View source for Victorian Football League

{{Short description|Australian rules football league}}
{{About|the present-day Victorian Football League competition|the organisation known as the Victorian Football League until 1990|Australian Football League}}
{{Redirect|VFL}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox sports league
| title           = Victorian Football League
| current_season  = 2025 VFL season
| current_season2 = 
| last_season     = 
| upcoming_season = 2025 VFL season
| logo            = VFL Football Logo.svg
| pixels          = 180px
| caption         = 
| formerly        = Victorian Football Association (1877–1995)
| replaced        = 
| sport           = Australian rules football
| founded         = {{Start date and age|1877|5|17|df=yes|br=yes}}
| administrator   = [[AFL Victoria]] <br> [[AFL Commission]]
| ceo             = 
| director        = 
| president       = 
| motto           = 
| inaugural       = [[1877 VFA season|1877]]
| teams           = 21
| singles         = 
| region          = [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]<br>[[New South Wales]]<br>[[Queensland]]
| venue           = 
| continent       = 
| folded          = 
| champion        = {{nowrap|[[Werribee Football Club|Werribee]]}}
| champ_season    = [[2024 VFL season|2024]]
| most_champs     = 
| most successful club = [[Port Melbourne Football Club|Port Melbourne]]<br/>(17 premierships)
| qualification   = 
| tv              = [[Seven Network]]
| streaming       = [[7plus]] <br/> [[AFL.com.au]]
| sponsor         = [[Smithy's Beer]]
| related_comps   = {{hlist|[[VFL Women's]]|[[Australian Football League|AFL]]|[[Talent League]]}}
| founder         = 
| levels          = 
| promotion       = 
| relegation      = 
| domestic_cup    = 
| website         = {{URL|vfl.com.au}}
| footnotes       = 
}}
The '''Victorian Football League''' ('''VFL''') is an [[Australian rules football]] competition in Australia operated by the [[Australian Football League]] (AFL) as a second-tier, regional, semi-professional competition. It includes teams from clubs based in [[eastern states of Australia]]: [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], [[New South Wales]] and [[Queensland]], including [[reserve team|reserves team]]s for the eastern state AFL clubs. It succeeded and continues the competition of the former '''Victorian Football Association''' ('''VFA''') which began in 1877. The name of the competition was changed to the Victorian Football League in 1996. Under its VFL brand, the AFL also operates a women's football competition known as [[VFL Women's]], which was established in 2016.

The VFA was formed in 1877 and was the second-oldest [[Australian rules football]] league, replacing the loose affiliation of clubs that existed in the [[History of Australian rules football in Victoria (1859–1900)|early years of the game]]. It was the top-level club competition in Victoria until 1896, becoming the secondary-level competition from 1897 after its eight strongest clubs seceded to form the Victorian Football League (now AFL). As a secondary-level competition, the VFA enjoyed peaks of popularity, in the 1940s with a faster-paced [[throw-pass era|rival code]] of rules and in the 1970s by playing on Sundays at a time when its competitor, the VFL, played on Saturdays.

In 1995, the VFA ceased to exist as an independent organisation and control of its football competition was taken over by its former rival, the AFL, which initially operated the competition through its subsidiary, the [[Victorian State Football League]] (VSFL). AFL clubs' reserves teams first entered the competition in [[2000 VFL season|2000]]. In [[2021 VFL season|2021]], the competition expanded geographically, when the VFL absorbed the [[North East Australian Football League]] (NEAFL) to include clubs from New South Wales and Queensland. As of [[2025 VFL season|2025]], the competition includes 21 teams from the eastern states, nine of which have a continuous VFA heritage.

== History ==
=== Victorian Football Association ===
==== VFA formative years (1877–1896) ====
[[File:Melbourne fc 1879.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Melbourne FC team of 1879]]
The Victorian Football Association (VFA) was founded on 17 May 1877 at the meeting of club secretaries immediately preceding the 1877 season. It was formed out of a desire to provide a formal administrative structure to the governance of the sport, and it had the power to impose binding decisions on its members on matters including the Laws of the Game, player eligibility and other disputes, as well as to facilitate intercolonial football. Decisions were made based on a vote of the Board of Management, which was composed of two delegates from each senior club,<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Weekly Times|publication-place=Melbourne|title=Football – Football Association|date=19 May 1877|page=5}}</ref> a structure which was retained until the late 1980s. It replaced a system under which the secretaries of the senior clubs met at the beginning of each year to decide on matters of mutual interest, but the system was informal and disputes often went unresolved.<ref name="VCA">{{cite news|newspaper=The Australasian|publication-place=Melbourne|title=Football Gossip|author=Peter Pindar|date=5 May 1877|page=556|issue=579|volume=XXII}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Australasian|publication-place=Melbourne|date=12 May 1877|author=Peter Pindar|title=Football Gossip|page=588|volume=XXII|issue=580}}</ref>

[[File:1891 VFA Premiership Match.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Scenes from an 1891 VFA Premiership Match between Essendon and Carlton]]
The five foundation senior clubs in the Melbourne metropolitan area were [[Albert Park Football Club (VFA)|Albert-park]], [[Carlton Football Club|Carlton]], [[North Melbourne Football Club|Hotham (later North Melbourne)]], [[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]] and [[St Kilda Football Club|St Kilda]]. Provincial clubs were also eligible for senior representation on the Association, even though most seldom played matches against the metropolitan teams; [[Geelong Football Club|Geelong]], the nearest provincial club to the metropolis, was the most prominent provincial club, joining the Association in 1877<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Geelong Advertiser|date=21 May 1877|page=3|title=Football|publication-place=Geelong, VIC}}</ref> and playing regularly against metropolitan clubs by 1880. There was no formal system of promotion and relegation between the senior and junior levels, with it largely at a club's discretion whether or not it joined the Association as a paying senior member. The affiliation fee for senior clubs was initially set at one guinea.

Through the first decade of the VFA's existence, the structure of the football season did not change significantly from the informal system which had evolved [[History of Australian rules football in Victoria (1859–1900)|over previous years]]. Setting of fixtures was the responsibility of club secretaries rather than the Association itself, and in a typical season, a club could play against other VFA teams, non-VFA clubs, [[Handicapping|at odds]] against junior teams (usually twenty players against twenty-three), and in some seasons against intercolonial teams; although as the number of senior clubs increased, the number of matches against non-VFA clubs declined. Prior to the 1888 season, there was no formally endorsed system for awarding a VFA premiership:<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Leader|publication-place=Melbourne|title=Football – The Past Season|author=Follower|date=1 October 1887|page=20}}</ref> as had been the case since the early 1870s, the premier club was determined by public and press consensus, which by the mid-1880s was conventionally but informally understood to be the senior club which suffered the fewest losses during the season.<ref name="premiership88">{{cite news|newspaper=The Argus|title=Opening of the Football Season|date=5 May 1888|page=14|publication-place=Melbourne}}</ref> Premierships won under this then-informal method are now considered official, and consensus was typically uncontroversial.

In 1888, the VFA first took responsibility for the onfield competition, and introduced its first formal premiership system by adopting a system of premiership points;<ref name="premiership88" /> it also awarded for the first time a premiership cap in the Association's colours to players of the premier team.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Australasian|date=4 May 1889|author=Markwell|title=Football Notes|publication-place=Melbourne|page=931|volume=XLVI|issue=1205}}</ref> The Association's influence over the on-field competition grew, and from 1894, the Association assumed responsibility for centrally setting the fixtures and standardising the number of games played by each team.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Argus|publication-place=Melbourne|title=The coming football season|page=6|date=20 March 1894}}</ref>

After the formal introduction of the premiership, the often-changeable collection of senior clubs in the VFA soon became settled at twelve premiership-eligible clubs: {{AFL Car}}, {{AFL Ess}}, [[Fitzroy Football Club|Fitzroy]], [[Footscray Football Club|Footscray]], {{AFL Gee}}, {{AFL Mel}}, {{AFL NM}}, [[Port Melbourne Football Club|Port Melbourne]], {{AFL Ric}}, {{AFL Stk}}, [[Sydney Swans|South Melbourne]] and [[Williamstown Football Club|Williamstown]]; they were joined by a thirteenth club, {{AFL Col}}, in 1892.<ref>[https://eprints.qut.edu.au/100083/18/Mark%27s%2BBook%2BVolume%2B4%2Br.pdf Pennings, Mark (2016), ''Origins of Australian Football: Victoria's early History: Volume 4: Tough Times: Victorian Football loses its Way, 1891 to 1896'', Brunswick, Victoria:  Grumpy Monks Publishing.] {{isbn|978-0-646-93604-8}}</ref> Three Ballarat-based clubs – [[Ballarat Football Club|Ballarat]], [[Ballarat Imperial Football Club|Ballarat Imperial]] and [[South Ballarat Football Club|South Ballarat]] – were also voting members of the VFA through this time, but were not involved in the onfield premiership.<ref name="ballaratdiminish">{{cite news|newspaper=The Australasian|publication-place=Melbourne|title=Football Notes|author=Markwell|date=29 April 1883|page=783|volume=LIV|issue=1413}}</ref>

==== Split (1897–1937) ====
[[File:VFA_Grand_Final_1896_between_Collingwood_vs_South_Melbourne_at_East_Melbourne_Cricket_Ground_Weekly_Times_10_October_1896.png|thumb|left|Action from the 1896 VFA Grand Final won by Collingwood over South Melbourne at the [[East Melbourne Cricket Ground]]. This was the first Victorian Grand Final and a significant moment in the breakaway movement]]
[[File:BrunswickFC.jpg|200px|thumb|right|[[Brunswick Football Club|Brunswick]] during the early 1900s. The highlighted section in the bottom right-hand corner shows the future Australian Prime Minister [[John Curtin]].]]

During the 1890s, there was an off-field power struggle within the VFA between the stronger and weaker clubs, as the stronger clubs sought greater administrative control commensurate with their relative financial contribution to the game. This came to a head in 1896 when it was proposed that gate profits, which were always lower in matches against the weaker clubs, be shared equally amongst the Association clubs; in response to the threat that this might be endorsed on the votes of the weaker clubs, six of the strongest clubs – {{AFL Col}}, {{AFL Ess}}, {{AFL Fit}}, {{AFL Gee}}, {{AFL Mel}} and {{AFL SM}} – seceded from the VFA, inviting {{AFL Car}} and {{AFL Stk}} to join them, to form the [[Victorian Football League (1897–1989)|Victorian Football League]] (VFL), which became the leading senior football body in Victoria. The remaining VFA clubs – Footscray, North Melbourne, Port Melbourne, Richmond and Williamstown – were given the opportunity to compete as a junior competition under and without representation on the VFL's administration, but rejected the offer and continued as an independent body.<ref name="secession">{{cite news|newspaper=North Melbourne Courier and West Melbourne Advertiser|date=19 March 1897|page=3|title=The Victorian Football Association|publication-place=North Melbourne|issue=72}}</ref> The two new competitions competed in parallel from their respective 1897 seasons.

The VFA rebuilt to ten clubs over its first independent decade, mostly by adding leading junior clubs to its ranks such as [[Brunswick Football Club|Brunswick]], [[Prahran Football Club|Prahran]], [[West Melbourne Football Club|West Melbourne]], [[Essendon Association Football Club|Essendon Town/Association]], [[Northern Bullants|Preston]], [[Brighton Football Club|Brighton]], [[Northcote Football Club|Northcote]] and [[Hawthorn Football Club|Hawthorn]]. Because the VFA was independent from the VFL (and, upon its establishment in 1906, the [[Australasian Football Council]]), the VFA had the power to set its own rules. The VFA reduced the number of on-field players from twenty to eighteen in 1897, a move followed by the VFL two years later. The VFA tried reducing the number of players further to 17 in 1908,<ref name="seventeen">{{cite news|newspaper=The Argus|title=Football Reform – seventeen a-side|date=18 April 1908|page=12|publication-place=Melbourne}}</ref> then to 16 in 1912,<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Argus|date=4 April 1912|publication-place=Melbourne|title=Thursday, 4 April, 1912|page=6|author=Old Boy}}</ref> before reverting to the national standard 18 in 1919.<ref name="rules">{{cite news|newspaper=The Australasian|date=3 May 1919|title=Football – the opening day|page=807|publication-place=Melbourne|author=J.W.|volume=CVI|issue=2770}}</ref> The VFA went into recess during [[World War I]], with the 1916 and 1917 seasons cancelled and the 1915 and 1918 seasons shortened.

