112-648: The Alberton Football Netball League was an Australian rules football league covering the South Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia . The Alberton Football Association was reformed in 1946 after the end of World War II in 1945, renamed the Alberton Football League in 1947, with eight teams comprising the league such as Carrajung, Devon (formed 1883 also known from 1900 to 1909 as West Alberton), Foster (formed 1890), Ramblers, Toora (formed 1891), Welshpool , Woodside and Yarram (formed 1887). The name of
224-606: A dominion , leagues were also established in the major cities. This renewed popularity helped encourage the formation of the Australasian Football Council , which in 1908 in Melbourne staged the first national interstate competition, the Jubilee Australasian Football Carnival , with teams representing each state and New Zealand. The game was also established early on in the new territories. In
336-414: A 'final-four' system, after a number of clubs left resulting in a smaller competition. Australian rules football Australian rules football , also called Australian football or Aussie rules , or more simply football or footy , is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field , often a modified cricket ground . Points are scored by kicking the oval ball between
448-483: A bye, subsequent return to a 20-round season and struggle between clubs for junior footballers. In October Yarram appealed to AFL Victoria Country who after considering submissions from the relevant parties overturned the initial decision and allowed Yarram to enter the NGFL beginning with 2014 season. This move ended a 68-year affiliation with the Alberton Football League of which Yarram was a founding member. In its existence
560-517: A century. State of Origin rules, introduced in 1977, stipulated that rather than representing the state of their adopted club, players would return to play for the state they were first recruited in. This instantly broke Victoria's stranglehold over state titles and Western Australia and South Australia began to win more of their games against Victoria. Both New South Wales and Tasmania scored surprise victories at home against Victoria in 1990. The term " Barassi Line ", named after VFL star Ron Barassi ,
672-482: A formal Pre-season competition. As part of their Pre-season preparation clubs will often schedule between one and two practice matches with clubs from other leagues prior to the season beginning. These matches could take on different structures and were primarily conducted on a non-official basis with limited match officials and scores not being recorded. The Alberton home-and-away season at present lasts for 15 rounds, starting in mid April and ending in early August. As of
784-419: A game for either medical or tactical reasons. Players on the playing surface can be swapped with those on the interchange bench at any time. They must though pass through a designated "Interchange Area". In the event a player fails to pass through this area correctly, or if too many players from one team are found to be on the ground at a time, a free kick will be awarded to the opposing side. While there
896-399: A mark is taken, a small protected zone is established on the field, extending 10 metres (11 yd) either side of "the mark" and the player who marked the ball, with a small protected corridor between "the mark" and the player. The opposition player is permitted to jump, but is not allowed to move from their position on "the mark". Any other movements result in a distance penalty (50 metres in
1008-400: A player breaks a rule, a free kick is awarded to the opposing team, from the location that the misconduct occurred, or the ball's current location—whichever is closer to the team's scoring zone. As when a mark is taken, this location is called "the mark", and the same protections regarding the space apply. North Gippsland Football League Too Many Requests If you report this error to
1120-555: A proposed hybrid code of Australian football and rugby league , the predominant code of football in New South Wales and Queensland, was trialled without success. In Queensland, the state league went into recess for the duration of the war. VFL club University left the league and went into recess due to severe casualties. The WAFL lost two clubs and the SANFL was suspended for one year in 1916 due to heavy club losses. The Anzac Day match ,
1232-855: A pupil at Rugby School in England, and returned to his homeland a star athlete and cricketer. Two weeks later, Wills' friend, cricketer Jerry Bryant , posted an advertisement for a scratch match at the Richmond Paddock adjoining the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This was the first of several "kickabouts" held that year involving members of the Melbourne Cricket Club , including Wills, Bryant, W. J. Hammersley and J. B. Thompson . Trees were used as goalposts and play typically lasted an entire afternoon. Without an agreed-upon code of laws, some players were guided by rules they had learned in
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#17328699618161344-461: A record 34 goals 17 behinds out of the teams 35.18 score. Salmon's (and his teammates' efforts) helped him claim the League goalkicking award by overtaking Woodside great Charles Williamson. Woodside dominated the competition during the early stages as the club won six consecutive premierships from 1947 to 1952. It is the only club to have achieved such a feat in the league's history. Fish Creek produced
1456-502: A second-tier status. The VFA merged with the former VFL reserves competition in 1998, adopting the VFL name. State of Origin also declined in importance, especially after an increasing number of player withdrawals. The AFL turned its focus to the annual International Rules Series against Ireland in 1998 before abolishing State of Origin the following year. State and territorial leagues still contest interstate matches, as do AFL Women players. In
1568-506: A select few ways as defined by the Laws of Australian Football, published by the AFL. The ball can be propelled in any direction by way of a kick or a clenched fist (called a handball )—deemed a correct disposal. Failure to dispose of the ball in one of these two methods will result in a free kick to the opposing team. If the ball is not currently in a player's possession, it can be moved legally through
