1901 VFL season
| 1901 VFL Premiership season | |
|---|---|
| Teams | 8 |
| Premiers |
 Essendon(2nd premiership) |
| Minor premiers |
Geelong (2nd minor premiership) |
| Matches played | 71 |
| Highest attendance | 30,000 |
| Leading Goalkicker Medallist |
Fred Hiskins (Essendon) |
|
← 1900 1902 → | |
The 1901 Victorian Football League season was the fifth season of the elite Australian rules football competition.
Premiership season
In 1901, 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.
Once the 14 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1901 VFL Premiers were determined by the specific format and conventions of the original Argus system.
Round 1
| Round 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 4 May (3:00 pm) | Fitzroy 8.13 (61) | def. | Carlton 2.7 (19) | Brunswick Street Oval | |
| Saturday, 4 May (3:00 pm) | Essendon 1.15 (21) | def. by | Collingwood 9.10 (64) | East Melbourne Cricket Ground | |
| Saturday, 4 May (3:00 pm) | Geelong 2.11 (23) | def. | Melbourne 3.3 (21) | Corio Oval | |
| Saturday, 4 May (3:00 pm) | St Kilda 6.5 (41) | def. by | South Melbourne 6.13 (49) | Junction Oval | |
Round 2
| Round 2 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 9 May (3:00 pm) | Collingwood 13.16 (94) | def. | Carlton 0.7 (7) | Victoria Park | |
| Thursday, 9 May (3:00 pm) | St Kilda 3.1 (19) | def. by | Essendon 9.14 (68) | Junction Oval | |
| Thursday, 9 May (3:00 pm) | Fitzroy 5.8 (38) | def. by | Geelong 6.12 (48) | Brunswick Street Oval | |
| Thursday, 9 May (3:00 pm) | Melbourne 5.6 (36) | def. by | South Melbourne 5.10 (40) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | |
Round 3
| Round 3 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 11 May (3:00 pm) | Carlton 3.8 (26) | def. by | Geelong 7.13 (55) | Princes Park | |
| Saturday, 11 May (3:00 pm) | South Melbourne 9.4 (58) | def. | Collingwood 6.11 (47) | Lake Oval | |
| Saturday, 11 May (3:00 pm) | Essendon 6.8 (44) | def. by | Fitzroy 7.5 (47) | East Melbourne Cricket Ground | |
| Saturday, 11 May (3:00 pm) | Melbourne 7.16 (58) | def. | St Kilda 3.3 (21) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | |
Round 4
| Round 4 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 18 May (3:00 pm) | Carlton 4.3 (27) | def. | South Melbourne 3.7 (25) | Princes Park | |
| Saturday, 18 May (3:00 pm) | Collingwood 6.8 (44) | def. | Melbourne 3.4 (22) | Victoria Park | |
| Saturday, 18 May (3:00 pm) | Geelong 4.10 (34) | def. | Essendon 4.6 (30) | Corio Oval | |
| Saturday, 18 May (3:00 pm) | Fitzroy 15.16 (106) | def. | St Kilda 3.5 (23) | Brunswick Street Oval | |
Round 5
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Essendon | 7.8 (50) | Melbourne | 3.6 (24) | EMCG | 25 May 1901 |
| Carlton | 5.10 (40) | St Kilda | 2.8 (20) | Princes Park | 25 May 1901 |
| South Melbourne | 3.7 (25) | Fitzroy | 6.5 (41) | Lake Oval | 25 May 1901 |
| Geelong | 3.6 (24) | Collingwood | 4.8 (32) | Corio Oval | 25 May 1901 |
Round 6
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Collingwood | 7.13 (55) | Fitzroy | 6.9 (45) | Victoria Park | 1 June 1901 |
| St Kilda | 2.5 (17) | Geelong | 11.12 (78) | Junction Oval | 1 June 1901 |
| South Melbourne | 5.5 (35) | Essendon | 3.23 (41) | Lake Oval | 1 June 1901 |
| Melbourne | 7.7 (49) | Carlton | 5.4 (34) | MCG | 1 June 1901 |
Round 7
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Geelong | 9.11 (65) | South Melbourne | 3.4 (22) | Corio Oval | 3 June 1901 |
| Fitzroy | 5.6 (36) | Melbourne | 5.6 (36) | Brunswick Street Oval | 3 June 1901 |
| St Kilda | 3.1 (19) | Collingwood | 7.11 (53) | Junction Oval | 3 June 1901 |
