The 1907 VFL season was the eleventh season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest-level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured eight clubs and ran from 27 April to 21 September, comprising a 17-match home-and-away season followed by a three-week finals series featuring the top four clubs.

1907 VFL premiership season
Carlton 1907 VFL premiership team
Date27 April—21 September 1907
Teams8
PremiersCarlton
2nd premiership
Minor premiersCarlton
2nd minor premiership
Leading goalkicker medallistDick Lee (Collingwood)
47 goals
Matches played71
← 1906
1908 →

Carlton won the premiership, defeating South Melbourne by five points in the 1907 VFL grand final; it was Carlton's second (consecutive and overall) VFL premiership. Carlton also won its second consecutive minor premiership by finishing atop the home-and-away ladder with a 13–4 win–loss record. Collingwood's Dick Lee won the leading goalkicker medal as the league's leading goalkicker.

Background

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In 1907, the VFL competition consisted of eight 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 14 rounds. Then, based on ladder positions after those 14 rounds, three further 'sectional rounds' were played, with the teams ranked 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th playing in one section and the teams ranked 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th playing in the other.

Once the 17 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1907 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 14.15 (99) Geelong 9.2 (56) EMCG 27 April 1907
Collingwood 6.11 (47) Fitzroy 5.9 (39) Victoria Park 27 April 1907
Carlton 4.6 (30) St Kilda 8.8 (56) Princes Park 27 April 1907
South Melbourne 6.5 (41) Melbourne 9.6 (60) Lake Oval 27 April 1907

Round 2

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Fitzroy 7.15 (57) South Melbourne 7.5 (47) Brunswick Street Oval 4 May 1907
Melbourne 5.11 (41) Essendon 6.12 (48) MCG 4 May 1907
St Kilda 8.14 (62) Collingwood 8.6 (54) Junction Oval 4 May 1907
Geelong 3.9 (27) Carlton 8.14 (62) Corio Oval 4 May 1907

Round 3

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Fitzroy 9.10 (64) Geelong 12.5 (77) Brunswick Street Oval 11 May 1907
St Kilda 9.13 (67) Essendon 5.7 (37) Junction Oval 11 May 1907
South Melbourne 9.12 (66) Collingwood 5.8 (38) Lake Oval 11 May 1907
Melbourne 7.5 (47) Carlton 12.14 (86) MCG 11 May 1907

Round 4

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Geelong 7.4 (46) St Kilda 11.16 (82) Corio Oval 18 May 1907
Essendon 6.8 (44) South Melbourne 6.11 (47) EMCG 18 May 1907
Collingwood 4.10 (34) Melbourne 6.10 (46) Victoria Park 18 May 1907
Carlton 10.17 (77) Fitzroy 3.7 (25) Princes Park 18 May 1907

Round 5

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Geelong 9.5 (59) Melbourne 7.9 (51) Corio Oval 25 May 1907
Carlton 5.16 (46) South Melbourne 9.7 (61) Princes Park 25 May 1907
St Kilda 13.9 (87) Fitzroy 9.10 (64) Junction Oval 25 May 1907
Essendon 5.8 (38) Collingwood 6.11 (47) EMCG 25 May 1907

Round 6

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Melbourne 7.9 (51) St Kilda 15.18 (108) MCG 1 June 1907
Collingwood 4.6 (30) Carlton 4.17 (41) Victoria Park 1 June 1907
South Melbourne 6.9 (45) Geelong 4.9 (33) Lake Oval 3 June 1907
Fitzroy 10.7 (67) Essendon 4.12 (36) Brunswick Street Oval 3 June 1907

Round 7

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
St Kilda 4.8 (32) South Melbourne 7.2 (44) Junction Oval 15 June 1907
Carlton 15.14 (104) Essendon 7.8 (50) Princes Park 15 June 1907
Melbourne 8.7 (55) Fitzroy 6.11 (47) MCG 15 June 1907
Geelong 3.14 (32) Collingwood 5.8 (38) Corio Oval 15 June 1907

Round 8

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Melbourne 7.10 (52) South Melbourne 5.10 (40) MCG 22 June 1907
Geelong 7.11 (53) Essendon 3.10 (28) Corio Oval 22 June 1907
Fitzroy 11.3 (69) Collingwood 11.12 (78) Brunswick Street Oval 22 June 1907
St Kilda 3.15 (33) Carlton 8.14 (62) Junction Oval 22 June 1907

Round 9

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Essendon 5.13 (43) Melbourne 3.10 (28) EMCG 29 June 1907
Collingwood 9.13 (67) St Kilda 7.10 (52) Victoria Park 29 June 1907
Carlton 5.9 (39) Geelong 7.4 (46) Princes Park 29 June 1907
South Melbourne 6.8 (44) Fitzroy 7.10 (52) Lake Oval 29 June 1907

