1924 VFL season
Encyclopedia
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League
season of 1924.
Each team played each other twice in a home-and-away season of 18 rounds (i.e., 16 matches and 2 byes).
Once the 18 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1924 VFL Premiership was determined by an experimental 1924 Finals System, which the VFL used in this season only. The format was similar to the round-robin format used in 1897 Finals System, but included the minor premiers
' right to challenge, which existed under the amended Argus System.
Essendon finished on top of the finals ladder at the conclusion of the round-robin
final series on the basis of its greater percentage. As Essendon had won the minor premiership, Essendon was awarded the 1924 premiership immediately. Had a different team finished atop the finals ladder, Essendon would have had the right to challenge that team to a Grand Final, consistent with the minor premiers' right to challenge under the amended Argus system.
TEAM P W L D PF PA % PTS
Key: P = Played, W = Won, L = Lost, D = Drawn, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against
Because Essendon had won the minor premiership and the round-robin competition, it was awarded the premiership without the need for a Grand Final.
Listed in alphabetical order the four squads were:
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
season of 1924.
Premiership season
In 1924, the VFL competition consisted of nine 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 (i.e., 16 matches and 2 byes).
Once the 18 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1924 VFL Premiership was determined by an experimental 1924 Finals System, which the VFL used in this season only. The format was similar to the round-robin format used in 1897 Finals System, but included the minor premiers
Minor premiership
A minor premiership is the name of the title given to the team which finishes a sporting competition first in the league standings after the regular season but prior to commencement of the playoffs....
' right to challenge, which existed under the amended Argus System.
1924 Finals Series
In 1924, the VFL experimented with a round-robin finals series to determine the premiership. The format did not live up to expectations, and the VFL reverted to the "amended Argus system" format for the 1925 season.Essendon finished on top of the finals ladder at the conclusion of the round-robin
Round-robin
The term round-robin was originally used to describe a document signed by multiple parties in a circle to make it more difficult to determine the order in which it was signed, thus preventing a ringleader from being identified...
final series on the basis of its greater percentage. As Essendon had won the minor premiership, Essendon was awarded the 1924 premiership immediately. Had a different team finished atop the finals ladder, Essendon would have had the right to challenge that team to a Grand Final, consistent with the minor premiers' right to challenge under the amended Argus system.
Round-Robin Premiership Competition Ladder
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| 1924 Round-Robin Competition Ladder |
Because Essendon had won the minor premiership and the round-robin competition, it was awarded the premiership without the need for a Grand Final.
Round-Robin Premiership Competition Team Squads
As there was no designated "Grand Final", this also meant that there were no "Grand Final" teams in 1924;) instead there was an "Essendon Finals Squad", a "Fitzroy Finals Squad", a "Richmond Finals Squad", and a "South Melbourne Finals Squad".Listed in alphabetical order the four squads were:
- Essendon Squad: Fred BaringFred BaringFrederick Albert Baring was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the Victorian Football League during the early 1900s. In 1997 he was named at fullback in Essendon's official Team of the Century....
, Syd Barker, Sr.Syd Barker, Sr.Syd Barker senior was an Australian rules footballer who played with Richmond, Essendon and North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League...
(captain), Norm BecktonNorm BecktonNorm Beckton was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the VFL during the 1920s.Beckton played as a ruckman and won Essendon's best and fairest in 1928. A premiership player in 1923 and 1924, Beckton also represented Victoria during his career. He captained Essendon in 1929...
, Clyde DonaldsonClyde DonaldsonClyde Donaldson was an Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the VFL.After two seasons playing with Essendon, Donaldson's career was interrupted by World War I when he spent fours years overseas with the Australian Expeditionary Force...
, Charlie FarrellCharlie Farrell (footballer)Charlie 'Chooka' Farrell was an Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the Victorian Football League ....
, Tom FitzmauriceTom FitzmauriceTom Fitzmaurice was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League .A brilliant centre halfback, he commenced his career with Essendon Football Club 1918. Transferred to Sydney in 1921 with his employment, Fitzmaurice played the next two seasons in the local competition and...
