 | |||
| 1994 | Eley Park and Newlands Coburg admitted. Commonwealth Bank renamed Southbank | Boronia Park, Brunswick. | |
| 1995 | Beaumaris, Hawthorn Citizens, Swinburne University, Eltham OC, Ivanhoe, Kew | Fawkner, Doveton, St Andrews-Coburg. | |
| 1996 | ANZ Bank renamed ANZ Albert Park, St. Leo's Wattle Park renamed St.
Leo's Emmaus Wattle Park, Thornbury Cougars. |
Balwyn Combined, Bulleen United& Canterbury North Balwyn merged = Bulleen Cobras. | |
| 1997 | Mt. Lilydale, Syndal Tally-Ho admitted, Therry CCOB renamed Therry Penola OB | Newlands Coburg | |
| 1998 | Werribee Amateurs (from FDFL), Hawthorn Citizens renamed Hawthorn Amateurs, University Reds renamed Fitzroy Reds | ||
| 1999 | Brunswick (readmitted), Glenhuntly & St. Kilda Sth. Caulfield = Glen Eira, Southbank renamed Prahran, ANZ Albert Park renamed Albert Park, Ivanhoe renamed Ivanhoe-Assumption. | ||
| 2000 | St. Pats Mentone renamed Mentone Amateurs, Bentleigh, South Melbourne Districts | Monash Whites merged with Monash Blues,Chirnside Park | |
| 2001 | Thomastown | ||
| 2002 | Box Hill North, University Highschool OB renamed University Highschool-Victoria University. |
Eley Park, Parkside ( - DVFL) | |
| 2003 | Mentone Amateurs renamed Mentone Vultures. Balwyn Combined, Canterbury North Balwyn, Yarra Valley OB, Brunswick Power, |
Preston MB OB, St Bedes OC merge with Mentone = St Bedes Mentone Tigers St Bede's Mentone, | |
| 2004 | St Bede's Mentone Tigers, St. Leos Emmaus Wattle Park renamed Emmaus St. Leos OC |
Mentone Vultures merge with Parkdale (SFL) = Parkdale Vultures, Brunswick Power (- WRFL) | |
| 2005 | Parkdale Vultures (C), | Mt Lilydale (D4) | |
| 2006 | |||
| 2007 | South Mornington (D4)(From SFL) | ||
| 2008 | St Francis Xavier (D4) | St Marys Amateurs & Salesian OC AFC merge = St Mary's/Salesian AFC |
Inter-league and Inter-state games
In June 1925 a MAFA Representative XVIII defeated the South Australian 21.22 to 8.10 at the MCG in the first amateur Interstate representative game.[1]
In 1956 a VAFA XVIII beat the combined VFL/VFA Amateurs in an Olympic demonstration game, 12.9.81 to 8.7.55. In 1971 a VAFA Representative side beat a VFA XVIII for the inaugural Victorian Football Cup 23.12 to 19.17.[1]
Of note, the VAFA v SA Amateurs clash in 1957 was the first uninterrupted telecast of an Australian rules football game.[1]
Growth
The inaugural season of the then MJFA comprised fixtures between 8 teams. By 1922 the association divided into 2 sections of 8. Only 4 years later three sections were established; Section A with 10 clubs and Section B and C with 8 clubs each.[1]
Competition was ceased for the Second World War ( as it had after the Great War). Restarting in 1946 with 27 clubs in three sections, by 1947 34 clubs were competing over three sections. 1948 saw 35 clubs spread over four sections.In 1954 the MAFA established a fifth section for its 48 senior clubs.[1]
