1835
Settlement of Port Phillip in the Colony of New South Wales begins. John Batman sailed up the Yarra River, embarked near the site of Queens Bridge and declared "this will be the place for a village."

1838
Melbourne Cricket Club formed.

1853
Melbourne Cricket Club moves to its present site, which is now the M.C.G.

1858
Melbourne Cricket Club Honorary Secretary, Thomas Wentworth Wills conceived a football game to keep cricketers fit in the winter. Letter written to Bells Life in Victoria, 10th of July. Melbourne Football Club formed.

1859
Rules of the Melbourne Football Club drafted with H.C.A. Harrison being the major contributor.

1860
South Yarra and Richmond Clubs formed.

1864
Carlton, South Melbourne and Royal Park Clubs join. Melbourne was the heavyweight of the League and were then known as the "Invincible Whites."

1866
H.C.A. Harrison chairs a meeting at the Freemason's Hotel in Swanston Street to update the Rules.

1869
Teams limited to twenty per side.

1872
H.C.A. Harrison retires as captain and player of M.F.C. His main tasks would now be centred on administration and of further developing the game.

1873 Melbourne Football Club barred from using the M.C.G. due to the damage caused by the players.

1877
Victorian Football Association formed, first controlling football body in Victoria.

1879
Carlton versus Melbourne match played at the M.C.G., first for several years, gate takings 500 pounds. Melbourne Football Club then allowed to use the ground for half the season. First football night match played at the M.C.G.

1883
Melbourne credit balance was 148 pounds, there were 190 members at 10 shillings each and proceeds from all matches during the season amounted to 321 pounds.

1884
Finances take a severe jolt when the stand that could hold 3000 people was destroyed by fire.

1855
Noel McMahen appointed captain. Melbourne lost only three of the twenty matches played and defeated Collingwood in the Grand Final. Melbourne's worst football year when it could muster only 18 premiership points from a possible 72.

1889
Melbourne finished bottom of the ladder. The well being of the club was under serious threat. Melbourne Football Club approached Melbourne Cricket Club with a suggestion that it be merged into the Cricket Club. The M.C.C. agreed. Significant improvement follows with the Melbourne Cricket Club allegedly starting to use its influence to get footballers jobs on various grounds controlled by the Club.

1892
Melbourne finished fourth with ten wins.

1893
Melbourne play Essendon in the Grand Final, but are defeated by a more accomplished Essendon side.

1894
Repeat of the previous years Grand Final result when Essendon again defeat Melbourne.

1896 Meetings held to form the V.F.L. Although they are still to win a premiership they
sign on with Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Fitzroy, South Melbourne, St. Kilda
and Geelong.

1897
First V.F.L. match played. During the 1890's Melbourne were served by a brilliant player from Tasmania named Fred McGuinis.

1900
Melbourne wins its first ever V.F.L. Premiership. Heroes of the day include George Moodie, Fred McGuinis and Vic Cumberland, a formidable ruck combination. The captain of the side was Dick Wardill.

1902
W.C. McClelland appointed captain.

1903
Melbourne forced to travel to Geelong by boat as a result of a rail strike.

1904
Melbourne play Essendon in a match at the Sydney Cricket Ground for premiership points which Melbourne wins 8.7 to 6.3. Vic Couttie wins V.F.L. goalkicking award with 39 goals.

1908
Jubilee of the Melbourne Football Club. As a celebration, an interstate carnival is organised which included a team from New Zealand.

1909
At the instigation of the Melbourne Football Club the goal, boundary and field umpires are given the power to report.

1912
Melbourne develop a powerful ruck combination of Alf George, Bill Hendrie and Hedley Tompkins. H. Brereton also tops the V.F.L. goalkicking with 56 goals. V.F.L. introduced numbering of players. Football Record is also published for the first time. W.C. McClelland is appointed Chairman of the Melbourne Football Club.

1915
Due to the collapse of the University Football Club due to the outbreak of war, the Melbourne Football Club receive a great influx of players from that Club.

1916
Their stay was short-lived as Melbourne is forced to drop out of the V.F.L. until the end of season 1918.

1919 Ivor Warne-Smith plays his first game for Melbourne.

1920
Albert Chadwick, a strong young ruckman made his debut for the Melbourne Football Club in the opening round. He was to have an enormous influence on the M.F.C. for the next half century in many capacities.

1924
Inaugural Brownlow Medal won by Geelong's Edward 'Cargi' Greaves. Melbourne's Albert Chadwick finished second just one vote behind the winner.

