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, 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 Masters Australian Football equivalent of 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

Results under State of Origin rules

The Victorian team against other sides .

Opponent	Played	Won	Lost	Drawn	Win%
Allies	2	2	0	0	100%
Australian Capital Territory	0	0	0	0	-
Dream Team	2	1	1	0	50%
New South Wales	1	0	1	0	0%
Northern Territory	0	0	0	0	-
Queensland	0	0	0	0	-
South Australia	9	6	3	0	66%
Tasmania	1	0	1	0	0%
Western Australia	4	1	3	0	25%

Senior Victorian Teams

Victoria vs Dream Team - 2008:-Luke Power-Adam Goodes-Robert Murphy-Darren Milburn-Scott Pendlebury-Heath Shaw-Troy Simmonds-Trent Croad-Paul Chapman-Josh Fraser-Jimmy Bartel-Brent Harvey-Ryan O'Keefe-Sam Mitchell-James Kelly-Jarrad Waite-Chris Judd-Jonathan Brown-Daniel Bradshaw

Victorian Football League (VFL) vs South Australia (SANFL) - 2008-Hayden Skipworth-Steve Kenna-Alister Neville-James Wall-Andrew McQualter-Jarrod Silvester-Tristan Cartledge-Liam Jurrah-Danny Nicholls-Justin Berry-Matthew Firman-James Byrne-Brett Goodes-Orren Stephenson-Tom Roach-Michael Searl-Jacob Spolding-Adam Iacobucci-John Baird-Cory McGrath-Robin Nahas-Peter Summers-Shane Valenti-Ezra Poyas-Nicholas Sautner-Rod Crowe-Cameron Thurley-Nathan Street-James Charlesworth-James Podsiadly-Scott Meyer-Brett Johnson-Jason Cloke-Dean Galea-Patrick Rose-David Stretton

References