Victorian Football Association
Season 1884
Season Notes
Deciding the premiership
The following resolution was carried unanimously at the meeting of the VFA on 2 March 1884:
“That if any associated club refer to the association at the end of the season as to the question of premiership, the association may deal with the subject.”
Ladder rankings for 1884 on this page have been determined by:
New clubs
Fitzroy and Williamstown were admitted to senior status (VFA Meeting 7 March 1884)
Ballarat clubs
Only games between the Ballarat clubs and the Metropolitan clubs (including Geelong) are listed here.
These games counted towards the Premiership and are included in the Final Ladder.
The Albion Imperial club was known as South Ballarat from this season.
Rules governing the game in 1884
The first conference of inter-colonial delegates was held in Melbourne on 9 November 1883 which established a nationally consistent set of rules.
The 1883 rules can be viewed on the Blueseum page: Pre VFL Rules of Football at the heading '1883 Australian Football Rules' half way down the page.
Games were played in two halves. Four quarters were introduced commencing with the 1886 season.
Behinds were recorded but did not count towards the final score or in determining the result of matches.
Results
Round 1
|
3 May 1884 |
Essendon |
1-3 |
5-12 |
Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 8000 |
|
|
South Melbourne |
3-5 |
3-6 |
Result: Essendon won by 2 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 May 1884 |
Melbourne |
1-4 |
4-4 |
Venue: MCG; Attendance: 3000 |
|
|
Hotham |
0-3 |
1-6 |
Result: Melbourne won by 3 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 May 1884 |
Williamstown |
0-0 |
0-3 |
Venue: Garden's Reserve, Williamstown; Attendance: 400 |
|
|
Fitzroy |
1-4 |
2-14 |
Result: Fitzroy won by 2 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 May 1884 |
Geelong |
7-9 |
13-16 |
Venue: Corio Oval; Attendance: 750 |
|
|
Ballarat |
0-1 |
0-1 |
Result: Geelong won by 13 goals |
|
|
||||
Round 2
|
10 May 1884 |
Melbourne |
3-4 |
3-8 |
Venue: MCG |
|
|
Carlton |
2-5 |
2-10 |
Result: Melbourne won by 1 goal |
|
Argus: “It has, perhaps, never happened that there has been a larger attendance on the ground and in the stand reserves.” |
||||
|
10 May 1884 |
South Melbourne |
2-3 |
2-9 |
Venue: South Melbourne; Attendance: 2000 |
|
|
Fitzroy |
1-6 |
1-11 |
Result: South Melbourne won by 1 goal |
|
Fitzroy captain G. McShane, late of Essendon |
|
|
|
|
|
10 May 1884 |
Williamstown |
1-3 |
2-7 |
Venue: Garden's Reserve, Williamstown |
|
|
Hotham |
0-6 |
2-12 |
Result: DRAW |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 May 1884 |
Geelong |
- |
7-12 |
Venue: Corio Oval |
|
|
South Ballarat |
- |
4-4 |
Result: Geelong won by 3 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round 3
|
17 May 1884 |
Essendon |
4-9 |
5-11 |
Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 10000 |
|
|
Melbourne |
0-3 |
3-12 |
Result: Essendon won by 2 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17 May 1884 |
Carlton |
1-1 |
2-4 |
Venue: MCG; Attendance: 10000 |
|
|
South Melbourne |
1-6 |
1-9 |
Result: Carlton won by 1 goal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17 May 1884 |
Geelong |
1-8 |
4-17 |
Venue: Corio Oval; Attendance: 1000 |
|
|
Fitzroy |
1-1 |
2-6 |
Result: Geelong won by 2 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round 4
|
24 May 1884 |
Hotham |
2-3 |
3-9 |
Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 7000 |
|
|
Geelong |
4-9 |
7-18 |
Result: Geelong won by 4 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24 May 1884 |
Ballarat |
- |
1-8 |
Venue: Saxon Paddock |
|
|
Essendon |
- |
2-9 |
Result: Essendon won by 1 goal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24 May 1884 |
South Ballarat |
6-6 |
6-11 |
Venue: Western Oval, Ballarat |
