Pre-1908 The Rules of Chronology 1859 The original handwritten rules dated May 1859 were signed by Tom Wills, , J. Sewell, J. B. Thompson, Alex Bruce, T. Butterworth and Thomas Smith:

1 The distance between the goal post shall be decided upon by the captains of the sides playing. 2 The captains on each side shall toss for choice of goal. The side losing the toss has the kick-off from the centre-point between the goals. 3 A goal must be kicked fairly between the posts without touching either of them or a portion of the person of any player of either side. 4 The game shall be played within the space of not more than 200 yards wide, the same to be measured equally upon each side of the line drawn through the centre of the two goals and two posts to be called the kick-off points shall be erected at a distance of 20 yards on each side of the goal posts at both ends and in a straight line with them. 5 In case the ball is kicked behind the goals, anyone of the side behind whose goal it is kicked, may bring it back 20 yards in front of any portion of the space between the kick-off posts and shall kick it as nearly as possible in the line of the opposite goal. 6 Any player catching the ball directly from the boot may call 'mark'. He then has a free kick. No players from the opposite side being allowed to come into the spot marked. 7 Tripping and pushing are both allowed but no hacking when any player is in rapid motion or in possession of the ball except for the case provided by rule 6. 8 The ball may be taken in hand only when caught from the boot or on the hop. In no case shall it be lifted from the ground. 9 When the ball goes out of bounds (the same being indicated by a row of posts) it shall be brought back to the point where it crossed the boundary line and thrown in right angels with that line. 10 The ball while in play may under no circumstances be thrown.

1860 Early games were a mixture — a round ball was used and started as in soccer with teams lined up on each side of the centre. The loser of the toss kicked the ball into play.

1866 May 8, Freemason's Hotel, Swanston Street, , Laws of the Game revised; playing area to be oval, not more than 200 yards long by 150 yards wide, with goals posts seven yards apart.

1867 Oval ball now used universally in all competition matches.

1869 Practice of awarding match to team who scored first two goals discontinued. Winner to be the highest scorer (only goals counted) after 100 minutes of play divided into two halves.

1870 The practice of changing ends at half-time commenced. Previously the teams had changed over whenever a goal was scored. 'Kick-off' posts were present (beside the goal posts) but the scores did not count. 1872 Central introduced, eliminating powers of captains to interpret rules. Teams to change ends at half-time interval. Goals to be kicked not 'forced'.

1873 Uniforms introduced.

1874 May 12, Nissen's Cafe, Melbourne, new Laws of the Game set down in 13 basic rules. First admission charges made in Melbourne. Goal umpires first noted in .

1877 Monday, May 7, Oliver's Cafe, Melbourne, formation of the VICTORIAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (VFA) as controlling body of all matches, senior, junior, country. First Central Umpire in an all-white uniform was Mr George Coulthard.

1878 The Essendon club are acknowledged as the first club to play on a "full sized" ground of 200 yards long by 150 yards wide — as set down in the rules of 1866.

1879 August 6, 13, 28: three night matches played in Melbourne using the recently invented electric light. Primitive arc lights were installed on poles around the arena by Mr Thomas Draper of W H Masters & Co.

1884 Goal Umpires introduced by the VFA.

1885 Four 25-minutes quarters were adopted by the Inter-Colonial Football Conference held in Melbourne on November 4-5.

1886 Four quarters each of 25-minutes introduced, teams changing ends at conclusion of each period. System of signalling scores with white flags introduced. Umpire John Trait in June was given a whistle for the Fitzroy-Carlton match – he was instructed to use it only for the purpose of stopping play where the ball went out of bounds.

1887 Premiership points, four for a win, two for a draw were introduced by the VFA. Ball is now bounced to start play. Previously it had been thrown in the air. Timekeepers and bell system introduced.

1891 Ball is bounced in the centre of ground after each goal is scored.

1897 The 'little mark' abolished. Ball must now travel 10 yards. Free kick for introduced. New System of scoring, awarding six points for a goal, one point for a behind. The VFA reduced teams to 18 men. The VFL competition began.

1899 The VFL reduced teams from 20 to 18 players.

1901 "The Argus" of March 16, 1901 reported 'Old Boy' (Reginald William Ernest Wilmot) was the author of the 'Argus System' of deciding the Premiership introduced by the League from the 1901 season. The "Argus System" remained until replaced by the McIntyre-Page system was introduced in 1931; the singular exception being the 1924 round-robin system.

1903 Boundary umpires added to some VFL matches, relieving field umpire the task of returning the ball to play from the boundary.

1904 Presence of boundary umpires ratified and appointed to all VFL matches—they punched the ball back into play.

1907 VFA introduce numbering of players – cards were sold with the printed numbers.