The AFL under-19s was an Australian rules football competition that operated as a junior competition to the Australian Football League (AFL) from 1946 until the end of 1991.
5-569: Prior to 1990, it was known as the VFL thirds or VFL under-19s . In 1946 , the Victorian Football League (VFL) introduced a thirds competition for under-19s players. Initially, only 7 clubs competed − Carlton , Essendon , Hawthorn , Melbourne , North Melbourne , Richmond and St Kilda . Several VFL clubs already operated thirds teams in local competitions, while others were affiliated with existing junior clubs. In 1947 ,
10-742: The VFL invited the Doutta Stars Football Club (which competed in the Essendon District Football League ) to field a side in the Thirds; the team was known as North Essendon . The side was unsuccessful, and after two seasons a team representing Trans Australia Airlines (TAA) took its place. However, TAA were beaten too heavily, and withdrew from the competition following round 4 of the 1949 season . By 1950 , all VFL clubs (bar Collingwood ) were now in
15-773: The VFL/AFL under-19s. Richmond won the most under-19s premierships, with a total of 11. 1946 VFL thirds season The 1946 VFL thirds season was the inaugural season of the VFL thirds , the Australian rules football competition operating as the junior competition to the Victorian Football League (VFL). Only 7 of the 12 VFL clubs with senior teams fielded a thirds side in the inaugural season − Collingwood , Fitzroy , Footscray , Geelong and South Melbourne did not compete. Several VFL clubs already operated thirds teams in local competitions, while others were affiliated with existing junior clubs. North Melbourne won
20-548: The former metropolitan and country zoning recruitment system for the Victorian VFL/AFL clubs was abolished, and the league's under-19 competition was shut down at the end of 1991 . A new competition, called the TAC Cup , began in 1992 with teams that were not linked to AFL clubs. 12 clubs competed in the competition's final season. No teams from Queensland , South Australia or Western Australia ever competed in
25-451: The thirds competition. Richmond chose to enter a second team − known as Richmond Juniors. The new side competed for a single season , and Collingwood joined the competition in 1951. The competition became known as the VFL under-19s beginning in 1960 − a name that continued until the VFL was renamed to the AFL in 1990. With the focus of the VFL/AFL moving rapidly towards a national competition,
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