1896 VFA season

none December 2017 December 2017 1896 2 May – 3 October 1896 Collingwoodfc.JPG 250px Collingwood – 1896 VFA premiers 13 1 118 Norman Waughhttps://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article227738840 LEADING GOAL-KICKERS. Sportsman 815 Victoria, Australia 29 September 1896 6( – 29 goals) white 1895 VFA season 1895 white 1897 VFA season 1897 (VFA) →white 1897 VFL season 1897 (VFL) The 1896 VFA season was the 20th season of the Victorian Football Association (VFA), the highest-level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season began on 2 May and concluded with a playoff match on 3 October, in which defeated by one goal to claim its first and only VFA premiership. It was the final season in which the VFA was strongest senior competition in Victoria, with eight of its strongest clubs leaving the Association and establishing the rival Victorian Football League from 1897. Premiership season In 1896, the VFA competition consisted of thirteen teams of 20 on-the-field players each. 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 1896, 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. This was the final VFA season before the introduction of the modern system of scoring, in which six points is awarded for a goal and one point is awarded for a behind. Round 1 Round 1The Argus Melbourne 2 May 1896 Opening of the football season 4 Saturday, 2 May 2.4 A 6.8 Fitzroy Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 4 May 1896 Football – Opening of the season 5–6 Observer Saturday, 2 May 5.4 A 9.6 Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 2 May 5.3 H Port Melbourne 4.11 Corio Oval Saturday, 2 May 6.3 H StK 5.16 Richmond Cricket Ground Saturday, 2 May 3.7 A 5.8 Western Reserve Saturday, 2 May 6.6 H Williamstown 2.5 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve Round 2 Round 2The Argus Melbourne 6 May 1896 Football 6 Saturday, 9 May StK 5.11 H 2.14 St Kilda Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 11 May 1896 Football – Notes on Saturday's matches 5–6 Observer Saturday, 9 May 2.8 A 6.7 Western Reserve Saturday, 9 May 3.12 H 0.1 Victoria Park Saturday, 9 May 5.5 H 4.3 South Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 9 May 10.17 H 0.7 East Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 9 May Port Melbourne 3.2 D Williamstown 3.1 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground Round 3 Round 3The Argus Melbourne 16 May 1896 Football – Today's matches 4 Saturday, 16 May 11.8 H 9.2 Melbourne Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 18 May 1896 Football – Notes on Saturday's matches 5–6 Observer Saturday, 16 May 4.8 A 5.5 Fitzroy Cricket Ground Saturday, 16 May 4.5 H 3.2 Victoria Park Saturday, 16 May Port Melbourne 2.13 D 2.7 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 16 May Williamstown 6.8 H 2.6 Williamstown Cricket Ground Saturday, 16 May 2.6 A 6.4 University Cricket Ground StK Round 4 Round 4 (Queen's Birthday Weekend)The Argus Melbourne 19 May 1896 Football – Victorian Football Association 7 Saturday, 23 May 8.4 H 2.1 South Melbourne Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 25 May 1896 Football – Notes on Saturday's matches 6 Observer Saturday, 23 May 2.7 A 4.6 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve Saturday, 23 May 3.3 A 6.5 Richmond Cricket Ground Monday, 25 May 5.8 A 6.3 Melbourne Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 26 May 1896 Football – the birthday matches 6 Observer Monday, 25 May 4.14 H 2.5 East Melbourne Cricket Ground Monday, 25 May StK 3.8 D Williamstown 3.6 St Kilda Cricket Ground Port Melbourne Round 5 Round 5The Argus Melbourne 27 May 1896 Football – Victorian Football Association 7 Saturday, 30 May 3.6 H 2.4 Fitzroy Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 1 June 1896 Football – Notes on Saturday's matches 6 Observer Saturday, 30 May 2.6 D 2.7 Corio Oval Saturday, 30 May 15.11 H Williamstown 4.3 Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 30 May 3.10 A 4.8 University Cricket Ground Saturday, 30 May 11.6 H StK 3.6 East Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 30 May Port Melbourne 9.9 H 3.3 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground Round 6 Round 6The Argus Melbourne 9 June 1896 Football – Victorian Football Association 7 Saturday, 13 June 3.6 A 4.8 Corio Oval The Argus Melbourne 15 June 1896 Football – Notes on Saturday's matches 7 Observer Saturday, 13 June 4.4 H 2.4 Victoria Park Saturday, 13 June 6.7 H 4.8 East Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 13 June 5.6 H Port Melbourne 3.3 