1898 VFL season

Second season of the Victorian Football League (VFL) December 2017 December 2017 1898 Fitzroy_1898_premiers.jpg 258px 1898 VFL premiership team 14 May – 24 September 1898 8 1 1 Archie Smith () 31 70 white 1897 VFL season 1897 white 1899 VFL season 1899 The 1898 VFL season was the second season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest-level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured eight clubs and ran from 14 May to 24 September, comprising a 14-round home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring all eight clubs. won the premiership, defeating by 15 points in the 1898 VFL grand final; it was Fitzroy's first VFL premiership. Essendon won the minor premiership by finishing atop the home-and-away ladder with an 11–3 win–loss record. 's Archie Smith won the leading goalkicker medal as the league's leading goalkicker. Background In 1898, the VFL competition consisted of eight teams of 20 on-the-field players each, with no "reserves" (although any of the 20 players who had left the playing field for any reason could later resume their place on the field at any time during the match). Each team played each other twice in a home-and-away season of 14 rounds. Once the 14 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1898 VFL Premiers were determined by the specific format and conventions of the 1898 VFL finals system. Home-and-away season Round 1 Round 1 Saturday, 14 May (3:00 pm) 6.11 (47) H 3.12 (30) Princes Park Report Saturday, 14 May (3:00 pm) 7.6 (48) H 3.9 (27) Victoria Park Report Saturday, 14 May (3:00 pm) 10.10 (70) H 2.5 (17) EMCG Report Saturday, 14 May (3:00 pm) 2.4 (16) A 13.14 (92) Junction Oval Report Round 2 Round 2 Saturday, 21 May (3:00 pm) 12.11 (83) H 4.2 (26) MCG Report Saturday, 21 May (3:00 pm) 7.6 (48) H 5.6 (36) Brunswick Street Oval Report Saturday, 21 May (3:00 pm) 3.9 (27) A 5.8 (38) Lake Oval Report Saturday, 21 May (3:00 pm) 11.19 (85) H 2.5 (17) Corio Oval Report Round 3 Round 3 Tuesday, 24 May (3:00 pm) 2.4 (16) A 4.4 (28) Princes Park Report Tuesday, 24 May (3:00 pm) 6.10 (46) H 5.6 (36) MCG Report Tuesday, 24 May (3:00 pm) 2.4 (16) A 7.11 (53) Junction Oval Report Tuesday, 24 May (3:00 pm) 7.18 (60) H 1.2 (8) Corio Oval Report Round 4 Round 4 Saturday, 28 May (3:00 pm) 4.5 (29) A 3.12 (30) Princes Park Report Saturday, 28 May (3:00 pm) 7.11 (53) H 6.6 (42) Lake Oval Report Saturday, 28 May (3:00 pm) 16.16 (112) H 5.7 (37) EMCG Report Saturday, 28 May (3:00 pm) 4.14 (38) H 2.7 (19) Brunswick Street Oval Report Round 5 Round 5 Saturday, 4 June (3:00 pm) 6.12 (48) H 0.6 (6) Victoria Park Report Saturday, 4 June (3:00 pm) 6.12 (48) H 3.5 (23) EMCG Report Saturday, 4 June (3:00 pm) 4.10 (34) A 6.3 (39) Corio Oval Report Saturday, 4 June (3:00 pm) 3.3 (21) A 7.20 (62) Junction Oval Report Round 6 Round 6 Saturday, 11 June (3:00 pm) 5.7 (37) H 4.9 (33) Brunswick Street Oval Report Saturday, 11 June (3:00 pm) 5.4 (34) A 10.8 (68) Junction Oval Report Saturday, 11 June (3:00 pm) 4.7 (31) H 3.6 (24) Corio Oval Report Saturday, 11 June (3:00 pm) 1.7 (13) A 2.3 (15) MCG Report Round 7 Round 7 Saturday, 18 June (3:00 pm) 5.13 (43) H 5.3 (33) Princes Park Report Saturday, 18 June (3:00 pm) 5.10 (40) H 3.2 (20) Victoria Park Report Saturday, 18 June (3:00 pm) 7.9 (51) H 2.10 (22) Lake Oval Report Saturday, 18 June (3:00 pm) 9.5 (59) H 5.9 (39) MCG Report Round 8 Round 8 Saturday, 25 June (3:00 pm) 6.8 (44) H 1.6 (12) Lake Oval Report Saturday, 25 June (3:00 pm) 6.5 (41) H 2.10 (22) Corio Oval Report Saturday, 25 June (3:00 pm) 2.4 (16) A 8.11 (59) Brunswick Street Oval Report Saturday, 25 June (3:00 pm) 5.15 (45) H 3.3 (21) MCG Report Round 9 Round 9 Saturday, 9 July (3:00 pm) 4.4 (28) D 3.10 (28) Princes Park Report Saturday, 9 July (3:00 pm) 4.11 (35) H 3.5 (23) Victoria Park Report Saturday, 9 July (3:00 pm) 7.12 (54) H 4.6 (30) EMCG Report Saturday, 9 July (3:00 pm) 3.7 (25) A 13.15 (93) Junction Oval Report Round 10 Round 10 Saturday, 16 July (3:00 pm) 10.17 (77) H 1.3 (9) EMCG Report Saturday, 16 July (3:00 pm) 8.11 (59) H 1.5 (11) Victoria Park Report Saturday, 16 July (3:00 pm) 9.13 (67) H 3.1 (19) Brunswick Street Oval Report Saturday, 16 July (3:00 pm) 1.3 (9) A 3.11 (29) Lake Oval Report Round 11 Round 11 Saturday, 23 July (3:00 pm) 8.10 (58) H 5.2 (32) Corio Oval Report Saturday, 23 July (3:00 pm) 10.13 (73) H 1.7 (13) Victoria Park Report Saturday, 23 July (3:00 pm) 1.9 (15) A 10.11 (71) Junction Oval Report Saturday, 23 July (3:00 pm) 5.3 (33) A 7.8 (50) MCG Report Round 12 Round 12 Saturday, 30 July (3:00 pm) 1.4 (10) A 3.11 (29) Princes Park Report Saturday, 30 July (3:00 pm) 2.8 (20) A 11.9 (75) MCG Report Saturday, 30 July (3:00 pm) 5.9 (39) H 4.6 (30) Brunswick Street Oval Report Saturday, 30 July (3:00 pm) 12.15 (87) H 3.6 (24) Lake Oval Report Round 13 Round 13 Saturday, 13 August (3:00 pm) 3.4 (22) A 8.6 (54) Princes Park Report Saturday, 13 August (3:00 pm) 8.17 (65) H 1.0 (6) Victoria Park Report Saturday, 13 August (3:00 pm) 7.13 (55) H 5.7 (37) EMCG Report Saturday, 13 August(3:00 pm) 6.7 (51) H 5.8 (38) Lake Oval Report Round 14 Round 14 Saturday, 20 August (3:00 pm) 8.7 (55) A 10.9 (69) Junction Oval Report Saturday, 20 August (3:00 pm) 2.13 (25) A 7.14 (56) EMCG Report Saturday, 20 August (3:00 pm) 9.11 (65) H 1.4 (10) Brunswick Street Oval Report Saturday, 20 August (3:00 pm) 7.9 (51) H 2.7 (19) Corio Oval Report Ladder (P) Premiers Section A Section B |- style=background:#E6E6FA | 1 || align=left | || 14 || 11 || 3 || 0 || 756 || 374 || 202.1 || 44 |- style=background:#FEEAD3 | 2 || align=left | || 14 || 10 || 4 || 0 || 657 || 363 || 181.0 || 40 |- style=background:#E6E6FA | 3 || align=left | (P) || 14 || 10 || 4 || 0 || 568 || 467 || 121.6 || 40 |- style=background:#FEEAD3 | 4 || align=left | || 14 || 9 || 5 || 0 || 645 || 425 || 151.8 || 36 |- style=background:#E6E6FA | 5 || align=left | || 14 || 7 || 7 || 0 || 482 || 