AFL 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.{{cite web |author1=Rhett Barlett |author2=Trevor Ruddell |title=1946 Richmond Thirds |url=https://www.tigerlandarchive.org/tiki-index.php?page=1946+Under+19s |publisher=Tigerland Archive}} Several VFL clubs already operated thirds teams in local competitions, while others were affiliated with existing junior clubs.{{cite web |title=The Under-19s |url=https://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/the-under-19s/ |publisher=Collingwood Forever}}{{cite web |title=Under 19s |url=http://demonwiki.org/Under+19s#:~:text=Until%201959%20the%20grade%20was,known%20as%20the%20TAC%20Cup. |publisher=Demonwiki}}

In 1947, 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.{{cite web |title=Club History |url=https://www.essendondouttastars.com.au/the-club/club-history/ |publisher=Essendon Doutta Stars Football Club}} The side was unsuccessful, and after two seasons a team representing Trans Australia Airlines (TAA) took its place. However, {{AFL TAA}} were beaten too heavily, and withdrew from the competition following round 4 of the 1949 season.{{cite web |title=1949 Thirds season |url=http://demonwiki.org/1949+Thirds+season |publisher=Demonwiki}}{{cite web |title=Cornell flies flag for '49ers |date=23 July 2019 |url=https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/251067/cornell-flies-flag-for-49ers |publisher=Carlton Football Club}}

By 1950, all VFL clubs (bar Collingwood) were now in the thirds competition. Richmond chose to enter a second team − known as Richmond Juniors.{{cite web |author1=Rhett Barlett |author2=Trevor Ruddell |title=1950 Richmond Thirds |url=https://tigerlandarchive.org/tiki-index.php?page=1950+Under+19s |publisher=Tigerland Archive}} 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.{{cite web |title=Under 19s Best and Fairest |url=https://www.tigerlandarchive.org/tiki-index.php?page=Under+19s+Best+and+Fairest |publisher=Tigerland Archive}}

With the focus of the VFL/AFL moving rapidly towards a national competition, 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 the VFL/AFL under-19s.

{{notelist}}

{{main|List of VFL/AFL premiers#VFL/AFL Thirds/Under-19s premierships}}

Richmond won the most under-19s premierships, with a total of 11.{{citation|title=Every Game Ever Played – VFL/AFL results 1897–1991|author=Stephen Rodgers|year=1992|edition=3rd|publisher=Viking O'Neil}}

{{reflist}}

{{AFL Under-19s}}

{{Australian Football League}}

{{Talent League}}

Category:Australian rules football in Australia

Category:History of Australian rules football

Category:Australian rules football competitions in Victoria (state)

Category:1946 establishments in Australia

Category:1991 disestablishments in Australia

Category:Sports competitions in Melbourne

Category:Sports leagues established in 1946

Category:Professional sports leagues in Australia