1896 VFA season

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1896 season
Teams 13
Premiers Collingwood
(1st premiership)
Matches played 118
← 1895

The 1896 Victorian Football Association season was the 20th season of the Australian rules football competition. It was the final season in which the Association was the highest level of senior football competition in Victoria, with eight of its strongest members leaving the league and establishing the rival Victorian Football League from 1897.

The season was opened on 2 May, and concluded on 3 October with a playoff match for the premiership between the top two teams, in which Collingwood defeated South Melbourne by one goal. It was Collingwood's first VFA premiership.

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.

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 1[1]
Saturday, 2 May Fitzroy 2.4 def. by Collingwood 6.8 Fitzroy Cricket Ground [2]
Saturday, 2 May Melbourne 5.4 def. by Essendon 9.6 Melbourne Cricket Ground [2]
Saturday, 2 May Geelong 5.3 def. Port Melbourne 4.11 Corio Oval [2]
Saturday, 2 May Richmond 6.3 def. St Kilda 5.16 Richmond Cricket Ground [2]
Saturday, 2 May Footscray 3.7 def. by South Melbourne 5.8 Western Reserve [2]
Saturday, 2 May North Melbourne 6.6 def. Williamstown 2.5 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve [2]
Bye: Carlton

Round 2

Round 2[3]
Saturday, 9 May St Kilda 5.11 def. Fitzroy 2.14 St Kilda Cricket Ground [4]
Saturday, 9 May Footscray 2.8 def. by Melbourne 6.7 Western Reserve [4]
Saturday, 9 May Collingwood 3.12 def. Richmond 0.1 Victoria Park [4]
Saturday, 9 May South Melbourne 5.5 def. North Melbourne 4.3 South Melbourne Cricket Ground [4]
Saturday, 9 May Essendon 10.17 def. Carlton 0.7 East Melbourne Cricket Ground [4]
Saturday, 9 May Port Melbourne 3.2 drew with Williamstown 3.1 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground [4]
Bye: Geelong

Round 3

Round 3[5]
Saturday, 16 May Melbourne 11.8 def. Geelong 9.2 Melbourne Cricket Ground [6]
Saturday, 16 May Fitzroy 4.8 def. by Essendon 5.5 Fitzroy Cricket Ground [6]
Saturday, 16 May Collingwood 4.5 def. South Melbourne 3.2 Victoria Park [6]
Saturday, 16 May Port Melbourne 2.13 drew with Footscray 2.7 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground [6]
Saturday, 16 May Williamstown 6.8 def. Richmond 2.6 Williamstown Cricket Ground [6]
Saturday, 16 May Carlton 2.6 def. by North Melbourne 6.4 University Cricket Ground [6]
Bye: St Kilda

Round 4

Round 4 (Queen's Birthday Weekend)[7]
Saturday, 23 May South Melbourne 8.4 def. Geelong 2.1 South Melbourne Cricket Ground [8]
Saturday, 23 May North Melbourne 2.7 def. by Footscray 4.6 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve [8]
Saturday, 23 May Richmond 3.3 def. by Carlton 6.5 Richmond Cricket Ground [8]
Monday, 25 May Melbourne 5.8 def. by Fitzroy 6.3 Melbourne Cricket Ground [9]
Monday, 25 May Essendon 4.14 def. Collingwood 2.5 East Melbourne Cricket Ground [9]
Monday, 25 May St Kilda 3.8 drew with Williamstown 3.6 St Kilda Cricket Ground [9]
Bye: Port Melbourne

Round 5

Round 5[10]
Saturday, 30 May Fitzroy 3.6 def. North Melbourne 2.4 Fitzroy Cricket Ground [11]
Saturday, 30 May Geelong 2.6 drew with Footscray 2.7 Corio Oval [11]
Saturday, 30 May Melbourne 15.11 def. Williamstown 4.3 Melbourne Cricket Ground [11]
Saturday, 30 May Carlton 3.10 def. by Collingwood 4.8 University Cricket Ground [11]
Saturday, 30 May Essendon 11.6 def. St Kilda 3.6 East Melbourne Cricket Ground [11]
Saturday, 30 May Port Melbourne 9.9 def. Richmond 3.3 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground [11]
Bye: South Melbourne

