Grand Final History

Significant changes in 1922 as some of the VFL's biggest names end their careers while two Newspapers debut, providing even more coverage of football for a sports hungry public. The Sun News Pictorial and the Sporting Globe add their voice to the 26th season where Richmond will attempt their third premiership in three years, Essendon move to a new home at Windy Hill and the VFL grapple with new rule proposals. Will throwing the ball become legal?

www. grandfinalhistory.au/episode-26-1922-the-sun-rises-over-a-new-globe

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Of818Pqt9NPA0mRCIRxyG?si=g2AZjXyXS_mXC5-KDOAzDQ

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/episode-26-1922-the-sun-rises-over-a-new-globe/id1532640129?i=1000568079122

1921 in the Victorian Football League, it was a year that Essendon’s efforts to find a new home ground saw the temporary demise of North Melbourne and a slow train journey to Perth had the best players from Victoria and South Australia playing kick to kick on the wide open Nullarbor Plain. Roy Cazaly moved to South Melbourne and the cry of “Up there Cazaly” was born. During a vicious hail storm that covered the MCG with ice spectators from the outer invaded the hallowed MCC Members’ Stand, desperately seeking shelter. Alongside these and other curious events Richmond were trying to back up their first premiership while eight other clubs were looking to get in their way.

www.grandfinalhistory.au/episode-25-1921-up-there-cazaly

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1xxUAFrEae41u2ItqW5Qrw?si=Eeqqf2OoTQ2MrWknXwVacg

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/episode-25-1921-up-there-cazaly/id1532640129?i=1000545010225

Innovation was the theme in 1920 for the VFL: New jumpers proposed to avoid clashes, new rules to open the game and reduce congestion, proposals for ground rationalisation down to two grounds in Melbourne and scheduling Morning Games in the fixture. It was all happening over 100 years ago. Also, controversy in Grand Final week as one player is barred from playing due to a zoning restriction and another makes his debut, in his one and only VFL game, in the Grand Final. 

www.grandfinalhistory.au/episode-24-1920-morning-games/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3jh2c9nH8cHnIDKyad8xIP?si=d_OnJAc0TAO7nrQw39FTiA

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/episode-24-1920-morning-games/id1532640129?i=1000541460887

Borders closed between states, travel restricted, buildings closed, masks required when in public but the footy went on. Might seem familiar today but that was life in 1919 as the Spanish Flu arrived in Australia along with thousands of returning service men and women. All nine VFL teams were playing in 1919, but the Flu was taking its toll on players. Roy Cazaly was out for a few weeks and many players struggled to regain form when returning from illness. St Kilda set a couple of interesting records during the season, firstly not allowing Geelong to score a goal in an entire game, even though it was Geelong’s home game. But not so good for the Saints was their game against South Melbourne losing by 27 goals and allowing South to set the record high score for the VFL including 17 goals in the last quarter! That is still a record over 100 years later. Richmond and Collingwood battled it out for the Grand Final. Who would take home the 1919 VFL Premiership?

www.grandfinalhistory.au/episode-23-1919-a-spanish-visitor

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4gFAj6cmCUVlPxEV1Oio89?si=ostmk5hzT_u6fzpcXi8plw

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/episode-23-1919-a-spanish-visitor/id1532640129?i=1000537357626

South Melbourne go through the 1918 home and away season with just one loss. The secret to their defeat by St Kilda did not emerge for 50 years, and what a secret it was! But how would the Southerners go in the finals? Five Grand Finals for just one premiership so far in the VFL raised some questions about South Melbourne’s ability to handle the pressure in big games. Essendon and St Kilda returned to the VFL in 1918 allowing an eight team competition and the spectators set records for war time attendance. But it was time up for the Stewards, those extra officials that could go onto the ground and report players. They would not be missed.

During a year of turmoil around the world and in Australia football provides a respite from war, tragedy and political division. But there are financial scandals that lead the resignation of the VFL president as clubs use money raised for Patriotic Funds to cover their own expenses. 1917 saw a six team competition and before the Grand Final one former player sent a lucky horseshoe made from a German artillery shell to encourage his team mates. Would it help them get to the “Top of the Tree”?

Ten years in one episode! The leage expands and contracts, players become professional but gambling and bribery allegations cast a cloud. Collingwood tries doping in a semi final yet lose the game anyway. Violence rears its ugly head involving players, crowds, police and the courts. Coaches are sacked, comittees dumped and players go on strike. The game is captured on film and the first exhibition match is played in London in front of the future King. And the spectre of WWI casts doubt on whether the game can continue, as spectators and players enlist, some never to return. 

How do you run a league and a season of football when more than half the clubs refuse to play? 1916 was the year when a majority of VFL clubs said football was a distraction from the war effort and others argued that it provided a welcome relief and entertainment for the working man. And it would be an opportunity to raise money for the Patriotic Funds. It was a season like no other. Four clubs playing each other four times in a shortened season before the finals. Where every team made the Final Four!

In London there was the first exhibition game of Australian Rules, played by Australian Servicemen from the VFL, VFA, SA and WA football leagues and more. Attended by thousands of spectators including the future King of England. A moment of respite in a year that would claim the lives of many footballers and people from all walks of life.

1915, The season starts the day before the Gallipoli landings, with only nine clubs now that University has departed. But many people are asking why footballers are being paid to play a game while soldiers are needed to defend the empire. There is a vote to shorten the season and a majority of clubs agree.  A charity game between VFA premiers North Melbourne and St Kilda is played, the purpose is to raise finds for wounded soldiers. But there is not much charity on the field, and why were North using "ring ins" from other VFA clubs? It was a tough season with attendance down due to the war but the finals bought the crowds back. Team selection for the Grand final caused a sensation, two players bought back from army training to play in the Premiership match. Pity about that 16km route march in the morning. 

Carlton undertake one of the most successful rebuilding efforts of any VFL/AFL team, making the Grand Final with 9 first year players.  Can they go all the way?

And what happens when a player is reported for striking a spectator who punched him first, what ruling will the tribunal bring down? In a season that was marked by the start of the WWI the VFL had one of its most even seasons ever. But it would be the final year for University, competing against professionals was challenging, putting a team on the field when the majority of players enlist was impossible. This was one of many impacts on the VFL with the start of the war, in a year that was the beginning of the storm.