, Jack GardenJack GardenJack Garden was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the VFL.A wingman, Garden debuted for Essendon in 1915 but didn't play again 1920 due to war service. He won the Essendon Best and Fairest award in his first year back and the following season made his first appearance for...
, Harry GregoryHarry GregoryHarry 'Speed' Gregory was an Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the Victorian Football League during the 1920s....
, Charlie HardyCharlie HardyCharlie Hardy was an Australian rules footballer who played for North Melbourne in the VFA during the 1910s and Essendon in the VFL during the early 1920s.-VFA:...
, Harry HunterHarry HunterHarry Hunter was an Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the Victorian Football League during the 1920s....
, Tommy JenkinsTommy Jenkins (Australian rules footballer)Thomas 'Tommy' Jenkins was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon and North Melbourne in the VFL during the 1920s....
, Roy LaingRoy LaingRoy Laing was an Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the Victorian Football League before and after the First World War....
, Frank MaherFrank Maher (footballer)Frank H. Maher , is a former Australian footballer, and coach in the Victorian Football League.He served in the army in World War I from 1916 to 1919, and was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry for his actions in France on 19 May 1918.He only began playing football when serving overseas with...
, Charlie MayCharlie May (footballer)Charlie "Chooka" May was an Australian rules footballer who played with and coached Essendon in the Victorian Football League . He was the father of double Essendon premiership player Wally May....
, Justin McCarthyJustin McCarthy (footballer)Justin McCarthy was an Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the VFL before and after the First World War....
, George RawleGeorge RawleGeorge Rawle was an Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the VFL during the 1920s.Ruckman George Rawle was 33 when he made his league debut with Essendon in 1923, the second oldest to debut in history behind his teammate Charlie Hardy...
, George ShortenGeorge ShortenGeorge 'Tich' Shorten was an Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the VFL during the 1920s....
, Greg StockdaleGreg StockdaleGreg Stockdale was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the Victorian Football League during the 1920s....
, Jimmy SullivanJimmy Sullivan (footballer)James 'Jimmy' Sullivan was an Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon and Melbourne in the Victorian Football League ....
, and Rowley WattRowley WattRowland 'Rowley' Watt was an Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the Victorian Football League .Watt arrived at Essendon from Rochester and spent a season with Essendon Association before joining their VFL club...
. - Fitzroy Squad: Bill AdamsBill Adams (Australian footballer)William 'Bill' Adams was an Australian rules footballer who played for Fitzroy and Melbourne in the Victorian Football League before becoming coach of South Melbourne. He also went by his nickname of 'Bull' during his career.Adams was originally from South Fremantle where he played 32 games from...
, Jim AtkinsonJim AtkinsonJames "Jim" Archibald Atkinson was an Australian rules footballer and first class cricketer.Atkinson played his football with Fitzroy in the VFL. He was a defender and in 1922 was a member of Fitzroy's premiership winning side as well as winning their Club Champion award. Atkinson was club captain...
(captain), Arthur BatchelorArthur BatchelorArthur Batchelor was an Australian rules footballer who played for Fitzroy and North Melbourne in the VFL....
, Les Bryant, Charlie ChapmanCharlie ChapmanCharles "Charlie" Chapman was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League ....
, Goldie CollinsGoldie CollinsGoldsmith 'Goldie' Collins was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the VFL.He made his debut with Fitzroy in 1922 and the following season was the club's best and fairest...
, Tommy CorriganTommy CorriganThomas 'Tommy' Joseph Corrigan was an Australian rules footballer who played for Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League during the 1920s....
, Arch Dickens, Steve DonnellanSteve DonnellanSteve Donnellan was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League .Donnellan came to Fitzroy from Cohuna and played 16 games in his debut season in 1922...
, Ern ElliottErn ElliottErn "Puffer" Elliott was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League .Elliott was a half back flanker in Fitzroy's 1922 premiership winning side...
, Clive FergieClive FergieClive Alfred Fergie was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League .Fergie played his early football at Scotch College before starting his league career in 1915...
