1897 VFA season

1897 Premiership season
Teams	6
Premiers	Port Melbourne (1st premiership)
← 1896 1898 →

The 1897 Victorian Football Association season was the 21st season of the Australian rules football competition. The premiership was won by the Port Melbourne Football Club, the first premiership in its history.

The 1897 season the VFA's first season as the second-tier senior football competition in Victoria. From 1877 until 1896, the VFA had been the top senior competition in the colony, but at the end of 1896, eight of the association's strongest clubs broke away, establishing the rival Victorian Football League, which immediately assumed the position as the highest level of competition.

Association membership

During the 1890s, there was an off-field power struggle within the VFA between the stronger and weaker clubs, as the stronger clubs sought greater administrative control commensurate with their relative financial contribution to the game. This came to a head during 1896 when it was proposed that gate profits, which were always lower in matches against the weaker clubs, be shared equally amongst the Association clubs; in response to the threat that this could be endorsed on the votes of the weaker clubs, six of the strongest clubs – Collingwood, Essendon, Fitzroy, Geelong, Melbourne and South Melbourne – seceded from the VFA, inviting Carlton and St Kilda to join them, to form a rival senior competition, the Victorian Football League.^[1] The League became recognised as the highest level of senior competition in the colony of Victoria, and the Association became the second-tier senior competition, a position it has maintained since.

The establishment of the League left only five of the Association's existing senior competing clubs: Footscray, North Melbourne, Port Melbourne, Richmond and Williamstown. The VFL gave those five clubs the opportunity to compete as a junior competition under and without representation on the VFL's administration, but they rejected the offer and continued as an independent body.^[1] One junior club, Brunswick, was elevated to senior status to bring the numbers to six. The Argus reported in March that two other junior clubs would be elevated to bring numbers to eight, with Essendon District, Brighton, Hawksburn, Hawthorn or Geelong all cited as potential candidates,^[2] but this did not eventuate and the association size remained at six teams until 1899.^[3]

The three Ballarat-based clubs – Ballarat, Ballarat Imperial and South Ballarat – had been members of the Association with representation on the Board of Management, but had not actively competed for the Association premiership. As there was no longer a strong administrative benefit to belonging to the weakened Association, those clubs also ended their affiliations prior to 1897.^[4]

A committee set up in 1896 prior to the secession, featuring delegates both from teams which did secede and teams which did not, developed a series of rule changes which were implemented in 1897: however, since the rules were not adopted until after the secession, the two bodies elected to adopt some slightly different rule changes.^[5] Key changes were:

The modern system of scoring was introduced, with six points awarded for a goal and one point for a behind, replacing the system where games were decided solely on the number of goals scored. (Adopted by both bodies)
The "little mark" was abolished, with the minimum length required for a kick to be claimed as a mark increased from two yards to ten yards (Adopted by both bodies)
The number of players in a team was reduced from twenty to eighteen, with two follower positions eliminated. (Later adopted by the League in 1899)^[6]

Season results

Round 1


	Round 1
Saturday, 1 May	Port Melbourne 8.19 (67)	def.	North Melbourne 2.6 (18)	Port Melbourne Cricket Ground	^[7]
Saturday, 1 May	Williamstown 3.4 (22)	def. by	Footscray 4.5 (29)	Williamstown Cricket Ground	^[7]
Saturday, 1 May	Richmond 5.8 (38)	def.	Brunswick 2.3 (15)	Melbourne Cricket Ground	^[7]

Round 2


	Round 2
Saturday, 8 May	Port Melbourne 10.12 (72)	def.	Richmond 3.5 (23)	Port Melbourne Cricket Ground	^[8]
Saturday, 8 May	Footscray 6.12 (48)	def.	Brunswick 3.4 (22)	Western Reserve	^[8]
Saturday, 8 May	Williamstown 4.6 (30)	def. by	North Melbourne 4.9 (33)	Williamstown Cricket Ground	^[8]

Round 3


	Round 3
Saturday, 15 May	Williamstown 2.3 (15)	def. by	Port Melbourne 4.8 (32)	Williamstown Cricket Ground	^[9]
Saturday, 15 May	Richmond 5.10 (40)	def. by	Footscray 10.13 (73)	Richmond City Reserve	^[9]
Saturday, 15 May	Brunswick 3.3 (21)	def.	North Melbourne 1.10 (16)	Park St Reserve	^[9]

Round 4


	Round 4
Saturday, 22 May	Port Melbourne 17.18 (120)	def.	Brunswick 2.0 (12)	Port Melbourne Cricket Ground	^[10]
Saturday, 22 May	North Melbourne 8.7 (55)	def. by	Footscray 9.8 (62)	East Melbourne Cricket Ground	^[10]
Saturday, 22 May	Richmond 7.10 (52)	drew with	Williamstown 8.4 (52)	Richmond City Reserve	^[10]

