List of VFA/VFL minor premiers
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This is a complete chronological listing of the minor premiers of the VFA/VFL. This minor premiership is the title which is won by the team finishing on top of the ladder at the end of the home-and-away season in the Victorian Football League (known as the Victorian Football Association until 1995).
The team which finishes with the best record across the home-and-away season is awarded the minor premiership. This is determined by most premiership points, with four points for a win and two points for a draw; if tied, percentage (ratio of points scored to points conceded) is used as tie-breaker.
The minor premiership is distinct from the major premiership (or, simply, the premiership), which is awarded to the winner of the finals series which follows the home-and-away season. The VFA first established a finals series in 1903, and hence the first distinct minor premiership is recognised in that season.[1][2]
List of minor premiers
The following is a list of minor premiers, ladder details and results.
Division 1
| Season | Minor premier | Record | Pts | % | Second place | Margin | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1903 | Richmond (1) | 16–2 | 64 | 204.6 | North Melbourne | 2 points | Runners-up |
| 1904 | Richmond (2) | 15–2–1 | 62 | 175.9 | Footscray | 4 points | Runners-up |
| 1905 | North Melbourne (1) | 15–3 | 60 | 173.8 | Richmond | 4 points | Runners-up |
| 1906 | West Melbourne (1) | 14–3–1 | 58 | 195.3 | Richmond | 2 points | Premiers |
| 1907 | Williamstown (1) | 15–3 | 60 | 160.2 | Richmond | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1908 | Footscray (1) | 15–2–1 | 62 | 159.0 | Essendon (A.) | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1909 | Prahran (1) | 16–2 | 64 | 154.7 | Essendon (A.) | 4 points | Runners-up |
| 1910 | North Melbourne (2) | 15–2–1 | 62 | 213.3 | Essendon (A.) | 25.5% | Premiers |
| 1911 | Essendon (A.) (1) | 16–2 | 64 | 176.5 | North Melbourne | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1912 | Footscray (2) | 15–3 | 60 | 173.2 | North Melbourne | 33.3% | Runners-up |
| 1913 | Footscray (3) | 14–4 | 56 | 155.1 | North Melbourne | 2 points | Premiers |
| 1914 | North Melbourne (3) | 14–4 | 56 | 159.0 | Footscray | 17.8% | Premiers |
| 1915 | North Melbourne (4) | 13–0 | 52 | 180.2 | Brunswick | 12 points | Premiers |
| 1916 | Season not contested | ||||||
| 1917 | Season not contested | ||||||
| 1918 | North Melbourne (5) | 10–0 | 40 | 211.2 | Prahran | 16 points | Premiers |
| 1919 | North Melbourne (6) | 18–0 | 72 | 227.3 | Footscray | 16 points | Runners-up |
| 1920 | Footscray (4) | 16–2 | 64 | 151.4 | Brunswick | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1921 | Footscray (5) | 16–1–1 | 66 | 149.7 | Port Melbourne | 6 points | Runners-up |
| 1922 | Footscray (6) | 16–2 | 64 | 190.2 | Port Melbourne | 8 points | Runners-up |
| 1923 | Footscray (7) | 16–2 | 64 | 168.2 | Port Melbourne | 2 points | Premiers |
| 1924 | Footscray (8) | 16–1–1 | 66 | 161.8 | Williamstown | 14 points | Premiers |
| 1925 | Brunswick (1) | 13–1 | 52 | 165.8 | Northcote | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1926 | Coburg (1) | 15–3 | 60 | 171.5 | Northcote | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1927 | Coburg (2) | 18–0 | 72 | 190.7 | Brighton | 16 points | Premiers |
| 1928 | Coburg (3) | 15–3 | 60 | 165.6 | Port Melbourne | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1929 | Northcote (1) | 17–5 | 68 | 149.9 | Port Melbourne | 16.0% | Premiers |