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve Saturday, 13 June 10.10 H 4.8 Western Reserve Saturday, 13 June StK 5.11 H 3.2 St Kilda Cricket Ground Williamstown Round 7 Round 7The Argus Melbourne 17 June 1896 Football – Victorian Football Association 7 Saturday, 20 June 4.13 H 1.4 Fitzroy Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 22 June 1896 Football – Notes on Saturday's matches 6 Observer Saturday, 20 June 1.1 D 1.13 Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 20 June Williamstown 3.5 A 4.3 Williamstown Cricket Ground Saturday, 20 June 9.7 H 2.8 South Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 20 June 4.13 H Port Melbourne 2.4 East Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 20 June StK 1.9 A 7.4 St Kilda Cricket Ground Round 8 Round 8The Argus Melbourne 23 June 1896 Football – Victorian Football Association 3 Saturday, 27 June 4.9 A 5.7 Corio Oval The Argus Melbourne 29 June 1896 Football – Notes on Saturday's matches 6 Observer Saturday, 27 June 5.6 A 6.3 Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 27 June Williamstown 3.2 A 7.6 Williamstown Cricket Ground Saturday, 27 June 3.5 D Port Melbourne 3.6 University Cricket Ground Saturday, 27 June 3.6 H StK 2.7 Western Reserve Saturday, 27 June 5.6 A 8.11 Richmond Cricket Ground Round 9 Round 9The Argus Melbourne 30 June 1896 Football – Victorian Football Association 3 Saturday, 4 July 1.2 A 3.9 Melbourne Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 6 July 1896 Football – Notes on Saturday's matches 6 Observer Saturday, 4 July 4.4 H 2.7 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve Saturday, 4 July 3.2 H StK 0.4 Victoria Park Saturday, 4 July 4.4 H Port Melbourne 3.3 South Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 4 July 1.4 A 9.9 Richmond Cricket Ground Saturday, 4 July Williamstown 5.6 H 3.3 Williamstown Cricket Ground Round 10 Round 10The Argus Melbourne 7 July 1896 Football – Victorian Football Association 3 Saturday, 11 July 3.5 H 2.7 South Melbourne Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 13 July 1896 Football – Essendon beaten by Geelong 6 Observer Saturday, 11 July 2.3 A 4.9 East Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 11 July Port Melbourne 2.0 A 5.5 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 11 July 3.10 A 5.2 University Cricket Ground Saturday, 11 July StK 6.9 H 1.6 St Kilda Cricket Ground Saturday, 11 July Williamstown 5.8 H 3.8 Williamstown Cricket Ground Round 11 Round 11The Argus Melbourne 14 Jul 1896 Football – Victorian Football Association 7 Saturday, 18 July 2.4 A 10.16 Richmond Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 20 July 1896 Football – Notes on Saturday's matches 6 Observer Saturday, 18 July 12.14 H Williamstown 0.2 Corio Oval Saturday, 18 July 12.8 H 5.6 Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 18 July 4.5 A 7.5 Western Reserve Saturday, 18 July 3.16 H 1.3 South Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 18 July Port Melbourne 6.10 H StK 3.2 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground Round 12 Round 12The Argus Melbourne 22 July 1896 Football – Victorian Football Association 6 Saturday, 25 July 4.6 H Port Melbourne 2.4 Fitzroy Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 27 July 1896 Football – some exciting games and a riot 6 Observer Saturday, 25 July StK 8.5 H 5.13 St Kilda Cricket Ground Saturday, 25 July 7.11 H 3.4 Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 25 July 4.4 A 5.6 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve Saturday, 25 July Williamstown 3.4 A 5.9 Williamstown Cricket Ground Saturday, 25 July 10.4 H 3.4 East Melbourne Cricket Ground Round 13 Round 13The Argus Melbourne 28 July 1896 Football 3 Saturday, 1 August 5.9 H 2.6 East Melbourne Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 3 August 1896 Football – Notes on Saturday's matches 6 Observer Saturday, 1 August 5.2 A 8.5 Corio Oval Saturday, 1 August 2.14 H 0.4 South Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 1 August 2.5 A Port Melbourne 6.15 Richmond Cricket Ground Saturday, 1 August 2.3 A Williamstown 3.7 University Cricket Ground Saturday, 1 August StK 4.13 H 2.7 St Kilda Cricket Ground Round 14 Round 14The Argus Melbourne 4 August 1896 Football – Victorian Football Association 3 Saturday, 8 August 10.13 H Williamstown 3.4 Fitzroy Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 10 August 1896 Football – Notes on Saturday's matches 6 Observer Saturday, 8 August 10.18 H 2.4 Corio Oval Saturday, 8 August 14.12 H 2.6 Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 8 August 6.6 H Port Melbourne 4.11 Victoria