[[File:Northcote 1929.jpg|250px|left|thumb|Northcote's 1929 premiership side. Second from right, front row, is [[Doug Nicholls]].]]
Over the first thirty years of the VFA's independence, its relationship with the VFL was, in general, mutually antagonistic. At different times (1913–1918 and 1923–1925), the two competitions had permit reciprocity agreements in place to prevent one competition from poaching players from the other without a [[retain and transfer system|clearance]], but these were sporadic and remained in place only when convenient to both competitions.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Argus|date=20 January 1923|title=Football Control|page=20|publication-place=Melbourne}}</ref> At the same time, the strongest clubs in the VFA often sought to defect to the VFL, which the VFL was happy to encourage when it expanded, and there were ultimately four defections: {{AFL Ric}} in 1908; and {{AFL Foo}}, {{AFL NM}} and {{AFL Haw}} in 1925. Attempting to defect was seen as treacherous within the VFA, and clubs which attempted to defect but failed were sometimes expelled from the VFA by the remaining clubs: {{AFL NM}} was expelled from the VFA twice (in 1908 and 1921, before reforming and rejoining on both occasions), and [[West Melbourne Football Club|West Melbourne]] was expelled permanently in 1908.<ref name="VFAmeetingOct">{{cite news|newspaper=The Argus|title=Rival Football Bodies|date=17 October 1907|page=8|publication-place=Melbourne}}</ref><ref name="9JulyAustralasian">{{cite news|newspaper=The Australasian|publication-place=Melbourne|date=8 July 1921|title=Football – notes and comments|page=69|author=J.W.|volume=CXI|issue=2884}}</ref>

The loss of the VFA's strongest three clubs to the VFL in 1925 firmly cemented the VFA as the second-tier competition in the state. Between 1925 and 1929, the addition of outer suburban clubs in [[Coburg Football Club|Coburg]] (1925), [[Camberwell Football Club|Camberwell]] (1926), a new club from [[Northern Bullants|Preston]] (1926), [[Yarraville Football Club|Yarraville]] (1928), [[Oakleigh Football Club|Oakleigh]] (1929) and [[Sandringham Football Club|Sandringham]] (1929) expanded the VFA back to twelve teams. The relationship with the VFL improved, and a new permit reciprocity agreement was established in 1931.<ref>{{citation|title=Seagulls over Williamstown|last=Fiddian|first=Marc|year=2003|publisher=Williamstown Football Club|publication-place=Williamstown, VIC|page=55}}</ref>

==== Throw-pass era (1938–1949) ====
{{main article|Australian rules football schism (1938–1949)}}
In 1938, the VFA made a bold rule change by legalising throwing of the football in general play, provided the throw was underarm with both hands below shoulder height. The change helped to speed up the game, and introduced more run-and-carry play in an era which had previously been dominated by a long-kicking style, proving popular with many spectators. Additionally, the VFA ended its permit agreement with the VFL, and began to aggressively recruit star players by offering salaries well in excess of the maximum set by VFL player payment laws. This included [[Laurie Nash]], [[Bob Pratt]] and [[Ron Todd (footballer)|Ron Todd]], who were in the primes of their careers and were considered amongst the best players in the country. These changes gave the VFA a product which could compete with the VFL for public interest, and it made the late 1930s and 1940s one of the most successful periods in the VFA's history.<ref name="preview">{{cite news|newspaper=The Argus|date=16 April 1938|title=Crowds will be attracted by new rules|page=22|publication-place=Melbourne|author=Rover}}</ref> The VFA competition went into recess from 1942 until 1944 due to [[World War II]], but continued to perform strongly upon returning in 1945. The VFA was incorporated in 1946.<ref name=ASIC>Australian Securities and Investment Commission register www.asic.gov.au Re ACN 004 246 253</ref>

While the throw-pass was in effect, particularly during the early 1940s, there were talks between the [[Victorian Football Association|VFA]] and [[Australian Football League|VFL]] towards re-amalgamating the two bodies. Although the throw-pass had been a great success for the VFA, it was felt that a single controlling body for football in Victoria playing under a uniform set of rules was in the best interests of football as a whole. Negotiations for an amalgamation took place over several years, but broke down several times over a variety of issues, including representation at board level, [[Australian National Football Council]] representation, and a [[promotion and relegation]] structure between the VFA and VFL.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Argus|publication-place=Melbourne|title=No football merger – final VFL-VFA meeting on Monday|date=25 November 1944|page=17|author=Percy Taylor}}</ref>

In the end, the two bodies never amalgamated, but the schism ended in 1949 when the bodies re-established a permit reciprocity agreement and the VFA was granted a non-voting position on the Australian National Football Council, later upgraded to a voting position in 1953;<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Canberra Times|publication-place=Canberra, ACT|title=Vote granted to Football Association|page=4|date=8 July 1953}}</ref> as a condition of joining, it was forced to abandon the throw-pass rule and adopt the national standard rules.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Argus, Supplement|date=9 August 1949|title=Association joins ANFC|page=20|publication-place=Melbourne}}</ref> These changes benefitted Victorian football as a whole, gave the VFA a say in national administration of the game. It also gave the VFA the right to compete in [[interstate matches in Australian rules football|interstate matches]], and at interstate carnivals over the 1950s and 1960s, the VFA generally competed at a similar standard to [[Tasmania Australian rules football team|Tasmania]] as the fourth- or fifth-best team in the competition.

However, joining the ANFC also stripped the VFA of the throw-pass, and therefore of the on-field distinctions which allowed it to compete with the VFL for fans; this, coupled with the increased mobility of suburban Melburnians – who, due to the increased affordability of cars and the lifting in 1950 of wartime travel restrictions, were no longer captive audiences for their local VFA teams – resulted in a significant downturn in most VFA clubs during the 1950s. On-field, the competition became dominated by the few clubs with strong community links such as [[Port Melbourne Football Club|Port Melbourne]], [[Williamstown Football Club|Williamstown]], [[Sandringham Football Club|Sandringham]], [[Oakleigh Football Club|Oakleigh]] and [[Moorabbin Football Club|Moorabbin]] (who had joined the VFA alongside [[Box Hill Football Club|Box Hill]] in 1951); the gap between those clubs and the weaker clubs, many of whom were periodically forced to play as amateurs due to a lack of money, grew large and the popularity of the competition declined.<ref>{{citation|first=Marc|last=Fiddian|year=2004|title=The VFA: a history of the Victorian Football Association, 1877–1995|pages=3–7}}</ref>

==== Gillon era (1954–1980) ====
[[Alex Gillon]] presided over the VFA from 1954 until 1980. During that time, the VFA underwent a series of changes to reinvigorate it after its post-throw pass decline of the 1950s. Major strategic changes were undertaken, including:
*As Melbourne expanded geographically, the VFA embarked on a deliberate plan to establish its presence in new areas by expanding the number of teams into the newer, outer suburbs. Between 1958 and 1966, new clubs were added in [[Dandenong Football Club|Dandenong]], [[Geelong West St Peters Football Club|Geelong West]], [[Mordialloc Football Club|Mordialloc]], [[Sunshine Football Club (VFA)|Sunshine]], [[Frankston Football Club|Frankston]], [[Waverley Football Club|Waverley]] and [[Werribee Football Club|Werribee]].<ref name="1956expansionplans">{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun News-Pictorial|title=Ballarat, Bendigo in V.F.A. plan to expand|author=Noel Carrick|page=29|date=2 July 1956|publication-place=Melbourne}}</ref>
*In 1961, when the eighteenth club joined, the VFA was split into First and Second Divisions, the First Division having 10 teams, and Second Division holding the balance, with one team promoted and one team relegated between the two divisions each season. This plan was aimed at improving overall competitiveness of the competition and overcoming the huge gap between the strongest and weakest clubs which had led to unentertaining football in the late 1950s.<ref name="agedecision">{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|title=V.F.A. decides on two divisions|author=Ron Carter|page=16|date=3 December 1960|publication-place=Melbourne}}</ref>
*In 1959, the VFA again reduced the size of the on-field team to sixteen, eliminating the two wing positions, to result in a more open field than under league rules. The VFA played 16-a-side from 1959 until 1992.<ref name="17March">{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun News-Pictorial|title=VFA will play 16 a side|page=62|date=17 March 1959|publication-place=Melbourne}}</ref>
*In 1960, the VFA first began playing premiership matches on Sundays. This allowed VFA matches to be played without competing the VFL for spectators, and within a few years, clubs found that Sunday matches were as much as three to four times more lucrative than Saturday games.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun News-Pictorial|publication-place=Melbourne|page=37|author=Scot Palmer|date=8 May 1961|title=Sunday games "pay off" for VFA}}</ref> By the 1970s, all games were played on a Sunday, while the VFL played its games on Saturdays. This was similar to the College/Pro football day divide still present in the US. The [[Government of Victoria|Victorian Government]] supported the VFA's new-found vigour, and rejected requests by the VFL to hold its own games on Sundays until the mid-1980s.
*Finally, the VFA's importance grew significantly after signing a television broadcast deal with [[ATV0]] (later [[Network Ten]]), which saw a weekly live broadcast (in colour, when the technology became available) of one game from 1967 until 1981, at a time when VFL matches were shown only as partial replays.<ref name="VFA matches for TV">{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|publication-place=Melbourne|page=1|date=4 March 1967|title=VFA matches for TV}}</ref>

All of these changes resulted in the VFA enjoying a successful period during the 1970s. Increased sponsorship, public awareness, and a greater number of former and fringe VFL players joining the VFA gave it a product which allowed it to flourish in the Sunday timeslot. The VFA at this time comprised twenty clubs, ten in each division, with a constant membership between 1966 and 1981. Attendances at matches more than doubled between 1967 and 1975.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|publication-place=Melbourne|author=Marc Fiddian|page=23|date=25 June 1976|title=Crowds up at VFA}}</ref>

The VFA's relationship with the VFL and ANFC again deteriorated during the 1960s. In 1965, the VFA stopped recognising its permit reciprocity agreement in retribution for two takeovers of VFA club grounds by VFL clubs ([[1964 VFA season#St Kilda.27s move to Moorabbin Oval|St Kilda at Moorabbin]] and [[1965 VFA season#North Melbourne.27s move to Coburg Oval|North Melbourne at Coburg]]);<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun News-Pictorial|publication-place=Melbourne|page=64|date=10 April 1965|title=VFA shock: war on clearances}}</ref> then in 1967, the VFL stopped recognising the agreement in retribution for the VFA's the introduction of excessive transfer fees on its players.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun News-Pictorial|publication-place=Melbourne|page=64|date=April 1967|title='Open go' now on transfers}}</ref> After the VFA refused to comply with an ANFC demand that a new reciprocal permit agreement be established, the VFA was expelled from the ANFC in 1970.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun News-Pictorial|page=66|date=4 June 1969|title=VFA takes out a writ|publication-place=Melbourne}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun News-Pictorial|page=62|author=Scot Palmer|date=17 March 1970|title=Permits: VFA is expelled|publication-place=Melbourne}}</ref>

==== Decline (1981–1994) ====
The decline of the VFA is often said to have commenced in 1982 when the VFL's struggling South Melbourne Swans moved to Sydney, as all [[Sydney Swans]] home games were played on Sunday and televised, ending the VFA's monopoly on Sunday football; Network Ten ended its weekly VFA coverage in the same year.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|publication-place=Melbourne|author=Marc Fiddian|page=38|date=6 February 1982|title=Channel 10 axes VFA}}</ref> However, this was not the sole cause for decline, which had started in the late 1970s: changing demographics meant that many traditional clubs had slowly found themselves in areas with high migrant populations, which either made it difficult to compete with soccer for local fans and players, or simply brought a level of cultural apathy towards the sport in general; VFA historian Marc Fiddian also noted a decline in the number of ex-VFL players signing with VFA clubs through the late 1970s, which reduced the Association's drawing power, and an increasing gulf in quality between the best and worst clubs.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|publication-place=Melbourne|page=32|author=Marc Fiddian|date=18 June 1981|title=Association drifts as options run out}}</ref> Player payments increased through the 1980s, and declining financial support and sponsorship meant that many clubs began to struggle badly, and often found themselves unable to compete financially with local suburban leagues.<ref name="recorder">{{citation|title=What price success|work=VFA Recorder|date=19 July 1981|page=4|publication-place=Blackburn, VIC|author=Andrew Rajcher|publisher=Hall's Sporting Publicity}}</ref> The VFA had also developed a reputation for rough play and violence, and it was not until the late 1980s that it was able to clean up on-field discipline and shake that image.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Herald-Sun News-Pictorial|publication-place=Melbourne|author=Adrian Dunn|page=73|date=6 May 1991|title=VFA reaps the benefit of stringent policing}}</ref>

In 1981, new VFA president [[Alan Wickes]] attempted to rectify the decline with further expansion: the VFA expanded further into the outer suburbs to twenty-four teams in 1983, adding [[Springvale Football Club|Springvale]], [[Moorabbin Football Club (1979–1987)|Moorabbin]], [[Kilsyth Football Club|Kilsyth]] and [[Berwick Football Club|Berwick]], and Wickes had a vision of expanding to thirty teams with an additional lower division which could affiliate more directly with the top tiers of suburban football; but (with the exception of Springvale), the new second division teams did little to reinvigorate the competition, and the clubs rejected any further expansion.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|publication-place=Melbourne|author=Marc Fiddian|page=24|date=5 August 1983|title=Lions still clear of fourth place}}</ref>

The VFA's direction changed dramatically with the election of Brook Andersen as president in 1985. At the time, the VFL was looking at national expansion (ultimately becoming the [[Australian Football League]] in 1990) and Andersen's executive committee believed that the VFA could fill a new role as top state level league in Victoria when this happened; however, it believed that the VFA would need to be rationalised to a competition of twelve financially stable teams for this to occur.<ref name="FORTreport">{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|publication-place=Melbourne|author=Len Johnson|page=39|date=6 December 1986|title=Radical plan to cut VFA to 12 teams}}</ref> Andersen attempted but failed to obtain a mandate from the clubs to impose this rationalisation, but the VFA under his guidance nevertheless contracted, as it showed no lenience in suspending clubs who failed to meet minimum requirements.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun News-Pictorial|publication-place=Melbourne|author=Daryl Timms|page=78|date=6 November 1987|title=Caulfield will battle on – president}}</ref> Several long-term second division clubs, struggling with rising costs and foreseeing the dissolution of the second division (which ultimately occurred when fifteen teams remained in the 1989 season), also took the opportunity to return to suburban football before being forced out.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun News-Pictorial|publication-place=Melbourne|author=Linda Pearce|page=82|title=VFA Bloods on the ropes|date=4 May 1988}}</ref> The eight-year period between 1984 and 1991 saw twelve clubs exit the VFA: [[Mordialloc Football Club|Mordialloc]], Kilsyth, [[Berwick Football Club|Berwick]], [[Geelong West St Peters Football Club|Geelong West]] and [[Camberwell Football Club|Camberwell]] returned to suburban football; [[Yarraville Football Club|Yarraville]], Moorabbin, [[Northcote Football Club|Northcote]] and [[Caulfield Football Club|Caulfield]] were suspended; and [[Sunshine Football Club (VFA)|Sunshine]], [[Brunswick Football Club|Brunswick-Broadmeadows]] and [[Waverley Football Club|Waverley]] all folded.

