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So much for the Victorian Football League.
It may not be at AFL level, but Queensland has achieved one of its greatest ever Aussie rules feats, with all three local teams making the preliminary finals of the VFL.
After beating Carlton on Saturday, Brisbane will face top side Casey (linked with Melbourne) in a preliminary final at Casey Fields next week.
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But in one of the great state league oddities, a Gold Coast derby will decide the other VFL Grand Finalist with Southport to host the Gold Coast Suns, who beat Sydney on Sunday.
It is the first time three teams from a non-Victorian state have made the preliminary finals of the VFL or AFL – though this is only the second time that has been possible.
Southport is an independent club, not aligned to an AFL team, which has a long history of success in local QLD footy. Many ex-AFL players feature on its list including Boyd Woodcock, Jacob Townsend, Billy Gowers, Jay Lockhart, Seb Tape and Brayden Crossley.
The VFL expanded last year when the NEAFL (North East Australian Football League) was amalgamated into it, creating a 22-team league with teams from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
Brisbane-based Aspley withdrew after the 2021 season, leaving the three Queensland clubs plus Sydney and GWS as the league’s non-Victorian sides.
At the time of the VFL’s expansion, the AFL used “VFL/East Coast second tier competition” as a working title for the league, given it was no longer just Victorian sides.
But the VFL name remained, despite concerns from figures like Sydney CEO Tom Harley, who said: “The VFL is an iconic and storied competition.
“I think it is important that the heritage of that competition is retained, however with the inevitable inclusion of teams outside Victoria playing in a newly formatted competition, the name should rightly reflect that – very similar to what occurred when the AFL was formed.”
The 2022 VFL Grand Final will be played at Carlton’s home base of Ikon Park – even though it could be two Queensland teams featuring.
Casey is still favoured to win the flag and save Victoria’s druthers, given the Demons started the season 17-0, only losing in the final round to Brisbane – their preliminary final opponent.
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