The 1902 VFL season was the sixth season of the

Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia serving as one of the second-tier regional semi-professional competitions which sit underneath the fully professional Australian Football League (AFL). It ...

(VFL), the highest level senior

Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...

competition in Victoria. The season featured eight clubs, ran from 3 May until 20 September, and comprised a 17-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top four clubs. The premiership was won by the

Collingwood Football Club The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed the Magpies or colloquially the Pies, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne that competes in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's elite competition. The club w ...

for the first time, after it defeated by 33 points in the

1902 VFL Grand Final The 1902 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Collingwood Football Club and Essendon Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 20 September 1902. It was the 5th annual Grand F ...

Background

In 1902, 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. Then, based on ladder positions after those 14 rounds, three further 'sectional rounds' were played, with the teams ranked 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th playing in one section and the teams ranked 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th playing in the other. Once the 17 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1902 VFL ''Premiers'' were determined by the specific format and conventions of the amended ''Argus'' system.

Home-and-away season

Round 1

Round 2

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 5.6 (36) , , 14.20 (104) ,

Junction Oval Junction Oval (also known as the St Kilda Cricket Ground, or the CitiPower Centre due to sponsorship reasons) is a historic sports ground in the suburb of St Kilda in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The oval's location near the St Kilda Junc ...

, 10 May 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 3.6 (24) , , 10.17 (77) ,

Corio Oval Corio Oval was an Australian rules football ground, located in Geelong, Victoria, and used by the Geelong Football Club in the VFA and the VFL from 1878 to 1915, and 1917 to 1940. Sited in Eastern Park, the oval was served by trams from 1930 wh ...

, 10 May 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 4.10 (34) , , 8.3 (51) ,

MCG The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hem ...

, 10 May 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 8.13 (61) , , 0.8 (8) ,

Lake Oval Lakeside Stadium is an Australian sports arena in the South Melbourne suburb of Albert Park. Comprising an athletics track and soccer stadium, it currently serves as the home ground and administrative base for association football club South M ...

, 10 May 1902

Round 3

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 8.10 (58) , , 8.4 (52) ,

Brunswick Street Oval The WT Peterson Community Oval, best known as the Brunswick Street Oval and also as the Fitzroy Cricket Ground, is a cricket and Australian rules football ground located in Edinburgh Gardens in Fitzroy North, Victoria. History Australian Rule ...

, 17 May 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 7.6 (48) , , 3.7 (25) , EMCG , 17 May 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 11.15 (81) , , 3.2 (20) ,

Victoria Park Victoria Park may refer to: Places Australia * Victoria Park Nature Reserve, a protected area in Northern Rivers region, New South Wales * Victoria Park, Adelaide, a park and racecourse * Victoria Park, Brisbane, a public park and former golf ...

, 17 May 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 2.13 (25) , , 4.9 (33) ,

, 17 May 1902

Round 4

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 11.11 (77) , , 5.3 (33) ,

, 24 May 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 5.8 (38) , , 4.11 (35) , EMCG , 24 May 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 3.4 (22) , , 7.13 (55) ,

, 24 May 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 6.13 (49) , , 8.12 (60) , Princes Park , 24 May 1902

Round 5

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 5.14 (44) , , 3.9 (27) ,

, 31 May 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 7.17 (59) , , 6.10 (46) ,

, 31 May 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 5.5 (35) , , 5.12 (42) ,

, 31 May 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 7.16 (58) , , 5.8 (38) , EMCG , 31 May 1902

Round 6

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 6.15 (51) , , 11.10 (76) ,

, 7 June 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 4.6 (30) , , 9.14 (68) , Princes Park , 7 June 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 5.13 (43) , , 1.3 (9) ,

, 7 June 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 2.13 (25) , , 3.8 (26) ,

, 7 June 1902

Round 7

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 7.5 (47) , , 6.10 (46) ,

, 9 June 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 8.14 (62) , , 3.8 (26) ,

, 9 June 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 6.4 (40) , , 10.4 (64) ,

, 9 June 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 8.11 (59) , , 3.3 (21) ,

, 9 June 1902

Round 8

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 4.26 (50) , , 1.8 (14) ,

, 14 June 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 3.6 (24) , , 8.7 (55) ,

