1895 VFA season

none December 2017 December 2017 VFA Premiership season 1895 Fitzroy fc 1895.jpg 250px Fitzroy FC, Premier team 13 1 117 1894 1896 The 1895 Victorian Football Association season was the 19th season of the Australian rules football competition. The season was opened on 4 May, and concluded on 21 September. won the premiership by six points, with a record of 12 wins, 5 draws and one loss. It was Fitzroy's first VFA premiership. Premiership season In 1895, the VFA competition consisted of thirteen teams of 20 on-the-field players each. Unless otherwise noted, matches began at 3pm. Because there was an odd number of teams, at least one team had a bye each week; the idle club often travelled to Ballarat to play one of the local senior clubs in a non-premiership match. When reporting match scores in 1895, the number of goals and behinds scored by each team is given; however, only the number of goals scored is considered when determining the result of a match. Round 1 Round 1The Age Melbourne 4 May 1895 Football 8 Saturday, 4 May 8.17 H 4.3 East Melbourne Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 6 May 1895 Opening of the Football Season 5–6 Observer Saturday, 4 May 10.10 H 7.8 Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 4 May 11.11 H 2.3 Corio Oval Saturday, 4 May 3.9 A 5.5 Western Reserve Saturday, 4 May Port Melbourne 3.5 A 6.3 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 4 May Williamstown 7.3 H StK 4.8 Williamstown Cricket Ground Round 2 Round 2The Argus Melbourne 10 May 1895 Football 3 Saturday, 11 May Port Melbourne 2.3 A 4.7 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 13 May 1895 Football 6 Observer Saturday, 11 May 2.1 A 6.9 Victoria Park Saturday, 11 May StK 4.3 H 3.12 St Kilda Cricket Ground Saturday, 11 May 10.15 H 3.2 Corio Oval Saturday, 11 May 3.13 H Williamstown 2.2 Fitzroy Cricket Ground Saturday, 11 May 9.5 H 5.16 Richmond Cricket Ground Round 3 Round 3The Argus Melbourne 18 May 1895 Football – this afternoon's matches 8 Saturday, 18 May 3.6 A 5.10 12,000 East Melbourne Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 20 May 1895 Football – the battle for the premiership 7 Observer Saturday, 18 May 3.13 H 2.9 Fitzroy Cricket Ground Saturday, 18 May 2.4 A 4.8 Western Reserve Saturday, 18 May 4.6 A Port Melbourne 5.2The Age alternatively gives Port Melbourne's score as 5.4. The Age Melbourne 20 May 1895 The Football Season 6 Half-Back North Melbourne Recreation Reserve Saturday, 18 May StK 4.5 A 6.8 St Kilda Cricket Ground Saturday, 18 May 7.10 H 1.9 University Cricket Ground Williamstown Round 4 Round 4 (Queen's Birthday)The Argus Melbourne 23 May 1895 Football 7 Friday, 24 May 4.7 A 10.11 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve The Argus Melbourne 25 May 1895 Football – the birthday matches 8 Observer Friday, 24 May 6.8 H StK 3.3 Melbourne Cricket Ground Friday 24 May 7.10 H 1.3 Corio Oval Saturday, 25 May 10.11 H 5.10 Melbourne Cricket Ground 5,000 The Argus Melbourne 27 May 1895 Football – the battle for the premiership 6 Observer Saturday, 25 May 7.11 H 2.4 Victoria Park Saturday, 25 May Port Melbourne 4.6 D Williamstown 4.6 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground Round 5 Round 5The Argus Melbourne 1 June 1895 Football 9 Saturday, 1 June StK 3.7 A 4.10 St Kilda Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 3 June 1895 Football – the battle for the premiership 7 Observer Saturday, 1 June 15.13 H Port Melbourne 3.2 Corio Oval Saturday, 1 June 3.10 H 2.10 South Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 1 June 6.10 H Williamstown 3.3 East Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 1 June 9.14 H 2.5 Fitzroy Cricket Ground Saturday, 1 June 3.8 A 6.5 University Cricket Ground Round 6 Round 6The Argus Melbourne 15 June 1895 Football – to-day's matches 8 Saturday, 15 June 8.11 H 1.8 5,000 Corio Oval The Argus Melbourne 17 June 1895 Football – the battle for the premiership 5–6 Observer Saturday, 15 June 3.9The Age alternatively gave the score for this match as Fitzroy 3.9, Essendon 3.8, but either way the Age and the Argus agreed that the match was drawn. The Age Melbourne 17 June 1895 The Football Season 6 Half-Back D 3.8 East Melbourne Cricket Ground 6,000 Saturday, 15 June 6.13 H 3.8 Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 15 June Williamstown 7.7 H 5.6 Williamstown Cricket Ground Saturday, 15 June 6.14 D StK 6.9 Richmond Cricket Ground Saturday, 15 June 4.3 