Round 10

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Essendon 5.7 (37) St Kilda 9.11 (65) EMCG 6 July 1907
Collingwood 8.9 (57) South Melbourne 7.8 (50) Victoria Park 6 July 1907
Carlton 9.16 (70) Melbourne 8.6 (54) Princes Park 6 July 1907
Geelong 10.11 (71) Fitzroy 4.8 (32) Corio Oval 6 July 1907

Round 11

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
St Kilda 6.18 (54) Geelong 9.5 (59) Junction Oval 13 July 1907
South Melbourne 8.11 (59) Essendon 6.11 (47) Lake Oval 13 July 1907
Melbourne 2.10 (22) Collingwood 15.11 (101) MCG 13 July 1907
Fitzroy 3.8 (26) Carlton 15.14 (104) Brunswick Street Oval 13 July 1907

Round 12

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Fitzroy 3.7 (25) St Kilda 3.5 (23) Brunswick Street Oval 20 July 1907
Collingwood 10.10 (70) Essendon 3.5 (23) Victoria Park 20 July 1907
Melbourne 6.13 (49) Geelong 4.10 (34) MCG 20 July 1907
South Melbourne 3.9 (27) Carlton 4.12 (36) Lake Oval 20 July 1907

Round 13

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Geelong 6.6 (42) South Melbourne 7.8 (50) Corio Oval 3 August 1907
Essendon 8.10 (58) Fitzroy 3.13 (31) EMCG 3 August 1907
Carlton 5.15 (45) Collingwood 5.4 (34) Princes Park 3 August 1907
St Kilda 4.6 (30) Melbourne 7.5 (47) Junction Oval 3 August 1907

Round 14

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Home team Home team score Away team Away team score Venue Date
Fitzroy 5.9 (39) Melbourne 6.19 (55) Brunswick Street Oval 10 August 1907
Collingwood 15.6 (96) Geelong 8.9 (57) Victoria Park 10 August 1907
South Melbourne 8.16 (64) St Kilda 5.14 (44) Lake Oval 10 August 1907
Essendon 3.7 (25) Carlton 10.18 (78) EMCG 10 August 1907

Pre-sectional ladder

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Section A
Section B
# Team P W L D PF PA % Pts
1 Carlton 14 11 3 0 880 541 162.7 44
2 Collingwood 14 9 5 0 791 642 123.2 36
3 South Melbourne 14 8 6 0 685 640 107.0 32
4 St Kilda 14 7 7 0 795 687 115.7 28
5 Melbourne 14 7 7 0 658 780 84.4 28
6 Geelong 14 6 8 0 692 789 87.7 24
7 Essendon 14 4 10 0 613 813 75.4 16
8 Fitzroy 14 4 10 0 637 859 74.2 16

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

Round 15 (Sectional round 1)

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Round 15 (Sectional round 1)
Saturday, 17 August South Melbourne 8.9 (57) def. Carlton 4.16 (40) Lake Oval
Saturday, 17 August St Kilda 8.19 (67) def. Collingwood 3.8 (26) Junction Oval
Saturday, 17 August Essendon 10.11 (71) def. Melbourne 8.8 (56) East Melbourne Cricket Ground
Saturday, 17 August Fitzroy 12.16 (88) def. Geelong 5.8 (38) Brunswick Street Oval

Round 16 (Sectional round 2)

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Round 16 (Sectional round 2)
Saturday, 24 August Carlton 11.12 (78) def. Essendon 7.5 (47) Princes Park
Saturday, 24 August Collingwood 11.16 (82) def. by Fitzroy 15.4 (94) Victoria Park
Saturday, 24 August Geelong 5.8 (38) def. by St Kilda 4.17 (41) Corio Oval
Saturday, 24 August Melbourne 7.8 (50) def. by South Melbourne 10.14 (74) Melbourne Cricket Ground

Round 17 (Sectional round 3)

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Round 17 (Sectional round 3)
Saturday, 31 August Carlton 9.8 (62) def. Melbourne 4.12 (36) Princes Park
Saturday, 31 August Collingwood 9.17 (71) def. by Geelong 12.4 (76) Victoria Park
Saturday, 31 August Essendon 6.7 (43) def. by South Melbourne 15.9 (99) East Melbourne Cricket Ground
Saturday, 31 August St Kilda 3.14 (32) def. by Fitzroy 6.9 (45) Junction Oval

Ladder

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(P) Premiers
Qualified for finals
# Team P W L D PF PA % Pts
1 Carlton (P) 17 13 4 0 1060 681 155.7 52
2 South Melbourne 17 11 6 0 915 773 118.4 44
3 St Kilda 17 9 8 0 935 796 117.5 36
4 Collingwood 17 9 8 0 970 879 110.4 36
5 Fitzroy 17 7 10 0 864 1011 85.5 28
6 Geelong 17 7 10 0 844 989 85.3 28
7 Melbourne 17 7 10 0 800 987 81.1 28
8 Essendon 17 5 12 0 774 1046 74.0 20

Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for
Average score: 52.7
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
South Melbourne 12.10 (82) Collingwood 6.12 (48) MCG 07 September 1907 Attendance: 28,856
Carlton 13.13 (91) St Kilda 4.11 (35) MCG 14 September 1907 Attendance: 25,531

Grand final

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Team 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr Final
Carlton 1.4 4.6 6.10 6.14 (50)
South Melbourne 1.3 3.5 4.7 6.9 (45)

Season notes

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  • In November 1906, the VFL was a founding member of the Australasian Football Council, which served as the new national administrative body governing the sport.[1]
  • The rules concerning kick-ins were amended, such that if the full back crossed outside the goal square before kicking the ball, a ball-up would be called on the top of the goal square. Previously, the full-back was given a second opportunity to kick legally, before a free kick would be awarded.[2]
  • Due to the "Special" football train arriving late, the start of the Round 3 match between Fitzroy and Geelong at Brunswick Street Oval was delayed by twenty minutes.
  • In round 6, St Kilda defeated Melbourne 15.18 (108) to 7.9 (51); it was the first time in the club's 173 VFL matches to that point that St Kilda had scored 100 points or more.
  • The VFL played two representative matches on Saturday 8 June, in the week between Rounds 6 and 7: on the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the VFL 25.20 (170) defeated the Ballarat Football Association 3.7 (25); and at Bendigo, the VFL 14.10 (94) defeated the Bendigo Football League 7.11 (53).[3] The VFL also played a return match against the Ballarat Association on the Ballarat City Oval on Saturday 27 July, the week between Rounds 12 and 13; in a rain-affected game, the VFL 8.4 (52) defeated Ballarat 3.7 (25).[4]
  • In Round 8, Fitzroy kicked eleven goals without a behind against Collingwood, before three misses in the last quarter. They did not score in the second and third quarters after kicking 7.0 (42) in the first quarter.
  • In Round 11, Geelong defeated St Kilda despite having ten fewer scoring shots; before this, no VFL team had won with a deficit in scoring shots greater than eight. They repeated the feat of winning with ten fewer shots against Collingwood in the last round.
  • During that last match, Collingwood succumbed to Geelong despite being 38 points ahead at three quarter time; this record was not beaten until 1936.
  • Owing to rough play – and, in some observers' opinions, an over-correction after no players were reported in the particularly rough round 14 match between South Melbourne and St Kilda[5] – eight players were reported during the matches in Sectional Round 1: three by the matches' central umpires, and five (all in the Carlton vs South Melbourne match) by the club delegates. The VFL Investigation Committee took three full evenings to complete the hearings, with Friday evening's session forced to run until almost 5am to complete it in time for Saturday's matches. Seven of the eight reported players were suspended, most notably South Melbourne's Billy Gent who was disqualified for life.[6] The four suspensions from the Carlton vs South Melbourne match – Fred Elliott, Jim Marchbank, Bert Franks and Billy Gent – were later overturned on procedural grounds in May 1908, after it was determined that the historical VFL practice of players being reported by club delegates was not allowed under the Australasian Football Council rules which the VFL had adopted in 1907.[7]
  • The playing surface in each of the season's semi-finals that had been played on the Melbourne Cricket Ground (South Melbourne vs Collingwood, and Carlton vs St Kilda) had been so rock hard and dusty that the two match winners demanded that the MCG be watered before the next Saturday, unless there was substantial rain. The VFL acquiesced to this request, and the ground was watered; the ensuing premiership final, which Carlton won by five points, was on significantly softer ground.
  • In the 1907 pre-season, then VFA team Richmond played a practice match against VFL team Geelong at Corio Oval, in direct defiance of a VFA edict. On 22 October 1907, Richmond, who had become quite dissatisfied with the VFA, applied to join the VFL: their application was unanimously accepted at a meeting five days later, and Richmond competed for the first time in the 1908 VFL season.
  • St Kilda qualified for its first VFL finals appearance.

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ "Football – a National Council formed". The Express and Telegraph. Adelaide, SA. 8 November 1906. p. 3.
  2. ^ "Victorian Football League – a Football Squabble". The Age. Melbourne, VIC. 16 April 1907. p. 16.
  3. ^ "Sporting News". The Ballarat Star. Melbourne, VIC. 10 June 1907. p. 4.
  4. ^ Follower (29 July 1907). "Victorian League v Ballarat". The Age. Melbourne, VIC. p. 10.
  5. ^ Follower (31 August 1907). "Football Gossip". The Leader. Melbourne, VIC. p. 18.
  6. ^ "Rough football". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 26 August 1907. p. 6.
  7. ^ "Football disqualifications – cases of Ghent (sic) and Franks". The Age. Melbourne, VIC. 16 May 1908. p. 15.
  • 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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