[4] Victoria's last appearance against another state at open level was in 1999 when it defeated South Australia.

Since the AFL Commission ended representative football in 1999, the Big V has seldom appeared at senior level.

The Victorian Association played numerous matches against South Australia during this era which were evenly contested.

Interstate matches came to be viewed as the highest tier of Australian football, with each state's ultimate goal being that of beating Victoria.

A Victorian senior team was assembled in 2008 for the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match to celebrate 150 years of the sport.

[11] The team has not always worn the Big V. The first time this symbol appeared was the 1908 Melbourne carnival (other states also had their first initial on their guernsey).

[citation needed] Prior to the advent of the iconic Big V guernsey, the team wore various designs.

Matthew Lloyd once said that it was "immense pride – you feel like you walk a bit taller when you pull on the Big V".

[17] Tony Lockett is known as a big supporter of Victoria,[18] and he said after he won the E. J. Whitten Medal that "this will probably go down as one of the happiest days of my life, and I'll treasure it forever".

[19] Brent Harvey, Gerard Healy, Greg Williams and Simon Madden are also big supporters of Victoria.

[21] Victoria being the most successful state in interstate football, meant protecting that reputation was of prominent importance.

[22] For South Australia, the rivalry stemmed from dislike, and the feeling that Victoria don't give them the credit they deserve.

[22] In 1991, John Cahill, the coach of South Australia, commented on Victoria after they had some injuries, saying: "they make excuses and they're quick to rubbish people"; he also claimed that the Victorians were "loud mouths and very dishonest".

He added that the fans in attendance were "hostile and maniacal", noting that "by the time the games came around they were whipped into a frenzy".

"[26] The 1989 Victoria versus South Australia game at the MCG was the highest-attended interstate match, with 91,960 attending and 10,000 people turned away at the gate.

[27] After the game, famous former Victorian player Bob Skilton said: "Victoria can be proud it put football in this state back where it belongs".

After stating that, the interviewer said, "you've got premierships as a player and coach", but Kerley followed up with "they were great", but he continued to emphasise that it, according to him, was the ultimate achievement.

[29] Neil Kerley has also stated before an Interstate Carnival grand final with Victoria that "I don't like the Victorians and I think the South Australians are every bit as good".

[33] He also stated, after a game in 1992 that Victoria narrowly lost, that "geez it's hard to cop it over here when you get beaten".

[37] Leigh Matthews in a game against Western Australia knocked out Barry Cable with a high hit, at Subiaco Oval.

The game also features John Platten, Tony McGuiness, Greg Williams, Dale Weightman, Chris McDermott and Dermott Brereton.

Wayne Carey (SA) described this game as the reason he believed he could succeed in the AFL.

[45] In a close game, Darren Jarman kicked six goals, and Gary Ablett Sr scored four.

There was a song created about Victoria by Greg Champion, called "Don't Let The Big V Down", which describes a young man about to play his first state game.

Many other notable players represented Victoria on numerous occasions, including Gary Ablett Sr. Dale Weightman, Paul Roos and Robert Harvey.