This volume continues the story of football in Marvellous Melbourne during the 1880s. The VFA continued to add clubs as Melbourne's boom continued apace. Innovations in the game included the division of matches into four quarters, the waving two flags to signal a goal, and bells to mark the end of quarters. Victoria also played inter-colonial matches against New South Wales, Tasmania and South Australia. By 1890 South Williamstown, Prahran and University had dropped out of senior ranks, and the Ballarat clubs were excluded from competing for the VFA premiership, which left 12 senior clubs until Collingwood's emergence in 1892. VFA secretary T.S. Marshall was also at the forefront of fighting the game's turn towards professionalism, which was led by the powerful clubs.