The 1918 VFL season was the 22nd 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. Played during the final year of

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, eight of the league's nine senior clubs competed, an increase of two from the previous year with only absent. The season ran from 11 May until 7 September, and comprised a 14-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top four clubs. The premiership was won by the South Melbourne Football Club for the second time, after it defeated by five points in the

1918 VFL Grand Final The 1918 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the South Melbourne Football Club and Collingwood Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 7 September 1918. It was the 21st annual Gra ...

Premiership season

In 1918, 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 1918 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" , , 7.15 (57) , , 4.7 (31) ,

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 ...

, 11 May 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 4.16 (40) , , 4.10 (34) ,

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 ...

, 11 May 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 5.16 (46) , , 4.10 (34) ,

Punt Road Oval Punt Road Oval, also known by naming rights sponsorship as the Swinburne Centre, is an Australian rules football ground and former cricket oval located within the Yarra Park precinct of East Melbourne, Victoria, situated a few hundred metres to ...

, 11 May 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.17 (65) , , 4.6 (30) ,

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 ...

, 11 May 1918

Round 2

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 5.8 (38) , , 12.6 (78) ,

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 ...

, 18 May 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.13 (61) , , 6.18 (54) , EMCG , 18 May 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.5 (53) , , 7.16 (58) , Princes Park , 18 May 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 5.6 (36) , , 7.6 (48) ,

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 ...

, 18 May 1918

Round 3

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.11 (77) , , 7.9 (51) , Princes Park , 25 May 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.8 (44) , , 10.12 (72) ,

, 25 May 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.16 (52) , , 4.12 (36) ,

, 25 May 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.13 (85) , , 9.13 (67) ,

, 25 May 1918

Round 4

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.10 (76) , , 8.8 (56) ,

, 1 June 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 4.13 (37) , , 8.27 (75) , EMCG , 1 June 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.13 (49) , , 6.8 (44) ,

, 3 June 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.14 (74) , , 8.14 (62) ,

, 3 June 1918

Round 5

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.13 (49) , , 7.18 (60) ,

, 8 June 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.21 (105) , , 6.9 (45) ,

, 8 June 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.12 (66) , , 2.13 (25) ,

, 8 June 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.10 (76) , , 10.12 (72) ,

, 8 June 1918

Round 6

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 5.13 (43) , , 7.18 (60) ,

, 15 June 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 4.8 (32) , , 7.10 (52) , EMCG , 15 June 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.11 (53) , , 3.6 (24) ,

, 15 June 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.15 (111) , , 7.3 (45) , Princes Park , 15 June 1918

Round 7

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.14 (86) , , 4.10 (34) ,

, 22 June 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.13 (103) , , 5.9 (39) ,

, 22 June 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 4.9 (33) , , 14.14 (98) , EMCG , 22 June 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.15 (51) , , 12.11 (83) ,

, 22 June 1918

Round 8

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.8 (50) , , 7.13 (55) ,

, 29 June 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.6 (48) , , 3.5 (23) ,

, 29 June 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 3.4 (22) , , 5.15 (45) , EMCG , 29 June 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.13 (49) , , 6.5 (41) , Princes Park , 29 June 1918

Round 9

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.14 (86) , , 7.10 (52) ,

, 6 July 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.14 (86) , , 8.13 (61) ,

, 6 July 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.14 (50) , , 6.6 (42) ,

, 6 July 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.16 (58) , , 8.13 (61) ,

, 6 July 1918

Round 10

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.11 (71) , , 6.7 (43) ,

, 13 July 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.10 (58) , , 5.9 (39) , EMCG , 13 July 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.8 (44) , , 7.9 (51) ,

, 13 July 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 4.20 (44) , , 2.5 (17) ,

, 13 July 1918

Round 11

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.20 (80) , , 4.7 (31) , Princes Park , 20 July 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.17 (101) , , 7.9 (51) ,

, 20 July 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 5.6 (36) , , 11.6 (72) ,

, 20 July 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.13 (49) , , 11.10 (76) ,

, 20 July 1918

Round 12

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.10 (58) , , 6.6 (42) , EMCG , 27 July 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 5.13 (43) , , 8.7 (55) , Princes Park , 27 July 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.15 (105) , , 10.11 (71) ,

, 27 July 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.9 (63) , , 6.14 (50) ,

, 27 July 1918

Round 13

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.7 (67) , , 8.9 (57) ,

, 3 August 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.13 (85) , , 7.10 (52) ,