1925
Melbourne finishes third recording thirteen wins. Albert Chadwick appointed captain and coach.

1926
Melbourne scoops the pool. Under the guidance of Chadwick they defeat Collingwood to record their second premiership. Ivor Warne-Smith wins the Brownlow Medal. W.C. McClelland steps down as Chairman.

1927
Melbourne has a disappointing season due to illness and injuries to key players. They finished fifth.

1928
Ivor Warne-Smith replaces Chadwick as captain but Chadwick remains as Vice Captain and Melbourne reach the final four only to finish third. Warne-Smith wins his second Brownlow Medal.

1929
Joe Blair commences Chairmanship of the Melbourne Football Club.

1932
Ivor Warne-Smith appointed coach, but the club continues its downward trend finishing ninth.

1933
F.V. 'Checker' Hughes appointed coach. Checker had played in two premierships at Richmond and had coached Tasmania and Richmond. Percy Page, the new Club Secretary, instigated the move to give Checker the coaching position. Hughes changes the Club from the Fuchsias to the Demons.

1934
Club shows significant improvement to finish in sixth position. Colin Niven replaces the great 'Pops' Vine as captain. Some famous M.F.C. names make their V.F.L. debut, including Alan La Fontaine, Jack Mueller and Maurie Gibb.

1936

La Fontaine appointed captain and immediately Melbourne were back in the finals.

1939
After being strong contenders in the previous three years, Melbourne finally win the Premiership. They defeated arch rivals Collingwood by 53 points. Stars of the day included Beames and Rodda.

1940
Melbourne records its second successive Premiership with a 49 point victory over Richmond.

1941
Melbourne make it a hat trick with a 29 point win over Essendon. Norm Smith tops the V.F.L. goalkicking with 89 goals.

1942
Interest in football is down dramatically due to the war. All Club's personnel reduced dramatically. Missing from the 1941 Melbourne list were J. Atkins, H. Ball, R. Barassi, J. Furniss, G. Jones, J. Maher and K. Truscott. Fighter pilot ace Keith 'Bluey' Truscott returns for one game against Richmond to unfurl the 1941 Pennant. He received a remarkable reception from a large crowd. He was to lose his life less than one year later in an air accident. Checker Hughes steps down as coach, Percy Beames appointed captain and coach.

1944
Checker Hughes donates the Truscott Cup, in memory of Keith Truscott, to be awarded to the best and fairest player. The inaugural winner is champion ruckman Don Cordner. Fred Fanning tops the V.F.L. goalkicking with 87 goals in only 14 games.

1945
Norm Smith appointed captain and Checker Hughes returns as coach. Team finishes ninth.

1946
Team makes significant headway finishing in second position. Don Cordner wins the Brownlow Medal. The year is clouded by the severe loss of well loved Chairman J.C. Blair and veteran Committeeman F.W. Ince.

1947
Proved to be a disappointing season missing out on the finals. The season highlight was the 18 goal haul by full forward Fred Fanning to hold the V.F.L. record which still stands. He kicked 97 goals for the season to head the V.F.L. goalkicking. Jack Mueller plays his 200th V.F.L. game.

1948
Year of the first drawn Grand Final. Essendon's atrocious kicking costs them the Grand Final. The scores were Essendon 7.27.69 to Melbourne 10.9.69. Melbourne easily defeat Essendon in the replay 13.11.89 to 7.8.50. Norm Smith plays his 200th game. Checker Hughes steps down as coach. Alan La Fontaine appointed coach. Norm Smith moves to Fitzroy to captain and coach.

1949
Melbourne drops form and misses out on a spot in the finals.

1950
Stuart Spencer and Geoff McGivern make their V.F.L. debuts. Shane McGrath was appointed captain and guided the side into the finals only to be defeated in the First Semi Final. Bert Chadwick appointed Chairman.

1951
Very disappointing year for the Demons finishing last. Many top players are forced to retire. Jim Cardwell appointed Secretary.

1952
Alan La Fontaine steps down as coach. His replacement is Norm Smith. The Club show improvement in winning nine games.

1953
The Club once again decline, recording only three victories. More importantly players such as 'Bluey' Adams, Ron Barassi Jnr., Don Williams, Geoff Case and Peter Marquis get the chance to taste V.F.L. football.

1954
Geoff Collins appointed captain. More new players arrive such as 'Big' Bob Johnson, Brian Dixon, Clyde Laidlaw and Ian Ridley. Melbourne finished fourth and to their credit made the Grand Final only to be defeated by a strong Footscray side.

1955
Noel McMahen appointed captain. Melbourne lose only three of the twenty matches played and defeat Collingwood in the Grand Final.