, 14 June 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 5.12 (42) , , 7.6 (48) ,

, 14 June 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 6.7 (43) , , 7.5 (47) ,

, 14 June 1902

Round 9

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 12.8 (80) , , 2.7 (19) ,

, 21 June 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 2.3 (15) , , 4.10 (34) , EMCG , 21 June 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 7.19 (61) , , 4.7 (31) ,

, 21 June 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 4.7 (31) , , 2.6 (18) , Princes Park , 21 June 1902

Round 10

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 10.12 (72) , , 7.7 (49) , Princes Park , 5 July 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 6.10 (46) , , 4.10 (34) ,

, 5 July 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 3.9 (27) , , 6.12 (48) ,

, 5 July 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 6.8 (44) , , 12.12 (84) ,

, 5 July 1902

Round 11

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 4.9 (33) , , 7.7 (49) ,

, 12 July 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 5.6 (36) , , 6.7 (43) ,

, 12 July 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 6.9 (45) , , 9.14 (68) ,

, 12 July 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 4.12 (36) , , 4.9 (33) ,

, 12 July 1902

Round 12

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 19.13 (127) , , 1.4 (10) ,

, 19 July 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 4.9 (33) , , 1.10 (16) , Princes Park , 19 July 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 7.13 (55) , , 6.9 (45) ,

, 19 July 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 5.7 (37) , , 4.9 (33) ,

, 19 July 1902

Round 13

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 2.10 (22) , , 5.7 (37) ,

, 26 July 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 8.6 (54) , , 3.9 (27) ,

, 26 July 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 5.6 (36) , , 7.5 (47) , EMCG , 26 July 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 4.6 (30) , , 6.8 (44) ,

, 26 July 1902

Round 14

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 12.12 (84) , , 3.4 (22) , EMCG , 2 August 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 2.3 (15) , , 7.10 (52) , Princes Park , 2 August 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 3.9 (27) , , 9.9 (63) ,

, 2 August 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 5.10 (40) , , 9.7 (61) ,

, 2 August 1902

Ladder

, - style=background:#E6E6FA , 1 , , align=left , , , 14 , , 12 , , 2 , , 0 , , 838 , , 461 , , 181.8 , , 48 , - style=background:#FEEAD3 , 2 , , align=left , , , 14 , , 10 , , 4 , , 0 , , 690 , , 506 , , 136.4 , , 40 , - style=background:#E6E6FA , 3 , , align=left , , , 14 , , 9 , , 5 , , 0 , , 783 , , 553 , , 141.6 , , 36 , - style=background:#FEEAD3 , 4 , , align=left , , , 14 , , 7 , , 7 , , 0 , , 618 , , 610 , , 101.3 , , 28 , - style=background:#E6E6FA , 5 , , align=left , , , 14 , , 7 , , 7 , , 0 , , 604 , , 667 , , 90.6 , , 28 , - style=background:#FEEAD3 , 6 , , align=left , , , 14 , , 6 , , 8 , , 0 , , 494 , , 653 , , 75.7 , , 24 , - style=background:#E6E6FA , 7 , , align=left , , , 14 , , 5 , , 9 , , 0 , , 522 , , 535 , , 97.6 , , 20 , - style=background:#FEEAD3 , 8 , , align=left , , , 14 , , 0 , , 14 , , 0 , , 408 , , 972 , , 42.0 , , 0 Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for
Source
AFL Tables
/onlyinclude>

Round 15 (Sectional round 1)

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 7.5 (47) , , 1.7 (13) ,

, 16 August 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 12.12 (84) , , 5.14 (44) ,

, 16 August 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 3.5 (23) , , 10.12 (72) ,

, 16 August 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 5.6 (36) , , 6.15 (51) ,

, 16 August 1902

Round 16 (Sectional round 2)

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 6.11 (47) , , 3.6 (24) , Princes Park , 23 August 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 5.4 (34) , , 13.9 (87) ,

, 23 August 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 11.11 (77) , , 8.8 (56) ,

, 23 August 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 12.12 (84) , , 5.9 (39) ,

, 23 August 1902

Round 17 (Sectional round 3)

