1880 to 1894

1880: Geelong win third consecutive VFA premiership. VFA clubs Albert Park and South Melbourne merge, retaining the former's colours (red and white) and the latter's name. First Queensland Football Association formed. Other premiers - SAFA: Norwood; TFA: Cricketers.

1881: New South Wales Australian Football Association (NSWAFA) formed with East Sydney taking out the first premiership. New South Wales engage in their first intercolonial match, losing 0-9 against Victoria in Melbourne. West Melbourne (VFA) dropped from senior ranks. SAFA clubs Adelaide and Kensington merge to form Adelaide-Kensington. Other premiers - VFA: South Melbourne; SAFA: Norwood; TFA: Railway.

1882: Adelaide-Kensington withdraw from SAFA, with Royal Park joining. Premiers - VFA: Geelong; SAFA: Norwood; TFA: Railway; NSWAFA: East Sydney.

1883: First intercolonial football conference held in Melbourne with delegates from Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Queensland. Norwood win sixth successive SAFA premiership. Royal Park drop out of SAFA, while Victorian change name to North Adelaide. East Melbourne withdraw from the VFA. Other premiers - VFA: Geelong; TFA: Railway; NSWAFA: East Sydney.

1884: Geelong (VFA) win third consecutive premiership for second time. Queensland play first intercolonial match, losing 3-7 against New South Wales in Brisbane. Fitzroy admitted to the VFA as a senior club. Williamstown elevated from junior to senior status in the same competition. Other premiers - SAFA: Port Adelaide; TFA: Cricketers; NSWAFA: Sydney.

1885: Western Australian Football Association (WAFA) formed with four clubs, although one (Perth High School) withdraws after just two games. The three other clubs are Fremantle, Rovers and Victorians. First premiers - Rovers. South Melbourne (VFA) win 22 and draw 3 matches to go through entire season undefeated en route to premiership. Richmond and University admitted to VFA. North Adelaide and South Park withdraw from SAFA while Adelaide reforms and is readmitted after a three year hiatus. Other premiers - SAFA: South Adelaide; TFA: Holebrook; NSWAFA: Sydney.

1886: Geelong, with 24 wins and 3 draws, are undefeated premiers of the VFA. Number of senior clubs in VFA increases to 18 with admission or elevation of Ballarat, Ballarat Imperial, Footscray, Port Melbourne, Prahran, St Kilda and South Ballarat. Formation of Northern Tasmanian Football Association (NTFA). First premiership won by City. VFA commences system of splitting matches into four quarters rather than two halves. Unions admitted to WAFA. Other premiers - SAFA: Adelaide; WAFA: Fremantle; TFA: City; NSWAFA: Sydney.

1887: VFA awards premiership points for first time; 4 points for a win, 2 for a draw. Tasmanian Football Association changes its name to the Southern Tasmanian Football Association (STFA). Hotham, Gawler and West Adelaide admitted to SAFA. West Australian Football Club replace Fremantle in WAFA. Premiers - VFA: Carlton; SAFA: Norwood; WAFA: Unions; STFA: Railway; NTFA: City; NSWAFA: Sydney.

Norwood Football Club 1888: Champions of Australia

BACK ROW (L-R): H.L.Haldane, J.shaw, G.Liston, A.Packham, R.M.Bertram, J.O.Bertram, G.A.Coombe (vice captain)

THIRD ROW (L-R): W.Guster, H.W.Rischbieth, J.J.Woods, A.G.Miller, C.W.Woods

SECOND ROW (L-R): A.J.Roberts, J.Daly, W.Rawson, A.E.Waldron (captain), G.McKee, F.Thompson

FRONT ROW (L-R): J.McGaffin, W.Dixon, J.McGrath, W.Slattery, A.Burton

1888: SAFA premiers Norwood and VFA premiers South Melbourne meet at Kensington Oval in a 3 match series to determine the club championship of Australia (CoA). Norwood emerges successful from all 3 matches. Touring English rugby team play a large proportion of its matches according to Australian rules. VFA clubs Prahran and St Kilda merge. Hotham (VFA) reverts to its original name of North Melbourne. Hotham (SAFA) alters name to North Adelaide. Medindie replace West Adelaide in SAFA. Premiers - VFA: South Melbourne; SAFA: Norwood; WAFA: Unions; STFA: City; NTFA: Launceston; NSWAFA: Sydney.

1889: Norwood win third successive SAFA premiership after defeating Port Adelaide 7-5 in play off. Sydney win sixth successive NSWAFA premiership. VFA clubs Williamstown and South Williamstown merge, as do Melbourne and University. The merged clubs retain the names of Williamstown and Melbourne. Ballarat, Ballarat Imperial and South Ballarat withdraw from the VFA to leave a streamlined 12 club senior competition. SAFA clubs Medindie and North Adelaide merge, retaining the former's name. West Australian Football Club withdraw from WAFA. Victorians (WAFA) become known as Metropolitan. Other premiers - VFA: South Melbourne; WAFA: Unions; STFA: Railway; NTFA: Launceston.

1890: South Melbourne win VFA premiership for third consecutive time but lose against Port Adelaide in Adelaide in the club championship of Australia decider. South Australia defeat Victoria 6-4 in Melbourne for first ever victory after seven consecutive defeats. Tasmania travel to Sydney and engage in first ever intercolonial contests, winning 8-2 and 17-4 against New South Wales. Unions (WAFA) change name to Fremantle. Other premiers - SAFA: Port Adelaide; WAFA: Fremantle; STFA: Holebrook; NTFA: City; NSWAFA: East Sydney.