1902 VFL season
Template:Short description Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox VFL season
The 1902 VFL season was the sixth 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 3 May to 20 September, comprising a 17-round home-and-away season followed by a three-week finals series featuring the top four clubs.
Template:AFL Col won the premiership, defeating Template:AFL Ess by 33 points in the 1902 VFL grand final; it was Collingwood's first VFL premiership. Collingwood also won the minor premiership by finishing atop the home-and-away ladder with a 15–2 win–loss record. Template:AFL StK's Charlie Baker won the leading goalkicker medal as the league's leading goalkicker.
Background
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.
Home-and-away season
Round 1
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Round 2
Template:S-start |- style="background:#ccf;" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL StK | 5.6 (36) | Template:AFL Fit | 14.20 (104) | Junction Oval | 10 May 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Gee | 3.6 (24) | Template:AFL Ess | 10.17 (77) | Corio Oval | 10 May 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Mel | 4.10 (34) | Template:AFL Col | 8.3 (51) | MCG | 10 May 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL SM | 8.13 (61) | Template:AFL Car | 0.8 (8) | Lake Oval | 10 May 1902 Template:S-end
Round 3
Template:S-start |- style="background:#ccf;" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Fit | 8.10 (58) | Template:AFL SM | 8.4 (52) | Brunswick Street Oval | 17 May 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Ess | 7.6 (48) | Template:AFL Mel | 3.7 (25) | EMCG | 17 May 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Col | 11.15 (81) | Template:AFL Gee | 3.2 (20) | Victoria Park | 17 May 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL StK | 2.13 (25) | Template:AFL Car | 4.9 (33) | Junction Oval | 17 May 1902 Template:S-end
Round 4
Template:S-start |- style="background:#ccf;" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Gee | 11.11 (77) | Template:AFL StK | 5.3 (33) | Corio Oval | 24 May 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Ess | 5.8 (38) | Template:AFL SM | 4.11 (35) | EMCG | 24 May 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Col | 3.4 (22) | Template:AFL Fit | 7.13 (55) | Victoria Park | 24 May 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Car | 6.13 (49) | Template:AFL Mel | 8.12 (60) | Princes Park | 24 May 1902 Template:S-end
Round 5
Template:S-start |- style="background:#ccf;" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Gee | 5.14 (44) | Template:AFL SM | 3.9 (27) | Corio Oval | 31 May 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Fit | 7.17 (59) | Template:AFL Mel | 6.10 (46) | Brunswick Street Oval | 31 May 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL StK | 5.5 (35) | Template:AFL Col | 5.12 (42) | Junction Oval | 31 May 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Ess | 7.16 (58) | Template:AFL Car | 5.8 (38) | EMCG | 31 May 1902 Template:S-end
Round 6
Template:S-start |- style="background:#ccf;" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Col | 6.15 (51) | Template:AFL Ess | 11.10 (76) | Victoria Park | 7 June 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Car | 4.6 (30) | Template:AFL Fit | 9.14 (68) | Princes Park | 7 June 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL SM | 5.13 (43) | Template:AFL StK | 1.3 (9) | Lake Oval | 7 June 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Mel | 2.13 (25) | Template:AFL Gee | 3.8 (26) | MCG | 7 June 1902 Template:S-end
Round 7
Template:S-start |- style="background:#ccf;" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Mel | 7.5 (47) | Template:AFL SM | 6.10 (46) | MCG | 9 June 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Fit | 8.14 (62) | Template:AFL Gee | 3.8 (26) | Brunswick Street Oval | 9 June 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL StK | 6.4 (40) | Template:AFL Ess | 10.4 (64) | Junction Oval | 9 June 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Col | 8.11 (59) | Template:AFL Car | 3.3 (21) | Victoria Park | 9 June 1902 Template:S-end
Round 8
Template:S-start |- style="background:#ccf;" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Col | 4.26 (50) | Template:AFL SM | 1.8 (14) | Victoria Park | 14 June 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL StK | 3.6 (24) | Template:AFL Mel | 8.7 (55) | Junction Oval | 14 June 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Fit | 5.12 (42) | Template:AFL Ess | 7.6 (48) | Brunswick Street Oval | 14 June 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Gee | 6.7 (43) | Template:AFL Car | 7.5 (47) | Corio Oval | 14 June 1902 Template:S-end
Round 9