The VFA rejoined the ANFC as a non-voting member in 1987,<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun News-Pictorial|publication-place=Melbourne|author=Linda Pearce|page=68|date=10 June 1988|title=VFA-VFL link move}}</ref> and replaced the board of club delegates with an independent executive committee in 1988,<ref name="independentboard">{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|publication-place=Melbourne|author1=Toby Darvall|author2=Fiona Athersmith|page=36|date=25 August 1988|title=Preston ruling threat to VFA}}</ref> and also regained weekly television coverage from the 1988 season onwards, with the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] broadcasting a match each Saturday.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun News-Pictorial|publication-place=Melbourne|page=76|author=Linda Pearce|date=11 March 1988|title=Port in focus for TV coverage}}</ref> The VFA eventually returned to the standard 18-per-side rules in 1993.

===Victorian Football League===
==== End of the VFA (1994–1999) ====
Despite the rationalisation to its twelve strongest teams and improved television coverage, the financial position of the competition and the vast majority of its clubs remained perilous into the early 1990s, and it was clear that the VFA was no longer a viable independent body in the long term.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|publication-place=Melbourne|title=Clubs kick off into financial nightmare|author=Caroline Overington|date=15 April 1994|page=26}}</ref> At the end of the 1994 season, the VFA was formally disbanded in an administrative capacity, and the on-field competition was turned over to the AFL's [[Victorian State Football League]] which the AFL had set up two years earlier to take control of Australian football at all levels in Victoria and which ran the statewide under-18s competition (the present day [[NAB League]]) and the [[AFL reserves]] competition in Victoria. This ended the VFA's 97 years of independence from the VFL/AFL and, for the first time since 1896, created a single control for most Australian football in Victoria.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Herald Sun|publication-place=Melbourne|title=Plan a 'victory' for VFA identity|author=Adrian Dunn|date=13 October 1994|page=73|edition=Afternoon}}</ref> Victorian Football Association Limited was deregistered in 2012.<ref name=ASIC />

The VSFL retained the use of the VFA name for the competition for the 1995 season but, in 1996, renamed the competition '''Victorian Football League''' ('''VFL'''), The [[Australian Football League]]'s former name until 1990.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age (Sports Liftout)|publication-place=Melbourne|page=8|author=Scott Spits|date=4 April 1996|title=VFL closer to a state league}}</ref> The VSFL sought to align the competition with the under-18s competition, with each former VFA club affiliated with an under-18s team to provide a developmental pathway from under-18 football into state-level senior football. In doing this, the number of metropolitan teams was cut from twelve to nine in 1995, with Prahran, Oakleigh and Dandenong departing. This left nine clubs with a VFA heritage, coming from different eras: Port Melbourne and Williamstown from the pre-1897 era; Preston, Coburg and Sandringham from the 1920s expansion; Box Hill, Werribee and Frankston from the 1950s/1960s expansion; and Springvale from the 1980s expansion.

The VSFL intended that each statewide under-18s team would be affiliated with a VFL club, so embarked upon a period of expansion to represent the four under-18s teams from country Victoria, as well as Tasmania (which was represented in the competition for a period of time).<ref name="tnb">{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|publication-place=Melbourne|page=35|author=Patrick Donovan|date=18 August 1995|title=VFA, bush in a new league}}</ref> In this expansion, existing powerhouse country clubs [[North Ballarat Football Club|North Ballarat]] and [[Traralgon Football Club|Traralgon]] joined the league in 1996, with new clubs established in [[Bendigo Football Club|Bendigo]], Albury (the [[Murray Kangaroos]], representing the [[Ovens & Murray Football League|Ovens & Murray region]]) and [[Tasmania Devils Football Club (VFL)|Tasmania]] between 1998 and 2001. The regional senior clubs struggled to be financially viable in the statewide competition, with Traralgon and Murray lasting only two and three years respectively. Since 2018, no regional clubs have contested the competition.

==== Merger with the AFL reserves (2000–2019) ====
{{See also|AFL reserves}}
[[File:Ivan Maric VFL092017.jpg|thumb|Action from the [[2017 VFL season|2017 VFL Grand Final]] at [[Docklands Stadium]].]]
From 1995 until 1999, the VSFL operated its two open-age competitions – the VFA/VFL and the [[AFL reserves|Victorian AFL reserves competition]] – separately; however, its intention had always been to merge the two, and this took place following the 1999 season, after the agreement of the AFL clubs. Under the administration's new name ''Football Victoria'' (later [[AFL Victoria]]), those two competitions were merged into a single competition still known as the Victorian Football League. Since this time, the VFL has been contested by a mixture of three types of clubs:
*VFL clubs, operating on a stand-alone basis and maintaining a complete list of players
*The [[reserve team|reserves team]]s of AFL clubs, comprised on AFL reserves players and a small list of supplementary players to make up a full team
*VFL clubs operating under an [[reserves affiliations of Australian Football League clubs|affiliation arrangements]] with an AFL clubs, whereby players from the AFL club would join the senior team of the VFL club when not selected to play in the AFL. At times, there were rules limiting the number of AFL-listed players who could play in a VFL team, but these rules no longer exist.
All three models compete to a relatively even standard, with premierships having been won by all three types of team since the merger. An additional reserves affiliation option, under which AFL clubs were allowed to spread their reserves players across all of the league's VFL clubs rather than into a single aligned club, has also existed since 2021 but has not been taken up by any AFL clubs.<ref name="2021changes" />

The affiliation deals greatly improved the financial viability of the clubs in question, but they diluted their ability to represent their suburb. There have been many changes to the affiliation arrangements in the decade since the VSFL took over the VFA competition, as well as a shift in the arrangement preferred by the AFL clubs. Initially, only four of the ten Victorian AFL clubs were involved in a VFL affiliation, with the rest fielding reserves teams. At its peak of between 2003 and 2006, nine of the ten Victorian AFL clubs were involved in an affiliation, with only Geelong fielding its own reserves team. Most clubs have since migrated away from this model, and since 2021 seven of the ten Victorian AFL clubs have fielded stand-alone reserves teams in the VFL.<ref name="dogsgullssplit">{{cite news|newspaper=Leader|first=Luke|last=d'Anello|date=21 September 2012|access-date=22 September 2012|title=Seagulls and Bulldogs cut ties|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/seagulls-and-bulldogs-cut-ties/story-fn53khk2-1226478697662}}</ref> Through the 2000s, the AFL preferred that its Victorian clubs retained VFL-affiliations, and offered a disincentive in the form of an inflated licence fee for fielding a stand-alone team; however, the AFL did not otherwise prevent teams from fielding stand-alone reserves teams if they were willing and able to pay the fee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/deadline-looms-for-vfl-team-decisions-20110727-1i0ck.html|title=Deadline looms for VFL team decisions|date=28 July 2011|access-date=2 August 2011|first=Caroline|last=Wilson|publisher=The Age}}</ref> The total licence and running costs for an AFL club to field its reserves team in the VFL were estimated to be $500,000 per year in 2011.

Through this period, the VFL remained moderately popular in Victoria, although not nearly as well-supported as the dominant [[Australian Football League]]. Matches attracted both traditional fans of the VFA/VFL clubs, and fans of affiliated AFL clubs keen to watch their reserves players in action. The match of the week and most finals continued to be televised live in Melbourne by the ABC until 2014,<ref name="ABCend">{{cite web|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-10-20/tv-boost-for-state-leagues|title=VFL and WAFL set for Channel Seven in 2015|author=Matt Thompson|date=20 October 2014|access-date=8 November 2014}}</ref> and since 2015 by the [[Seven Network]] as a lead-in to its AFL coverage.<ref name="sevennetwork">[http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-11-18/vfl-rights-confirmed Live VFL to return to Channel 7 in 2015]</ref>

==== Northeast expansion (2020–present) ====
The [[2020 VFL season]] was cancelled as a result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. Upon the VFL's resumption in 2021, the [[North East Australian Football League|North East Australian Football League (NEAFL)]] – which had served as the state league in [[Australian rules football in the Australian Capital Territory|Australian Capital Territory]], [[Australian rules football in New South Wales|New South Wales]], [[Australian rules football in the Northern Territory|Northern Territory]] and [[Australian rules football in Queensland|Queensland]] – was wound up and absorbed into the VFL; this resulted in the reserves teams from the New South Wales and Queensland AFL clubs ([[Sydney Swans|Sydney]], [[Greater Western Sydney Football Club|Greater Western Sydney]], [[Brisbane Lions|Brisbane]] and [[Gold Coast Suns|Gold Coast]]) joining the league, and two of the NEAFL's other Queensland-based senior clubs – [[Aspley Football Club|Aspley]] and [[Southport Australian Football Club|Southport]] – joining,<ref name="2021changes">{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-vfl-merging-with-neafl-neafl-scrapped-draft-pathway-under18s-and-under16s-change-to-under17s-and-under19s/news-story/0cfbfd1d7e4f92160f01ab17fb9994d0|title=VFL to merge with NEAFL, under-18 comps revamped in massive changes to AFL's second tier|author=Max Laughton|date=24 August 2020|access-date=24 August 2020|work=Fox Sports}}</ref><ref name="antsback">{{cite news|newspaper=Leader|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC|author=Paul Amy|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/northern-bullants-to-return-to-vfl-as-a-standalone-club/news-story/d7622838d0c7c822054326350df41b5d|date=13 October 2020|access-date=13 October 2020|title=Northern Bullants to return to VFL as a stand-alone club}}</ref> although Aspley departed after the 2021 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/666852/vfl-season-review-aspley-hornets|title=VFL season review: Aspley|date=20 August 2021|accessdate=20 August 2021|publisher=Australian Football League|author=Brendan Rhodes}}</ref> This brought the league to its largest size since the 1980s, with 22 clubs competing: eight stand-alone VFL clubs, eleven AFL reserves teams, and three traditional VFA/VFL clubs in reserves affiliations with AFL clubs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://coupler.foxsports.com.au/api/v1/article/amp/afl/afl-2020-news-vfl-returns-in-2021-22-teams-northern-bullants-salary-cap-details-interstate-travel-clubs/news-story/6ecfcf400e4b2053f52e17e0607dbcb4|title=New-look 'VFL' locked in for 2021 season with 22 teams spread across east coast|work=Fox Sports|date=29 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-a-new-22team-secondtier-competition-for-the-eastern-seaboard-will-replace-the-vfl-in-2021/news-story/ceea6250428620469a7e154088aa3224|title=AFL: A new 22-team second-tier competition for the eastern seaboard will replace the VFL in 2021|work=News.com.au|date=29 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/twenty-two-clubs-from-southport-to-frankston-to-feature-in-eastern-coast-league-20201029-p569un.html|title=Twenty-two clubs from Southport to Frankston to feature in east coast league|work=The Age|date=29 October 2020}}</ref> The league was also revamped to improve its ability to serve as a talent pathway, with each club required to field at least six under-22 players in each game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/851755/sydney-locks-in-talent-for-east-coast-vfl-competition|title=Sydney locks in talent for East Coast VFL Competition|date=20 January 2021|accessdate=17 February 2021|publisher=Sydney Swans}}</ref> The 2021 season also saw increased broadcast coverage with [[Foxtel]] and its streaming service ''[[Kayo Sports|Kayo]]'' showing games in addition to the ongoing deal with Seven Network.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-15|title=VFL heads into primetime with huge new TV and streaming deal revealed|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-news-2021-vfl-2021-season-broadcast-on-tv-announcement-fox-footy-thursday-night-vfl-fixture-teams-latest-news/news-story/9976c6475a7a7d09b53322e65bc39ada|access-date=2021-04-16|website=Fox Sports|language=en}}</ref>

==Awards==

===Best and fairest===
{{Main article|J. J. Liston Trophy}}
The first award for the Association best and fairest player was the [[Recorder Cup|Woodham Cup]], first awarded in 1923; this was renamed the [[Recorder Cup]] in 1926. Starting from 1933, a second award, the V.F.A. Medal, was awarded concurrently; the awards were both based on the votes of the umpires, but were based on different voting systems. In 1940, the Association dispensed with the Recorder Cup voting system, and awarded both trophies to the same player based on the same set of votes.<ref name="SF1">{{cite news|newspaper=The Argus|publication-place=Melbourne|title=Exciting V.F.A. semi-final|date=16 September 1940|page=11|author=Percy Taylor}}</ref>

Since 1945, the award for the best and fairest player in each VFA/VFL season has been the [[J. J. Liston Trophy]], named after long-term Association president [[John James Liston]], who died in 1944.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Williamstown Chronicle|publication-place=Williamstown, VIC|date=29 June 1945|page=2|title=Wind spoils game}}</ref>

===Other awards===
* The [[Jim 'Frosty' Miller Medal]] is awarded annually to the leading goal-kicker in the VFL home-and-away season; it was struck in 1999 and named after [[Jim 'Frosty' Miller]], who kicked 885 goals for [[Dandenong Football Club|Dandenong]] between 1966 and 1974.
* The [[Norm Goss Memorial Medal]], awarded annually to the player voted best afield in the VFL grand final; it was struck in 1983 in honour of [[Norm Goss, Sr.]], a senior administrator in both the VFA and the [[Port Melbourne Football Club]].
* The [[Fothergill–Round–Mitchell Medal]], awarded annually to the most promising young talent in the VFL competition; it was struck in 1989 and is named after the three players who have won a [[Brownlow Medal]]s in the VFL/AFL and won a Recorder Cup/Liston Trophy in the VFL: [[Des Fothergill]] and [[Barry Round]], after whom the award was originally named, and [[Sam Mitchell (footballer)|Sam Mitchell]], whose name was added to the award in 2018.
* The Frank Johnson Medal, awarded to the player voted best afield for the VFL in interstate football games; named after [[Frank Johnson (footballer, born 1932)|Frank Johnson]], the only VFA player ever selected as captain of an [[All-Australian Team]].

