THE HISTORY OF THE VFA-VFL

GRAND FINALS

1877-1902
1903-1932
1933-1960
1961-1995
1996-PRES.
PREMIERSHIPS
SECOND DIVISION
GF B.O.G.
GF CROWDS
GF VENUES
1877-1902

VFA PREMIERS (1877-1902)

During this era no deciding match for the premiership was held (except for 1878 and 1896 when playoffs were required). From 1877-87 teams won the premiership based on their record in all matches played from May 1st each year, including tour games and games against non-senior teams. The final ladder was often based on consensus among the football media of the day.

In 1888 VFA Secretary, Theo S. Marshall introduced a new method of ranking teams via an official premiership ladder. Under the new system teams had to play at least 18 games to be eligible for the premiership and received four points for every win and two points for a draw.

YEAR

PREMIERS

W-D-L

RUNNERS-UP

W-D-L

NOTES

1877

Carlton

14-4-3

Melbourne

16-4-3

Decided by their head-to-head record (Carlton 2 wins, Melbourne 1 win/1 draw)

1878

Geelong

16-1-0

Melbourne

11-5-7

Decided by premiership playoff (see table below)

 

1879

Geelong

15-1-0

Carlton

16-2-4

Decided by team with fewest losses in all matches (senior and other)

1880

Geelong

14-2-2

South Melbourne

13-5-2

Decided by team with fewest losses in all matches (senior and other)

1881

South Melbourne

15-3-1

Geelong

15-2-1

Decided by their head-to-head record (South Melbourne 1 win, 1 draw)

1882

Geelong

20-2-2

Essendon

14-6-3

Decided by team with fewest losses in all matches (senior and other)

1883

Geelong

15-3-3

South Melbourne

18-3-4

Decided by team with fewest losses in all matches (senior and other)

1884

Geelong

22-1-2

Essendon

16-2-6

Decided by team with fewest losses in all matches (senior and other)

1885

South Melbourne

22-3-0

Essendon

15-4-2

Decided by team with fewest losses in all matches (senior and other)

1886

Geelong

24-3-0

South Melbourne

19-2-1

Decided by team with fewest losses in all matches (senior and other)

1887

Carlton

15-2-1

Geelong

16-3-2

Decided by team with fewest losses in all matches (senior and other)

VFA Premiership ladder officially introduced (teams needed to play a minimum of 18 games to be eligible for the premiership)

(NOTE - some teams played more than 18 games so a proportional points system was used to determine the ladder positions)

1888

South Melbourne

15-2-2

Geelong

12-4-3

-

 

 

 

1889

South Melbourne

14-3-2

Carlton

15-0-5

-

 

 

 

1890

South Melbourne

16-1-2

Carlton

13-2-4

-

 

 

 

1891

Essendon

17-2-1

Carlton

14-3-4

-

 

 

 

1892

Essendon

15-3-1

Fitzroy

15-2-4

-

 

 

 

1893

Essendon

18-2-0

Melbourne

16-2-3

-

 

 

 

Fixtures were standardised so that all teams played the same number of premiership matches (18)

1894

Essendon

16-1-1

Melbourne

13-0-5

-

 

 

 

1895

Fitzroy

12-5-1

Coll/Geel/Melb

>>>> 

Geelong & Melbourne (13-0-5) tied with Collingwood (12-2-4) on 52 points

1896

Collingwood

14-3-1

South Melbourne

14-3-1

Decided by premiership playoff (see table below)

Collingwood, Carlton, Fitzroy, Geelong, Melbourne, South Melbourne and St Kilda left the VFA and formed the rival VFL competition

1897

Port Melbourne

17-3-0

North Melbourne

14-6-0

All teams played 20 matches

 

 

1898

Footscray

13-4-0

North Melbourne

12-5-0

Top four teams played 17 matches (the others played 15)

1899

Footscray

18-3-0

North Melbourne

17-4-0

All teams played 16 matches

 

 

1900

Footscray

15-1-0

Williamstown

13-3-0

All teams played 16 matches

 

 

1901

Port Melbourne

13-3-0

Richmond

12-4-0

Port and Richmond were 12-3 before the final round but no playoff required

1902

Richmond

15-1-0

Port Melbourne

14-2-0

Port and Richmond were 14-1 before the final round but no playoff required

 

Play-off matches for the premiership during this era:

DATE

TEAMS

 

1/2

FINAL

 

MARG.