Round 6

Round 6[12]
Saturday, 13 June Geelong 3.6 def. by Fitzroy 4.8 Corio Oval [13]
Saturday, 13 June Collingwood 4.4 def. Melbourne 2.4 Victoria Park [13]
Saturday, 13 June Essendon 6.7 def. South Melbourne 4.8 East Melbourne Cricket Ground [13]
Saturday, 13 June North Melbourne 5.6 def. Port Melbourne 3.3 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve [13]
Saturday, 13 June Footscray 10.10 def. Richmond 4.8 Western Reserve [13]
Saturday, 13 June St Kilda 5.11 def. Carlton 3.2 St Kilda Cricket Ground [13]
Bye: Williamstown

Round 7

Round 7[14]
Saturday, 20 June Fitzroy 4.13 def. Footscray 1.4 Fitzroy Cricket Ground [15]
Saturday, 20 June Carlton 1.1 drew with Geelong 1.13 Melbourne Cricket Ground [15]
Saturday, 20 June Williamstown 3.5 def. by Collingwood 4.3 Williamstown Cricket Ground [15]
Saturday, 20 June South Melbourne 9.7 def. by Richmond 2.8 South Melbourne Cricket Ground [15]
Saturday, 20 June Essendon 4.13 def. Port Melbourne 2.4 East Melbourne Cricket Ground [15]
Saturday, 20 June St Kilda 1.9 def. by Melbourne 7.4 St Kilda Cricket Ground [15]
Bye: North Melbourne

Round 8

Round 8[16]
Saturday, 27 June Geelong 4.9 def. by Collingwood 5.7 Corio Oval [17]
Saturday, 27 June Melbourne 5.6 def. by South Melbourne 6.3 Melbourne Cricket Ground [17]
Saturday, 27 June Williamstown 3.2 def. by Essendon 7.6 Williamstown Cricket Ground [17]
Saturday, 27 June Carlton 3.5 drew with Port Melbourne 3.6 University Cricket Ground [17]
Saturday, 27 June Footscray 3.6 def. St Kilda 2.7 Western Reserve [17]
Saturday, 27 June Richmond 5.6 def. by North Melbourne 8.11 Richmond Cricket Ground [17]
Bye: Fitzroy

Round 9

Round 9[18]
Saturday, 4 July Carlton 1.2 def. by Fitzroy 3.9 Melbourne Cricket Ground [19]
Saturday, 4 July North Melbourne 4.4 def. Geelong 2.7 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve [19]
Saturday, 4 July Collingwood 3.2 def. St Kilda 0.4 Victoria Park [19]
Saturday, 4 July South Melbourne 4.4 def. Port Melbourne 3.3 South Melbourne Cricket Ground [19]
Saturday, 4 July Richmond 1.4 def. by Essendon 9.9 Richmond Cricket Ground [19]
Saturday, 4 July Williamstown 5.6 def. Footscray 3.3 Williamstown Cricket Ground [19]
Bye: Melbourne

Round 10

Round 10[20]
Saturday, 11 July South Melbourne 3.5 def. Fitzroy 2.7 South Melbourne Cricket Ground [21]
Saturday, 11 July Essendon 2.3 def. by Geelong 4.9 East Melbourne Cricket Ground [21]
Saturday, 11 July Port Melbourne 2.0 def. by Melbourne 5.5 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground [21]
Saturday, 11 July Carlton 3.10 def. by Footscray 5.2 University Cricket Ground [21]
Saturday, 11 July St Kilda 6.9 def. Richmond 1.6 St Kilda Cricket Ground [21]
Saturday, 11 July Williamstown 5.8 def. North Melbourne 3.8 Williamstown Cricket Ground [21]
Bye: Collingwood