| Essendon | 15.15 (105) | Carlton | 3.7 (25) | EMCG | 3 June 1901 |
Round 8
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Collingwood | 7.7 (49) | Essendon | 7.6 (48) | Victoria Park | 8 June 1901 |
| Carlton | 5.7 (37) | Fitzroy | 6.8 (44) | Princes Park | 8 June 1901 |
| South Melbourne | 7.14 (56) | St Kilda | 1.1 (7) | Lake Oval | 8 June 1901 |
| Melbourne | 7.4 (46) | Geelong | 9.5 (59) | MCG | 8 June 1901 |
Round 9
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Essendon | 19.22 (136) | St Kilda | 4.5 (29) | EMCG | 22 June 1901 |
| Carlton | 6.6 (42) | Collingwood | 9.9 (63) | Princes Park | 22 June 1901 |
| South Melbourne | 6.9 (45) | Melbourne | 9.7 (61) | Lake Oval | 22 June 1901 |
| Geelong | 6.16 (52) | Fitzroy | 8.3 (51) | Corio Oval | 22 June 1901 |
Round 10
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Collingwood | 5.1 (31) | South Melbourne | 7.9 (51) | Victoria Park | 29 June 1901 |
| St Kilda | 4.4 (28) | Melbourne | 4.14 (38) | Junction Oval | 29 June 1901 |
| Fitzroy | 6.8 (44) | Essendon | 14.8 (92) | Brunswick Street Oval | 29 June 1901 |
| Geelong | 8.15 (63) | Carlton | 4.7 (31) | Corio Oval | 29 June 1901 |
Round 11
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Essendon | 6.13 (49) | Geelong | 2.12 (24) | EMCG | 6 July 1901 |
| St Kilda | 4.10 (34) | Fitzroy | 11.7 (73) | Junction Oval | 6 July 1901 |
| Melbourne | 5.6 (36) | Collingwood | 4.11 (35) | MCG | 6 July 1901 |
| South Melbourne | 10.10 (70) | Carlton | 3.2 (20) | Lake Oval | 6 July 1901 |
Round 12
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Fitzroy | 9.11 (65) | South Melbourne | 12.7 (79) | Brunswick Street Oval | 13 July 1901 |
| Collingwood | 6.5 (41) | Geelong | 12.11 (83) | Victoria Park | 13 July 1901 |
| Melbourne | 6.6 (42) | Essendon | 4.9 (33) | MCG | 13 July 1901 |
| St Kilda | 7.8 (50) | Carlton | 4.8 (32) | Junction Oval | 13 July 1901 |
Round 13
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Geelong | 8.7 (55) | St Kilda | 4.5 (29) | Corio Oval | 20 July 1901 |
| Essendon | 6.16 (52) | South Melbourne | 8.3 (51) | EMCG | 20 July 1901 |
| Carlton | 5.6 (36) | Melbourne | 6.6 (42) | Princes Park | 20 July 1901 |
| Fitzroy | 2.7 (19) | Collingwood | 3.6 (24) | Brunswick Street Oval | 20 July 1901 |
Round 14
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Collingwood | 10.20 (80) | St Kilda | 1.7 (13) | Victoria Park | 27 July 1901 |
| Carlton | 3.2 (20) | Essendon | 11.13 (79) | Princes Park | 27 July 1901 |
| South Melbourne | 6.9 (45) | Geelong | 6.13 (49) | Lake Oval | 27 July 1901 |
| Melbourne | 4.5 (29) | Fitzroy | 2.11 (23) | MCG | 27 July 1901 |
Sectional Rounds
Sectional Round 1 (Round 15)
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Collingwood | 6.8 (44) | Melbourne | 3.10 (28) | Victoria Park | 3 August 1901 |
| Carlton | 3.5 (25) | Geelong | 6.18 (54) | Princes Park | 3 August 1901 |
| South Melbourne | 1.3 (9) | Essendon | 10.9 (69) | Lake Oval | 3 August 1901 |
| St Kilda | 4.3 (27) | Fitzroy | 14.15 (99) | Junction Oval | 3 August 1901 |
Sectional Round 2 (Round 16)
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Geelong | 7.12 (54) | South Melbourne | 4.6 (30) | Corio Oval | 10 August 1901 |
| Essendon | 14.18 (102) | Carlton | 5.3 (33) | EMCG | 10 August 1901 |
| Melbourne | 19.10 (124) | St Kilda | 3.4 (22) | Lake Oval | 10 August 1901 |
| Fitzroy | 7.6 (48) | Collingwood | 2.6 (18) | Brunswick Street Oval | 10 August 1901 |
Sectional Round 3 (Round 17)
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Collingwood | 20.23 (143) | St Kilda | 2.3 (15) | Victoria Park | 17 August 1901 |
| Carlton | 3.6 (24) | South Melbourne | 4.13 (37) | Princes Park | 17 August 1901 |