1680-603: A similar situation existing in Western Australia in the sport, the VFL pursued a more national competition. Two more non-Victorian clubs, West Coast and Brisbane , joined the league in 1987 generating more than $ 8 million in license revenue for the Victorian clubs and increasing broadcast revenues which helped the Victorian clubs survive. In their early years, the Sydney and Brisbane clubs struggled both on and off-field because
1792-498: A slightly modified version of the Victorian game in 1879. The South Australian Football Association (SAFA), the sport's first governing body , formed on 30 April 1877, firmly establishing Victorian rules as the preferred code in that colony. The Victorian Football Association (VFA) formed the following month. Clubs began touring the colonies in the late 1870s, and in 1879 the first intercolonial match took place in Melbourne between Victoria and South Australia . To standardise
1904-479: A team the DWWWW community continued to keep the club's members together with regular meal nights for everyone to get together and continue to support the club. The recess would only last for the one season with the club back fielding a team the following season in 2015. With the recruitment of players from outside of the local area the club was able to field football teams for the 2015, 2016 and 2017 season. During this time
2016-406: A technique known shepherding when the ball is within 5 metres (5.5 yd) of an opposition player. Shepherding involves the use of a player's body to push, bump or otherwise block an opposition player, providing they do not have possession of the ball. If a player takes possession of the ball that has travelled more than 15 metres (16 yd) from another player's kick, by way of a catch within
2128-427: A uniform code known as "Victorian rules". In 1866, the "first distinctively Victorian rule", the running bounce , was formalised at a meeting of club delegates chaired by H. C. A. Harrison , an influential pioneer who took up football in 1859 at the invitation of Wills, his cousin. The game around this time was defensive and low-scoring, played low to the ground in congested rugby-style scrimmages. The typical match
2240-405: Is analogous to a basketball center and as such rucks are typically the tallest player on the team. Lifting teammates is not allowed so the ruck may only jump to reach the ball. If the ruck does not take possession of the football, it must must be tapped or fisted, which is known as a hit-out. An effective hit-out that passes the ball to a teammate is known as a hit-out to advantage. In the event
2352-455: Is known as the Goal Line. Around the perimeter of the field, two white lines are drawn between the set of behind posts in an arc-shape, marking the field of play. Other field markings include: The 50m arcs, centre square, centre circle and goal square are used at the beginning of each quarter or after each goal. With each team permitted a maximum of six players in each 50m arc, with one in
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#17328699618162464-470: Is no set uniform, the basic equipment for Australian football consists of a guernsey, shorts, socks and boots, with additional pieces of apparel such as headbands and gloves additionally being permitted. Players may wear certain pieces of protective equipment, such as helmets or arm guards, if approved by the relevant controlling body. Mouthguards are strongly recommended for all players. Players are not permitted to wear jewellery, or other materials which
2576-493: Is officiated by at least five match officials, known as an umpire . These match officials are placed into three categories based upon their roles and responsibilities, with varying minimum numbers of Umpires required depending on position: At AFL level, a video score review system is utilised. Only umpires are permitted to request a review, and only scoring shots and potential scoring shots are permitted to be reviewed. An Australian rules football may only be propelled forward in
2688-482: Is paid. Players can tackle using their hands or use their whole body to obstruct opponents. Dangerous physical contact (such as pushing an opponent in the back ), interference when marking, and deliberately slowing the play are discouraged with free kicks, distance penalties , or suspension for a certain number of matches depending on the severity of the infringement. The game features frequent physical contests, spectacular marking , fast movement of both players and
2800-783: Is used. The ball must be inflated to a pressure of 69 kilopascals (10.0 pounds per square inch). There are no defined laws regarding what material a ball must be made from, but standard AFL match-used balls are produced by Sherrin using cowhide leather. While there is no standard colour of the ball, red and yellow are most common and the only colours used at AFL level. Yellow is used for games beginning after 3 pm or in an enclosed stadium, due to its greater visibility, and to assist score reviews. Unlike other forms of football which are played on rectangular fields, Australian rules football playing fields are oval-shaped, and are between 135 and 185 metres (148 and 202 yd) long and 110 and 155 metres (120 and 170 yd) wide. At either end of
2912-543: The Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's only fully professional competition, is the nation's wealthiest sporting body. The AFL Grand Final , held annually at the Melbourne Cricket Ground , is the second-highest-attended club championship event in the world . The sport is also played at amateur level in many countries and in several variations . Its rules are governed by the AFL Commission with
3024-610: The North Gippsland or Mid Gippsland football league where they could complete. However, many football followers in the Yarram region believe that the community of 2,200 people is simply too small to sustainably support three football clubs and that with each passing season the likelihood of DWWWW returning a team to the field continues to diminish. A 2015 review, conducted by AFL Gippsland to address issues of competitive imbalance and club sustainability, brought major change to structure of