Park Saturday, 8 August StK 4.4 A 8.10 St Kilda Cricket Ground Saturday, 8 August 4.1 A 11.10 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve Round 15 Round 15The Argus Melbourne 11 August 1896 Football – Victorian Football Association 3 Saturday, 15 August 10.13 H 5.7 Fitzroy Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 17 August 1896 Football – Notes on Saturday's matches 5–6 Observer Saturday, 15 August 6.8 H 4.3 Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 15 August 5.6 H 3.0 South Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 15 August Williamstown 2.10 A Port Melbourne 5.9 Williamstown Cricket Ground Saturday, 15 August 7.8 H 4.2 Western Reserve The Argus misprinted the final score of this game as 4.2–4.2, although the same article's prose made clear that Footscray won. The Age confirms the final score. The Age Melbourne 17 August 1896 The Football Season public interest revived 3 Follower Saturday, 15 August 4.4 A 19.12 Richmond Cricket Ground StK Round 16 Round 16The Argus Melbourne 18 August 1896 Football – Victorian Football Association 3 Saturday, 22 August Port Melbourne 5.4 H 3.8 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 24 August 1896 Football – Notes on Saturday's matches 5–6 Observer Saturday, 22 August 5.3 A 7.11 East Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 22 August 3.10 D 3.5 South Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 22 August 4.4 D Williamstown 4.7 Western Reserve Saturday, 22 August 5.4 H StK 3.7 University Cricket Ground , , Round 17 Round 17The Argus Melbourne 25 August 1896 Football – Victorian Football Association 7 Saturday, 5 September 5.6 H 3.6 Fitzroy Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 7 September 1896 Football – Notes on Saturday's matches 6 Observer Saturday, 5 September StK 6.7 H 5.1 St Kilda Cricket Ground Saturday, 5 September 6.8 H 3.4 Victoria Park Saturday, 5 September 5.6 A 6.9 Corio Oval Saturday, 5 September 2.1 A Williamstown 4.13 Richmond Cricket Ground Saturday, 5 September 6.6 H 1.9 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve Port Melbourne These matches were originally to be played on Saturday, 29 August, but inclement weather during the week had rendered the grounds unplayable. As such, this round, and all those which followed it, were postponed by one week.The Argus Melbourne 31 August 1896 Football – Senior matches postponed 7 Round 18 Round 18The Argus Melbourne 9 September 1896 Football – Victorian Football Association 6 Saturday, 12 September 2.15 H 0.3 Fitzroy Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 14 September 1896 Football – Notes on Saturday's matches 6 Saturday, 12 September Port Melbourne 5.7 D 5.5 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 12 September 1.8 A 4.12 Richmond Cricket Ground Saturday, 12 September 9.15 H 1.3 Victoria Park Saturday, 12 September 5.15 D 5.3 Western Reserve Saturday, 12 September Williamstown 5.10 H StK 2.3 Williamstown Cricket Ground Round 19 Round 19The Argus Melbourne 15 September 1896 Football – Victorian Football Association 3 Saturday, 19 September 3.8 A 4.4 Victoria Park The Argus Melbourne 21 September 1896 Football – Notes on Saturday's matches 5–6 Observer Saturday, 19 September 4.7 A 5.18 Corio Oval Saturday, 19 September Port Melbourne 3.4 A 6.4 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 19 September 5.7 A 9.15 Western Reserve Saturday, 19 September 2.6 A 5.5 Richmond City Reserve Saturday, 19 September 6.11 H StK 4.6 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve Williamstown Round 20 Round 20The Argus Melbourne 25 September 1896 Football – Victorian Football Association 7 Saturday, 26 September 4.7 A 8.4 Corio Oval The Argus Melbourne 28 September 1896 Football Notes 6 Observer Saturday, 26 September Port Melbourne 3.9 H 1.10 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, 26 September 7.5 H StK 5.7 Richmond City Reserve Saturday, 26 September Williamstown 6.4 H 5.3 Williamstown Cricket Ground , , , , Ladder main WDL P 1896 VFA ladder true no 4 2 COL SM 1 ESS FIT MEL 4 NOR PMB 6 Port Melbourne WIL 6 Williamstown FOO STK 9 StK GEE CAR RIC 12 14 3 1 86 55 P Premiers 14 3 1 85 55 14 4 0 122 64 12 6 0 80 59 12 6 0 119 66 8 9 1 92 80 7 8 3 72 71 7 8 3 64 89 5 10 3 69 94 6 11 1 69 88 4 11 3 87 80 2 14 2 46 93 3 15 0 52 136 green1 P P complete The Association had no formal tie-breakers in cases where clubs were equal on premiership points. Playoff match thumb|Action from the playoff match. and finished level on 58 premiership points at the conclusion of the premiership matches, meaning a playoff match for the