Saving football: New documents reveal how close the VFL came to shutting down
In 1986, the Victorian Football League came perilously close to being shut down. Thirty years on, never before seen documents reveal how close the end nearly came.
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A very good read...the truth hurts!
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Colonial
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- Apr 12, 2012
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Good read.
Shows what the expansion clubs can do given time.
On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app
Shows what the expansion clubs can do given time.
On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app
Velvet Thunder
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The truth hurts? Hurts who exactly?
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The huge amount of people that have continually said it would have made no difference if Brissy and WC hadn't joined, that those 2 didn't save the then vfl.
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- #6
That's correct, Brisbane and WC's entry saved it.
The article was fluff, the VFL was never going to fold, they just wanted more money. Of course, you do realise that Brisbane and WCE paid a licence fee to become part of the VFL, right?
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They were never going to fold because they were always going to get what they wanted - more money. And my comment about Brisbane and WCE joining the VFL?
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Yeah they paid for a license that saved the vfl clubs, would've folded with out those dollars.
- Jul 13, 2015
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Yeah millions of Viccos would have let it happen then switch to netball.
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Like I said, the truth hurts.
Les Malone
Norm Smith Medallist
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Would have been far better if individual SANFL and WAFL clubs were allowed to join like PA.
Those comps have been pretty much decimated.
I maintain the bigger WAFL and SANFL clubs would be bigger than the smaller VFL teams.
At the end of the day although probably not feasible a promotion and relegation system like most big amateur comps have or soccer has would be more beneficial for the game in the long run.
Those comps have been pretty much decimated.
I maintain the bigger WAFL and SANFL clubs would be bigger than the smaller VFL teams.
At the end of the day although probably not feasible a promotion and relegation system like most big amateur comps have or soccer has would be more beneficial for the game in the long run.
- Feb 13, 2011
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1986 Claremont averaged 7.7k and topped the attendance chart for the WAFL.
1986 wooden spooners St Kilda 15.4k.
I can't find specifics for Port Adelaide in 1986, but the league averaged 6.6k per game.
None of WAFL sides come close on their own. A combined side (and then later a Fremantle side) was the only way they could be competitive.
Les Malone
Norm Smith Medallist
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I can tell you Claremont would vie Subi for the smallest following, they may win!
East Perth, West Perth, East Freo and Swan Districts but not in that order would have the biggest followings.
No WAFL team away or home would have a Collingwood, Carlton, Richmond etc to bump up crowds.
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Actually I read the Stats wrong. Subiaco was the highest with 8.5k
The Big 4 add some, but not that much. Football in Victoria was just that much bigger.
Les Malone
Norm Smith Medallist
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The big 4 can add a lot, i am not suggesting that WA footy is in any way bigger, what i am suggesting is that the biggest WAFL clubs would be close to or in some cases bigger than the smallest VFL clubs.
For ex in 1987 the West Perth East Perth derby got 27,500, there was also no MCG in Perth, not even close.
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That match was a double header with a West Coast match. Only one other match past 10,000 For 1987, which was for the Fremantle derby.
St Kilda without the big 4 in 1986: 13,800.
There's no doubt the people of WA love their football, but there's no 1 club in 1986 that stands out as being bigger than the smallest of VFL clubs.
TossRossThe Boss
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- Jul 3, 2019
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Hahahahaha hahahaha
Omfg really!!??
You meth toasters never cease to amaze me! Just when I thought you could not get more arrogant, you claim to have saved the VFL/AFL from shutdown!
It wasn't going national... It was Nice Nat that saved the game
Omfg really!!??
You meth toasters never cease to amaze me! Just when I thought you could not get more arrogant, you claim to have saved the VFL/AFL from shutdown!
It wasn't going national... It was Nice Nat that saved the game
Les Malone
Norm Smith Medallist
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I wasn't aware of that, there are plenty of other examples close to that
I had a look at comparing some of the years yesterday of North, Bulldogs to East and West Perth and East Freo and they are quite similar albeit the Vic teams ahead probably.
I will put some up this arvo.
Les Malone
Norm Smith Medallist
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I have just plucked out some stats from 1979, 80 and 81 - pre Eagles.
1979
SD averaged 10328 at home
SF averaged 11722 at home
Clare 10277 at home
Perth 11429 at home
Biggest crowd for the year at Freo oval of 22399- SF V EF
1980
WP 11040 at home
SD 12817 at home
SF 11736 at home
Biggest crowd 22350 at Bassendean SD V WP.
1981
SD 11150 at home
CL 10303 ay home
18106 biggest crowd SD V Clar
VFL
1979
Junction oval 17223
Lakeside oval 15494
western oval 17135
Arden st 19315
1980
junction oval 13787
Arden st 18869
western oval 16555
1981
junction oval 16486
arden st 16202
lake oval 14592
western oval 16597
They were just 3 years randomly plucked out and obviously the VFL was ahead, but by that stage all the best WAFL players or most were playing in Victoria, most kids and plenty of adults looked towards the VFL as the best comp with the best players, so WAFL attendances should be lower?.
I did look back at the early 1970's quickly and noted that quite a few WAFL teams had bigger home attendances than NM for example, but North with the advent of Barassi and it must be said plenty of WA boys started to get bigger crowds, which begs the question of say Barassi coming to West Perth or East Perth who would then join a National comp or the then VFL - what crowds would they start pulling ?.
All subjective sure - but i am not convinced (totally) that the biggest WAFL clubs would be smaller than the smallest VFL clubs under different and more equal conditions.
There is nothing new about this ....footy in the 80s Aus wide was in a mess.
Try this;https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/31779590?q&versionId=45707429
Football Ltd : the inside story of the AFL / Garry Linnell.
Thats certainly what Victorians like to believe, Origin kicked off in 1977.
The Eagles 1987 squad:
After being announced as a new addition to the Victorian Football League in 1986, West Coast was given exclusive access to players from the WAFL to form its 35-man inaugural squad, but was excluded from the national draft. The club was also permitted to sign up to six players from rival VFL clubs.
On 30 October 1986, the club revealed a preliminary squad of 32 players, including three Sandgropers returning home from Victorian clubs - Phil Narkle (St Kilda), Dean Turner (Fitzroy) and inaugural captain Ross Glendinning (North Melbourne).
Les Malone
Norm Smith Medallist
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Its actually true.... you may remember the Blues 1986 GF team including Dorotich, Ken Hunter and Wayne Blackwell.
You might also remember Buckenara from the Hawks premiership team.
The cream of the crop (not young up and comers) were pretty well all in Victoria.
Kenny Hunter would bring a few hundred Claremont supporters in the gate.
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Not denying plenty of WA footballers played in the VFL, lived in Melb in the early 80s, a Blues member .... no stats but an origin team was usually 50/50.
Remember Mossys last appearance on the G was a lap of honor for the Brownlow Medallist, home after 80 odd games.
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