The League resolved to reconvene on 18 October 1907 to select its tenth team from applications received in the interim.

[4] Richmond had been one of the Association's strongest and most consistent clubs on and off the field since the turn of the century, and was considered a very strong candidate for the tenth position in the League on those merits.

Commentators thought Williamstown to be a strong candidate on its footballing merits, but that its remote location compared with the other inner-city teams was likely to limit its chances.

[3] On 18 October 1907, the League formally accepted Richmond into its senior ranks from the 1908 season, and rejected the joint North Melbourne/West Melbourne application.

[6] Because of this, clubs which attempted to defect were seen by many in the Association as deeply disloyal – particularly Richmond and North Melbourne, who had themselves been through the suffering caused by the breakaway of the League in 1897.

The move strengthened the belief that the VFL's expansion and actions were aimed at undermining the increasing popularity of the Association.

[8] The Association reduced the number of players on the field from eighteen-a-side to seventeen-a-side in 1908, removing one of the ruck/follower positions from the game.