1898 VFL season

The 1898 VFL season was the second season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured eight clubs, ran from 14 May until 24 September, and comprised a 14-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring all eight clubs.

1898 VFL premiership season
The Fitzroy team
Teams	8
Premiers	Fitzroy 1st premiership
Minor premiers	Essendon 1st minor premiership
Leading Goalkicker Medallist	Archie Smith (Collingwood)
Matches played	70
Highest	16,358
← 1897 1899 →

The premiership was won by the Fitzroy Football Club for the first time, after it defeated Essendon by 15 points in the inaugural 1898 VFL Grand Final.

Premiership season

In 1898, the VFL competition consisted of eight teams of 20 on-the-field players each, with no "reserves" (although any of the 20 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 1898 VFL Premiers were determined by the specific format and conventions of the 1898 VFL Premiership System.

Round 1

	Round 1
Saturday, 14 May (3:00 pm)	Carlton 6.11 (47)	def.	South Melbourne 3.12 (30)	Princes Park	Report
Saturday, 14 May (3:00 pm)	Collingwood 7.6 (48)	def.	Geelong 3.9 (27)	Victoria Park	Report
Saturday, 14 May (3:00 pm)	Essendon 10.10 (70)	def.	Fitzroy 2.5 (17)	EMCG	Report
Saturday, 14 May (3:00 pm)	St Kilda 2.4 (16)	def. by	Melbourne 13.14 (92)	Junction Oval	Report

Round 2

	Round 2
Saturday, 21 May (3:00 pm)	Melbourne 12.11 (83)	def.	Carlton 4.2 (26)	MCG	Report
Saturday, 21 May (3:00 pm)	Fitzroy 7.6 (48)	def.	Collingwood 5.6 (36)	Brunswick Street Oval	Report
Saturday, 21 May (3:00 pm)	South Melbourne 3.9 (27)	def. by	Essendon 5.8 (38)	Lake Oval	Report
Saturday, 21 May (3:00 pm)	Geelong 11.19 (85)	def.	St Kilda 2.5 (17)	Corio Oval	Report

Round 3

	Round 3
Tuesday, 24 May (3:00 pm)	Carlton 2.4 (16)	def. by	Essendon 4.4 (28)	Princes Park	Report
Tuesday, 24 May (3:00 pm)	Melbourne 6.10 (46)	def.	Collingwood 5.6 (36)	MCG	Report
Tuesday, 24 May (3:00 pm)	St Kilda 2.4 (16)	def. by	Fitzroy 7.11 (53)	Junction Oval	Report
Tuesday, 24 May (3:00 pm)	Geelong 7.18 (60)	def.	South Melbourne 1.2 (8)	Corio Oval	Report

Round 4

	Round 4
Saturday, 28 May (3:00 pm)	Carlton 4.5 (29)	def. by	Geelong 3.12 (30)	Princes Park	Report
Saturday, 28 May (3:00 pm)	South Melbourne 7.11 (53)	def.	Collingwood 6.6 (42)	Lake Oval	Report
Saturday, 28 May (3:00 pm)	Essendon 16.16 (112)	def.	St Kilda 5.7 (37)	EMCG	Report
Saturday, 28 May (3:00 pm)	Fitzroy 4.14 (38)	def.	Melbourne 2.7 (19)	Brunswick Street Oval	Report

Round 5

	Round 5
Saturday, 4 June (3:00 pm)	Collingwood 6.12 (48)	def.	Carlton 0.6 (6)	Victoria Park	Report
Saturday, 4 June (3:00 pm)	Essendon 6.12 (48)	def.	Melbourne 3.5 (23)	EMCG	Report
Saturday, 4 June (3:00 pm)	Geelong 4.10 (34)	def. by	Fitzroy 6.3 (39)	Corio Oval	Report
Saturday, 4 June (3:00 pm)	St Kilda 3.3 (21)	def. by	South Melbourne 7.20 (62)	Junction Oval	Report

Round 6

	Round 6
Saturday, 11 June (3:00 pm)	Fitzroy 5.7 (37)	def.	Carlton 4.9 (33)	Brunswick Street Oval	Report
Saturday, 11 June (3:00 pm)	St Kilda 5.4 (34)	def. by	Collingwood 10.8 (68)	Junction Oval	Report
Saturday, 11 June (3:00 pm)	Geelong 4.7 (31)	def.	Essendon 3.6 (24)	Corio Oval	Report
Saturday, 11 June (3:00 pm)	Melbourne 1.7 (13)	def. by	South Melbourne 2.3 (15)	MCG	Report

