Talk:1903 VFL season

I came across this page yesterday. The statement "1903 was the first time that the VFL Premiership was decided on the last kick of the day. The usually accurate Fitzroy captain Gerald Brosnan missed the goal from 30 metres out, and Fitzroy lost to Collingwood by two points." is only partly true. There is information on the home & away season at australianfootball.com if someone wants to transcribe it.

Prior to 1931, the VFL, SANFL & WAFL played finals on the basis of the top 4 playing 2 semi-finals, and the winners meeting in the final. If the minor premier didn't win the final, they had the right of challenge. The challenge match became known as the Grand Final. In 1903, the minor premier, Collingwood won the final, and thus there was no Grand Final. Had Brosnan kicked a goal, Fitzroy would have won the final, but Collingwood would have challenged and there would have been a subsequent Grand Final. In 1905 for example, Fitzroy had beaten Carlton in the final, but Collingwood as the minor premier had been defeated by Carlton in the semi-final and had the right of challenge. Fitzroy won the Grand Final and the premiership. In 1902, Collingwood were also the minor premier and lost the semi-final, but won the premiership by defeating Essendon in the challenge/grand final.

The SANFL was similar. West Adelaide won 4 premierships in 5 years from 1908-1912. In 1909, 1911 & 1912 Port Adelaide were the minor premiers. In 1909 Norwood had beaten Port in the semi-final, West had to beat Norwood in the final and Port in the Grand Final. In 1911 & 1912 they had to beat Port in successive weeks in the final and grand final.