The 1904 VFL season was the eighth 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 competition in Victoria. The season featured eight clubs, ran from 7 May until 17 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

Fitzroy Football Club The Fitzroy Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently competing in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA). Formed in 1883 to represent the inner-Melbourne municipality of Fitzroy, the club was a member of the V ...

for the third time, after it defeated by 24 points in the

1904 VFL Grand Final The 1904 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Fitzroy Football Club and Carlton Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 17 September 1904. It was the seventh annual Grand Final ...

Premiership season

In 1904, 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 1904 VFL ''Premiers'' were determined by the specific format and conventions of the amended "''Argus'' system".

Round 1

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.10 (58) , , 2.5 (17) , EMCG , 7 May 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.15 (69) , , 7.9 (51) ,

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 ...

, 7 May 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 1.8 (14) , , 16.12 (108) , Princes Park , 7 May 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.13 (85) , , 5.9 (39) ,

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 Jun ...

, 7 May 1904

Round 2

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.17 (83) , , 5.3 (33) ,

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 Rules ...

, 14 May 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.7 (67) , , 5.13 (43) ,

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 ...

, 14 May 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.7 (49) , , 7.13 (55) ,

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 ...

, 14 May 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 1.13 (19) , , 5.6 (36) ,

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 Sout ...

, 14 May 1904

Round 3

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 4.5 (29) , , 7.13 (55) ,

, 21 May 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.17 (65) , , 4.8 (32) , Princes Park , 21 May 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 3.5 (23) , , 14.15 (99) ,

, 21 May 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 5.3 (33) , , 10.9 (69) ,

, 21 May 1904

Round 4

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.4 (40) , , 6.16 (52) ,

, 28 May 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 4.9 (33) , , 6.6 (42) ,

, 28 May 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 4.7 (31) , , 6.4 (40) ,

, 28 May 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.17 (71) , , 6.3 (39) , SCG , 28 May 1904

Round 5

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.13 (49) , , 4.10 (34) ,

, 4 June 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.5 (41) , , 11.17 (83) , EMCG , 4 June 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.16 (64) , , 5.9 (39) ,

, 4 June 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.12 (48) , , 8.5 (53) ,

, 4 June 1904

Round 6

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.6 (78) , , 6.18 (54) ,

, 6 June 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.10 (100) , , 9.4 (58) ,

, 6 June 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.5 (41) , , 6.7 (43) , EMCG , 6 June 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.10 (58) , , 5.5 (35) ,

, 6 June 1904

Round 7

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.12 (66) , , 15.7 (97) ,

, 11 June 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.9 (45) , , 5.14 (44) ,

, 11 June 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.5 (47) , , 7.11 (53) , Princes Park , 11 June 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.7 (49) , , 4.10 (34) ,

, 11 June 1904

Round 8

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.13 (91) , , 4.2 (26) ,

, 25 June 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.9 (69) , , 4.5 (29) ,

, 25 June 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 4.10 (34) , , 8.10 (58) ,

, 25 June 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.8 (56) , , 7.10 (52) ,

, 25 June 1904

Round 9

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.12 (66) , , 4.4 (28) , EMCG , 2 July 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 4.5 (29) , , 8.6 (54) ,

, 2 July 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.7 (61) , , 5.7 (37) , Princes Park , 2 July 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.12 (78) , , 4.7 (31) ,

, 2 July 1904

Round 10

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.10 (58) , , 5.13 (43) ,

, 9 July 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.8 (44) , , 6.3 (39) , EMCG , 9 July 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 5.15 (45) , , 6.6 (42) ,

, 9 July 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 4.11 (35) , , 5.5 (35) ,

, 9 July 1904

Round 11

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.13 (55) , , 3.6 (24) ,

, 16 July 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.7 (61) , , 4.1 (25) , Princes Park , 16 July 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.5 (41) , , 4.15 (39) ,

, 16 July 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 3.12 (30) , , 4.11 (35) ,

, 16 July 1904

Round 12

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.13 (67) , , 11.7 (73) ,

, 23 July 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.10 (46) , , 6.4 (40) , Princes Park , 23 July 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 5.5 (35) , , 7.16 (58) ,

, 23 July 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.8 (44) , , 3.9 (27) ,

, 23 July 1904

Round 13

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.10 (46) , , 10.5 (65) ,

, 30 July 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 5.6 (36) , , 7.10 (52) ,

, 30 July 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.14 (50) , , 4.10 (34) , Princes Park , 30 July 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 5.12 (42) , , 4.13 (37) ,

