The 1908 VFL season was the twelfth 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 2 May to 26 September, comprising an 18-match home-and-away season followed by a three-week finals series featuring the top four clubs. Victorian Football Association (VFA) club Richmond and Metropolitan Junior Football Association (MJFA) club University featured for the first time in 1908.

1908 VFL premiership season
Carlton 1908 VFL premiership team
Date2 May—26 September 1908
Teams10
PremiersCarlton
3rd premiership
Minor premiersCarlton
3rd minor premiership
Leading goalkicker medallistDick Lee (Collingwood)
54 goals
Matches played93
← 1907
1909 →

Carlton won the premiership, defeating Essendon by nine points in the 1908 VFL grand final; it was Carlton's third (consecutive and overall) VFL premiership, marking the first time a club won three consecutive VFL premierships. Carlton also won its third consecutive minor premiership by finishing atop the home-and-away ladder with a 17–1 win–loss record. Collingwood's Dick Lee won his second consecutive leading goalkicker medal as the league's leading goalkicker.

Background

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In 1908, 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 1908 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
Fitzroy 6.8 (44) South Melbourne 7.11 (53) Brunswick Street Oval 2 May 1908
Essendon 14.11 (95) University 3.11 (29) EMCG 2 May 1908
Carlton 6.12 (48) St Kilda 3.4 (22) Princes Park 2 May 1908
Richmond 8.14 (62) Melbourne 7.9 (51) Punt Road Oval 2 May 1908
Geelong 12.13 (85) Collingwood 5.8 (38) Corio Oval 2 May 1908

Round 2

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Collingwood 3.14 (32) Fitzroy 9.9 (63) Victoria Park 9 May 1908
University 14.10 (94) Richmond 12.4 (76) EMCG 9 May 1908
South Melbourne 7.9 (51) Geelong 4.8 (32) Lake Oval 9 May 1908
St Kilda 7.6 (48) Essendon 12.14 (86) Junction Oval 9 May 1908
Melbourne 6.8 (44) Carlton 9.8 (62) MCG 9 May 1908

Round 3

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Geelong 7.8 (50) Melbourne 10.12 (72) Corio Oval 16 May 1908
Carlton 5.13 (43) Essendon 4.8 (32) Princes Park 16 May 1908
South Melbourne 4.2 (26) St Kilda 7.13 (55) Lake Oval 16 May 1908
Richmond 7.13 (55) Fitzroy 11.14 (80) Punt Road Oval 16 May 1908
University 7.12 (54) Collingwood 8.14 (62) EMCG 16 May 1908

Round 4

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
St Kilda 5.10 (40) University 8.6 (54) Junction Oval 23 May 1908
Melbourne 12.3 (75) South Melbourne 10.13 (73) MCG 23 May 1908
Fitzroy 7.18 (60) Geelong 6.8 (44) Brunswick Street Oval 23 May 1908
Essendon 11.16 (82) Richmond 6.9 (45) EMCG 23 May 1908
Collingwood 5.9 (39) Carlton 10.7 (67) Victoria Park 23 May 1908

Round 5

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
South Melbourne 12.4 (76) University 9.11 (65) Lake Oval 30 May 1908
Carlton 10.12 (72) Fitzroy 5.10 (40) Princes Park 30 May 1908
St Kilda 9.12 (66) Melbourne 2.13 (25) Junction Oval 30 May 1908
Richmond 8.17 (65) Geelong 8.11 (59) Punt Road Oval 30 May 1908
Essendon 10.9 (69) Collingwood 9.10 (64) EMCG 30 May 1908

Round 6

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Geelong 5.9 (39) St Kilda 6.6 (42) Corio Oval 6 June 1908
Collingwood 12.7 (79) Richmond 9.10 (64) Victoria Park 6 June 1908
University 12.7 (79) Melbourne 1.13 (19) EMCG 6 June 1908
Fitzroy 5.8 (38) Essendon 5.12 (42) Brunswick Street Oval 6 June 1908
South Melbourne 7.9 (51) Carlton 8.5 (53) Lake Oval 6 June 1908

Round 7

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Richmond 9.9 (63) South Melbourne 11.11 (77) Punt Road Oval 8 June 1908
Carlton 13.14 (92) Geelong 2.13 (25) Princes Park 8 June 1908
University 9.7 (61) Fitzroy 12.12 (84) EMCG 8 June 1908
Melbourne 10.6 (66) Essendon 10.12 (72) MCG 8 June 1908
St Kilda 12.11 (83) Collingwood 5.12 (42) Junction Oval 8 June 1908

