1924 VFL season
1924 VFL premiership season | ||
---|---|---|
Leading Goalkicker Medallist Jack Moriarty (Fitzroy) | | |
Matches played | 78 | |
Highest | 42,522 | |
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The 1924 VFL season was the 28th season of the
The premiership was won by the Essendon Football Club for the sixth time and second time consecutively, after it won the round-robin finals series which was held in this season only. It is the last time a VFL/AFL premiership was not decided by a grand final.
The season saw the first presentation of the
Background
In 1924, the VFL competition consisted of nine teams of 18 on-the-field players each, with no reserves, although any of the 18 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 18 rounds (i.e., 16 matches and 2 byes); once the 18 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1924 VFL premiership was determined by an experimental
In 1924, the VFL dispensed with the
The scheme was developed primarily as a result of demand for entry to finals matches in the early 1920s exceeding the capacity of the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It was noted that while an average of 80,000 spectators attended a four-game home-and-away round, the capacity of the Melbourne Cricket Ground was limited to about 55,000; and, as such, under the Argus system, in which only one final was played each day, many spectators were turned away. However, playing two semi-finals on each day would allow more spectators to attend.[2]
The original intent of the system was partially realised, with 65,000 spectators attending the first week of semi-finals, and 60,000 attending the second week; although, only 42,000 attended the third week, when the dead rubber between
Home-and-away season
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9
Round 10
Round 11
Round 12
Round 13
Round 14
Round 15
Round 16
Round 17
Round 18
Ladder
(P) | Premiers |
Qualified for finals |
# | Team | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Essendon (P) | 16 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 1208 | 918 | 131.6 | 46 |
2 | South Melbourne | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 1131 | 971 | 116.5 | 44 |
3 | Fitzroy | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 1224 | 1092 | 112.1 | 40 |
4 | Richmond | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 1083 | 1057 | 102.5 | 40 |
5 | Geelong | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 1116 | 1041 | 107.2 | 32 |
6 | Collingwood | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 1089 | 1134 | 96.0 | 32 |
7 | Carlton | 16 | 5 | 10 | 1 | 1134 | 1228 | 92.3 | 22 |
8 | Melbourne | 16 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 1043 | 1252 | 83.3 | 16 |
9 | St Kilda | 16 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 1045 | 1380 | 75.7 | 16 |
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for
Average score: 70.0
Source: AFL Tables
Finals series
Finals week 1
Finals week 2
Finals week 3
Finals ladder
Because Essendon had won the minor premiership and the round-robin competition, it was awarded the premiership without the need for a grand final.
Won the premiership |
# | Team | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Essendon | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 177 | 124 | 142.7 | 8 |
2 | Richmond | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 208 | 180 | 115.6 | 8 |
3 | Fitzroy | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 167 | 200 | 83.5 | 4 |
4 | South Melbourne | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 182 | 230 | 79.1 | 4 |
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for
Source: AFL Tables
Finals team squads
As there was no designated grand final, this also meant that there were no grand final teams in 1924;[4] instead there was an "Essendon finals squad", a "Fitzroy finals squad", a "Richmond finals squad", and a "South Melbourne finals squad". Listed in alphabetical order the four squads were:
- Essendon squad: Tommy Jenkins, Roy Laing, Frank Maher, Charlie May, Justin McCarthy, George Rawle, George Shorten, Greg Stockdale, Jimmy Sullivan, and Rowley Watt.[5]
- Fitzroy squad: Bill Adams, Jim Atkinson (captain), Arthur Batchelor, Les Bryant, Charlie Chapman, Goldie Collins, Tommy Corrigan, Arch Dickens, Steve Donnellan, Ern Elliott, Clive Fergie, Jimmy Freake, Len Gale, Tom Hickey, Horrie Jenkin, Gordon McCracken, Stan Molan, Jack Moriarty, Gordon Rattray, Jim Tarbotton, Len Wigraft, and Fred Williams.[6]
- Richmond squad: Ted Bourke, Ralph Empey, Clarrie Hall, Joe Harrison, Doug Hayes, Gordon Hislop, Max Hislop, Jim Karthaus, Bob McCaskill, Norm McIntosh, Angus MacIsaac, Keith Millar, Dan Minogue (captain), Mel Morris, Reuben Reid, George Rudolph, James Smith, Jim Spain, Ernie Taylor, Vic Thorp, and George Valentine.[7]
- South Melbourne squad: Mark Tandy, and Les Woodfield.[8]
Season notes
- Administrator Charles Brownlow died on 23 January 1924; the Charles Brownlow Trophy, more commonly known as the Brownlow Medal, was instituted in his memory. The trophy is to be awarded to "the best and fairest player" in the VFL as determined by the votes of the field umpire at the end of each home-and-away match. From 1924 to 1930, there was a single vote cast per match.
