1903 VFL season
| 1903 VFL Premiership season | |
|---|---|
| Teams | 8 |
| Premiers |
Collingwood (2nd premiership) |
| Minor premiers |
Collingwood (2nd minor premiership) |
| Matches played | 71 |
| Highest attendance | 32,263 |
| Leading Goalkicker Medallist | Teddy Lockwood (Collingwood) |
|
← 1902 1904 → | |
The 1903 Victorian Football League season was the seventh season of the elite Australian rules football competition.
Premiership season
In 1903, 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 1903 VFL Premiers were determined by the specific format and conventions of the amended "Argus system".
Round 1
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Essendon | 3.3 (21) | Fitzroy | 11.7 (73) | East Melbourne Cricket Ground | 2 May 1903 |
| Carlton | 9.4 (58) | Collingwood | 5.7 (37) | Princes Park | 2 May 1903 |
| South Melbourne | 6.14 (50) | Melbourne | 5.13 (43) | Lake Oval | 2 May 1903 |
| St Kilda | 2.8 (20) | Geelong | 9.18 (72) | Junction Oval | 2 May 1903 |
Round 2
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Collingwood | 13.14 (92) | South Melbourne | 3.6 (24) | Victoria Park | 9 May 1903 |
| Melbourne | 4.5 (29) | Fitzroy | 6.11 (47) | MCG | 9 May 1903 |
| St Kilda | 3.12 (30) | Essendon | 4.6 (30) | Junction Oval | 9 May 1903 |
| Geelong | 8.7 (55) | Carlton | 6.9 (45) | SCG | 3 August 1903 |
The match between Geelong and Carlton, originally to have been played at Corio Oval, was postponed due to a railway strike. It was played between Rounds 13 and 14, and was opportunistically moved to the Sydney Cricket Ground.[1]
Round 3
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Geelong | 15.10 (100) | Melbourne | 4.8 (32) | Corio Oval | 16 May 1903 |
| Fitzroy | 12.17 (89) | South Melbourne | 3.4 (22) | Brunswick Street Oval | 16 May 1903 |
| Collingwood | 16.17 (113) | St Kilda | 5.3 (33) | Victoria Park | 16 May 1903 |
| Essendon | 5.5 (35) | Carlton | 7.14 (56) | East Melbourne Cricket Ground | 16 May 1903 |
Round 4
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Carlton | 12.16 (88) | St Kilda | 1.4 (10) | Princes Park | 23 May 1903 |
| South Melbourne | 5.7 (37) | Geelong | 6.11 (47) | Lake Oval | 23 May 1903 |
| Melbourne | 3.7 (25) | Essendon | 4.4 (28) | MCG | 23 May 1903 |
| Fitzroy | 7.20 (62) | Collingwood | 6.9 (45) | SCG | 23 May 1903 |
Round 5
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Fitzroy | 13.17 (95) | St Kilda | 3.10 (28) | Brunswick Street Oval | 30 May 1903 |
| Essendon | 10.13 (73) | Geelong | 5.10 (40) | East Melbourne Cricket Ground | 30 May 1903 |
| Collingwood | 10.17 (77) | Melbourne | 7.4 (46) | Victoria Park | 30 May 1903 |
| South Melbourne | 5.4 (34) | Carlton | 10.7 (67) | Lake Oval | 30 May 1903 |
Round 6
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Essendon | 5.11 (41) | South Melbourne | 6.12 (48) | East Melbourne Cricket Ground | 6 June 1903 |
| Carlton | 8.8 (56) | Fitzroy | 4.5 (29) | Princes Park | 6 June 1903 |
| St Kilda | 8.9 (57) | Melbourne | 2.15 (27) | Junction Oval | 6 June 1903 |
| Geelong | 8.3 (51) | Collingwood | 12.12 (84) | Corio Oval | 6 June 1903 |
Round 7
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Fitzroy | 8.14 (62) | Geelong | 3.4 (22) | Brunswick Street Oval | 8 June 1903 |
| Collingwood | 4.9 (33) | Essendon | 2.13 (25) | Victoria Park | 8 June 1903 |
| South Melbourne | 5.8 (38) | St Kilda | 6.11 (47) | Lake Oval | 8 June 1903 |
| Melbourne | 4.8 (32) | Carlton | 1.2 (8) | MCG | 8 June 1903 |
Round 8
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Melbourne | 6.6 (42) | South Melbourne | 3.17 (35) | MCG | 13 June 1903 |
| Geelong | 5.9 (39) | St Kilda | 7.13 (55) | Corio Oval | 13 June 1903 |