3136-610: The North Gippsland Football League from the 2008 season onwards, whilst DWWWW would continue competing in the Alberton league, albeit with a heavily weakened playing list. The division of the club extended beyond football, causing a major rift within the local community that in some cases continues to this day. Despite, the divide DWWWW refused to revert to their former name of Devon-Welshpool. A number of Won Wron-Woodside life members had remained on board with DWWWW through
3248-479: The Victorian Country Football League . The governing body reviewed the situation and ordered Wonthaggi Power to begin competing against towns of similar size. In response Wonthaggi Power decided to launch legal action. Early in 2008 an agreement was reached that would see Wonthaggi compete in Alberton for seasons 2008 and 2009, before departing the league at the conclusion of the 2009 season. This
3360-527: The West Gippsland Latrobe Football League . On July 14, 2009, Wonthaggi Power published an open letter to the VCFL disputing the decision. The letter referred to the decision as 'lacking clarity, direction and vision' , whilst labelling the VCFL themselves as 'incompetent' . The VCFL did not publicly respond to the letter and despite Wonthaggi Power's resistance it was ultimately decided that
3472-407: The field umpire has deemed to be either potentially dangerous or increase the risk of injury to other players. Australian rules football is played with an ellipsoid ball, between 72 and 73 cm (28 and 29 in) in long circumference, and 54.5 and 55.5 cm (21.5 and 21.9 in) in short circumference. For women's competitions, a smaller ball size of 69 and 53 cm (27 and 21 in)
Alberton Football Netball League - Misplaced Pages Continue
3584-487: The 2008 home & away season. The Yarram committee had decided to take matters into their own hands and on 17 May 2008 in a watershed moment for the league they forfeited all grades of football and netball from their round 6 clash against Wonthaggi Power. As a consequence of the forfeiture the Victorian Country Football League issued Yarram with a $ 6,500 fine - half of which was suspended. Other clubs would avoid following Yarram's example and would instead assist to help cover
3696-416: The 2009 season would be Wonthaggi's last in Alberton. Wonthaggi Power would once again finish on top of the ladder with only two losses during the 2009 home & away season. A victory in the finals would see Wonthaggi progress directly to the grand final and regardless of the result this was to be Wonthaggi's final match in Alberton. Their opponent was third placed Stony Creek, who also happened to be one of
3808-596: The 2010s, the AFL signalled further attempts at expanding into markets outside Australian football's traditional heartlands by hosting home-and-away matches in New Zealand, followed by China. After several failed bids since the early 1990s for a Tasmania-based AFL team, the Tasmania Football Club secured the 19th AFL license in 2023, and is set to compete by 2028. In a standard match, a team may consist of anywhere between 14 and 18 players who may be permitted on
3920-417: The 2017 season, each team plays 15 matches. Teams receive four premiership points for a win and two premiership points for a draw. Ladder finishing positions are based on the number of premiership points won, and "percentage" (calculated as the ratio of points scored to points conceded throughout the season) is used as a tie-breaker when teams finish with equal premiership points. Since its inception until 1995
4032-494: The 2019 season. In 2019 AFL Victoria commissioned consultancy group Colgan Bauer to review the structure and sustainability of football in the Gippsland region and provide a strategic plan for the future. A number of town hall style meetings were conducted to gather feedback from community members within the region. A number of ideas were proposed for how to preserve the Alberton Football League. These included adding two clubs from
4144-655: The 2021 season in the Gippsland League . Brent Macaffer was selected as pick 26 in the 2007 AFL rookie draft . He would play in Collingwood's 2010 premiership team. In 2016, Macaffer announced his retirement from AFL football. Macaffer would return to his original club, Kilcunda Bass to coach the club for the 2017 season. On 13 February 2019, Macaffer was awarded a life member of the Collingwood Football Club . Nathan Vardy played his junior football for DWWWW. He
4256-490: The 2021 season, whilst the Alberton Football League would cease to exist. This decision was met with widespread relief after many years of uncertainty surrounding the future of the league's clubs. On 25 November 2020 the Alberton Football League conducted its final annual general meeting. A special resolution to dissolve the league was passed and after 74 years of competition the league had officially met its end. | = indicates premiership year Club recess During its history
4368-461: The AFL). The player who was awarded the mark may then choose to either dispose of the ball over "the mark" or may choose to attempt disposal via a different method, in which case the field umpire will call "play on"—a verbal instruction to continue play. "Play on" may also be called if the umpire deems the player awarded the mark to be taking an unreasonable amount of time to dispose of the football. Once
4480-468: The AFLW using 17 minutes per quarter. For any given match, two timekeepers are appointed to officiate the duration. The timekeepers record all relevant statistics for the match, such as total quarter duration and score by each team. Additionally timekeepers are required to sound a siren prior to and at the conclusion of each quarter until such time they are acknowledged by the field umpires. To stop and recommence
4592-624: The ANFC, and later the Australian Football Championships (AFC) ran a night series , which invited clubs and representative sides from around the country to participate in a knock-out tournament parallel to the premiership seasons, which Victorian sides still dominated. With the lack of international competition, state representative matches were regarded with great importance. Due in part to the VFL poaching talent from other states, Victoria dominated interstate matches for three-quarters of
Alberton Football Netball League - Misplaced Pages Continue