Round 11

Round 11[22]
Saturday, 18 July Richmond 2.4 def. by Fitzroy 10.16 Richmond Cricket Ground [23]
Saturday, 18 July Geelong 12.14 def. Williamstown 0.2 Corio Oval [23]
Saturday, 18 July Melbourne 12.8 def. North Melbourne 5.6 Melbourne Cricket Ground [23]
Saturday, 18 July Footscray 4.5 def. by Collingwood 7.5 Western Reserve [23]
Saturday, 18 July South Melbourne 3.16 def. Carlton 1.3 South Melbourne Cricket Ground [23]
Saturday, 18 July Port Melbourne 6.10 def. St Kilda 3.2 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground [23]
Bye: Essendon

Round 12

Round 12[24]
Saturday, 25 July Fitzroy 4.6 def. Port Melbourne 2.4 Fitzroy Cricket Ground [25]
Saturday, 25 July St Kilda 8.5 def. Geelong 5.13 St Kilda Cricket Ground [25]
Saturday, 25 July Melbourne 7.11 def. Carlton 3.4 Melbourne Cricket Ground [25]
Saturday, 25 July North Melbourne 4.4 def. by Collingwood 5.6 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve [25]
Saturday, 25 July Williamstown 3.4 def. by South Melbourne 5.9 Williamstown Cricket Ground [25]
Saturday, 25 July Essendon 10.4 def. Footscray 3.4 East Melbourne Cricket Ground [25]
Bye: Richmond

Round 13

Round 13[26]
Saturday, 1 August Essendon 5.9 def. Fitzroy 2.6 East Melbourne Cricket Ground [27]
Saturday, 1 August Geelong 5.2 def. by Collingwood 8.5 Corio Oval [27]
Saturday, 1 August South Melbourne 2.14 def. Melbourne 0.4 South Melbourne Cricket Ground [27]
Saturday, 1 August Richmond 2.5 def. by Port Melbourne 6.15 Richmond Cricket Ground [27]
Saturday, 1 August Carlton 2.3 def. by Williamstown 3.7 University Cricket Ground [27]
Saturday, 1 August St Kilda 4.13 def. North Melbourne 2.7 St Kilda Cricket Ground [27]
Bye: Footscray

Round 14

Round 14[28]
Saturday, 8 August Fitzroy 10.13 def. Williamstown 3.4 Fitzroy Cricket Ground [29]
Saturday, 8 August Geelong 10.18 def. Richmond 2.4 Corio Oval [29]
Saturday, 8 August Melbourne 14.12 def. Footscray 2.6 Melbourne Cricket Ground [29]
Saturday, 8 August Collingwood 6.6 def. Port Melbourne 4.11 Victoria Park [29]
Saturday, 8 August St Kilda 4.4 def. by South Melbourne 8.10 St Kilda Cricket Ground [29]
Saturday, 8 August North Melbourne 4.1 def. by Essendon 11.10 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve [29]
Bye: Carlton

Round 15

Round 15[30]
Saturday, 15 August Fitzroy 10.13 def. Geelong 5.7 Fitzroy Cricket Ground [31]
Saturday, 15 August Melbourne 6.8 def. Geelong 4.3 Melbourne Cricket Ground [31]
Saturday, 15 August South Melbourne 5.6 def. Essendon 3.0 South Melbourne Cricket Ground [31]
Saturday, 15 August Williamstown 2.10 def. by Port Melbourne 5.9 Williamstown Cricket Ground [31]
Saturday, 15 August Footscray 7.8 def. Carlton 4.2 Western Reserve [32]
Saturday, 15 August Richmond 4.4 def. by North Melbourne 19.12 Richmond Cricket Ground [31]
Bye: St Kilda

