1902 VFL season
The 1902 Victorian Football League season was the sixth season of the elite Australian rules football competition.
| 1902 VFL Premiership season | |
|---|---|
 Collingwood, Premiers | |
| Teams | 8 |
| Premiers | Collingwood (1st premiership) |
| Minor premiers | Collingwood (1st minor premiership) |
| Matches played | 72 |
| Highest attendance | 35,202 |
| Leading Goalkicker Medallist | Charlie Baker (St Kilda) |
Premiership season
In 1902, the VFL competition consisted of eight 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 14 rounds. Then, based on ladder positions after those 14 rounds, three further 'sectional rounds' were played, with the teams ranked 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th playing in one section and the teams ranked 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th playing in the other.
Once the 17 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1902 VFL Premiers were determined by the specific format and conventions of the amended Argus system.
Round 1
| Round 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 3 May (3:00 pm) | Carlton 6.4 (40) | def. by | Geelong 11.12 (78) | Princes Park | |
| Saturday, 3 May (3:00 pm) | South Melbourne 3.7 (25) | def. by | Collingwood 5.13 (43) | Lake Oval | |
| Saturday, 3 May (3:00 pm) | Essendon 5.9 (39) | def. by | Fitzroy 7.10 (52) | East Melbourne Cricket Ground | |
| Saturday, 3 May (3:00 pm) | Melbourne 15.15 (105) | def. | St Kilda 7.9 (51) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | |
Round 2
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| St Kilda | 5.6 (36) | Fitzroy | 14.20 (104) | Junction Oval | 10 May 1902 |
| Geelong | 3.6 (24) | Essendon | 10.17 (77) | Corio Oval | 10 May 1902 |
| Melbourne | 4.10 (34) | Collingwood | 8.3 (51) | MCG | 10 May 1902 |
| South Melbourne | 8.13 (61) | Carlton | 0.8 (8) | Lake Oval | 10 May 1902 |
Round 3
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Fitzroy | 8.10 (58) | South Melbourne | 8.4 (52) | Brunswick Street Oval | 17 May 1902 |
| Essendon | 7.6 (48) | Melbourne | 3.7 (25) | EMCG | 17 May 1902 |
| Collingwood | 11.15 (81) | Geelong | 3.2 (20) | Victoria Park | 17 May 1902 |
| St Kilda | 2.13 (25) | Carlton | 4.9 (33) | Junction Oval | 17 May 1902 |
Round 4
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Geelong | 11.11 (77) | St Kilda | 5.3 (33) | Corio Oval | 24 May 1902 |
| Essendon | 5.8 (38) | South Melbourne | 4.11 (35) | EMCG | 24 May 1902 |
| Collingwood | 3.4 (22) | Fitzroy | 7.13 (55) | Victoria Park | 24 May 1902 |
| Carlton | 6.13 (49) | Melbourne | 8.12 (60) | Princes Park | 24 May 1902 |
Round 5
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Geelong | 5.14 (44) | South Melbourne | 3.9 (27) | Corio Oval | 31 May 1902 |
| Fitzroy | 7.17 (59) | Melbourne | 6.10 (46) | Brunswick Street Oval | 31 May 1902 |
| St Kilda | 5.5 (35) | Collingwood | 5.12 (42) | Junction Oval | 31 May 1902 |
| Essendon | 7.16 (58) | Carlton | 5.8 (38) | EMCG | 31 May 1902 |
Round 6
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Collingwood | 6.15 (51) | Essendon | 11.10 (76) | Victoria Park | 7 June 1902 |
| Carlton | 4.6 (30) | Fitzroy | 9.14 (68) | Princes Park | 7 June 1902 |
| South Melbourne | 5.13 (43) | St Kilda | 1.3 (9) | Lake Oval | 7 June 1902 |
| Melbourne | 2.13 (25) | Geelong | 3.8 (26) | MCG | 7 June 1902 |
Round 7
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Melbourne | 7.5 (47) | South Melbourne | 6.10 (46) | MCG | 9 June 1902 |
| Fitzroy | 8.14 (62) | Geelong | 3.8 (26) | Brunswick Street Oval | 9 June 1902 |
| St Kilda | 6.4 (40) | Essendon | 10.4 (64) | Junction Oval | 9 June 1902 |
| Collingwood | 8.11 (59) | Carlton | 3.3 (21) | Victoria Park | 9 June 1902 |
Round 8
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Collingwood | 4.26 (50) | South Melbourne | 1.8 (14) | Victoria Park | 14 June 1902 |
