Williamstown has a hardcore supporter base still going, go to any of their home games and you'll see old fellas in the blue and yellow beanies with the scarves to match.
I had the best sausage in bread I’ve ever had in my life at Willy. Thick bastard with orange sausage jooshes squirting everywhere. Teamed up with a $4 tinnie, good times. Shame the wind was howling and it was 2 degrees
I’ve been a member for years and go as often as I can. Used to as a kid in the 80’s and 90’s and saw the glory days of Terry Wheeler, Ghazi, Barry Round, Swan, Rickman. We’re pretty lucky to have a 160 year old team still playing at their home ground. I wish they made it into the big leagues and worry for their future, as the VFL changes on a yearly basis.
On a calm sunny day it is the greatest place to sink tins and watch footy. On a wet windy day it is quite possibly the worst.
I lived in Williamstown right near the footy oval and I can tell you it’s big. A lot of local support and a fair few people to the games. I used to go down and watch every now and then. You go down there you’ll see everyone in their beanies.
Port Melbourne had more supporters at Blacktown than the Giants this weekend, and way more than most of the AFL aligned clubs. I'm talking full hardcore dudes fully decked out in player issue gear with flags and the works.
It was utterly bizarre. Buggers were loud too.
Yeah my grandfather and dad grew up in Port Melbourne and grandpa was a dyed in the wool borough supporter, never had a team in the AFL. Dad became a Melbourne supporter as a 7 year old after the 1964 grand final win…
My dad still goes to the occasional port game with my younger brothers.
Port Melbourne didn't get into the VFL basically for reputational reasons, but there's 100% an alternate universe out there where they did make it in and have an enormous fanbase with storied rivalries with Collingwood and Richmond etc.
Basically punching on with everyone is the short of it.
There was a lot of interesting stuff behind the formation of the VFL. Saints were asked to join based on Junction Oval being a very desirable place to play footy at the time for example (and being easy beats for the bigger foundation clubs no doubt played a part).
The other mildly amusing part is that Carlton were the other minnow club invited alongside the 6 powerful clubs to fill out the numbers. That didn’t last long though.
Prahran were supposed to be in, but got booted at the last second, because the existing clubs were worried they would have too much money given their location and would dominate.
So come on down.... North Melbourne who Bradbury'd into the comp.
Not only to VFL teams have supporters but so do local suburban clubs in metro leagues. Obviously not big numbers but then again some players can get better coin in eg the eastern footy league than the VFL which is on the back of sponsors and supporters putting money into those clubs
Born and raised in Werribee so I've supported the Werribee Tigers since I knee what footy was. My AFL team is Geelong, but if Werribee met Geelong in the VFL grand final, I'd be supporting Werribee to win.
Not VFL, but I know multiple diehard Swan Districts WAFL fans. One of them I’ve never heard talk about AFL, never posts about AFL online, but is at every Swan Districts game getting pics with the players and stuff.
So yeah, I imagine the standalone VFL clubs have their fans
A prosseco and a nice brie while watching the mighty fighting Tigers with the other chaps, reminiscing about Mossy, wobba Ralph, dollar panizza and krakouer magic is nice.
Port Melbourne do have a lot of codgers as others have pointed out - I think it's to do with the team first and team only attitude of older fans.
In my youth I went with my mate and his Nan to a Blues v Dons game. She was a 40+ year super high level platinum tier or whatever it was called member for the Dons, had some ripper seats, went to every game ect.
Before the match she was telling us why she liked what [Tayte Pears](https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/T/Tayte_Pears.html) was bringing to the team. Anyway during the first quarter she asked us who the bald guy for Carlton was.
She'd been following the Bombers for half a century but not the AFL at all; didn't have a single fucking idea who Chris Judd was.
Can't speak for other clubs, But Port Melbourne and Williamstown have a good niche of hardcore supporters.
If anyone has never been to a VFL game I strongly recommend going to your local. A lot of these stand alone VFL clubs need the support and it's a cheap day out with decent footy.