premiership was required between them. It is often said that this playoff match was required because, in addition to having equal win–loss records, Collingwood and South Melbourne had finished with an equal record of goals scored and goals conceded and therefore could not be split on a tie-breaker; while this version of events is given in several modern references,http://www.ozsportshistory.com/melbournerules/1897thesplit.html Oz Sports History 1897 The Split 12 January 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20150217095515/http://www.ozsportshistory.com/melbournerules/1897thesplit.html 17 February 2015 deadhttps://www.victoriapark.net.au/24.html 1896 The First Grand Final Victoria Park 12 January 2013 2009 contemporary sources reveal this to be a myth. Association Rule 19, which specifically covered the event of a playoff, did not consider goals scored or conceded as a means of tie-breaker for the premiership, and newspaper match previews leading into Round 19 made clear that win–loss record was the only consideration for determining whether or not there would be a playoff.The Argus Melbourne 19 September 1896 Football – Today's matches 9 Additionally, the clubs' for-and-against records were not quite identical: Collingwood had scored one goal more than South Melbourne for the season, but the fact that the tallies were so close helped to perpetuate the myth. It was the second time in VFA history that a playoff match was staged for the premiership, the first having occurred in 1878, but it was the first time that a playoff had been required since the formal introduction of the premiership ladder in 1888: the 1878 playoff was required to resolve a dispute between Melbourne and Geelong. Scheduling controversy The fact that a playoff would be required between Collingwood and South Melbourne was known after Round 19: both Collingwood and South Melbourne had a bye in Round 20 with third-placed Essendon six premiership points adrift, leaving them with no chance of tying for or finishing first. As a result, the two clubs organised to stage their playoff match on Saturday 26 September, the same day as the other Round 20 matches, at the neutral East Melbourne Cricket Ground; arrangements were made and advertisements were published. However, on the Tuesday, delegates from all Association clubs voted 11–8 in favour of postponing the playoff match to Saturday 3 October, the following weekend.The Argus Melbourne 23 September 1896 Football Complication – clubs in conflict 6 Arguments in favour of postponing the match centred mostly around the fact that a playoff match would detract from interest, attendances and gate takings at the rostered Round 20 matches, while arguments in favour of staging the playoff during Round 20 were to remove the need for the clubs to train for an extra week, and that public desire for the match to be held on 26 September was strong. A second meeting was held on the Wednesday night after Collingwood and South Melbourne objected to the postponement, but the Association delegates again voted in favour of postponing the match, albeit by a reduced majority of 10–9.The Argus Melbourne 24 September 1896 The Football Quarrel 5 While Collingwood and South Melbourne initially discussed playing the match on 26 September anyway, in spite of the Association's decision, this proved to be unworkable as the Association declined to provide an umpire. Subsequently, Collingwood arranged to play Bendigo Football League premiers Eaglehawk at Victoria Park during Round 20, winning 6.7 – 3.6, while South Melbourne used the week as a bye. Match summary The playoff match itself was played at a high standard in front of 12,000 spectators at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground.Football, The Australasian, (Saturday, 10 October 1896), p. 17.Our Own Yesterdays, The (Emerald Hill) Record, (Saturday, 21 September 1935), p. 4.Pennings (2016), at pp. 148-150 of Pennings, Mark (2016), Origins of Australian Football: Victoria's early History: Volume 4: Tough Times: Victorian Football loses its Way, 1891 to 1896, Brunswick, Victoria: Grumpy Monks Publishing. 