A 5.8 University Cricket Ground Port Melbourne Round 7 Round 7The Argus Melbourne 20 June 1895 Football 7 Saturday, 22 June 7.9 H Port Melbourne 6.6 South Melbourne Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 24 June 1895 Football – the battle for the premiership 6 Observer Saturday, 22 June Williamstown 5.8 H 4.9 Williamstown Cricket Ground Saturday, 22 June 9.11 H StK 3.10 Corio Oval Saturday, 22 June 2.12 D 2.3 Fitzroy Cricket Ground Saturday, 22 June 7.9 A 15.13 Richmond Cricket Ground Saturday, 22 June 4.2 H 3.9 Victoria Park Round 8 Round 8The Argus Melbourne 28 June 1895 Football 3 Saturday, 29 June 9.5 H 7.10 South Melbourne Cricket Ground The Age Melbourne 1 July 1895 The Football Season 6 Half-Back Saturday, 29 June 1.6 A 6.10 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve Saturday, 29 June 5.5 H 4.3 Western Reserve Saturday, 29 June Williamstown 4.10 A 9.10 Williamstown Cricket Ground Saturday, 29 June 8.11 H 1.3 Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 29 June StK 3.8 A Port Melbourne 5.4 St Kilda Cricket Ground Round 9 Round 9The Argus Melbourne 3 July 1895 Football 6 Saturday, 6 July 4.6 D Port Melbourne 4.8 Western Reserve The Argus Melbourne 8 July 1895 Football – the battle for the premiership 6 Observer Saturday, 6 July 2.2 H 1.9 Melbourne Cricket GroundThe Argus Melbourne 5 July 1895 Football 7 Saturday, 6 July 5.3 D 5.17 Richmond Cricket Ground Saturday, 6 July StK 3.8 A 7.10 St Kilda Cricket Ground Saturday, 6 July Williamstown 2.1 A 3.9 Williamstown Cricket Ground Saturday, 6 July 6.8 H 1.5 Corio Oval Round 10 Round 10The Argus Melbourne 11 July 1895 Football 3 Saturday, 13 July 7.11 H 6.12 Western Reserve The Argus Melbourne 15 July 1895 Football – the battle for the premiership 6 Observer Saturday, 13 July 2.4 H 1.3 Fitzroy Cricket Ground Saturday, 13 July 1.3 A 2.4 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve Saturday, 13 July 4.3 A 14.19 Richmond Cricket Ground Saturday, 13 July Port Melbourne 5.3 H 3.3 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 13 July 3.7 H Williamstown 0.6 South Melbourne Cricket Ground StK Round 11 Round 11The Argus Melbourne 18 July 1895 Football 6 Saturday, 20 July 10.5 H 5.15 East Melbourne Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 22 July 1895 Football – the battle for the premiership 6 Observer Saturday, 20 July 6.11 H Port Melbourne 2.3 Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 20 July 2.3 D 2.4 Victoria Park Saturday, 20 July 1.9 A 2.8 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve Saturday, 20 July StK 3.11 A 5.4 St Kilda Cricket Ground Saturday, 20 July 6.5 H Williamstown 5.4 University Cricket Ground Round 12 Round 12The Argus Melbourne 25 July 1895 Football 7 Saturday, 27 July 3.5 H 1.7 East Melbourne Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 29 July 1895 Football – the battle for the premiership 5–6 Observer Saturday, 27 July 3.8 A 9.9 Melbourne Cricket Ground 20,000 Saturday, 27 July 7.7 H 2.1 South Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 27 July 7.18 H StK 2.5 Fitzroy Cricket Ground Saturday, 27 July 6.13 H Williamstown 2.0 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve Saturday, 27 July 6.4 D Port Melbourne 6.8 Richmond Cricket Ground Round 13 Round 13The Argus Melbourne 3 August 1895 Football 9 Saturday, 3 August 4.1 A 5.10 Western Reserve The Age Melbourne 5 August 1895 The Football Season 6 Half-Back Saturday, 3 August 3.9 H StK 2.7 Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 3 August 2.7 A 3.9 East Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 3 August 3.4 A 5.7 University Cricket Ground Saturday, 3 August Port Melbourne 2.14 A 6.7 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 3 August Williamstown 4.19 A 5.4 Williamstown Cricket Ground Round 14 Round 14The Argus Melbourne 8 August 1895 Football 6 Saturday, 10 August StK 5.10 H 1.10 St Kilda Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 12 August 1895 Football – the battle for the premiership 6 Observer Saturday, 10 August 4.9 A 7.11 Richmond Cricket Ground Saturday, 10 August 6.9 H 3.12 South Melbourne Cricket Ground 7,000 Saturday, 10 August 4.2 A 7.12 Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 10 August 3.7 A 4.7 Western Reserve Saturday, 10 August 5.14 H Williamstown 1.9 Victoria Park Port Melbourne Round 15 Round 15The Argus Melbourne 13 August 1895 Football 3 Saturday, 17 August 8.6 H 6.4 Corio Oval The Age Melbourne 19 