Some of the highlights would definitely be seeing the original AFL rules created by Wills and his buddies at that meeting in the Hotel back in the 1850′s hidden in a draw at the MCC museum. It was originally closed but due to some lighting technicians fixing some lights they let us in for a look.

In the Sports Museum they have most sports represented but the AFL and the cricket was all that I was interested in and apart from the fact that you cannot take photos due to the flashes ruining the priceless artifacts it was well worth it. I also had great fun in selecting the West Coast Eagles song to be played over and over and look through the hall of fame inductees and their highlights.

Some of the best time I had would be in the interactive sections.

The first one is about James Hird where like the Shane Warne one in the cricket section, its all done by hologram and other cutting edge multimedia technology. I took a short video of the Hird presentation (shown above) and even though he talked about that last quarter against the Eagles where he willed the Bombers for a win, it was great.

The other interactive sections include a news desk where you can create headlines and have them emailed to your personal email.

The best however was the area where you could test your skills both football but also other sports. Below is some videos of me having a go.

This was where you get the ball and handball towards three targets and they where worth three different scores. One, Three and Five. To be honest I sucked at this…

I also sucked at this, the ball came down one of the two chutes and you had too handball it into the hole that had the light lite.

I was good at this one. You have 5 different places to kick the goal acting as AFL stars (Buddy, Brown, Riewoldt etc). Buddy’s from memory is the hardest kick at goal.

Evolution of the AFL Football from pig bladder to latex. Click for a bigger version.

In the mid 1850′s William Gilbert rugby balls were widely used, however because they were created from pig’s bladders the balls varied in size and shape depending on the bladder. Another problem was that it took someone to manually blow air in the bladder and one Richard Lindon died from inhaling a diseased bladder, this among other incidents meant that galvanized rubber was used instead.

The History of the Sherrin

It was not until 1877 that specs for the ball was ruled: A Number two sized rugby ball (66 cms in circumference). The 1870′s was also when Thomas William Sherrin who previously worked at a saddlery started his own football factory and they were so successful that when the Australasian Football Council was formed they used the Sherrin’s ball measurements as the standard. 59-62cm in diameter and 75-78cms in longitudinally.

The History of the Faulkner

The Faulkner while not as in common use as the Sherrin was preferred by certain VFL captains well into the modern era. The Faulkner ball started into the football market in the 1930′s and tried to re brand his footballs as “Ross Faulkner’s Native Brand” due to his friendship with Doug Nicholls an aboriginal footballer from the Murray region same as Ross Faulkner.

The History of the Burley

Western Australia never used round balls unlike many of the other states but it was not until 1907 when an East Perth carpenter Jack Burley designed a trial ball for a game between East Fremantle and West Perth. The Burley ball is more rounder and yellow (Yellow Sherrin’s came after wards for night use) and is used in the WAFL and many other leagues around Australia.

The Process of Making the AFL Football

First of all you match four groups of leather (similar in feel and stretch pattern) and then back the leather with canvas, which assists in water proofing and holding the ball in shape. Then it is ‘Three-quarter sewn’ inside out (Three of the four longitudinal seams are machine sewn, canvas side facing out) and then the sides of the Football is pushed into shape from within. The latex bladder is then inserted and the fourth seam is hand stitched. This usually takes from 20 – 30 minutes for each ball.

How to Spot a Good Football from a Dodgy One

All four panels of the ball must come from the same part of the hide or the ball quickly go out of shape. The way to tell is if the seams do not form a perfect cross.

If you have your own stat to add or if I have stuffed up on a stat/ year/ date etc add it in the comments below and this list will be updated as it goes with you credited.

• 2008 winner Adam Cooney is the first #1 draft pick to win the medal. The next highest pick was Chris Judd at #3 winning in 2004.
• The Last key position to win the medal was Scott Wynd in 1992 who was a ruckman. The next last key position players were Jim Stynes in 1991 and Tony Dunstall in 1987.
• Adam Cooney 2008 winner is the third player to win the Brownlow since 1999 not to play in the Grand Final the same week. The others were Chris Judd in 2004 and Shane Crawford in 1999.
• Gavin Wanganeen was the first Aboriginal player to win the Brownlow in 1993.
• Up until the 80s, a count back was held if two players were tied on equal Brownlow votes.
• The first ‘official’ tie in the Brownlow was Robert DiPierdomenico & Greg Williams in 1986.
• The only 3 way tie occurred in 2003 with Mark Ricciuto, Nathan Buckley & Adam Goodes.
• 1996 would have seen the first 3 way tie but Corey McKernan was suspended.
• No Brownlow’s were awarded in the years 1942 to 1945 due to World War II.
• Haydn Bunton, Sr., Dick Reynolds, Bob Skilton & Ian Stewart are the only players to win three Brownlow’s. Adam Goodes is the only current player to have two Brownlow’s.
• The youngest Brownlow medal winner was Dick Reynolds at the age of 19 in 1934.
• Brad Hardie and Haydn Bunton both won Brownlow medals in their first year of playing VFL/ AFL.
• Arguably the four best ever players never won a Brownlow in Wayne Carey, Gary Ablett, Ted Whitten and Leigh Mathews

For a list of all Brownlow medal winners and more information about the Brownlow medal.