| 1930 | Oakleigh (1) | 16–4 | 64 | 132.3 | Northcote | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1931 | Oakleigh (2) | 14–4 | 56 | 147.9 | Port Melbourne | 10.2% | Premiers |
| 1932 | Northcote (2) | 15–5 | 60 | 138.5 | Coburg | 6.7% | Premiers |
| 1933 | Northcote (3) | 16–4 | 64 | 129.1 | Coburg | 6 points | Premiers |
| 1934 | Northcote (4) | 14–4 | 56 | 141.7 | Preston | 14.7% | Premiers |
| 1935 | Northcote (5) | 16–2 | 64 | 145.5 | Yarraville | 16 points | 3rd |
| 1936 | Brunswick (2) | 16–2 | 64 | 147.9 | Prahran | 6 points | 3rd |
| 1937 | Brunswick (3) | 12–4 | 48 | 125.7 | Brighton | 16.6% | Runners-up |
| 1938 | Brunswick (4) | 15–1 | 60 | 143.3 | Brighton | 14 points | Premiers |
| 1939 | Prahran (2) | 15–5 | 60 | 131.3 | Brunswick | 2.0% | 3rd |
| 1940 | Williamstown (2) | 16–4 | 64 | 135.8 | Port Melbourne | 8 points | 3rd |
| 1941 | Port Melbourne (1) | 16–4 | 64 | 145.3 | Prahran | 5.5% | Premiers |
| 1942 | Season not contested | ||||||
| 1943 | Season not contested | ||||||
| 1944 | Season not contested | ||||||
| 1945 | Coburg (4) | 20–0 | 80 | 184.8 | Williamstown | 12 points | 3rd |
| 1946 | Camberwell (1) | 15–4–1 | 62 | 125.0 | Williamstown | 4 points | Runners-up |
| 1947 | Port Melbourne (2) | 16–5–1 | 66 | 119.2 | Williamstown | 2 points | Premiers |
| 1948 | Williamstown (3) | 16–4 | 64 | 138.2 | Brunswick | 8.7% | Runners-up |
| 1949 | Williamstown (4) | 16–5 | 64 | 122.4 | Oakleigh | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1950 | Oakleigh (3) | 15–4 | 60 | 122.8 | Port Melbourne | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1951 | Port Melbourne (3) | 16–3–1 | 66 | 153.4 | Prahran | 2 points | Runners-up |
| 1952 | Port Melbourne (4) | 18–2 | 72 | 153.5 | Coburg | 8 points | Runners-up |
| 1953 | Port Melbourne (5) | 18–2 | 72 | 196.0 | Williamstown | 6 points | Premiers |
| 1954 | Port Melbourne (6) | 17–3 | 68 | 150.6 | Williamstown | 4 points | Runners-up |
| 1955 | Port Melbourne (7) | 17–2–1 | 70 | 142.9 | Preston | 2 points | Runners-up |
| 1956 | Williamstown (5) | 17–3 | 68 | 161.2 | Port Melbourne | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1957 | Williamstown (6) | 20–0 | 80 | 184.1 | Moorabbin | 20 points | 3rd |
| 1958 | Williamstown (7) | 15–3 | 60 | 136.9 | Moorabbin | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1959 | Williamstown (8) | 17–3 | 68 | 161.2 | Sandringham | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1960 | Sandringham (1) | 15–3 | 60 | 226.4 | Oakleigh | 58.6% | Runners-up |
| 1961 | Moorabbin (1) | 16–6 | 64 | 124.6 | Yarraville | 8 points | 3rd |
| 1962 | Moorabbin (2) | 14–4 | 56 | 140.8 | Sandringham | 2 points | Runners-up |
| 1963 | Moorabbin (3) | 13–5 | 52 | 133.1 | Sandringham | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1964 | Williamstown (9) | 14–4 | 56 | 114.4 | Port Melbourne | 4 points | Runners-up |
| 1965 | Dandenong | 13–5 | 52 | 128.9 | Waverley | 5.3% | 3rd |
| 1966 | Port Melbourne (8) | 15–3 | 60 | 135.6 | Waverley | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1967 | Dandenong (2) | 14–4 | 56 | 119.1 | Port Melbourne | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1968 | Preston (1) | 15–3 | 60 | 128.0 | Prahran | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1969 | Preston (2) | 17–1 | 68 | 153.3 | Dandenong | 12 points | Premiers |
| 1970 | Prahran (3) | 15–3 | 60 | 134.6 | Williamstown | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1971 | Preston (3) | 13–4–1 | 54 | 120.8 | Dandenong | 6 points | Runners-up |
| 1972 | Oakleigh (4) | 13–5 | 52 | 119.2 | Dandenong | 6 points | Premiers |