Round 16

Round 16[33]
Saturday, 22 August Port Melbourne 5.4 def. Fitzroy 3.8 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground [34]
Saturday, 22 August Essendon 5.3 def. by Melbourne 7.11 East Melbourne Cricket Ground [34]
Saturday, 22 August South Melbourne 3.10 drew with Collingwood 3.5 South Melbourne Cricket Ground [34]
Saturday, 22 August Footscray 4.4 drew with Williamstown 4.7 Western Reserve [34]
Saturday, 22 August Carlton 5.4 def. St Kilda 3.7 University Cricket Ground [34]
Bye: Geelong, North Melbourne, Richmond

Round 17

Round 17[35]
Saturday, 5 September Fitzroy 5.6 def. Melbourne 3.6 Fitzroy Cricket Ground [36]
Saturday, 5 September St Kilda 6.7 def. Footscray 5.1 St Kilda Cricket Ground [36]
Saturday, 5 September Collingwood 6.8 def. Essendon 3.4 Victoria Park [36]
Saturday, 5 September Geelong 5.6 def. by South Melbourne 6.9 Corio Oval [36]
Saturday, 5 September Richmond 2.1 def. by Williamstown 4.13 Richmond Cricket Ground [36]
Saturday, 5 September North Melbourne 6.6 def. Carlton 1.9 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve [36]
Bye: 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.[37]

Round 18

Round 18[38]
Saturday, 12 September Fitzroy 2.15 def. South Melbourne 0.3 Fitzroy Cricket Ground [39]
Saturday, 12 September Port Melbourne 5.7 drew with Geelong 5.5 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground [39]
Saturday, 12 September Richmond 1.8 def. by Melbourne 4.12 Richmond Cricket Ground [39]
Saturday, 12 September Collingwood 9.15 def. Carlton 1.3 Victoria Park [39]
Saturday, 12 September Footscray 5.15 drew with North Melbourne 5.3 Western Reserve [39]
Saturday, 12 September Williamstown 5.10 def. St Kilda 2.3 Williamstown Cricket Ground [39]
Bye: Essendon

Round 19

Round 19[40]
Saturday, 19 September Collingwood 3.8 def. by Fitzroy 4.4 Victoria Park [41]
Saturday, 19 September Geelong 4.7 def. by Melbourne 5.18 Corio Oval [41]
Saturday, 19 September Port Melbourne 3.4 def. by South Melbourne 6.4 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground [41]
Saturday, 19 September Footscray 5.7 def. by Essendon 9.15 Western Reserve [41]
Saturday, 19 September Carlton 2.6 def. by Richmond 5.5 Richmond City Reserve [41]
Saturday, 19 September North Melbourne 6.11 def. St Kilda 4.6 North Melbourne Recreation Reserve [41]
Bye: Williamstown

Round 20

Round 20[42]
Saturday, 26 September Geelong 4.7 def. by Essendon 8.4 Corio Oval [43]
Saturday, 26 September Port Melbourne 3.9 def. North Melbourne 1.10 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground [43]
Saturday, 26 September Richmond 7.5 def. St Kilda 5.7 Richmond City Reserve [43]
Saturday, 26 September Williamstown 6.4 def. Carlton 5.3 Williamstown Cricket Ground [43]
Bye: Collingwood, Fitzroy, Footscray, Melbourne, South Melbourne

Ladder

1896 VFA Ladder
TEAM P W L D GF GA PTS
1 Collingwood (P) 18 14 3 1 86 55 58
South Melbourne 18 14 3 1 85 55 58
3 Essendon 18 14 4 0 122 64 56
4 Fitzroy 18 12 6 0 80 59 48
Melbourne 18 12 6 0 119 66 48
6 North Melbourne 18 8 9 1 92 80 34
Port Melbourne 18 7 8 3 72 71 34
Williamstown 18 7 8 3 64 89 34
9 Footscray 18 5 10 3 69 94 26
St Kilda 18 6 11 1 69 88 26
11 Geelong 18 4 11 3 87 80 22
12 Carlton 18 2 14 2 46 93 12
Richmond 18 3 15 0 52 136 12
Key: P = Played, W = Won, L = Lost, D = Drawn, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, (P) = Premiers Source[43]

The Association had no formal tie-breakers in cases where clubs were equal on premiership points.