|
|
Fitzroy |
1-2 |
1-6 |
Result: South Ballarat won by 5 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round 5
|
31 May 1884 |
Essendon |
3-6 |
4-9 |
Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 10000 |
|
|
Carlton |
1-5 |
3-13 |
Result: Essendon won by 1 goal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31 May 1884 |
Fitzroy |
2-4 |
4-9 |
Venue: Fitzroy; Attendance: 2000 |
|
|
Melbourne |
0-9 |
1-22 |
Result: Fitzroy won by 3 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31 May 1884 |
Hotham |
1-2 |
3-5 |
Venue: Hotham; Attendance: 2000 |
|
|
South Melbourne |
3-0 |
3-2 |
Result: DRAW |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round 6
|
7 June 1884 |
Fitzroy |
0-2 |
2-5 |
Venue: Fitzroy; Attendance: 4000 |
|
|
Carlton |
1-9 |
1-12 |
Result: Fitzroy won by 1 goal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 June 1884 |
Essendon |
5-12 |
5-18 |
Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 7000 |
|
|
Hotham |
0-0 |
3-4 |
Result: Essendon won by 2 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 June 1884 |
Geelong |
1-5 |
2-22 |
Venue: Corio Oval; Attendance: 3000 |
|
|
South Melbourne |
0-7 |
0-9 |
Result: Geelong won by 2 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 June 1884 |
Melbourne |
1-3 |
3-15 |
Venue: South Melbourne; Attendance: Limited |
|
|
Williamstown |
0-4 |
0-4 |
Result: Melbourne won by 3 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round 7
|
14 June 1884 |
Essendon |
3- |
4-14 |
Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 15000 |
|
|
Geelong |
3- |
4-8 |
Result: DRAW |
|
Argus: “Rarely has a larger attendance been seen at a football contest in Victoria...” |
||||
|
14 June 1884 |
Carlton |
1-6 |
3-10 |
Venue: MCG; Attendance: 2000 |
|
|
Hotham |
2-3 |
2-7 |
Result: Carlton won by 1 goal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14 June 1884 |
South Melbourne |
2-7 |
5-10 |
Venue: South Melbourne; Attendance: Very fair |
|
|
Williamstown |
1-3 |
2-4 |
Result: South Melbourne won by 3 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round 8
|
21 June 1884 |
South Melbourne |
1- |
2-13 |
Venue: South Melbourne; Attendance: Large number of spectators |
|
|
Essendon |
2- |
2-6 |
Result: DRAW |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21 June 1884 |
Melbourne |
0-1 |
1-2 |
Venue: MCG; Attendance: 10000 |
|
|
Geelong |
2-9 |
7-15 |
Result: Geelong won by 6 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21 June 1884 |
Fitzroy |
1-2 |
2-13 |
Venue: Fitzroy; Attendance: 3000 |
|
|
Hotham |
3-6 |
4-9 |
Result: Hotham won by 2 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round 9
|
28 June 1884 |
Essendon |
1-10 |
2-16 |
Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 8000 |
|
|
Fitzroy |
0-3 |
1-7 |
Result: Essendon won by 1 goal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 June 1884 |
Melbourne |
1-6 |
1-11 |
Venue: MCG; Attendance: 4000 |
|
|
South Melbourne |
1-4 |
3-9 |
Result: South Melbourne won by 2 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 June 1884 |
Geelong |
1-4 |
3-10 |
Venue: Corio Oval; Attendance: 2500 |
|
|
Hotham |
0-5 |
1-7 |
Result: Geelong won by 2 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 June 1884 |
Ballarat |
1-2 |
2-16 |
Venue: Saxon Paddock; Attendance: Very small |
|
|
Williamstown |
1-2 |
2-4 |
Result: DRAW |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round 10
|
5 July 1884 |
Carlton |
0-3 |
1-7 |
Venue: MCG; Attendance: 12000 |
|
|
Geelong |
6-2 |
9-13 |
Result: Geelong won by 8 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 July 1884 |
South Melbourne |
3-9 |
5-11 |
Venue: South Melbourne; Attendance: 6000 |
|
|
Hotham |
2-1 |
4-5 |
Result: Hotham won on Protest |
|
Result changed. Protest heard against South Melbourne playing two ineligible players. Hotham awarded the match and South Melbourne fined £5 (VFA Meeting 1 August 1884). |
