Author(s): Louis White

Football/Soccer

In 1986, the then VFL Commission accepted $4 million licence fees from two non-Victorian sides, the Brisbane Bears and the West Coast Eagles, to enter into an expanded Victorian Football League. Adelaide was to follow in 1991, followed by Fremantle in 1995, and Port Adelaide in 1997 and in 1982 South Melbourne had been relocated to Sydney. Over the past 21 years the game has evolved with new rules, advanced sports science and mega-TV revenue deals. More so, the impact of the non-Victorian clubs has caused incredible turmoil in the game with the following results: The merger of the Fitzroy Football Club and the Brisbane Bears to create the Brisbane Lions in 1997 resulting in one of the oldest Melbourne clubs folding. Crowds have doubled in the 21 years from 1986 (3,322,859) to 2007 (7,000,000). Dominance by the non-Victorian sides winning 10 of the last 20 premierships, including the last six in a row. Fractured relationships between the AFL and non-Victorian clubs over match scheduling, home matches and draft choices. Victorian clubs (Hawthorn, Kangaroos and Western Bulldogs) forced to play home matches in Tasmania, the Gold Coast and Darwin in order to secure extra revenue. High profile players such as Ben Cousins admitting to a drug problem and being sent to rehabilitation in the United States and other notable drug and alcohol incidents