Newspapers and Magazines
Newspapers and magazines have published reports, analysis, feature articles and match results and statistics for as longer as the game has been played in an organised way. Even before organised football competition began mention of football, often expressed as 'foot-ball' can be found where it was played at social picnics and at other social gatherings.
This list comprises newspapers and magazines which contained regular coverage of football. All titles were published in Melbourne unless otherwise stated.
Over time brief descriptions about the character and scope of each publications coverage of football will be added to each title.
Advertiser, Adelaide, 1858-.
Age, 1854-. Argus, 1846-1957. Australasian, 1864-1946.
The Australian Cricketer and Footballer, 1933-193?
Australian Football Action, 1981.
Australian Football Quarterly: A Journal of Essays, Ideas & Commentary, 2005-.
Australian Footy Week/Footy Week, 1987.
Australian Rules Football Press Clippings, 1887-1939.
Four volumes compiled for the centenary of the Sydney Football League in 2003 reproduce press clippings from major Sydney newspapers, with thousands of reports relating to Australian Rules football in the Sydney region, including match reports and topical articles. There is no index but items are arranged chronologically in four time periods. Uncatalogued copies are held at the State Library of Victoria, and the Mitchell Library in Sydney. TH.
Bell’s Life in Melbourne and Illustrated Sporting Gazette, August-November 1869?
Bell’s Life in Victoria and Sporting Chronicle, 1857-1868.
Chronicle, Adelaide, 1858-1975.
The Football Budget: Official Organ of the Western Australian National Football League, Perth, 1936-. Alternative titles: Real Footy, 1997; Football WA, 1998-2001; Football Budget, 2001-.
Football Fan: A National Football Magazine, 1984;
Football Life, 1968-1972.
Football Life/Australian Football Life, March 1989-December 1990. The Footballer, Adelaide, 1888.
The Footballer, Adelaide, 1907.
Football Record, Official VFL/AFL Publication, 1912–.
Football Recorder: Official Organ of the Victorian Football Association, 1932-1995. Alternative titles: VFA Recorder; Victorian Footballer.
Football Times, South Australia, 1976-1992.
Footy Week/Harry Beitzel's Footy Week, 1965-1970.
Footyzine, 1996-1998.
Free Lance, April-October 1896.
Hawklet, 1914–1930?
Herald/Herald-Sun, 1839-.
Illustrated Australian News, 1862-1895.
Illustrated Tasmanian Mail, Hobart, 1877-1935.
Inside Football, 1971–.
The Junior Footballer, 1974-1978.
The Leader, 1856-1957.
Melbourne Punch, 1856-1939.
Mercury, Hobart, 1854–.
News, Adelaide, 1923-1992.
Observer, Adelaide, 1843-1931.
Pick of the Pics, 1973-1982?
The Referee: A Journal of the World’s Sports and Pastimes, Sydney, 1886-1939.
Shirtfront: Australia's Footy Magazine for the Fans, 2001.
South Australian Football Budget, Adelaide, 1927-. Alternative titles: Football Budget; SA Football Budget.
South Australian Register, Adelaide, 1839-1931.
Sport, Adelaide, 1910-1948?
Sport: A Journal Devoted to the Interests of Country Sport, Maryborough, Vic,
1921-1929?
Sport/Sport and Playgoer, 1908-1917.
Sporting Don: A Worthwhile Weekly, September-November 1924?
Sporting Globe, 1922-1996.
Sporting Judge, 1892-1965.
Sporting Life, Adelaide, 1905-1914.
Sporting News: A Newspaper for Smart People, Devoted to Sport and Drama,
June-November 1904.
Sporting Standard, 1890-1893.
Sporting Wire, August-November 1889.
Sporting World, Ballarat, 1890-1936?
Sportsman, February 1882–1904?
Sunday Mail, Adelaide, 1912-.
Sunday Press, 1974-1989.
Sunday Tasmanian, Hobart, 1984-.
Sun News-Pictorial, 1922-1990.
Truth, 1902-1994. Later titles: Truth Sport, 1994-1996; Truth National, 1996-1999.
The Victorian Football Follower, 1900s.
The Voice: Labour and Sport Weekly, Hobart, 1925-1954?