August 1895 The Football Season 5–6 Half-Back Saturday, 17 August 2.4 A 4.8 Melbourne Cricket Ground 8,000 Saturday, 17 August 6.6 H 1.7 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve Saturday, 17 August 5.12 H Williamstown 3.5 Western Reserve Saturday, 17 August Port Melbourne 4.15 H StK 3.3 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 17 August 5.4 A 7.11 Richmond Cricket Ground Round 16 Round 16The Argus Melbourne 21 August 1895 Football 7 Saturday, 24 August 3.13 A 6.15 East Melbourne Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 26 August 1895 Football – the battle for the premiership 7 Observer Saturday, 24 August 2.3 A 4.4 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve Saturday, 24 August 2.3 A 5.8 Western Reserve Saturday, 24 August 5.3 H 4.2 Victoria Park Saturday, 24 August StK 7.7 H 6.8 St Kilda Cricket Ground Saturday, 24 August 3.3 H Port Melbourne 2.6 University Cricket Ground Williamstown Round 17 Round 17The Argus Melbourne 31 August 1895 Football 9 Saturday, 31 August 4.13 H 2.4 Fitzroy Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 2 September 1895 Football – the battle for the premiership 6 Observer Saturday, 31 August 3.3The Age alternatively lists South Melbourne's score as 3.13, but interpreting the prose suggests this is more than likely a misprint. The Age Melbourne 2 September 1895 The Football Season 6 Half-Back A 6.13 South Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 31 August 3.8 D 3.3 Victoria Park Saturday, 31 August 4.11 H 3.3 East Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 31 August Port Melbourne 8.8 H 2.8 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 31 August Williamstown 3.11 H 2.6 Williamstown Cricket Ground StK Round 18 Round 18The Argus Melbourne 7 September 1895 Football 8 Saturday, 7 September 5.5 D 5.7 Fitzroy Cricket Ground 10,000 The Age Melbourne 9 September 1895 The Football Season 6 Half-Back Saturday, 7 September 4.9 H 3.7 Corio Oval Saturday, 7 September 7.3 H 3.5 Western Reserve Saturday, 7 September Williamstown 6.5 H Port Melbourne 3.4The Argus alternatively gave Port Melbourne's score as 2.4. Either newspaper could be correct, but since the Age was able to print three separate goalscorers for Port Melbourne, it is more likely to be correct. The Argus Melbourne 2 September 1895 Football the battle for the premiership 6 Observer Williamstown Cricket Ground Saturday, 7 September 5.6 H 4.8 Richmond Cricket Ground Saturday, 7 September 9.7 H StK 4.4 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve Round 19 Round 19The Argus Melbourne 12 September 1895 Football 7 Saturday, 14 September 6.2 H 4.6 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve The Argus Melbourne 16 September 1895 Football – Fitzroy won the premiership 7 Observer Saturday, 14 September 5.8 A 7.9 Western Reserve Saturday, 14 September 3.5 D 3.4 South Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 14 September Port Melbourne 1.0 H 0.9 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 14 September StK 4.7 A Williamstown 7.9 St Kilda Cricket Ground Saturday, 14 September 7.6 H 3.1 Victoria Park Round 20 Round 20The Argus Melbourne 21 September 1895 Football 8 Saturday, 21 September Port Melbourne 7.9 H 5.3 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 23 September 1895 Football – the finish of the season 6 Observer Saturday, 21 September StK 1.5 D 1.10 Victoria Park Saturday, 21 September Williamstown 4.7 A 10.4 Williamstown Cricket Ground , , , , , , Ladder main WDL P 1895 VFA ladder true no 4 2 FIT COL GEE 2 MEL 2 SM ESS PMB Port Melbourne NOR FOO WIL 9 Williamstown CAR RIC STK StK 12 1 5 77 47 P Premiers 12 4 2 83 63 13 5 0 128 62 13 5 0 102 70 9 7 2 84 82 8 8 2 91 81 7 8 3 72 87 7 10 1 64 75 6 11 1 78 93 6 11 1 69 85 5 11 2 55 77 4 11 3 80 127 3 13 2 64 96 #cfc P complete The Association had no formal tie-breakers in cases where clubs were equal on premiership points. Premiership won the 1895 VFA premiership with 58 points, finishing six points clear of , and , who all finished equal-second on 52 points. While Fitzroy finished with fewer wins than either Geelong or Melbourne, and also scored 51 goals fewer than Geelong, it lost only one match for the season, and conceded 15 goals fewer than any other team. This was also the first ever premiership in the history of the Fitzroy Football Club. Fitzroy was unbeaten in its last fourteen matches, coming from behind to claim the premiership from Geelong