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1912 VFL season

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1912 VFL premiership season
Essendon 1912 VFL premiership team
Date27 April—28 September 1912
Teams10
PremiersEssendon
4th premiership
Minor premiersSouth Melbourne
2nd minor premiership
Leading goalkicker medallistHarry Brereton (Melbourne)
56 goals
Matches played94
← 1911
1913 →

The 1912 VFL season was the 16th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest-level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured ten clubs and ran from 27 April to 28 September, comprising an 18-match home-and-away season followed by a four-week finals series featuring the top four clubs.

Essendon won the premiership, defeating South Melbourne by 14 points in the 1912 VFL grand final; it was Essendon's second consecutive premiership and fourth VFL premiership overall. South Melbourne won the minor premiership by finishing atop the home-and-away ladder with a 14–4 win–loss record. Melbourne's Harry Brereton won his second consecutive leading goalkicker medal as the league's leading goalkicker.

Background

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In 1912, the VFL competition consisted of ten 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 18 rounds.

Once the 18 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1912 VFL Premiers were determined by the specific format and conventions of the amended "Argus system".

Home-and-away season

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Round 1

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Essendon 17.14 (116) University 6.6 (42) EMCG 27 April 1912
Carlton 9.16 (70) Geelong 4.7 (31) Princes Park 27 April 1912
St Kilda 6.10 (46) Richmond 7.11 (53) Junction Oval 27 April 1912
South Melbourne 7.5 (47) Fitzroy 4.10 (34) Lake Oval 27 April 1912
Melbourne 9.14 (68) Collingwood 5.9 (39) MCG 27 April 1912

Round 2

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Richmond 5.8 (38) South Melbourne 2.23 (35) Punt Road Oval 4 May 1912
Geelong 13.15 (93) St Kilda 6.11 (47) Corio Oval 4 May 1912
Collingwood 6.17 (53) Essendon 10.10 (70) Victoria Park 4 May 1912
University 8.12 (60) Melbourne 10.8 (68) MCG 4 May 1912
Fitzroy 5.11 (41) Carlton 9.10 (64) Brunswick Street Oval 4 May 1912

Round 3

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Fitzroy 7.14 (56) Geelong 5.6 (36) Brunswick Street Oval 11 May 1912
University 9.9 (63) Richmond 6.12 (48) MCG 11 May 1912
South Melbourne 6.18 (54) Melbourne 3.4 (22) Lake Oval 11 May 1912
St Kilda 12.21 (93) Collingwood 4.12 (36) Junction Oval 11 May 1912
Essendon 8.11 (59) Carlton 6.14 (50) EMCG 11 May 1912

Round 4

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Geelong 11.12 (78) Melbourne 5.5 (35) Corio Oval 18 May 1912
Carlton 6.9 (45) Collingwood 6.10 (46) Princes Park 18 May 1912
University 3.13 (31) St Kilda 7.14 (56) MCG 18 May 1912
Richmond 9.6 (60) Fitzroy 13.8 (86) Punt Road Oval 18 May 1912
South Melbourne 8.8 (56) Essendon 9.8 (62) Lake Oval 18 May 1912

Round 5

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
St Kilda 5.5 (35) South Melbourne 7.8 (50) Junction Oval 25 May 1912
Fitzroy 8.11 (59) University 4.8 (32) Brunswick Street Oval 25 May 1912
Essendon 7.7 (49) Geelong 7.10 (52) EMCG 25 May 1912
Collingwood 10.12 (72) Richmond 6.4 (40) Victoria Park 25 May 1912
Melbourne 8.2 (50) Carlton 5.14 (44) MCG 25 May 1912

Round 6

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Prior to this round, it was noted by the Football Record that Melbourne had been generally strong while competing at their home ground, but had faltered while away.[1]

Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Fitzroy 11.12 (78) Melbourne 10.6 (66) Brunswick Street Oval 1 June 1912
Carlton 12.15 (87) St Kilda 6.11 (47) Princes Park 1 June 1912
University 5.8 (38) South Melbourne 9.16 (70) MCG 1 June 1912
Richmond 10.10 (70) Essendon 13.14 (92) Punt Road Oval 1 June 1912
Geelong 13.13 (91) Collingwood 2.15 (27) Corio Oval 1 June 1912