| Fitzroy | 8.6 (54) | Essendon | 3.11 (29) | Brunswick Street Oval | 13 June 1903 |
| Collingwood | 12.9 (81) | Carlton | 10.7 (67) | Victoria Park | 13 June 1903 |
Round 9
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Fitzroy | 4.10 (34) | Melbourne | 3.8 (26) | Brunswick Street Oval | 20 June 1903 |
| Essendon | 4.8 (32) | St Kilda | 4.5 (29) | East Melbourne Cricket Ground | 20 June 1903 |
| Carlton | 8.6 (54) | Geelong | 6.11 (47) | Princes Park | 20 June 1903 |
| South Melbourne | 4.11 (35) | Collingwood | 6.6 (42) | Lake Oval | 20 June 1903 |
Round 10
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Carlton | 6.14 (50) | Essendon | 2.2 (14) | Princes Park | 4 July 1903 |
| Melbourne | 5.9 (39) | Geelong | 10.7 (67) | MCG | 4 July 1903 |
| South Melbourne | 5.7 (37) | Fitzroy | 7.11 (53) | Lake Oval | 4 July 1903 |
| St Kilda | 2.4 (16) | Collingwood | 5.11 (41) | Junction Oval | 4 July 1903 |
Round 11
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Geelong | 9.13 (67) | South Melbourne | 3.12 (30) | Corio Oval | 11 July 1903 |
| Essendon | 3.16 (34) | Melbourne | 4.5 (29) | East Melbourne Cricket Ground | 11 July 1903 |
| Collingwood | 8.8 (56) | Fitzroy | 5.6 (36) | Victoria Park | 11 July 1903 |
| St Kilda | 4.3 (27) | Carlton | 8.14 (62) | Junction Oval | 11 July 1903 |
Round 12
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Carlton | 7.8 (50) | South Melbourne | 2.8 (20) | Princes Park | 18 July 1903 |
| St Kilda | 5.11 (41) | Fitzroy | 5.8 (38) | Junction Oval | 18 July 1903 |
| Geelong | 13.11 (89) | Essendon | 6.8 (44) | Corio Oval | 18 July 1903 |
| Melbourne | 4.8 (32) | Collingwood | 11.8 (74) | MCG | 18 July 1903 |
Round 13
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Melbourne | 4.8 (32) | St Kilda | 9.7 (61) | MCG | 25 July 1903 |
| Collingwood | 6.15 (51) | Geelong | 5.7 (37) | Victoria Park | 25 July 1903 |
| South Melbourne | 5.7 (37) | Essendon | 7.17 (59) | Lake Oval | 25 July 1903 |
| Fitzroy | 8.8 (56) | Carlton | 3.6 (24) | Brunswick Street Oval | 25 July 1903 |
Round 14
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Carlton | 5.11 (41) | Melbourne | 8.8 (56) | Princes Park | 8 August 1903 |
| Essendon | 7.4 (46) | Collingwood | 11.7 (73) | East Melbourne Cricket Ground | 8 August 1903 |
| Geelong | 5.3 (33) | Fitzroy | 9.12 (66) | Corio Oval | 8 August 1903 |
| St Kilda | 12.9 (81) | South Melbourne | 4.8 (32) | Junction Oval | 8 August 1903 |
Sectional Rounds
Sectional Round 1 (Round 15)
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Melbourne | 5.2 (32) | Carlton | 9.13 (67) | MCG | 15 August 1903 |
| Collingwood | 3.12 (30) | St Kilda | 2.6 (18) | Victoria Park | 15 August 1903 |
| Essendon | 8.7 (55) | Fitzroy | 10.14 (74) | East Melbourne Cricket Ground | 15 August 1903 |
| South Melbourne | 8.8 (56) | Geelong | 12.14 (86) | Lake Oval | 15 August 1903 |
Sectional Round 2 (Round 16)
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Carlton | 5.11 (41) | Collingwood | 6.7 (43) | Princes Park | 22 August 1903 |
| Geelong | 15.12 (102) | Essendon | 4.7 (31) | Corio Oval | 22 August 1903 |
| Fitzroy | 11.17 (83) | South Melbourne | 3.5 (23) | Brunswick Street Oval | 22 August 1903 |
| St Kilda | 7.12 (54) | Melbourne | 4.7 (31) | Junction Oval | 22 August 1903 |
Sectional Round 3 (Round 17)
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| St Kilda | 3.10 (28) | Carlton | 4.7 (31) | Junction Oval | 29 August 1903 |
| Collingwood | 13.13 (91) | Melbourne | 5.10 (40) | Victoria Park | 29 August 1903 |
| Essendon | 14.10 (94) | South Melbourne | 5.7 (37) | East Melbourne Cricket Ground | 29 August 1903 |