VENUE

CROWD

5-10-1878

Geelong

 

1.7

5.12

 

4 goals

Melbourne Football Ground

11,000*

Melbourne

 

1.1

1.4

 

DATE

TEAMS

 

1/4

1/2

3/4

FINAL

 

MARG.

VENUE

CROWD

3-10-1896

Collingwood

 

4.3

4.4

4.6

6.9

 

1 goal

East Melbourne

12,000

South Melbourne

 

2.1

3.6

5.9

5.10

 

Cricket Ground

 

1903-1932

VFA GRAND FINALS (1903-1932)

During this era, the VFA adopted the Argus finals system (which the rival VFL competition had been using in various forms since 1901).  The new system crowned a minor premier (the leading team after the home-and-away rounds) and consisted of two semi-finals followed by a final.

If the minor premier won their semi-final and final, they claimed the premiership. However, if they lost either of these matches they had the right to play a challenge final. This system ensured the top team always played in the deciding match for the premiership. Full details of the VFA Challenge Finals era can be found here.

Note:
- the column marked LP in the following table indicates the ladder positions of each Grand Final team at the end of the home and away rounds.
- an asterisk (*) next to the crowd figure indicates more than one crowd total was published across various sources. Click here for a list of all crowd figures published for each Grand Final.

DATE

TEAMS

LP

 

1/4

1/2

3/4

FINAL

 

MARG.

VENUE

CROWD

19-9-1903

North Melbourne

2

 

3.4 (22)

3.4 (22)

7.6 (48)

7.6 (48)

 

21

East Melbourne

20,000*

(Challenge)

Richmond

1

 

0.0 (0)

1.4 (10)

1.4 (10)

3.9 (27)

 

Cricket Ground

1-10-1904

North Melbourne

2

 

North Melbourne won by forfeit

 

-

East Melbourne

-

(Challenge)

Richmond

1

 

 

Cricket Ground

7-10-1905

Richmond

2

 

2.2 (14)

3.3 (21)

8.6 (54)

9.7 (61)

 

25

East Melbourne

20,000*

(Challenge)

North Melbourne

1

 

0.2 (2)

3.3 (21)

3.3 (21)

5.6 (36)

 

Cricket Ground

29-9-1906

West Melbourne

1

 

0.0 (0)

3.4 (22)

4.7 (31)

7.8 (50)

 

11

East Melbourne

20,000

Footscray

4

 

3.2 (20)

3.5 (23)

5.8 (38)

5.9 (39)

 

Cricket Ground

28-9-1907

Williamstown

1

 

4.4 (28)

4.5 (29)

5.9 (39)

7.10 (52)

 

18

East Melbourne

24,000

West Melbourne

4

 

0.2 (2)

2.6 (18)

2.9 (21)

3.16 (34)

 

Cricket Ground

31-8-1908

Footscray

1

 

1.2 (8)

3.4 (22)

6.5 (41)

9.10 (64)

 

24

MCG

44,000*

Brunswick

4

 

2.0 (12)

4.0 (24)

5.3 (33)

6.4 (40)

 

25-9-1909

Brunswick

3

 

0.1 (1)

3.7 (25)

5.10 (40)

10.12 (72)

 

17

Arden Street Oval,

20,000

(Challenge)

Prahran

1

 

4.2 (26)

6.4 (40)

8.4 (52)

8.7 (55)

 

North Melbourne

8-10-1910

North Melbourne

1

 

1.1 (7)

5.6 (36)

6.10 (46)

9.14 (68)

 