Round 7

	Round 7
Saturday, 18 June (3:00 pm)	Carlton 5.13 (43)	def.	St Kilda 5.3 (33)	Princes Park	Report
Saturday, 18 June (3:00 pm)	Collingwood 5.10 (40)	def.	Essendon 3.2 (20)	Victoria Park	Report
Saturday, 18 June (3:00 pm)	South Melbourne 7.9 (51)	def.	Fitzroy 2.10 (22)	Lake Oval	Report
Saturday, 18 June (3:00 pm)	Melbourne 9.5 (59)	def.	Geelong 5.9 (39)	MCG	Report

Round 8

	Round 8
Saturday, 25 June (3:00 pm)	South Melbourne 6.8 (44)	def.	Carlton 1.6 (12)	Lake Oval	Report
Saturday, 25 June (3:00 pm)	Geelong 6.5 (41)	def.	Collingwood 2.10 (22)	Corio Oval	Report
Saturday, 25 June (3:00 pm)	Fitzroy 2.4 (16)	def. by	Essendon 8.11 (59)	Brunswick Street Oval	Report
Saturday, 25 June (3:00 pm)	Melbourne 5.15 (45)	def.	St Kilda 3.3 (21)	MCG	Report

Round 9

	Round 9
Saturday, 9 July (3:00 pm)	Carlton 4.4 (28)	drew with	Melbourne 3.10 (28)	Princes Park	Report
Saturday, 9 July (3:00 pm)	Collingwood 4.11 (35)	def.	Fitzroy 3.5 (23)	Victoria Park	Report
Saturday, 9 July (3:00 pm)	Essendon 7.12 (54)	def.	South Melbourne 4.6 (30)	EMCG	Report
Saturday, 9 July (3:00 pm)	St Kilda 3.7 (25)	def. by	Geelong 13.15 (93)	Junction Oval	Report

Round 10

	Round 10
Saturday, 16 July (3:00 pm)	Essendon 10.17 (77)	def.	Carlton 1.3 (9)	EMCG	Report
Saturday, 16 July (3:00 pm)	Collingwood 8.11 (59)	def.	Melbourne 1.5 (11)	Victoria Park	Report
Saturday, 16 July (3:00 pm)	Fitzroy 9.13 (67)	def.	St Kilda 3.1 (19)	Brunswick Street Oval	Report
Saturday, 16 July (3:00 pm)	South Melbourne 1.3 (9)	def. by	Geelong 3.11 (29)	Lake Oval	Report

Round 11

	Round 11
Saturday, 23 July (3:00 pm)	Geelong 8.10 (58)	def.	Carlton 5.2 (32)	Corio Oval	Report
Saturday, 23 July (3:00 pm)	Collingwood 10.13 (73)	def.	South Melbourne 1.7 (13)	Victoria Park	Report
Saturday, 23 July (3:00 pm)	St Kilda 1.9 (15)	def. by	Essendon 10.11 (71)	Junction Oval	Report
Saturday, 23 July (3:00 pm)	Melbourne 5.3 (33)	def. by	Fitzroy 7.8 (50)	MCG	Report

Round 12

	Round 12
Saturday, 30 July (3:00 pm)	Carlton 1.4 (10)	def. by	Collingwood 3.11 (29)	Princes Park	Report
Saturday, 30 July (3:00 pm)	Melbourne 2.8 (20)	def. by	Essendon 11.9 (75)	MCG	Report
Saturday, 30 July (3:00 pm)	Fitzroy 5.9 (39)	def.	Geelong 4.6 (30)	Brunswick Street Oval	Report
Saturday, 30 July (3:00 pm)	South Melbourne 12.15 (87)	def.	St Kilda 3.6 (24)	Lake Oval	Report

Round 13

	Round 13
Saturday, 13 August (3:00 pm)	Carlton 3.4 (22)	def. by	Fitzroy 8.6 (54)	Princes Park	Report
Saturday, 13 August (3:00 pm)	Collingwood 8.17 (65)	def.	St Kilda 1.0 (6)	Victoria Park	Report
Saturday, 13 August (3:00 pm)	Essendon 7.13 (55)	def.	Geelong 5.7 (37)	EMCG	Report
Saturday, 13 August(3:00 pm)	South Melbourne 6.7 (51)	def.	Melbourne 5.8 (38)	Lake Oval	Report

Round 14

	Round 14
Saturday, 20 August (3:00 pm)	St Kilda 8.7 (55)	def. by	Carlton 10.9 (69)	Junction Oval	Report
Saturday, 20 August (3:00 pm)	Essendon 2.13 (25)	def. by	Collingwood 7.14 (56)	EMCG	Report
Saturday, 20 August (3:00 pm)	Fitzroy 9.11 (65)	def.	South Melbourne 1.4 (10)	Brunswick Street Oval	Report
Saturday, 20 August (3:00 pm)	Geelong 7.9 (51)	def.	Melbourne 2.7 (19)	Corio Oval	Report