| Geelong | 5.3 (33) | Essendon | 9.12 (66) | Corio Oval | 17 August 1901 |
| Fitzroy | 4.13 (37) | Melbourne | 3.6 (24) | Brunswick Street Oval | 17 August 1901 |
Ladder
| ||||||||||||
| TEAM | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | PTS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geelong | 17 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 853 | 597 | 142.88 | 56 | |||
| 2 | Essendon (P) | 17 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 1085 | 582 | 186.43 | 48 | |||
| 3 | Collingwood | 17 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 917 | 579 | 158.38 | 48 | |||
| 4 | Fitzroy | 17 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 877 | 666 | 131.68 | 38 | |||
| 5 | Melbourne | 17 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 716 | 610 | 117.38 | 38 | |||
| 6 | South Melbourne | 17 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 727 | 730 | 99.59 | 32 | |||
| 7 | Carlton | 17 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 476 | 1013 | 46.99 | 8 | |||
| 8 | St Kilda | 17 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 414 | 1288 | 32.14 | 4 | |||
| Key: P = Played, W = Won, L = Lost, D = Drawn, PF = Points for, PA = Points against | ||||||||||||
Semi finals
1st Semi Final
| Team | 1 Qtr | 2 Qtr | 3 Qtr | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collingwood | 2.3 | 3.5 | 5.8 | 6.9 (45) |
| Geelong | 0.2 | 1.3 | 3.4 | 3.6 (24) |
Crowd: 10,000 at EMCG, 31 August 1901
2nd Semi Final
| Team | 1 Qtr | 2 Qtr | 3 Qtr | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essendon | 0.1 | 3.2 | 5.7 | 6.10 (46) |
| Fitzroy | 2.4 | 2.6 | 3.8 | 6.9 (45) |
Crowd: 15,000 at Victoria Park, 31 August 1901
Grand final
Main article: 1901 VFL Grand Final
Essendon defeated Collingwood 6.7 (43) to 2.4 (16). (For an explanation of scoring see Australian rules football).
| Team | 1 Qtr | 2 Qtr | 3 Qtr | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essendon | 3.0 | 5.2 | 5.4 | 6.7 (43) |
| Collingwood | 0.1 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 2.4 (16) |
Crowd: 30,000 at Lake Oval, 7 September 1901
Awards
- The 1901 VFL Premiership team was Essendon.
- The VFL's leading goalkicker was Fred Hiskins of Essendon with 34 goals.
- St. Kilda took the "wooden spoon" in 1901.
Notable events
- Fitzroy lodged an official protest against the result of the Second Semi-Final, which it lost against Essendon by one point, alleging that the goal umpire had erred in awarding Essendon's first goal because the ball had hit the post. Later in the week, Fitzroy withdrew its protest against the result, and the scheduling of the Final was not affected;[1] an inquiry later in September found that the goal umpire had made a mistake, but no change was made to the score after the finding.[2]
- Against South Melbourne in Round 6, Essendon kicked 17 behinds between its first and second goals. Only Geelong against St. Kilda in 1919 and St. Kilda against Fitzroy in 1921 have beaten this unwanted record. Fred Hiskins kicked ten behinds.
- In the last home-and-away match between South Melbourne and Geelong, field umpire Henry "Ivo" Crapp experiments with clearly calling out his decisions.
- In Essendon's "Grand Final" victory against Collingwood, Albert Thurgood kicks three of Essendon's six goals. One of his goals was scored with an 86-yard (79 m.) drop-kick, and another (measured immediately after the match) was scored with a 93-yard (85 m.) place-kick into a strong head wind.
- VFL institutes the original Argus system to determine the season's premiers.
References
- 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
External links
| ||||||||||