| Geelong | 3.9 (27) | Fitzroy | 5.4 (34) | Corio Oval | 29 August 1903 |
Ladder
| ||||||||||||
| TEAM | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | PTS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Collingwood (P) | 17 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 1063 | 667 | 159.37 | 60 | |||
| 2 | Fitzroy | 17 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 985 | 574 | 171.60 | 56 | |||
| 3 | Carlton | 17 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 865 | 636 | 136.01 | 44 | |||
| 4 | Geelong | 17 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 981 | 813 | 120.66 | 36 | |||
| 5 | St Kilda | 17 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 635 | 831 | 76.41 | 30 | |||
| 6 | Essendon | 17 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 691 | 879 | 78.61 | 26 | |||
| 7 | Melbourne | 17 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 593 | 925 | 64.11 | 12 | |||
| 8 | South Melbourne | 17 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 595 | 1083 | 54.94 | 8 | |||
| Key: P = Played, W = Won, L = Lost, D = Drawn, PF = Points for, PA = Points against | ||||||||||||
Semi finals
First Semi Final
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date | Attendance |
| Fitzroy | 11.15 (81) | Geelong | 4.5 (29) | MCG | 5 September 1903 | 15,000 |
Second Semi Final
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date | Attendance |
| Collingwood | 4.3 (27) | Carlton | 3.5 (23) | Brunswick Street Oval | 5 September 1903 | 16,600 |
Grand final
Main article: 1903 VFL Grand Final
Collingwood defeated Fitzroy 4.7 (31) to 3.11 (29). (For an explanation of scoring see Australian rules football).
| Team | 1 Qtr | 2 Qtr | 3 Qtr | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collingwood | 2.3 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 4.7 (31) |
| Fitzroy | 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 3.11 (29) |
Awards
- The 1903 VFL Premiership team was Collingwood.
- The VFL's leading goalkicker was Teddy Lockwood of Collingwood with 35 goals.
- South Melbourne took the "wooden spoon" in 1903.
Notable events
- Boundary umpires were added to some VFL matches, relieving the field umpire of the task of returning the ball to play from the boundary.
- Following their round 1 loss to Geelong, St. Kilda had played 100 games for a record of two wins and 98 losses.
- On 5 May, the second round match between Geelong and Carlton had to be postponed after a railway strike prevented the Carlton team from getting to Geelong. The following week, Melbourne had to travel to Geelong by boat as the strike still had not been resolved. On Monday, 3 August the match was played at the Sydney Cricket Ground; Geelong won 8.7 (55) to 6.9 (45).
- On 23 May, a crowd of 18,000 attended the round 4 match between Fitzroy and Collingwood at the Sydney Cricket Ground; Fitzroy won 7.20 (62) to 6.9 (45). Players wore large numbers on the back of their guernseys to assist the crowd.
- St. Kilda's win over South Melbourne in round 7 was their first on the road in 54 road matches; the sequence of 53 road losses is an AFL/VFL record. It was also St Kilda's first win on the road since beating Richmond in 1893 in the VFA.
- 1903 was the first time that the VFL Premiership was decided on the last kick of the day. The usually accurate Fitzroy captain Gerald Brosnan missed the goal from 30 metres out, and Fitzroy lost to Collingwood by two points.
References
- ↑ Rodgers, Stephen, Every Game Ever Played, VFL/AFL Results 1897–1991, Ringwood, VIC: Viking O'Neal, p. 36
- 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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