Round 8

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Geelong 4.11 (35) University 5.9 (39) Corio Oval 13 June 1908
Fitzroy 7.6 (48) St Kilda 12.9 (81) Brunswick Street Oval 13 June 1908
Essendon 8.11 (59) South Melbourne 6.9 (45) EMCG 13 June 1908
Collingwood 8.8 (56) Melbourne 4.8 (32) Victoria Park 13 June 1908
Carlton 17.13 (115) Richmond 2.15 (27) Princes Park 13 June 1908

Round 9

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
St Kilda 9.5 (59) Richmond 3.15 (33) Junction Oval 20 June 1908
Melbourne 4.4 (28) Fitzroy 3.7 (25) MCG 20 June 1908
Geelong 3.7 (25) Essendon 7.9 (51) Corio Oval 20 June 1908
South Melbourne 9.11 (65) Collingwood 6.8 (44) Lake Oval 20 June 1908
University 6.15 (51) Carlton 7.15 (57) EMCG 20 June 1908

Round 10

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Melbourne 11.16 (82) Richmond 1.6 (12) MCG 27 June 1908
Collingwood 9.12 (66) Geelong 7.4 (46) Victoria Park 27 June 1908
South Melbourne 2.19 (31) Fitzroy 2.6 (18) Lake Oval 27 June 1908
University 6.10 (46) Essendon 7.14 (56) EMCG 27 June 1908
St Kilda 6.5 (41) Carlton 10.12 (72) Junction Oval 27 June 1908

Round 11

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Richmond 11.5 (71) University 8.14 (62) Punt Road Oval 4 July 1908
Geelong 9.4 (58) South Melbourne 9.12 (66) Corio Oval 4 July 1908
Essendon 5.10 (40) St Kilda 8.9 (57) EMCG 4 July 1908
Carlton 8.15 (63) Melbourne 4.7 (31) Princes Park 4 July 1908
Fitzroy 6.6 (42) Collingwood 7.2 (44) Brunswick Street Oval 4 July 1908

Round 12

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
St Kilda 5.4 (34) South Melbourne 4.5 (29) Junction Oval 11 July 1908
Fitzroy 4.9 (33) Richmond 5.4 (34) Brunswick Street Oval 11 July 1908
Collingwood 3.13 (31) University 2.2 (14) Victoria Park 11 July 1908
Melbourne 9.12 (66) Geelong 7.6 (48) MCG 11 July 1908
Essendon 6.6 (42) Carlton 4.5 (29) EMCG 11 July 1908

Round 13

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Carlton 10.17 (77) Collingwood 5.7 (37) Princes Park 18 July 1908
University 7.14 (56) St Kilda 5.13 (43) EMCG 18 July 1908
South Melbourne 5.10 (40) Melbourne 11.8 (74) Lake Oval 18 July 1908
Geelong 7.14 (56) Fitzroy 11.8 (74) Corio Oval 18 July 1908
Richmond 7.3 (45) Essendon 9.14 (68) Punt Road Oval 18 July 1908

Round 14

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Melbourne 16.11 (107) St Kilda 8.3 (51) MCG 25 July 1908
Geelong 6.17 (53) Richmond 5.8 (38) Corio Oval 25 July 1908
Collingwood 8.12 (60) Essendon 8.8 (56) Victoria Park 25 July 1908
University 11.7 (73) South Melbourne 10.11 (71) EMCG 25 July 1908
Fitzroy 4.9 (33) Carlton 6.8 (44) Brunswick Street Oval 25 July 1908

Round 15

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Melbourne 7.12 (54) University 8.10 (58) MCG 1 August 1908
Essendon 8.13 (61) Fitzroy 7.8 (50) EMCG 1 August 1908
Carlton 8.19 (67) South Melbourne 6.5 (41) Princes Park 1 August 1908
St Kilda 17.5 (107) Geelong 5.8 (38) Junction Oval 1 August 1908
Richmond 11.8 (74) Collingwood 10.9 (69) Punt Road Oval 1 August 1908

