1904 VFA season

none December 2017 December 2017 VFA Premiership season 1904 10 2 2 1903 1905 The 1904 Victorian Football Association season was the 28th season of the Australian rules football competition. The premiership was won by the North Melbourne Football Club in controversial circumstances, after minor premiers Richmond forfeited the challenge final in protest at the appointment of umpire. It was North Melbourne's second premiership in a row. Ladder The home-and-away season was played over eighteen rounds, with each club playing the others twice; then, the top four clubs contested a finals series under the amended Argus system to determine the premiers for the season. main WDL Q 1904 VFA ladder true points 4 2 no Premiers RIC FOO NOR PMB Port Melbourne WME West Melbourne WIL Williamstown BRU Brunswick PRA Prahran ESS Essendon Town PRE Preston 15 2 1 1008 583 14 3 1 864 547 13 5 0 927 545 P 13 5 0 881 593 10 8 0 835 616 10 8 0 763 655 7 11 0 691 1031 4 14 0 778 985 3 15 0 613 925 0 18 0 447 1327 #CCFFCC A A A A 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for. complete The Argus 5 September 1904 Association Scores 7 Melbourne Observer Finals series Semi Finals Saturday, 10 September 4.15 (39) A 5.11 (41) East Melbourne Cricket Ground 8,000 The Argus Melbourne An Association Match 12 September 1904 9 Observer Saturday, 17 September 7.12 (54) H Port Melbourne 5.7 (37) East Melbourne Cricket Ground 8,000 The Argus Melbourne Association Semi-Final 19 September 1904 7 Observer Preliminary Final Saturday, 24 September 5.2 (32) A 6.13 (49) East Melbourne Cricket Ground 12,000 The Argus Melbourne Association Semi-Final 26 September 1903 7 Observer Final The challenge final for the major premiership was scheduled for Saturday, 1 October at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground. However, on Wednesday 27 September, Richmond informed the Association that it would not play the final if Mr Allen was appointed as the umpire. The Association refused to appoint an alternative umpire, so Richmond refused to play; accordingly, the match was scratched and North Melbourne was awarded the premiership.The Argus 5 October 1904 Melbourne Football – The Unplayed Final Background to Richmond's decision Allen was regarded by all of the clubs in the Association, including Richmond, as one of its most competent and unbiased decision-makers, and he was accordingly appointed to umpire in all four finals in 1904; but he had drawn criticism for his poor control over rough play in two of the semi-finals, which ultimately led to Richmond's protest. Before the third quarter in the semi-final between Richmond and North Melbourne on 10 September, Richmond accused several of the North Melbourne players of wearing iron spikes in their boots, and raised its complaint with Allen. North Melbourne captain Noonan refused to allow Allen to inspect his players' boots, and after a delay of about fifteen minutes, play resumed without North Melbourne's boots having been inspected. Richmond went on to lodge a complaint to the Association against Allen for failing to insist upon the inspection. According to Association secretary Mr T. J. Evans, Allen had inspected the North Melbourne players' boots prior to the team leaving the pavilion, and that Noonan had refused to submit to a second inspection on the grounds that it was only minutes later. Noonan was reprimanded by the Association for the refusal.The Argus 7 21 October 1904 Association Football T. J. Evans Melbourne Allen was formally appointed as umpire for the challenge final on Wednesday, 14 September, with no objections from the Richmond delegate present at the appointment. During the week, Allen personally received a sarcastic letter from Richmond secretary, Geoffrey Peckham-Beachcroft, in which was enclosed a book of rules; this letter was submitted by Allen to an Association general meeting on Saturday 17 September. On Tuesday, 20 September, the Association first received correspondence from Richmond regarding its complaint against Allen's handling of the boot inspection in the semi-final; the letter was dated Tuesday 13 September. On Saturday 26 September, Allen umpired the semi-final between Footscray and North Melbourne, and attracted heavy criticism for keeping poor control over the game, allowing too much rough play, and permitting North Melbourne to engage in persistent time-wasting tactics.The Argus 8 30 September 1904 Final Association Football Match Fair Play Melbourne According to Peckham-Beachcroft, the Richmond captain and several of its players had become concerned about Allen's lack of control over the game, so they did not wish to take the field against North Melbourne under those circumstances.The Argus 9 3 October 1904 Association Football Geoffrey Peckham-Beachcroft Melbourne As a result, the committee informed the Association on Wednesday 27 September that it would not play the match unless Allen's appointment as umpire were overturned and he be replaced by another candidate. Richmond lobbied the Association to make a new appointment to as late as the evening of Friday 30 September, but the Association refused to do so. This was in large part because there had been no procedural irregularity with Allen's appointment; Richmond had objected to Allen's performances by letter, but the Richmond delegate present at Allen's appointment had raised no objections. Some delegates, most vocally Mr Harris from West Melbourne, were also motivated by ensuring that one club should not be allowed to dictate to the entire Association. As gate takings from finals were divided amongst the clubs, Richmond's refusal to play had a financial impact felt across all ten clubs. Williamstown, for example, recorded in its 1905 annual general meeting that its bank balance was almost £20 poorer as a direct result of the cancelled final.Williamstown Chronicle 1 April 1905 Town Football Club – Annual Meeting of Members 2 Williamstown, VIC This incident remains the only time that an Association team has forfeited a premiership-deciding final. Port Melbourne nearly staged a walk-off during the second quarter of the 1967 Division 1 Grand Final which would have resulted in a forfeit, but in that case the club committee intervened to ensure the team continued to play. 1904 VFA Grand Final Saturday, 1 October (cancelled) A East Melbourne Cricket Ground Allen The match was scratched and North Melbourne was awarded the premiership after Richmond objected to the umpire appointed for the match and refused to play. References Category:Victorian Football League seasons VFL