AFL under-19s

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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

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.

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

History

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

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

Premiers

Main article: List of VFL/AFL premiers § VFL/AFL Thirds/Under-19s premierships

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

References

  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.
  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
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