4704-645: The Alberton Football League has produced a number of players who would go on to play in the VFL/AFL competition. Jarryd Blair played junior football at Wonthaggi Power and in 2006 he was a part of the senior premiership team. He was selected as pick 27 in the 2009 AFL rookie draft and made his AFL debut in round 14, 2010 against West Coast at Etihad Stadium. His debut AFL season saw him play in Collingwood's 2010 premiership team. Blair played 157 games for Collingwood before being delisted in 2018. In 2020, Wonthaggi Power announced that Blair had been appointed as senior coach for
4816-503: The Alberton Football League was the 2019 Grand Final which took place on 31 August 2019. The match was contested by the Foster and Stony Creek football clubs at the Tarwin Lower recreation reserve. Foster defeated Stony Creek by 7 points in what would be the closest grand final margin since 1995. On the date of the match occurring the future of the Alberton had not yet been determined and no one
4928-540: The Alberton Football League, after the Bass Valley Wonthaggi FL had been disbanded as part of a restructuring of local football by the Victorian Country Football League . The "final five" system was first utilised with the inclusion of the new clubs. Devon-Welshpool and Won Wron-Woodside created the Allies when they merged in 1997 and then Bena and Korumburra joined forces to become Korumburra-Bena in 2001. In 2005
5040-541: The Alberton Football Netball League. In 2017, the Alberton League was reduced to seven clubs after the departure Dalyston, Korumburra-Bena, Inverloch-Kongwak, Kilcunda-Bass and Phillip Island to the newly formed West Gippsland Football Netball League as part of the review. Prior to the 2018 season, DWWWW went into recess again due to lack of players in the district and would remain in recess throughout
5152-452: The Alberton League in 1953. Carrajung produced many substandard efforts during their seven years of existence in the Alberton League and many matches would result in percentage gaining contests for opposing teams. The club finished last in 1947, 1948, 1950, 1951 and 1952. The very last game Carrajung played in the Alberton League during the 1952 season resulted in Toora forward, Frank Salmon, kicking
5264-404: The Alberton finals consisted of a 'final-four' system . With the inclusion of a number of clubs from the defunct Bass Valley Wonthaggi football league in 1996 the finals series was expanded to a 'final-five' system . The finals series was expanded again in 2005 with the inclusion of Kilcunda Bass and Phillip Island to become a 'final-six' system . Since 2017 the finals series has since returned to
5376-635: The Alberton league's history. By the late 1970s, Yarram were looking to join the Latrobe Valley Football League but remained with the AFL and by the end of the 1981 season the league was reduced to nine clubs when Won Wron and Woodside merged to form the Won Wron-Woodside Football Club. The inclusion of Tarwin in 1988 returned the number of clubs to ten but by 1995, Welshpool had amalgamated with Devon. In 1996, Dalyston, Wonthaggi Rovers, Inverloch, Korumburra and Bena joined
5488-399: The Alberton league, citing junior players resenting travelling to distant clubs such as Sale and Maffra. This move was met with discontent from some existing Alberton clubs. Wonthaggi with a local population of 7000 people now had a single club to compete against towns with local populations of only approximately 200 people. Wonthaggi Power were admitted into the Alberton Football League under
5600-720: The Australian colonies in the first half of the 19th century. Compared to cricket and horse racing , football was considered a mere "amusement" by colonists at the time, and while little is known about these early one-off games, evidence does not support a causal link with Australian football. In Melbourne , in 1858, in a move that would help to shape Australian football in its formative years, private schools (then termed " public schools " in accordance with nomenclature in England) began organising football games inspired by precedents at English public schools . The earliest match, held on 15 June,
5712-524: The British Isles, "others by no rules at all". Another milestone in 1858 was a 40-a-side match played under experimental rules between Melbourne Grammar and Scotch College , held at the Richmond Paddock. Umpired by Wills and teacher John Macadam , it began on 7 August and continued over two subsequent Saturdays, ending in a draw with each side kicking one goal. It is commemorated with a statue outside
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#17328699618165824-491: The Devon-Welshpool-Won Wron-Woodside football has twice gone into recess. As of 2020 the club is still in recess. On 30 March 2014, after many years of struggling since the 2008 de-merger, members of the DWWWW football club met to vote on the fate of the club. A shortage of players had already forced the club's committee to give up on fielding a team for the 2014 season. Now the members were voting on whether
5936-568: The Irish game evolved in a similar direction. Another theory, first proposed in 1983, posits that Wills, having grown up among Aboriginals in Victoria, may have seen or played the Aboriginal ball game of Marn Grook , and incorporated some of its features into early Australian football. There is only circumstantial evidence that he knew of the game, and according to biographer Greg de Moore's research, Wills
6048-727: The MCG at the Parade Hotel, owned by Bryant, and drafted ten rules: "The Rules of the Melbourne Football Club" . These are the laws from which Australian football evolved. The club aimed to create a simple code suited to the hard playing surfaces around Melbourne, and to eliminate the roughest aspects of English school games—such as "hacking" (shin-kicking) in Rugby School football—to reduce the risk of injuries to working men. In another significant departure from English public school football,
6160-555: The MCG, and the two schools have since competed annually in the Cordner–Eggleston Cup , the world's oldest continuous football competition . Since the 1920s, it has been suggested that Australian football may have been derived from the Irish sport of Gaelic football . However, there is no archival evidence in favour of a Gaelic influence, and the style of play shared between the two modern codes appeared in Australia long before
