The 1897 season the VFA's first season as the second-tier senior football competition in Victoria. From 1877 until 1896, the VFA had been the top senior competition in the colony, but at the end of 1896, eight of the association's strongest clubs broke away, establishing the rival Victorian Football League, which immediately assumed the position as the highest level of competition.
During the 1890s, there was an off-field power struggle within the VFA between the stronger and weaker clubs, as the stronger clubs sought greater administrative control commensurate with their relative financial contribution to the game. This came to a head during 1896 when it was proposed that gate profits, which were always lower in matches against the weaker clubs, be shared equally amongst the Association clubs; in response to the threat that this could be endorsed on the votes of the weaker clubs, six of the strongest clubs – Collingwood, Essendon, Fitzroy, Geelong, Melbourne and South Melbourne – seceded from the VFA, inviting Carlton and St Kilda to join them, to form a rival senior competition, the Victorian Football League.[1] The League became recognised as the highest level of senior competition in the colony of Victoria, and the Association became the second-tier senior competition, a position it has maintained since.
The establishment of the League left only five of the Association's existing senior competing clubs: Footscray, North Melbourne, Port Melbourne, Richmond and Williamstown. The VFL gave those five clubs the opportunity to compete as a junior competition under and without representation on the VFL's administration, but they rejected the offer and continued as an independent body.[1] One junior club, Brunswick, was elevated to senior status to bring the numbers to six. The Argus reported in March that two other junior clubs would be elevated to bring numbers to eight, with Essendon District, Brighton, Hawksburn, Hawthorn or Geelong all cited as potential candidates,[2] but this did not eventuate and the association size remained at six teams until 1899.[3]
The three Ballarat-based clubs – Ballarat, Ballarat Imperial and South Ballarat – had been members of the Association with representation on the Board of Management, but had not actively competed for the Association premiership. As there was no longer a strong administrative benefit to belonging to the weakened Association, those clubs also ended their affiliations prior to 1897.[4]
A committee set up in 1896 prior to the secession, featuring delegates both from teams which did secede and teams which did not, developed a series of rule changes which were implemented in 1897: however, since the rules were not adopted until after the secession, the two bodies elected to adopt some slightly different rule changes.[5] Key changes were:
The modern system of scoring was introduced, with six points awarded for a goal and one point for a behind, replacing the system where games were decided solely on the number of goals scored. (Adopted by both bodies)
The "little mark" was abolished, with the minimum length required for a kick to be claimed as a mark increased from two yards to ten yards (Adopted by both bodies)
The number of players in a team was reduced from twenty to eighteen, with two follower positions eliminated. (Later adopted by the League in 1899)[6]
In Round 12, only nine of the Footscray team arrived for their match against Brunswick; Footscray was forced to call on trainers, reserves and about half a dozen willing spectators to take the field in order to field a full team. Despite this unusual handicap, Footscray still comfortably won the game.[18]
The Association introduced premiership medals to be award to players of the premier club for the first time, replacing the existing practice of awarding a premiership cap to each player.[6]
^ ab"The Victorian Football Association". North Melbourne Courier and West Melbourne Advertiser. No. 72. North Melbourne. 19 March 1897. p. 3.
^Observer (12 March 1897). "Next Winter's football". The Argus. Melbourne. p. 6.
^ abObserver (13 September 1897). "Close of the Football Season". The Argus. Melbourne. p. 3.
^"Ballarat Football Club". The Ballarat Star. Ballarat, VIC. 10 April 1897. p. 4.
^Observer (12 March 1897). "Next winter's football – rival organisations – the new rules". The Argus. Melbourne. p. 6.
^ ab"Free Kick" (20 March 1897). "Football – Unsportsmanlike action of the League clubs". The Standard. Vol. XIII, no. 11. Port Melbourne. p. 2.
^ abcMarkwell (8 May 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne. p. 916.
^ abcMarkwell (15 May 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne. pp. 966–7.
^ abcMarkwell (22 May 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne. pp. 1019–20.
^ abcdefMarkwell (29 May 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne. pp. 1071–2.
^"To-day's matches". The Argus. Melbourne. 24 May 1897. p. 6.