| 1973 | Dandenong (3) | 12–5–1 | 50 | 116.9 | Oakleigh | 2 points | 3rd |
| 1974 | Port Melbourne (9) | 13–5 | 52 | 127.3 | Geelong West | 2.5% | Premiers |
| 1975 | Geelong West (1) | 15–3 | 60 | 133.1 | Port Melbourne | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1976 | Port Melbourne (10) | 15–3 | 60 | 121.5 | Preston | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1977 | Port Melbourne (11) | 15–3 | 60 | 124.2 | Sandringham | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1978 | Port Melbourne (12) | 13–5 | 52 | 115.5 | Preston | 2 points | 3rd |
| 1979 | Geelong West (2) | 15-3 | 60 | 126.6 | Coburg | 12 points | Runners-up |
| 1980 | Coburg (5) | 16–2 | 64 | 133.5 | Port Melbourne | 12 points | Runners-up |
| 1981 | Port Melbourne (13) | 16–2 | 64 | 161.8 | Preston | 16 points | Premiers |
| 1982 | Preston (4) | 16–2 | 64 | 155.8 | Coburg | 4 points | Runners-up |
| 1983 | Preston (5) | 15–3 | 60 | 156.5 | Geelong West | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1984 | Preston (6) | 16–2 | 64 | 163.5 | Geelong West | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1985 | Sandringham (2) | 16–2 | 64 | 162.1 | Coburg | 18.0% | Premiers |
| 1986 | Coburg (6) | 15–3 | 60 | 154.4 | Frankston | 8 points | Runners-up |
| 1987 | Port Melbourne (14) | 14–4 | 56 | 130.2 | Springvale | 8 points | Runners-up |
| 1988 | Coburg (7) | 13–5 | 52 | 135.7 | Preston | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1989 | Coburg (8) | 17–1 | 68 | 180.2 | Williamstown | 10 points | Premiers |
| 1990 | Preston (7) | 13–4–1 | 54 | 123.3 | Springvale | 2 points | 3rd |
| 1991 | Werribee (1) | 15–3 | 60 | 128.1 | Dandenong | 8 points | Runners-up |
| 1992 | Sandringham (3) | 15–3 | 60 | 146.0 | Williamstown | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1993 | Port Melbourne (15) | 16–2 | 64 | 146.3 | Werribee | 8 points | Runners-up |
| 1994 | Sandringham (4) | 16–2 | 64 | 180.5 | Box Hill | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1995 | Springvale (1) | 15–1 | 60 | 173.7 | Port Melbourne | 12 points | Premiers |
| 1996[3] | Frankston (1) | 16– 2 | 64 | 199.3 | Werribee | 12 points | Runners-up |
| 1997 | Frankston (2) | 17–1 | 68 | 167.5 | Springvale | 12 points | Runners-up |
| 1998 | Werribee (2) | 16–2 | 64 | 164.0 | Frankston | 20.7% | Runners-up |
| 1999 | Springvale (2) | 15–3 | 60 | 146.6 | Frankston | 8 points | Premiers |
| 2000 | Sandringham (5) | 16–3 | 64 | 147.3 | North Ballarat | 8 points | Premiers |
| 2001 | Werribee (3) | 18–2 | 72 | 173.3 | Box Hill | 12 points | Runners-up |
| 2002 | Geelong reserves (1) | 17–3 | 68 | 157.7 | Werribee | 4 points | Premiers |
| 2003 | Port Melbourne (16) | 14–3–1 | 58 | 133.3 | Williamstown | 2 points | 3rd |
| 2004 | Port Melbourne (17) | 14–4 | 56 | 134.6 | Sandringham | 4 points | Runners-up |
| 2005[4] | Werribee (4) | 15–3 | 60 | 134.5 | Northern Bullants | 6 points | Runners-up |
| 2006 | Northern Bullants (8) | 17–1 | 68 | 178.2 | Sandringham | 16 points | 3rd |
| 2007 | Sandringham (6) | 15–3 | 60 | 132.4 | Geelong reserves | 4 points | 5th |
| 2008 | Port Melbourne (18) | 13–3 | 52 | 140.3 | North Ballarat | 4.8% | Runners-up |
| 2009 | North Ballarat (1) | 14–4 | 56 | 128.4 | Williamstown | 4 points | Premiers |
| 2010 | Williamstown (10) | 15–3 | 60 | 165.7 | North Ballarat | 37.4% | 3rd |
| 2011 | Port Melbourne (19) | 18–0 | 76 | 156.2 | Williamstown | 16 points | Premiers |
| 2012 | Casey (3) | 14–4 | 56 | 105.8 | Port Melbourne | 4 points | 5th |
