The AFL's second-tier competition will still be known as the Victorian Football League (VFL) despite the presence of teams from New South Wales and Queensland.
Despite the governing body referring to the new league previously as the 'VFL and East Coast second tier', it has decided to name the competition as just the 'VFL'.
The VFL will include 22 teams across three states and begin on April 17 - about a month after the commencement of the AFL home-and-away season.
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It will be played across 19 rounds - with each team playing 16 games and having three byes.
Teams will attempt to qualify for a top eight finals series, which will begin on August 28 and culminate in the VFL Grand Final on the weekend of September 18-19.
The fixture for the competition will be released in late February, while teams will engage in pre-season matches through March.
In comments made last year, Sydney Swans CEO and Geelong premiership captain Tom Harley said that the name of the new competition should reflect the addition of teams from different states.
"The VFL is an iconic and storied competition,” Harley said to Nine.
"I think it is important that the heritage of that competition is retained, however with the inevitable inclusion of teams outside Victoria playing in a newly formatted competition, the name should rightly reflect that - very similar to what occurred when the AFL was formed."
Fans of Australian rules on social media were surprised the AFL couldn't figure out a name that reflected the competition's presence across three states.
What's in a name?
— Paddy Sweeney (@SweeneyPaddy9) February 2, 2021
Six teams from New South Wales and Queensland are playing in the 22-team competition called.....the @VFL.
AFL reserves maybe?🤷♂️
Ah yes, six non-Victorian teams and it's still called the VFL.
— Jack Hudson (@jhudson_10) February 1, 2021
I wish I was surprised but I'm really not. https://t.co/8UGYOqlFjp
If you're surprised a comp that now has six NSW/QLD teams is still going to be called the VFL, you may not have been following this sport very long
— Josh Elliott (@jtselliott) February 1, 2021
2021 VFL TEAMS
AFL clubs: Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Footscray, Geelong Cats, Gold Coast Suns, GWS Giants, North Melbourne, Richmond, Sydney Swans.
Standalone clubs: Aspley, Coburg, Frankston, Northern Bullants, Port Melbourne, Southport, Werribee, Williamstown.
AFL-aligned clubs: Sandringham (St Kilda), Box Hill Hawks (Hawthorn), Casey Demons (Melbourne).
