VFA Season 1885

Victorian Football Association

Season 1885

Season Notes

Deciding the premiership

The premiership was decided by the Proportional Points system only from the 1888 season onwards (VFA Meeting 7 October 1887).

For the 1885 season the premiership was awarded to the team with the least losses.

New clubs

University and Richmond were admitted to senior status (VFA Meeting 28 March 1885)

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.

Rules governing the game in 1885

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

2 May 1885	Essendon	0-2	4-15	Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 7000
	Hotham	4-7	4-9	Result: DRAW

2 May 1885	Carlton	3-10	6-13	Venue: MCG; Attendance: 9000
	Melbourne	0-1	1-6	Result: Carlton won by 5 goals

2 May 1885	Fitzroy	1-2	5-10	Venue: Fitzroy; Attendance: 1500
	University	1-3	2-3	Result: Fitzroy won by 3 goals

2 May 1885	Williamstown	0-12	1-17	Venue: Garden's Reserve, Williamstown
	Richmond	0-0	0-5	Result: Williamstown won by 1 goal

2 May 1885	Geelong	1-8	4-15	Venue: Corio Oval; Attendance: 1200
	Ballarat Imperial	1-2	2-5	Result: Geelong won by 2 goals

Round 2

9 May 1885	South Melbourne	0-5	4-12	Venue: South Melbourne; Attendance: 7000
	Carlton	1-2	2-7	Result: South Melbourne won by 2 goals

9 May 1885	Melbourne	0-2	0-10	Venue: MCG; Attendance: 5000
	Fitzroy	1-10	1-17	Result: Fitzroy won by 1 goal

9 May 1885	Essendon	2-6	9-20	Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 1500
	Williamstown	0-3	0-8	Result: Essendon won by 9 goals

9 May 1885	Richmond	1-6	3-12	Venue: Richmond; Attendance: Fairly large
	University	1-7	1-9	Result: Richmond won by 2 goals

Round 3

16 May 1885	Carlton	1-2	2-3	Venue: MCG; Attendance: 10000
	Fitzroy	2-7	8-12	Result: Fitzroy won by 6 goals

16 May 1885	Essendon	3-10	10-16	Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 5000
	Melbourne	1-7	1-10	Result: Essendon won by 9 goals

16 May 1885	Geelong	4-14	8-26	Venue: Corio Oval; Attendance: 1600
	Richmond	1-5	1-7	Result: Geelong won by 7 goals

16 May 1885	Williamstown	3-1	4-8	Venue: Garden's Reserve, Williamstown
	University	0-3	1-4	Result: Williamstown won by 3 goals

Round 4

23 May 1885	Geelong	2-3	2-10	Venue: Corio Oval; Attendance: Very large
	Fitzroy	0-5	2-11	Result: DRAW

23 May 1885	Ballarat Imperial	-	6-11	Venue: Saxon Ground; Attendance: Large
	Melbourne	-	2-6	Result: Ballarat Imperial won by 4 goals

Round 5

25 May 1885	Hotham	3-11	5-16	Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 15000
	Geelong	2-3	4-11	Result: Hotham won by 1 goal
“The attendance was the largest by far that has ever been seen in Victoria at a football contest” - The Age, 26 May 1885
25 May 1885	South Ballarat	-	3-16	Venue: Western Oval, Ballarat; Attendance: 1700
	Fitzroy	-	3-5	Result: DRAW

25 May 1885	South Melbourne	4-10	9-17	Venue: South Melbourne; Attendance: Large number
	Ballarat Imperial	1-3	1-6	Result: South Melbourne won by 8 goals

Round 6

30 May 1885	Essendon	4-15	6-20	Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 7000
	Fitzroy	0-0	2-6	Result: Essendon won by 4 goals

30 May 1885	Hotham	0-2	3-12	Venue: Hotham; Attendance: 5000
	Carlton	3-6	3-6	Result: DRAW

30 May 1885	South Melbourne	0-10	2-16	Venue: South Melbourne
	University	0-8	0-10	Result: South Melbourne won by 2 goals

30 May 1885	Richmond	3-10	3-13	Venue: Richmond
	Melbourne	0-5	1-20	Result: Richmond won by 2 goals

Round 7

6 June 1885	Geelong	2-11	3-15	Venue: Corio Oval; Attendance: Very small
	University	0-1	0-4	Result: Geelong won by 3 goals

6 June 1885	Melbourne	0-2	3-11	Venue: MCG; Attendance: Considerable
	Hotham	0-1	0-8	Result: Melbourne won by 3 goals

6 June 1885	Williamstown	3-2	7-4	Venue: Garden's Reserve, Williamstown
	Carlton	2-4	3-4	Result: Williamstown won by 4 goals

6 June 1885	Fitzroy	1-7	1-14	Venue: Fitzroy; Attendance: Large
	Richmond	2-2	2-2	Result: Richmond won by 1 goal
"Owing to the heavy rain that had fallen previously, the ground was in a very bad condition, being nothing but mud and puddles, and totally unfit to play on. The admission was free, and a large crowd of spectators assembled to witness the match, who seemed to take great delight in the numerous spills that occurred, each mishap being hailed with roars of laughter." - Fitzroy City Press
6 June 1885	Essendon	-	-	Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 5000
	South Melbourne	-	-	Result: CANCELLED
“By mutual consent, declared 'off' owing to the ground being flooded" – The Argus

