1930 VFL Grand Final
Encyclopedia
The 1930 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football
game contested between the Collingwood Football Club
and Geelong Football Club
, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
in Melbourne
on 11 October 1930. It was the 34th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League
, staged to determine the premiers for the 1930 VFL season
. The match, attended by 45,022 spectators, was won by Collingwood by a margin of 30 points, marking that club's ninth premiership victory and fourth in succession.
had taken hold by the 1930 VFL season
, and, for many, sport was a rare diversion from dire circumstances. While Don Bradman
and Phar Lap
enthralled the cricket
and racing
worlds respectively, the residents of Collingwood
, many of whom were made virtually destitute, were inspired by the Collingwood Football Club, who had won the previous three flags.
Stan Judkins
(Richmond
), Allan Hopkins
(Footscray) and Harry Collier
(Collingwood) all finished with an equal number of votes in the Brownlow Medal
. The Umpires Board (which administered the award) recommended that no medal be awarded as there was no provision for a tied result. However, the VFL administration over-ruled the umpires board and created a criterion that the medal should be awarded to the player who played the least number of games. Judkins' banishment to the seconds had won him the award. Adding to the controversy, one vote for a Collingwood game was simply labeled "Collier", but as there were two Collier brothers playing in the game, the vote wasn't counted. To avoid situations like this in the future the rules were altered to a 3-2-1 system in 1931. In 1989, Hopkins and Collier, while both still living, were awarded a Brownlow Medal retrospectively for their performances in the 1930 VFL season
.
The Magpies finished on top of the ladder with 15 wins and 3 losses. Carlton
was highly fancied to finish on top after winning 13 of their first 14 home-and-away games, but in losing 2 of their last 4 games, they finished second. Richmond
, Geelong and Melbourne
filled the next 3 spots, all on 11 wins.
Geelong beat a woefully inaccurate Carlton in the First Semi-Final, while in the Second Semi-Final Collingwood beat their old rival in Richmond in a thriller by 3 points.
Collingwood met Geelong in the Final, and, as minor premiers, they had a right to another game if defeated. They were required to exercise this right after Geelong won by 26 points.
, could not attend the 1930 Grand Final, being confined to bed with the flu
. Veteran administrator and former premiership player Bob Rush
took charge in his place.
The Magpies started the match aggressively, and seemed too intent on playing the man. The Cats, however, focused on the ball and kicked the goals. Their pace and work in the air saw them leading by 21 points at half time.
At half time, Rush delivered what Harry Collier recalled was one of the most inspirational speeches that he had ever heard, and the team produced one of the most dominant and important quarters in the club’s history, coming from a 27-point deficit to lead by 32 at 3-quarter time. Goals came from ‘Nuts’ Coventry, Makeham, H Collier and Beveridge. Geelong had become “listless and ragged whereas Collingwood were tearing along in their best style”. The Sun
described the club’s third term as “one of the finest ever seen in football… it was an object lesson to every team in rising to the occasion after being apparently beaten, and by sheer grit and magnificent teamwork, sweeping down every obstacle in their way of finals success.”
Both teams kicked 3 goals in the final quarter.
In winning four successive premierships from 1927–1930, Collingwood set a record that has not been equaled to date. The teams from this era became known as “The Machine” for the teamwork, efficiency and effectiveness with which they played.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
game contested between the Collingwood Football Club
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
and Geelong Football Club
Geelong Football Club
The 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...
, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
on 11 October 1930. It was the 34th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
, staged to determine the premiers for the 1930 VFL season
1930 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1930.-Premiership season:In 1930, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus one substitute player, known as the 19th man...
. The match, attended by 45,022 spectators, was won by Collingwood by a margin of 30 points, marking that club's ninth premiership victory and fourth in succession.
Background
The Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
had taken hold by the 1930 VFL season
1930 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1930.-Premiership season:In 1930, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus one substitute player, known as the 19th man...
, and, for many, sport was a rare diversion from dire circumstances. While Don Bradman
Donald Bradman
Sir Donald George Bradman, AC , often referred to as "The Don", was an Australian cricketer, widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time...
and Phar Lap
Phar Lap
Phar Lap was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse whose achievements captured the public's imagination during the early years of the Great Depression. Foaled in New Zealand, he was trained and raced in Australia. Phar Lap dominated Australian racing during a distinguished career, winning a Melbourne...
enthralled the cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
and racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
worlds respectively, the residents of Collingwood
Collingwood, Victoria
Collingwood is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra...
