1883 Victorian football season

Geelong won the Victorian Football Association (VFA) premiership for the fifth time, making it the club's fifth VFA premiership in just six seasons, and the second in a sequence of three consecutive premierships won from 1882 to 1884.^[6][7]

The 1883 VJFA season was the inaugural season of the Victorian Junior Football Association (VJFA).^[a] The competition was officially established on 26 April 1883, with eleven clubs − Albion, Brunswick, Emerald Hill, Footscray, Fortrose, North Park, Richmond, South Park, South Yarra, Star of Carlton and Waverley − represented at the inaugural meeting.^[9][10]

Waverley were the premiers, only losing two of its 20 matches for the season.^[11][12] South Park secretary McKinery disputed this, saying his club was the only one entitled to the premiership.^[13][14] Britannia, Brunswick, Clifton, Fortrose, Normanby, Northcote, North Park, Powlett, Royal Park, Sandridge, Star of Carlton, Toorak and Williamstown were also named as the season's top clubs.^[15][16]

Albion Imperial was the premier club in the Ballarat District competition for the second consecutive season.^[21] Victoria Imperial was the premier junior club.^[22]

During a match on 15 September 1883, Ballarat Imperial captain John Williams Mills was struck in the abdomen, but played out the remainder of the match against Albion Imperial.^[23] However, he died the following morning.^[24]