Playoff match

After the rostered premiership matches were complete, Collingwood and South Melbourne finished level on 58 premiership points, requiring the clubs to meet in a playoff match to determine the premiership. It was the second time in VFA history that a playoff match had been staged for the premiership – the first having occurred in 1878 – but it was the first time that the playoff was necessitated by a tie between two clubs for first place.[43]

It is often said that this playoff match was required only because, in addition to having equal win-loss records, Collingwood and South Melbourne finished with an equal record of goals scored and goals conceded; this version of events is given in several modern references.[44][45] However, 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,[46] 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.[47] Additionally, the clubs' records were not quite identical; Collingwood had scored one goal more than South Melbourne for the season.[43]

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 were scheduled with a bye in Round 20, and third-placed Essendon was six premiership points adrift with no chance of finishing first.[43] 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.[48] 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. 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.[46]

Collingwood and South Melbourne initially discussed playing the match on 26 September anyway, in spite of the Association's decision, but this proved to be unworkable as the Association would not provide an umpire.[46] Collingwood, at short notice, arranged to play Bendigo Football League premiers Eaglehawk at Victoria Park during Round 20, winning 6.7 – 3.6; South Melbourne used the week as a bye.[43]

Match summary

The playoff itself was played at a high standard in front of 12,000 spectators at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground. 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.[49][50]

Playoff Match for the 1896 VFA Premiership
Saturday, 3 October (3:00 pm) Collingwood def. South Melbourne East Melbourne Cricket Ground (Crowd: 12,000 approx.)
4.3
4.4
[51] 4.6
6.9		 Q1
Q2
Q3
Final		 2.1
3.6
5.9[51]
5.10		 Umpires: J. J. Trait
Condon, Dowdall, Flaherty, Gregory, Hailwood, Hall Goals McKay 2; Adamson, Pleass, Windley

Sources[49][50]

Notable events

  • Following Collingwood's 4–3 win against Carlton 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 inside those extra five minutes – and, in fact, on the final bell – Carlton formally challenged to have the result amended to a 3–3 draw.[52] The challenge was dismissed at the Association's next meeting, held three weeks later.[53] The ultimate importance of this decision on the final placings should not be overlooked, considering that Collingwood tied for first place and Carlton tied for last place on the ladder.
  • In its Round 9 match against Essendon, Richmond was penalised for having too many men on the field. Last-placed Richmond was leading first-placed Essendon at half time by the score 3.3 – 2.4, but Essendon called for a head count after half time, and Richmond was found to have had 21 men on the field. Richmond's score was reset to zero, and Essendon went on to win 9.9 – 1.4.[19]
  • Local fans at the North Melbourne Recreation Reserve rioted following North Melbourne's 4–5 loss to Collingwood 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. 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.[54]
  • On 2 October, the day before the playoff match for the premiership, six of the league's strongest clubs – Collingwood, Essendon, Fitzroy, Geelong, Melbourne and South Melbourne – opted to split from the Victorian Football Association, and established the Victorian Football League as a distinct rival competition from 1897; Carlton and St Kilda were also invited 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.[55]

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 – Collingwood, Essendon, Port Melbourne and South Melbourne – 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.[52] The competition was won by Essendon.

