tally of premiership points was increased by a factor of 22/19. After this adjustment, teams were ranked in order of adjusted points, and the top team was awarded the premiership. Teams were required to play at least eighteen senior games to qualify for the premiership. This system meant that for the first time, the premiership was an official title conferred and endorsed by the Association, replacing the previous approach whereby the premier club was determined by an unofficial consensus but was conventionally understood to be won by the club which suffered the fewest defeats for the season – a system which was flawed because it treated wins and draws as equal in value. The Association also instituted the awarding of a premiership cap – in the Association's navy blue and gold colours – to players of the premiership team. The full ladder is shown below. Of the sixteen clubs, Footscray, University and the three Ballarat-based clubs failed to play the minimum eighteen matches required to qualify for the premiership; they are still shown ranked by adjusted points, but are not given a finishing position. Notable events The struggling University club failed to contest its last three scheduled matches, and dropped out of the VFA and folded at the end of the season. See also Victorian Football Association/Victorian Football League History (1877-2008) List of VFA/VFL Premiers (1877-2007) History of Australian rules football in Victoria (1853-1900) References Victorian Football League seasons Vfa Season, 1888