1960 saw 74 clubs over 7 sections. The league dwindled and lost two sections. Section F was reintroduced in 1971. Section G was introduced in 1986. By 1987 there were 68 clubs over 8 sections.[1]
A major indicator of the growth and quality of the association led to poaching of VAFA players to the VFL in 1961.[1]
Premiers
From the VAFA Website [2]
| Year | A Section | B Section | C Section | D1 Section | D2 Section | D3 Section | D4 Section |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Old Xaverians | Old Melburnians | MHSOB | Rupertswood | Williamstown CYMS | Bentleigh | La Trobe Uni |
| 2008 | St Bede's-Mentone Tigers | Marcellin Old Collegians | Ormond | Bulleen-Templestowe | Werribee AFC | Williamstown CYMS | West Brunswick |
| 2007 | Old Xaverians | St Bede's-Mentone Tigers | Old Camberwell Grammarians | Oakleigh | South Melbourne Dist. | Old Westbourne | UHS-VU |
| 2006 | Old Haileyburians | Collegians | St Bede's-Mentone Tigers | Old Carey | Oakleigh | South Melboure Dist. | Powerhouse |
| 2005 | Old Xaverians | Old Ivanhoe Grammarians | University Blacks | Fitzroy Reds | Old Geelong Grammarians | St Johns Old Collegians | Elsternwick |
| 2004 | University Blues | St Kevins Old Boys | MHSOB | University Blacks | Bulleen-Templestowe | Oakleigh | Old Westbourne |
| 2003 | Old Xaverians | De La Salle Old Collegians | Beaumaris | Monash Blues | Fitzroy Reds | Swinburn University | UHS-VU |
| 2002 | St Bernard's Old Collegians | Old Melburnians | Whitefriars Old Collegians | St Leo's Emmaus WP | Yarra Valley Old Boys | West Brunswick | Rupertswood |
| 2001 | Marcellin Old Collegians | Old Ivanhoe Grammarians | Hampton Rovers | Old Camberwell Grammarians | Mentone Amateurs | Fitzroy Reds | Syndal Tally Ho |
| 2000 | Old Xaverians | Mazenod Old Collegians | Therry Penola | Caufield Grammarians | University Blacks | Powerhouse | South Melbourne Dist. |
| Year | A Section | B Section | C Section | D Section |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Old Xaverians | Old Trinity | Whitefriars Old Collegians | A.J.A.X. |
| 1998 | Old Xaverians | Marcellin Old Collegians | Hampton Rovers | Whitefriars Old Collegians |
| 1997 | Old Xaverians | Old Brighton | Marcellin Old Collegians | Beaumaris |
| 1996 | Old Xaverians | Old Trinity | St Kevin's Old Boys | Monash Blues |
| 1995 | Old Xaverians | Old Haileyburians | Old Ivanhoe | Hampton Rovers |
| 1994 | Old Melbournians | Old Trinity Grammarians | St Kilda South Caulfield | Old Ivanhoe Grammarians |
| 1993 | Collegians | Old Melburnians | Mazenod Old Collegians | St Bede's Mentone Tigers |
| 1992 | Collegians | Old Trinity Grammarians | Fawkner | Mazenod Old Collegians |
| 1991 | De La Salle O.C. | St Bernard's Old Collegians | Whitefriars Old Collegians | MHSOB |
Current clubs
As of 2009[update], the 7 senior divisions were structured as follows [3]:
A Section
B Section
C Section
D1 Section
D2 Section
D3 Section
D4 Section
Former Clubs
This may consist of clubs that are currently playing in the Club XVIII section.