^ abcMarkwell (5 June 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne. pp. 1123–4.
^ abcMarkwell (12 June 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne. p. 1176.
^ abcMarkwell (19 June 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne. p. 1229.
^ abcMarkwell (26 June 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne. pp. 1277–8.
^ abcMarkwell (3 July 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne. p. 22.
^ abcMarkwell (10 July 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne. p. 77.
^ abcdMarkwell (17 July 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne. p. 127.
^ abcMarkwell (24 July 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne. p. 180.
^ abcMarkwell (31 July 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne. pp. 231–2.
^ abcMarkwell (14 August 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne. p. 358.
^ abcMarkwell (21 August 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne. p. 391.
^ abcMarkwell (28 August 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne. pp. 443–4.
^ abcdMarkwell (4 September 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne. p. 497.
^ abcMarkwell (11 September 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne. p. 549.
^ abcMarkwell (18 September 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne. p. 605.
^Markwell (7 August 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne. p. 284.
^Fiddian, Marc (2004), The VFA: a history of the Victorian Football Association, 1877–1995, p. 21
^"Football – the Victorian Football League". The Argus. Melbourne. 13 April 1897. p. 6.
December 03, 2023
1897, season, 1897, victorian, football, association, season, 21st, season, australian, rules, football, competition, premiership, port, melbourne, football, club, first, premiership, history, 1897, premiership, seasonport, melbourne, premier, teamteams6premie. The 1897 Victorian Football Association season was the 21st season of the Australian rules football competition The premiership was won by the Port Melbourne Football Club the first premiership in its history 1897 premiership seasonPort Melbourne premier teamTeams6PremiersPort Melbourne1st premiership 18961898 The 1897 season the VFA s first season as the second tier senior football competition in Victoria From 1877 until 1896 the VFA had been the top senior competition in the colony but at the end of 1896 eight of the association s strongest clubs broke away establishing the rival Victorian Football League which immediately assumed the position as the highest level of competition Contents 1 Association membership 2 Season results 2 1 Round 1 2 2 Round 2 2 3 Round 3 2 4 Round 4 2 5 Round 5 2 6 Round 6 2 7 Round 7 2 8 Round 8 2 9 Round 9 2 10 Round 10 2 11 Round 11 2 12 Round 12 2 13 Round 13 2 14 Round 14 2 15 Round 15 2 16 Round 16 2 17 Round 17 2 18 Round 18 2 19 Round 19 2 20 Round 20 3 Ladder 4 Notable events 4 1 Representative games 4 2 Other notable events 5 See also 6 ReferencesAssociation membership editDuring the 1890s there was an off field power struggle within the VFA between the stronger and weaker clubs as the stronger clubs sought greater administrative control commensurate with their relative financial contribution to the game This came to a head during 1896 when it was proposed that gate profits which were always lower in matches against the weaker clubs be shared equally amongst the Association clubs in response to the threat that this could be endorsed on the votes of the weaker clubs six of the strongest clubs Collingwood Essendon Fitzroy Geelong Melbourne and South Melbourne seceded from the VFA inviting Carlton and St Kilda to join them to form a rival senior competition the Victorian Football League 1 The League became recognised as the highest level of senior competition in the colony of Victoria and the Association became the second tier senior competition a position it has maintained since The establishment of the League left only five of the Association s existing senior competing