||||
|
5 July 1884 |
Fitzroy |
2-7 |
2-13 |
Venue: Fitzroy; Attendance: 2000 |
|
|
Melbourne |
0-4 |
1-11 |
Result: Fitzroy won by 1 goal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round 11
|
12 July 1884 |
Essendon |
0-8 |
1-15 |
Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 3000 |
|
|
Hotham |
2-4 |
7-13 |
Result: Hotham won by 6 goals |
|
Argus: “The ground was heavy and slippery, and the play was therefore comparatively slow” |
||||
|
12 July 1884 |
Melbourne |
1-8 |
1-17 |
Venue: MCG; Attendance: 4000 |
|
|
Carlton |
0-7 |
0-13 |
Result: Melbourne won by 1 goal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 July 1884 |
Fitzroy |
1-6 |
1-13 |
Venue: Fitzroy; Attendance: 3000 |
|
|
South Melbourne |
0-8 |
0-15 |
Result: Fitzroy won by 1 goal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round 12
|
19 July 1884 |
Essendon |
1-1 |
2-6 |
Venue: EMCG |
|
|
Melbourne |
2-8 |
3-13 |
Result: Melbourne won by 1 goal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19 July 1884 |
Williamstown |
2- |
4-11 |
Venue: Garden's Reserve, Williamstown; Attendance: Large |
|
|
Carlton |
2- |
2-12 |
Result: Williamstown won by 2 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19 July 1884 |
Fitzroy |
1-2 |
2-10 |
Venue: Fitzroy; Attendance: Numerous |
|
|
South Ballarat |
0-8 |
1-11 |
Result: Fitzroy won by 1 goal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round 13
|
26 July 1884 |
South Melbourne |
1-5 |
2-9 |
Venue: South Melbourne; Attendance: 7000 |
|
|
Carlton |
1-3 |
4-8 |
Result: Carlton won by 2 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26 July 1884 |
Hotham |
2-5 |
2-5 |
Venue: Hotham; Attendance: 2000 |
|
|
Melbourne |
0-0 |
1-8 |
Result: Hotham won by 1 goal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26 July 1884 |
Essendon |
7-6 |
9-10 |
Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 1500 |
|
|
Ballarat |
0-1 |
1-2 |
Result: Essendon won by 8 goals |
|
Ballarat fined £5 for playing two ineligible players (VFA Meeting 1 August 1884) |
||||
|
26 July 1884 |
Geelong |
3-11 |
6-15 |
Venue: Corio Oval; Attendance: 2000 |
|
|
Williamstown |
0-4 |
3-8 |
Result: Geelong won by 3 goals |
|
Geelong 18 men for first 15 minutes |
|
|
|
|
Round 14
|
2 August 1884 |
South Melbourne |
4-5 |
4-8 |
Venue: South Melbourne; Attendance: 4000 |
|
|
Melbourne |
1-4 |
2-11 |
Result: South Melbourne won by 2 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 August 1884 |
Essendon |
3-11 |
3-16 |
Venue: EMCG; Attendance: Large |
|
|
Carlton |
1-5 |
1-19 |
Result: Essendon won by 2 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 August 1884 |
Fitzroy |
1-6 |
5-12 |
Venue: Fitzroy; Attendance: 1500 |
|
|
Williamstown |
0-0 |
0-0 |
Result: Fitzroy won by 5 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 August 1884 |
South Ballarat |
2-13 |
6-11 |
Venue: Western Oval, Ballarat; Attendance: 7000 |
|
|
Geelong |
1-4 |
5-17 |
Result: South Ballarat won by 1 goal |
|
“Congratulatory telegrams were received by the Ballarat South club from Essendon and other metropolitan clubs” - Argus |
||||
Round 15
|
9 August 1884 |
Fitzroy |
0-6 |
0-10 |
Venue: Fitzroy; Attendance: 5000 |
|
|
Geelong |
2-8 |
5-14 |
Result: Geelong won by 5 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 August 1884 |
Hotham |
2-0 |
4-4 |
Venue: Hotham; Attendance: 4000 |
|
|
Carlton |
2-10 |
3-12 |
Result: Hotham won by 1 goal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 August 1884 |
Essendon |
3-4 |
9-10 |
Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 3000 |
|
|
Melbourne |
2-12 |
2-14 |
Result: Essendon won by 7 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 August 1884 |
Williamstown |
1-3 |
1-3 |
Venue: Garden's Reserve, Williamstown; Attendance: 500 |
|
|
South Melbourne |
0-0 |