Win/Loss table

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	SR1	SR2	SR3	SF	GF	Ladder
Carlton	SM +17	Mel -57	Ess -12	Geel -1	Coll -42	Fit -4	StK +10	SM -32	Melb 0	Ess -68	Geel -26	Coll -19	Fit -32	StK +14	Ess -67	Fit -83	SM -25	X	X	7
Collingwood	Geel +21	Fit -12	Melb -10	SM -11	Carl +42	StK +34	Ess +20	Geel -19	Fit +12	Melb +48	SM +60	Carl +19	StK +59	Ess +31	StK +76	Geel +15	Melb +14	Fit -11	X	3
Essendon	Fit +53	SM +11	Carl +12	StK +75	Melb +25	Geel -7	Coll -20	Fit +43	SM +24	Carl +68	StK +56	Melb +55	Geel +18	Coll -31	Carl +67	SM +17	Fit -29	X	Fit -15	2
Fitzroy	Ess -53	Coll +12	StK +37	Melb +19	Geel +5	Carl +4	SM -29	Ess -43	Coll -12	StK +48	Melb +17	Geel +9	Carl +32	SM +55	SM +14	Carl +83	Ess +29	Coll +11	Ess +15	1
Geelong	Coll -21	StK +68	SM +52	Carl +1	Fit -5	Ess +7	Melb -20	Coll +19	StK +68	SM +20	Carl +26	Fit -9	Ess -18	Melb +32	Melb +62	Coll -15	StK +75	X	X	4
Melbourne	StK +76	Carl +57	Coll +10	Fit -19	Ess -25	SM -2	Geel +20	StK +24	Carl 0	Coll -48	Fit -17	Ess -55	SM -5	Geel -32	Geel -62	StK +21	Coll -14	X	X	6
South Melbourne	Carl -17	Ess -11	Geel -52	Coll +11	StK +41	Melb +2	Fit +29	Carl +32	Ess -24	Geel -20	Coll -60	StK +63	Melb +5	Fit -55	Fit -14	Ess -17	Carl +25	X	X	5
St Kilda	Melb -76	Geel -68	Fit -37	Ess -75	SM -41	Coll -34	Carl -10	Melb -24	Geel -68	Fit -48	Ess -56	SM -63	Coll -59	Carl -14	Coll -76	Melb -21	Gee -75	X	X	8
Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	SR1	SR2	SR3	SF	GF	Ladder

Colour	Symbol	Result
Green	+	Win
Red	-	Loss
Blue	N/A	Draw

Bold – Home game
X – Bye
Opponent for round listed above margin

Ladder

1898 VFL ladder

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	D	PF	PA	PP	Pts
1	Essendon	14	11	3	0	756	374	202.1	44
2	Collingwood	14	10	4	0	657	363	181.0	40
3	Fitzroy (P)	14	10	4	0	568	467	121.6	40
4	Geelong	14	9	5	0	645	425	151.8	36
5	South Melbourne	14	7	7	0	482	538	89.6	28
6	Melbourne	14	5	8	1	529	545	97.1	22
7	Carlton	14	3	10	1	382	634	60.3	14
8	St Kilda	14	0	14	0	339	1012	33.5	0

Source: VFL ladder
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Ladder progression

Points by round

Team ╲ Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14
Essendon	4	8	12	16	20	20	20	24	28	32	36	40	44	44
Collingwood	4	4	4	4	8	12	16	16	20	24	28	32	36	40
Fitzroy	0	4	8	12	16	20	20	20	20	24	28	32	36	40
Geelong	0	4	8	12	12	16	16	20	24	28	32	32	32	36
South Melbourne	0	0	0	4	8	12	16	20	20	20	20	24	28	28
Melbourne	4	8	12	12	12	12	16	20	22	22	22	22	22	22
Carlton	4	4	4	4	4	4	8	8	10	10	10	10	10	14
St Kilda	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Source:^{[citation needed]}

Finals

Main article: 1898 VFL finals series

Sectional Round 1

	Sectional Round 1
Saturday, 27 August (2:30 pm)	Essendon 9.21 (75)	def.	Carlton 1.2 (8)	EMCG	Report
Saturday, 27 August (2:30 pm)	St Kilda 4.3 (27)	def. by	Collingwood 14.19 (103)	Junction Oval	Report
Saturday, 27 August (2:30 pm)	South Melbourne 5.3 (33)	def. by	Fitzroy 6.11 (47)	Lake Oval	Report
Saturday, 27 August (2:30 pm)	Geelong 11.12 (78)	def.	Melbourne 2.4 (16)	Corio Oval	Report

