Who was your VFA team?

[The Coon Dog]

Another lifetime ago the VFL used to be played on Saturday's, then South Melbourne got relocated to Sunday's.

Prior to that, Sunday's were exclusively the domain of the VFA. Did you often go? Who did you support? What can you remember about games you watched on telly on Channel 0, or attended?

Living in Braybrook, it was just a short walk up the street to Skinner's Reserve to watch the mighty Crows; Sunshine, not the licorice all sorts you see today.


Sunshine Football Club Jumper

We used to sneak under the many gaps in the fence at either end of the ground. No locals ever paid whether it be to watch Sunshine or a VFL practice match.

I can recall Alan Stoneham playing at Sunshine, ledge & I played with his brother in the juniors.

Wayne Foreman was a favourite of mine & I also recall Gubby Allan. Can anyone tell me why he went to Fitzroy? I'd love to know.

Sunshine were usually in the 2nd division, so were rarely on TV, that was usually Port Melbourne & Dandenong's domain.

Gee, some of those fights between Port & Dandy were not places to be for the faint hearted; either side of the fence.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=J9gBHlcqKEk

I know there's a fair contingent of the Port mafia on here, so I expect some input there fellas.

[Twodogs]

Re: Who was your VFA team?

I'm a Port supporter these days but my original VFA love was Yarraville.


Mark Fotheringham
Pat Wellington
Kevin Sait
Denis Pagan
John Sharp


All great players.

[GVGjr]

Re: Who was your VFA team?

Sunshine was my 2nd division team and Williamstown my first division side.

[Rocket Science]

Re: Who was your VFA team?

Did a lot of growing up in Willy so it was the Seagulls all the way.

Terry Wheeler
Bazza Round
Ian Rickman
Ronnie James
Tony Pastore
Saade Ghazi
Brett MacTaggart
Danny Del Re

Didn't hurt that they always had strong links with the Dogs, even in those pre-affiliation days.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Who was your VFA team?

Knocking around the streets of Frankston, I followed Frankston VFA and still have a little soft spot them. I respect their fierce independence when the AFL took over the VFL.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Who was your VFA team?

I went for oakleigh, but since they folded a about 14 or 15 years ago I just go for whoever the bulldogs are affiliated with.

[Missing-Dog]

Re: Who was your VFA team?

My father's family lived in Port for 20 years so it was Port for us. As soon as Wheels took up the coaching gig at Williamstown, I defected to the 'gulls.

[Before I Die]

Re: Who was your VFA team?

Followed Yarraville until there demise, then turned my affections to Williamstown. Experienced quite a bit of emotional turmoil during the Collingwood/Williamstown years.

[ledge]

Re: Who was your VFA team?

Oh as TCD posted the mighty crows, I played juniors there and also did the scoreboard occasionally with the big metal numbers, how no one got killed in the wind i dont know.
All we got was a pie and a drink at halftime.
Actually saw John Farnham perform there about 1972, didnt pay then either thanks to the hole in the fence in Elizabeth street!
Churchill avenue fish n chip shop did a roaring trade at halftime and crowd was always 500 no matter how full or empty for some reason.

[KT31]

Re: Who was your VFA team?

Williamstown,
went to school in Willy and played cricket at Willy and had lots of mates play footy for them.
In those days whole fourth eleven was nearly all Willy footballers or tied up with the footy club in some way(one exception was Ian Farley).

My Dad played footy at Yarraville (1930-40's) years ago and we went and seen them in their last game.
One of my cousins was playing for Box Hill and Yarraville just run around causing fights , it broke my Dads heart.

[Bornadog]

Re: Who was your VFA team?

Sunshine was my 2nd division team and Williamstown my first division side.

same

[LostDoggy]

Re: Who was your VFA team?

I played with Yarraville and Waverley but also went to Dandenong and was pitted against a giant ruckman in a pre-season tackling drill (I am 5' 10") who pole drove me into the rock hard surface outside Shepley Oval tearing my shoulder ligaments. I promptly asked for a transfer.

Yarraville was my first love and we weren't the greatest side but I was fortunate enough to play in its last season (1983) and last game. This was my first senior season of footy and my debut was delayed because they played a 20 y.o in the 3rds under my name who got reported and suspended. I was ready to be promoted from the two's but had to wait until the suspension was up! We got to play our home games on the Western Oval and one of my team-mates was Greg Ward father of young Callan Ward.

Now I follow Willi but I used to love watching the VFA on Sunday Tv in the 70's and early 80's.

[Missing Dog]

Re: Who was your VFA team?

The mighty Crows for me fave player was redda he won the best and fairest in the 2nds one year and i can always see the ruckman with one good eye what was hi name CD

[mighty_west]

Re: Who was your VFA team?

Did a lot of growing up in Willy so it was the Seagulls all the way.

Terry Wheeler
Bazza Round
Ian Rickman
Ronnie James
Tony Pastore
Saade Ghazi
Brett MacTaggart
Danny Del Re

Didn't hurt that they always had strong links with the Dogs, even in those pre-affiliation days.

I'm also a Towners fan, grew up there, played cricket against James, Pastore & Saadi, James & Saadi gun batsmen, and Pastore bloody quick!!!!

Ian Fairly was also a young gun forward down at Willy before going to North and establishing himself as a solid defender in the AFL, and playing in a Premiership in his final game and kicking a goal with his final kick, was a great moment.

There was nothing like seeing some of the biggest thrashings you'd ever imagine, i'm pretty sure it was Willy one day playing at Waverley [not VFL Park], and having a field day by booting something like 55 goals, Sunshine [sorry Coon Dog] and Box Hill were easy beats in those days.

Some of the teams back then included Geelong West, Brunswick, Preston, Prahan, Yarraville, Sunshine, Waverley etc etc.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Who was your VFA team?

Some of the teams back then included Geelong West, Brunswick, Preston, Prahan, Yarraville, Sunshine, Waverley etc etc.

I also remember Mordialloc (red & white), Caulfield (navy & white), Northcote (green & gold), Camberwell (red, white and blue). Before that Oakleigh wore purple and gold. I can't remember ever having seen Brighton play.