When was the first ever Australian football league game?

Answer 1

On July the 10th, 1858, Tom Wills wrote a letter to the magazine Bells Life, calling for the creation of football teams. This is where the AFL began, or at least, this is when the game itself began to be more formally invented. Previously, ad hoc games with altering rules had been played, mainly between private schools.

As Australia was not federated until 1901, I am not certain of the exact name of the sport prior.

In 1896, the Victorian Football League VFL was formed.

But it was not until 1990 that a formal national competition began under the banner, the "Australian Football League".

One of the prime movers over the decades in making a national competition had been Ron Barassi.

Answer 2

Perhaps the prime driver and formalizer of the original rules of Australian football was Tom Wills. He and his cousin, HCA Harrison, were prime early administrators.

However, there are various versions on precisely how the game started. World Book Encyclopedia claims that versions originated during the 1840's and that the game started with elements of the Gaelic game.

However it began, it appears that it was Wills who eventually played the leading part in promoting and formalizing the game.
Wills also excelled in other sports like cricket and Rugby. He was a great rugby player, winning many accolades in that sport and he coached international cricket sides and captained colonial Victoria as well. It is believed rugby was some fair influence in his invention of the Australian game, which was based more around kicking than rugby, because when he played rugby in England, he was noted for his long accurate kicking.

Others feel that due to Wills' early involvement with Aboriginal communities, he most likely gained some influence in his devise of the game from the 'marn grook' activity which some of the aboriginals played at the time.

In Melbourne, Australia, Wills played cricket for the Melbourne Cricket Club, but eventually had some falling out with the club, which was not conducive to those of convict origins. Wills grandfather had been a convict.
Despite his rugby background, it is also believed Wills wanted rules that were more suited to Australia's harder, drier fields.
All things considered, he is known to have spoken the immortal words: "We shall have a game of our own".
Once more established, he was also supported in his goal by a cousin loyal to the same aspiration.
Eventually, Harrison took over the administration of the game, and was also a superb runner and sportsman in his own right.
Harrison also had influence in the social circles that Wills did not, and publicly became a highly recognized administrator in more fields than one.

Answer 3

The first football game played under British Association Rules took place between the Woogaroo Lunatic Asylum in Wacol, Queensland and the Brisbane Football Club on the 7 August 1875. The winner and the score are not known.

Answer 4

The concept of Australian Rules Football began in Melbourne during the 19th century as a means for Cricket players to keep fit during the off-season.

Answer 5

Well the Melbourne Football Club was founded in 1858 and the Geelong Football Club was founded in 1859, so somewhere in between that.

Answer 6

The first competitive game was between Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar in 1858.

Answer 7

in 1880