, Jimmy FreakeJimmy FreakeJames Henry "Jimmy" Freake was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League...
, Len GaleLen GaleLeonard George "Len" Gale was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League ....
, Tom Hickey, Horrie JenkinHorrie JenkinHorrie Jenkin was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the VFL.A defender, Jenkin was a member of Fitzroy premiership teams in 1916 and 1922. He started his career at fullforward but played his best football as a defender, winning the club's best and fairest award in 1926.-...
, Gordon McCrackenGordon McCrackenGordon C. W. McCracken was an Australian rules footballer who played with Carlton in the Victorian Football League during the 1920s....
, Stan MolanStan MolanStan Molan was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League .Molan was already 24 when he started his career at Fitzroy. He was handy in front of goals in his first two seasons, with his 24 goals in 1918 bettered by only one teammate, Jimmy Freake...
, Jack MoriartyJack MoriartyJack Moriarty was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League .- Background :Moriarty, the son of dual Fitzroy premiership player Geoff, was a lightly built full forward who became a spectacular success after leaving Essendon Football Club at the end of 1923 and crossing to...
, Gordon RattrayGordon RattrayGordon Kitchener Rattray was an Australian rules footballer who played with and coached Fitzroy in the VFL.The son of Bruce Rattray , Gordon Kitchener Rattray was born on born 19 October 1898 at Shepparton...
, Jim Tarbolton, Len WigraftLen WigraftLen Wigraft was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League.Wigraft usually played as a follower and won a premiership with Fitzroy in 1922...
, and Fred WilliamsFred Williams (Australian footballer)Fred Williams was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy and Carlton in the Victorian Football League ....
. - Richmond Squad: Jack Barnett, Ted Bourke, Ralph EmpeyRalph EmpeyRalph Empey was an Australian rules footballer who played with Richmond in the Victorian Football League ....
, Clarrie HallClarrie HallClarrie Hall was an Australian rules footballer who played in the VFL between 1912 and 1922 and then one game in 1924 for the Richmond Football Club.-External links:**...
, Joe Harrison, Doug Hayes, Gordon Hislop, Max HislopMax HislopAlex "Max" Hislop was an Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League in 1914 for the Collingwood Football Club, one game in 1915 for the Melbourne Football Club and then between 1917 and 1924 and finally in 1927 for the Richmond Football Club, after moving to Tasmania...
, Jim Karthaus, Bob McCaskillBob McCaskillRobert 'Bob' McCaskill was an Australian rules footballer who played for Richmond in the Victorian Football League during the 1920s and coached both North Melbourne and Hawthorn....
, Norm McIntosh, Angus MacIsaacAngus MacIsaac (footballer)Angus MacIsaac was an Australian rules footballer who played in the VFL between 1922 and 1924 and then again in 1926 and 1927 for the Richmond Football Club.Angus MacIsaac was a follower who played 59 games for the Tigers between 1922 and 1927...
, Keith MillarKeith MillarKeith James Millar was an Australian sportsman who played Australian rules football with Richmond in the Victorian Football League during the 1920s and first-class cricket for Victoria...
, Dan MinogueDan MinogueDaniel 'Dan' Minogue was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League.Minogue was considered a courageous, or perhaps reckless, centre half-back as epitomised when he sustained a broken collarbone playing for Collingwood Football Club in the first minute of the 1911 Grand Final...
(captain), Mel MorrisMel MorrisMel Morris was an Australian rules footballer who played in the VFL between 1921 and 1926 for the Richmond Football Club. He was Captain/Coach of Richmond for the 1926 season.-References:...
, Reuben Reid, George RudolphGeorge RudolphGeorge Rudolph was an Australian rules footballer who played for Richmond in the Victorian Football League during the 1920s....
, James SmithJames Smith (Australian rules footballer)James 'Jimmy' Smith was an Australian rules footballer who played in the VFL between 1917 and 1926 for the Richmond Football Club.-References:*Hogan P: The Tigers Of Old, Richmond FC, Melbourne 1996...