, many of whom were made virtually destitute, were inspired by the Collingwood Football Club, who had won the previous three flags.
Stan Judkins
Stan Judkins
Stan Judkins was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Football Club in the Victorian Football League between 1928 and 1936. He became the first Richmond player to win the game's most prestigious award, the Brownlow Medal.Judkins played his junior football as a rover for...
(Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
), Allan Hopkins
Allan Hopkins
Allan Hopkins was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League. He started off his career with Footscray Football Club before they joined the Victorian Football League in 1925...
(Footscray) and Harry Collier
Harry Collier
Harry Collier was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League.-Playing career:Originally from Ivanhoe, Victoria, Collier played for the Collingwood Football Club, debuting in 1926...
(Collingwood) all finished with an equal number of votes in the Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The 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...
. The Umpires Board (which administered the award) recommended that no medal be awarded as there was no provision for a tied result. However, the VFL administration over-ruled the umpires board and created a criterion that the medal should be awarded to the player who played the least number of games. Judkins' banishment to the seconds had won him the award. Adding to the controversy, one vote for a Collingwood game was simply labeled "Collier", but as there were two Collier brothers playing in the game, the vote wasn't counted. To avoid situations like this in the future the rules were altered to a 3-2-1 system in 1931. In 1989, Hopkins and Collier, while both still living, were awarded a Brownlow Medal retrospectively for their performances in the 1930 VFL season
1930 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1930.-Premiership season:In 1930, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus one substitute player, known as the 19th man...
.
The Magpies finished on top of the ladder with 15 wins and 3 losses. Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
was highly fancied to finish on top after winning 13 of their first 14 home-and-away games, but in losing 2 of their last 4 games, they finished second. Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
, Geelong and Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
filled the next 3 spots, all on 11 wins.
Geelong beat a woefully inaccurate Carlton in the First Semi-Final, while in the Second Semi-Final Collingwood beat their old rival in Richmond in a thriller by 3 points.
Collingwood met Geelong in the Final, and, as minor premiers, they had a right to another game if defeated. They were required to exercise this right after Geelong won by 26 points.
Match summary
Collingwood’s famous coach, Jock McHaleJock McHale
James Francis "Jock" McHale, was an Australian rules football player and coach for the Collingwood Football Club in the Victorian Football League in a marathon career that extended from 1903 to 1949....
, could not attend the 1930 Grand Final, being confined to bed with the flu
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
. Veteran administrator and former premiership player Bob Rush
Bob Rush (Australian footballer)
Robert 'Bob' Thomas Rush was an Australian rules footballer who played for Collingwood in the Victorian Football League ....
took charge in his place.
The Magpies started the match aggressively, and seemed too intent on playing the man. The Cats, however, focused on the ball and kicked the goals. Their pace and work in the air saw them leading by 21 points at half time.
At half time, Rush delivered what Harry Collier recalled was one of the most inspirational speeches that he had ever heard, and the team produced one of the most dominant and important quarters in the club’s history, coming from a 27-point deficit to lead by 32 at 3-quarter time. Goals came from ‘Nuts’ Coventry, Makeham, H Collier and Beveridge. Geelong had become “listless and ragged whereas Collingwood were tearing along in their best style”. The Sun
The Sun News-Pictorial
The Sun News-Pictorial, commonly known as The Sun, was a morning daily tabloid newspaper in Melbourne, Australia established in 1922 and closed in 1990.It was part of The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd stable of Melbourne newspapers...
described the club’s third term as “one of the finest ever seen in football… it was an object lesson to every team in rising to the occasion after being apparently beaten, and by sheer grit and magnificent teamwork, sweeping down every obstacle in their way of finals success.”
Both teams kicked 3 goals in the final quarter.
In winning four successive premierships from 1927–1930, Collingwood set a record that has not been equaled to date. The teams from this era became known as “The Machine” for the teamwork, efficiency and effectiveness with which they played.
Match statistics
Teams