I cannot buy the League starting in 1990. All these events regarding nationalisation are a continuum since at least the Swans in 1982. It would make more sense to me, if 1897 is not the start date, to look at 1877, when the VFA began, it being the source competition for the VFL.
Because it didnât.
It was rebranded.
There is zero reason to suggest it was a different league at any point.
Apart from all those strange looking foreign teams.
The expansion teams, sure.
Whatâs all this about?
Do you mean to tell me anyone is still playing footy this year?
Ah so that was where the idea originally came from - simply morph the VFA into the VFL and then into the AFL.
As Bruce would sayâŚâŚâŚâŚâŚâŚâŚcleeeeevveeeeerrrrrrrr!!!
The VFA transition to the VFL was a little before my time.
Youâd have to ask Noonan.
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Iâve always wanted to ask Noonan what the McCrackens were like !
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Iâve heard they had a nice house.
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An AFL comp with strongest clubs from SA, VIC and WA mightâve been interesting. I guess the others who were left wouldâve just died then.
It nearly happened.
But weâd have had a Superleague/WSC situation which would have been pretty ugly.
The clubs would have attempted to take the game from the VFL, and itâs not like theyâd have just gone, âoh, okay then.â
In hindsight, I wonder if the three leagues could have simply merged, and then have a finals series involving winners from each league.
The Super Bowl came about because the AFL (American Football League) had been challenging the NFLâs supremacy, enough that they were getting into bidding wars over players and TV rights.
Going forward, no one should take any notice of what this poster says!!! 
I love me some Wobbles!!!
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man id love to see the 84 83 ressei gf, just to watchrotton ronnie at work
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make that 1983, working from a phons here
Comp isnât that good
We can do this
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Absolutely
Pies beat Dees
GWS by 2 kicks down here (semi)
Tigs (in a prelim)
3-9 against other finals sides.
We beat more top sides than that.
Play good footy for 22 home and away.
And play really well for a month of finals. And hope it bounces your way on GF day.
Thatâs it. Thatâs all. There is no magic sauce. Believe nothing about âeliteâ this or that, or needing to recruit a whole new midfield. Play well for longer.
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Burning Jealousy !
Yep, I am so, so jealous of Collingwood, and know that if it was the Bombers who kicked the first five goals in a GF, led for 95% of the game and then lost to a goal in the last 90 seconds, then I would just be so, so happy to have won a final and just accept I was beaten by a better team on the day, not complaining about umpires or anything at all.
LOL
Maybe a bit jealous of West Coast, because just as Barnesy sang there ainât no second prize.
Had WA had not given in to the bright lights of the VFL in 1986, it may have forced the VFL into forming a genuine national competition with equal rights to all participants rather than what we have today. SA could see what was happening and decided against being part of it. The Brisbane consortium may have agreed to be involved but the VFL needed $8m. None of the VFA clubs had $4m to join the VFL and there wasnât a bank in the land that would lend them the money based on those balance sheets.
Had WA said âweâll get involved on conditionâŚâ things could have been very different.
The SANFL deserves credit for its stance back then.
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All of that is true.
There were internal pressures on both WA and SA to join, though.
Donât believe what the Crows tell you about not caring and being indifferent. It burned that they werenât playing, and had every intention of coming to the party before Port forced their hand.