1-2 |
Result: DRAW |
|
“Owing to the South not being up in time the game did not commence till a quarter to four.” - Williamstown Chronicle |
||||
Round 16
|
16 August 1884 |
South Melbourne |
1-7 |
2-9 |
Venue: South Melbourne; Attendance: 5000 |
|
|
Essendon |
1-1 |
1-4 |
Result: South Melbourne won by 1 goal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16 August 1884 |
Carlton |
2-2 |
2-5 |
Venue: Prince's Oval; Attendance: 5000 |
|
|
Fitzroy |
2-7 |
2-7 |
Result: DRAW |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16 August 1884 |
Hotham |
0-9 |
1-16 |
Venue: Hotham; Attendance: Good |
|
|
Williamstown |
1-2 |
1-6 |
Result: DRAW |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round 17
|
23 August 1884 |
Hotham |
0-2 |
1-7 |
Venue: Hotham; Attendance: 2000 |
|
|
Fitzroy |
2-4 |
2-5 |
Result: Fitzroy won by 1 goal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23 August 1884 |
Geelong |
1-4 |
5-11 |
Venue: Corio Oval; Attendance: 4000 |
|
|
Carlton |
2-6 |
2-9 |
Result: Geelong won by 3 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23 August 1884 |
South Melbourne |
4-3 |
5-10 |
Venue: South Melbourne; Attendance: 4500 |
|
|
South Ballarat |
1-0 |
2-2 |
Result: South Melbourne won by 3 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23 August 1884 |
Williamstown |
0-0 |
2-2 |
Venue: Garden's Reserve, Williamstown; Attendance: 2000 |
|
|
Essendon |
5-7 |
6-10 |
Result: Essendon won by 4 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round 18
|
30 August 1884 |
South Melbourne |
0-0 |
1-3 |
Venue: South Melbourne; Attendance: 8500 |
|
|
Geelong |
2-9 |
3-13 |
Result: Geelong won by 2 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30 August 1884 |
Melbourne |
0-0 |
3-12 |
Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 1500 |
|
|
Carlton |
4-15 |
4-18 |
Result: Carlton won by 1 goal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30 August 1884 |
Fitzroy |
0-5 |
0-5 |
Venue: Fitzroy |
|
|
Essendon |
0-0 |
2-5 |
Result: Essendon won by 2 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round 19
|
6 September 1884 |
South Melbourne |
4-7 |
5-10 |
Venue: South Melbourne; Attendance: 6000 |
|
|
Carlton |
0-6 |
5-12 |
Result: DRAW |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 September 1884 |
Hotham |
1-1 |
3-5 |
Venue: Hotham; Attendance: Very large |
|
|
Essendon |
4-7 |
5-8 |
Result: Essendon won by 2 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 September 1884 |
Geelong |
2-4 |
6-10 |
Venue: Corio Oval; Attendance: 1000 |
|
|
Melbourne |
3-5 |
4-7 |
Result: Geelong won by 2 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 September 1884 |
Williamstown |
0- |
2-10 |
Venue: Garden's Reserve, Williamstown |
|
|
Ballarat |
0- |
0-3 |
Result: Williamstown won by 2 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round 20
|
13 September 1884 |
Geelong |
3-7 |
4-14 |
Venue: Corio Oval; Attendance: 10000 |
|
|
Essendon |
1-1 |
1-9 |
Result: Geelong won by 3 goals |
|
Corio ground lack of facilities heavily criticised in The Age report. |
||||
|
13 September 1884 |
Melbourne |
0-6 |
0-10 |
Venue: Fitzroy; Attendance: Fair number |
|
|
South Melbourne |
0-4 |
0-9 |
Result: DRAW |
|
“A strong was blowing across the ground in favour of neither side” - Argus |
||||
|
13 September 1884 |
Hotham |
1-13 |
1-14 |
Venue: Hotham; Attendance: 3500 |
|
|
Fitzroy |
0-0 |
0-9 |
Result: Hotham won by 1 goal |
|
All reports remark on Hotham’s tactic of kicking the ball out of bounds to waste time throughout the second half. There was a big fight between Williams of Fitzroy and Morris of Hotham after the game, provoked by Williams according to the Argus report of the game. |
||||
|
13 September 1884 |
Carlton |
1-2 |
3-11 |
Venue: Prince's Oval |
|
|
Williamstown |
1-5 |
1-6 |
Result: Carlton won by 2 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round 21