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 5.10 (40) , , 7.4 (46) , Princes Park , 30 August 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 16.16 (112) , , 2.11 (23) ,

, 30 August 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 6.10 (46) , , 7.8 (50) ,

, 30 August 1902 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 10.9 (69) , , 5.5 (35) ,

, 30 August 1902

Final ladder

, - style=background:#FFFFBB , 1 , , align=left , (P) , , 17 , , 15 , , 2 , , 0 , , 1121 , , 562 , , 199.5 , , 60 , - style=background:#FFFFBB , 2 , , align=left , , , 17 , , 13 , , 4 , , 0 , , 885 , , 625 , , 141.6 , , 52 , - style=background:#FFFFBB , 3 , , align=left , , , 17 , , 10 , , 7 , , 0 , , 914 , , 726 , , 125.9 , , 40 , - style=background:#FFFFBB , 4 , , align=left , , , 17 , , 9 , , 8 , , 0 , , 800 , , 735 , , 108.8 , , 36 , - , 5 , , align=left , , , 17 , , 7 , , 10 , , 0 , , 700 , , 704 , , 99.4 , , 28 , - , 6 , , align=left , , , 17 , , 7 , , 10 , , 0 , , 594 , , 770 , , 77.1 , , 28 , - , 7 , , align=left , , , 17 , , 7 , , 10 , , 0 , , 702 , , 914 , , 76.8 , , 28 , - , 8 , , align=left , , , 17 , , 0 , , 17 , , 0 , , 490 , , 1170 , , 41.9 , , 0 Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for
Average score: 45.6
Source
AFL Tables
/onlyinclude>

Finals series

Semi-finals

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , Attendance , - style="background:#fff;" , , 9.7 (61) , , 7.9 (51) , Princes Park , 6 September 1902 , 8,000 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 6.12 (48) , , 9.10 (64) ,

, 6 September 1902 , 13,000 , - style="background:#fff;"

Preliminary final

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , Attendance , - style="background:#fff;" , , 4.10 (34) , , 6.9 (45) ,

, 13 September 1902 , 26,000 , - style="background:#fff;"

Grand final

Season notes

* The VFL instituted the amended ''Argus'' system to determine the season's premiers. * St Kilda finished last without a win, their sixth consecutive wooden spoon, and seven games behind second-last Geelong, both VFL/AFL records. * In each of Rounds 8 and 10, while champion

Albert Thurgood Albert John Thurgood (11 January 1874 – 8 May 1927) was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football Association (VFA), VFL/AFL, Victorian Football League (VFL) and the West Australian Football League, Western Australian Football ...

was serving a three-match suspension for striking, one of his team-mates took the field each week under the ''

nom de guerre A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...

'' "Goodthur"; the name was used (in quote marks) in all news reports of the matches. Football historians Michael Maplestone and Stephen Rogers, through a process of elimination, determined that Goodthur was most likely Fred Mann, and official statistics reflect this. (Maplestone (1996) p.61). * Collingwood's Charlie Pannam becomes the first VFL player to play 100 VFL games (at the end of the 1902 season, he had played in 104 of the 106 VFL games that Collingwood had played since the VFL's first round of games in 1897).

Awards

* The 1902 VFL Premiership team was Collingwood. * The VFL's leading goalkicker in the home-and-away season was

Charlie Baker Charles Duane Baker Jr. (born November 13, 1956) is an American politician and businessman serving as the 72nd governor of Massachusetts since 2015. A member of the Republican Party, Baker was a cabinet official under two governors of Massach ...

of St Kilda with 30 goals; St Kilda kicked only 64 goals for the year, of which Baker kicked 46.9%, and Baker's proportion of his team's goals is a VFL/AFL record. Including finals, Ted Rowell of Collingwood scored the most goals with 33.

References

* Hogan, P., ''The Tigers Of Old'', The Richmond Football Club, (Richmond), 1996. * Rogers, S. & Brown, A., ''Every Game Ever Played: VFL/AFL Results 1897–1997 (Sixth Edition)'', Viking Books, (Ringwood), 1998. * 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.

Sources

1902 VFL season
at AFL Tables
1902 VFL season
at Australian Football {{DEFAULTSORT:1902 VFL season Australian Football League seasons VFL seasons