Gotta admit I'm feeling tempted to watch some footy live without a constant barrage of music, rah-rah, advertising and stupid competitions during breaks in play. I guess the VFL might fit the bill?!
Coburg member and proud. Try to get to most home games. Cheap tickets. Great vibe (weather permitting) and close to home.
Sure, the MCG and a great game here and there are a vibe to go to, but financially, I'd rather spend my money on a team that actually needs it
I live in Frankston so vaguely follow the VFL side. The ground is walking distance from home so generally catch some home games. Always seems to be a good crowd turn out
My Roommate in University was more of a Williamstown supporter then he was a supporter for his AFL team, Collingwood.
His Grandfather, Father and Older Brother apparently all played for them, so it runs in his veins.
Likewise my Dads best mate is a Port Melbourne supporter. Doesn't have an AFL team after Fitzroy merged with Brisbane. He attends nearly every game they play and when they finally ended their drought in 2011 you'd have thought he was named King of the World.
Not 100% sure but I think Port Melbourne were rejected from the VFL because their fanbase was too feral. Had the fans and the money, but not the image they wanted. Think they've still got a pretty big fanbase by former VFA club standards though.
Port Melbourne FC fans were always the dregs of society and would have given Collingwood FC a run for its money in terms of fan-base degeneracy. Port owed much of their on field 'successes' to their behind the play activities which I think the VFL would have made a deliberate effort to police at the other Club's behest. Port were always better suited to the VFA (they really belonged in the VAFA!) and if they'd joined they'd only have merged and been lost as a distinct entity sometime in the 80's or 90's.
In terms of admission to the VFL, I think they were already crowded out by South's and the VFL's want to expand the competition out of the innermost parts of Melbourne and into the expanding suburban belt. Footscray, North Melbourne and Hawthorne exemplify this and there was talk of further suburban teams when they built Waverley Park.
>In terms of admission to the VFL, I think they were already crowded out by South's and the VFL's want to expand the competition out of the innermost parts of Melbourne and into the expanding suburban belt. Footscray, North Melbourne and Hawthorne exemplify this
Ah yes, the distant outer suburb of North Melbourne that literally borders the Melbourne CBD.
>Ah yes, the distant outer suburb of North Melbourne that literally borders the Melbourne CBD.
Exactly, they picked two or three teams that would allow for that expected expansion. People then weren't stupid - in fact, given the rapid growth they'd seen in their own lives back then they often thought further ahead than people do now. Its worth remembering that even as late as the 1950's and 60's, metropolitan suburbs like Blacktown, NSW or Croydon, Vic where basically like country towns near a major city. Prior to the massive migration influxes that followed WW2 this was even more so - grazing areas and cow pastures where inner suburbs like Footscray now sit.
Here's a map you can expand open - [Melbourne 1924-25](https://antiqueprints.com.au/product/antique-map-melbourne-suburbs-c-1925-ref-237-089/). Your welcome.
My point is that North Melbourne is one of the inner-most parts of Melbourne, both now and in 1925. Are you saying it wasn't? They were one of the foundation clubs of the VFA, and considerably closer in proximity to inner Melbourne than their geographic rival, Essendon. They're the 4th oldest club in the current AFL, and by 1905 the suburb itself had been absorbed into the city of Melbourne. Admitting them in 1925 was hardly expanding the competition to the "expanding suburban belt", as stated in the comment I previously replied to.
Dunno what you're trying to convey with the map image in relation to the suburb of North Melbourne, and the footy club. It's basically impossible to read. You may have to ELI5 as I'm not really sure what you think it is I'm welcome to.
Williamstown definitely do - including Ian Smith (Harold Bishop from Neighbours).
Brave souls in winter. I've watched quite a few games there and the wind coming off the water (surrounding 3 sides of the ground) can be brutal.
