 | |
| Formerly | VFL thirds VFL under-19s |
|---|---|
| Sport | Australian rules football |
| Founded | 1946 |
| First season | 1946 |
| Ceased | 1991 |
| No. of teams | 12 (final season) |
| Country | Australia |
| Most titles | Richmond (11) |
| Related competitions | |
TheAFL under-19s was anAustralian rules football competition that operated as a junior competition to theAustralian Football League (AFL) from 1946 until the end of 1991.
Prior to 1990, it was known as theVFL thirds orVFL under-19s.
In1946, theVictorian Football League (VFL) introduced a thirds competition for under-19s players. Initially, only 7 clubs competed −Carlton,Essendon,Hawthorn,Melbourne,North Melbourne,Richmond andSt Kilda.[1] Several VFL clubs already operated thirds teams in local competitions, while others were affiliated with existing junior clubs.[2][3]
In1947, the VFL invited theDoutta Stars Football Club (which competed in theEssendon District Football League) to field a side in the Thirds; the team was known asNorth Essendon.[4] The side was unsuccessful, and after two seasons ateam representingTrans Australia Airlines (TAA) took its place. However,TAA were beaten too heavily, and withdrew from the competition following round 4 of the1949 season.[5][6]
By1950, all VFL clubs (barCollingwood) were now in the thirds competition. Richmond chose to enter a second team − known as Richmond Juniors.[7] The new side competed for asingle 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 countryzoning recruitment system for the Victorian VFL/AFL clubs was abolished, and the league's under-19 competition was shut down at the end of1991. A new competition, called theTAC Cup, began in 1992 with teams that were not linked to AFL clubs.
12 clubs competed in the competition's final season.
No teams fromQueensland,South Australia orWestern Australia ever competed in the VFL/AFL under-19s.
| Club | Colours | Moniker | First season | Last season | Title(s) | Year(s) of Title(s) | 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 |
     Carlton |  Collingwood |    Essendon |    Fitzroy |   Footscray | |
 Geelong |    Hawthorn |   Melbourne |  North Essendon |  North Melbourne | |
 Richmond | Richmond Juniors |   St Kilda |   South Melbourne |  Sydney |   TAA |
Richmond won the most under-19s premierships, with a total of 11.[9]