| St Kilda | 3.6 (24) | Melbourne | 8.7 (55) | Junction Oval | 14 June 1902 |
| Fitzroy | 5.12 (42) | Essendon | 7.6 (48) | Brunswick Street Oval | 14 June 1902 |
| Geelong | 6.7 (43) | Carlton | 7.5 (47) | Corio Oval | 14 June 1902 |
Round 9
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Fitzroy | 12.8 (80) | St Kilda | 2.7 (19) | Brunswick Street Oval | 21 June 1902 |
| Essendon | 2.3 (15) | Geelong | 4.10 (34) | EMCG | 21 June 1902 |
| Collingwood | 7.19 (61) | Melbourne | 4.7 (31) | Victoria Park | 21 June 1902 |
| Carlton | 4.7 (31) | South Melbourne | 2.6 (18) | Princes Park | 21 June 1902 |
Round 10
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Carlton | 10.12 (72) | St Kilda | 7.7 (49) | Princes Park | 5 July 1902 |
| South Melbourne | 6.10 (46) | Fitzroy | 4.10 (34) | Lake Oval | 5 July 1902 |
| Melbourne | 3.9 (27) | Essendon | 6.12 (48) | MCG | 5 July 1902 |
| Geelong | 6.8 (44) | Collingwood | 12.12 (84) | Corio Oval | 5 July 1902 |
Round 11
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| St Kilda | 4.9 (33) | Geelong | 7.7 (49) | Junction Oval | 12 July 1902 |
| South Melbourne | 5.6 (36) | Essendon | 6.7 (43) | Lake Oval | 12 July 1902 |
| Fitzroy | 6.9 (45) | Collingwood | 9.14 (68) | Brunswick Street Oval | 12 July 1902 |
| Melbourne | 4.12 (36) | Carlton | 4.9 (33) | MCG | 12 July 1902 |
Round 12
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Collingwood | 19.13 (127) | St Kilda | 1.4 (10) | Victoria Park | 19 July 1902 |
| Carlton | 4.9 (33) | Essendon | 1.10 (16) | Princes Park | 19 July 1902 |
| South Melbourne | 7.13 (55) | Geelong | 6.9 (45) | Lake Oval | 19 July 1902 |
| Melbourne | 5.7 (37) | Fitzroy | 4.9 (33) | MCG | 19 July 1902 |
Round 13
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| St Kilda | 2.10 (22) | South Melbourne | 5.7 (37) | Junction Oval | 26 July 1902 |
| Geelong | 8.6 (54) | Melbourne | 3.9 (27) | Corio Oval | 26 July 1902 |
| Essendon | 5.6 (36) | Collingwood | 7.5 (47) | EMCG | 26 July 1902 |
| Fitzroy | 4.6 (30) | Carlton | 6.8 (44) | Brunswick Street Oval | 26 July 1902 |
Round 14
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Essendon | 12.12 (84) | St Kilda | 3.4 (22) | EMCG | 2 August 1902 |
| Carlton | 2.3 (15) | Collingwood | 7.10 (52) | Princes Park | 2 August 1902 |
| South Melbourne | 3.9 (27) | Melbourne | 9.9 (63) | Lake Oval | 2 August 1902 |
| Geelong | 5.10 (40) | Fitzroy | 9.7 (61) | Corio Oval | 2 August 1902 |
Sectional Rounds
Sectional Round 1 (Round 15)
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Melbourne | 7.5 (47) | Carlton | 1.7 (13) | MCG | 16 August 1902 |
| Collingwood | 12.12 (84) | South Melbourne | 5.14 (44) | Victoria Park | 16 August 1902 |
| St Kilda | 3.5 (23) | Essendon | 10.12 (72) | Junction Oval | 16 August 1902 |
| Geelong | 5.6 (36) | Fitzroy | 6.15 (51) | Corio Oval | 16 August 1902 |
Sectional Round 2 (Round 16)
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Carlton | 6.11 (47) | St Kilda | 3.6 (24) | Princes Park | 23 August 1902 |
| Fitzroy | 5.4 (34) | Collingwood | 13.9 (87) | Brunswick Street Oval | 23 August 1902 |
| Essendon | 11.11 (77) | Melbourne | 8.8 (56) | MCG | 23 August 1902 |
| South Melbourne | 12.12 (84) | Geelong | 5.9 (39) | Lake Oval | 23 August 1902 |
Sectional Round 3 (Round 17)
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Carlton | 5.10 (40) | Essendon | 7.4 (46) | Princes Park | 30 August 1902 |
| Collingwood | 16.16 (112) | Geelong | 2.11 (23) | Victoria Park | 30 August 1902 |
| Fitzroy | 6.10 (46) | South Melbourne | 7.8 (50) | Brunswick Street Oval | 30 August 1902 |
| Melbourne | 10.9 (69) | St Kilda | 5.5 (35) | MCG | 30 August 1902 |
Ladder
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Collingwood (P) | 17 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 1121 | 562 | 199.5 | 60 | Semi finals |