Template:S-start |- style="background:#ccf;" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Fit | 12.8 (80) | Template:AFL StK | 2.7 (19) | Brunswick Street Oval | 21 June 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Ess | 2.3 (15) | Template:AFL Gee | 4.10 (34) | EMCG | 21 June 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Col | 7.19 (61) | Template:AFL Mel | 4.7 (31) | Victoria Park | 21 June 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Car | 4.7 (31) | Template:AFL SM | 2.6 (18) | Princes Park | 21 June 1902 Template:S-end
Round 10
Template:S-start |- style="background:#ccf;" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Car | 10.12 (72) | Template:AFL StK | 7.7 (49) | Princes Park | 5 July 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL SM | 6.10 (46) | Template:AFL Fit | 4.10 (34) | Lake Oval | 5 July 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Mel | 3.9 (27) | Template:AFL Ess | 6.12 (48) | MCG | 5 July 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Gee | 6.8 (44) | Template:AFL Col | 12.12 (84) | Corio Oval | 5 July 1902 Template:S-end
Round 11
Template:S-start |- style="background:#ccf;" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL StK | 4.9 (33) | Template:AFL Gee | 7.7 (49) | Junction Oval | 12 July 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL SM | 5.6 (36) | Template:AFL Ess | 6.7 (43) | Lake Oval | 12 July 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Fit | 6.9 (45) | Template:AFL Col | 9.14 (68) | Brunswick Street Oval | 12 July 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Mel | 4.12 (36) | Template:AFL Car | 4.9 (33) | MCG | 12 July 1902 Template:S-end
Round 12
Template:S-start |- style="background:#ccf;" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Col | 19.13 (127) | Template:AFL StK | 1.4 (10) | Victoria Park | 19 July 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Car | 4.9 (33) | Template:AFL Ess | 1.10 (16) | Princes Park | 19 July 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL SM | 7.13 (55) | Template:AFL Gee | 6.9 (45) | Lake Oval | 19 July 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Mel | 5.7 (37) | Template:AFL Fit | 4.9 (33) | MCG | 19 July 1902 Template:S-end
Round 13
Template:S-start |- style="background:#ccf;" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL StK | 2.10 (22) | Template:AFL SM | 5.7 (37) | Junction Oval | 26 July 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Gee | 8.6 (54) | Template:AFL Mel | 3.9 (27) | Corio Oval | 26 July 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Ess | 5.6 (36) | Template:AFL Col | 7.5 (47) | EMCG | 26 July 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Fit | 4.6 (30) | Template:AFL Car | 6.8 (44) | Brunswick Street Oval | 26 July 1902 Template:S-end
Round 14
Template:S-start |- style="background:#ccf;" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Ess | 12.12 (84) | Template:AFL StK | 3.4 (22) | EMCG | 2 August 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Car | 2.3 (15) | Template:AFL Col | 7.10 (52) | Princes Park | 2 August 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL SM | 3.9 (27) | Template:AFL Mel | 9.9 (63) | Lake Oval | 2 August 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Gee | 5.10 (40) | Template:AFL Fit | 9.7 (61) | Corio Oval | 2 August 1902 Template:S-end
Pre-sectional ladder
| Section A | |
| Section B |
Template:Australian rules football ladder start |- style=background:#E6E6FA | 1 || align=left | Template:AFL Col || 14 || 12 || 2 || 0 || 838 || 461 || 181.8 || 48 |- style=background:#FEEAD3 | 2 || align=left | Template:AFL Ess || 14 || 10 || 4 || 0 || 690 || 506 || 136.4 || 40 |- style=background:#E6E6FA | 3 || align=left | Template:AFL Fit || 14 || 9 || 5 || 0 || 783 || 553 || 141.6 || 36 |- style=background:#FEEAD3 | 4 || align=left | Template:AFL Mel || 14 || 7 || 7 || 0 || 618 || 610 || 101.3 || 28 |- style=background:#E6E6FA | 5 || align=left | Template:AFL Gee || 14 || 7 || 7 || 0 || 604 || 667 || 90.6 || 28 |- style=background:#FEEAD3 | 6 || align=left | Template:AFL Car || 14 || 6 || 8 || 0 || 494 || 653 || 75.7 || 24 |- style=background:#E6E6FA | 7 || align=left | Template:AFL SM || 14 || 5 || 9 || 0 || 522 || 535 || 97.6 || 20 |- style=background:#FEEAD3 | 8 || align=left | Template:AFL StK || 14 || 0 || 14 || 0 || 408 || 972 || 42.0 || 0 |}
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for
Source: AFL Tables
Round 15 (Sectional round 1)
Template:S-start |- style="background:#ccf;" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Mel | 7.5 (47) | Template:AFL Car | 1.7 (13) | MCG | 16 August 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Col | 12.12 (84) | Template:AFL SM | 5.14 (44) | Victoria Park | 16 August 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL StK | 3.5 (23) | Template:AFL Ess | 10.12 (72) | Junction Oval | 16 August 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Gee | 5.6 (36) | Template:AFL Fit | 6.15 (51) | Corio Oval | 16 August 1902 Template:S-end
