# VFL Sub-Districts

The VFL Sub-Districts (VFLSD), sometimes referred to as the Victorian Sub-District Football League (VSDFL), was an Australian rules football competition played in the state of Victoria and managed by the Victorian Football League (VFL), now known as the Australian Football League (AFL). The competition was preceded by the Melbourne District Football Association (MDFA) and succeeded by the Metropolitan Football League (MFL).
The Sub-Districts included a number of "thirds" teams for senior VFL clubs, prior to the introduction of the VFL thirds (later VFL/AFL under-19s) in 1946. A similar competition, the VFA Sub-Districts, also existed at the time of the VFLSD and was managed by the Victorian Football Association (VFA).

## History
### MDFA

The Melbourne District Football Association (MDFA) was formed in the 1900s.
The MDFA appears to stopped play during World War I, although a different competition (known as the Melbourne Junior Football Association) was formed in April 1918. It is possible that MDFA clubs including Coburg and Moreland joined this competition for the 1918 season.

### VFLSD

At the end of the 1924 season, the VFL took over the MDFA and replaced it with the VFL Sub-Districts, officially called the Victorian Football League Sub-Districts Association. W.H. Smith was elected as the new league's inaugural president, and the first game was played on 2 May 1925 between Oakleigh and Dandenong. Public Service won the inaugural premiership in 1925, with a total of ten clubs competing in the competition the following year in 1926.
The competition was split into two in 1927. In 1927, there was a further split with the introduction of "First Grade North" (Division 1 North), "First Grade South" (Division 1 South), the "unallocated Second Grade" (Division 2) and the similarly-named "Seconds Grade" (the latter being a reserves competition, largely for the "Second Grade"). The winner of the North and South sections would go on to play in a grand final for the overall VFLSD premiership, while the winners of Division 2 and the Seconds (Reserves) Grade also played each other. In 1929, Division 2 was also split into North and South sections.
Fairfield and Kew drew in the 1929 grand final, with the replay won by Kew. The clubs again drew in the 1935 grand final, with that replay won by Fairfield in a game that resulted in four players being suspended for fighting.
Like in the senior VFL competition, the Page–McIntyre system was introduced in 1933, replacing the Argus finals system. However, it appears the Argus system (or a similar system) returned in 1944, as The Age noted grand finalist East Brunswick "[had] the right of an extra game" after losing a final to Richmond District the week before.

### MFL

In 1950, the VFL Sub-Districts was succeeded by the Metropolitan Football League (MFL).
Following the conclusion of the 1958 VFA season, the Prahran Football Club was expelled from the VFA for failing to meet the minimum home ground requirements, and was replaced by the Sunshine Football Club, which had been runners-up in the MFL in 1958. Prahran subsequently spent 1959 competing in the MFL's A Grade, winning the premiership with just a single loss for the season, and the club returned to the VFA in 1960.

## Clubs

Dozens of clubs competed in the MDFA, VFL Sub-Districts and MFL.
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Former league | Est. | Seasons | Premierships | Premierships | Fate | Ref. |
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Former league | Est. | Seasons | Total | Final | Fate | Ref. |
| Balwyn | | Tigers | RDFA | 1909 | 1927−1931 | 1 | 1927 | EFNL | |
| Camberwell | | Cobras | VJFA | 1880s | 1920−1925 | 0 | − | Folded 1995 | |
| Canterbury | | Tricolours | RDFA | 1881 | 1925−1931 | 0 | − | VAFA | |
| Carnegie | | | VJFA | 1920s | 1928−1931 | 0 | − | Folded 2000 | |
| Caulfield | | Fieldsmen | MAFA | 1890s | 1925−1931 | 0 | − | Folded 1976 | |
| Coburg | | Lions | VJFA | 1891 | 1913−1920 | 3 | 1920 | VFL | |
| Darling | | | | | 1928−1933 | 0 | − | Folded 1940 | |
| Elsternwick | | Wickers | | | 1911−1912 | | | VAFA | |
| Eltham | | Panthers | DVFL | 1909 | 1936−1937 | 0 | − | NFNL | |
| Fitzroy Stars | | Stars | − | 1973 | 1973−1974 | 1 | 1974 | NFNL | |
| Heidelberg | | Tigers | DVFL | 1876 | 1926−1929 | 0 | − | NFNL | |
| Kew | | Bears | VJFA | 1876 | 1927−1949 | 5 | 1937 | VAFA | |
| Oakleigh | | Purple and Golds | | 1891 | 1928−1933 | 1 | 1928 | Folded 1994 | |
| Prahran | | Two Blues | VFA | 1899 | 1959 | 1 | 1959 | VAFA | |
| Public Service | | Service | | 1915 | 1915−1933 | 1 | 1925 | Folded 1933s | |
| South Melbourne Districts | | Bloods | VJFA | 1912 | 1927−1973 | 0 | − | VAFA | |