1. The distance between the Goals and the Goal Posts shall be decided upon by the Captains of the sides playing.
2. The Captains on each side shall toss for choice of Goal; the side loosing the toss has the Kick off from the centre point between the Goals.
3. A Goal must be Kicked fairly between the posts, without touching either of them, or a portion of the person of any player on either side.
4. The game shall be played within a space of not more than 200 yards wide, the same to be measured equally on each side of a line drawn through the centres of the two Goals; and two posts to be call the ‘Kick Off’ posts shall be erected at a distance of 20 yards on each side of the Goal posts at both ends, and in a straight line with them.
5. In case the Ball is kicked behind Goal, any one of the side behind whose Goal it is kicked may bring it 20 yards in front of any portion of the space between the ‘Kick Off’ posts and shall kick it as nearly as possible in a line with the opposite Goal.
6. Any player catching the Ball directly from the foot may call ‘mark’. He then has a free kick; no player from the opposite side being allowed to come inside the spot marked.
7. Tripping and pushing are both allowed (but no hacking) when any player is in rapid motion or in possession of the Ball, except in the case provided in rule 6.
8. The Ball may be taken in hand only when caught from the foot, or on the hop. In no case shall it be lifted from the ground.
9. When a Ball goes out of bounds (the same being indicated by a row of posts) it shall be brought back to the point where it crossed the boundary-line and thrown in at right angles with that line.
10. The Ball, while in play, may under no circumstances be thrown.

Kick2Kick has and will continue to release articles on the history of the AFL that can be found via “The Australian Game of Football 1858″ book and other resources. If you have something you would like to see or even add yourself please contact us.

History of Interstate Carnivals

The first ever interstate games was held in 1879 with the VFA beating SA twice by a margin of 7 and 3 goals. The first major interstate carnival with seven teams (Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, New South Wales, South Australia, New Zealand and WA) was in 1908 with the VFL undefeated (see results).

From 1908 to 1993 the carnivals were played every 3 – 5 years all around the country. Thanks to Full Points Footy who has a list of the years including results. Between 1908 and 1975 Victoria won 18 times (WA twice and SA once).

History of VFL/ AFL State of Origin

The biggest problem of the Interstate carnivals was the unevenness of the competition. With most of the better players of the various states playing in the VFL it meant that they were automatically playing for the VFL instead of their home states. Examples were players like Malcom Blight, Graham Moss, Polly Farmer and the Daniher brothers who all played for their own state and also Victoria.

What followed was a campaign by the WA league for players to be selected according to the region of origin rather than the league they play in. What followed for 20 odd years was a more even competition until the demise of the state of origin games in 1999 which saw Victoria undefeated since 1991.

The downfall of State of Origin

The 1970s and the 1980s was the best era of state of origin especially the 1989 Victoria vs SA game with over 90, 000 fans seeing Victoria beat SA. However it did not last with the 1990s becoming a farce with one sided games and the introduction of the Allies (TAS, ACT, QLD, NSW, NT) so in 1999 the last ever State of Origin game was played (see results of the games).

Some argue that the demise of the State Of Origin was due to coaches like Michael Malthouse (then West Coast Eagles coach) who coached WA during the 90s and continually did not play his stars so they were not injured and missed games for the regular season.

Others argue that seeing the games were just meaningless exhibition games that didn’t produce a national champion. It had no pride of winning the hard fought games as the regular season had a premiership cup.

Others argue that seeing the AFL is now a national competition with the players playing all around the country, the desire to beat the croweaters or the sandgropers or the Big V is gone.

AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match

This last ditch effort to revise the state of origin games has had mix reactions and it wont be until Saturday 10th May until we see if it has been successful or not.

ANZAC Day, 25th of April is a commemorative day in which soldiers past and present, are remembered and honoured. It is also a day to remember the harsh realities of war and to be thankful for the relatively peaceful lifestyle we lead today.