| 2013 | Geelong reserves (2) | 16–2 | 64 | 166.8 | Box Hill | 12 points | Runners-up |
| 2014 | Port Melbourne (20) | 16–2 | 64 | 155.4 | Footscray reserves | 8 points | 3rd |
| 2015 | Box Hill (1) | 14–4 | 56 | 151.8 | Sandringham | 28.1% | Runners-up |
| 2016 | Casey (4) | 14–4 | 56 | 167.8 | Collingwood reserves | 51.3% | Runners-up |
| 2017 | Williamstown (11) | 14–4 | 56 | 158.4 | Box Hill | 2 points | 3rd |
| 2018 | Richmond reserves (1) | 14–4 | 56 | 159.5 | Casey | 18.3% | 5th |
| 2019 | Richmond reserves (2) | 16–2 | 64 | 135.5 | Footscray reserves | 6 points | Premiers |
| 2020 | Season not contested | ||||||
| 2021 | Footscray reserves (1) | 10–0 | 40 | 169.7 | Southport | 10.0 M/R[a] | N/A[b] |
| 2022 | Casey (5) | 17–1 | 68 | 167.3 | Brisbane reserves | 12 points | Premiers |
| 2023 | Gold Coast (1) | 16–2 | 68 | 184.5 | Werribee | 16.5% | Premiers |
| 2024 | Werribee (5) | 15–3 | 60 | 141.0 | Footscray reserves | 2 points | Premiers |
| 2025 | Footscray reserves (2) | 15–3 | 60 | 145.7 | Box Hill | 4 points | |
- Notes
- ↑ 2021: The minor premiership was awarded on match ratio (percentage of wins vs games played) because teams did not play an equal number of games.[5]
- ↑ 2021: The season was abandoned after the minor premiership was awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]
Source where unlisted[7]
Division 2
| Season | Minor premier | Record | Pts | % | Second place | Margin | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Northcote (1) | 16–2 | 64 | 176.4 | Dandenong | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1962 | Preston (1) | 14–2 | 56 | 160.3 | Dandenong | 4 points | 3rd |
| 1963 | Waverley (1) | 12–4 | 48 | 150.9 | Preston | 11.5% | Runners-up |
| 1964 | Sunshine (1) | 14–4 | 56 | 140.1 | Mordialloc | 12 points | Runners-up |
| 1965 | Preston (2) | 13–3 | 52 | 196.2 | Mordialloc | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1966 | Northcote (2) | 13–5 | 52 | 122.9 | Geelong West | 2 points | 3rd |
| 1967 | Oakleigh (1) | 14–4 | 56 | 126.0 | Geelong West | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1968 | Williamstown (1) | 15–1–1 | 62 | 189.4 | Geelong West | 6 points | Runners-up |
| 1969 | Sunshine (2) | 17–1 | 68 | 153.3 | Coburg | 4 points | Runners-up |
| 1970 | Coburg (1) | 16–2 | 64 | 179.1 | Sunshine | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1971 | Caulfield (1) | 15–3 | 60 | 159.7 | Sunshine | 8.7% | 3rd |
| 1972 | Geelong West (1) | 18–0 | 76 | 177.7 | Caulfield | 12 points | Premiers |
| 1973 | Caulfield (2) | 15–3 | 60 | 156.0 | Waverley | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1974 | Coburg (2) | 17–1 | 68 | 181.0 | Waverley | 8 points | Premiers |
| 1975 | Brunswick (1) | 15–3 | 60 | 144.6 | Camberwell | 6 points | Premiers |
| 1976 | Frankston (1) | 16–1–1 | 66 | 143.4 | Mordialloc | 10 points | 3rd |
| 1977 | Mordialloc (1) | 14–4 | 56 | 139.1 | Yarraville | 0.3% | Premiers |
| 1978 | Frankston (2) | 15–3 | 60 | 145.9 | Camberwell | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1979 | Camberwell (1) | 14–4 | 56 | 146.4 | Oakleigh | 11.1% | Premiers |
| 1980 | Yarraville (1) | 14–4 | 56 | 124.0 | Brunswick | 8 points | Runners-up |
| 1981 | Camberwell (2) | 14–4 | 56 | 160.7 | Waverley | 4 points | Premiers |
| 1982 | Oakleigh (2) | 17–1 | 68 | 158.2 | Northcote | 12 points | 3rd |
| 1983 | Brunswick (2) | 15–3 | 60 | 193.3 | Mordialloc | 2 points | Runners-up |
| 1984 | Box Hill (1) | 16–2[a] | 64 | 183.4 | Brunswick | 2 points | Premiers |
| 1985 | Oakleigh (3) | 16–2 | 64 | 153.2 | Brunswick | 8 points | Runners-up |