and Melbourne. Geelong, who had begun the season with a ten-match winning streak, and Melbourne, who had begun the season with an eight-match winning streak, were considered most likely to win the premiership at mid-season, but both teams' form fell off in the second half of the season to finish 13–5. Fitzroy officially clinched the premiership in Round 19, its last match for the season, with a draw against South Melbourne: this, and Geelong's unusual 0.9 – 1.0 loss to Port Melbourne, ensured that Fitzroy could not be tied or passed for first place. Leading goalkickers The leading goalkicker for the season was Decoit of , kicking 42 goals. He finished comfortably ahead of the second-placed Archie Smith of . The high-scoring Geelong team produced three of the top five goalkickers for the season.The Age Melbourne 23 September 1895 The Football Season – a review 6 Half-Back Player Team Goals David Decoit Geelong 42 Archie Smith Collingwood 27 Jim Grace Fitzroy 24 Eddy James Geelong 24 Henry McShane Geelong 20 Notable events The round 3 match between and Port Melbourne at the North Melbourne Recreation Reserve was unusually scheduled for the same day and at the same venue as the third day's play of a pennant cricket match between North Melbourne and Fitzroy, which had been arranged at the end of the season to decide last place in the A Class division. The cricketers were forced to leave the field at 3pm to accommodate the footballers; the cricket match was awarded to Fitzroy and the North Melbourne Cricket Club was fined one shilling.The Argus Melbourne 24 May 1895 Cricket 3 won its round 9 match against by one goal after Langley marked on the final bell, and kicked a goal after the bell from 40 yards. Non-premiership matches Association teams often played exhibition matches separate to the premiership season, particularly during bye weeks. This is not a complete list of all such matches, but is a selection of the most notable such games in 1895. Charity Saturday On the Saturday between Rounds 5 and 6, a charity event was held. Although the league had previously held charity days during the premiership season, this was the first time that the premiership season had been suspended entirely to accommodate the event. Two shortened matches, each lasting approximately one hour and played across two separate periods, were played as part of the event; two pairs of fierce rivals were selected to maximise interest in the matches. The charity event trialled the use of boundary umpires.The Age Melbourne 10 June 1895 The Football Season 6 Half-Back Charity Saturday Saturday, 8 June (3:00 pm) 3.10 D 3.5 East Melbourne Cricket Ground 7,000 Saturday, 8 June (4:00 pm) 5.9 H 1.0 East Melbourne Cricket Ground 7,000 Additionally, a 130-yard sprint race, open to any Association players and run without handicap, was held. The race was won by Drew of Port Melbourne; Palmer of finished second and Morton of finished third. Norwood's tour of Victoria Norwood, the winners of the 1894 South Australian Football Association (SAFA) premiership, undertook a two-week tour of Victoria in May and June, playing five exhibition matches against Association clubs and a combined Ballarat team. While Norwood finished with one win and two draws from the five matches, the tour proved to be a financial disaster for the club, as all five matches were poorly attended. With Norwood's share of the gate takings being a mere £30, the club lost £170 on the tour. Norwood's tour of Victoria Friday, 24 May (11:00 am) 7.12 A Norwood 9.8 East Melbourne Cricket Ground Tuesday, 28 May 3.2 D Norwood 3.6 Victoria Park The Argus Melbourne 29 May 1895 Football 7 Thursday, 30 May 5.8 D Norwood 5.5 South Melbourne Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 31 May 1895 Football 6 Saturday, 1 June 8.13 H Norwood 6.9 Melbourne Cricket Ground Monday, 3 June Combined Ballarat 11.14 H Norwood 4.3 Saxon Paddock The Argus Melbourne 4 June 1895 Football 3 Other notable matches On the Saturday prior to Round 1, the defending premiers played the traditional match against a combined team of juniors at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground. Essendon, fielding twenty players against the juniors' twenty-three, won by the score of 13.15 to 3.3. On Sunday, 30 September, premiers faced a Combined Ballarat team at Saxon Paddock. The Combined Ballarat team won by the score of 7.8 to 5.4. References Category:Victorian Football League seasons Vfa Season, 1895