538 || 89.6 || 28 |- style=background:#FEEAD3 | 6 || align=left | || 14 || 5 || 8 || 1 || 529 || 545 || 97.1 || 22 |- style=background:#E6E6FA | 7 || align=left | || 14 || 3 || 10 || 1 || 382 || 634 || 60.3 || 14 |- style=background:#FEEAD3 | 8 || align=left | || 14 || 0 || 14 || 0 || 339 || 1012 || 33.5 || 0 |} Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points forAverage score: 38.9Source: AFL Tables Progression by round table Points by round y Essendon 02 4 / 02 8 / 02 12 / 01 16 / 01 20 / 01 20 / 01 20 / 01 24 / 01 28 / 01 32 / 01 36 / 01 40 / 01 44 / 01 44 Collingwood 03 4 / 04 4 / 05 4 / 05 4 / 05 8 / 05 12 / 05 16 / 06 16 / 04 20 / 03 24 / 03 28 / 02 32 / 02 36 / 02 40 Fitzroy 07 0 / 06 4 / 04 8 / 04 12 / 02 16 / 02 20 / 02 20 / 05 20 / 06 20 / 04 24 / 04 28 / 04 32 / 03 36 / 03 40 Geelong 06 0 / 03 4 / 03 8 / 03 12 / 03 12 / 03 16 / 04 16 / 03 20 / 02 24 / 02 28 / 02 32 / 03 32 / 04 32 / 04 36 South Melbourne 05 0 / 07 0 / 07 0 / 07 4 / 06 8 / 06 12 / 06 16 / 04 20 / 05 20 / 06 20 / 06 20 / 05 24 / 05 28 / 05 28 Melbourne 01 4 / 01 8 / 01 12 / 02 12 / 04 12 / 04 12 / 03 16 / 02 20 / 03 22 / 05 22 / 05 22 / 06 22 / 06 22 / 06 22 Carlton 04 4 / 05 4 / 06 4 / 06 4 / 07 4 / 07 4 / 07 8 / 07 8 / 07 10 / 07 10 / 07 10 / 07 10 / 07 10 / 07 14 St Kilda 08 0 / 08 0 / 08 0 / 08 0 / 08 0 / 08 0 / 08 0 / 08 0 / 08 0 / 08 0 / 08 0 / 08 0 / 08 0 / 08 0 complete Finals series The VFL introduced a new system of finals for the 1898 season. The new system, which was used from 1898–1900, allowed all clubs to compete for the major premiership, with the minor premiers having the right to challenge for the premiership. Sectional rounds Sectional round 1 Sectional Round 1 Saturday, 27 August (2:30 pm) 9.21 (75) H 1.2 (8) EMCG Report Saturday, 27 August (2:30 pm) 4.3 (27) A 14.19 (103) Junction Oval Report Saturday, 27 August (2:30 pm) 5.3 (33) A 6.11 (47) Lake Oval Report Saturday, 27 August (2:30 pm) 11.12 (78) H 2.4 (16) Corio Oval Report Sectional round 2 Sectional Round 2 Saturday, 3 September (2:30 pm) 12.18 (90) H 1.1 (7) Brunswick Street Oval Report Saturday, 3 September (2:30 pm) 6.9 (45) H 4.6 (30) Victoria Park Report Saturday, 3 September (2:30 pm) 3.6 (24) A 5.11 (41) Lake Oval Report Saturday, 3 September (2:30 pm) 2.5 (17) A 5.8 (38) Junction Oval Report Sectional round 3 Sectional Round 3 Saturday, 10 September (2:30 pm) 6.11 (47) H 3.4 (22) Lake Oval Report Saturday, 10 September (2:30 pm) 7.13 (55) H 6.5 (41) Victoria Park Report Saturday, 10 September (2:30 pm) 5.15 (45) H 2.4 (16) Brunswick Street Oval Report Saturday, 10 September (2:30 pm) 14.18 (102) H 4.3 (27) Corio Oval Report Section A ladder Qualified for finals |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 1 || align=left | || 3 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 182 || 56 || 325.0 || 12 |- | 2 || align=left | || 3 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 132 || 77 || 171.4 || 8 |- | 3 || align=left | || 3 || 