History of Australian rules football

Australian rules football is a contact sport that originated in Melbourne, Australia about 1858. The first documented match was played between Melbourne Grammar School Football Club and Scotch College, and the earliest known rules were codified in 1859. The sport quickly grew in popularity, leading to the formation of early leagues such as the South Australian National Football League (originally called the South Australian Football Association), and the Victorian Football Association in 1877. By the early 20th century, it had become the dominant winter sport in several Australian states. In the 1990s, the Victorian Football League (VFL), evolved into the Australian Football League (AFL), which now serves as the sport's premier competition and governing body.