, Jim Spain, Ernie Taylor, Vic ThorpVic ThorpVictor Charles Thorp was an Australian rules footballer for the Richmond Football Club in the Victorian Football League between 1910 and 1925....
, and George ValentineGeorge ValentineGeorge D. Valentine was a Scottish New Zealand photographer.The son of James Valentine , George had become one of Scotland's leading photographers. Serious ill-health and the need for a warmer climate saw George leave the family business in Scotland and emigrate to New Zealand with his family in...
. - South Melbourne Squad: Harry Alexander, Bobby Allison, Phil Brooks, Martin Brown, Roy CazalyRoy CazalyRoy Cazaly was an Australian rules football player famous for his high marks and ruck work, which gave rise to the phrase "Up There Cazaly".-Early life/career:...
(captain), Bill Condon, Fred FleiterFred FleiterFred "Skeeter" Fleiter was an Australian rules footballer who played for South Melbourne in the VFL.Fleiter played as a ruck rover and made his league debut in 1919. He played his career beside ruckman Roy Cazaly and is credited with coming up for the famous phrase "Up there Cazaly"...
, Arthur Hando, Jacky Harris, Ted JohnsonTed Johnson (footballer)Edward 'Ted' Johnson was an Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the VFL during the 1920s. He was a key position forward and represented Victoria at interstate football....
, Tom Joyce, Frank Laird, Harold Mahony, Herb Matthews, Bob McDonaldBob McDonald (footballer)Bob McDonald was a professional footballer who played for Inverness Caledonian, Tottenham Hotspur and Clapton Orient.- Football career :...
, Charles McDonald, Gil Miller, Charlie Nicholls, Jack O'Connell, Ted O'Meara, Frank Ross, Joe ScanlanJoe ScanlanJoe Scanlan was an Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the VFL during the 1920s....
, Paddy ScanlanPaddy ScanlanPaddy Scanlan was an Australian rules footballer who played with and coached South Melbourne and Footscray in the VFL....
, Mark TandyMark Tandy (Australian rules footballer)Mark "Napper" Tandy was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League in the early 20th century....
, and Les Woodfield.
Awards
- The 1924 VFL Premiership team was EssendonEssendon Football ClubThe Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
. - The VFL's leading goalkickerColeman MedalThe Coleman Medal is awarded yearly to the Australian Football League player who kicks the most goals in regular-season matches in that year...
was Jack MoriartyJack MoriartyJack Moriarty was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League .- Background :Moriarty, the son of dual Fitzroy premiership player Geoff, was a lightly built full forward who became a spectacular success after leaving Essendon Football Club at the end of 1923 and crossing to...
of FitzroyFitzroy Football ClubThe Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
with 82 goals; a VFL record. (Moriarty had played 13 senior games for EssendonEssendon Football ClubThe Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in 1922, he played in Essendon's Second Eighteen for the entire 1923, and was released to Fitzroy at the end of 1923). - The winner of the 1924 (inaugural) Brownlow MedalBrownlow MedalThe Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
was Edward "Carji" GreevesEdward GreevesEdward Goderich "Carji" Greeves, Junior was an Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club in the Victorian Football League...
of GeelongGeelong Football ClubThe Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
with 7 votes. - St Kilda took the "wooden spoon" in 1924.
Notable events
- Charles BrownlowChas BrownlowCharles "Chas" Brownlow was an Australian rules football administrator in the Victorian Football League.He went to the Geelong College for his schooling....
dies on 23 January 1924; the Charles Brownlow Trophy, more commonly known as the "Brownlow MedalBrownlow MedalThe Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
", is instituted in his memory. The trophy is to be awarded to "the fairest and best player" in the VFL as determined by the votes of each field umpire at the end of each home-and-away match. In 1924, there was a single vote cast per match (Greeves won the inaugural medal with a total of 7 votes). - Bill Twomey, Sr.Bill Twomey, Sr.William 'Bill' Patrick Twomey was an Australian rules footballer who played for Collingwood and Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League . His sons Mick, Pat and Bill all played league football with Collingwood....
who played for CollingwoodCollingwood Football ClubThe Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
(1918-1922) and would play for HawthornHawthorn Football ClubThe Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
(1933-1934) — the father of Collingwood's Bill Twomey, Jr. (1945-1958), Pat TwomeyPat TwomeyPat Twomey was an Australian rules footballer, who played in the Victorian Football League, .Pat Twomey joined Collingwood in 1947, he had two stints with the Magpies, punctured by a spell with country club Warragul. Pat mainly played across the centreline or on a flank and started as a winger...