29

Arden Street Oval,

28,000*

(Challenge)

Brunswick

3

 

4.3 (27)

4.3 (27)

5.8 (38)

5.9 (39)

 

North Melbourne

23-9-1911

Essendon Association

1

 

1.3 (9)

2.5 (17)

4.10 (34)

4.10 (34)

 

8

Arden Street Oval,

27,000*

(Challenge)

Brunswick

4

 

0.1 (1)

1.3 (9)

1.4 (10)

3.8 (26)

 

North Melbourne

28-9-1912

Essendon Association

3

 

2.3 (15)

3.6 (24)

7.8 (50)

9.8 (62)

 

21

Arden Street Oval,

25,000

(Challenge)

Footscray

1

 

1.2 (8)

2.7 (19)

2.9 (21)

5.11 (41)

 

North Melbourne

6-9-1913

Footscray

1

 

4.2 (26)

7.10 (52)

8.13 (61)

10.14 (74)

 

1

East Melbourne

20,000

North Melbourne

2

 

3.4 (22)

6.4 (40)

10.6 (66)

11.7 (73)

 

Cricket Ground

22-8-1914

North Melbourne

1

 

1.3 (9)

6.10 (46)

9.13 (67)

12.14 (86)

 

35

East Melbourne

15,000*

Footscray

2

 

2.2 (14)

4.2 (26)

5.5 (35)

7.9 (51)

 

Cricket Ground

7-8-1915

North Melbourne

1

 

2.6 (18)

4.8 (32)

9.9 (63)

11.10 (76)

 

48

Arden Street Oval,

7,000*

Brunswick

2

 

0.1 (1)

0.7 (7)

1.7 (13)

3.10 (28)

 

North Melbourne

1916-17 - Competition suspended due to WWI

10-8-1918

North Melbourne

1

 

6.2 (38)

11.6 (72)

15.7 (97)

18.13 (121)

 

93

Arden Street Oval,

7,000

Prahran

2

 

0.1 (1)

1.6 (12)

3.7 (25)

3.10 (28)

 

North Melbourne

27-9-1919

Footscray

2

 

4.5 (29)

4.8 (32)

6.16 (52)

8.17 (65)

 

22

East Melbourne

25,000*

(Challenge)

North Melbourne

1

 

1.1 (7)

4.6 (30)

4.7 (31)

6.7 (43)

 

Cricket Ground

9-10-1920

Footscray

1

 

3.3 (21)

5.4 (34)

6.7 (43)

10.9 (69)

 

3

East Melbourne

18,000

Brunswick

3

 

1.5 (11)

3.12 (30)

6.15 (51)

8.18 (66)

 

Cricket Ground

1921 - Grand Final originally Oct.15 at the EMCG but was postponed due to the Preliminary Final needing to be replayed

22-10-1921

Williamstown

4

 

2.1 (13)

2.5 (17)

7.5 (47)

8.9 (57)

 

18

Brunswick St Oval

20,000

(Challenge)

Footscray

1

 

0.1 (1)

3.6 (24)

5.8 (38)

5.9 (39)

 

(Fitzroy CG)

23-9-1922

Port Melbourne

2

 

6.2 (38)

7.2 (44)

9.6 (60)

9.6 (60)

 

2

Arden Street Oval,

22,000*

(Challenge)

Footscray

1

 

0.2 (2)

4.7 (31)

5.7 (37)

8.10 (58)

 

North Melbourne

29-9-1923

Footscray

1

 

3.4 (22)

3.4 (22)

6.9 (45)

7.10 (52)

 

14

Arden Street Oval,

20,000*

(Challenge)

Port Melbourne

2

 

0.0 (0)

2.1 (13)

2.2 (14)

5.8 (38)

 

North Melbourne

20-9-1924

Footscray

1

 

3.5 (23)

4.6 (30)

9.9 (63)

11.11 (77)

 

55

Arden Street Oval,

21,000*

Williamstown

2

 

0.1 (1)

0.4 (4)