== Salary cap ==
The VFL is classed as a [[semi-professional]] competition. In 2007 the league had a [[salary cap]] of $185,000, excluding service payments. There are a significantly higher number of AFL reserves due to affiliations with Victorian clubs, but player payments for these appearances is apparently not included in the VFL's salary cap. Following the [[2013 VFL season]], it was revealed that several clubs were lobbying VFL executives to increase the salary cap in a bid to keep high-level players who had relieved themselves of participating in the league to accept more attractive financial offers in local football competitions, where such caps are far less regulated.<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/standalone-vfl-clubs-want-increase-in-salary-cap-20131223-2zum4.html Stand-alone VFL clubs want increase in salary cap (The Age December 2013)]</ref>

As of the [[2022 VFL season|2022 season]], standalone clubs in the league, of which there are eight, have a [[Australian dollar|A$]]220,000 salary cap, while the [[Australian Football League|AFL]] reserve and affiliate clubs have a A$110,000 salary cap.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rhodes |first1=Brendan |title=More money, more matches, more opportunity: VFL changes for 2022 |date=22 November 2021 |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/688735/more-money-more-matches-more-opportunity-vfl-rule-changes-for-2022 |publisher=Australian Football League |access-date=2 April 2022}}</ref>

== Attendance ==
Attendances are small by AFL standards, and generally less than the [[South Australian National Football League|SANFL]] and [[West Australian Football League|WAFL]], with an average of between 500 and 1,000 in attendance. Crowds for many finals matches tend to average in the 2,000–6,000 range, with the Grand Final typically attracting a crowd in the 10,000–14,000 mark.<ref>[http://australianfootball.com/game/view/Footscray/Williamstown/2014_2QF_2550_288_31_41040 QF Final 2014, Footscray v Williamstown]</ref><ref>[http://australianfootball.com/game/view/Footscray/Port%20Melbourne/2014_2PF_2550_193_13_41190 PF Final 2014, Footscray v Port Melbourne]</ref><ref>[http://australianfootball.com/game/view/Box%20Hill/Williamstown/2014_1PF_56_288_14_41182 PF Final 2014, Box Hill v Williamstown]</ref>

The VFL does not publish home-and-away attendance figures, as some games are played as AFL curtain raisers; however, various sources quote attendances for some games of the stronger clubs that maintain home records of their own.

== Media coverage ==

=== Television ===
Television coverage has been critical to the exposure of the VFA/VFL during its history, and has typically taken the form of the match of the week being televised live into [[Melbourne]], as well as most finals. Television and [[Streaming media|streaming]] deals during the league's history are as follows:
*1967–1981: Weekly broadcasts of Sunday's match of the round on [[ATV (Australian TV station)|Channel 0/Channel 10]]<ref name="VFA matches for TV"/>
*1984–1986: Match of the round in the final two rounds, plus finals on [[Network Ten|Channel 10]]<ref name="broadcast">{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|publication-place=Melbourne|author=Dennis Jose|page=39|date=18 August 1984|title=VFA back in the ratings game}}</ref>
*1987: VFA finals only on [[ABV (TV station)|Channel 2 (ABC)]] in [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]]<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun News-Pictorial|publication-place=Melbourne|author=Paul Cunningham|page=82|date=13 August 1987|title=ABC to cover VFA finals games}}</ref>
*1988–2014: Weekly broadcasts of match of the round on Saturday afternoons, plus most or all finals, on [[ABV (TV station)|Channel 2 (ABC)]] in [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]]. Commentators included [[Ross Booth]] and [[Phil Cleary]].<ref name="ABCend" />
*2000: in addition to ABC's coverage, one Monday night match televised each week on the Seven Network's [[C7 Sport]] subscription channel. At this time, pay TV penetration was low, and this lasted only one year.
*2015–2019: weekly broadcasts of match of the round on Saturday afternoons, plus most finals, on [[Seven Network|Channel 7]]<ref name="sevennetwork" />
*2021: up to three matches per round available on sports streaming service [[Kayo Sports]], one Sunday "match of the round" game broadcast on Seven, and one Thursday night game broadcast on [[Fox Footy]] (only when no AFL Thursday night fixture is scheduled).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/594079/2021-vfl-premiership-season-broadcast-deal-announced|title=2021 VFL Premiership Season broadcast deal announced|work=afl.com.au|date=15 April 2021}}</ref>
*2022–present: one match per round broadcast live on Seven Network and available live and on-demand nationally on [[7plus]] streaming site, and all additional matches live streamed and available on demand on the AFL website and AFL Live app.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/708006/2022-vfl-fixture-round-one-locked-in-remaining-match-ups-confirmed|title=2022 VFL fixture: Round one locked in, remaining match-ups confirmed|work=AFL.com.au|date=22 February 2022}}</ref>

The VFA holds the distinction of having the first match to be broadcast live on television in Australia, when the second half of the match between [[Oakleigh Football Club|Oakleigh]] and [[Preston Football Club (VFA)|Preston]] on 25 May 1957 was televised on [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|Channel 2 (ABC)]].<ref>{{citation|first=Marc|last=Fiddian|year=2004|title=The VFA: a history of the Victorian Football Association, 1877–1995|page=7}}</ref>

=== Radio ===
The first regular radio broadcasts of VFA games were made by [[3XY]], shortly after the station commenced operations in 1935. The commentator was former Geelong VFL player [[Jumbo Sharland|Wallace "Jumbo" Sharland]] who had earlier been the first to describe VFL matches, that being on 3AR in 1923. In 1954 [[3AK]] began broadcasting VFA games, albeit only for a season or two. The 1970s also saw broadcasts on [[3UZ]], and local Geelong station, [[95.5 K-Rock#3GL|3GL]], broadcast all Geelong West matches. In 1982, the then-dominant Melbourne sports radio station, [[3AW]], broadcast the [[Grand final|Grand Final]].

In 2003, 3AK evolved into sports radio station [[SEN 1116]], and provided a coverage of VFL matches, but this was discontinued after they won the rights to broadcast the AFL ([[Australian Football League]]) from the 2007 season. From 1993 onwards radio's main home for the competition was on [[Casey Radio|Casey Radio 3SER]] where the team, headed up by Ken Moore, did a terrific job bringing games to the wider public. The station gave a start to such broadcasters as Nigel Carmody, Darren Parkin and Tristan Foenander and has proven a terrific breeding ground for emerging sports broadcasters. The station still broadcasts the league today, combined with doing the local league down in Melbourne's southeast.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://vfl.com.au/media-coverage-vfl/casey-radio-97-7fm/ |title=Casey Radio 97.7FM - VFL |website=vfl.com.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411160934/http://vfl.com.au/media-coverage-vfl/casey-radio-97-7fm/ |archive-date=2018-04-11}}</ref>

VFL Radio is produced by BPM Media who broadcast live at least one game a week during the regular season plus each day of the finals series. The coverage is broadcast on the [[Vision Australia Radio]] network throughout Victoria on analogue radio, by Aussie digital radio (SEN 2) and on the internet at vfl.com.au or bpmmedia.com.au.<ref>[http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=0-118-0-0-0&sID=63013 Broadcast Partners – VFL]</ref>

==Clubs==
The Victorian Football League operates on a single ladder system, with no divisions, conferences nor promotion and relegation from other leagues.

=== Current clubs ===
Twenty-one clubs are currently playing in the VFL in [[2025 VFL season|2025]].