| 2 | Essendon | 17 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 885 | 625 | 141.6 | 52 | |
| 3 | Fitzroy | 17 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 914 | 726 | 125.9 | 40 | |
| 4 | Melbourne | 17 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 800 | 735 | 108.8 | 36 | |
| 5 | South Melbourne | 17 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 700 | 704 | 99.4 | 28 | |
| 6 | Carlton | 17 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 594 | 770 | 77.1 | 28 | |
| 7 | Geelong | 17 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 702 | 914 | 76.8 | 28 | |
| 8 | St Kilda | 17 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 490 | 1170 | 41.9 | 0 |
Source: VFL ladder
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers.
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers.
Semi finals
First Semi Final
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date | Attendance |
| Essendon | 9.7 (61) | Melbourne | 7.9 (51) | Princes Park | 6 September 1902 | 8,000 |
Second Semi Final
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date | Attendance |
| Collingwood | 6.12 (48) | Fitzroy | 9.10 (64) | MCG | 6 September 1902 | 13,000 |
Preliminary final
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date | Attendance |
| Fitzroy | 4.10 (34) | Essendon | 6.9 (45) | MCG | 13 September 1902 | 26,000 |
Grand final
Collingwood defeated Essendon 9.6 (60) to 3.9 (27). (For an explanation of scoring see Australian rules football).
| Team | 1 Qtr | 2 Qtr | 3 Qtr | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collingwood | 1.2 | 3.2 | 5.5 | 9.6 (60) |
| Essendon | 1.3 | 2.7 | 3.7 | 3.9 (27) |
Awards
- The 1902 VFL Premiership team was Collingwood.
- The VFL's leading goalkicker in the home-and-away season was Charlie Baker of St Kilda with 30 goals; St Kilda kicked only 64 goals for the year, of which Baker kicked 46.9%, and Baker's proportion of his team's goals is a VFL/AFL record. Including finals, Ted Rowell of Collingwood scored the most goals with 33.
Notable events
- The VFL instituted the amended Argus system to determine the season's premiers.
- St Kilda finished last without a win, their sixth consecutive wooden spoon, and seven games behind second-last Geelong, both VFL/AFL records.
- A mysterious player, only identified as "Goodthur", played in two matches for Essendon at the time that Albert Thurgood was serving a three match suspension for striking St Kilda footballers Mick English and Alf Trevillian: in the back-pocket, against Fitzroy (round 8),[1][2] and in the ruck, against Melbourne (round 10).[3][4][5]
- Collingwood's Charlie Pannam becomes the first VFL player to play 100 VFL games (at the end of the 1902 season, he had played in 104 of the 106 VFL games that Collingwood had played since the VFL's first round of games in 1897).
Footnotes
- League Matches: Essendon v. Fitzroy, The Herald (Saturday, 14 June 1902), p.4.
- "Follower" in The Age () noted that "Goodthur" (in quotes) played well.
- League Matches: Essendon v. Melbourne, The Herald (Saturday, 5 July 1902), p.4.
- "Follower" in The Age () listed "Goodthur" (in quotes) as one of Essendon's best players.
- Football historians Michael Maplestone and Stephen Rogers, through a process of elimination, believe that the mysterious "Goodthur" was, in fact, Fred Mann, and was not Thurgood playing under a nom de guerre (Maplestone (1996) p.61). The current VFL/AFL player statistics for Fred Mann in rounds 8 and 10 reflects their view: "Fred Mann". AFL Tables.
References
- Hogan, P., The Tigers Of Old, The Richmond Football Club, (Richmond), 1996. ISBN 0-646-18748-1
- 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
External links
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