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Welcome!

Welcome to the site! It primarily serves as a web interface for its author undertaking extensive research into the history of Australian rules football.

Yet another AFL site?

Admittedly, there is already a plethora of AFL sites that present statistical data. However, this site contains the (incomplete) history of the VFL/AFL, VFA/VFL, SANFL, WAFL, TSL and interstate carnivals. It is of course inspired by the great work of Paul Jeffs, known for www.afltables.com, and a shortlist of additional acknowledgements can be found below. As mentioned, there are indeed many existing sites, with each one of them bringing something to the table, but I personally wanted a unified view of everything available. So this site contains not only information about VFL/AFL matches, players, coachs and umpires, but extends this to the drafts, VFA/VFL (1st division only where applicable), SANFL, WAFL, TSL and interstate carnivals. It should be noted that this site does not necessarily align with official record; changes are often applied to align the disparate sources to a single convention. It should also be noted that metrics (tallies, orders, etc.) may not be accurate since these can be derived from an incomplete set of information.

An extra dimension

With more leagues comes more people. More players, more coaches and more umpires. But that's not all that comes; there can be draftees in the VFL/AFL that may never get to play a game in the VFL/AFL, but they may have a rich playing history (or future) in other leagues. One fine example is Trevor Clisby who was drafted to Footscray in the 1981 VFL Interstate draft but never played a game with them (or any team in the VFL/AFL). However, he has a rich history with North Adelaide, playing a total of 240 SANFL league games. Neil Craig, former coach of Adelaide and Melbourne (VFL/AFL), was also drafted to Footscray in the 1981 VFL Interstate draft and also never played a game with them (or any team in the VFL/AFL). However, he did play with Norwood, Sturt and North Adelaide and is a two-time SANFL premiership player. However, it doesn't have to stop there. Andre Gianfagna is primarily known as a field umpire, but he was also picked by Melbourne in the 2006 Rookie Draft and played for the Northern Bullants / Northern Blues in the VFA/VFL.

Acknowledgement

This project would not be possible without the following works and its contributors, and it should be noted that this work is not intended to supplant them, but to instead provide a consistent, integrated view as per the author's perspective that can help provide further context to each part. The shortlist is as follows:
AFL: The progenitor of the official record for the national league.
AFL Tables: It goes without saying AFL Tables provided the foundation of the data that forms this site.
Wikipedia: Need I say more?
Trove: A literal treasure trove of Australian publications.
Australian Football: This site provided the foundation for adding additional leagues into the records, as well as providing information on players who have played in multiple leagues. It is acknowledged that my attention would not have been brought to Lou Jackson without it.
Draftguru: This site provided the foundation for adding draft information into the records.
AFLCA: This site provided information on AFLCA awards, such as the AFLCA Champion Player Award and AFLCA Gary Ayres Award.
AFLUA: This site provided information that enriched data on field umpires, as well as providing information for goal and boundary umpires, in-match replacements and player-umpires. Special thanks goes to its honorary historian/statistician, David Flegg.
VFA Project: This site provided information on the VFA.
SANFL: This site provided information on the SANFL.
WAFL: This site provided information on the WAFL.
WAFL Footy Facts: This site provided information on the WAFL.
Demonwiki: This site provided information on the Melbourne Football Club.
Blueseum: This site provided information on the Carlton Football Club.
Tigerland Archive: This site provided information on the Richmond Football Club.
NAFC: This site provided information on the North Adelaide Football Club.
Redlegs Museum: This site provided information on the Norwood Football Club.
Big Footy (Forum): This forum and its contributers have helped fill in gaps. Special thanks go to, but is not limited to, users Bassoon, Brad_5668, stemline, 35Daicos, and others I have yet to add here.