{| class=" wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; text-align:left;"
! rowspan="2" |Club
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" |Colours
! rowspan="2" |Moniker
! rowspan="2" |State
! rowspan="2" |{{Tooltip|Home venue|Primary ground for home games}}
! rowspan="2" |Former<br />league
! rowspan="2" |{{Tooltip|Est.|Year of establishment; in the case of reserves teams, refers to the year that the parent club first fielded a seconds team}}
! rowspan="2" |Years in VFA/VFL
! colspan="3" |Premierships
|-
! {{Tooltip|Div 1|Premierships in Division 1 (1961–1988) or the single division in other years}}
! {{Tooltip|Div 2|Premierships in Division 2 (1961–1988)}}
! Recent
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Box Hill Hawks|Box Hill]] ([[Australian Football League reserves affiliations|A]])
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Hawthorn_Football_Club_Colours.svg|center|40x40px| ]]
| ''Hawks''
| align=center | [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Box Hill City Oval]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Eastern Football Netball League|ESFL]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1936
| style="text-align:center;" |[[1951 VFA season|1951]]–
| style="text-align:center;" | '''3'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''2'''
| style="text-align:center;" |2018
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Brisbane Lions#Reserves team|Brisbane]] ([[Australian Football League reserves affiliations|R]]) 
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Brisbane_Lions_Football_Club_colours.svg|center|40x40px| ]]
| ''Lions''
| align=center | [[Queensland|QLD]]
| [[Brighton Homes Arena]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[North East Australian Football League|NEAFL]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1998
| style="text-align:center;" |[[2021 VFL season|2021]]–
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''–'''
| style="text-align:center;" |—
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Carlton Football Club#Reserves team|Carlton]] ([[Australian Football League reserves affiliations|R]]) 
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Carlton 2018 AFL.png|center|40x40px]]
| ''Blues''
| align=center | [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Ikon Park]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[AFL reserves|AFL (R)]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1919
| style="text-align:center;" |[[2000 VFL season|2000]]–[[2002 VFL season|2002]], [[2021 VFL season|2021]]–
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''–'''
| style="text-align:center;" |—
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Casey Demons|Casey]] ([[Australian Football League reserves affiliations|A]]) 
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Casey Demons Football Club colours.jpg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Demons''
| align=center | [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Casey Fields]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Federal Football League|FFL]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1903
| style="text-align:center;" |[[1982 VFA season|1982]]–
| style="text-align:center;" | '''6'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''1'''
| style="text-align:center;" |2022
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Coburg Football Club|Coburg]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Calivil United Football Club colours.jpg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Lions''
| align=center | [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Coburg City Oval]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[AFL reserves|VJFL]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1891
| style="text-align:center;" |[[1925 VFA season|1925]]–
| style="text-align:center;" | '''6'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''2'''
| style="text-align:center;" |1989
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Collingwood Football Club#Reserves team|Collingwood]] ([[Australian Football League reserves affiliations|R]]) 
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Clunes Football Club colours.jpg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Magpies''
| align=center | [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[AIA Vitality Centre (oval)|AIA Vitality Centre]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[AFL reserves|AFL (R)]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1919
| style="text-align:center;" |[[2000 VFL season|2000]], [[2008 VFL season|2008]]–
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''–'''
| style="text-align:center;" |—
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Essendon Football Club#Reserves team|Essendon]] ([[Australian Football League reserves affiliations|R]]) 
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Essendon Football Club colours.svg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Bombers''
| align=center | [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Windy Hill, Essendon|Windy Hill]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[AFL reserves|AFL (R)]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1919
| style="text-align:center;" |[[2000 VFL season|2000]]–[[2002 VFL season|2002]], [[2013 VFL season|2013]]–
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''–'''
| style="text-align:center;" |—
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Western Bulldogs#Reserves team|Footscray]] ([[Australian Football League reserves affiliations|R]]) 
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Western_Bulldogs-Footscray_Football_Club_colours.svg|center|40x40px| ]]
| ''Bulldogs''
| align=center | [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Mission Whitten Oval]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[AFL reserves|AFL (R)]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1925
| style="text-align:center;" |[[2014 VFL season|2014]]–
| style="text-align:center;" | '''2'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''–'''
| style="text-align:center;" |2016
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Frankston Football Club|Frankston]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:VFL_Frankston_Icon.png|center|40x40px]]
| ''Dolphins''
| align=center | [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Kinetic Stadium]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League|MPFL]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1887
| style="text-align:center;" |[[1966 VFA season|1966]]–[[2016 VFL season|2016]], [[2018 VFL season|2018]]–
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''1'''
| style="text-align:center;" |1978 
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Geelong Football Club#Reserves team|Geelong]] ([[Australian Football League reserves affiliations|R]]) 
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Geelong_Football_Club_Colours.svg|center|40x40px| ]]
| ''Cats''
| align=center | [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[GMHBA Stadium]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[AFL reserves|AFL (R)]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1919
| style="text-align:center;" |[[2000 VFL season|2000]]–
| style="text-align:center;" | '''3'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''–'''
| style="text-align:center;" |2012
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Gold Coast Suns#Reserves team|Gold Coast]] ([[Australian Football League reserves affiliations|R]]) 
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Gold Coast Suns colours.svg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Suns''
| align=center | [[Queensland|QLD]]
| [[People First Stadium]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[North East Australian Football League|NEAFL]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 2011
| style="text-align:center;" |[[2021 VFL season|2021]]–
| style="text-align:center;" | '''1'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''–'''
| style="text-align:center;" | 2023
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Greater Western Sydney Giants#Reserves team|Greater Western Sydney]] ([[Australian Football League reserves affiliations|R]]) 
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:GWS Giants Football Club colours.jpg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Giants''
| align=center | [[New South Wales|NSW]]
| [[Blacktown ISP Oval]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[North East Australian Football League|NEAFL]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 2012
| style="text-align:center;" |[[2021 VFL season|2021]]–
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''–'''
| style="text-align:center;" |—
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[North Melbourne Football Club#Reserves team|North Melbourne]] ([[Australian Football League reserves affiliations|R]]) 
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:North Melbourne Football Club colours.svg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Kangaroos''
| align=center | [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Arden Street Oval]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[AFL reserves|AFL (R)]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1925
| style="text-align:center;" |[[2018 VFL season|2018]]–
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''–'''
| style="text-align:center;" |—
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Northern Bullants]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:NorthernBullantsIcon.png|center|40x40px]]
| ''Bullants''
| align=center | [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Genis Steel Oval]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Victorian Junior Football Association|VJFA]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1882
| style="text-align:center;" |[[1903 VFA season|1903]]–[[1911 VFA season|1911]], [[1926 VFA season|1926]]–
| style="text-align:center;" | '''4'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''2'''
| style="text-align:center;" |1984
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Port Melbourne Football Club|Port Melbourne]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Port_Melbourne_Football_Club_colours.svg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Borough''
| align=center | [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[ETU Stadium]]
| style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;" | 1874
| style="text-align:center;" |[[1886 VFA season|1886]]–
| style="text-align:center;" | '''17'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''–'''
| style="text-align:center;" |2017
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Richmond Football Club#Reserves team|Richmond]] ([[Australian Football League reserves affiliations|R]]) 
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Richmond Football Club colours (clash - 2017-).svg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Tigers''
| align=center | [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Swinburne Centre]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[AFL reserves|AFL (R)]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1919
| style="text-align:center;" |[[2000 VFL season|2000]], [[2014 VFL season|2014]]–
| style="text-align:center;" | '''1'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''–'''
| style="text-align:center;" |2019
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Sandringham Football Club|Sandringham]] ([[Australian Football League reserves affiliations|A]]) 
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Sandringham Football Club Colours.svg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Zebras''
| align=center | [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Trevor Barker Beach Oval]]
| style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;" | 1929
| style="text-align:center;" |[[1929 VFA season|1929]]–
| style="text-align:center;" | '''10'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''–'''
| style="text-align:center;" |2006
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Southport Australian Football Club|Southport]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Southport Football Club colours.jpg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Sharks''
| align=center | [[Queensland|QLD]]
| [[Fankhauser Reserve]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[North East Australian Football League|NEAFL]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1961
| style="text-align:center;" |[[2021 VFL season|2021]]–
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''–'''
| style="text-align:center;" |—
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Sydney Swans#Reserves team|Sydney]] ([[Australian Football League reserves affiliations|R]]) 
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Sydney Football Club colours.svg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Swans''
| align=center | [[New South Wales|NSW]]
| [[Tramway Oval]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[North East Australian Football League|NEAFL]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1919
| style="text-align:center;" |[[2021 VFL season|2021]]–
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''–'''
| style="text-align:center;" |—
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Werribee Football Club|Werribee]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:VFL_Werribee_Icon.png|center|40x40px]]
| ''Tigers''
| align=center | [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Avalon Airport Oval]]
| style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;" | 1964
| style="text-align:center;" |[[1965 VFA season|1965]]–
| style="text-align:center;" | '''2'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" |[[2024 VFL season|2024]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Williamstown Football Club|Williamstown]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Padthaway_Football_Club_colours.svg|center|40x40px| ]]
| ''Seagulls''
| align=center | [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[DSV Stadium]]
| style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;" | 1864
| style="text-align:center;" |[[1884 VFA season|1884]]–
| style="text-align:center;" | '''14'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''2'''
| style="text-align:center;" |2015
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="11" style="font-size:8pt; text-align:center" |([[Australian Football League reserves affiliations#Historical VFL/AFL affiliations by AFL club|R]]) Denotes that the club is the reserves team of a senior club of the [[Australian Football League]] <br />(A)  Denotes that the club is the [[Australian Football League reserves affiliations|affiliate team]] of a club of the Australian Football League
|}

===Future clubs===
{| class=" wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; text-align:left;"
! text-align:left; |Club
! class="unsortable" |Colours
!Nickname
!State
!{{Tooltip|Home venue|Primary ground for home games}}
!{{Tooltip|Est.|Year of establishment; in the case of reserves teams, refers to the year that the parent club first fielded a 'seconds' team}}
! Joining VFL
! Licence granted
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[St Kilda Football Club#Reserves team|St Kilda]] ([[Australian Football League reserves affiliations|R]]) 
| [[File:St_Kilda_Football_Club_colours.svg|center|40x40px| ]]
| ''Saints''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[RSEA Park]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1873
| style="text-align:center;" | 2026<ref>{{cite web |title=St Kilda to field standalone VFL team in 2026 |url=https://www.saints.com.au/news/1817429/vfl |publisher=St Kilda Football Club |access-date=30 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250630041810/https://www.saints.com.au/news/1817429/vfl |archive-date=30 June 2025 |date=30 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Keating |first1=Mitch |title=St Kilda make call on VFL team for 2026 |url=https://www.zerohanger.com/st-kilda-make-call-on-vfl-team-for-2026-164590/ |publisher=ZeroHanger |access-date=30 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250630041958/https://www.zerohanger.com/st-kilda-make-call-on-vfl-team-for-2026-164590/ |archive-date=30 June 2025 |date=30 June 2025}}</ref>
| {{Yes|'''Yes'''}}<ref>{{cite web |title=St Kilda approved VFL licence |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1354925/st-kilda-approved-vfl-licence |publisher=AFL.com.au |access-date=30 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250630072728/https://www.afl.com.au/news/1354925/st-kilda-approved-vfl-licence |archive-date=30 June 2025 |date=30 June 2025}}</ref>
|-
!style="text-align:left" |{{AFL Tas}}
| [[File:Tasmania state logo.png|center|40x40px]]
|''Devils''
|[[Tasmania|TAS]]
|[[Kingston Twin Ovals]] 
| style="text-align:center;" |2023
| style="text-align:center;" |2026<ref>{{cite web |last1=Partridge |first1=Josh |title=AFL Tasmania 'still finalising' 2025 elite plan but 'fulfilling' news ahead |url=https://www.examiner.com.au/story/8678714/afl-tasmanias-damian-gill-on-2025-plan-with-no-vfl-or-tsl/ |publisher=The Examiner |access-date=23 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241123133944/https://www.examiner.com.au/story/8678714/afl-tasmanias-damian-gill-on-2025-plan-with-no-vfl-or-tsl/ |archive-date=23 November 2024 |date=29 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Tuxworth |first1=Jon |title=VFL: The northern talents who could wear ‘The Map’ in 2026 |url=https://www.themercury.com.au/sport/vfl-the-northern-talents-who-could-wear-the-map-in-2026/news-story/49b371b5838d59109d290b8b5715fbfe?fbclid=IwY2xjawGut1ZleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHTYVQsGtXZznQPBM3q8d83w-0XKMfjVd1mPILrwuGGK1P9w7KVL0eBPjUQ_aem_L6cunq16w8yDvcX5WVOaYw |publisher=The Mercury |access-date=23 November 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241123132920/https://www.themercury.com.au/sport/vfl-the-northern-talents-who-could-wear-the-map-in-2026/news-story/49b371b5838d59109d290b8b5715fbfe?amp&nk=0fc4321d71e4950ee03be9f791a014a2-1732368579 |archive-date=23 November 2024 |date=25 October 2024}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
|}