, 3 August 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.12 (60) , , 10.19 (79) ,

, 3 August 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.7 (67) , , 4.13 (37) ,

, 3 August 1918

Round 14

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.12 (54) , , 7.17 (59) ,

, 10 August 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.27 (87) , , 6.6 (42) ,

, 10 August 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.14 (68) , , 3.8 (26) ,

, 10 August 1918 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.14 (74) , , 9.7 (61) , Princes Park , 10 August 1918

Ladder

Finals

All of the 1918 finals were played at the

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 ...

so the home team in the semi-finals and preliminary final is purely the higher ranked team from the ladder but in the Grand Final the home team was the team that won the preliminary final. The second semi-final was scheduled to be played on the 24th of August, but heavy rain caused a postponement to the 31st of August the first postponement of a finals match in VFL history.

Semi-finals

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Score , Away team , Score , Venue , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.16 (58) , , 7.7 (49) ,

, 17 August , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.10 (58) , , 7.11 (53) ,

, 31 August

Grand final

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 t ...

defeated Collingwood 9.8 (62) to 7.15 (57), in front of a crowd of 39,168 people. (For an explanation of scoring see

Awards

* The 1918 VFL Premiership team was

. * The VFL's leading goalkicker was

Ern Cowley Ernest Clyde Cowley (17 August 1892 – 20 October 1975) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Background Cowley came to Carlton from Brunswick and had a strong debut season, kickin ...

Carlton Carlton may refer to: People * Carlton (name), a list of those with the given name or surname * Carlton (singer), English soul singer Carlton McCarthy * Carlton, a pen name used by Joseph Caldwell (1773–1835), American educator, Presbyterian ...

with 34 goals. *

Essendon Essendon may refer to: Australia *Electoral district of Essendon *Electoral district of Essendon and Flemington *Essendon, Victoria **Essendon railway station **Essendon Airport *Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League United King ...

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 1918.

Notable events

and St Kilda re-entered the VFL competition. The Essendon players met their own expenses and played as amateurs, with the club donating all of its 1918 profits (which amounted to £194-19-8) to "patriotic and charitable purposes". * In Round 2,

Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, ...

recorded its first VFL win over

after 23 consecutive losses, a losing streak dating back to

's entry into the VFL in 1908. * In Round 14,

Len Phillips Leonard Horace Phillips (11 September 1922 – 9 December 2011) was a professional footballer who won three caps for the England national team. Phillips was born in Shoreditch, London. At club level, he played his entire professional career f ...

, a fast, skilful rover, and a printer by trade, played the last of his 13 senior VFL matches having played his first VFL match for St Kilda in 1914.Phillips, played for Melbourne City Football Club (VFA) 1912–1913, Essendon Association (VFA) 1913,

Richmond Football Club The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed the Tigers, is an Australian rules football team playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). Between its inception in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond in 1885 and 1907, the club competed in the Victo ...

(VFL) 1913,

Brighton Football Club Brighton Football Club was an Australian rules football club which played in the Victorian Football Association (VFA). The club was based in the Melbourne suburb of Brighton, and was nicknamed the Penguins. After suffering financial hardship t ...

(VFA),

St Kilda Football Club The St Kilda Football Club, nicknamed the Saints, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Victoria. The club plays in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's premier league. The club ...

(VFL) 1914,

West Perth Football Club The West Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Falcons, is an Australian rules football club located in Joondalup, Western Australia. West Perth competes in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) and WAFL Women's (WAFLW) and is the oldest exis ...

(WAFL) 1915–1917,

Essendon Football Club The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed the Bombers, is a professional Australian rules football club. The club plays in the Australian Football League (AFL), the game's premier competition. The club was formed by the McCracken family in their A ...

(VFL) 1918,

Footscray Football Club The Western Bulldogs are a professional Australian rules football team that competes in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's premier competition. Founded in 1877 as the Footscray Football Club, and based in West Footscray in the ...

(VFA) 1919, and

Hawthorn Football Club The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Mulgrave, Victoria, that competes in the Australian Football League (AFL). The club was founded in 1902 in the inner-east suburb of Hawt ...

(VFA) 1920; consequently, he has the unusual distinction of playing senior football with nine clubs, eight of them in Melbourne, over eight consecutive seasons (1913–1920).

Notes

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

1918 Season – AFL Tables
{{DEFAULTSORT:1918 Vfl Season Australian Football League seasons

VFL season 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 ...