Round 7

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Collingwood 10.13 (73) University 4.12 (36) Victoria Park 3 June 1912
South Melbourne 13.15 (93) Geelong 8.13 (61) Lake Oval 3 June 1912
St Kilda 6.10 (46) Fitzroy 8.7 (55) Junction Oval 3 June 1912
Melbourne 8.6 (54) Essendon 16.12 (108) MCG 3 June 1912
Richmond 7.8 (50) Carlton 17.17 (119) Punt Road Oval 3 June 1912

Round 8

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Melbourne 14.14 (98) Richmond 4.9 (33) MCG 8 June 1912
Geelong 8.15 (63) University 3.8 (26) Corio Oval 8 June 1912
Essendon 6.19 (55) St Kilda 10.6 (66) EMCG 8 June 1912
Collingwood 13.10 (88) Fitzroy 11.7 (73) Victoria Park 8 June 1912
Carlton 8.16 (64) South Melbourne 6.10 (46) Princes Park 8 June 1912

Round 9

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
St Kilda 2.12 (24) Melbourne 7.13 (55) Junction Oval 15 June 1912
Richmond 4.16 (40) Geelong 7.12 (54) Punt Road Oval 15 June 1912
Fitzroy 3.7 (25) Essendon 8.8 (56) Brunswick Street Oval 15 June 1912
South Melbourne 4.16 (40) Collingwood 4.8 (32) Lake Oval 15 June 1912
University 8.10 (58) Carlton 10.17 (77) MCG 15 June 1912

Round 10

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Richmond 6.6 (42) St Kilda 12.14 (86) Punt Road Oval 22 June 1912
Fitzroy 3.10 (28) South Melbourne 9.12 (66) Brunswick Street Oval 22 June 1912
Collingwood 6.17 (53) Melbourne 6.9 (45) Victoria Park 22 June 1912
University 7.10 (52) Essendon 16.24 (120) MCG 22 June 1912
Geelong 12.7 (79) Carlton 8.12 (60) Corio Oval 22 June 1912

Round 11

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Melbourne 13.14 (92) University 5.7 (37) MCG 29 June 1912
Carlton 6.8 (44) Fitzroy 4.15 (39) Princes Park 29 June 1912
South Melbourne 19.12 (126) Richmond 5.7 (37) Lake Oval 29 June 1912
St Kilda 12.11 (83) Geelong 9.14 (68) Junction Oval 29 June 1912
Essendon 6.18 (54) Collingwood 6.10 (46) EMCG 29 June 1912

Round 12

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Richmond 11.19 (85) University 4.4 (28) Punt Road Oval 13 July 1912
Melbourne 0.8 (8) South Melbourne 13.8 (86) MCG 13 July 1912
Collingwood 8.15 (63) St Kilda 6.4 (40) Victoria Park 13 July 1912
Carlton 10.16 (76) Essendon 4.9 (33) Princes Park 13 July 1912
Geelong 10.13 (73) Fitzroy 5.10 (40) Corio Oval 13 July 1912

Round 13

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
St Kilda 15.12 (102) University 6.14 (50) Junction Oval 20 July 1912
Fitzroy 10.10 (70) Richmond 3.11 (29) Brunswick Street Oval 20 July 1912
Essendon 7.10 (52) South Melbourne 9.11 (65) EMCG 20 July 1912
Melbourne 7.12 (54) Geelong 5.13 (43) MCG 20 July 1912
Collingwood 3.14 (32) Carlton 8.7 (55) Victoria Park 20 July 1912

Round 14

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Carlton 4.18 (42) Melbourne 5.7 (37) Princes Park 27 July 1912
South Melbourne 14.7 (91) St Kilda 7.18 (60) Lake Oval 27 July 1912
University 7.8 (50) Fitzroy 12.14 (86) MCG 27 July 1912
Geelong 13.14 (92) Essendon 5.10 (40) Corio Oval 27 July 1912
Richmond 6.4 (40) Collingwood 10.15 (75) Punt Road Oval 27 July 1912

Round 15

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
South Melbourne 12.13 (85) University 7.5 (47) Lake Oval 3 August 1912
Essendon 10.12 (72) Richmond 5.13 (43) EMCG 3 August 1912
Collingwood 7.15 (57) Geelong 6.8 (44) Victoria Park 3 August 1912
Melbourne 6.6 (42) Fitzroy 6.7 (43) MCG 3 August 1912
St Kilda 6.15 (51) Carlton 7.12 (54) Junction Oval 3 August 1912