1956
Olympic year at the M.C.G. Melbourne records another Premiership victory over Collingwood in front of 115,902 people who paid a record 19,718 pounds.

1957
Melbourne make it three in a row with a win against Essendon by 61 points. John Beckwith is appointed captain and Ron Barassi his deputy. Barassi is best on ground in the Grand Final. Former captain and Chairman of the Club Dr. W.C. McClelland dies.

1958
Melbourne's dream run comes to an end when they are beaten by Collingwood in the Grand Final in one of the great upsets in V.F.L. history.

1959
Once again Melbourne prove that they are the great football power, recording another Premiership victory, this time over Essendon by 47 points.

1960
Ron Barassi is appointed captain, with John Beckwith remaining as his deputy. Melbourne destroy Collingwood in the Grand Final win of 8.14.62 to Collingwood's miserable 2.2.14. Ivor Warne-Smith, then Chairman of Selectors, passes away.

1961
Melbourne misses the Grand Final for the first time since 1954. During this era Melbourne played 141 games, won 108 and tied 2. Hawthorn record their first Premiership victory. Melbourne become the first club to take their players, staff and committee on an overseas trip to New Zealand.

1962
Bert Chadwick retires as Chairman. Melbourne finish fourth, a disappointing year. Dr. Donald Duffy is appointed Chairman. Laurie Mithen, Terry Gleeson, Clyde Laidlaw, Geoff Tunbridge, Geoff Case and Trevor Johnson retire.

1963
Melbourne narrowly defeated by Hawthorn in the Preliminary Final. They become the V.F.L. jetsetter sending their players on an end of season trip to Honolulu and America where exhibition matches are played.

1964
Melbourne defeats Collingwood in a sensational Grand Final. Back pocket player Neil Crompton kicks a goal moments before the final siren to steal victory. After the season, Melbourne legend Ron Barassi is appointed captain and coach of Carlton.

1965
Melbourne plummeted to seventh position. Hassa Mann is appointed captain. Norm Smith was dismissed as coach, in a sensational incident only to be reinstated hours later. Melbourne also suffered a financial deficit of 5,733 pounds, it's first for many years.

1966
Melbourne finished eleventh. The great era has now definitely come to an end. St. Kilda wins its first V.F.L. Premiership.

1967
Melbourne finishes 7th after fielding 38 players including first year players Max Walker and Gary Hardeman. Norm Smith, Captain, 210 game player, and the Club's most successful coach retires with 6 Premierships from 11 finals as coach. Brian Dixon sets Club record of 238 games.

1968
John Beckwith appointed coach.

1969
Tas Johnson appointed captain. Melbourne finish last with only three wins.

1970
The Club finshes 10th. The Reserves under Ian Ridley win Premiership. First year players include Paul Callery and Peter Keenan.

1971
Former great player Ian Ridley is appointed coach, with Frank Davis his captain. They started the year in brilliant fashion winning 8 of their first 9 games, only to drop considerably to finish seventh with only eleven wins.

1972
The Club finishes 8th in a year where Greg Wells and Gary Hardeman finish second and third respectively in the Brownlow Medal. Club conducts Best & Fairest in public for the first time. Reserves runners up in Grand Final.

1973
Ian Ridley steps down as coach following a disappointing season which saw them finish in tenth position. Stan Alves is appointed captain. Melbourne recruit St Kilda champion ruckman Carl Ditterich and he goes on to win the Truscott Cup.

1974
Triple Brownlow Medallist Bobby Skilton is appointed coach. The team often showed promise but failed to live up to expectations.

1975
Jim Cardwell the doyen of Club Secretaries retires from his post after 25 years. John Mitchell is appointed Chairman.

1976
Melbourne narrowly misses out on a spot in the finals. Captain Stan Alves joins North Melbourne at the conclusion of the season.

1977
Disappointing season for Melbourne and they finish in eleventh position. Greg Wells was appointed captain. Bob Skilton steps down as coach and is replaced by former player Dennis Jones.

1978
Dennis Jones is unable to lift the side and the Demons finish in last position.

1979
Former player and St. Kilda great Carl Ditterich was appointed captain and coach. At times the team showed great promise but was unable to live up to its potential finally finishing in eleventh position. Wayne Reid is appointed Chairman.

1980
Again the team showed great promise but disappointed supporters and finished in ninth position. Mr. Richard Seddon is appointed executive Director of the Club and they embark on a total rebuilding process. The break between the Melbourne Football Club and the Melbourne Cricket Club is made with the Melbourne Football Club becoming a public company limited by guarantee.