clubs Footscray North Melbourne Port Melbourne Richmond and Williamstown The VFL gave those five clubs the opportunity to compete as a junior competition under and without representation on the VFL s administration but they rejected the offer and continued as an independent body 1 One junior club Brunswick was elevated to senior status to bring the numbers to six The Argus reported in March that two other junior clubs would be elevated to bring numbers to eight with Essendon District Brighton Hawksburn Hawthorn or Geelong all cited as potential candidates 2 but this did not eventuate and the association size remained at six teams until 1899 3 The three Ballarat based clubs Ballarat Ballarat Imperial and South Ballarat had been members of the Association with representation on the Board of Management but had not actively competed for the Association premiership As there was no longer a strong administrative benefit to belonging to the weakened Association those clubs also ended their affiliations prior to 1897 4 A committee set up in 1896 prior to the secession featuring delegates both from teams which did secede and teams which did not developed a series of rule changes which were implemented in 1897 however since the rules were not adopted until after the secession the two bodies elected to adopt some slightly different rule changes 5 Key changes were The modern system of scoring was introduced with six points awarded for a goal and one point for a behind replacing the system where games were decided solely on the number of goals scored Adopted by both bodies The little mark was abolished with the minimum length required for a kick to be claimed as a mark increased from two yards to ten yards Adopted by both bodies The number of players in a team was reduced from twenty to eighteen with two follower positions eliminated Later adopted by the League in 1899 6 Season results editRound 1 edit Round 1Saturday 1 May Port Melbourne 8 19 67 def North Melbourne 2 6 18 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground 7 Saturday 1 May Williamstown 3 4 22 def by Footscray 4 5 29 Williamstown Cricket Ground 7 Saturday 1 May Richmond 5 8 38 def Brunswick 2 3 15 Melbourne Cricket Ground 7 Round 2 edit Round 2Saturday 8 May Port Melbourne 10 12 72 def Richmond 3 5 23 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground 8 Saturday 8 May Footscray 6 12 48 def Brunswick 3 4 22 Western Reserve 8 Saturday 8 May Williamstown 4 6 30 def by North Melbourne 4 9 33 Williamstown Cricket Ground 8 Round 3 edit Round 3Saturday 15 May Williamstown 2 3 15 def by Port Melbourne 4 8 32 Williamstown Cricket Ground 9 Saturday 15 May Richmond 5 10 40 def by Footscray 10 13 73 Richmond City Reserve 9 Saturday 15 May Brunswick 3 3 21 def North Melbourne 1 10 16 Park St Reserve 9 Round 4 edit Round 4Saturday 22 May Port Melbourne 17 18 120 def Brunswick 2 0 12 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground 10 Saturday 22 May North Melbourne 8 7 55 def by Footscray 9 8 62 East Melbourne Cricket Ground 10 Saturday 22 May Richmond 7 10 52 drew with Williamstown 8 4 52 Richmond City Reserve 10 Round 5 edit Round 5 11 Monday 24 May morning Footscray 2 5 17 def by Port Melbourne 7 9 51 Western Reserve 10 Monday 24 May morning North Melbourne 5 13 43 def Richmond 6 6 42 East Melbourne Cricket Ground 10 Monday 24 May morning Williamstown 9 16 70 def Brunswick 4 2 26 Williamstown Cricket Ground 10 Round 6 edit Round 6Saturday 29 May North Melbourne 6 5 41 def Port Melbourne 2 5 17 East Melbourne Cricket Ground 12 Saturday 29 May Footscray 2 10 22 def Williamstown 0 4 4 Western Reserve 12 Saturday 29 May Brunswick 8 6 54 def Richmond 4 15 39 Park St Reserve 12 Round 7 edit Round 7Saturday 5 June Richmond 8 1 49 def by Port Melbourne 8 12 60 Richmond Cricket Ground 13 Saturday 5 June North Melbourne 5 8 38 def Williamstown 3 5 23 East Melbourne Cricket Ground 13 Saturday 5 June Brunswick 4 2 26 def by Footscray 8 8 56 Park St Reserve 13 Round 8 edit Round 8Saturday 12 June Port Melbourne 4 10 34 