(1947-1949; 1952-1953), and Mick TwomeyMick TwomeyMichael Twomey is a former Australian rules footballer, who played in the Victorian Football League, .At in height, Collingwood's Mick Twomey was taller than his brothers Bill and Pat, and played most of his 157 VFL games between 1951 and 1961 as a ruckman.Over the course of his 10 year career...
(1951-1961), and the grandfather of Collingwood's David TwomeyDavid TwomeyDavid Twomey is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood in the Victorian Football League ....
(1987-1995) — wins the 1924, 130-yard Stawell GiftStawell GiftThe Stawell Gift is Australia's oldest and richest short distance running race. It is run over every Easter weekend by the Stawell Athletic Club, with the main race finals on the holiday Monday, at Central Park, Stawell in the Grampian Mountains district of western Victoria.The race is run on grass...
in 12.1 seconds, off a handicap of 8½ yards. - The Fitzroy versus Carlton match in the opening round became the first VFL match where both teams scored 100 points.
- Against Collingwood in Round 5, Carlton's losing score was the ninth-highest of the season. Individual matches providing two of the ten highest scores of a season have since occurred in 1937, 1940, 1954, 1962, 19721972 VFL Grand FinalThe 1972 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Carlton Football Club and Richmond Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 7 October 1972. It was the 76th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine the...
, 1976 and 2001. - The VFL adopts the convention of "home" teams wearing black shorts and "away" teams wearing white shorts.
- The 1924 Premiership was determined by a round-robin system for the first time since the 1897 VF Premiership. This meant that Essendon, who were easily beaten by Richmond 9.13 (67) to 6.11 (47) in the last of their three matches, went on to become premiers because their percentage (142.7%) was higher than that of Richmond (115.5%). This system was never used again.
- Apart from the 19051905 VFL Grand FinalThe 1905 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Fitzroy Football Club and Collingwood Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 30 September 1905. It was the 8th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine...
, 19271927 VFL Grand FinalThe 1927 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Collingwood Football Club and Richmond Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 1 October 1927...
and 19601960 VFL Grand FinalThe 1960 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Melbourne Football Club and Collingwood Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 25 September of 1960 in extremely wet conditions due to persistent rain during the previous week...
Grand Finals, Fitzroy's score against Essendon in the first finals round is the only instance of a year's lowest score occurring in a final. - Many of the Essendon players had been far from happy at the poor performances of some of their team-mates against Richmond and there were heated arguments and fist-fights in the rooms after the match, as well as after a post-match function later that evening, related to accusations of "tanking" and receiving bribes.
- The following Saturday, Essendon (in its role as 1924 VFL Premiers) was challenged by 1924 VFA Premiers Footscray Football ClubWestern BulldogsThe Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
to a match in aid of Dame Nellie Melba's Disabled Soldiers' Fund, purportedly (but not officially) for the championship of Victoria. Footscray unexpectedly thrashed Essendon 9.10 (64) to 4.12 (36). Again there were accusations of "tanking" and bribery and fist-fights in the change-rooms. The Essendon team almost did not take the field for the second half of the match. Champion centre half-back Tom FitzmauriceTom FitzmauriceTom Fitzmaurice was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League .A brilliant centre halfback, he commenced his career with Essendon Football Club 1918. Transferred to Sydney in 1921 with his employment, Fitzmaurice played the next two seasons in the local competition and...
was so disgusted with many of his team-mates having, in his view, deliberately lost the match, he never played again for Essendon.