, 30 July 1904

Round 14

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.12 (96) , , 6.10 (46) ,

, 13 August 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.10 (76) , , 6.4 (40) ,

, 13 August 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 5.16 (46) , , 8.10 (58) ,

, 13 August 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 5.5 (35) , , 5.9 (39) , EMCG , 13 August 1904

Sectional Rounds

Sectional Round 1 (Round 15)

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.12 (96) , , 6.10 (46) ,

, 20 August 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.9 (57) , , 5.9 (39) , EMCG , 20 August 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 4.14 (38) , , 3.15 (33) ,

, 20 August 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.15 (93) , , 3.3 (21) ,

, 20 August 1904

Sectional Round 2 (Round 16)

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 1.8 (14) , , 5.13 (43) , Princes Park , 27 August 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 2.8 (20) , , 12.9 (81) ,

, 27 August 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 4.3 (27) , , 8.11 (59) ,

, 27 August 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 4.6 (30) , , 8.5 (53) ,

, 27 August 1904

Sectional Round 3 (Round 17)

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.11 (107) , , 7.7 (49) , Princes Park , 3 September 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 5.10 (40) , , 7.9 (51) ,

, 3 September 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.9 (87) , , 4.2 (26) , EMCG , 3 September 1904 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 3.4 (22) , , 6.8 (44) ,

, 3 September 1904

Ladder

Semi finals

First Semi Final

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , Attendance , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.7 (43) , , 6.4 (40) ,

, 10 September 1904 , 16,000 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

Second Semi Final

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , Attendance , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.7 (61) , , 7.8 (50) ,

, 10 September 1904 , 25,000 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

Grand final

Fitzroy Fitzroy or FitzRoy may refer to: People As a given name *Several members of the Somerset family (Dukes of Beaufort) have this as a middle-name: **FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (1788–1855) ** Henry Charles FitzRoy Somerset, 8th Duke of Beau ...

defeated Carlton 9.7 (61) to 5.7 (37). (For an explanation of scoring see Australian rules football).

Awards

* The 1904 VFL Premiership team was

. * The VFL's leading goalkicker was Vince Coutie of

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

with 39 goals. * St Kilda took the "

wooden spoon Wooden Spoon may refer to: * Wooden spoon, implement * Wooden spoon (award) A wooden spoon is an award that is given to an individual or team that has come last in a competition. Examples range from the academic to sporting and more frivolous e ...

" in 1904.

Notable events

* The final home-and-away match between

South Melbourne South Melbourne is an inner suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km south of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Port Phillip local government area. South Melbourne recorded a population of 11,548 at ...

and

at the

was a torrid affair. Billy McGee of South Melbourne and

Harry Clarke Henry Patrick Clarke (17 March 1889 – 6 January 1931) was an Irish stained-glass artist and book illustrator. Born in Dublin, he was a leading figure in the Irish Arts and Crafts Movement. His work was influenced by both the Art Nouveau an ...

of Fitzroy were each suspended for three matches, while South Melbourne's Billy Gent ran amok during the match, charging at players and was reported on three striking charges; Gent was suspended for the remainder of 1904 and all of 1905 (20 matches). * After the drawn match between Geelong and Carlton at

on 9 July 1904, a spectator is arrested for attacking the field umpire, Henry "Ivo" Crapp. * The VFL introduces boundary umpires. * In round four, Essendon plays Melbourne in Sydney in front of only 6,000 spectators at the Sydney Cricket Ground, loses to Melbourne, takes five days to return to Melbourne by sea, then loses again to Fitzroy in their Saturday's round five match. * In the Final Premiership match Carlton was surging ahead of Fitzroy, and one of the Carlton forwards (Ross, 1996, does not name him, but it was most likely

Mick Grace Michael John Grace (24 July 187421 May 1912) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Fitzroy Football Club, Carlton Football Club and St Kilda Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Family The son of Thomas Grace, ...

) took a powerful high overhead mark with his knees in his opponent's back. The field umpire, Henry "Ivo" Crapp, obeying the VFL rules of the day, paid a free kick to the Fitzroy player for "interference". Fitzroy steadied and went on to win the game. There was such an outcry after the match that the VFL immediately amended its rules to allow for what it now termed "unintentional interference".

References

* Maplestone, M., ''Flying Higher: History of the Essendon Football Club 1872–1996'', Essendon Football Club, (Melbourne), 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.

External links

1904 Season - AFL Tables
{{DEFAULTSORT:1904 Vfl Season Australian Football League seasons