Notable events 1988 VFA season

1 notable events

1.1 interleague matches
1.2 scheduling , television
1.3 jamie shaw state game controversy
1.4 other notable events

notable events
interleague matches

the association competed in second division of 1988 adelaide bicentennial carnival, held 2 march 5 march. carnival played under state of origin rules, association given permission play 5 players vfl, sanfl or wafl began senior careers in association, in addition currently-listed association players regardless of origin. first time association had played representative games under origin rules. barry round (williamstown) captained association team. association finished in second place after being defeated northern territory in grand final. terry wallace (richmond, formerly of camberwell) won dolphin medal best player in division 2 during carnival, , sole association player selected in all-australian team.

the association played 2 stand-alone interstate games, both under non-origin rules. first against tasmania in hobart. second against west australian football league in perth, , played curtain-raiser state-of-origin match between western australia (which composed of vfl , wafl players of western australian origin) , victoria.

the vfa team played match against victorian amateur football association on evening of wednesday 1 june @ skinner reserve. not official representative match, both associations treated practice match other representative fixtures. vfa won practice match 3 goals.

scheduling , television

after having televised association finals matches in 1987, , having lost rights broadcast league football 7 network during off-season, abc substantially increased association coverage broadcast match of round on near-weekly basis throughout 1988 season. first time association had received weekly television coverage since 1981. part of arrangement, of televised matches played on saturdays instead of sundays; and, majority of games staged @ north port oval, regardless of whether or not port melbourne involved in match – although other grounds, including preston city oval, coburg city oval , frankston park used occasionally. central ground arrangement not popular clubs: sandringham complained after 16 april match against brunswick lost $8,000 in takings result of playing home game in front of 500 spectators @ port melbourne, when have attracted 5,000 @ beach oval. arrangement extended first 3 weeks of division 1 finals, played on saturdays @ north port oval after many years of having been played on sundays @ junction oval.

the division 1 grand final televised, deal abc allowed game played on sunday, , did not require played @ port melbourne. association confirmed junction oval continue serve grand final venue, these plans abandoned in july when venue s ageing grandstands declared fire hazard mfb. on following 6 weeks, association negotiated number of councils find new grand final venue. first choice venue princes park, , while had support of ground management, approval not gained melbourne city council play on sunday. second choice, victoria park, likewise unable gain approval sunday football collingwood council. ground management @ western oval, footscray, willing , able host entire finals series including sunday grand final, abc television deal required first 3 finals played @ port melbourne, , footscray unwilling host grand final. eventually, on 19 august, association confirmed windy hill grand final venue, support of both ground management , essendon council sunday football.

the division 2 grand final continued played curtain-raiser division 1 grand final, other 3 division 2 finals matches played stand-alone games on sundays. rather secure central venue, these matches played @ home ground of higher-placed team.

other novel scheduling options trialled overcome fact vfl playing 9 sunday home-and-away matches in victoria during season. included:

geelong west utilised newly installed lights @ western oval, geelong play saturday night match against sunshine on 16 july, friday night game against camberwell on 22 july. association s first night premiership matches since 1958. geelong west had planned play of remaining home games on saturday nights, none of other opponents agree so.
a senior association match played curtain-raiser league senior match. western suburban clubs werribee , sunshine played match @ western oval, footscray curtain-raiser league match between footscray , brisbane on sunday 31 july; curtain-raiser timeslot filled vfl reserves game, available on day because brisbane did not field reserves team.

jamie shaw state game controversy

in lead-up association s representative match against wafl on tuesday 5 july, association announced players in representative team ineligible play in clubs premiership matches on weekend of 2–3 july. board passed resolution on 20 june stating if representative player played in premiership game, suspended 4 weeks, , club fined , stripped of premiership points earned in game; and, players in team made unavailable selection ineligible matches on 2–3 july, guard against clubs intentionally making star players unavailable avoid losing them match.

in lead-up game, 2 players considered selections declared unavailable, , both made ineligible games on 2–3 june: these players jim mcallester (brunswick), unable secure time off work, , jamie shaw (preston), unable travel caring ill mother. in act of defiance, preston fielded shaw anyway; kicked 8 goals, , preston defeated eventual minor premiers coburg 16 points; preston 19.8 (122) d. coburg 15.16 (106). association decided not suspend shaw himself, awarded game coburg , fined preston $500.

preston took association court, seeking have original result of game reinstated; and, in decision handed down in week before finals, courts found in preston s favour , reinstated win. mr justice ormiston found association s board did not have authority under constitution pass resolution impose bans on players missing representative games; and, because shaw had lodged affidavit declaring himself unavailable before association selectors had formally selected final team, association not prove shaw have been selected, , therefore not demonstrate provisions within 20 june resolution applied him. considered double standard tony pastore, not in association team travelled perth emergency, had been allowed play williamstown on 2–3 july weekend. finding damaging credibility of association s new independent board of management.