1 || 2 || 0 || 104 || 110 || 94.5 || 4 |- | 4 || align=left | || 3 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 37 || 212 || 17.5 || 0 |} Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points forSource: AFL Tables Section B ladder Qualified for finals |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 1 || align=left | || 3 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 203 || 98 || 207.1 || 12 |- | 2 || align=left | || 3 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 210 || 88 || 238.6 || 8 |- | 3 || align=left | || 3 || 1 || 2 || 0 || 95 || 150 || 63.3 || 4 |- | 4 || align=left | || 3 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 71 || 243 || 29.2 || 0 |} Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points forSource: AFL Tables Finals 120 80 Semi-final 17 September, Brunswick Street Oval A1 2.10 (22) B1 1.5 (11) Grand final 24 September, Junction Oval MP 3.5 (23) 5.8 (38) All starting times are local time. Source: AFL Tables Semi-final Semi-final Saturday, 17 September (2:30 pm) 2.10 (22) H 1.5 (11) Brunswick Street Oval 13,120 Report Grand final 1898 VFL grand final Grand final Saturday, 24 September (2:50 pm) 3.5 (23) A 5.8 (38) Junction Oval 16,538 Report Win–loss table The following table can be sorted from biggest winning margin to biggest losing margin for each round. If two or more matches in a round are decided by the same margin, these margins are sorted by percentage (i.e. the lowest-scoring winning team is ranked highest and the lowest-scoring losing team is ranked lowest). Opponents are listed above the margins and home matches are in bold. By winning the minor premiership and accruing at least eight premiership points from its three sectional matches, Essendon won the right to challenge the semi-final winner for the premiership.Victorian Football League – the premiership scheme amended The Age Melbourne 30 April 1898 10 85% yes yes Team Home-and-away season Home-and-awayladder Home-and-away ladder position and win–loss–draw record Finals series Sectional rounds Sectionalladders Sectional ladder position and win–loss–draw record Finals 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 S1 S2 S3 SF GF Car 04 SM+17 07 MEL−57 06 ESS−12 05 GEE−1 08 COL−42 06 FIT−4 04 STK+10 07 SM−32 05 MEL0 08 ESS−68 06 GEE−26 06 COL−19 07 FIT−32 04 STK+14 7(3–10–1) 07 ESS−67 08 FIT−83 06 SM−25 A4(0–3–0) Col 03 GEE+21 06 FIT−12 05 MEL−10 06 SM−11 01 CAR+42 01 STK+34 02 ESS+20 05 GEE−19 03 FIT+12 02 MEL+48 01 SM+60 03 CAR+19 01 STK+59 03 ESS+31 2(10–4–0) 01 STK+76 04 GEE+15 04 MEL+14 B1(3–0–0) 02 FIT−11 Ess 02 FIT+53 04 SM+11 03 CAR+12 01 STK+75 03 MEL+25 07 GEE−7 07 COL−20 01 FIT+43 02 SM+24 01 CAR+68 02 STK+56 02 MEL+55 03 GEE+18 06 COL−31 1(11–3–0) 02 CAR+67 03 SM+17 07 FIT−29 A2(2–1–0) 01 X 01 FIT−15 Fit 07 ESS−53 03 COL+12 02 STK+37 02 MEL+19 04 GEE+5 03 CAR+4 08 SM−29 08 ESS−43 06 COL−12 03 STK+48 04 MEL+17 04 GEE+9 02 CAR+32 01 SM+55 3(10–4–0) 04 SM+14 01 CAR+83 02 