Who invented footy

An admission fee was introduced to cover costs and, although it was largely resented by spectators, paid to watch Carlton play Melbourne. It became clear to cricket clubs that money could be made this way.

Around the city, and particularly in country towns, football moved onto cricket grounds and the game evolved from being played on a roughly rectangular field, to being played on an oval. Paying spectators also pushed for changes to the game, demanding better organisation of matches and more entertaining play. The Victorian Football Association VFA formed in May comprising delegates from all levels of the game — senior, junior and country clubs.

Its brief was to supervise all matters relating to football including revising the rules, resolving disputes, and providing umpires for the bigger games. It was also responsible for the promotion of the game and the organisation of intercolonial matches.

However, the disparity between weak and powerful clubs caused conflict within the Association, especially over the distribution of gate-takings. The more successful teams drew larger crowds and felt that they were entitled to a greater share of the funds. Clubs put much of the money raised into improving the ground and facilities for both spectators and players, but by the s money was also being offered to lure players from one club to another.

The VFA promoted the amateur ideal of sport, where the game is played for its own benefits rather than financial reward. Meanwhile, the clubs were moving towards professionalism. Tired of 'carrying' the weaker clubs, they were keen to make the sport economically viable, commercial and more appealing to spectators. The evolution of the game continued, with new rules introduced to speed up play and reduce the likelihood of a draw.

Richmond and University joined the league in , although the latter left after the season; and Footscray now the Western Bulldogs , Hawthorn and North Melbourne joined in From the s the game that came to be known as Australian Rules football spread from Victoria, west to South Australia and Western Australia, and south to Tasmania. Rugby union and league prevailed in New South Wales and Queensland but, a century later in , financially troubled South Melbourne relocated to Sydney.

The VFL's desire to build a national league began to be realised when Brisbane and West Coast were admitted to the competition in Since then, Adelaide , Fremantle and Port Adelaide have joined and foundation club Fitzroy merged with the Brisbane Bears to form the Brisbane Lions after the season. In trying to understand the origins of the present game of Australian football we forget that it was moulded by many people and influences, decade after decade … We all still hope to find an original landmark or great founder in the belief that the game was a once-only invention or derivation rather than a long chain of inventions and adaptations that still continue.

Send a query. Lucky dip. Any answers? Nooks and crannies. Semantic enigmas. The body beautiful. Red tape, white lies. Speculative science. This sceptred isle. But it needs to be remembered that a goal in soccer has a much higher value than in AFL , so they are much harder to come by!

As is the case in the United States and Canada, association football is most commonly referred to in Australia as soccer.

Historically, the sport has been referred to as British association rules and British football. There are more than 4. Kilda and Carlton. AFL Clubs.

Adelaide Crows. Gold Coast Suns. GWS Giants. North Melbourne. Port Adelaide. St Kilda. Sydney Swans. West Coast Eagles. Western Bulldogs.