def Williamstown 4 5 29 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground 14 Saturday 12 June Footscray 8 13 61 def Richmond 6 8 44 Western Reserve 14 Saturday 12 June Brunswick 2 9 21 def by North Melbourne 8 9 57 Park St Reserve 14 Round 9 edit Round 9 Charity Round Saturday 19 June North Melbourne 3 12 30 def Footscray 2 4 16 East Melbourne Cricket Ground 15 Saturday 19 June Brunswick 1 1 7 def by Port Melbourne 6 9 45 Park St Reserve 15 Saturday 19 June Williamstown 8 15 63 def Richmond 3 3 21 Williamstown Cricket Ground 15 Round 10 edit Round 10Saturday 26 June Port Melbourne 3 11 29 def North Melbourne 3 6 24 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground 16 Saturday 26 June Brunswick 0 1 1 def by Williamstown 6 9 45 Park St Reserve 16 Saturday 26 June Richmond 2 2 14 def by North Melbourne 7 8 50 Richmond Cricket Ground 16 Round 11 edit Round 11Saturday 3 July North Melbourne 3 10 28 def by Port Melbourne 7 4 46 East Melbourne Cricket Ground 17 Saturday 3 July Williamstown 3 5 23 def Footscray 2 9 21 Williamstown Cricket Ground 17 Saturday 3 July Brunswick 6 8 44 def Richmond 4 8 32 Park St Reserve 17 Round 12 edit Round 12Saturday 10 July Richmond 3 6 24 def by Port Melbourne 5 6 36 Richmond Cricket Ground 18 Saturday 10 July North Melbourne 5 2 32 def Williamstown 4 7 31 East Melbourne Cricket Ground 18 Saturday 10 July Brunswick 3 8 26 def by Footscray 10 13 73 Park St Reserve 18 Round 13 edit Round 13Saturday 17 July Port Melbourne 9 14 68 def Williamstown 2 4 16 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground 19 Saturday 17 July Footscray 7 17 59 def Richmond 0 5 5 Western Reserve 19 Saturday 17 July Brunswick 3 7 25 def by North Melbourne 5 7 37 Park St Reserve 19 Round 14 edit Round 14Saturday 24 July Brunswick 6 8 44 def by Port Melbourne 14 15 99 Park St Reserve 20 Saturday 24 July Footscray 4 4 28 def North Melbourne 1 4 10 Western Reserve 20 Saturday 24 July Williamstown 9 15 69 def Richmond 5 3 33 Williamstown Cricket Ground 20 Round 15 edit Round 15Saturday 7 August Port Melbourne 1 11 17 def Footscray 1 8 14 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground 21 Saturday 7 August North Melbourne 9 14 68 def Richmond 5 14 44 East Melbourne Cricket Ground 21 Saturday 7 August Williamstown 9 12 66 def Brunswick 2 8 20 Williamstown Cricket Ground 21 Round 16 edit Round 16Saturday 14 August Port Melbourne 2 11 23 def by North Melbourne 4 5 29 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground 22 Saturday 14 August Footscray 3 6 24 def by Williamstown 3 7 25 Western Reserve 22 Saturday 14 August Richmond 5 21 51 def Brunswick 5 4 34 Richmond Cricket Ground 22 Round 17 edit Round 17Saturday 21 August Port Melbourne 13 8 86 def Richmond 3 3 21 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground 23 Saturday 21 August Williamstown 9 7 61 def North Melbourne 2 5 17 Williamstown Cricket Ground 23 Saturday 21 August Footscray 3 10 28 def Brunswick 2 8 20 Western Reserve 23 Round 18 edit Round 18Saturday 28 August Williamstown 3 9 27 def by Port Melbourne 4 6 30 Williamstown Cricket Ground 24 Saturday 28 August Richmond 5 10 40 def by Footscray 9 12 66 Richmond Cricket Ground 24 Saturday 28 August North Melbourne 10 9 69 def Brunswick 3 15 33 Western Reserve 24 Round 19 edit Round 19Saturday 4 September Port Melbourne 9 17 71 def Brunswick 2 6 18 Port Melbourne Cricket Ground 25 Saturday 4 September Footscray 4 6 30 def by North Melbourne 7 5 47 Western Reserve 25 Saturday 4 September Richmond 3 11 29 def by Williamstown 4 9 33 Richmond Cricket Ground 25 Round 20 edit Round 20Saturday 11 September Footscray 7 12 54 def Port Melbourne 3 6 24 Western Reserve 26 Saturday 11 September Richmond 6 8 44 def by North Melbourne 6 16 52 Richmond Cricket Ground 26 Saturday 11 September Williamstown 13 15 93 def Brunswick 6 7 43 Williamstown Cricket Ground 26 Ladder edit1897 VFA ladder Pos Team Pld W L D PF PA Pts1 Port Melbourne P 20 17 3 0 1080 504 682 North Melbourne 20 14 6 0 770 681 563 Footscray 20 13 7 0 805 559 524 