as result of court s decision, preston moved third second on ladder, relegating williamstown second third, , forcing seagulls play in first semi-final 3 days later.

other notable events

three new rules introduced association shortly before start of season, 1 week after same 3 rules introduced in vfl. these were:

the length of 15-metre penalty wasting opponent s time after takes mark increased fifty metres.
players required take kick if awarded free kick; if player played on handpass, ball returned ball-up.
the full-back required kick ball on distance of @ least 2 metres when kicking in after behind.


the financially struggling geelong west football club, relegated @ end of 1987, offered $150,000 sponsorship on 3 years contingent upon being returned top division. association not re-promote club enable accept sponsorship, forcing club turn down.
on 29 may, preston led box hill 55 points late in third quarter; 17.9(111) 8.8(56). point on box hill scored 13.3 preston 0.4 win 22 points; box hill 21.11 (137) d. preston 17.13 (115).
in division 2 first semi-final, sunshine trailed dandenong 46 points @ half-time, sunshine 2.5 (17) vs dandenong 9.9 (63); sunshine kicked 13 goals 2 in second half win 21 points.
the rules relating ties in liston trophy , field medal voting amended year eliminate countback between 2 players finishing equal on votes; in previous years, in event of tie, player more first preferences ranked higher. had immediate effect, brett mctaggart (williamstown) , gary sheldon (coburg) joint winners of liston trophy after tying on 19 votes; sheldon have won under previous countback rules, having polled 5 first preference votes four.
during 1988, geelong west thirds team composed largely of excess box hill thirds players not command regular place mustangs; lent geelong west on condition cleared box hill after season. result, geelong west s thirds team competitive first time in several years, after having been uncompetitive throughout 1980s due inability find geelong-based juniors players willing , able travel away games in melbourne.




^ paul cunningham (30 october 1987). vfa ready . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 90. 
^ carnival tv guide . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. 2 march 1987. p. 72. 
^ daryl timms (7 march 1988). s vfl or goodbye, says wallace . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 92. 
^ daryl timms (4 march 1988). vfa stomps lethargic queensland . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 74. 
^ daryl timms (5 march 1988). vfa steady act . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 90. 
^ daryl timms (7 march 1988). carnival scores . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 90. 
^ linda pearce (6 may 1988). umps strike averted – . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 70. 
^ linda pearce (13 june 1988). vfa cops body blow . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 59. 
^ linda pearce (6 july 1988). brave vfa overrun in last quarter . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 74. 
^ linda pearce (1 june 1988). venue problem solved . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 69. 
^ linda pearce (3 june 1988). umpires slammed . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 73. 
^ linda pearce (10 june 1988). vfa-vfl link move . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 68. 
^ linda pearce (11 march 1988). port in focus tv coverage . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 76. 
^ linda pearce (21 april 1988). zebras see red on tv game . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 77. 
^ linda pearce (7 june 1988). vfa stay @ junction . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 73. 
^ linda pearce (8 july 1988). shaw gets sack . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 73. 
^ linda pearce (20 august 1988). vfa opts windy hill . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 85. 
^ linda pearce (27 july 1988). cain in vfa finals push . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 82. 
^ linda pearce (29 july 1988). dogs press venue offer . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 72. 
^ paul cunningham (31 october 1987). vfa draw rethink . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 79. 
^ fiddian, marc (2004), vfa: history of victorian football association, 1877–1995, p. 44 
^ linda pearce (14 july 1988). geelong west light night . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 57. 
^ linda pearce (2 july 1988). players banned . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 87. 
^ linda pearce (4 july 1988). preston may lost 4 points . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 91. 
^ linda pearce (8 july 1988). no suspension jamie shaw . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 77. 
^ linda pearce (19 july 1988). preston loses points . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 73. 
^ linda pearce; kelly ryan (25 august 1988). preston on points . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 78. 
^ linda pearce (26 august 1988). parsons , sarau coach again . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 68. 
^ toby darvall; fiona athersmith (25 august 1988). preston ruling threat vfa . age. melbourne. p. 36. 
^ linda pearce (24 march 1988). coaches hit vfa timing . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 71. 
^ paul cunningham (14 november 1987). berwick quites vfa , heads gippsland . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 98. 
^ linda pearce (30 may 1988). merry mustangs . sun news-pictorial. melbourne. p. 83. 
^ cite error: named reference d2sf1 invoked never defined (see page).
^ cite error: named reference liston invoked never defined (see page).