Round 5


	Round 5^[11]
Monday, 24 May (morning)	Footscray 2.5 (17)	def. by	Port Melbourne 7.9 (51)	Western Reserve	^[10]
Monday, 24 May (morning)	North Melbourne 5.13 (43)	def.	Richmond 6.6 (42)	East Melbourne Cricket Ground	^[10]
Monday, 24 May (morning)	Williamstown 9.16 (70)	def.	Brunswick 4.2 (26)	Williamstown Cricket Ground	^[10]

Round 6


	Round 6
Saturday, 29 May	North Melbourne 6.5 (41)	def.	Port Melbourne 2.5 (17)	East Melbourne Cricket Ground	^[12]
Saturday, 29 May	Footscray 2.10 (22)	def.	Williamstown 0.4 (4)	Western Reserve	^[12]
Saturday, 29 May	Brunswick 8.6 (54)	def.	Richmond 4.15 (39)	Park St Reserve	^[12]

Round 7


	Round 7
Saturday, 5 June	Richmond 8.1 (49)	def. by	Port Melbourne 8.12 (60)	Richmond Cricket Ground	^[13]
Saturday, 5 June	North Melbourne 5.8 (38)	def.	Williamstown 3.5 (23)	East Melbourne Cricket Ground	^[13]
Saturday, 5 June	Brunswick 4.2 (26)	def. by	Footscray 8.8 (56)	Park St Reserve	^[13]

Round 8


	Round 8
Saturday, 12 June	Port Melbourne 4.10 (34)	def.	Williamstown 4.5 (29)	Port Melbourne Cricket Ground	^[14]
Saturday, 12 June	Footscray 8.13 (61)	def.	Richmond 6.8 (44)	Western Reserve	^[14]
Saturday, 12 June	Brunswick 2.9 (21)	def. by	North Melbourne 8.9 (57)	Park St Reserve	^[14]

Round 9


	Round 9 (Charity Round)
Saturday, 19 June	North Melbourne 3.12 (30)	def.	Footscray 2.4 (16)	East Melbourne Cricket Ground	^[15]
Saturday, 19 June	Brunswick 1.1 (7)	def. by	Port Melbourne 6.9 (45)	Park St Reserve	^[15]
Saturday, 19 June	Williamstown 8.15 (63)	def.	Richmond 3.3 (21)	Williamstown Cricket Ground	^[15]

Round 10


	Round 10
Saturday, 26 June	Port Melbourne 3.11 (29)	def.	North Melbourne 3.6 (24)	Port Melbourne Cricket Ground	^[16]
Saturday, 26 June	Brunswick 0.1 (1)	def. by	Williamstown 6.9 (45)	Park St Reserve	^[16]
Saturday, 26 June	Richmond 2.2 (14)	def. by	North Melbourne 7.8 (50)	Richmond Cricket Ground	^[16]

Round 11


	Round 11
Saturday, 3 July	North Melbourne 3.10 (28)	def. by	Port Melbourne 7.4 (46)	East Melbourne Cricket Ground	^[17]
Saturday, 3 July	Williamstown 3.5 (23)	def.	Footscray 2.9 (21)	Williamstown Cricket Ground	^[17]
Saturday, 3 July	Brunswick 6.8 (44)	def.	Richmond 4.8 (32)	Park St Reserve	^[17]

Round 12


	Round 12
Saturday, 10 July	Richmond 3.6 (24)	def. by	Port Melbourne 5.6 (36)	Richmond Cricket Ground	^[18]
Saturday, 10 July	North Melbourne 5.2 (32)	def.	Williamstown 4.7 (31)	East Melbourne Cricket Ground	^[18]
Saturday, 10 July	Brunswick 3.8 (26)	def. by	Footscray 10.13 (73)	Park St Reserve	^[18]

Round 13


	Round 13
Saturday, 17 July	Port Melbourne 9.14 (68)	def.	Williamstown 2.4 (16)	Port Melbourne Cricket Ground	^[19]
Saturday, 17 July	Footscray 7.17 (59)	def.	Richmond 0.5 (5)	Western Reserve	^[19]
Saturday, 17 July	Brunswick 3.7 (25)	def. by	North Melbourne 5.7 (37)	Park St Reserve	^[19]

Round 14


	Round 14
Saturday, 24 July	Brunswick 6.8 (44)	def. by	Port Melbourne 14.15 (99)	Park St Reserve	^[20]
Saturday, 24 July	Footscray 4.4 (28)	def.	North Melbourne 1.4 (10)	Western Reserve	^[20]
Saturday, 24 July	Williamstown 9.15 (69)	def.	Richmond 5.3 (33)	Williamstown Cricket Ground	^[20]