6272-576: The Melbourne rules omitted any offside law . "The new code was as much a reaction against the school games as influenced by them", writes Mark Pennings. The rules were distributed throughout the colony; Thompson in particular did much to promote the new code in his capacity as a journalist. Following Melbourne's lead, Geelong and Melbourne University also formed football clubs in 1859. While many early Victorian teams participated in one-off matches, most had not yet formed clubs for regular competition. A South Yarra club devised its own rules. To ensure
6384-734: The Phillip Island and Kilcunda-Bass football clubs moved from the defunct West Gippsland Football League to the Alberton Football League. The 2008 season saw a large contingent from the Devon-Welshpool-Won Wron-Woodside Football Club leave to create a new club, the Woodside & District Wildcats, in the North Gippsland Football League . Since merging in 1997 the DWWWW Allies had enjoyed some early years of success with premierships in 1998, 1999 and 2003. However, with
6496-409: The SANFL's Port Adelaide (1997), the only pre-existing club outside Victoria to join the league. In 2011 and 2012, respectively, two new non-Victorian clubs were added to the competition: Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney . The AFL, currently with 18 member clubs, is the sport's elite competition and most powerful body. Following the emergence of the AFL, state leagues were quickly relegated to
6608-470: The SGFL eventually disbanded as Welshpool won a treble of premierships from 1969 to 1971. Welshpool also became the first club in the AFL to produce an undefeated season with its flag in 1970. In 1973, Toora and Meeniyan-Dumbalk United fought out a close grand final with Toora winning by a single point. It remains to this day Toora's only Alberton senior grade premiership and the only 1-point grand final (seniors) in
6720-493: The advice of the AFL's Laws of the Game Committee. Australian rules football is known by several nicknames, including Aussie rules, football and footy. In some regions, where other codes of football are more popular, the sport is most often called AFL after the Australian Football League , while the league itself also uses this name for local competitions in some areas. Primitive forms of football were played sporadically in
6832-561: The annual game between Essendon and Collingwood on Anzac Day, is one example of how the war continues to be remembered in the football community. The role of the Australian National Football Council (ANFC) was primarily to govern the game at a national level and to facilitate interstate representative and club competition. In 1968, the ANFC revived the Championship of Australia , a competition first held in 1888 between
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#17328699618166944-414: The ball must intermittently bounce or touch it on the ground . Throwing the ball is not allowed, and players must not get caught holding the ball . A distinctive feature of the game is the mark , where players anywhere on the field who catch the ball from a kick (with specific conditions) are awarded unimpeded possession . Possession of the ball is in dispute at all times except when a free kick or mark
7056-634: The ball, and high scoring. The sport's origins can be traced to football matches played in Melbourne , Victoria , in 1858, inspired by English public school football games . Seeking to develop a game more suited to adults and Australian conditions, the Melbourne Football Club published the first laws of Australian football in May 1859. Australian football has the highest spectator attendance and television viewership of all sports in Australia, while
7168-442: The case of Sydney , denial of access to grounds, the influence of university headmasters from Britain who favoured rugby, and the loss of players to other codes inhibited the game's growth. In 1896, delegates from six of the wealthiest VFA clubs— Carlton , Essendon , Fitzroy , Geelong, Melbourne and South Melbourne —met to discuss the formation of a breakaway professional competition. Later joined by Collingwood and St Kilda ,
7280-414: The central goal posts (worth six points), or between a central and outer post (worth one point, otherwise known as a "behind"). During general play, players may position themselves anywhere on the field and use any part of their bodies to move the ball. The primary methods are kicking , handballing and running with the ball. There are rules on how the ball can be handled; for example, players running with
7392-435: The clock, the field umpires are required to signal to the timekeepers to indicate when the clock should be stopped or restarted. Between each quarter, a break is observed to allow players a rest period. Two six-minute breaks are observed between the first and second quarters, and the third and fourth quarters. A longer 20-minute break is observed between the second and third quarter, commonly known as half-time . Each game
7504-497: The club also experienced some success, coming within 11 points of a place in the 2017 grand final. Unfortunately, an acrimonious saga regarding player payment destabilised the playing group, culminating in several player players walking out on the club. For the second time in four years the shortage of players forced the club to move into recess for the 2018 season, leaving the Alberton football league with only six clubs fielding teams. The Allies remain in recess to this day. Since 2017,
7616-432: The club has the maintained a healthy financial position and continues to engage with its members through the likes of midweek meals and social functions. While the DWWWW remains still remains alive, the disbandment of the Alberton football league in 2020 has meant that the club is without a league to participate in. Should the club accumulate enough players to field a team again they would need to seek approval to join either
7728-541: The club who were proud of the facilities at the Alberton West Recreation Reserve, refused to agree. After a number of meetings failed to find a solution an extraordinary resolution took place. The club de-merged. Most of the Won Wron-Woodside people, led by Anthony Banik , moved away from the rest of the club to form a new entity known as the Woodside & District Wildcats. The new club would join