Sectional Round 2

	Sectional Round 2
Saturday, 3 September (2:30 pm)	Fitzroy 12.18 (90)	def.	Carlton 1.1 (7)	Brunswick Street Oval	Report
Saturday, 3 September (2:30 pm)	Collingwood 6.9 (45)	def.	Geelong 4.6 (30)	Victoria Park	Report
Saturday, 3 September (2:30 pm)	South Melbourne 3.6 (24)	def. by	Essendon 5.11 (41)	Lake Oval	Report
Saturday, 3 September (2:30 pm)	St Kilda 2.5 (17)	def. by	Melbourne 5.8 (38)	Junction Oval	Report

Sectional Round 3

	Sectional Round 3
Saturday, 10 September (2:30 pm)	South Melbourne 6.11 (47)	def.	Carlton 3.4 (22)	Lake Oval	Report
Saturday, 10 September (2:30 pm)	Collingwood 7.13 (55)	def.	Melbourne 6.5 (41)	Victoria Park	Report
Saturday, 10 September (2:30 pm)	Fitzroy 5.15 (45)	def.	Essendon 2.4 (16)	Brunswick Street Oval	Report
Saturday, 10 September (2:30 pm)	Geelong 14.18 (102)	def.	St Kilda 4.3 (27)	Corio Oval	Report

Section A Ladder

Section A Ladder

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	D	PF	PA	PP	Pts
1	Fitzroy	3	3	0	0	182	56	325.0	12
2	Essendon	3	2	1	0	132	77	171.4	8
3	South Melbourne	3	1	2	0	104	110	94.5	4
4	Carlton	3	0	3	0	37	212	17.5	0

Source:^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.

Section B Ladder

Section B Ladder

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	D	PF	PA	PP	Pts
1	Collingwood	3	3	0	0	203	98	207.1	12
2	Geelong	3	2	1	0	210	88	238.6	8
3	Melbourne	3	1	2	0	95	150	63.3	4
4	St Kilda	3	0	3	0	71	243	29.2	0

Source:^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.

Bracket

	Semifinal					Final
	17 Sep, Brunswick Street Oval					24 Sep, Junction Oval
	A1	Fitzroy	2.10 (22)				Fitzroy	5.8 (38)
	B1	Collingwood	1.5 (11)				Essendon	3.5 (23)

Semi-final

	Semi-final
17 September (2:30 pm)	Fitzroy 2.10 (22)	def.	Collingwood 1.5 (11)	Brunswick Street Oval (crowd: 13,120)	Report
Having won the Semi Final, Fitzroy were given the right to 'challenge' Minor Premiers Essendon in the Grand Final.

Grand Final

Main article: 1898 VFL Grand Final

	Grand Final
Saturday 24 September (2:50 pm)	Fitzroy 5.8 (38)	def.	Essendon 3.5 (23)	Junction Oval (crowd: 16,538)	Report

Awards

• The 1898 VFL Premiership team was Fitzroy.
• The VFL's leading goalkicker was Archie Smith of Collingwood with 31 goals.
• The wooden spoon went to St Kilda.

Notable events

• On 21 May 1898, playing against St Kilda Football Club, Geelong's Firth McCallum eluded 12 opponents to score a goal.
• On 12 August 1898, the League issues a directive that all field umpires are banned from playing, after umpire Samuel Hood plays for Footscray against North Melbourne in a VFA match on the 6th of August.
• A VFL representative team played two matches against a combined Ballarat Football League team. The VFL won their home match, and lost their away match.
• Essendon player Corrie Gardner, who also played for Melbourne Football Club from 1900 to 1903 and in 1905, and who represented Australia in the hurdles and the long jump at the 1904 Summer Olympics at St. Louis, Missouri in the USA, won the Australian Amateur Athletics hurdle championship in 1898.
• At the end of the home-and away season, Essendon had a VFL record percentage of 202.2%.
• 1898 was the first VFL season that the premiership had been decided in a "challenge" match.
• Two sets of brothers played for Fitzroy in the 1898 "Grand Final Match": Bill Dalton and Jack Dalton; and Jim Grace and Mick Grace.

See also

• 1898 VFL Grand Final
• 1898 VFL finals series

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
• Atkinson, G., The Complete Book of AFL Finals (2002 Edition), The Five Mile Press, (Scoresby), 2002. ISBN 978-1-86503-892-6

External links

• 1898 Season - AFL Tables
• "1898" (Brisbane Lions Website, 1 May, 2006)