=== Former clubs ===
{{more|List of provincial clubs in the Victorian Football Association
}}
The VFA and VFL have undergone significant format changes since its induction which means several clubs have either left the league or changed identity for different reasons. Excluded from this list are [[List of provincial clubs in the Victorian Football Association|provincial clubs]] who were full administrative members of the VFA in its first decade, but who never played enough games against other clubs to be considered relevant in the premiership.
{| class=" wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; text-align:left;"
! rowspan="2"  text-align:left; |Club
! rowspan="2"  class="unsortable" |Colours
! rowspan="2" |Nickname
! rowspan="2" |State
! rowspan="2" |{{Tooltip|Home venue|Primary ground for home games}}
! rowspan="2" |{{Tooltip|Est.|Year of establishment; in the case of reserves teams, refers to the year that the parent club first fielded a 'seconds' team}}
! rowspan="2" |Seasons
! colspan="2" |Premierships
! rowspan="2" |Current league
|-
! {{Tooltip|Div 1|Premierships in Division 1 (1961–1988) or the single division in other years}}
! {{Tooltip|Div 2|Premierships in Division 2 (1961–1988)}}
|-
!style="text-align:left" |  [[Albert Park Football Club (VFA)|Albert Park]]
|[[File:Freshwater Creek Football Club colours.svg|center|40x40px]]
|''Parkites''
|[[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
|Emerald Hill Ground
| style="text-align:center;" | 1867
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1877 VFA season|1877]]–[[1879 VFA season|1879]]
| style="text-align:center;" |'''0'''
|–
|'''Merged'''<br /><small>''1880 with [[Sydney Swans|South Melbourne]]<br />(now {{AFL Syd}} – [[Australian Football League|AFL]])''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Aspley Football Club|Aspley]]
| [[File:Aspley Football Club colours.jpg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Hornets''
| [[Queensland|QLD]]
| [[Graham Road Oval]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1964
| style="text-align:center;" | [[2021 VFL season|2021]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''[[Queensland Australian Football League|QFA]]/[[Queensland Australian Football League|QAFL]]'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Ballarat Football Club|Ballarat]]
| [[File:Freshwater Creek Football Club colours.svg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Swans''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| Alfredton Recreation Reserve
| style="text-align:center;" | 1860
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1878 VFA season|1878]]–[[1896 VFA season|1896]]<br /><small>''(Administrative)''</small>
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''[[Ballarat Football League|Ballarat FL]]'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Ballarat Imperial Football Club|Ballarat Imperial]]
| [[File:North_Adelaide_Football_Club_colours_(1983_to_1997).svg|center|40x40px| ]]
| ''Imps''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| 
| style="text-align:center;" | 1876
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1885 VFA season|1885]]–[[1896 VFA season|1896]]<br /><small>''(Administrative)''</small>
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''Folded'''<br /><small>''1955''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Bendigo Football Club|Bendigo]]
| [[File:Bendigo Gold Football Club colours.jpg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Diggers, Bombers, Gold''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Queen Elizabeth Oval]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1998
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1998 VFL season|1998]]–[[2014 VFL season|2014]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''Folded'''<br /><small>''2014''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Berwick Football Club|Berwick]]
| [[File:BerwickColours.png|center|40x40px]]
| ''Gippslanders, Wickers''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| Arch Brown Reserve<br />Manuka Road Oval 
| style="text-align:center;" | 1903
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1983 VFA season|1983]]–[[1987 VFA season|1987]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''–'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| '''[[Eastern Football Netball League|Eastern FNL]]'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Brighton Football Club|Brighton]]
| [[File:BrightonColours.png|center|40x40px]]
| ''Penguins''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| Brighton Beach Oval<br />[[Elsternwick Park]] 
| style="text-align:center;" | 1885
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1908 VFA season|1908]]–[[1961 VFA season|1961]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''1'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| '''Merged'''<br /><small>''1962 with [[South Caulfield Football Club|South Caulfield]]''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Brighton Football Club|Brighton-Caulfield]]
| [[File:BrightonColours.png|center|40x40px]]
| ''Penguins''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| Princes Park, Caulfield
| style="text-align:center;" | 1962
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1962 VFA season|1962]]–[[1964 VFA season|1964]]
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| '''Renamed'''<br /><small>''1965 became [[Caulfield Football Club|Caulfield]]<br />''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Brunswick Football Club|Brunswick]] <br /><small>''(Brunswick&ndash;Broadmeadows)''</small>
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Collingwood_icon.svg|center|40x40px| ]]
| ''Magpies''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| Gillon Oval 
| style="text-align:center;" | 1865
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1897 VFA season|1897]]–[[1991 VFA season|1991]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''3'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''3'''
| '''Folded'''<br /><small>''1991''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Camberwell Football Club|Camberwell]]
| [[File:Camberwell Football Club colours.jpg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Cobras''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Camberwell Sports Ground]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1896
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1926 VFA season|1926]]–[[1991 VFA season|1991]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''2'''
| '''Folded'''<br /><small>''1994''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Carlton Football Club|Carlton]] ([[Australian Football League|S]])
| [[File:Carlton 2018 AFL.png|center|40x40px]]
| ''Blues''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| Various grounds around Carlton
| style="text-align:center;" | 1864
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1877 VFA season|1877]]–[[1896 VFA season|1896]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''2'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''[[Australian Football League|AFL]]'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Caulfield Football Club|Caulfield]]
| [[File:Geelong_Football_Club_Colours.svg|center|40x40px| ]]
| ''Bears''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| Princes Park, Caulfield
| style="text-align:center;" | 1957
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1965 VFA season|1965]]–[[1987 VFA season|1987]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''1'''
| '''Folded'''<br /><small>''1989''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | {{AFL Col}} ([[Australian Football League|S]])
| [[File:Collingwood_icon.svg|center|40x40px| ]]
| ''Magpies''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Victoria Park, Melbourne|Victoria Park]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1892
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1892 VFA season|1892]]–[[1896 VFA season|1896]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''1'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''[[Australian Football League|AFL]]'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Dandenong Football Club|Dandenong]]
| [[File:Melbourne_Football_Club_Colours.svg|center|40x40px| ]]
| ''Dandies, Redlegs''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Shepley Oval]]
| style="text-align:center;" | ca. 1875
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1958 VFA season|1958]]–[[1994 VFA season|1994]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''3'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''1'''
| '''Folded'''<br /><small>''1994''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[East Melbourne Football Club|East Melbourne]]
| [[File:Old Melburnians Football Club colours.jpg|center|40x40px]]
| 
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[East Melbourne Cricket Ground|East Melbourne<br />Cricket Ground]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1878
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1880 VFA season|1880]]–[[1882 VFA season|1882]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''Folded'''<br /><small>''1882''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | {{AFL Ess}} ([[Australian Football League|S]])
| [[File:Essendon Football Club colours.svg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Dons, Same Olds''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[East Melbourne Cricket Ground|East Melbourne<br />Cricket Ground]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1871
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1878 VFA season|1878]]–[[1896 VFA season|1896]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''4'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''[[Australian Football League|AFL]]'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Essendon Association Football Club|Essendon (Association)]]
| [[File:Essendon Football Club colours.svg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Dons, Dreadnoughts''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Windy Hill, Essendon|Essendon Cricket Ground]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1900
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1900 VFA season|1900]]–[[1921 VFA season|1921]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''2'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''Folded'''<br /><small>''1921''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | {{AFL Fit}} ([[Australian Football League|S]])
| [[File:Fitzroy Football Club colours (1897 to 1907).svg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Maroons''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Brunswick Street Oval|Fitzroy Cricket Ground]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1883
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1883 VFA season|1883]]–[[1896 VFA season|1896]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''1'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| | '''Merged'''<br /><small>''1996 with [[Brisbane Bears]]<br />(now {{AFL BL}} – [[Australian Football League|AFL]])''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | {{AFL Foo}} ([[Australian Football League|S]])
| [[File:Western Bulldogs AFLW icon.png|center|40x40px]]
| ''Tricolours''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Whitten Oval|Western Oval, Footscray]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1877
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1886 VFA season|1886]]–[[1924 VFA season|1924]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''9'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''[[Australian Football League|AFL]]'''<br /><small>''(as [[Western Bulldogs]])''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | {{AFL Gee}} ([[Australian Football League|S]])
| [[File:Geelong_Football_Club_Colours.svg|center|40x40px| ]]
| ''Pivotonians''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Corio Oval]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1859
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1877 VFA season|1877]]–[[1896 VFA season|1896]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''7'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''[[Australian Football League|AFL]]'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Geelong Association Football Club|Geelong (Association)]]
| [[File:Geelong_Football_Club_Colours.svg|center|40x40px| ]]
| 
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Kardinia Park (stadium)|Kardinia Park]]<br />Western Oval, Geelong
| style="text-align:center;" | 1922
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1922 VFA season|1922]]–[[1927 VFA season|1927]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''Folded'''<br /><small>''1927''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Geelong West St Peters Football Club|Geelong West]]
| [[File:GeelongWestColours.png|center|40x40px]]
| ''Roosters''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| Western Oval, Geelong
| style="text-align:center;" | 1878
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1963 VFA season|1963]]–[[1988 VFA season|1988]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''1'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''3'''
| '''[[Geelong Football Netball League|Geelong FNL]]'''<br /><small>''(as [[Geelong West Giants]])''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | {{AFL GC}} ([[Australian Football League|S]])
| [[File:Gold_Coast_Suns_2018.png|center|40x40px]]
| ''Suns''
| [[Queensland, Australia|QLD]]
| [[Fankhauser Reserve]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 2009
| style="text-align:center;" | [[2010 VFL season|2010]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''[[Australian Football League|AFL]]'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | {{AFL Haw}} ([[Australian Football League|S]])
| [[File:Hawthorn_Football_Club_Colours.svg|center|40x40px| ]]
| ''Mayblooms''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Glenferrie Oval]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1902
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1914 VFA season|1914]]–[[1924 VFA season|1924]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''[[Australian Football League|AFL]]'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Kilsyth Football Club|Kilsyth]]
| [[File:Essendon Football Club colours.svg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Cougars''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| Kilsyth Recreation Reserve
| style="text-align:center;" | 1924
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1982 VFA season|1982]]–[[1984 VFA season|1984]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''–'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| '''[[Eastern Football League (Australia)|Eastern FNL]]'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | {{AFL Mel}} ([[Australian Football League|S]])
| [[File:Melbourne_Football_Club_Colours.svg|center|40x40px| ]]
| ''Redlegs, Fuchsias''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1858
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1877 VFA season|1877]]–[[1896 VFA season|1896]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''[[Australian Football League|AFL]]'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Melbourne City Football Club (VFA)|Melbourne City]]
| [[File:MelbCityColours.png|center|40x40px]]
| 
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[East Melbourne Cricket Ground]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1912
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1912 VFA season|1912]]–[[1913 VFA season|1913]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''Folded'''<br /><small>''1913''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Moorabbin Football Club|Moorabbin (I)]]
| [[File:Geelong_Football_Club_Colours.svg|center|40x40px| ]]
| ''Kangaroos''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Moorabbin Oval]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1909
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1951 VFA season|1951]]–[[1963 VFA season|1963]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''2'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''Folded'''<br /><small>''1964''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Moorabbin Football Club (1979–1987)|Moorabbin (II)]]
| [[File:Moorabbin Football Club colours.svg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Kangas''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Moorabbin Oval]]<br />Bentleigh Recreation Reserve
| style="text-align:center;" | 1979
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1983 VFA season|1983]]–[[1987 VFA season|1987]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''–'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| '''Folded'''<br /><small>''1987''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Mordialloc Football Club|Mordialloc]]
| [[File:North_Adelaide_Football_Club_colours_(1983_to_1997).svg|center|40x40px| ]]
| ''Bloodhounds''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| Ben Kavanagh Reserve
| style="text-align:center;" | 1891
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1958 VFA season|1958]]–[[1988 VFA season|1988]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''1'''
| '''[[Southern Football League (Victoria)|Southern FNL]]'''<br />
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Murray Kangaroos|Murray]]
| [[File:Murray Kangaroos Football Club colours.jpg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Kangaroos''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]<br />[[New South Wales|NSW]]
| [[Coburg City Oval]]<br />[[Lavington Sports Ground]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 2000
| style="text-align:center;" | [[2000 VFL season|2000]]–[[2002 VFL season|2002]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''Folded'''<br /><small>''2002''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[North Ballarat Football Club|North Ballarat]]
| [[File:VFL North Ballarat Icon.png|center|40x40px]]
| ''Roosters''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Northern Oval|Eureka Stadium]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1882
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1996 VFL season|1996]]–[[2017 VFL season|2017]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''3'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''[[Ballarat Football League|Ballarat FL]]'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | {{AFL NM}} ([[Australian Football League|S]]) <small>''(Hotham)''</small>
| [[File:North_Melbourne_Football_Club_colours.svg|center|40x40px| ]]
| ''Northerners,<br />Shinboners''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Arden Street Oval|North Melbourne Cricket Ground]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1869
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1877 VFA season|1877]]–[[1924 VFA season|1924]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''6'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''[[Australian Football League|AFL]]'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Northcote Football Club|Northcote]]
| [[File:Woodville Football Club colours (1964 to 1982).svg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Dragons''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Northcote Park]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1870s
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1908 VFA season|1908]]–[[1987 VFA season|1987]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''5'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''2'''
| '''Folded'''<br /><small>''1987''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Oakleigh Football Club|Oakleigh]]
| [[File:OakleighColours.png|center|40x40px]]
| ''Oaks, Devils''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| Warrawee Park
| style="text-align:center;" | 1891
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1929 VFA season|1929]]–[[1994 VFA season|1994]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''6'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''2'''
| '''Folded'''<br /><small>''1994''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Prahran Football Club|Prahran (I)]]
| [[File:PrahranLogo1.png|center|40x40px]]
| 
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Albert Cricket Ground]]<br />[[Wesley College (Victoria)|Wesley College Ground]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1886
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1886 VFA season|1886]]–[[1887 VFA season|1887]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''Merged'''<br /><small>''1888 with {{AFL Stk}}''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Prahran Football Club|Prahran (II)]]
| [[File:PrahranLogo2.png|center|40x40px]]
| ''Two Blues''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Toorak Park]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1899
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1899 VFA season|1899]]–[[1994 VFA season|1994]]<br /><small>''(excl. [[1959 VFA season|1959]])''</small>
| style="text-align:center;" | '''5'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''2'''
| '''[[Victorian Amateur Football Association|VAFA]]'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | {{AFL Ric}} ([[Australian Football League|S]])
| [[File:Richmond_Football_Club_colours_(pre-2017).svg|center|40x40px| ]]
| ''Tigers''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Punt Road Oval|Richmond Cricket Ground]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1885
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1885 VFA season|1885]]–[[1907 VFA season|1907]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''2'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''[[Australian Football League|AFL]]'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | {{AFL Stk}} ([[Australian Football League|S]])
| [[File:St_Kilda_Football_Club_colours.svg|center|40x40px| ]]
| ''Saints''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[St Kilda Cricket Ground]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1873<br />
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1877 VFA season|1877]]–[[1879 VFA season|1879]]<br />[[1886 VFA season|1886]]–[[1896 VFA season|1896]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''[[Australian Football League|AFL]]'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[South Ballarat Football Club|South Ballarat<br />(Albion Imperial)]]
| [[File:South Ballarat Football Club colours.svg|center|40x40px]]
| 
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| 
| style="text-align:center;" | c. 1877
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1883 VFA season|1883]]–[[1896 VFA season|1896]]<br /><small>''(Administrative)''</small>
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''Folded'''<br /><small>''1941''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | {{AFL SM}} ([[Australian Football League|S]])
| [[File:South_Melbourne_Football_Club_Colours.svg|center|40x40px| ]]
| ''Southerners''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[South Melbourne Cricket Ground]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1874<br />
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1879 VFA season|1879]]–[[1896 VFA season|1896]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''5'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''[[Australian Football League|AFL]]'''<br /><small>''(as {{AFL Syd}})''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[South Williamstown Football Club|South Williamstown]]
| [[File:SouthWilliamstown.png|center|40x40px]]
| 
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Williamstown Cricket Ground|Williamstown<br />Cricket Ground]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1886
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1886 VFA season|1886]]–[[1887 VFA season|1887]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''Merged'''<br /><small>''1888 with [[Williamstown Football Club|Williamstown]]''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Sunshine Football Club (VFA)|Sunshine]]
| [[File:Melton South Football Club colours.jpg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Crows''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| Selwyn Park<br />[[Skinner Reserve]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1938
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1959 VFA season|1959]]–[[1989 VFA season|1989]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''1'''
| '''Folded'''<br /><small>''1990''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Tasmanian Devils (senior team)|Tasmania]]
| [[File:TasVFL.png|center|40x40px]]
| ''Devils''
| [[Tasmania|TAS]]
| [[Bellerive Oval]]<br />[[North Hobart Oval]]<br />[[York Park]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 2001
| style="text-align:center;" | [[2001 VFL season|2001]]–[[2008 VFL season|2008]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''Folded'''<br /><small>''2008''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Traralgon Football Club|Traralgon]]
| [[File:TraralgonIcon.png|center|40x40px]]
| ''Maroons''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| Traralgon Reserve
| style="text-align:center;" | 1883
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1996 VFL season|1996]]–[[1997 VFL season|1997]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''[[Gippsland Football League|Gippsland League]]'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Melbourne University Football Club|University]]
| [[File:Melbourne University Football Club colours.jpg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Students''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| 
| style="text-align:center;" | 1885
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1885 VFA season|1885]]–[[1888 VFA season|1888]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''[[Victorian Amateur Football Association|VAFA]]'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Waverley Football Club|Waverley]]
| [[File:Blackburn Football Club colours.svg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Panthers''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Central Reserve]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1908
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1961 VFA season|1961]]–[[1987 VFA season|1987]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''1'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| '''Merged'''<br /><small>''1998 with Mount Waverley Burwood (now Waverley Blues − [[Eastern Football Netball League|EFNL]])''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[West Melbourne Football Club|West Melbourne]]
| [[File:Freshwater Creek Football Club colours.svg|center|40x40px]]
| ''Wests''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Arden Street Oval|North Melbourne Recreation Reserve]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1874
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1878 VFA season|1878]]–[[1880 VFA season|1880]]<br />[[1899 VFA season|1899]]–[[1907 VFA season|1907]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''1'''
| style="text-align:center;" | –
| '''Folded'''<br /><small>''1908''</small>
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Yarraville Football Club|Yarraville]]
| [[File:YarravilleIcon.png|center|40x40px]]
| ''Eagles''
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
| [[Yarraville Oval]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1903
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1928 VFA season|1928]]–[[1983 VFA season|1983]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''2'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| '''Folded'''<br /><small>''1984''</small>
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="10" style="font-size:8pt; text-align:center" | ([[Australian Football League|S]])  denotes that the club joined the VFL/AFL later leaving the VFA/VFL <br/> (R)  denotes that the club is/was the [[reserves team]] of the/a senior AFL club
|}

