Victoria Australian rules football team

[
State of Origin guernsey.] The Victorian Australian rules football team, also known as the Big V is the representative side of Victoria, Australia in the sport of Australian rules football.

The senior men's side last played in the once-off AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match in 2008; prior to that, it had played representative games at least annually until 1999. The Big V dominated the first hundred years of intercolonial and interstate football before the change to State of Origin rules. The introduction of State of Origin rules in 1977 saw Victoria defeated by Western Australia. South Australia also challenged Victoria's superiority with many victories over the Big V between 1977-1999. Since the VFL/AFL became governing body, only players from the Australian Football League are eligible for selection in the Victorian team. After proposals to resurrect the Big V in a once-off AFL State of Origin carnival in 2008 to celebrate the game's 150th anniversary [ [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21741745-11088,00.html Big V out of mothballs] ] [ [http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21761838-21543,00.html Origin timing crucial] ] , the Big V made an appearance in the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match on May 10, an all-star game, defeating the "Dream Team".

Victoria is also represented by the Big V at multiple levels and leagues (for example the AFL U18 National Championships, VFL, amateur and women's). In some carnivals, the Big V is used by both Vic Metro and Vic Country when the two sides play against each other (however neither dons the traditional navy blue with a white vee).

The guernsey is a navy blue with a big white V across the chest and, more recently, the Victorian state logo in a crest at the top left of the V.

Ted Whitten

Ted E.J. Whitten, also known as "Mr Football" was one of the greatest Victorian players of all time, representing the state 29 times. He was the most influential figure for the Big V, and was known for his passionate support for interstate football; following Whitten's death in 1995, interest in representative football faded, and eventually ceased after 1999. He is honoured with the E. J. Whitten Medal and the E. J. Whitten Legends Game, a game which also features the Big V. Many other players represented Victoria on numerous occasions, and other regular State of Origin greats include Dale Weightman, Paul Roos and Robert Harvey.

Although the Victorian team no longer competes at senior level, the E. J. Whitten Legends Game and matches between the VFL and the SANFL and WAFL feature Victorian representative sides.

Big V in popular culture

The Australian rules side was the first to use the "Big V" motif, which was later used by other codes (for example, the shirt of the Melbourne Victory association football club and the Big V basketball league).

Head to Head

The Victorian team against other sides.

References