Round 16

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Fitzroy 13.16 (94) University 11.7 (73) Brunswick Street Oval 8 August 1908
Essendon 17.17 (119) Melbourne 8.11 (59) EMCG 8 August 1908
Collingwood 10.10 (70) St Kilda 7.9 (51) Victoria Park 8 August 1908
South Melbourne 18.12 (120) Richmond 4.4 (28) Lake Oval 8 August 1908
Geelong 5.9 (39) Carlton 6.13 (49) Corio Oval 8 August 1908

Round 17

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
University 13.18 (96) Geelong 6.8 (44) EMCG 15 August 1908
St Kilda 4.7 (31) Fitzroy 3.4 (22) Junction Oval 15 August 1908
South Melbourne 5.8 (38) Essendon 3.14 (32) Lake Oval 15 August 1908
Melbourne 4.8 (32) Collingwood 6.9 (45) MCG 15 August 1908
Richmond 4.17 (41) Carlton 6.12 (48) Punt Road Oval 15 August 1908

Round 18

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Richmond 16.11 (107) St Kilda 6.8 (44) Punt Road Oval 5 September 1908
Fitzroy 11.18 (84) Melbourne 1.4 (10) Brunswick Street Oval 5 September 1908
Essendon 13.20 (98) Geelong 3.9 (27) EMCG 5 September 1908
Collingwood 12.16 (88) South Melbourne 3.4 (22) Victoria Park 5 September 1908
Carlton 10.7 (67) University 4.4 (28) Princes Park 5 September 1908

Ladder

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(P) Premiers
Qualified for finals
# Team P W L D PF PA % Pts
1 Carlton (P) 18 17 1 0 1125 664 169.4 68
2 Essendon 18 14 4 0 1160 814 142.5 56
3 St Kilda 18 10 8 0 955 942 101.4 40
4 Collingwood 18 10 8 0 966 996 97.0 40
5 South Melbourne 18 9 9 0 975 962 101.4 36
6 University 18 8 10 0 1032 1075 96.0 32
7 Fitzroy 18 7 11 0 932 852 109.4 28
8 Melbourne 18 7 11 0 927 1065 87.0 28
9 Richmond 18 6 12 0 940 1275 73.7 24
10 Geelong 18 2 16 0 803 1170 68.6 8

Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for
Average score: 54.5
Source: AFL Tables

Finals series

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Semi-finals

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Essendon 9.14 (68) Collingwood 5.3 (33) MCG 12 September 1908 Attendance: 24,700
Carlton 12.12 (84) St Kilda 3.8 (26) MCG 19 September 1908 Attendance: 26,100

Grand final

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Team 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr Final
Carlton 2.3 5.4 5.5 5.5 (35)
Essendon 1.1 2.4 3.5 3.8 (26)

Season notes

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  • Richmond Football Club and University Football Club were admitted to the VFL competition.
  • With fiery former Collingwood coach Dick Condon as playing coach and former Collingwood champion Charlie Pannam as captain, Richmond won its first VFL match against Melbourne, 8.14 (62) to 7.9 (51). University had its first VFL victory in the second round of the season, beating Richmond 14.10 (94) to 12.4 (76).
  • In the first round match between Fitzroy and South Melbourne at the Brunswick Street Oval, an umpire was hit by a stone thrown by a spectator.
  • The sixth round match between Fitzroy and Essendon, also at the Brunswick Street Oval, was a fiery affair that resulted in a number of suspensions. A horde of Fitzroy supporters invaded the ground immediately the final bell had rung, kicking, punching and otherwise assaulting Essendon players as they tried to leave the playing field. Essendon fans also jumped the fence, in order to protect their players. A riot ensued.
  • A ten-day Carnival, the "Jubilee of Australasian Football (1858–1908)" was held in Melbourne in August 1908, involving teams from New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia.
  • At an official Carnival function, when proposing a toast to "The Australasian Game" the Prime Minister of Australia, the Melbourne-born Alfred Deakin (1856–1919) spoke of his youthful experiences of playing a rudimentary form of Australian football.

Awards

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References

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  • Article on 1908 Melbourne Carnival at AustralianFootball.com
  • Hogan, P., The Tigers Of Old, The Richmond Football Club, (Richmond), 1996. ISBN 0-646-18748-1
  • 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
  • Ross, J. (ed), 100 Years of Australian Football 1897–1996: The Complete Story of the AFL, All the Big Stories, All the Great Pictures, All the Champions, Every AFL Season Reported, Viking, (Ringwood), 1996. ISBN 0-670-86814-0

Sources

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