7840-401: The club would be placed into a temporary recess or wound up. The club would remain alive after a vote saw close to 100% of members vote for the club to enter a recess. With the club in recess for the 2014 season the remaining DWWWW players transferred to the neighbouring Yarram and Woodside & District football clubs, who with the influx of players became markedly stronger. Despite not fielding
7952-493: The clubs formed the Victorian Football League (VFL), which held its inaugural season in 1897 . The VFL's popularity grew rapidly as it made several innovations, such as instituting a finals system, reducing teams from 20 to 18 players, and introducing the behind as a score. Richmond and University joined the VFL in 1908, and by 1925, with the addition of Hawthorn , Footscray and North Melbourne , it had become
8064-490: The code took hold during a series of gold rushes . Likewise, when New Zealand experienced a gold rush , the sport arrived with a rapid influx of Australian miners. Now known as Australian rules or Australasian rules, the sport became the first football code to develop mass spectator appeal, attracting world record attendances for sports viewing and gaining a reputation as "the people's game". Australian rules football reached Queensland and New South Wales as early as 1866;
8176-521: The costs of their fine. Wonthaggi would go on to finish the season undefeated and comfortably secure first position on the ladder, whilst Yarram would finish just below them in second position. Both teams would finally meet for the first time that year in a semi-final clash at Tarwin Lower. In this match, Wonthaggi would defeat Yarram by a massive 64-points in what was fierce and fiery encounter for both players and spectators. They would proceed directly through to
8288-409: The field of play, it is deemed as a mark . To be awarded a mark, it must be deemed that the player sufficiently controlled the ball and took possession prior to it being touched, touching the ground, or in the case of a contest, being spoiled by an opponent. Upon a mark being taken, one opposition player may choose to stand on the point on the field where the mark was taken, known as "the mark". When
8400-413: The field, two sets of posts are erected in a straight line to indicate the scoring areas on the field, each with two kinds of posts, named the goal posts and the behind posts respectively. The goal posts are placed first, located 6.4 metres (7.0 yd) apart from each other, with a behind post being placed a further 6.4 metres to the side of each goal post. The name for the field line between two goal posts
8512-618: The first match in Darwin . The game went on to become the most popular sport in the Territory and build the highest participation rate for the sport nationally. Both World War I and World War II had a devastating effect on Australian football and on Australian sport in general. While scratch matches were played by Australian " diggers " in remote locations around the world, the game lost many of its great players to wartime service. Some clubs and competitions never fully recovered. Between 1914 and 1915,
8624-414: The first week of finals. As a consequence three clubs (Fish Creek, Korumburra-Bena & Tarwin) would end up changing opponents. In August 2013, Yarram applied to transfer to the North Gippsland Football League (NGFL). Their application would stall with an unofficial vote from the NGFL clubs to accept Yarram resulting in a fifty-fifty split. Some concerns cited by the NGFL clubs were the reintroduction of
8736-526: The formation of the Adelaide Football Club , the oldest football club in Australia outside Victoria. It devised its own rules, and, along with other Adelaide -based clubs, played a variety of codes until 1876, when they uniformly adopted most of the Victorian rules, with South Australian football pioneer Charles Kingston noting their similarity to "the old Adelaide rules". Similarly, Tasmanian clubs quarrelled over different rules until they adopted
8848-423: The further expansion of the league in 2005 the club tired of travelling up to two hours west to places such as Dalyston, Bass and Cowes. Some supporters and players with the club began agitating for a move to the closer North Gippsland Football League . This change was looking set to be approved, until in 2007 a proposal was put forth for the club to play all their home games at Woodside. The Devon-Welshpool people of
8960-435: The goal square and four players in the centre square with one in the centre circle. If this is breached, a free kick is awarded. A game lasts for 80 minutes, split into four-quarters consisting of 20 minutes playing time, with the clock being stopped for stoppages in play such as scores, or at the umpire 's discretion, e.g. for serious injury. Leagues may choose to employ shorter quarters of play at their discretion, such as
9072-404: The grand final two weeks later were their opponent would again be Yarram. Wonthaggi would become victorious, this time defeating Yarram by 57-points to claim their third flag in the Alberton league. The dispute would continue into the following season with the VCFL making the recommendation that Wonthaggi Power enter either Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League (Casey Cardinia division) or
9184-424: The knees (a low tackle or a trip ) or above the shoulders (a high tackle ), the team with possession of the football gets a free kick. Furthermore, tackles deemed to be dangerous by the umpire and those conducted from front-on while an opposition player has their head over the football are deemed to be prohibited contact, and will incur a free kick against the offending player. Additionally, players may perform
9296-468: The league is taken from the small town of Alberton, near Yarram. The Ramblers Football Club, after a promising inaugural season in the league where it recorded six wins to just miss the finals, decided to disband from the league and Won Wron Football Club were accepted into the league for the 1949 season. Four years later, the Carrajung Football Club followed suit which enabled Fish Creek to join
