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- Australian rules football in Victoria is the most watched code of football. Victoria has more than double the number of Australian rules football players of any other state in Australia (Soccer in Victoria is the only other football code with more participants). The game's popularity in Victoria stems from its origins in Melbourne in the 1850s. Victoria is home to the Cordner–Eggleston Cup, the longest continuously running football competition in the world. It was home to the first official tournament in the sport, the Challenge Cup in 1861. It is home to the second oldest football league in Australia, the Victorian Football Association. It is also home to the oldest and most popular national football competition, the Australian Football League (AFL) which was a rebadge of Victoria's state competition, the Victorian Football League (VFL) from 1990. As such, the majority (10 of 18) teams participating in the AFL remain based in Victoria (in addition, two other Victorian clubs survive in the competition as relocated and merged entities). Since the renaming of the league, Victorian-based clubs have continued to dominate with around two thirds of the premierships. The Melbourne Cricket Ground, with a capacity of 100,024 people (and has filled to over 120,000 in the past), is considered the "spiritual home" of the game, and is contracted to host the sport's largest event, the AFL Grand Final, annually until 2058 traditionally staged on the afternoon of the last Saturday in September. The state also holds regular blockbusters including the annual Anzac Day match, Queen's Birthday match and Dreamtime at the 'G. The Victoria Australian rules football team has won more championships than any other state (until the introduction of State of Origin rules) winning 16 of the 19 carnivals up until 1975. Since other states were removed from contesting State of Origin, Victoria has been undefeated, having won against a combined rest of Australia team at home in both 2008 and 2020. Victorian teams have also dominated the National underage championships with two thirds of the titles since it went national in 1976. Victorian clubs have also won 10 of the 19 Championships of Australia. Victoria has produced the most greats in the history of the game. All three of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Australian Football legends are Victorian: Ron Barassi, Ted Whitten and Leigh Matthews. More than half of the Australian Football Hall of Fame Legends are from the state. Victoria also holds the world record for attendance with 121,696 attending the 1970 VFL Grand Final between Carlton and Collingwood. (en)
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