978-0-646-93604-8. Two late goals in the first quarter allowed Collingwood to open up a 4–2 lead at quarter time, but Collingwood went goalless through the second and third quarters as South Melbourne dominated the game and regained the lead at 5–4. Collingwood tied the game early in the final quarter, then kicked the winning goal inside the final ten minutes to win 6–5.The Age Melbourne 5 October 1896 Football Premiership 6 FollowerThe Argus Melbourne 5 October 1896 The Football Premiership 5 Observer Playoff Match for the 1896 VFA Premiership Saturday, 3 October (3:00 pm) 4.3 4.4 The Argus misprinted the three quarter time score of this game as Collingwood 5.9 vs South Melbourne 4.6, cf. Collingwood 4.6 vs South Melbourne 5.9; the same article's prose made clear that South Melbourne led by one goal at three quarter time, and The Age confirms the three quarter time score as being the same as shown here. 4.6 6.9 Condon, Dowdall, Flaherty, Gregory, Hailwood, Hall H 2.1 3.6 5.9 5.10 McKay 2; Adamson, Pleass, Windley East Melbourne Cricket Ground 12,000 approx. J. J. Trait Sources Notable events Following 's 4–3 win against in Round 5, it was revealed that due to a timekeepers' error the final quarter had lasted 30 minutes instead of the regulation 25 minutes. Because Collingwood had scored the winning goal in these extra five minutes (in fact, on the final bell), Carlton formally challenged to have the result amended to a 3–3 draw.The Argus Melbourne 2 June 1896 Football 3 The challenge was dismissed at the Association's next meeting three weeks later.The Argus Melbourne 20 June 1896 Football – Today's matches 4 The ultimate importance of this decision on the final placings should not be overlooked as Collingwood tied for first place and Carlton tied for last place on the ladder. In its Round 9 match against first placed , last placed was penalised for having too many men on the field. Richmond was leading Essendon at half time by 3.3 – 2.4, but Essendon called for a head count after half time, which found Richmond had 21 men on the field. Richmond's score was reset to zero, and Essendon went on to win 9.9 – 1.4. Four weeks later against Port Melbourne, Richmond was subjected to another head count at half-time, and the umpire again found Richmond had 21 men on the field, but a recount after the players had gone to the dressing rooms found only twenty, so Richmond was not penalized.The Australasian 8 August 1896 259 A comfortable win Melbourne Local fans at the North Melbourne Recreation Reserve rioted following 's 4–5 loss to in Round 12, mostly venting their anger against umpire Roberts' interpretation of the little mark. They invaded the field, some with weapons, and players from both teams were forced to protect Roberts from the mob, with Bill Proudfoot, a constable with Victoria Police, escorting him out of the ground. McDougall of North Melbourne was the most badly injured player in the riot, concussed after a blow to the head. The incident added to the already bad reputation of the North Melbourne ground and the "ruffianly element" of its patrons.The Argus Melbourne 27 July 1896 A football row 5 On 2 October, the day before the playoff match for the premiership, six of the league's strongest clubs (, , , , and ) opted to secede from the Victorian Football Association and establish the Victorian Football League as a distinct rival competition from 1897, and invited and StK to defect, bringing the size of the new league to eight clubs. The split was the culmination of several years of concerns from the strongest clubs about the standard and competitiveness of the Association. As such, the VFA ceased to serve as the top senior level of football in Victoria after twenty seasons; it has continued operating as a second-tier senior competition since.The Argus Melbourne 3 October 1896 New Football Association 10 Charity Cup On the Saturday between Rounds 5 and 6, a Charity Cup event was held, the gate takings from which were donated to charity. The event consisted of four clubs – , , Port Melbourne and – contesting a knock-out tournament of shortened matches at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on a single afternoon, a format which has since become known as a lightning premiership. Each match was played over two periods of twenty minutes each. The competition was won by Essendon. The Charity Cup was used to trial two new rules in the VFA: The use of boundary umpires, one on each sideline, to conduct boundary throw-ins; at the time, this responsibility fell to the field umpire in the VFA The removal of the "little mark", which meant the ball had to be kicked at least ten yards for the umpire to call a mark. Both of these rule changes were soon adopted into all levels of the game. Charity Cup Semi-finals Saturday, 6 June 3.3 H 2.5 Melbourne Cricket Ground The Argus Melbourne 8 June 1896 Football – The charity matches 6 Observer Saturday, 6 June Port Melbourne 2.1 H 1.4 Melbourne Cricket Ground Charity Cup Final Saturday, 6 June 2.4 H Port Melbourne 1.1 Melbourne Cricket Ground References Category:Victorian Football League seasons VFL