page_title: History of Australian rules football in Victoria (1859–1900)
section_title: Formation of the VFL
hierarchical_section_title: History of Australian rules football in Victoria (1859–1900) / Formation of the VFL
caption_attribution_description: English: Ted Rowell, Australian rules footballer in the 1900s for the Collingwood Football Club.
context_page_description: Australian rules football was first organised in Victoria in 1859 when its rules were codified by the Melbourne Football Club.
context_section_description: From as early as the mid-1880s, a number of the Senior VFA clubs showed discontent with the unevenness of the competition, its unwieldiness and the VFA's perceived lack of desire to try and solve the problems.  Geelong and Essendon, both of which were among the most successful teams, were at the forefront of the moves towards reform.  In 1889 Geelong proposed a more streamlined break-away competition.  In 1894, Geelong, Essendon, Melbourne and Fitzroy again planned a new organisation that would consist of the aforementioned four clubs, along with teams from Ballarat and Bendigo.  Ironically, Collingwood also wanted to see reforms, even though it was, itself, a new club that had only been formed in 1892, mainly out of the Junior club, Britannia.  The Collingwood plan was to reduce the number of teams by amalgamation (as had been done in 1888/89 [see above]).  They proposed the following mergers which were basically geographically-based: Footscray and Williamstown; Carlton and Fitzroy; South Melbourne and Port Melbourne.
  In 1896, Markwell the football writer for The Age noted that the VFA had not moved to try and stop the downfall of the game.  He suggested that many of the rules would have to be changed and that boundary umpires should be introduced to help field umpires control on-field discipline.  "Reform is urgently called for", he wrote.  "Otherwise respectable young fellows will retire from the sport and leave it entirely in the hands of blackguards."
  This unruliness amongst the players of certain teams and, more particularly, the thuggery of the supporters of some clubs, had been noted for a number of years and was certainly another reason that some clubs saw a break-away from the VFA as the only solution.  Another contemporary writer called the Collingwood v North Melbourne game in July 1896: "the greatest disgrace of all time in Australian football".  The game itself was a cleanly played affair, which was narrowly won by Collingwood.  However, at half-time spectators attacked Umpire Roberts and did so again after the game.  During the second attack, the players of both sides tried to protect the umpire only to have the crowd turn on them.  Female spectators slashed away with long hat pins and one male supporter even produced an iron bar, which he used.  Players McDougall (North Melbourne) and Bill Proudfoot (Collingwood) were knocked unconscious and most of their teammates suffered some injuries, albeit some minor.  It is often claimed that this incident led to North Melbourne not being invited to join the VFL when it was formed later that year.
  A few weeks later, on 22 August 1896, during a Footscray v Williamstown game, Williamstown walked off at three-quarter time, allegedly because of the rough play of Footscray.  This was not the first time that such a thing had happened; in 1887, Richmond also left the ground at three-quarter time alleging rough play by Port Melbourne.  This led to sustained rivalry between Port Melbourne and Richmond, which continued until Richmond's last VFA season, 1907.
  On 2 October 1896, just after the end of the 1896 season, representatives from six clubs held a meeting at Buxton's Art Gallery in Collins Street, at which it was decided to form the VFL Victorian Football League, which would represent the stronger clubs and begin playing in the 1897 football season. The clubs with delegtates at that meeting were: Collingwood; Essendon; Fitzroy; Geelong; Melbourne; South Melbourne. Although Geelong had finished 11th in a 13 team competition, they had consistently been calling for change.  Their record as a top team in past years would have also ensured their place at the table.
  Carlton and St Kilda were also invited to join the VFL, initially making it an eight team competition.  St Kilda had never been a strength in the VFA but their excellent home ground was seen as being a bonus for the new VFL.  Not only did the Junction Oval have a good playing surface, but it was easily accessible by public transport.
  Carlton had not been a top team for a number of years but their dominance in the 
caption: Edward M. "Ted" Rowell, c1877–c1967 – Collingwood 1902–14, 1915
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