ESS+29 A1(3–0–0) 03 COL+11 02 ESS+15 Gee 06 COL−21 01 STK+68 01 SM+52 04 CAR+1 05 FIT−5 02 ESS+7 06 MEL−20 04 COL+19 01 STK+68 04 SM+20 03 CAR+26 05 FIT−9 06 ESS−18 02 MEL+32 4(9–5–0) 03 MEL+62 05 COL−15 01 STK+75 B2(2–1–0) Mel 01 STK+76 02 CAR+57 04 COL+10 07 FIT−19 06 ESS−25 05 SM−2 03 GEE+20 03 STK+24 04 CAR0 07 COL−48 05 FIT−17 07 ESS−55 05 SM−5 07 GEE−32 6(5–8–1) 06 GEE−62 02 STK+21 05 COL−14 B3(1–2–0) SM 05 CAR−17 05 ESS−11 08 GEE−52 03 COL+11 02 STK+41 04 MEL+2 01 FIT+29 02 CAR+32 07 ESS−24 05 GEE−20 08 COL−60 01 STK+63 04 MEL+5 08 FIT−55 5(7–7–0) 05 FIT−14 06 ESS−17 03 CAR+25 A3(1–2–0) StK 08 MEL−76 08 GEE−68 07 FIT−37 08 ESS−75 07 SM−41 08 COL−34 05 CAR−10 06 MEL−24 08 GEE−68 06 FIT−48 07 ESS−56 08 SM−63 08 COL−59 05 CAR−14 8(0–14–0) 08 COL−76 07 MEL−21 08 GEE−75 B4(0–3–0) Source: AFL Tables Season notes On 21 May 1898, playing against St Kilda Football Club, Geelong's Firth McCallum eluded 12 opponents to score a goal. In round 3, Carlton and Essendon kicked a combined 0.4 (4) in the second half. This stands as the lowest-scoring half in VFL/AFL history. On 12 August 1898, the League issues a directive that all field umpires are banned from playing, after umpire Samuel Hood plays for Footscray against North Melbourne in a VFA match on the 6th of August. A VFL representative team played two matches against a combined Ballarat Football League team. The VFL won their home match, and lost their away match. Essendon player Corrie Gardner, who also played for Melbourne Football Club from 1900 to 1903 and in 1905, and who represented Australia in the hurdles and the long jump at the 1904 Summer Olympics at St. Louis, Missouri in the USA, won the Australian Amateur Athletics hurdle championship in 1898. At the end of the home-and away season, Essendon had a VFL record percentage of 202.2%. 1898 was the first VFL season that the premiership had been decided in a "challenge" match. A set of brothers played for Fitzroy in the 1898 "Grand Final Match": Jim Grace and Mick Grace. Awards The 1898 VFL Premiership team was Fitzroy. The VFL's leading goalkicker was Archie Smith of Collingwood with 31 goals. The wooden spoon went to St Kilda. Notes References Maplestone, M., Flying Higher: History of the Essendon Football Club 1872–1996, Essendon Football Club, (Melbourne), 1996. 0-9591740-2-8 Rogers, S. & Brown, A., Every Game Ever Played: VFL/AFL Results 1897–1997 (Sixth Edition), Viking Books, (Ringwood), 1998. 0-670-90809-6 Ross, J. (ed), 100 Years of Australian Football 1897–1996: The Complete Story of the AFL, All the Big Stories, All the Great Pictures, All the Champions, Every AFL Season Reported, Viking, (Ringwood), 1996. 0-670-86814-0 Atkinson, G., The Complete Book of AFL Finals (2002 Edition), The Five Mile Press, (Scoresby), 2002. 978-1-86503-892-6 External links 1898 VFL season at AFL Tables 1898 VFL season at Australian Football 1898 Category:1898 in Australian men's sport Category:1898 in Australian rules football