Round 16 (Sectional round 2)
Template:S-start |- style="background:#ccf;" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Car | 6.11 (47) | Template:AFL StK | 3.6 (24) | Princes Park | 23 August 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Fit | 5.4 (34) | Template:AFL Col | 13.9 (87) | Brunswick Street Oval | 23 August 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Ess | 11.11 (77) | Template:AFL Mel | 8.8 (56) | MCG | 23 August 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL SM | 12.12 (84) | Template:AFL Gee | 5.9 (39) | Lake Oval | 23 August 1902 Template:S-end
Round 17 (Sectional round 3)
Template:S-start |- style="background:#ccf;" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Car | 5.10 (40) | Template:AFL Ess | 7.4 (46) | Princes Park | 30 August 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Col | 16.16 (112) | Template:AFL Gee | 2.11 (23) | Victoria Park | 30 August 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Fit | 6.10 (46) | Template:AFL SM | 7.8 (50) | Brunswick Street Oval | 30 August 1902 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Mel | 10.9 (69) | Template:AFL StK | 5.5 (35) | MCG | 30 August 1902 Template:S-end
Ladder
| (P) | Premiers |
| Qualified for finals |
Template:Australian rules football ladder start |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 1 || align=left | Template:AFL Col (P) || 17 || 15 || 2 || 0 || 1121 || 562 || 199.5 || 60 |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 2 || align=left | Template:AFL Ess || 17 || 13 || 4 || 0 || 885 || 625 || 141.6 || 52 |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 3 || align=left | Template:AFL Fit || 17 || 10 || 7 || 0 || 914 || 726 || 125.9 || 40 |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 4 || align=left | Template:AFL Mel || 17 || 9 || 8 || 0 || 800 || 735 || 108.8 || 36 |- | 5 || align=left | Template:AFL SM || 17 || 7 || 10 || 0 || 700 || 704 || 99.4 || 28 |- | 6 || align=left | Template:AFL Car || 17 || 7 || 10 || 0 || 594 || 770 || 77.1 || 28 |- | 7 || align=left | Template:AFL Gee || 17 || 7 || 10 || 0 || 702 || 914 || 76.8 || 28 |- | 8 || align=left | Template:AFL StK || 17 || 0 || 17 || 0 || 490 || 1170 || 41.9 || 0 |}
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for
Average score: 45.6
Source: AFL Tables
Finals series
Semi-finals
Template:S-start |- style="background:#ccf;" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date | Attendance |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Ess | 9.7 (61) | Template:AFL Mel | 7.9 (51) | Princes Park | 6 September 1902 | 8,000 |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Col | 6.12 (48) | Template:AFL Fit | 9.10 (64) | MCG | 6 September 1902 | 13,000 |- style="background:#fff;" Template:S-end
Preliminary final
Template:S-start |- style="background:#ccf;" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date | Attendance |- style="background:#fff;" | Template:AFL Fit | 4.10 (34) | Template:AFL Ess | 6.9 (45) | MCG | 13 September 1902 | 26,000 |- style="background:#fff;" Template:S-end
Grand final
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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 having the best overall record for the season following the second week of finals, Collingwood won the right to challenge the preliminary final winner for the premiership.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Template:Australian rules football win–loss table legend
Source: AFL Tables
Season notes
- 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.
- In each of Rounds 8 and 10, while Template:AFL Ess champion Albert Thurgood was serving a three-match suspension for striking, one of his team-mates took the field each week under the nom de guerre "Goodthur"; the name was used (in quote marks) in all news reports of the matches. Football historians Michael Maplestone and Stephen Rogers, through a process of elimination, determined that Goodthur was most likely Fred Mann, and official statistics reflect this.<ref>(Maplestone (1996) p.61).</ref>
- 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).
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.
References
- Hogan, P., The Tigers Of Old, The Richmond Football Club, (Richmond), 1996. Template:ISBN
- Rogers, S. & Brown, A., Every Game Ever Played: VFL/AFL Results 1897–1997 (Sixth Edition), Viking Books, (Ringwood), 1998. Template:ISBN
- 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. Template:ISBN
Sources
- 1902 VFL season at AFL Tables
- 1902 VFL season at Australian Football