1940 VFL Lightning Premiership

December 2017 December 2017 1940 VFL 180px VFL Lightning Premiership 12 StK 1st 11 thumb|right|150px|The 1940 Patriotic Cup "Lightening Premiership" Trophy. The 1940 VFL Lightning Premiership (known at the time as the Patriotic Premiership)Percy Taylor Unique competition The Argus Melbourne, VIC 2 August 1940 14 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11299197 Trove was an Australian rules football knockout competition played entirely on Saturday, 3 August 1940, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). It was played during a week's break of the Victorian Football Leagues's 1940 season between Rounds 14 and 15. It was contested by the 12 teams who competed in the 1940 VFL season. A total of 30,407 witnessed the day's matches. St Kilda won the lighting premiership competition, defeating Richmond in the final by 24 points. It was the first premiership of any kind at any grade that the St Kilda Football Club had won in its history. This was the first time a lightning premiership had been contested in the VFL. The tournament was played to raise money for the Patriotic Fund during World War II; similar tournaments were held in other leagues, including the South Australian National Football League (SANFL), around the same time.Rover Lightning Football Carnival raises more than £1000 for patriotic and charitable funds The Advertiser 15 July 1940 7 Adelaide, SA http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74447662 Trove Format The Patriotic Premiership was staged as a knock-out tournament amongst the twelve VFL teams on a single day. Because twelve teams is not enough for a balanced knock-out tournament, the draw was arranged such that the teams which occupied the bottom four places on the league ladder at the time of the tournament had an easier path to the final. Each match lasted for twenty minutes, without time-on, played in a single continuous period. Matches Round 1 Round 1 Saturday, 3 August (11:30 am) 2.6 (18) H 1.2 (8) Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 3 August (12:00 pm) 2.2 (14) A StK 3.2 (20) Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 3 August (12:30 pm) 0.1 (1) A 5.5 (35) Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 3 August (1:00 pm) 2.4 (16) A 4.2 (26) Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 3 August (1:30 pm) 3.1 (19) A 4.2 (26) Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 3 August (2:00 pm) 2.3 (15) H 0.4 (4) Melbourne Cricket Ground Quarterfinals Quarterfinals Saturday, 3 August (2:30 pm) 1.2 (8) H 1.0 (6) Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 3 August (3:00 pm) 1.2 (8) A 3.3 (21) Melbourne Cricket Ground , StK Semifinals Semifinals Saturday, 3 August (3:30 pm) 2.2 (14) A 5.0 (30) Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 3 August (4:00 pm) StK 1.4 (10) H 1.2 (8) Melbourne Cricket Ground Grand Final Grand Final Saturday, 3 August (4:30 pm) 0.2 (2) A StK 4.2 (26) Melbourne Cricket Ground 30,407 References See also List of Australian Football League night premiers Australian Football League pre-season competition 1940 VFL season Category:Australian Football League pre-season competition Vfl Lightning Premiership, 1940 VFL Lightning Premiership