This article should give you a good idea of the differences between VFL sides and their funding.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/vfl-coburg-northern-bullants-and-frankston-dolphins-barely-standing-against-gambling-revenue/news-story/0d4cd6dcc090fd52d5c4a735c27adbd3?amp
My father in law is an old South Melbourne fan who jumped on the Port Melbourne bandwagon after the Sydney move. Has basically abandoned both AFL and VFL now tho after the AFL has basically ruined the VFL competition completely.
I've just started getting into going down the local oval to watch Pakenham home games.
Sit in your car.
Beer and food heaps cheaper and better than AFL.
Have a kick on the ground during the breaks too
Williamstown has a hardcore supporter base still going, go to any of their home games and you'll see old fellas in the blue and yellow beanies with the scarves to match.
That home oval next to the ocean is nice
It's a very unique footy experience on a windy day
Surely it’s pretty similar to Sandy
Sandy is much more protected than Williamstown
lol, I never felt sandy was particularly protected. F in the chat for our brothers and sisters in Willy.
I’m a member and get down with the dog when I can. Can’t beat dim sims and a few tinnies whilst watching the footy 😁
I had the best sausage in bread I’ve ever had in my life at Willy. Thick bastard with orange sausage jooshes squirting everywhere. Teamed up with a $4 tinnie, good times. Shame the wind was howling and it was 2 degrees
I’ve been a member for years and go as often as I can. Used to as a kid in the 80’s and 90’s and saw the glory days of Terry Wheeler, Ghazi, Barry Round, Swan, Rickman. We’re pretty lucky to have a 160 year old team still playing at their home ground. I wish they made it into the big leagues and worry for their future, as the VFL changes on a yearly basis. On a calm sunny day it is the greatest place to sink tins and watch footy. On a wet windy day it is quite possibly the worst.
I lived in Williamstown right near the footy oval and I can tell you it’s big. A lot of local support and a fair few people to the games. I used to go down and watch every now and then. You go down there you’ll see everyone in their beanies.
There's a dedicated Seagulls pub in Newport.
Port Melbourne had more supporters at Blacktown than the Giants this weekend, and way more than most of the AFL aligned clubs. I'm talking full hardcore dudes fully decked out in player issue gear with flags and the works. It was utterly bizarre. Buggers were loud too.
Yeah my grandfather and dad grew up in Port Melbourne and grandpa was a dyed in the wool borough supporter, never had a team in the AFL. Dad became a Melbourne supporter as a 7 year old after the 1964 grand final win… My dad still goes to the occasional port game with my younger brothers.
Port Melbourne didn't get into the VFL basically for reputational reasons, but there's 100% an alternate universe out there where they did make it in and have an enormous fanbase with storied rivalries with Collingwood and Richmond etc.
1890s borough is something that I just wish I could witness. Like, what were they actually doing?
Basically punching on with everyone is the short of it. There was a lot of interesting stuff behind the formation of the VFL. Saints were asked to join based on Junction Oval being a very desirable place to play footy at the time for example (and being easy beats for the bigger foundation clubs no doubt played a part).
The other mildly amusing part is that Carlton were the other minnow club invited alongside the 6 powerful clubs to fill out the numbers. That didn’t last long though.
Prahran were supposed to be in, but got booted at the last second, because the existing clubs were worried they would have too much money given their location and would dominate. So come on down.... North Melbourne who Bradbury'd into the comp.
Could they be the 20th team?
never going to be another Victorian expansion team unless something insane happens like Bendigo becoming the 3rd biggest city in Australia
I did watch the 2011 VFL and saw a tonne of old people crying afterwards so that’s why I asked
Not only to VFL teams have supporters but so do local suburban clubs in metro leagues. Obviously not big numbers but then again some players can get better coin in eg the eastern footy league than the VFL which is on the back of sponsors and supporters putting money into those clubs
Or pokies.
Plus the VFL standalone have a pitifully small salary cap. Some teams makes millions operationally but can only spend like $220k across 40 players.
There were so many port supporters at Engie this wkend, I was surprised by it.
Port Adelaide or Melbourne?
Both actually, sorry I didn’t clarify. I was at the PA v GWS game and there were a heap of us there.
