A short history of the draft

[ShockOfHair]

Or how the AFL gravy train was born.

An enlightening read for those of us not around at the time, or just couldn't have cared less.

Only five teams won the VFL flag between 1967 and 1984!


How the draft was born - AFL.com.au

"You have to remember the circumstances of the time, in that half the clubs were broke and attendances had been declining"

Carter believed the VFL's biggest problem was that it had become a very uneven competition. In the 18 seasons from 1967 to 1984, only five clubs - Carlton, Richmond, North Melbourne, Hawthorn and Essendon - had won premierships.

The first VFL draft was held in late 1986, with the Brisbane Bears selecting Port Adelaide defender Martin Leslie with the first pick.

[SimonH]

In case there were any doubt, this brief history dispels it: the VFL brought in interstate clubs, or more accurately persuaded well-heeled interstate groups to buy their way in to the VFL, as a short-term fix in order to prop up a large number of financially failing VFL clubs. From this process, the AFL was formed. There was never a grand vision for turning the state-based, and principally Melbourne-based, VFL competition into a true national comp. They've more or less made it up as they've gone, including adopting the moniker 'AFL'. And they continue to do so.