Rivalries in the Victorian Football League

For rivalries in the competition formerly known as the VFL, see Rivalries in the Australian Football League.

Rivalries in the Victorian Football League (VFL) exist between many teams. The competition was founded in 1877 as the Victorian Football Association (VFA), and as of 2025, several rivalries have been ongoing for more than 100 seasons.

An official VFL Rivalry Round was held in 2008 alongside the same themed round in the Australian Football League (AFL).[1][2]

Victorian rivalries

Port Melbourne v Williamstown

The rivalry between Port Melbourne and Williamstown has existed since 1886, making it the oldest in the VFL and possibly the oldest in Australian rules football.[3][4]

In the 1950s, Port Melbourne played in eight grand finals (winning the premiership in 1953), while Williamstown won the grand finals in 1954, 1955 and 1956, defeating Port Melbourne in all three matches.[5] Williamstown also won the VFA premiership in 1958 and 1959.[6] The clubs also played each other in the 2011 VFL Grand Final, with Port Melbourne winning by 56 points.[7][8]

Port Melbourne v Sandringham

Port Melbourne and Sandringham are considered some of the strongest VFA/VFL clubs, and were the only two teams to never be relegated to Division 2 of the VFA between 1961 and 1988.[9][10] The clubs played against each other in grand finals in 1947, 1977 and 2004.[11][12]

Coburg v Northern Bullants

Main article: Battle of Bell Street

The Coburg Football Club and the Northern Bullants (formerly known as Preston) are closely located, with their respective home grounds of Coburg City Oval and Preston City Oval divided by Bell Street in Preston, giving the rivalry the name of the "Battle of Bell Street".[13][14]

Non-Victorian rivalries

Although the VFL has predominantly featured clubs from the state of Victoria, the competition has included some non-Victorian clubs, including several from New South Wales and Queensland that joined after the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) merged with the VFL ahead of the 2021 season.

Gold Coast v Southport

Gold Coast and Southport are both based on the Gold Coast in Queensland, and have played matches against each other since the 2011 NEAFL season, with the rivalry known as the "Coast Clash".[15] The clubs met in a preliminary final in 2022, with Southport winning and proceeding into the grand final (which it lost to Casey the following week).[16][17]

Former rivalries

Brunswick v Coburg

Brunswick (which folded in 1991) and Coburg had a rivalry as two clubs based in Melbourne's northern suburbs, playing each other 104 times between 1925 and 1990.[18]

References

  1. ^ Wade, Nick (1 January 2008). "Cats set to rekindle traditional MCG curtain raiser". Geelong Football Club. Archived from the original on 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  2. ^ "Late rally stops the Zebras". Melbourne Football Club. 5 April 2008. Archived from the original on 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  3. ^ "The rivalry continues". GameDay. VFL / VFLW. 24 April 2014. Archived from the original on 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  4. ^ Rhodes, Brendan (28 April 2021). "VFL's oldest foes go toe-to-toe on newest surface". AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  5. ^ "VFL Round 1: Williamstown v Port Melbourne – Rekindling old rivalries in the sunset". The Footy Almanac. 8 April 2019. Archived from the original on 17 January 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  6. ^ "History of the Williamstown Football Club". GameDay. Williamstown Football Club. 28 April 2005. Archived from the original on 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  7. ^ "Seagulls through to VFL Grand Final". Western Bulldogs. 20 September 2011. Archived from the original on 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  8. ^ "VFL Grand Final: Port Melbourne Premiers". GameDay. VFL / VFLW. 25 September 2011. Archived from the original on 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  9. ^ "SANDRINGHAM V. PORT MELBOURNE". The Age. 26 March 1940. p. 7. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  10. ^ "VFA - SECOND DIVISION (1961-1988)". Hard Ball Get. Archived from the original on 10 December 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  11. ^ "Zebras History 1961-1980 (cont)". GameDay. Sandringham Football Club. 29 April 2005. Archived from the original on 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  12. ^ Amy, Paul (15 July 2019). "Premiership reunion recalls former Melbourne Demon Troy Broadbridge's last game of football". Sandringham Football Club. Bayside Leader. Archived from the original on 3 April 2025.
  13. ^ McCormick, Michael (8 June 2015). "Blues fall short in Battle of Bell Street". Carlton Football Club. Archived from the original on 20 December 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  14. ^ Rhodes, Brendan (11 May 2023). "Old foes set for Battle of Bell Street". AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 7 November 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  15. ^ "Inaugural VFL Coast Clash to be played under lights at Southport". AFL Queensland. 20 May 2021. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  16. ^ "SUNS pressure-free ahead of VFL Coast Clash". Gold Coast Suns. 7 September 2022. Archived from the original on 7 February 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  17. ^ Rhodes, Brendan (9 September 2022). "VFL Preliminary Final Preview: Gold Coast SUNS v Southport Sharks". Gold Coast Suns. Archived from the original on 8 October 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  18. ^ Fiddian, Marc (2021). "Northern Rivalry - Brunswick v Coburg football matches down the years". bookstore.bookpod.com.au. Archived from the original on 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
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