Round 15


	Round 15
Saturday, 7 August	Port Melbourne 1.11 (17)	def.	Footscray 1.8 (14)	Port Melbourne Cricket Ground	^[21]
Saturday, 7 August	North Melbourne 9.14 (68)	def.	Richmond 5.14 (44)	East Melbourne Cricket Ground	^[21]
Saturday, 7 August	Williamstown 9.12 (66)	def.	Brunswick 2.8 (20)	Williamstown Cricket Ground	^[21]

Round 16


	Round 16
Saturday, 14 August	Port Melbourne 2.11 (23)	def. by	North Melbourne 4.5 (29)	Port Melbourne Cricket Ground	^[22]
Saturday, 14 August	Footscray 3.6 (24)	def. by	Williamstown 3.7 (25)	Western Reserve	^[22]
Saturday, 14 August	Richmond 5.21 (51)	def.	Brunswick 5.4 (34)	Richmond Cricket Ground	^[22]

Round 17


	Round 17
Saturday, 21 August	Port Melbourne 13.8 (86)	def.	Richmond 3.3 (21)	Port Melbourne Cricket Ground	^[23]
Saturday, 21 August	Williamstown 9.7 (61)	def.	North Melbourne 2.5 (17)	Williamstown Cricket Ground	^[23]
Saturday, 21 August	Footscray 3.10 (28)	def.	Brunswick 2.8 (20)	Western Reserve	^[23]

Round 18


	Round 18
Saturday, 28 August	Williamstown 3.9 (27)	def. by	Port Melbourne 4.6 (30)	Williamstown Cricket Ground	^[24]
Saturday, 28 August	Richmond 5.10 (40)	def. by	Footscray 9.12 (66)	Richmond Cricket Ground	^[24]
Saturday, 28 August	North Melbourne 10.9 (69)	def.	Brunswick 3.15 (33)	Western Reserve	^[24]

Round 19


	Round 19
Saturday, 4 September	Port Melbourne 9.17 (71)	def.	Brunswick 2.6 (18)	Port Melbourne Cricket Ground	^[25]
Saturday, 4 September	Footscray 4.6 (30)	def. by	North Melbourne 7.5 (47)	Western Reserve	^[25]
Saturday, 4 September	Richmond 3.11 (29)	def. by	Williamstown 4.9 (33)	Richmond Cricket Ground	^[25]

Round 20


	Round 20
Saturday, 11 September	Footscray 7.12 (54)	def.	Port Melbourne 3.6 (24)	Western Reserve	^[26]
Saturday, 11 September	Richmond 6.8 (44)	def. by	North Melbourne 6.16 (52)	Richmond Cricket Ground	^[26]
Saturday, 11 September	Williamstown 13.15 (93)	def.	Brunswick 6.7 (43)	Williamstown Cricket Ground	^[26]

Ladder

1897 VFA Ladder

TEAM

PTS

Port Melbourne (P)

1080

504

North Melbourne

770

681

Footscray

805

559

Williamstown

795

606

Brunswick

505

1111

Richmond

685

1091

Key: P = Played, W = Won, L = Lost, D = Drawn, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, (P) = Premiers, PTS = Premiership points

Source^[3]

Notable events

Representative games

The Association played one representative match during 1897, against the Ballarat Football Association at the Eastern Oval on 31 July.


	Representative Games in 1897
Saturday, 31 July	B.F.A. 6.11 (47)	def. by	V.F.A. 7.8 (50)	Eastern Oval	^[27]

Other notable events

Theodore Fink, MLA replaced Sir Frank Grey Smith as president of the Association. Smith had presided since 1887.^[28]
Owing to work to upgrade the venue, the North Melbourne Recreation Reserve was not available during the season. North Melbourne played most of its home games for the season at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground, sharing it with the League's Essendon Football Club;^[29] it also played one home game at Footscray when East Melbourne was unavailable.^[24]
In Round 12, only nine of the Footscray team arrived for their match against Brunswick; Footscray was forced to call on trainers, reserves and about half a dozen willing spectators to take the field in order to field a full team. Despite this unusual handicap, Footscray still comfortably won the game.^[18]
The Association introduced premiership medals to be award to players of the premier club for the first time, replacing the existing practice of awarding a premiership cap to each player.^[6]

