University Celebrates Centenary of Playing in the Victorian Football League

Media Release, Thursday 15 May 2008

AFL players Sam Power (North Melbourne) and Daniel Jackson (Richmond), currently enrolled at the University of Melbourne, will present a framed 1908 University Football Club replica guernsey to the Provost, Professor Peter McPhee, today, Thursday May 15.

Players from University Blacks, Blues and the Melbourne University Womens Football Club, also wearing the 1908 replica guernsey, will be on hand at the presentation as well.

The University of Melbourne played its first game in the Victorian Football League – the precursor of today’s AFL – in May 1908. “University is the third oldest Australian Rules football club in the country after Melbourne and Geelong and in May 1908 lined up for the first time in the nation’s peak competition, the Victorian Football League,” Professor McPhee said today.

“Football and sport more broadly have always been an integral part of University life. So it is fitting that the football community recognizes University’s contribution to our game in the lead up to Saturday’s clash between University Blacks and Blues in the Victorian Amateur Football Association A Grade.”

Blacks and Blues are the successors to the University VFL club which ceased competition at the end of the 1914 season because of the large number of students enlisting in the military forces. Saturday’s clash at the University Oval is the first time the two teams have met since 1983. The club is in its 150th year and a full program of centenary activities is being organized for 2009.

Media will be given a kit containing images of the 1908 team list, a University membership ticket, collectors’ cards showing University players and a copy of the official history of football at Melbourne.

Players in 1908 and 2008 guernseys will conclude with a kick to kick session.

What: Presentation of replica 1908 University VFL Guernsey by current AFL players Sam Power and Daniel Jackson enrolled at the University of Melbourne and University club players. The AFL players will wear 1908 University guernseys and University players their current guernseys. A 1908 and 2008 kick to kick will take place on the oval.

When: 12.15 pm Thursday 15 May.

Where: University Oval – enter via Gate 1 off Swanston Street at Elgin Street and follow directions to the Oval.