THE HISTORY OF REPRESENTATIVE / INTERSTATE FOOTBALL
VICTORIA - UNIFORMS (1976-1989)
1976
The VFL's marketing department introduced a new league logo to be worn on all club uniforms in 1976; the State team quickly followed suit, adding the VFL patch to their jumper, shorts and socks.
1977-1984
1977-1984
From 1977 the V moved lower on the jumper, allowing the VFL logo to be placed prominently above it.
1979 vs Tasmania (right)
Due to Tasmania's official uniform featuring white shorts, the Victorian 'B' team wore navy blue shorts for this match in Hobart.
1982 vs Western Australia (right)
Victoria wore navy blue shorts for this match at Subiaco. This was most likely due to an error by the property steward and it resulted in a uniform clash because Western Australia wore black shorts (as they usually did against Victoria).
1985
1985 vs SA
The standard Victorian jumper worn since 1977.
1985 vs WA
Western Australian company Sekem produced Victoria's jumpers for this match at Subiaco Oval and completely botched the design (the V was the wrong shape and placed too high on the jumper, causing it to vanish underneath the collar and the VFL patch).
1986
Sponsorship patches first appeared on VFL club jumpers in 1977 and although the Victorian representative team had been officially sponsored as early as 1980 (Statewide Insurance) the jumper itself had remained free of sponsor logos. All that changed in 1986 when this Foster's Lager patch dragged the State uniform into the modern era.
1987
1987 vs SA
Melbourne radio station EON FM took over sponsorship duties for this match at Football Park.
1987 vs WA
The patch was redesigned because the official EON FM logo used on the original patch was illegible on television and in photos.
1988
1988 National Carnival
A return to the sponsor-less Victorian uniform of 1977-1985. Worn for the pre-season National Carnival played in Adelaide.
1988 vs WA
The VFL league naming-rights sponsor Elders IXL also provided sponsorship for the State team in this game at Subiaco.
1989
1989 vs WA (left)
At the time of this match the VFL had expanded nationally into New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. This Victorian jumper was the first without the VFL logo since 1975; a subtle nod to the Victorian-based league expanding into a national competition.
1989 vs SA (centre)
This is the iconic jumper worn in Victoria's famous victory at the MCG in front of over 90,000 fans. A Victorian coat of arms patch replaced the VFL logo on the jumper and shorts in a further move towards the VFL's re-branding as the Australian Football League a few months later.
1989 vs Tasmania (right)
Due to Tasmania's official uniform featuring white shorts, the Victorian 'B' team wore navy blue shorts for this match in Hobart.
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Written and researched by David Eastman
Artwork by Rob Meredith |
First published 15/9/2015
Last updated 17/11/2018 |