|
20 September 1884 |
Hotham |
0-2 |
2-4 |
Venue: Hotham; Attendance: 2000 |
|
|
South Melbourne |
0-6 |
0-7 |
Result: Hotham won by 2 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20 September 1884 |
Williamstown |
0-9 |
1-10 |
Venue: Garden's Reserve, Williamstown; Attendance: Good number |
|
|
Melbourne |
0-1 |
3-9 |
Result: Melbourne won by 2 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20 September 1884 |
Carlton |
1-2 |
1-3 |
Venue: Prince's Oval; Attendance: 3000 |
|
|
Essendon |
0-2 |
0-5 |
Result: Carlton won by 1 goal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round 22
|
27 September 1884 |
Williamstown |
3-11 |
3-11 |
Venue: Garden's Reserve, Williamstown; Attendance: Large number of spectators |
|
|
Geelong |
0-0 |
2-9 |
Result: Williamstown won by 1 goal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27 September 1884 |
South Melbourne |
0-1 |
3-7 |
Venue: South Melbourne |
|
|
Fitzroy |
1-13 |
1-15 |
Result: South Melbourne won by 2 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27 September 1884 |
Hotham |
2-9 |
2-11 |
Venue: Hotham; Attendance: 1500 |
|
|
Melbourne |
0-0 |
0-4 |
Result: Hotham won by 2 goals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ladder
|
|
Team |
P |
W |
L |
D |
F |
A |
Points |
Proportional Points |
% |
|
1 |
Geelong |
17 |
14 |
2 |
1 |
92 |
36 |
58 |
68.24 |
255.56 |
|
2 |
Essendon |
19 |
12 |
5 |
2 |
68 |
46 |
52 |
54.74 |
147.83 |
|
3 |
Hotham |
18 |
8 |
7 |
3 |
46 |
47 |
38 |
42.22 |
97.87 |
|
4 |
South Melbourne |
20 |
7 |
8 |
5 |
47 |
44 |
38 |
38.00 |
106.82 |
|
5 |
Fitzroy |
18 |
8 |
9 |
1 |
30 |
36 |
34 |
37.78 |
83.33 |
|
6 |
Carlton |
17 |
6 |
9 |
2 |
39 |
51 |
28 |
32.94 |
76.47 |
|
7 |
Melbourne |
18 |
6 |
11 |
1 |
36 |
54 |
26 |
28.89 |
66.67 |
|
8 |
Williamstown |
15 |
3 |
8 |
4 |
24 |
43 |
20 |
26.67 |
55.81 |
|
9 |
South Ballarat |
5 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
19 |
20 |
8 |
32.00 |
95.00 |
|
10 |
Ballarat |
5 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
28 |
2 |
8.00 |
14.29 |
|
|
Total |
152 |
66 |
66 |
20 |
405 |
405 |
304 |
|
|
Notes:
- Premiership awarded to the team with the ‘best record’
- Final ladders appearing in various publications of the time have consistent order of rank for the eight teams.
- Proportional Points system (officially used only from the 1888 season onwards) correlates with the contemporary rankings.
- Where two teams are virtually level on Proportional Points (less than 2.00 points separate) then head-to-head results between teams:
- South Melbourne played Fitzroy three times and won twice and lost once. Therefore South Melbourne rank above Fitzroy.
- Rule requiring a minimum of 18 games to qualify for the Premiership not in force until 1888
- For the Ballarat clubs, only matches between them and the Metropolitan clubs (including Geelong) are listed in this ladder. Ballarat Imperial did not play any games with Metropolitan clubs in 1884.
- Behinds were recorded but did not count towards the final score or in determining the result of matches.
- The percentage column of goals for divided by goals against is included as an indication only.
- The following game was scheduled in season fixtures drawn up on 28 March 1884, but no reports appear in the press in September 1884. It appears to have been cancelled and does not appear in this ladder:
- 20 September 1884 - Ballarat vs Geelong (Western Oval, Ballarat)
1884 premiers: Geelong
Prepared and maintained by Andrew Robinson
Author: Andrew Robinson (contact: andrewxx166 at hotmail dot
com)
First created: 18 February 2012
Last updated: 1 September 2012
(C) Copyright Andrew Robinson
You are free to copy this document in whole or part provided that proper
acknowledgement is given to the author. All rights reserved.
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