1981
Sir Billy Sneddon is appointed Chairman of the Club and champion player Robert Flower becomes captain. Melbourne's greatest son Ron Barassi returns as coach. Melbourne disappoint and once again collect the wooden spoon.

1982
The Club begins to show great promise as a number of young players are given the opportunity to taste V.F.L. football. Ultimately the Club finish in eighth position. Brian Wilson wins the Brownlow Medal.

1983
Despite the Club recruiting Brownlow Medallists Peter Moore from Collingwood and Kelvin Templeton from Footscray, the Club is unable to improve its position on the ladder.

1984
Once again the Demons fail to live up to their promise, however, champion ruckman Peter Moore is awarded the Brownlow Medal, being the second occasion he is successful in achieving this feat.

1985
Again the Demons disappoint finishing in eleventh position. Stuart Spencer is appointed Chairman of the Club. Ron Barassi announces his resignation and John Northey is appointed as his replacement for season 1986.

1986
After a promising start to season 1986 the Club had a disappointing season to finish in eleventh position. A new era begins in 1987 with the inclusion of teams from Western Australia and Brisbane to the V.F.L. competition.

1987
A wonderful year for the Demons. Night Premiers defeating Essendon 8.10.58 to 8.6.54 in a superb team performance. A super start to the season with some inconsistent performances but a great finish to the year to win the last 6 home and away games to sneak into fifth spot. Fantastic team performances in the Elimination Final and the First semifinal to defeat North Melbourne and the Sydney Swans to earn the right to play in the Preliminary Final. Defeated by Hawthorn after leading all day by a goal kicked after the siren sounded. Great effort in Canada to defeat the Sydney Swans and North Melbourne to become the 1987 World Champions. Best year for the Melbourne Football Club since 1964. Robert Flower achieves a new Club record of 274 games.

1988
The Club started 1988 as they had finished in 1987. The Demons win twelve of their first sixteen games. Five straight losses follow but the Club again squeezes into the five after a great win over Carlton. Melbourne beat the West Coast Eagles by a kick in the Elimination Final and then earns a Grand Final berth after victories over Collingwood and Carlton. Hawthorn scores a convincing win over Melbourne the Club's first Grand Final appearance in 24 years. The second successive year of great success for the Club.

1989
Melbourne wins the Panasonic Night competition for the second time in three years. The Club is consistent for the first two thirds of the season but loses crucial games towards the end, costing it a vital top three finish going into the finals. The Demons beat archenemy Collingwood in the Elimination Final but lose to Geelong in the First Semi Final. The Club finishes 1989 in fourth position.

1990
Despite winning more games (16) than in the past four seasons and recording a healthier percentage, the Club still misses a coveted spot in the top three at the end of the home and away season. The Demons overcome Hawthorn in the Elimination Final but lose badly to the West Coast Eagles in the First Semi Final. The Club again finishes in fourth position for the second successive year.

1991
After reaching the finals for the fifth successive year, the Demons were unable to win the First Semi Final against an eventual Grand Finalist, the West Coast Eagles. The Club maintains it's standard and finished fourth for the third successive year. The Adelaide Crows enter the national competition. The highlight of the year was Irish born Jim Stynes winning the Brownlow Medal.

1992
Melbourne, following 5 consecutive years of finals appearances, finishes a disappointing eleventh after recording only 7 wins and one draw for the season. John Northey resigns as senior coach. Major administrative changes are made with Ian Ridley replacing Stuart Spencer as Chairman and Hassa Mann appointed Chief Executive.

1993
Neil Balme appointed senior coach. Team finishes tenth, with a 10:10 win/loss ratio. Peter Russo, in his first year as VSFL coach, wins the premiership following three consecutive Grand Final losses.

1994
Final 8 system introduced. Team placed in 7th position after home and away season, and defeated in the inaugural final (Preliminary) in Perth. Football operations relocated to the Junction Oval. MFC commits to a 20 year Junction Oval training agreement with the MCC, and the Club announces the acquisition of a Gaming and Social venue at Oakleigh.

1995
High expectations after previous year's success were shattered when the team finished a disappointing ninth. First gaming venue (Leighoak) opened late May with second site (Fawkner) secured. Club reports best profit result in a decade - $321,650.

1996
The AFL Centenary Year will be long remembered - albeit not for Melbourne's football prowess. Experiencing arguably the worst injury season in the Club's 138-year history, the team finished a disappointing 14th. Late season turmoil, due to merger negotiations with Hawthorn, saw Ian Ridley step down as President, replaced by Joseph Gutnick.