## Premiers

Kew won the most known Division 1/A Grade VFLSD premierships, with a total of five.
| GF | Premiership decided by a grand final where a challenge was not needed |
| GF (R) | Premiership decided by a grand final replay, after the scheduled grand final was drawn |
| CF | Premiership decided by a challenge final under the Argus system |

### MDFA premiers

| Year | Premiers | Runners-up | Score | Venue | Date |
| 1912 | Richmond District | Elsternwick | unknown | Preston City Oval | 14 September 1912 |
| 1913 | Coburg (1) | Richmond District | 4.13 (37) d. 2.13 (25) | Brunswick Park | 13 September 1913 |
| 1914 | Coburg (2) | Melbourne District | 7.10 (52) d. 4.5 (29) | Brunswick Park | 12 September 1914 |
| 1919 | Brunswick Juniors | Hawthorn District | 7.12 (55) d. 3.12 (30) | Richmond City Reserve | 30 August 1919 |
| 1920 | Coburg (3) | Brunswick Juniors | 6.12 (48) d. 4.15 (39) | Brunswick Park | 25 September 1920 |
| 1921 | Camberwell | Brunswick Juniors | 8.10 (58) d. 7.6 (48) | Oakleigh | 24 September 1921 |
| 1922 | Camberwell | Moreland | 9.12 (66) d. 8.8 (56) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 7 October 1922 |
| 1923 | Camberwell | Fairfield | 9.12 (66) d. 8.8 (56) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 28 September 1923 |
| 1924 | Oakleigh | Camberwell | 13.12 (90) d. 7.12 (54) | Oakleigh | 27 September 1924 |

### VFL Sub-Districts premiers

| Year | Premiers | Runners-up | Score | Venue | Date |
| 1925 | Public Service (1) | Camberwell (1) | 13.12 (90) d. 7.12 (54) | Oakleigh | 3 October 1925 |
| 1926 | Fairfield (1) | Oakleigh (1) | 9.7 (55) d. 7.9 (51) | Oakleigh | 2 October 1926 |
| 1927 | Balwyn (1) | Middle Park (1) | 9.12 (66) d. 6.12 (48) | Oakleigh | 8 October 1927 |
| 1928 | Fairfield (2) | Oakleigh (2) | 17.16 (118) d. 13.13 (91) | Oakleigh | 22 September 1928 |
| 1929 | Kew | Fairfield | 8.8 (56) drew 8.8 (56) | Ascot Vale | 28 September 1929 |
| 1929 | Kew (1) | Fairfield (1) | 10.16 (76) d. 5.14 (44) | Oakleigh | 5 October 1929 |
| 1930 | South Melbourne Districts (1) | Sunshine (1) | 11.7 (73) d. 10.12 (72) | Oakleigh | 11 October 1930 |
| 1931 | Kew (2) | South Melbourne Districts (1) | 11.15 (80) d. 7.16 (58) | Motordome | 5 September 1931 |
| 1932 | Kew (3) | Auburn (1) | 19.19 (133) d. 11.12 (78) | Motordome | 17 September 1932 |
| 1933 | South Melbourne Districts (2) | Sunshine (2) | 17.14 (116) d. 7.10 (52) | Brunswick | 23 September 1933 |
| 1934 | Kew (4) | Sunshine (3) | 4.15 (39) d. 2.6 (18) | Brunswick | 29 September 1934 |
| 1935 | Fairfield | Kew | 10.16 (76) drew 11.10 (76) | Northcote Park | 14 September 1935 |
| 1935 | Fairfield (3) | Kew (1) | 16.12 (112) d. 12.10 (82) | Selwyn Park | 21 September 1935 |
| 1936 | Sunshine (1) | South Melbourne Districts (2) | 15.13 (103) d. 8.7 (55) | Port Melbourne | 12 September 1936 |
| 1937 | South Melbourne Districts (3) | Sunshine (4) | 8.10 (58) d. 7.12 (54) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 18 September 1937 |
| 1938 | Fairfield (4) | East Brunswick (1) | 12.14 (86) d. 11.15 (81) | Olympic Park | 17 September 1938 |
| 1939 | South Melbourne Districts (4) | Kew (2) | 14.15 (99) d. 9.13 (67) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 16 September 1939 |
| 1940 | South Melbourne Districts (5) | Sunshine (5) | 12.16 (88) d. 4.9 (33) | Sunshine | 21 September 1940 |
| 1941 | West Melbourne (1) | South Melbourne Districts (3) | 13.20 (98) d. 12.13 (85) | Fitzroy Cricket Ground | 13 September 1941 |
| 1942 | Abbotsford (1) | Richmond District (1) | 19.6 (120) d. 7.11 (53) | Victoria Park | 5 September 1942 |
| 1943 | East Brunswick (1) | Abbotsford (1) | unknown | Northcote Park | 4 September 1943 |
| 1944 | Richmond District (1) | East Brunswick (2) | 7.16 (58) d. 6.10 (46) | Fitzroy Cricket Ground | 9 September 1944 |
| 1945 | Richmond United (1) | East Brunswick (3) | 15.23 (113) d 12.19 (91) | unknown | unknown 1945 |
| 1946 | Richmond United (2) | East Brunswick (4) | 9.14 (68) d. 9.11 (65) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 5 October 1946 |
| 1947 | Fairfield (5) | Richmond United (1) | 13.8 (86) d. 12.1 (73) | unknown | unknown 1947 |
| 1948 | East Brunswick (2) | Richmond United (2) | 13.7 (85) d. 10.12 (72) | Warringal Park | 25 September 1948 |
| 1949 | Richmond United (3) | East Brunswick (5) | 8.10 (58) d 5.11 (41) | unknown | unknown 1949 |