Weekly Times, 1869-.
West Australian Football Register, Perth, 1962-1990. Alternative titles: Ross Elliott's West Australian Football Register; Annual West Australian Football Register; Football Register.
The Winner, 1914-1918.
Age, 1854-. Argus, 1846-1957. Australasian, 1864-1946.
The Australian Cricketer and Footballer, 1933-193?
Australian Football Action, 1981.
Australian Football Quarterly: A Journal of Essays, Ideas & Commentary, 2005-.
Australian Footy Week/Footy Week, 1987.
Australian Rules Football Press Clippings, 1887-1939.
Four volumes compiled for the centenary of the Sydney Football League in 2003 reproduce press clippings from major Sydney newspapers, with thousands of reports relating to Australian Rules football in the Sydney region, including match reports and topical articles. There is no index but items are arranged chronologically in four time periods. Uncatalogued copies are held at the State Library of Victoria, and the Mitchell Library in Sydney. TH.
Bell’s Life in Melbourne and Illustrated Sporting Gazette, August-November 1869?
Bell’s Life in Victoria and Sporting Chronicle, 1857-1868.
Chronicle, Adelaide, 1858-1975.
The Football Budget: Official Organ of the Western Australian National Football League, Perth, 1936-. Alternative titles: Real Footy, 1997; Football WA, 1998-2001; Football Budget, 2001-.
Football Fan: A National Football Magazine, 1984;
Football Life, 1968-1972.
Football Life/Australian Football Life, March 1989-December 1990. The Footballer, Adelaide, 1888.
The Footballer, Adelaide, 1907.
Football Record, Official VFL/AFL Publication, 1912–.
Football Recorder: Official Organ of the Victorian Football Association, 1932-1995. Alternative titles: VFA Recorder; Victorian Footballer.
Football Times, South Australia, 1976-1992.
Footy Week/Harry Beitzel's Footy Week, 1965-1970.
Footyzine, 1996-1998.
Free Lance, April-October 1896.
Hawklet, 1914–1930?
Herald/Herald-Sun, 1839-.
Illustrated Australian News, 1862-1895.
Illustrated Tasmanian Mail, Hobart, 1877-1935.
Inside Football, 1971–.
The Junior Footballer, 1974-1978.
The Leader, 1856-1957.
Melbourne Punch, 1856-1939.
Mercury, Hobart, 1854–.
News, Adelaide, 1923-1992.
Observer, Adelaide, 1843-1931.
Pick of the Pics, 1973-1982?
The Referee: A Journal of the World’s Sports and Pastimes, Sydney, 1886-1939.
Shirtfront: Australia's Footy Magazine for the Fans, 2001.
South Australian Football Budget, Adelaide, 1927-. Alternative titles: Football Budget; SA Football Budget.
South Australian Register, Adelaide, 1839-1931.
Sport, Adelaide, 1910-1948?
Sport: A Journal Devoted to the Interests of Country Sport, Maryborough, Vic,
1921-1929?
Sport/Sport and Playgoer, 1908-1917.
Sporting Don: A Worthwhile Weekly, September-November 1924?
Sporting Globe, 1922-1996.
Sporting Judge, 1892-1965.
Sporting Life, Adelaide, 1905-1914.
Sporting News: A Newspaper for Smart People, Devoted to Sport and Drama,
June-November 1904.
Sporting Standard, 1890-1893.
Sporting Wire, August-November 1889.
Sporting World, Ballarat, 1890-1936?
Sportsman, February 1882–1904?
Sunday Mail, Adelaide, 1912-.
Sunday Press, 1974-1989.
Sunday Tasmanian, Hobart, 1984-.
Sun News-Pictorial, 1922-1990.
Truth, 1902-1994. Later titles: Truth Sport, 1994-1996; Truth National, 1996-1999.
The Victorian Football Follower, 1900s.
The Voice: Labour and Sport Weekly, Hobart, 1925-1954?
Weekly Times, 1869-.
West Australian Football Register, Perth, 1962-1990. Alternative titles: Ross Elliott's West Australian Football Register; Annual West Australian Football Register; Football Register.
The Winner, 1914-1918.