- The VFL started fixing the schedule from 1924 to ensure that neither South Melbourne and St Kilda nor Melbourne and Richmond played home matches on the same day due to the heavy transport and labour burden associated with running the two nearby venues at the same time. This arrangement continued as long as the clubs played at nearby locations.[9]
- Bill Twomey, Jr. (1945–1958), Pat Twomey (1947–1949; 1952–1953), and Mick Twomey (1951–1961), and the grandfather of Collingwood's David Twomey (1979–1985) wins the 1924, 130-yard Stawell Giftin 12.1 seconds, off a handicap of 8½ yards.
- The Fitzroy versus Carlton match in the opening round was the first VFL match in which both teams scored 100 points.
- The VFL adopted the convention of home teams wearing black shorts and away teams wearing white shorts.
- Because the 1924 premiership was determined by a round-robin system, Essendon won the premiership despite being beaten by runners-up Richmond 9.13 (67) to 6.11 (47) in the last round-robin match; this is the only time in VFL/AFL history that the premiers lost their last match of the season. Richmond would have needed to win by at least 43 points to challenge Essendon to a grand final.
- Many of the Essendon players were unhappy at the poor performances of some of their teammates in the final round robin match against Richmond, and there were heated arguments and fist-fights in the rooms after the match and after a post-match function later that evening, related to accusations of match fixing and receiving bribes.
- On the Saturday after the VFL grand final, Essendon (in its role as 1924 VFL premiers) was challenged by 1924 VFA premiers, match in aid of Dame Nellie Melba's Limbless Soldiers' Appeal, purportedly (but not officially) for the championship of Victoria. Footscray unexpectedly defeated Essendon 9.10 (64) to 4.12 (36). Again there were accusations of match fixing, and champion centre half-back Tom Fitzmauricewas so disgusted with many of his teammates having, in his view, deliberately lost the match, he never played again for Essendon.
- The Seconds grand final, to have been staged between Geelong and minor premiers Essendon on 4 October, was originally scheduled to be played at Geelong's home ground, Corio Oval, but after Essendon raised its objections, the Seconds League rescheduled the match for Kardinia Park, which was a neutral venue, but still located in Geelong. Essendon again objected, and after the league dismissed their complaint, refused to travel to Geelong.[10] Consequently, the match was scratched and the Seconds premiership was awarded to Geelong.[11]
Awards
- The 1924 VFL premiership team was Essendon.
- The VFL's leading goalkicker was Jack Moriarty of Fitzroy with 82 goals, a VFL record. (Moriarty had played 13 senior games for Essendon in 1922, and after playing in Essendon's Second Eighteen for 1923, and was released to Fitzroy).
- The winner of the 1924 (inaugural) Edward "Carji" Greeves of Geelongwith 7 votes.
- St Kilda took the wooden spoon in 1924.
- The Victorian Junior League grand final was scratched and the premiership was awarded to Geelong after minor premiers Essendon refused to travel to Geelong for the grand final (main: 1924 VJFL season)
References
- ^ Rodgers, Stephen, Every Game Ever Played: VFL/AFL results, 1897–1991, Ringwood, VIC: Viking O'Neil, p. 158
- ^ 'Kickero' (9 January 1924). "Football Finals – New Scheme Suggested". The Herald. Melbourne, VIC. p. 10.
- ^ "Money and the semi-finals". The Sporting Globe. Melbourne, VIC. 17 September 1924. p. 12.
- ^ Since the final round-robin match between Richmond and Essendon was played between the premiers and runners-up, it is sometimes mistakenly (and anachronistically) spoken of as being a "grand final".
- ^ Weights compared: Essendon, The Sporting Globe, (Saturday, 13 September 1924), p.1.
- ^ Weights compared: Fitzroy, The Sporting Globe, (Saturday, 13 September 1924), p.1.
- ^ Weights compared: Richmond, The Sporting Globe, (Saturday, 20 September 1924), p.1.
- ^ Weights compared: South Melbourne, The Sporting Globe, (Saturday, 20 September 1924), p.1.
- ^ Stephen Rodgers (1992), Every Game Ever Played (3rd ed.), Lloyd O'Neil Pty Ltd, p. 158
- ^ "League Seconds Final". The Argus. Melbourne. 4 October 1924. p. 32.
- ^ "Football – second eighteens". The Argus. Melbourne. 15 October 1924. p. 14.
- Hogan P: The Tigers Of Old, Richmond FC, (Melbourne), 1996. ISBN 0-646-18748-1
- Maplestone, M., Flying Higher: History of the Essendon Football Club 1872–1996, Essendon Football Club, (Melbourne), 1996. ISBN 0-9591740-2-8
- Rogers, S. & Brown, A., Every Game Ever Played: VFL/AFL Results 1897–1997 (Sixth Edition), Viking Books, (Ringwood), 1998. ISBN 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. ISBN 0-670-86814-0
- Frost, L., "Did the 1924 Bombers throw their last game?", (25 September, 2006), AFL Official Website
- 1924 VFL Premiers vs VFA Premiers Match – BoylesFootballPhotos
Sources
- 1924 VFL season at AFL Tables
- 1924 VFL season at Australian Football