0.4 (4)

3.4 (22)

 

North Melbourne

1925 - Grand Final originally Aug.22 at Olympic Park but was postponed due to torrential rain

29-8-1925

Brunswick

1

 

1.3 (9)

7.5 (47)

8.8 (56)

10.9 (69)

 

16

Motordrome

18,000*

Port Melbourne

4

 

4.1 (25)

5.3 (33)

6.7 (43)

7.11 (53)

 

(Olympic Park)

18-9-1926

Coburg

1

 

5.3 (33)

6.3 (39)

10.7 (67)

12.9 (81)

 

16

Motordrome

16,000*

Brighton

4

 

2.2 (14)

6.4 (40)

7.6 (48)

9.11 (65)

 

(Olympic Park)

15-10-1927

Coburg

1

 

5.1 (31)

9.3 (57)

13.6 (84)

19.10 (124)

 

34

Motordrome

20,000*

(Challenge)

Brighton

2

 

1.4 (10)

6.6 (42)

10.7 (67)

13.12 (90)

 

(Olympic Park)

8-9-1928

Coburg

1

 

5.4 (34)

7.5 (47)

15.10 (100)

17.12 (114)

 

7

Brunswick Park

10,854*

Port Melbourne

2

 

3.4 (22)

10.7 (67)

12.9 (81)

16.11 (107)

 

(Gillon Oval)

12-10-1929

Northcote

1

 

3.3 (21)

10.10 (70)

12.13 (85)

15.21 (111)

 

42

MCG

17,304*

(Challenge)

Port Melbourne

2

 

2.5 (17)

5.5 (35)

8.9 (57)

10.9 (69)

 

27-9-1930

Oakleigh

1

 

5.1 (31)

5.1 (31)

8.5 (53)

9.6 (60)

 

9

Arden Street Oval,

8,000

Northcote

2

 

1.1 (7)

5.4 (34)

6.5 (41)

7.9 (51)

 

North Melbourne

26-9-1931

Oakleigh

1

 

2.3 (15)

3.7 (25)

7.11 (53)

10.14 (74)

 

3

North Port Oval

10,000

(Challenge)

Northcote

4

 

2.1 (13)

4.3 (27)

9.3 (57)

11.5 (71)

 

(Port Melb.CG)

24-9-1932

Northcote

1

 

1.2 (8)

5.9 (39)

8.9 (57)

13.11 (89)

 

26

Coburg City Oval

9,000

Coburg

2

 

4.3 (27)

5.4 (34)

7.13 (55)

8.15 (63)

 

 

1933-1960

VFA GRAND FINALS (1933-1960)

In 1933 the VFA switched from the Argus System to the Page-McIntyre Final Four system. This removed the minor premier's right of challenge and no longer guaranteed them a spot in the premiership decider.  The 1935 Grand Final was the first not to involve the minor premier, with Yarraville (2nd) defeating Camberwell (3rd) to claim the premiership.

DATE

TEAMS

LP

 

1/4

1/2

3/4

FINAL

 

MARG.

VENUE

CROWD

7-10-1933

Northcote

1

 

3.8 (26)

5.11 (41)

7.14 (56)

11.20 (86)

 

16

Olympic Park

12,000

Coburg

2

 

4.1 (25)

6.8 (44)

8.11 (59)

9.16 (70)

 

1934 - Grand Final originally Sept.29 at Olympic Park but was postponed on the morning of the match due to torrential rain

6-10-1934

Northcote

1

 

4.5 (29)

10.10 (70)

17.13 (115)

19.16 (130)

 

61

Melbourne

2,300*

Coburg

4

 

1.1 (7)

4.2 (26)

4.8 (32)

10.9 (69)

 

Showgrounds

7-9-1935

Yarraville

2

 

0.0 (0)

4.4 (28)

6.6 (42)

10.10 (70)

 

9

Toorak Park,

14,600*

Camberwell

3

 

2.5 (17)

2.8 (20)

7.12 (54)