### Division 1 North premiers

| Year | Premiers | Runners-up | Score | Venue | Date | Report |
| 1928 | Fairfield | Alphington | 15.16 - 106 to 15.7 - 97 | Northcote Park | 8 September 1928 | |

### Division 1 South premiers

| Year | Premiers | Runners-up | Score | Venue | Date | Report |
| 1928 | Oakleigh | South Melbourne Districts | 15.15 (105) d. 10.31 (91) | Northcote Park | 15 September 1928 | |

### Second Grade premiers

This premiership was contested by the winner of the unallocated "Second Grade" (Division 2) and the "Seconds Grade" (reserves competition), and later the winner of Division 2 North and Division 2 South.
| Year | Premiers | Runners-up | Score | Venue | Date | Report |
| 1928 | Abbotsford | Kew Districts | 8.9 (57) d. 6.8 (44) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 22 September 1928 | |
| 1929 | Middle Park | Kew Districts | 13.6 (84) d. 12.8 (80) | Oakleigh | 5 October 1929 | |

### Division 2 premiers

| Year | Premiers | Runners-up | Score | Venue | Date |
| 1928 | Abbotsford | | | | |
| 1931 | North Fitzroy | Darling | | | |
| 1932 | Fairfield District | North Fitzroy | 12.1 (73) d. 5.6 (36) | Motordome | 24 September 1932 |
| 1933 | East Brunswick | Kew District | 14.12 (96) d. 11.6 (72) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 7 October 1933 |

### Division 2 North premiers

| Year | Premiers | Runners-up | Score | Venue | Date | Report |
| 1929 | Middle Park | North Fitzroy | 13.12 (90) d. 9.12 (66) | Tooronga | 28 September 1929 | |
| 1931 | North Fitzroy | Fairfield District | 5.8 (38) d. 4.13 (37) | | 19 September 1931 | |

### Division 2 South premiers

| Year | Premiers | Runners-up | Score | Venue | Date | Report |
| 1929 | Kew District | Tooronga | 9.15 (69) d. 6.7 (49) | Tooronga | 28 September 1929 | |
| 1931 | Darling | Kew District | 16.15 (111) d. 10.8 (68) | Motordome | 26 September 1931 | |

### Reserves premiers

| Year | Premiers | Runners-up | Score | Venue | Date |
| 1925 | Fairfield (1) | | | | |
| 1926 | Fairfield (2) | Middle Park | 13.9 (87) d. 8.8 (56) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 25 September 1926 |
| 1928 | Kew Districts | | | | |