Williamstown 20 10 9 1 795 606 425 Brunswick 20 3 17 0 505 1111 126 Richmond 20 2 17 1 685 1091 10Source 3 P PremiersNotable events editRepresentative games edit The Association played one representative match during 1897 against the Ballarat Football Association at the Eastern Oval on 31 July Representative Games in 1897Saturday 31 July B F A 6 11 47 def by V F A 7 8 50 Eastern Oval 27 Other notable events edit Theodore Fink MLA replaced Sir Frank Grey Smith as president of the Association Smith had been president since 1887 28 Owing to work to upgrade the venue the North Melbourne Recreation Reserve was not available during the season North Melbourne played most of its home games for the season at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground sharing it with the League s Essendon Football Club 29 it also played one home game at Footscray when East Melbourne was unavailable 24 In Round 12 only nine of the Footscray team arrived for their match against Brunswick Footscray was forced to call on trainers reserves and about half a dozen willing spectators to take the field in order to field a full team Despite this unusual handicap Footscray still comfortably won the game 18 The Association introduced premiership medals to be award to players of the premier club for the first time replacing the existing practice of awarding a premiership cap to each player 6 See also editVictorian Football League 1897 1989 List of VFA premiers History of Australian rules football in Victoria 1853 1900 References edit a b The Victorian Football Association North Melbourne Courier and West Melbourne Advertiser No 72 North Melbourne 19 March 1897 p 3 Observer 12 March 1897 Next Winter s football The Argus Melbourne p 6 a b Observer 13 September 1897 Close of the Football Season The Argus Melbourne p 3 Ballarat Football Club The Ballarat Star Ballarat VIC 10 April 1897 p 4 Observer 12 March 1897 Next winter s football rival organisations the new rules The Argus Melbourne p 6 a b Free Kick 20 March 1897 Football Unsportsmanlike action of the League clubs The Standard Vol XIII no 11 Port Melbourne p 2 a b c Markwell 8 May 1897 Football Notes The Australasian Melbourne p 916 a b c Markwell 15 May 1897 Football Notes The Australasian Melbourne pp 966 7 a b c Markwell 22 May 1897 Football Notes The Australasian Melbourne pp 1019 20 a b c d e f Markwell 29 May 1897 Football Notes The Australasian Melbourne pp 1071 2 To day s matches The Argus Melbourne 24 May 1897 p 6 a b c Markwell 5 June 1897 Football Notes The Australasian Melbourne pp 1123 4 a b c Markwell 12 June 1897 Football Notes The Australasian Melbourne p 1176 a b c Markwell 19 June 1897 Football Notes The Australasian Melbourne p 1229 a b c Markwell 26 June 1897 Football Notes The Australasian Melbourne pp 1277 8 a b c Markwell 3 July 1897 Football Notes The Australasian Melbourne p 22 a b c Markwell 10 July 1897 Football Notes The Australasian Melbourne p 77 a b c d Markwell 17 July 1897 Football Notes The Australasian Melbourne p 127 a b c Markwell 24 July 1897 Football Notes The Australasian Melbourne p 180 a b c Markwell 31 July 1897 Football Notes The Australasian Melbourne pp 231 2 a b c Markwell 14 August 1897 Football Notes The Australasian Melbourne p 358 a b c Markwell 21 August 1897 Football Notes The Australasian Melbourne p 391 a b c Markwell 28 August 1897 Football Notes The Australasian Melbourne pp 443 4 a b c d Markwell 4 September 1897 Football Notes The Australasian Melbourne p 497 a b c Markwell 11 September 1897 Football Notes The Australasian Melbourne p 549 a b c Markwell 18 September 1897 Football Notes The Australasian Melbourne p 605 Markwell 7 August 1897 Football Notes The Australasian Melbourne p 284 Fiddian Marc 2004 The VFA a history of the Victorian Football Association 1877 1995 p 21 Football the Victorian Football League The Argus Melbourne 13 April 1897 p 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1897 VFA season amp oldid 1066889700, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