The 25th of April is the day chosen to honour our soldiers, as it marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the first World War. A.N.Z.A.C stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

Both World Wars affected the football leagues at the time. It was compulsory for fit, young men to serve for their countries during these times. Many of the clubs’ players enlisted to serve in both wars. This greatly reduced the numbers in the playing squads of football teams around the nation.

A lot of people had the opinion that the football competition could not go on, when there were more important issues on hand and to respect the soldiers fighting abroad. The V.F.L decided to carry on with their football season and many people questioned the morality of their judgment. It became farcical in 1916 when only 4 clubs participated in a revised league competition during World War 1.

The same issue arose again in the 1940s with World War 2. The continuing of the football seasons did some serve some purpose though. It was a welcomed distraction and served as a morale boost for the public during these hard and trying times.

The A.F.L honours ANZAC Day with a match between Essendon and Collingwood at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. A ceremony takes place before the match with a bugle playing the Last Post and a minute’s silence. To see 90,000 plus people so quiet you can hear a pin drop, is a very moving and special moment.

Even though AFL football on ANZAC Day has become a tradition, football wasn’t played on the 25th of April until 1960 due to a change of law. All matches in round 2 of the VFL season were postponed due to bad weather. The Victorian government granted special permission for two games to be played on ANZAC Day.

The VFL then agreed to donate part proceeds from the games to the R.S.L ( Returned and Services League) and to not play the games before 2pm. If ANZAC Day fell mid-week, an AFL match would not be scheduled to play on that day.

Then in 1995, Kevin Sheedy ( then Essendon Coach ) organised with Bruce Ruxton ( Victorian RSL President ) to play a match against Collingwood. The game took place on a Tuesday and a sell out crowd witnessed a thrilling draw. From then on the AFL made it a permanent fixture on ANZAC Day to recognise and honour an important national day on the Australian calender.

The origins of Australian Rules Football can be traced back to the 1850s in Melbourne. A game was organised by Tom Wills who suggested playing some sort of winter sport to keep cricketers fit in the off season. The first game of an early hybrid of Aussie Rules, was played on July 31, 1858 on Richmond Paddock.

The early game was influenced by winter sports games played in Britain at the time, namely Rugby and Soccer. Round Soccer balls were used in earlier games but the oval shape of the Rugby ball prevailed in the end. Because of the vast amount of land in Australia, the early grounds were often big and there were no limit to the number of players on the ground at one time. The shape of the ground was influenced by the parks and ovals in and around Melbourne.

In the 1880′s the game was now played on the same ovals as cricket so the shape moved from a rectangular field to a round one. The game of Australian Rules Football gave an alternative winter sport to playing Rugby, which left a lot of workers too injured to work on a Monday after playing it on a Saturday. The grounds in Australia were unturfed and rough compared to the lush green grass found in England at the time. Rugby also was still in its developmental state in regards to rules and was very liberal in regards to physical contact and player safety.

Rules for Australian football were drawn up and initially there were only 10 of them. Today there is a whole book full of rules and they are constantly being revised on a yearly basis by the A.F.L. Clubs were later formed and met weekly to discuss rule changes in pubs. Because the game originated in Melbourne, it was easy to get everyone together and change the rules. Early games did not have set scoring of goals and behinds, a set time of four quarters, or even an umpire bouncing the ball to start the game.

A lot of people assume that Gaelic football or even a similar game played by Australian Aboriginals was the precursor to Australian Rules Football. But there is simply not enough proof to warrant these claims. Their games are similar, and could go along way to explaining why the Irish and Aboriginals are great exponents of Australian Rules Football.

History of the sponsors and the winners

• 1992 – Fosters – Hawthorn
• 1993 – Fosters – Essendon
• 1994 – Fosters – Essendon
• 1995 – Ansett – North Melbourne
• 1996 – Ansett – St Kilda
• 1997 – Ansett – Carlton
• 1998 – Ansett – North Melbourne
• 1999 – Ansett – Hawthorn
• 2000 – Ansett – Essendon
• 2001 – Wizard – Port Adelaide
• 2002 – Wizard – Port Adelaide
• 2003 – Wizard – Adelaide
• 2004 – Wizard – St Kilda
• 2005 – Wizard – Carlton
• 2006 – NAB – Geelong
• 2007 – NAB – Carlton
• 2008 – NAB – St Kilda
• 2009 – NAB -

Some of the rules that have been experimented with

• 9 points for a super goal which is kicked over the 50m arc.
• Play on when the ball hits the posts and goes back into play.
• 3 points when ball rushed through opposition goals.
• Ruckmen square extended.
• Play on when kicked backwards in the defensive area.
• For a list and explanation of the 2009 Rules.

If you have any information, history, rules or if I have any history wrong, please comment below.