External links

References

1 2 "The Victorian Football Association". North Melbourne Courier and West Melbourne Advertiser (72). North Melbourne, VIC. 19 March 1897. p. 3.
↑ Observer (12 March 1897). "Next Winter's football". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. p. 6.
1 2 Observer (13 September 1897). "Close of the Football Season". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. p. 3.
↑ "Ballarat Football Club". The Ballarat Star. Ballarat, VIC. 10 April 1897. p. 4.
↑ Observer (12 March 1897). "Next winter's football – rival organisations – the new rules". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. p. 6.
1 2 "Free Kick" (20 March 1897). "Football – Unsportsmanlike action of the League clubs". The Standard. XIII (11). Port Melbourne, VIC. p. 2.
1 2 3 Markwell (8 May 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne, VIC. p. 916.
1 2 3 Markwell (15 May 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne, VIC. pp. 966–7.
1 2 3 Markwell (22 May 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne, VIC. pp. 1019–20.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Markwell (29 May 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne, VIC. pp. 1071–2.
↑ "To-day's matches". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 24 May 1897. p. 6.
1 2 3 Markwell (5 June 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne, VIC. pp. 1123–4.
1 2 3 Markwell (12 June 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne, VIC. p. 1176.
1 2 3 Markwell (19 June 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne, VIC. p. 1229.
1 2 3 Markwell (26 June 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne, VIC. pp. 1277–8.
1 2 3 Markwell (3 July 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne, VIC. p. 22.
1 2 3 Markwell (10 July 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne, VIC. p. 77.
1 2 3 4 Markwell (17 July 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne, VIC. p. 127.
1 2 3 Markwell (24 July 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne, VIC. p. 180.
1 2 3 Markwell (31 July 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne, VIC. pp. 231–2.
1 2 3 Markwell (14 August 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne, VIC. p. 358.
1 2 3 Markwell (21 August 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne, VIC. p. 391.
1 2 3 Markwell (28 August 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne, VIC. pp. 443–4.
1 2 3 4 Markwell (4 September 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne, VIC. p. 497.
1 2 3 Markwell (11 September 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne, VIC. p. 549.
1 2 3 Markwell (18 September 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne, VIC. p. 605.
↑ Markwell (7 August 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian. Melbourne, VIC. p. 284.
↑ Fiddian, Marc (2004), The VFA: a history of the Victorian Football Association, 1877–1995, p. 21
↑ "Football – the Victorian Football League". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 13 April 1897. p. 6.

VFA/VFL seasons

Pre-VFA	1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876

VFA seasons	1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896

VFA seasons (Post VFL formation)	1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995

VFL seasons	1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Victorian Football League clubs

Current clubs	Box Hill Casey Scorpions Coburg Collingwood reserves Essendon reserves Footscray reserves Geelong reserves North Ballarat Northern Blues Port Melbourne Richmond reserves Sandringham Werribee Williamstown

Former clubs	Albert Park Ballarat Ballarat Imperial Berwick Bendigo Brighton/Caulfield Brunswick Camberwell Carlton Carlton reserves Collingwood Dandenong East Melbourne Essendon Essendon 'A' Fitzroy Footscray Frankston Geelong Geelong 'A' Geelong West Gold Coast Hawthorn Hotham/North Melbourne Kilsyth Melbourne Melbourne City Moorabbin Mordialloc Murray Kangaroos Northcote Oakleigh Prahran Richmond St Kilda St Kilda reserves South Ballarat South Melbourne South Williamstown Sunshine Tasmanian Devils Traralgon University Waverley West Melbourne Yarraville

Australian rules football in Victoria

Representative side	Victoria

Governing bodies	AFL Victoria (metropolitan) AFL Victoria Country (country)

Professional clubs	Carlton Collingwood Essendon Geelong Hawthorn Melbourne North Melbourne Richmond St Kilda Western Bulldogs

Statewide leagues	Victorian Football League TAC Cup (under-18) List of Australian rules football competitions in Victoria

Metropolitan leagues	Eastern Essendon District Northern Riddell District Southern VAFA Western Region

Regional leagues (major)	Ballarat Bellarine Bendigo Central Murray Geelong Gippsland Goulburn Valley Hampden Mornington Peninsula Nepean Murray North Central Ovens & Murray Sunraysia Wimmera Yarra Valley Mountain

Regional leagues (district)	Alberton Central Highlands Colac & District East Gippsland Ellinbank & District Geelong & District Golden Rivers Heathcote Horsham & District Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara Kyabram & District Loddon Valley Maryborough Castlemaine Mid Gippsland Millewa Mininera North Gippsland Omeo & District Ovens & King Picola & District South East South West Tallangatta Upper Murray Warrnambool Western Border

Women's leagues	Victorian Women's Football League AFL Victoria Youth Girls Competition

Defunct leagues	Benalla (1946-2009) Federal (1909-1981) Lexton Plains (1999-2010) Mallee (1997-2015) Riviera (1986-2003) Tyrrell (1945-1978) List of former Australian rules football competitions in Victoria

Principal venues	Melbourne Cricket Ground Docklands Stadium Princes Park Kardinia Park

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