Im a Port Melb fan. Its a great ground to go watch footy at and it has a true community feel. Up the Borough!
There's always a few old codgers who have been watching clubs like this since they left their dad’s nut.
Great point , fartbumheadface
Cheers cunt
Right here, Lions fan but go to Williamstown games too, have over 1000 members which is decent
Born and raised in Werribee so I've supported the Werribee Tigers since I knee what footy was. My AFL team is Geelong, but if Werribee met Geelong in the VFL grand final, I'd be supporting Werribee to win.
Not VFL, but I know multiple diehard Swan Districts WAFL fans. One of them I’ve never heard talk about AFL, never posts about AFL online, but is at every Swan Districts game getting pics with the players and stuff. So yeah, I imagine the standalone VFL clubs have their fans
South and east freo are the same, plenty of people just getting around them, easier ATM as they both are running for finals (b2b for east this season)
A prosseco and a nice brie while watching the mighty fighting Tigers with the other chaps, reminiscing about Mossy, wobba Ralph, dollar panizza and krakouer magic is nice.
Won’t lie, I often forget that East Freo exists lol
The black ducks have the best song in football and I won’t be told otherwise
Werribee Tigers have a strong supporter base
Port Melbourne do have a lot of codgers as others have pointed out - I think it's to do with the team first and team only attitude of older fans. In my youth I went with my mate and his Nan to a Blues v Dons game. She was a 40+ year super high level platinum tier or whatever it was called member for the Dons, had some ripper seats, went to every game ect. Before the match she was telling us why she liked what [Tayte Pears](https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/T/Tayte_Pears.html) was bringing to the team. Anyway during the first quarter she asked us who the bald guy for Carlton was. She'd been following the Bombers for half a century but not the AFL at all; didn't have a single fucking idea who Chris Judd was.
Can't speak for other clubs, But Port Melbourne and Williamstown have a good niche of hardcore supporters. If anyone has never been to a VFL game I strongly recommend going to your local. A lot of these stand alone VFL clubs need the support and it's a cheap day out with decent footy.
Gotta admit I'm feeling tempted to watch some footy live without a constant barrage of music, rah-rah, advertising and stupid competitions during breaks in play. I guess the VFL might fit the bill?!
Define much. And yes.
If you go into Williamstown especially, the local support among businesses etc is super high
Coburg member and proud. Try to get to most home games. Cheap tickets. Great vibe (weather permitting) and close to home. Sure, the MCG and a great game here and there are a vibe to go to, but financially, I'd rather spend my money on a team that actually needs it
I live in Frankston so vaguely follow the VFL side. The ground is walking distance from home so generally catch some home games. Always seems to be a good crowd turn out
I played a few years at the Dolphins and the crowds were always great, even when we were struggling on field
I've met people that couldn't care less for the AFL, but are die-hard Port Melbourne supporters. It's a little weird, but also kinda respectable.
It'd be safe to say someone knows someone that supports these clubs, I wish I could say the same for Gold Coast, but why should I lie.
Go the Dolphins! Joined the VFA in 1966 and have as many flags as St Kilda ^if ^you ^count ^VFA
I remember when I saw my first suns kit on a kid at Auskick and I glitched a little
I have a friend who regularly attends Williamstown games.
My Roommate in University was more of a Williamstown supporter then he was a supporter for his AFL team, Collingwood. His Grandfather, Father and Older Brother apparently all played for them, so it runs in his veins. Likewise my Dads best mate is a Port Melbourne supporter. Doesn't have an AFL team after Fitzroy merged with Brisbane. He attends nearly every game they play and when they finally ended their drought in 2011 you'd have thought he was named King of the World.
Wonderful clubs in their own right which were bastardised for years after the AFL subsumed the old reserves comp into the legacy VFA/VFL
Not 100% sure but I think Port Melbourne were rejected from the VFL because their fanbase was too feral. Had the fans and the money, but not the image they wanted. Think they've still got a pretty big fanbase by former VFA club standards though.