| 1986 | Sunshine (3) | 16–2 | 64 | 175.2 | Box Hill | 4 points | Runners-up |
| 1987 | Werribee (1) | 15–3[b] | 60 | 155.4 | Waverley | 4 points | 3rd |
| 1988 | Oakleigh (4) | 14–4 | 56 | 123.0 | Werribee | 16 points | Premiers |
- Notes
Source[7]
Minor premiership wins
| Club | Years in competition |
Div 1 | Div 2 | Total | Runners-up (Total) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Melbourne | 1886–pres | 20 | – | 20 | 15 |
| Williamstown | 1884–pres | 11 | 1 | 12 | 12 |
| Coburg | 1926–pres | 8 | 2 | 10 | 7 |
| Preston/Northern | 1903–1911 1926–pres | 8 | 2 | 10 | 8 |
| Footscray | 1886–1924 | 8 | – | 8 | 3 |
| Oakleigh | 1929–1994 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 |
| Northcote | 1908–1987 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 4 |
| North Melbourne | 1877–1924 | 6 | – | 6 | 4 |
| Sandringham | 1929–pres | 6 | – | 6 | 7 |
| Brunswick | 1897–1991 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Springvale/Casey | 1982–pres | 5 | 0 | 5 | 4 |
| Werribee | 1965–pres | 5 | 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Frankston | 1966–pres | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Moorabbin | 1951–1963 | 3 | – | 3 | 2 |
| Prahran | 1899–1994 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Dandenong | 1958–1994 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Geelong West | 1963–1988 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| Camberwell | 1926–1990 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Sunshine | 1959–1989 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Richmond | 1885–1907 | 2 | – | 2 | 3 |
| Geelong reserves | 2000–pres | 2 | – | 2 | 1 |
| Richmond reserves | 2014–pres | 2 | – | 2 | 0 |
| Box Hill | 1951–pres | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Caulfield | 1965–1987 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Footscray reserves | 2014–pres | 2 | – | 2 | 3 |
| West Melbourne | 1899–1907 | 1 | – | 1 | 0 |
| Essendon (A.) | 1900–1921 | 1 | – | 1 | 3 |
| North Ballarat | 1996–2017 | 1 | – | 1 | 3 |
| Waverley | 1961–1987 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Mordialloc | 1958–1988 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Yarraville | 1928–1983 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Brighton | 1908–1964 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Collingwood reserves | 2008–pres | 0 | – | 0 | 1 |
| Southport | 2021–pres | 0 | – | 0 | 1 |
| Brisbane reserves | 2021–pres | 0 | – | 0 | 1 |
See also
References
- ↑ "Football". The Argus. Melbourne. 28 March 1903. p. 18. Retrieved 18 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "MINOR PREMIERS THAT MISSED THE GRAND FINAL". Hard Ball Get. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ↑ "Victorian Football League (VFL) 1996". Australian Football. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
- ↑ "2005 VFL Premiership Season". AustralianFootball.com. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
- ↑ Brendan Rhodes (12 August 2021). "Drastic times, drastic measures: VFL ladder gets a COVID reconfiguration". Australian Football League. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
- ↑ Brendan Rhodes (1 September 2021). "VFL season called off, VFLW Grand Final a League priority". afl.com.au.
- 1 2 Fiddian, Marc (2004); The VFA; A History of the Victorian Football Association 1877–1995; pp. 300-302
- ↑ Marc Fiddian (16 April 1984). "Zebras' twin spearhead rocks Vales". The Age. Melbourne. p. 25.
- ↑ Sam Prenesti (7 May 1987). "Moorabbin suspended for remainder of the season". The Age. Melbourne. p. 30.