The Charity Cup was used to trial two new rules in the VFA:[52]

  • 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 Essendon 3.3 def. Collingwood 2.5 Melbourne Cricket Ground [56]
Saturday, 6 June Port Melbourne 2.1 def. South Melbourne 1.4 Melbourne Cricket Ground [56]
Charity Cup Final
Saturday, 6 June Essendon 2.4 def. Port Melbourne 1.1 Melbourne Cricket Ground [56]

References

  1. ↑ "Opening of the football season". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 2 May 1896. p. 4. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Observer (4 May 1896). "Football – Opening of the season". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). pp. 5–6. 
  3. ↑ "Football". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 6 May 1896. p. 6. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Observer (11 May 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). pp. 5–6. 
  5. ↑ "Football – Today's matches". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 16 May 1896. p. 4. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Observer (18 May 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). pp. 5–6. 
  7. ↑ "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 19 May 1896. p. 7. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Observer (25 May 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). p. 6. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Observer (26 May 1896). "Football – the birthday matches". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). p. 6. 
  10. ↑ "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 27 May 1896. p. 7. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 Observer (1 June 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). p. 6. 
  12. ↑ "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 9 June 1896. p. 7. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 Observer (15 June 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). p. 7. 
  14. ↑ "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 17 June 1896. p. 7. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 Observer (22 June 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). p. 6. 
  16. ↑ "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 23 June 1896. p. 3. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 Observer (29 June 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). p. 6. 
  18. ↑ "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 30 June 1896. p. 3. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 19.6 Observer (6 July 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). p. 6. 
  20. ↑ "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 7 July 1896. p. 3. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 Observer (13 July 1896). "Football – Essendon beaten by Geelong". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). p. 6. 
  22. ↑ "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 14 Jul 1896. p. 7. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 Observer (20 July 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). p. 6. 
  24. ↑ "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 22 July 1896. p. 6. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 25.5 Observer (27 July 1896). "Football – some exciting games and a riot". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). p. 6. 
  26. ↑ "Football". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 28 July 1896. p. 3. 
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4 27.5 Observer (3 August 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). p. 6. 
  28. ↑ "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 4 August 1896. p. 3. 
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 Observer (10 August 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). p. 6. 
  30. ↑ "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 11 August 1896. p. 3. 
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 31.4 Observer (17 August 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). pp. 5–6. 
  32. ↑ 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. Follower (17 August 1896). "The Football Season - public interest revived". The Age (Melbourne, VIC). p. 3. 
  33. ↑ "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 18 August 1896. p. 3. 
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 34.4 Observer (24 August 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). pp. 5–6. 
  35. ↑ "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 25 August 1896. p. 7. 
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 36.3 36.4 36.5 Observer (7 September 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). p. 6. 
  37. ↑ "Football – Senior matches postponed". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 31 August 1896. p. 7. 
  38. ↑ "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 9 September 1896. p. 6. 
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 39.4 39.5 "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 14 September 1896. p. 6. 
  40. ↑ "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 15 September 1896. p. 3. 
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 41.3 41.4 41.5 Observer (21 September 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). pp. 5–6. 
  42. ↑ "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 25 September 1896. p. 7. 
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 43.3 43.4 43.5 43.6 43.7 43.8 Observer (28 September 1896). "Football Notes". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). p. 6. 
  44. ↑ "1897 The Split". Oz Sports History. Retrieved 12 January 2013. 
  45. ↑ "1896 The First Grand Final". Victoria Park. 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2013. 
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 "The Football Quarrel". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 24 September 1896. p. 5. 
  47. ↑ "Football – Today's matches". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 19 September 1896. p. 9. 
  48. ↑ "Football Complication – clubs in conflict". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 23 September 1896. p. 6. 
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 Follower (5 October 1896). "Football Premiership". The Age (Melbourne, VIC). p. 6. 
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 Observer (5 October 1896). "The Football Premiership". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). p. 5. 
  51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 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.
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 52.2 "Football". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 2 June 1896. p. 3. 
  53. ↑ "Football – Today's matches". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 20 June 1896. p. 4. 
  54. ↑ "A football row". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 27 July 1896. p. 5. 
  55. ↑ "New Football Association". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 3 October 1896. p. 10. 
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 56.2 Observer (8 June 1896). "Football – The charity matches". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). p. 6. 
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