1909 VFL Grand Final

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The 1909 VFL Grand Final took place on October 2, 1909 (first ever October Grand Final) in front of 37,759 people at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

It was played between Victorian Football League (VFL) clubs Carlton and South Melbourne; South Melbourne won by two points, 4.14 (38) to 4.12 (36).

[edit] The Season

In round 2, Carlton had beaten South Melbourne by 17 points. A half-time in the round 11 match, South Melbourne leads Carlton 4.4 (28) to 0.11 (11). In the third quarter Carlton score 9.2 (56) to South Melbourne’s single behind, and go on to win the match by 24 points.

During the season, the Carlton Football Club had been split by such a level of discord, infighting and dissatisfaction during the 1909 season that its coach Jack Worrall resigned, for the good of the club, after round 13 (he remained Club Secretary for the remainder of the season).

Carlton champion, captain Fred "Pompey" Elliott — after whom the Australian military hero Brigadier General "Pompey" Elliott would later be given his nickname — took over the coaching duties in round 14. Carlton won its last four home and away matches under "Pompey" Elliott, by 51 points, 40 points, 46 points, and 15 points respectively.

[edit] The Final Series

As premiers in 1906, 1907, and 1908, Carlton was set to win its fourth consecutive premiership; and as an 1897 foundation club, South Melbourne was attempting to win its first.

South Melbourne had finished on top of the end-of-season ladder with 56 points, just ahead of Carlton (56 points) on percentage (168.9% to 146.8%). Under the rules of the amended "Argus system" under which the 1909 Final Series was conducted, South Melbourne had a considerable advantage as the “Minor Premier”. In the event of South Melbourne not winning the match between the winners of the First and Second Semi-Finals, it had the right of “challenge” and could demand a “Grand Final” match against the winner of the Preliminary Final (if it won the Preliminary Final, it would be automatically declared the Premiership Team without any need for a further match).

The First Semi-Final was played between teams (2) and (4); Carlton, 15 points ahead at half-time went on to beat Essendon 14.8 (92) to 9.2 (56). The Second Semi-Final was played between teams (1) and (3); South Melbourne, two points behind at half-time, went on to beat Collingwood 10.8 (68) to 6.11 (47).

The Preliminary Final was played between the Semi-Final Winners; Carlton. 8 points in front at half-time, went on to beat South Melbourne in an acrimonious match, where South Melbourne tried in vain to out muscle and intimidate Carlton, 10.9 (69) to 7.5 (47), giving "Pompey" Elliott six consecutive wins as a coach (51 points, 40 points, 46 points, 15 points, 36 points, and 22 points respectively).

[edit] The Grand Final

The South Melbourne side was missing its full-back Bill Dolphin who was injured, and its winger Jim Caldwell who had been suspended for nine matches for striking Carlton’s George Bruce in the Preliminary Final. Norm Clark was available for Carlton.

[edit] Teams

South Melbourne Captain-coach Charlie Ricketts

[edit] The Match

From the outset it was clear that South Melbourne had learned from the Preliminary Final and was going to play football, rather than “go the knuckle”.

The match, played in a rather unsettling wind, was always a very closely contested game, with the teams tied at both quarter- and half-time. In the first quarter, South Melbourne’s back-flanker Tom Grimshaw was felled, eventually recovered consciousness, and finished the match standing in the goal-square. In the second quarter, Carlton’s Jack Baquie, badly injured his ankle, left the field, and eventually returned in the third quarter to stand in the forward-pocket. In the third quarter, Carlton rover Martin Gotz was knocked out was carried from the ground, he returned to the ground in the last quarter and stood in the forward line.

In a powerful third quarter, in which Belcher, Ricketts, Cameron, Mortimer, and Gough in sequence brought the ball from the deep back-line to the forward-line untouched by a single Carlton player, eventuating in Gough’s goal, South Melbourne drew ahead of Carlton, 4.12 (36) to 3.11 (29).

In the last quarter, Carlton had several chances to win, scoring 1.1 to South Melbourne’s two behinds. With five minutes to go, "Mallee" Johnson and Charlie Hammond got the ball to centre half-forward Harvey Kelly, who kicked a goal, bringing Carlton to 2 points behind. Carlton lost the ensuing centre-bounce at the restart of play. The ball got to South Melbourne's forward Len Mortimer. His kick did not make the distance. Carlton moved forward, kicking the ball towards the goals, but William Thomas took what turned out to be a match-saving mark for South Melbourne, as the ball was not near either goal for the remainder of the match. South Melbourne 4.14 (38) beat Carlton 4.12 (36).

[edit] Statistics

[edit] Score

[edit] Goal kickers

South Melbourne:

• Frank 1
• Gough 1
• Mortimer 1
• Ricketts 1

Carlton:

• Topping 2
• Baquie 1
• Kelly 1

[edit] See also

• 1909 VFL season

[edit] External links

• Full Points Footy Article: 1909 VFL Challenge Final: South Melbourne vs. Carlton
• Blueseum Article: Grand Final, 1909