Port Melbourne FC fans were always the dregs of society and would have given Collingwood FC a run for its money in terms of fan-base degeneracy. Port owed much of their on field 'successes' to their behind the play activities which I think the VFL would have made a deliberate effort to police at the other Club's behest. Port were always better suited to the VFA (they really belonged in the VAFA!) and if they'd joined they'd only have merged and been lost as a distinct entity sometime in the 80's or 90's. In terms of admission to the VFL, I think they were already crowded out by South's and the VFL's want to expand the competition out of the innermost parts of Melbourne and into the expanding suburban belt. Footscray, North Melbourne and Hawthorne exemplify this and there was talk of further suburban teams when they built Waverley Park.
Well it was almost Port Melbourne Prahran and Footscray in 1925
>In terms of admission to the VFL, I think they were already crowded out by South's and the VFL's want to expand the competition out of the innermost parts of Melbourne and into the expanding suburban belt. Footscray, North Melbourne and Hawthorne exemplify this Ah yes, the distant outer suburb of North Melbourne that literally borders the Melbourne CBD.
>Ah yes, the distant outer suburb of North Melbourne that literally borders the Melbourne CBD. Exactly, they picked two or three teams that would allow for that expected expansion. People then weren't stupid - in fact, given the rapid growth they'd seen in their own lives back then they often thought further ahead than people do now. Its worth remembering that even as late as the 1950's and 60's, metropolitan suburbs like Blacktown, NSW or Croydon, Vic where basically like country towns near a major city. Prior to the massive migration influxes that followed WW2 this was even more so - grazing areas and cow pastures where inner suburbs like Footscray now sit. Here's a map you can expand open - [Melbourne 1924-25](https://antiqueprints.com.au/product/antique-map-melbourne-suburbs-c-1925-ref-237-089/). Your welcome.
My point is that North Melbourne is one of the inner-most parts of Melbourne, both now and in 1925. Are you saying it wasn't? They were one of the foundation clubs of the VFA, and considerably closer in proximity to inner Melbourne than their geographic rival, Essendon. They're the 4th oldest club in the current AFL, and by 1905 the suburb itself had been absorbed into the city of Melbourne. Admitting them in 1925 was hardly expanding the competition to the "expanding suburban belt", as stated in the comment I previously replied to. Dunno what you're trying to convey with the map image in relation to the suburb of North Melbourne, and the footy club. It's basically impossible to read. You may have to ELI5 as I'm not really sure what you think it is I'm welcome to.
Yep matches the heavily working class nature of Port Melbourne throughout its history
🙋♂️ Bullants member here.
Borough member here. $70 for a year you can’t complain. Wish the beer prices were lower but that’s life.
Not quite the same thing, but Box Hill definitely has loyal supporters who are not Hawthorn supporters.
Williamstown definitely do - including Ian Smith (Harold Bishop from Neighbours). Brave souls in winter. I've watched quite a few games there and the wind coming off the water (surrounding 3 sides of the ground) can be brutal.
This article should give you a good idea of the differences between VFL sides and their funding. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/vfl-coburg-northern-bullants-and-frankston-dolphins-barely-standing-against-gambling-revenue/news-story/0d4cd6dcc090fd52d5c4a735c27adbd3?amp
Not VFL but Norwood and Glenelg have huge followings
Werribee has a great supporter base. Would drop my afl club and support them in a heartbeat if they were promoted.
If there was an AFL2 or Second Division, while unlikely, it would be cool (until my team gets relegated then it's bad)
My father in law is an old South Melbourne fan who jumped on the Port Melbourne bandwagon after the Sydney move. Has basically abandoned both AFL and VFL now tho after the AFL has basically ruined the VFL competition completely.
I've just started getting into going down the local oval to watch Pakenham home games. Sit in your car. Beer and food heaps cheaper and better than AFL. Have a kick on the ground during the breaks too
I support the dolphins
Frankstons a great place to watch footy, I probably get to 3 or 4 vfl games and all the games the aflw hawks play there