9408-421: The most outstanding era of success in the Alberton League as it claimed 11 premierships from 15 successive Grand Final appearances between 1953 and 1967. The recruitment of former VFL Collingwood player, Maurice 'Mocca' Dunstan helped the club attain a standard of professionalism that was second to none for a sustained period. Much focus throughout the late 1950s and 1960s centred around the future of football in
9520-549: The nearby West Gippsland Football League and the Alberton Football League joining the West Gippsland Football League as a second division. A further review recommended that the AFL merge with the Mid Gippsland Football League for the 2019 season. However a backlash by some clubs who had concerns over a 15 team competition and increased travel distance of the proposed league. The final match in
9632-548: The new national capital Canberra both soccer and rugby had a head start, but following the first matches in 1911, Australian rules football in the Australian Capital Territory became a major participation sport. By 1981 it had become much neglected and quickly lagged behind the other football codes. Australian rules football in the Northern Territory began shortly after the outbreak of the war in 1916 with
9744-455: The phasing out of many of the game's kicking styles and the increasing use of handball; while presentation was influenced by television. In 1982, in a move that heralded big changes within the sport, one of the original VFL clubs, South Melbourne, relocated to Sydney and became known as the Sydney Swans . In the late 1980s, due to the poor financial standing of many of the Victorian clubs, and
9856-407: The player has disposed of the ball, or "play on" is called, normal play resumes. Rucking is the only specialist skill and is performed by a ruck, the term for designated players from each side to which umpire sends the ball to commence play. Only a nominated ruck may contest ball-ups and throw-ins. They are the only player allowed within the 10 metre circle at a centre bounce. Functionally the role
9968-429: The player penalised for ' holding the ball ', except if the umpire deems there was a lack of prior opportunity to do so. The ball carrier may only be tackled between the shoulders and knees from the front or side. If the player forcefully contacts the opposing in the back while performing a tackle, the opposition player will be penalised for a push in the back . If the opposition tackles the player with possession below
10080-436: The playing surface at any given time. Each team may have up to four interchange (reserve) players who may be swapped for those on the field at any time during the game. Although some leagues in less populated areas may use as few as 12 players. In addition, some leagues notably including the AFL, have each team designate one additional player as a substitute who can be used to make a single permanent exchange of players during
10192-580: The preeminent league in the country and would take a leading role in many aspects of the sport. The time around the federation of the Australian colonies in 1901 saw Australian rules undergo a revival in New South Wales, New Zealand and Queensland. In 1903, both the Queensland Australian Football League and the NSW Australian Football Association were established, and in New Zealand, as it moved towards becoming
10304-521: The premiers of the VFA and SAFA. Although clubs from other states were at times invited, the final was almost always between the premiers from the two strongest state competitions of the time—South Australia and Victoria—with Adelaide hosting most of the matches at the request of the SAFA/SANFL. The last match took place in 1976, with North Adelaide being the last non-Victorian winner in 1972. Between 1976 and 1987,
10416-498: The provision that if they were proven too strong they would relocate to the much stronger West Gippsland Latrobe Football League . Wonthaggi Power achieved immediate success making the grand final in their first three years, winning two of them. The reserves and junior teams achieved similar success. Despite this evidence, Wonthaggi members and administrators refused to relocate to the stronger competition. The club's rivals became increasingly disgruntled and began to seek assistance from
10528-562: The region, with many suggesting that the South Gippsland Football League and the Alberton Football League merge to generate a more powerful football league across South Gippsland for better growth in the sport. However, the AFL continued to function through many debates and became progressively stronger by the 1970s. In 1969, the Meeniyan-Dumbalk United and Stony Creek Football Clubs joined the Alberton League after
10640-531: The reserve and junior grades. In 2014 after multiple years of struggling for success and maintaining a large enough playing list the options had become limited and the members voted for the club to enter recess. At the end of 2004 the Wonthaggi Rovers (Alberton) and Wonthaggi Blues ( West Gippsland Latrobe ) would merge to become a new entity known as the Wonthaggi Power. This new club applied to enter
10752-407: The season Wonthaggi Power transferred into the newly renamed Gippsland Football League for the start of the 2010 season. For the five years that Wonthaggi Power had participated in the Alberton football league they had made the grand final every season, which included winning three of them. The last round of the 2010 season saw Yarram defeat Tarwin. However, this result was subsequently reversed and
10864-408: The split and the club president Matthew Moore had remained hopeful that some Won Wron-Woodside people may return. In the six years after the de-merger the DWWWW football club's on-field success was virtually non-existent. From 2008 to 2013 the DWWWW senior team would achieve only 3 wins and a staggering 105 losses, which included four winless seasons. This level of poor on-field results was mirrored in
10976-467: The sport across Australia, delegates representing the football associations of South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Queensland met in 1883 and updated the code. New rules such as holding the ball led to a "golden era" of fast, long-kicking and high-marking football in the 1880s, a time which also saw players such as George Coulthard achieve superstardom, as well as the rise of professionalism , particularly in Victoria and Western Australia , where