- Albanvale - now in WRFL
- Alberton Football Club
- Alphington Football Club
- AMP Society Football Club
- ANZ Bank Football Club - now known as the Albert Park Football Club
- Army Apprentices Football Club
- Associated Grammar Schools Football Club
- Assumption Old Collegians
- Australian Postal Institute Football Club
- Balaclava Football Club
- Balwyn Football Club - moved to the Eastern Football League
- Balwyn Combined Football Club
- Bellfield Football Club
- Beverley Football Club
- Beverley Hills Football Club - now known as the Doncaster East Football Club in the Eastern Football League
- Black Rock Football Club
- Booroondara Football Club
- Boronia Park Football Club
- Brighton Amateurs Football Club
- Brighton Technical School Old Boys
- Brighton Vale Cricket Club
- Brunswick Amateurs Football Club
- Bulleen Cobras Football Club (changed name after the 2008 season to Manningham Amateur Football Club)
- Bulleen United Football Club (merged in 1996 to become Bulleen Cobras Football Club)
- Camberwell Football Club
- Canterbury-North Balwyn Football Club (merged in 1996 to become Bulleen Cobras Football Club)
- Canterbury United Churches Football Club
- Carlton District Football Club
- Carnegie Football Club
- Carnegie Church Of Christ Football Club
- Cassie Club Football Club
- Caulfield City Football Club
- Celtic Amateur Football Club
- Chirnside Park Football Club - moved to the Eastern Football League
- Clayton Amateur Football Club
- Coburg Amateurs Football Club
- Collingwood District Football Club
- Commercial Bank Football Club
- Commonwealth Bank Football Club
- Coolaroo Rovers Football Club
- Dandenong KSP Football Club
- Doveton SJOC
- East Malvern Football Club
- Edlington Football Club
- Elwood Football Club
- ES&A Bank Football Club
- Fawkner Football Club
- Fitzroy District Football Club
- Fitzroy Juniors Football Club
- Footscray Technical School Old Boys
- Geelong Amateurs Football Club
- Glenroy Football Club - now member of EDFL
- GTV-9 Football Club
- Hampton Football Club
- Hawthorn Amateur Football Club
- Heatherton Football Club
- Heidelberg West Amateurs - member of DVFL since 1941
- Huntingdale Football Club
- Insurance Social Clubs Association Football Club
- Kingsville Rovers Football Club
- Kontias Football Club
- Kooyong Football Club
- Leopold Football Club
- Malvern Football Club
- Melbourne Shipping Company Football Club
- Melbourne Swimming Club Football Club
- Monash University Football Club
- Monash Whites Football Club Official Site
- Moreland Amateurs Football Club
- Mount Carmel Old Collegians
- Murrumbeena Football Club - member of SFL
- Myer Football Club
- National Bank Football Club
- Naval Base Flinders Football Club
- Newlands-Coburg Football Club
- North Alphington Football Club
- North Melbourne CBC Old Boys
- Nunawading Football Club
- Oakleigh Football Club
- Olinda Football Club
- Parkside Football Club (now in the Northern Football League)
- Pascoe Vale Football Club - now member of EDFL
- Patricians Football Club
- Pharmacy College Football Club
- Port Melbourne Amateurs Football Club
- Port Rovers Football Club
- Preston Amateurs Football Club
- Preston MBOB
- Princes Hill Football Club
- RAAF Cadets Football Club
- Reservoir Old Boys
- Salesian Old Collegians (Merged after the 2007 season to become St Marys/Salesain)
- Sandringham Amateurs
- Sandringham Juniors Football Club
- Southbank Football Club
- South Camberwell Football Club
- South Melbourne City Football Club
- South Melbourne Juniors Football Club
- South St Kilda Football Club
- South Yarra Amateur Football Club
- St Andrews Amateurs
- St Ignatius Football Club
- St Judes Football Club
- St Leonards Old Collegians
- St Mary's Amateur Football Club (Merged at the end of 2007 to become St Marys/Salesain)
- St Patricks Ballarat Old Collegians
- St Pius Football Club
- St Kilda CBC Old Boys
- State Electricity Commission Football Club
- State Saving Bank Football Club
- Surrey Hills Football Club
- Teachers College Football Club
- Thomastown Football Club (now in the Northern Football League)
- Thornbury Football Club
- Toorak-Grosvenor Football Club
- Tooronga-Malvern Football Club - now in Southern Football League
- Waltham Football Club
- Waverley Amateurs FC - formerly Waverley VFA merged with Mount Waverley to form Waverley Blues and play in the Eastern Football League
- West Hawthorn Football Club
- Windsor Football Club
- YMCA Football Club