AFL under-19s

(Redirected from AFL Under-19s)

The AFL under-19s was an Australian rules football competition that operated as a junior competition to the Australian Football League (AFL) from 1946 until the end of 1991.

AFL under-19s
FormerlyVFL thirds
VFL under-19s
SportAustralian rules football
Founded1946
First season1946
Ceased1991
No. of teams12 (final season)
CountryAustralia
Most titlesRichmond (11)
Related
competitions

Prior to 1990, it was known as the VFL thirds or VFL under-19s.

History

edit

In 1946, the Victorian Football League (VFL) introduced a thirds competition for under-19s players. Initially, only 7 clubs competed − Carlton, Essendon, Hawthorn, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Richmond and St Kilda.[1] Several VFL clubs already operated thirds teams in local competitions, while others were affiliated with existing junior clubs.[2][3]

In 1947, the VFL invited the Doutta Stars Football Club (which competed in the Essendon District Football League) to field a side in the Thirds; the team was known as North Essendon.[4] The side was unsuccessful, and after two seasons a team representing Trans Australia Airlines (TAA) took its place. However, TAA were beaten too heavily, and withdrew from the competition following round 4 of the 1949 season.[5][6]

By 1950, all VFL clubs (bar Collingwood) were now in the thirds competition. Richmond chose to enter a second team − known as Richmond Juniors.[7] The new side competed for a single season, and Collingwood joined the competition in 1951.[2]

The competition became known as the VFL under-19s beginning in 1960 − a name that continued until the VFL was renamed to the AFL in 1990.[8]

With the focus of the VFL/AFL moving rapidly towards a national competition, the former metropolitan and country zoning recruitment system for the Victorian VFL/AFL clubs was abolished, and the league's under-19 competition was shut down at the end of 1991. A new competition, called the TAC Cup, began in 1992 with teams that were not linked to AFL clubs.

Clubs

edit

12 clubs competed in the competition's final season. No teams from Queensland, South Australia or Western Australia ever competed in the VFL/AFL under-19s.

Club Colours Moniker First season Last season Premierships Year(s) of premierships Current league
Carlton
 
Blues 1946 1991 6 1948, 1949, 1951, 1963, 1978, 1979 In recess
Collingwood
 
Magpies 1951 1991 4 1960, 1965, 1974, 1986 In recess
Essendon
 
Bombers 1946 1991 5 1950, 1952, 1959, 1961, 1966 In recess
Fitzroy
 
Lions 1947 1991 2 1955, 1982 VAFA U19s
Footscray
 
Bulldogs 1948 1991 1 1954 In recess
Geelong
 
Cats 1947 1991 1 1962 In recess
Hawthorn
 
Hawks 1946 1991 1 1972 In recess
Melbourne
 
Demons 1946 1991 6 1947, 1953, 1964, 1971, 1981, 1983 In recess
North Essendon
 
Stars 1947 1948 0 EDFL U18s
North Melbourne
 
Kangaroos 1946 1991 7 1946, 1976, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991 In recess
Richmond
 
Tigers 1946 1991 11 1958, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1989 In recess
Richmond Juniors
 
Tigers 1950 1950 0 Folded
1950
St Kilda
 
Saints 1946 1991 1 1957 In recess
Sydney
(South Melbourne)[a]
 
Swans 1947 1991 1 1956 In recess
TAA
 
None 1949 1949 0 Folded
1949
  1. ^ South Melbourne relocated to Sydney in 1982 was renamed Sydney Swans in 1983.

Uniforms

edit
 
 
 
 
 
Carlton
 
 
 
 
 
Collingwood
 
 
 
 
 
 
Essendon
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fitzroy
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footscray
 
 
 
 
 
 
Geelong
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hawthorn
 
 
 
 
 
 
Melbourne
 
 
 
 
 
North Essendon
 
 
 
 
 
North Melbourne
 
 
 
 
 
 
Richmond
 
 
 
 
 
 
Richmond Juniors
 
 
 
 
 
 
St Kilda
 
 
 
 
 
 
South Melbourne
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sydney
 
 
 
 
 
 
TAA

Premiers

edit

Richmond won the most under-19s premierships, with a total of 11.[9]

References

edit
  1. ^ Rhett Barlett; Trevor Ruddell. "1946 Richmond Thirds". Tigerland Archive.
  2. ^ a b "The Under-19s". Collingwood Forever.
  3. ^ "Under 19s". Demonwiki.
  4. ^ "Club History". Essendon Doutta Stars Football Club.
  5. ^ "1949 Thirds season". Demonwiki.
  6. ^ "Cornell flies flag for '49ers". Carlton Football Club. 23 July 2019.
  7. ^ Rhett Barlett; Trevor Ruddell. "1950 Richmond Thirds". Tigerland Archive.
  8. ^ "Under 19s Best and Fairest". Tigerland Archive.
  9. ^ Stephen Rodgers (1992), Every Game Ever Played – VFL/AFL results 1897–1991 (3rd ed.), Viking O'Neil