8.13 (61)

 

Prahran

12-9-1936

Northcote

4

 

7.2 (44)

7.4 (46)

13.6 (84)

19.6 (120)

 

15

Toorak Park,

11,000*

Prahran

1

 

1.3 (9)

8.8 (56)

11.10 (76)

15.15 (105)

 

Prahran

4-9-1937

Prahran

4

 

1.3 (9)

3.6 (24)

9.9 (63)

12.13 (85)

 

2

Toorak Park,

9,000

Brunswick

1

 

3.3 (21)

6.6 (42)

10.13 (73)

11.17 (83)

 

Prahran

20-8-1938

Brunswick

1

 

8.3 (51)

10.4 (64)

15.12 (102)

19.17 (131)

 

33

Toorak Park,

17,000*

Brighton

2

 

3.3 (21)

7.12 (54)

12.12 (84)

14.14 (98)

 

Prahran

7-10-1939

Williamstown

4

 

3.2 (20)

4.9 (33)

12.15 (87)

14.20 (104)

 

9

MCG

48,238*

Brunswick

2

 

4.5 (29)

8.7 (55)

10.11 (71)

14.11 (95)

 

5-10-1940

Port Melbourne

2

 

4.8 (32)

11.12 (78)

17.18 (120)

23.22 (160)

 

47

MCG

30,882

Prahran

3

 

2.5 (17)

9.7 (61)

12.8 (80)

17.11 (113)

 

4-10-1941

Port Melbourne

1

 

1.3 (9)

6.10 (46)

9.12 (66)

15.18 (108)

 

19

MCG

36,289

Coburg

3

 

3.10 (28)

3.14 (32)

9.20 (74)

11.23 (89)

 

1942-44 - Competition suspended due to WWII

6-10-1945

Williamstown

2

 

6.4 (40)

10.10 (70)

10.13 (73)

16.21 (117)

 

37

Junction Oval,

40,000*

Port Melbourne

3

 

3.8 (26)

5.14 (44)

8.18 (66)

10.20 (80)

 

St Kilda

5-10-1946

Sandringham

3

 

2.2 (14)

9.7 (61)

11.10 (76)

14.15 (99)

 

7

Junction Oval,

30,000

Camberwell

1

 

6.7 (43)

6.9 (45)

11.12 (78)

13.14 (92)

 

St Kilda

4-10-1947

Port Melbourne

1

 

6.3 (39)

9.5 (59)

12.11 (83)

15.13 (103)*

 

29

Junction Oval,

24,000

Sandringham

3

 

1.1 (7)

5.5 (35)

6.7 (43)

11.8 (74)

 

St Kilda

9-10-1948

Brighton

3

 

2.4 (16)

7.7 (49)

10.10 (70)

13.16 (94)

 

9

Junction Oval,

18,000

Williamstown

1

 

4.3 (27)

7.4 (46)

9.6 (60)

13.7 (85)

 

St Kilda

1-10-1949

Williamstown

1

 

1.2 (8)

2.2 (14)

7.3 (45)

10.5 (65)

 

3

Junction Oval,

38,700*

Oakleigh

2

 

2.3 (15)

5.9 (39)

6.12 (48)

8.14 (62)

 

St Kilda

30-9-1950

Oakleigh

1

 

5.5 (35)

6.8 (44)

13.9 (87)

13.9 (87)

 

19

Junction Oval,

38,000

Port Melbourne

2

 

2.0 (12)

6.8 (44)

7.11 (53)

9.14 (68)

 

St Kilda

6-10-1951

Prahran

2

 

1.6 (12)

4.8 (32)

8.9 (57)

11.13 (79)

 

9

Junction Oval,

32,500*

Port Melbourne

1

 

2.1 (13)

4.2 (26)

8.6 (54)

10.10 (70)

 

St Kilda

4-10-1952

Oakleigh

3

 

2.5 (17)

5.9 (39)

9.12 (66)

11.18 (84)

 