11088-467: The sport experienced a period of dominance in the former, and in the latter, several regions remain strongholds of Australian rules, such as the Riverina . However, by the late 1880s, rugby football had become the dominant code in both colonies, as well as in New Zealand. This shift was largely due to rugby's spread with British migration, regional rivalries and the lack of strong local governing bodies. In
11200-414: The substantial TV revenues they generated by playing on a Sunday went to the VFL. To protect these revenues the VFL granted significant draft concessions and financial aid to keep the expansion clubs competitive. The VFL changed its name to the Australian Football League (AFL) for the 1990 season , and over the next decade, three non-Victorian clubs gained entry: Adelaide (1991), Fremantle (1995) and
11312-587: The supremacy of the Melbourne rules, the first-club level competition in Australia, the Caledonian Society's Challenge Cup (1861–64), stipulated that only the Melbourne rules were to be used. This law was reinforced by the Athletic Sports Committee (ASC), which ran a variation of the Challenge Cup in 1865–66. With input from other clubs, the rules underwent several minor revisions, establishing
11424-407: The teams to claim a victory against Wonthaggi during the season. With such a vast difference in township populations the match was widely considered a 'David verses Goliath' match-up. Despite playing two more finals matches on their way to the grand final Stony Creek would defeat Wonthaggi by 14-points. This was Stony Creek's second Alberton premiership, their first since 1983. At the conclusion of
11536-412: The usage of other means, such as punching. While in possession of the ball, players may run with the ball, but are required to either bounce or touch the ball on the ground at least once every 15 metres (16 yd). Tackling is a technique employed by players used to force opposition players to dispose of the ball when they are in possession. Failure to dispose of the ball when legally tackled may see
11648-553: The win awarded to Tarwin by the Victorian Country Football League (VCFL) after it was discovered that Yarram had fielded an unregistered player under another identity. Yarram club president, Paul Clavorino, claimed that the player didn't have any impact on the result. The result didn't have any effect for Yarram's finals aspirations as by this point in the season the club was already out of contention. The change in result would impact which teams would play each other in
11760-429: Was "almost solely influenced by his experience at Rugby School". A loosely organised Melbourne side, captained by Wills, played against other football enthusiasts in the winter and spring of 1858. The following year, on 14 May, the Melbourne Football Club was officially established, making it one of the world's oldest football clubs . Three days later, Wills, Hammersley, Thompson and teacher Thomas H. Smith met near
11872-545: Was a 20-per-side affair, played with a ball that was roughly spherical, and lasted until a team scored two goals. The shape of the playing field was not standardised; matches often took place in rough, tree-spotted public parks, most notably the Richmond Paddock ( Yarra Park ), known colloquially as the Melbourne Football Ground. Wills argued that the turf of cricket fields would benefit from being trampled upon by footballers in winter, and, as early as 1859, football
11984-407: Was a legally binding agreement, however the Alberton clubs were still seeking a more rapid solution. They discussed options of forming their own breakaway league or boycotting matches against Wonthaggi Power. Yarram Football Club were the first club to lead a boycott. They had defeated Wonthaggi Power in the 2007 grand final the previous year and were only scheduled to play Wonthaggi Power once during
12096-478: Was allowed on the MCG. However, cricket authorities frequently prohibited football on their grounds until the 1870s, when they saw an opportunity to capitalise on the sport's growing popularity. Football gradually adapted to an oval-shaped field, and most grounds in Victoria expanded to accommodate the dual purpose—a situation that continues to this day. Football became organised in South Australia in 1860 with
12208-485: Was aware that this was Alberton's final match. The COVID-19 pandemic lead to the 2020 season being abandoned, despite efforts to run a junior competition in conjunction with the Mid Gippsland Football League . Whilst the league sat idle, the planning for the future of the Alberton football clubs continued. On 24 April 2020 a meeting of the Mid Gippsland football clubs saw them vote to accept all six Alberton clubs as of
12320-514: Was between Melbourne Grammar and St Kilda Grammar. On 10 July 1858, the Melbourne-based Bell's Life in Victoria and Sporting Chronicle published a letter by Tom Wills , captain of the Victoria cricket team , calling for the formation of a "foot-ball club" with a "code of laws" to keep cricketers fit during winter. Born in Australia, Wills played a nascent form of rugby football while
12432-435: Was coined by scholar Ian Turner in 1978 to describe the "fictitious geographical barrier" separating the rugby-following parts of New South Wales and Queensland from the rest of the country, where Australian football reigned. It became a reference point for the expansion of Australian football and for establishing a national league. The way the game was played had changed dramatically due to innovative coaching tactics, with
12544-696: Was selected at pick 42 by Geelong in the 2009 national draft . At the conclusion of the 2016 season Vardy was traded to the West Coast Eagles. In 2017, with Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett injured, Vardy had to take charge as West Coast's number one ruckman and played almost every game. He played a critical role in West Coast's 2018 premiership team. Vardy is one of four current former Alberton players listed by AFL clubs. The following major individual awards and accolades are presented each season: The Alberton Football League like most country leagues does not have
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