For a league that apparently puts such emphasis on history, constantly quoting statistics and historical achievements, many in the AFL have decided to arbitrarily ignore a part of their history that is just as significant as any other.
Before the debate begins I believe it’s important to reveal my hand.
I’m a Carlton supporter, one who doesn’t hate Collingwood anywhere near as much as I should, but who despises Essendon so much so that it overflowed to other sporting entities that shared those same colours. Ferrari F1 and the Chicago Bulls, I’m talking to you.
Carlton is acknowledged as having a very successful history. The Western (nee Footscray) Bulldogs, on the other hand, have endured a barren existence. You can follow their tiny website history tab to ‘1954′, revealing their one shining (albeit fading) moment of glory.
Ah, the memories of winning a school yard argument against those dish-licker supporters over the years. “I’ll see your one flag and raise you 13, 14, 15…16” worked every time. Those were the days (thanks Big Jack).
The thing is, though, the Doggies are a club with a long and proud history, one that should be boasting ten premierships, not one.
Many fans seem to embrace two types of history when it comes to footy. Sometimes its whatever serves their purpose at that particular moment. Sometimes, everything that falls outside of the VFL/AFL history books is moot.
There’s no better example than the Bomber faithful that steadfast refuse to adhere to a clash jumper that would require them to alter their ‘sacred’ sash, one that has supposedly been in existence since the dawn of time.
History reveals the fact the Essendon Football Club began with red and black stripes, not their beloved sash, and that the club has decided for whatever reason to ignore that part of their history in recent times (Heritage Round?). Without that first chapter of the Essendon history books, the rest simply would not exist.
A little over six months ago, Geelong president Colin Carter waded into the history debate, attempting to build a case that VFA premierships won prior to 1897 to be included into the official VFL/AFL tally. It would drastically alter the landscape of the premiership standings, with Essendon rising to outright first on twenty, two clear of their arch-rival Carlton.
Not surprisingly, Geelong would add a handy seven titles to their tally, leap-frogging quite a few on the existing table.
Is a VFL premiership won in 1897 any more valuable than the VFA trophy held aloft in 1896 in a league that consisted of basically the same teams? Was the VFL always superior to the VFA, the SANFL, the WAFL? These are questions without definitive answers.
But do club officials who worked tirelessly so that our clubs of today survived the difficult first years deserve recognition? Do players who where the best of the best in their era, whenever it was, deserve recognition? The answer has to be yes. These were achievements that cannot and should not be ignored any longer.
But I’m yet to be convinced they should be added to the AFL’s official tally.
In my opinion a club’s history and the league’s history are not necessarily intrinsically entwined. The VFL/AFL has a set of records that cannot be altered ad-hoc for the simple premise of historical romance. They are records of what happened in the VFL or AFL, pure and simple.
Yet most AFL clubs have a history that extends beyond the history of the current league. Does that make it any less worthy to the club? Of course not.
And yet, the complication of topping up the flag count gets even messier when considering that AFL clubs boast premierships from a range of competitions, including the VFL, VFA, SANFL and Challenge Cup of yesteryear. What is the solution to pay appropriate tribute to these important achievements?
The VFL/AFL acknowledges its past and each of its premiers. Now, it’s time for individual clubs to follow in the footsteps of teams like Port Adelaide and acknowledge theirs – all of it.
No, it won’t help the Blues skip clear of the Bombers in the AFL premiership race, but next time Sticks opens his “I am Carlton” speech, I want him to proudly proclaim a club that has celebrated the ultimate achievement twenty-three times (VFL/AFL, VFA and Challenge Cup), sixteen of those within the VFL/AFL.
The people who paved the way for him to stand proudly at the podium representing over 40,000 members deserve nothing less.
Footy Frank
Guest
Ahhh the Sporting Globe and don't forget Inside Football. They were the days. :)
Dingo
Guest
You are probably right, here's a link to a website with old guernseys listed. http://www.footyjumpers.com/. Interesting that Essendon and other clubs originally wore plain blue, I never knew that.
a bentick
Guest
Clearly you haven't researched your history. Essendon has NEVER worn red and black stripes on a guernsey.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
only as good as your last game...
Redb
Roar Guru
You got a taste in Round 3 when we were at close to full strength.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
oh really, cause its obviously not soon given your performance in the first final in 2011
Redb
Roar Guru
We have a plan, Carlton will know when we're ready.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
cause you aint waiting for Hird to pull stuff out his rear or anything....
Redb
Roar Guru
The Carlton spuds.:) Don't worry Essendon fans despise Carlton just as much. Your all waiting for 'Judddy' to win you that premiership, its embarrassing for you.
Tony
Guest
I do, Cattery :-)
The Cattery
Roar Guru
As a life long supporter of Willy, I would love for the VFA to continue on. I could see the economic rationale of allowing the Vic clubs to partner with the VFA clubs as feeder clubs. As some Vic clubs move to stand alone reserves (the most successful clubs I might add), and as some old VFA clubs remain stand alone, there might still be a possibility of the weaker Vic clubs continuing to partner with old VFA clubs to their mutual benefit. Otherwise, pining for a return of the old VFA can be a bit like pining for the old World of Sport and the Sporting Globe being available from 8:30 pm on a Saturday night.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
no you arent. There are many of us who miss it.
Tony
Guest
Am I the only person who mourns the passing of the old VFA.
Australian Rules
Guest
Yes, my understanding is that the break away occurred because some clubs/teams were consistently good, and some would get consistently thrashed. The creation of the VFL helped lift the standard of the top level games. Also, games were becoming increasingly marred by violence (both player and spectator) largely started (it was claimed) by the less successful clubs. I also agree the "VFA recognition" issue is a murky one because, as u say, the SAFA began in 1877 and the WAFA in 1885. Neo shows his colours by having a crack at Essdendon and their sash (which has clearly been fattened) yet stays quiet on Collingwood's refusal of an alternate strip (and no, I don't buy the black stripes on white, and white stripes on black). haha
BigAl
Guest
And what about all those flags the Saints won in the . . . my back yard league - way back in the sixties ?
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
Im a carlton supporter, but I dont support the inclusion of non VFL/AFL premierships being lumped into one "ultimate success" category.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
I agree that the history of the VFL/AFL, in terms of the record books, stands separately to the history of the clubs. VFL/AFL history starts in late 1896 when 8 clubs broke away from the VFA to form a new league that would grow to become the biggest sporting competition in the land. The history of the VFA is important in its own right, but the VFL/AFL can only count records from 1897. Furthermore, it would be an extremely Vic-centric view of the world to all of a sudden thrown in early VFA records, ignoring the SANFL, etc, which is just as old as the VFA. Whatever individual clubs did prior to that point belongs to their respective honour boards, and of course, is worthy of celebration by those clubs. And I support Essendon's right to retain their sash no matter what - for all intents and purposes, it pretty much does go back to the dawn of time.