21

Junction Oval,

39,500

Port Melbourne

1

 

1.4 (10)

2.7 (19)

5.12 (42)

8.15 (63)

 

St Kilda

3-10-1953

Port Melbourne

1

 

2.4 (16)

7.9 (51)

12.10 (82)

21.15 (141)

 

60

Junction Oval,

40,000

Yarraville

3

 

2.2 (14)

3.5 (23)

9.8 (62)

12.9 (81)

 

St Kilda

2-10-1954

Williamstown

2

 

4.7 (31)

6.9 (45)

10.16 (76)

11.20 (86)

 

32

Junction Oval,

30,000

Port Melbourne

1

 

0.1 (1)

4.3 (27)

5.4 (34)

7.12 (54)

 

St Kilda

24-9-1955

Williamstown

3

 

1.3 (9)

5.10 (40)

7.13 (55)

13.19 (97)

 

9

Junction Oval,

30,000

Port Melbourne

1

 

7.3 (45)

8.6 (54)

12.8 (80)

13.10 (88)

 

St Kilda

29-9-1956

Williamstown

1

 

3.1 (19)

8.5 (53)

8.10 (58)

14.18 (102)

 

24

Junction Oval,

26,000*

Port Melbourne

2

 

5.6 (36)

8.11 (59)

9.14 (68)

10.18 (78)

 

St Kilda

5-10-1957

Moorabbin

2

 

4.4 (28)

7.6 (48)

10.10 (70)

15.12 (102)

 

40

Junction Oval,

26,000

Port Melbourne

3

 

1.7 (13)

4.14 (38)

5.17 (47)

7.20 (62)

 

St Kilda

27-9-1958

Williamstown

1

 

0.1 (1)

3.5 (23)

4.9 (33)

6.15 (51)

 

draw

Junction Oval,

20,000

Moorabbin

2

 

4.5 (29)

4.6 (30)

5.8 (38)

7.9 (51)

 

St Kilda

4-10-1958

Williamstown

1

 

3.12 (30)

5.14 (44)

12.15 (87)

13.18 (96)

 

32

Junction Oval,

22,000

(replay)

Moorabbin

2

 

0.0 (0)

3.3 (21)

3.5 (23)

8.16 (64)

 

St Kilda

10-10-1959

Williamstown

1

 

2.8 (20)

6.13 (49)

6.14 (50)

15.21 (111)

 

35

Junction Oval,

26,000

Coburg

4

 

1.1 (7)

5.6 (36)

9.9 (63)

11.10 (76)

 

St Kilda

1-10-1960

Oakleigh

2

 

1.2 (8)

8.9 (57)

10.12 (72)

18.14 (122)

 

60

Junction Oval,

30,000

Sandringham

1

 

2.4 (16)

3.4 (22)

7.10 (52)

8.14 (62)

 

St Kilda

 

*SCORE DISCREPANCY:

The 1947 Grand Final scores are shown in the above table as: Port Melbourne 15.13 (103) d. Sandringham 11.8 (74) - a margin of 29 points.

This was sourced from the match report in The Argus (6-10-1947, p.18); the sub-heading for the article reads: "Port combine well for 29-Pt win". 

- Port Melbourne's local newspaper, The Record (11-10-1947, p.2) also has Port's score as 15.13 (103).
- The Age match report (6-10-1947, p.8) contains a typo, thus Port Melbourne's score reads 15.15 (103)

Based on this incorrect score of 15.15, a number of modern sources (The VFA by Marc Fiddian, www.australianfootball.com and Wikipedia) all list Port Melbourne's score as 15.15 (105), a margin of 31 points. The Wikipedia 1947 season page actually cites The Age match report as its source but has altered the total to 105 to match the typo.
1961-1995

VFA GRAND FINALS (1961-1995)

From 1961 to 1988 the VFA competition was split into two divisions; only the First Division premiers are shown below.
(Second Division premiers can be found in the tab located above right)

DATE

TEAMS

LP

 

1/4

1/2

3/4