{{notelist}}

===Timeline===
<timeline>
ImageSize  = width:950 height:780
PlotArea   = width:800 height:700 left:140 bottom:45
AlignBars  = late

BarData=
  bar:Ya text:Yarraville
  bar:Wi text:Williamstown
  bar:WM text:West Melbourne
  bar:We text:Werribee
  bar:Wa text:Waverley
  bar:Un text:University
  bar:Tr text:Traralgon
  bar:Ta text:Tasmania
  bar:Su text:Sunshine
  bar:So text:Southport
  bar:SW text:South Williamstown
  bar:SM text:South Melbourne/Sydney
  bar:SB text:South Ballarat
  bar:Sa text:Sandringham
  bar:SK text:St Kilda
  bar:Ri text:Richmond
  bar:Pr text:Prahran
  bar:PM text:Port Melbourne
  bar:Oa text:Oakleigh
  bar:No text:Northcote
  bar:PB text:Northern/Preston
  bar:NM text:North Melbourne
  bar:NB text:North Ballarat
  bar:MK text:Murray Kangaroos
  bar:Md text:Mordialloc
  bar:Mo text:Moorabbin
  bar:MC text:Melbourne City
  bar:Me text:Melbourne
  bar:Ki text:Kilsyth
  bar:Ha text:Hawthorn
  bar:GS text:GWS
  bar:GC text:Gold Coast
  bar:GW text:Geelong West
  bar:GA text:Geelong A.
  bar:Ge text:Geelong
  bar:Fr text:Frankston
  bar:Fo text:Footscray
  bar:Fi text:Fitzroy
  bar:EA text:Essendon A.
  bar:Es text:Essendon
  bar:EM text:East Melbourne
  bar:Da text:Dandenong
  bar:Co text:Collingwood
  bar:Cb text:Coburg
  bar:Sp text:Casey/Springvale
  bar:Ca text:Carlton
  bar:Cm text:Camberwell
  bar:Br text:Brunswick
  bar:BL text:Brisbane
  bar:BC text:Brighton/Caulfield
  bar:BH text:Box Hill
  bar:Bw text:Berwick
  bar:Be text:Bendigo
  bar:BI text:Ballarat Imperial
  bar:Ba text:Ballarat
  bar:As text:Aspley
  bar:AP text:Albert Park

Colors =
  id:grey  value:gray(0.4)
  id:lgrey  value:gray(0.8)
  id:orange value:orange legend:AFL_reserves_team
  id:blue value:blue legend:Ineligible_for_Premiership

DateFormat = yyyy
Period     = from:1877 till:2022
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:10 start:1880 gridcolor:lgrey
ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1877

PlotData=
  color:green width:3
  bar:As from:2020 till:2021
  bar:AP from:1877 till:1880
    at:1880 mark:(line,black) shift:(1,0) text:Merged with South Melbourne
  bar:Ba from:1878 till:1897  color:blue
  bar:Be from:1998 till:2015
  bar:Bw from:1983 till:1988
  bar:BC from:1908 till:1916
  bar:BC from:1919 till:1988
    at:1962 mark:(line,black)
    at:1947 text:Merged with Caulfield
    at:1965 mark:(line,black) shift:(-4,-10) text:Name change to Caulfield
  bar:BH from:1951 till:end
  bar:BI from:1885 till:1897  color:blue
  bar:Br from:1897 till:1992
    at:1990 mark:(line,black) shift:(1,-10) text:Merged with Broadmeadows
  bar:Ca from:1877 till:1897
  bar:Cb from:1925 till:end
  bar:Cm from:1926 till:1991
  bar:Co from:1892 till:1897
  bar:Da from:1958 till:1995
  bar:EA from:1900 till:1916
  bar:EA from:1919 till:1922
    at:1905 mark:(line,black) shift:(1,-10) text:Name change from Essendon Town
  bar:EM from:1880 till:1883
  bar:Es from:1878 till:1897
  bar:Fi from:1884 till:1897
  bar:Fo from:1886 till:1925
  bar:Fr from:1966 till:2017
  bar:Fr from:2018 till:end
  bar:Ge from:1877 till:1897
  bar:GA from:1922 till:1928
  bar:GC from:2010 till:2011
  bar:GW from:1963 till:1989
  bar:Ha from:1914 till:1916
  bar:Ha from:1919 till:1925
  bar:Ki from:1982 till:1985
  bar:Me from:1877 till:1897
  bar:MC from:1912 till:1914
  bar:Mo from:1951 till:1964
  bar:Mo from:1983 till:1988
  bar:Md from:1958 till:1989
  bar:MK from:2001 till:2003
  bar:NB from:1996 till:2018
  bar:NM from:1877 till:1925
  bar:NM at:1888 mark:(line,black) shift:(1,1) text:Name change from Hotham
  bar:No from:1908 till:1988
  bar:Oa from:1929 till:1995
  bar:PB from:1903 till:1912
  bar:PB from:1926 till:end
    at:2000 mark:(line,black)
    at:1979 text:Name change from Preston
  bar:PM from:1886 till:end
  bar:Pr from:1886 till:1888
  bar:Pr  from:1960 till:1995
  bar:Pr  from:1899 till:1959
  bar:Ri from:1885 till:1908
  bar:Sa from:1929 till:end
  bar:SB from:1883 till:1897 color:blue
  bar:SK from:1877 till:1880
  bar:SK  from:1886 till:1897
  bar:SM from:1879 till:1897
  bar:Sp from:1982 till:end
     at:2006 mark:(line,black) shift:(-50,-10) text:Name change to Casey
  bar:So from:2020 till:end
  bar:Su from:1959 till:1990
  bar:SW from:1886 till:1888
  bar:Tr from:1996 till:1998
  bar:Ta from:2001 till:2009
  bar:Un from:1885 till:1889
  bar:Wa from:1961 till:1988
  bar:We from:1965 till:end
  bar:Wi from:1884 till:1916
  bar:Wi from:1919 till:end
  bar:WM from:1878 till:1881
  bar:WM from:1899 till:1908
  bar:Ya from:1928 till:1984

 color:orange width:3
  bar:BL from:2020 till:end
  bar:Ca from:2000 till:2003
  bar:Ca from:2020 till:end
  bar:Co from:2000 till:2001
  bar:Co from:2009 till:end
  bar:Es from:2000 till:2003
  bar:Es from:2013 till:end
  bar:Fo from:2014 till:end
  bar:GS from:2020 till:end
  bar:GC from:2020 till:end
  bar:Ge from:2000 till:end
  bar:NM from:2018 till:end
  bar:Ri from:2000 till:2001
  bar:Ri from:2014 till:end
  bar:SK  from:2000 till:2001
  bar:SM from:2020 till:end

Legend = left:50 top:20 columnwidth:90

LineData =
  layer:front # all lines in front of bars unless stated otherwise
  at:1916      color:grey  width:5  # WWI
  at:1917      color:grey  width:5   # WWI
  at:1943      color:grey  width:5   # WWII
  at:1942      color:grey  width:5   # WWII
  at:1944      color:grey  width:5   # WWII
  at:2020      color:grey  width:5   # COVID-19
  at:1961    color:orange width:0.5 # Divisions introduced
  at:1988    color:orange width:0.5 # Divisions abandoned
  at:1996    color:red width:0.5 # change to VFL

TextData=
  pos:(300,764) fontsize:L text:VFA Clubs
  pos:(360,745) textcolor:grey fontsize:M
    tabs:(0-right)
    text:^WW1
    text:^recess
  pos:(510,745) textcolor:grey fontsize:M
    tabs:(0-right)
    text:^WW2
    text:^recess
  pos:(630,785) textcolor:orange fontsize:M
    tabs:(0-right)
    text:^Divisional system
    text:^adopted
  pos:(790,785) textcolor:orange fontsize:M
    tabs:(0-right)
    text:^Divisions
    text:^abandoned
  pos:(790,785) textcolor:red fontsize:M
    tabs:(0-right)
    text:VFL name
    text:adopted

  pos:(930,775) textcolor:grey fontsize:M
    tabs:(0-right)
    text:^COVID-19
    text:^recess
</timeline>

===Map=== 
{{Location map+|Australia Victoria metropolitan Melbourne|width=600|float=left|caption=2025 VFL clubs from Victoria|places=
  {{Location map~|Australia Victoria metropolitan Melbourne |lat=-37.818889 |long=145.1375 |position=right|background=#FFFFDD|label=[[Box Hill Hawks Football Club|Box Hill]]|label_size=82}} 
  {{Location map~|Australia Victoria metropolitan Melbourne |lat=-37.783889 |long=144.961667 |position=left|background=#FFFFDD|label=[[Carlton Football Club#Reserves team|Carlton]]|label_size=82}}
  {{Location map~|Australia Victoria metropolitan Melbourne |lat=-38.120556 |long=145.309167 |position=left|background=#FFFFDD|label=[[Casey Demons|Casey]]|label_size=82}}
  {{Location map~|Australia Victoria metropolitan Melbourne |lat=-37.743611 |long=144.968333 |position=top|background=#FFFFDD|label=[[Coburg Football Club|Coburg]]|label_size=82}} 
  {{Location map~|Australia Victoria metropolitan Melbourne |lat=-37.751944 |long=144.919722 |position=left|background=#FFFFDD|label=[[Essendon Football Club#Reserves team|Essendon]]|label_size=82}}
  {{Location map~|Australia Victoria metropolitan Melbourne |lat=-37.799166 |long=144.886748 |position=bottom|background=#FFFFDD|label=[[Western Bulldogs#Reserves team|Footscray]]|label_size=82}}
  {{Location map~|Australia Victoria metropolitan Melbourne |lat=-38.142222 |long=145.120278 |position=left|background=#FFFFDD|label=[[Frankston Football Club|Frankston]]|label_size=82}}
  {{Location map~|Australia Victoria metropolitan Melbourne |lat=-38.129565 |long=144.441620 |label={{small|[[Geelong Football Club#Reserves team|Geelong]]}}<br /><small>(not on map)</small>|background=#FFFFDD|mark=Left arrow.svg|position=above|label_size=82}}
  {{Location map~|Australia Victoria metropolitan Melbourne |lat=-37.799167 |long=144.941111 |position=right|background=#FFFFDD|label={{nowrap|[[North Melbourne Football Club#Reserves team|North Melbourne]]}}|label_size=82}}
  {{Location map~|Australia Victoria metropolitan Melbourne |lat=-37.741 |long=145.001 |position=right|background=#FFFFDD|label={{nowrap|[[Preston Football Club (VFL)|Northern Bullants]]}}|label_size=82}}
  {{Location map~|Australia Victoria metropolitan Melbourne |lat=-37.830833 |long=144.942222 |position=bottom|background=#FFFFDD|label={{nowrap|[[Port Melbourne Football Club|Port Melbourne]]}}|label_size=82}} 
  {{Location map~|Australia Victoria metropolitan Melbourne |lat=-37.8247 |long=144.9811 |mark=Yellow pog.svg}}
  {{Location map~|Australia Victoria metropolitan Melbourne |lat=-37.945 |long=145.000278 |position=left|background=#FFFFDD|label=[[Sandringham Football Club|Sandringham]]|label_size=82}}
  {{Location map~|Australia Victoria metropolitan Melbourne |lat=-37.904722 |long=144.653056 |position=right|background=#FFFFDD|label=[[Werribee Football Club|Werribee]]|label_size=82}}
  {{Location map~|Australia Victoria metropolitan Melbourne |lat=-37.871111 |long=144.903333 |position=bottom|background=#FFFFDD|label=[[Williamstown Football Club|Williamstown]]|label_size=82}}
  {{Location map~ |Australia Victoria metropolitan Melbourne |background=#FFFFDD|mark=TransparentPlaceholder.png |marksize=1 |lat=-37.560345 |long=145.293824|label=<div style="font-size:80%;">{{nowrap|'''East Melbourne-based teams'''}}<br />
{{nowrap|[[File:Yellow pog.svg|8px]] [[Collingwood Football Club#Reserves team|Collingwood]]<br />
[[File:Yellow pog.svg|8px]] [[Richmond Football Club#Reserves team|Richmond]]}}
</div>|position=right}}
}}
{{Location map+|Australia |width=500|float=left|caption=2025 VFL clubs from New South Wales and from Queensland|places=
{{Location map~|Australia |lat=-27.33538  |long=152.965743 |position=left |label=[[Brisbane Lions#Reserves team|Brisbane]]|label_size=82}}
{{Location map~|Australia |lat=-28.003181 |long=153.366227 |position=left |label=[[Gold Coast Suns#Reserves team|Gold Coast]]|label_size=82}} 
{{Location map~|Australia |lat=-28.0392   |long=153.4198   |position=bottom |label=[[Southport Australian Football Club|Southport]]|label_size=82}}
{{Location map~|Australia |lat=-33.769444 |long=150.859167 |background=#FFFFDD|position=left |label={{nowrap|[[Greater Western Sydney#Reserves team|GWS]]}}|label_size=82}}
{{Location map~|Australia |lat=-33.891907 |long=151.222163 |position=right |label=[[Sydney Swans#Reserves team|Sydney]]|label_size=82}}
}}
{{clear}}