### MFL premiers

| Year | Premier | G | B | Pts | Runner Up | G | B | Pts |
| 1950 | East Brunswick | 8 | 13 | 61 | South Melbourne District | 6 | 12 | 48 |
| 1951 | Sunshine | 14 | 8 | 92 | East Brunswick | 8 | 7 | 55 |
| 1952 | East Brunswick | 14 | 15 | 99 | Sunshine | 6 | 11 | 47 |
| 1953 | Fairfield | 14 | 12 | 96 | Hawthorn District | 6 | 7 | 43 |
| 1954 | Fairfield | 6 | 12 | 48 | Hawthorn City | 5 | 13 | 43 |
| 1955 | Richmond District | 9 | 20 | 74 | Sunshine | 8 | 7 | 55 |
| 1956 | Sunshine | 11 | 10 | 76 | Richmond Districts | 5 | 12 | 42 |
| 1957 | East Hawthorn | 13 | 7 | 85 | East Brunswick | 8 | 8 | 56 |
| 1958 | East Hawthorn | 9 | 10 | 64 | Sunshine | 7 | 13 | 55 |
| 1959 | Prahran City | 4 | 14 | 38 | East Hawthorn | 4 | 6 | 30 |
| 1960 | East Hawthorn | 8 | 13 | 61 | East Brunswick | 4 | 20 | 44 |
| 1961 | East Hawthorn | 9 | 8 | 62 | East Brunswick | 6 | 14 | 50 |
| 1962 | South Melbourne Districts | 15 | 7 | 97 | East Brunswick | 9 | 12 | 66 |
| 1963 | East Brunswick | 12 | 9 | 81 | East Hawthorn | 8 | 11 | 59 |
| 1964 | East Brunswick | 11 | 10 | 76 | East Hawthorn | 9 | 14 | 68 |
| 1965 | East Hawthorn | 12 | 12 | 84 | Northcote Park | 7 | 7 | 49 |
| 1966 | East Hawthorn | 11 | 11 | 77 | East Brunswick | 6 | 9 | 45 |
| 1967 | East Hawthorn | 13 | 16 | 94 | Reservoir | 13 | 9 | 87 |
| 1968 | East Hawthorn | 9 | 14 | 68 | Northcote Park | 5 | 5 | 35 |
| 1969 | East Hawthorn | 12 | 13 | 85 | Northcote Park | 9 | 10 | 64 |
| 1970 | Port Colts | 21 | 9 | 135 | Northcote Park | 11 | 8 | 74 |
| 1971 | Port Colts | 15 | 10 | 100 | East Brunswick | 6 | 6 | 42 |
| 1972 | Port Colts | 16 | 16 | 112 | Richmond District | 11 | 17 | 83 |
| 1973 | Port Colts | 18 | 15 | 123 | Broadmeadows | 13 | 12 | 90 |
| 1974 | East Hawthorn | | | | Collingwood Districts | | | |

## Best and fairest

The best and fairest award in the VFL Sub-Districts and the MFL was known as the Clota Medal (sometimes referred to as the Clota Trophy). The award was named Marcus Clota, a former vice-president of South Melbourne who served as the VFL Sub-Districts president until his death on 25 December 1940.
| Year | Player | Club |
| 1925 | Jack Holford | Spring Vale |
| 1926 | Don Fraser Sr. | Fairfield |
| 1927 | Clarrie Answorth | Public Service |
| 1928 | George Taylor | Oakleigh |
| 1929 | H. Coombs | Auburn |
| 1930 | E. Stockdale | Sunshine |
| 1931 | S. McKenzie | Auburn |
| 1932 | Hec Rutherford | Ivanhoe |
| 1933 | Ian Lee | South Melbourne Districts |
| 1934 | Les Harvey | Abbotsford |
| 1935 | Not awarded − 13 players on equal votes | Not awarded − 13 players on equal votes |
| 1936 | Harold Baker | Prahran City |
| 1937 | A. Powell | Fairfield |
| 1938 | R. Austin | Kew |
| 1939 | Bob Merrick | Pascoe Vale |
| 1940 | Vic James | Sunshine |
| 1941 | N. Dorey | Richmond District |
| 1942 | R. Austin | Richmond City |
| 1945 | Ron J. Evans | Richmond United |
| 1947 | Stan Wilson | Richmond District |
| 1948 | L. Campbell | East Brunswick |
| 1949 | J. Lloyd | East Brunswick |
| 1950 | Bernie Miller | South Melbourne Districts |
| 1951 | Peter MacAree | Newport |
| 1952 | Percy Wills | Abbotsford |
| 1953 | Les Hunter | Sunshine |
| 1954 | A. Whittenbury | Reservoir |
| 1959 | Daryl Jones | South Melbourne Districts |
| 1960 | Daryl Jones | South Melbourne Districts |
| 1964 | Eddie Lane | South Melbourne Districts |
| 1971 | Daryl Degenhardt | Port Melbourne Colts |
| 1973 | Daryl Degenhardt | Port Melbourne Colts |