Round 16

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Geelong 4.8 (32) South Melbourne 6.15 (51) Corio Oval 17 August 1912
Fitzroy 12.17 (89) St Kilda 8.7 (55) Brunswick Street Oval 17 August 1912
Essendon 9.8 (62) Melbourne 7.8 (50) EMCG 17 August 1912
Carlton 8.20 (68) Richmond 8.11 (59) Princes Park 17 August 1912
University 6.7 (43) Collingwood 6.20 (56) MCG 17 August 1912

Round 17

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Richmond 9.9 (63) Melbourne 11.7 (73) Punt Road Oval 24 August 1912
University 7.8 (50) Geelong 12.22 (94) MCG 24 August 1912
St Kilda 15.18 (108) Essendon 7.8 (50) Junction Oval 24 August 1912
Fitzroy 9.11 (65) Collingwood 4.3 (27) Brunswick Street Oval 24 August 1912
South Melbourne 6.10 (46) Carlton 7.10 (52) Lake Oval 24 August 1912

Round 18

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Melbourne 9.14 (68) St Kilda 7.7 (49) MCG 31 August 1912
Geelong 9.16 (70) Richmond 4.9 (33) Corio Oval 31 August 1912
Essendon 7.13 (55) Fitzroy 6.13 (49) EMCG 31 August 1912
Collingwood 5.7 (37) South Melbourne 7.11 (53) Victoria Park 31 August 1912
Carlton 10.14 (74) University 10.9 (69) Princes Park 31 August 1912

Ladder

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(P) Premiers
Qualified for finals
# Team P W L D PF PA % Pts
1 South Melbourne 18 14 4 0 1160 739 157.0 56
2 Carlton 18 14 4 0 1145 873 131.2 56
3 Essendon (P) 18 12 6 0 1205 1049 114.9 48
4 Geelong 18 11 7 0 1154 911 126.7 44
5 Fitzroy 18 10 8 0 1016 936 108.5 40
6 Melbourne 18 9 9 0 985 996 98.9 36
7 Collingwood 18 9 9 0 912 995 91.7 36
8 St Kilda 18 7 11 0 1094 1090 100.4 28
9 Richmond 18 3 15 0 863 1333 64.7 12
10 University 18 1 17 0 812 1424 57.0 4

Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for
Average score: 57.5
Source: AFL Tables

Finals series

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All of the 1912 finals were played at the MCG 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.

Semi-finals

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Home team Score Away team Score Venue Date
Carlton 10.11 (71) Geelong 4.19 (43) MCG 7 September
Essendon 7.12 (54) South Melbourne 6.6 (42) MCG 14 September

Preliminary final

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Home team Score Away team Score Venue Date
Essendon 7.10 (52) Carlton 6.12 (48) MCG 21 September

Grand final

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Home team Score Away team Score Venue Date
Essendon 5.17 (47) South Melbourne 4.9 (33) MCG 28 September

Season notes

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  • On 27 April 1912, the first issue of the VFL's Football Record was published.[2]
  • For the first time, all VFL players wore a number on the back of their guernseys. The number designated the player himself, rather than their position and, in most cases, they played with the same number on their back for the whole season (however, if they changed clubs, their number would also alter).
  • University's Round 3 victory over Richmond was ultimately to be the last win in the VFL club's history. University would go on to lose its next 51 matches (including two winless seasons in 1913 and 1914), a VFL/AFL record, before they dropped out of the competition.
  • South Australia defeated Victoria 9.8 (62) to 6.7 (43) in Adelaide on 10 August 1912.[2]
  • In a match against Collingwood, Essendon's Dan Hanley was impeded from taking part in a contest for the ball along one of the boundary lines, when a boundary umpire allegedly grasped him by the hand. There were no "official" witnesses to this unusual incident, and the boundary umpire went unpunished.
  • The captains of the two 1912 second semi-final teams, Allan Belcher of Essendon and Vic Belcher of South Melbourne, were brothers.
  • The VFL decided to appoint two stewards to each match and they had the power to report players.[2] They wore an all-white uniform, with the word "Steward" in red on their breast.[2]

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ "Items of Interest". Football Record: 4. May 1912. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Ross, John (1996). 100 Years of Australian Football. Ringwood, Australia: Viking Books. p. 382. ISBN 9781854714343.
  • Maplestone, M., Flying Higher: History of the Essendon Football Club 1872–1996, Essendon Football Club, (Melbourne), 1996. ISBN 0-9591740-2-8
  • Rogers, S. & Brown, A., Every Game Ever Played: VFL/AFL Results 1897–1997 (Sixth Edition), Viking Books, (Ringwood), 1998. ISBN 0-670-90809-6

Sources

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