===Uniforms (current clubs)===
{|
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _brown_stripes_copia|pattern_sh= _goldsides|pattern_so= _hoops_gold|body= FBBF15|shorts= 823F00|socks= 823F00|title= Box Hill}}
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _brisbane2023h|pattern_sh= _goldsides|pattern_so = 650A08|body = 78184A|shorts = 78184A|socks= 78184A|title= Brisbane}}
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _carlton2022h|pattern_sh= _whitesides|pattern_so = |body = 021A31|shorts = 021A31|socks = 021A31|title= Carlton}}
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _red_v_top|pattern_sh= _redsides|pattern_so= _hoops_navy|body= 061A33|shorts= 061A33|socks= FF0000|title= Casey}}
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _redrightsash|pattern_sh= _blacksides|pattern_so= _redtop|body = 000066|shorts = 000066|socks= 000066|title= Coburg}}
|-
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _collingwood2022h|pattern_sh= _whitesides|pattern_so=|body= 000000|shorts=000000|socks=000000|title= Collingwood}}
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _essendon2023h|pattern_sh= _blacksides|pattern_so= _hoops_black|body = 141414|shorts = 000000|socks= F40017|title= Essendon}}
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _westernbulldogs2023h|pattern_sh= _whitesides|pattern_so = _westernbulldogs2019h|body = 20539D|shorts = 20539D|socks= 20539D|title= Footscray}}
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _redwhitevertical2|pattern_sh= _redsides|pattern_so= _redtop|body= 000000|shorts= 000000|socks= 000000|title= Frankston}}
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _geelong2023h|pattern_sh= _whitesides|pattern_so = _hoops_white|body = FFFFFF|shorts = FFFFFF|socks= 021A31|title= Geelong}}
|-
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _gcs2021h|pattern_sh= _bluesides|pattern_so = _goldtopD|body = E11B0A|shorts = E11B0A|socks= E11B0A|title= Gold Coast}}
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b = _gws2021h|pattern_sh= _whitesides|pattern_so= _GWS2019|body= 343433|shorts= 343433|socks= FD8204|title= Greater Western Sydney}}
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _nmfc2023h|pattern_sh= _whitesides|pattern_so = _sides_on_blue|body= 133B9F|shorts= 000099|socks= 133B9F|title= North Melbourne}}
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b = _nbullants2021h|pattern_sh= _whitesides2|pattern_so= _hoops_red|body= FF0000|shorts= ED1C24|socks= ED1C24|title= Northern (Preston)}}
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _red stripes|pattern_sh= _redsides|pattern_so = _hoops_red|body= 0000CC|shorts= 0000CC|socks= 0000CC|title= Port Melbourne}}
|-
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _richmond2023h|pattern_sh= _goldsides|pattern_so= _hoops_black|body= FFCC00|shorts= 000000|socks= FED102|title= Richmond}}
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _blackstripes|pattern_sh= _bluesides|pattern_so= _hoops_black|body= FFCC00|shorts= 000000|socks= FFCC00|title= Sandringham}}
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b = _Vwideblack|pattern_sh= _whitesides|pattern_so= _hoops_white|body= FFFFFF|shorts= 000000|socks= 000000|title= Southport}}
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b = _sydneyswans2021h|pattern_sh= _whitesides2|pattern_so= _hoops_red|body= FFFFFF|shorts= FF0000|socks= FFFFFF|title= Sydney}}
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _wgold|pattern_sh= _blacksides|pattern_so= _hoops_gold|body= 000000|shorts= 000000|socks= 000000|title= Werribee}}
|-
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _goldrightsash|pattern_sh= _goldsides|pattern_so= _hoops_gold|body= 0000CC|shorts= 0000CC|socks= 0000CC|title= Williamstown}}
|}

===Uniforms (future clubs)===
{|
|{{Australian rules football kit box
|pattern_b= _tasmania|pattern_sh= _whitesides|pattern_so= _redtop|body = 285D50|shorts = 000000|socks = 285D50|title= Tasmania}}
|}

==VFA presidents==
The following men served as president of the VFA between its establishment in 1877 and its becoming defunct in 1994.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left; font-size:100%;"
! No.
! President
! Club
! Tenure
|-
| 1
| [[Sir William Clarke, 1st Baronet|William Clarke, MLC]]<ref name="fiddianpres">{{citation|first=Marc|last=Fiddian|year=2004|title=The VFA: a history of the Victorian Football Association, 1877–1995|page=20}}</ref>
| [[Melbourne Cricket Club|Melbourne]]
| 1877–1881
|-
| 2
| Cr James Garton<ref name="fiddianpres" />
| 
| 1882–1886
|-
| 3
| Frank Grey Smith<ref name="fiddianpres" />
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 1887–1896
|-
| 4
| [[Theodore Fink|Theodore Fink, MLA]]<ref name="fiddianpres" />
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 1897–1900
|-
| 5
| James Hall<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Williamstown Chronicle|publication-place=Williamstown, VIC|title=Short and sharp|date=20 April 1901|page=2}}</ref>
| [[Williamstown Football Club|Williamstown]]
| 1901–1902
|-
| 6
| [[John Aikman|Cr John George Aikman]]<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Argus|publication-place=Melbourne|title=Victorian Football Association|date=2 May 1903|page=18}}</ref>
| [[Essendon Association Football Club|Essendon (A.)]]
| 1903–1928<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Argus|publication-place=Melbourne|title=Association – All leaders win well|date=30 July 1928|page=6|author=Onlooker}}</ref>
|-
| 7
| [[J. J. Liston|Cr John James Liston]]<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Argus|publication-place=Melbourne|title=New Association President|date=12 February 1929|page=14}}</ref>
| [[Williamstown Football Club|Williamstown]]
| 1929–1944
|-
| 8
| [[Henry Zwar|Henry Zwar, MLA]]<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Argus|publication-place=Melbourne|title=New football leader|date=9 May 1944|page=9}}</ref>
| [[Preston Football Club (VFA)|Preston]]
| 1944–1946
|-
| 9
| [[Squire Reid|Squire Reid, MLA]]<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Argus|publication-place=Melbourne|title=Mr Reid, MLA, elected VFA president|date=18 February 1947|page=12}}</ref>
| [[Oakleigh Football Club|Oakleigh]]
| 1947–1949
|-
| 10
| Dr Frank Hartnett<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Argus|publication-place=Melbourne|date=30 August 1949|page=20|title=Dr F. Hartnett is new VFA president}}</ref>
| [[Camberwell Football Club|Camberwell]]
| 1949–1950
|-
| 11
| Lewis Page<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Argus|date=20 February 1951|title=Dr. Hartnett votes his V.F.A. office away|author=Jack Dunn|publication-place=Melbourne}}</ref>
| [[Brighton Football Club|Brighton]]
| 1951–1953
|-
| 12
| [[Alec Gillon|Cr Alex Gillon]]<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Argus|publication-place=Melbourne|date=23 February 1954|page=17|title=V.F.A. president defeated}}</ref>
| [[Brunswick Football Club|Brunswick]]
| 1954–1980
|-
| 13
| [[Alan Wickes]]<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|publication-place=Melbourne|author=Marc Fiddian|page=40|date=7 March 1981|title=Wickes new VFA chief}}</ref>
| [[Frankston Football Club|Frankston]]
| 1981–1984
|-
| 14
| Brook Andersen<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun News-Pictorial|publication-place=Melbourne|author=Darren Joyce|date=8 December 1985|page=55|title=VFA names new chief}}</ref>
| [[Brunswick Football Club|Brunswick]]
| 1985–1989
|-
| 15
| John Grieve<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun News-Pictorial|publication-place=Melbourne|author=Amanda Buivids|date=11 April 1989|page=76|title=Grieve steps up to top VFA job}}</ref>
| [[Williamstown Football Club|Williamstown]]
| 1989–1992
|-
| 16
| Tony Hannebery<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|publication-place=Melbourne|page=34|author=Stephen Linnell|date=24 March 1993|title=Plan for new state league strikes snag}}</ref>
| [[Williamstown Football Club|Williamstown]]
| 1993–1994
|}

==VFL Women's==
{{main|VFL Women's}}
From the 2016 season, a statewide women's football league aligned with the VFL was established by AFL Victoria. The competition initially comprised the six Premier Division clubs and the top four Division 1 clubs from the now-defunct [[Victorian Women's Football League]] (VWFL), and was aligned and co-branded with the VFL to improve market penetration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://203.21.3.160/nf/assoc_page.cgi?c=0-118-0-0-0&sID=338150|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919214631/http://203.21.3.160/nf/assoc_page.cgi?c=0-118-0-0-0&sID=338150|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 September 2016|title=Season Previews – VFL Women's|publisher=SportsTG|access-date=15 September 2016}}</ref> Following the 2017 season, the competition was reconfigured to affiliate teams more closely with AFL clubs. In 2018, the league comprised thirteen teams; twelve were based in Victoria and nine were affiliated with AFL clubs, with one in the [[Northern Territory]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/victorian-stadium-upgrade-plan-likely-by-end-of-year-says-state-government-20171010-gyydlv.html|title=Victorian stadium upgrade plan likely by end of year, says state government|last=Pierik|first=Jon|date=2017-10-11|work=The Age|access-date=2017-10-11|language=en-US}}</ref> The league ran from May to September, running concurrently with the VFL.

==Former grades==
===Seconds/reserves===
{{main|VFL Development League}}
The VFA/VFL operated a seconds or reserves competition from the 1920s, initially emerging from the [[Victorian Junior Football Association]]. From its inception until 1979, the seconds team played on Saturday afternoons, playing at home when the senior team played away and vice versa. Since 1980, seconds matches have been played as curtain-raisers to senior matches, on Saturdays or Sundays as necessary.<ref name="rulechanges">{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|publication-place=Melbourne|author=Marc Fiddian|page=28|date=8 April 1980|title=It's time VFA woke up to the score}}</ref> The competition was later renamed the reserves, and then from the beginning of the 2012 season it has been known as the AFL Victoria Development League, a move that coincided with the introduction of the AFL Victoria Development Academy which provides development opportunities for up to 25 selected VFL players per year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-118-0-0-0&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=18246595|title=AFL Victoria Development League - VFL}}</ref> For most of the VFA's history, fielding a team in the seconds grade was mandatory for all senior teams, but in the state league era many regional clubs – as well as all AFL clubs fielding their reserves teams in the VFL seniors – opted not to contest the minor grade. The Development League was abolished after the 2017 season with all VFL clubs' reserve players now play suburban football when not playing with the VFL seniors.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Leader|author=Paul Amy|date=20 July 2017|access-date=24 July 2017|publication-place=Melbourne|title=VFL Reserves: AFL Victoria sounds final siren for development comp|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/vfl-reserves-afl-victoria-sounds-final-siren-for-development-comp/news-story/3ec46129b0089db16fcdbc9a5361d7fc}}</ref>

===Thirds/Under-19s===
{{see also|List of VFA/VFL premiers#Thirds}}
The VFA operated an under-19s competition, initially known as the Thirds, between 1952 and 1994.<ref>{{citation|first=Marc|last=Fiddian|year=2004|title=The VFA: a history of the Victorian Football Association, 1877–1995|page=36}}</ref> The Under-19s was disbanded when the AFL's VSFL took over the VFA competition after the 1994, with the [[NAB League|statewide under-19s competition]] (the present day [[NAB League]]) replacing its function as an under-18s competition.

== See also ==
* [[List of VFA/VFL premiers]]
* [[List of VFA/VFL records]]
* [[History of Australian rules football in Victoria (1859–1900)]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060208021457/http://svc227.bne117v.server-web.com/vfl/vfl_final_team_place.htm List of VFA/VFL premiers since 1877] (archived)
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120209082811/http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/vfl_vfa.htm VFA and VFL statistics and history at Full Points Footy]}} (archived)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060820134644/http://www.truenergy.com.au/About/inthecommunity/vfl.xhtml VFL Mark of the Year competition] (archived)

{{VFL}}
{{VFA/VFL seasons}}
{{Navboxes
|titlestyle= background:#172A5B;color:#FFFFFF; border:1px solid #FFFFFF
|list=
{{Fothergill–Round Medal}}
{{J.J. Liston Trophy}}
{{VFL Frosty}}
{{Norm Goss Memorial Medal}}
{{Box Hill Hawks}}
{{Preston Football Club}}
{{Australian rules football in Australia}}
}}

[[Category:Victorian Football League| ]]
[[Category:History of Australian rules football]]
[[Category:Australian rules football competitions in Victoria (state)|1]]
[[Category:1877 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Sports competitions in Melbourne]]
[[Category:Sports leagues established in 1877]]
[[Category:Professional sports leagues in Australia]]