Round 8

13 June 1885	Fitzroy	3-1	4-3	Venue: Fitzroy; Attendance: 1300
	Williamstown	0-1	1-10	Result: Fitzroy won by 3 goals

13 June 1885	Essendon	1-1	2-3	Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 12500
	Geelong	2-5	2-6	Result: DRAW

13 June 1885	University	1-	1-6	Venue: University
	Melbourne	1-	2-8	Result: Melbourne won by 1 goal

13 June 1885	Carlton	2-4	4-15	Venue: MCG; Attendance: 300
	Ballarat	1-3	1-3	Result: Carlton won by 3 goals

13 June 1885	Hotham	-	-	Venue: Hotham
	Richmond	-	-	Result: CANCELLED
“The ground was in a wretched state, the northern side being quite a sea of mud.” – The Argus

Round 9

20 June 1885	Melbourne	1-3	1-4	Venue: MCG; Attendance: 5000
	Geelong	2-3	3-6	Result: Geelong won by 2 goals

20 June 1885	Richmond	2-5	2-16	Venue: Richmond; Attendance: 3000
	Carlton	2-10	5-14	Result: Carlton won by 3 goals

20 June 1885	Hotham	2-5	3-7	Venue: Hotham; Attendance: 4000
	Fitzroy	0-0	1-2	Result: Hotham won by 2 goals

20 June 1885	University	1-8	2-9	Venue: University
	Williamstown	1-1	2-9	Result: DRAW

20 June 1885	Essendon	3-3	5-8	Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 2500
	South Ballarat	0-2	2-5	Result: Essendon won by 3 goals

Round 10

27 June 1885	Melbourne	1-5	1-8	Venue: MCG; Attendance: 6000
	Carlton	1-11	2-14	Result: Carlton won by 1 goal

27 June 1885	Essendon	1-8	2-17	Venue: EMCG; Attendance: Match excited little interest
	University	0-0	0-4	Result: Essendon won by 2 goals

27 June 1885	South Melbourne	-	8-14	Venue: South Melbourne; Attendance: 3000
	Richmond	-	0-4	Result: South Melbourne won by 8 goals

27 June 1885	Fitzroy	1-6	1-16	Venue: Fitzroy; Attendance: Considerable
	Ballarat Imperial	0-5	0-9	Result: Fitzroy won by 1 goal

27 June 1885	Hotham	-	-	Venue: Hotham
	Williamstown	-	-	Result: CANCELLED
The Argus: “Fell through on account of the muddy state of the oval”

Round 11

4 July 1885	Geelong	2-5	2-10	Venue: Corio Oval; Attendance: 6000
	South Melbourne	0-8	2-9	Result: DRAW

4 July 1885	Essendon	4-6	8-16	Venue: EMCG
	Richmond	0-5	2-6	Result: Essendon won by 6 goals

4 July 1885	Fitzroy	1-3	1-7	Venue: Fitzroy; Attendance: Very large
	Carlton	0-2	2-8	Result: Carlton won by 1 goal

4 July 1885	Hotham	9-4	12-13	Venue: Hotham; Attendance: 3500
	University	1-4	1-8	Result: Hotham won by 11 goals

4 July 1885	Melbourne	1-6	1-8	Venue: MCG; Attendance: Very small
	Williamstown	1-0	2-1	Result: Williamstown won by 1 goal

Round 12

11 July 1885	Carlton	1-5	2-12	Venue: MCG; Attendance: 12000
	Essendon	1-4	2-14	Result: DRAW

11 July 1885	Geelong	1-2	5-17	Venue: Corio Oval; Attendance: Nearly 5000
	Hotham	2-5	2-6	Result: Geelong won by 3 goals

11 July 1885	South Melbourne	5-11	12-17	Venue: South Melbourne; Attendance: 6500
	Melbourne	0-1	0-1	Result: South Melbourne won by 12 goals

11 July 1885	University	1-10	1-16	Venue: EMCG
	Fitzroy	2-3	2-10	Result: Fitzroy won by 1 goal

11 July 1885	Richmond	1-1	1-1	Venue: Richmond; Attendance: Very small
	Williamstown	3-3	3-9	Result: Williamstown won by 2 goals

Round 13

18 July 1885	Carlton	4-2	7-4	Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 5000
	Geelong	1-7	2-13	Result: Carlton won by 5 goals

18 July 1885	Melbourne	1-2	3-6	Venue: MCG; Attendance: 500
	Essendon	1-4	2-9	Result: Melbourne won by 1 goal

18 July 1885	South Melbourne	2-6	9-14	Venue: South Melbourne; Attendance: 6000
	Fitzroy	0-5	0-8	Result: South Melbourne won by 9 goals

18 July 1885	University	1-3	1-5	Venue: University
	Richmond	0-3	0-9	Result: University won by 1 goal

18 July 1885	Williamstown	2-8	5-14	Venue: Garden's Reserve, Williamstown; Attendance: 1500
	Ballarat	1-1	2-3	Result: Williamstown won by 3 goals

Round 14

25 July 1885	South Melbourne	6-6	8-14	Venue: South Melbourne; Attendance: 17500
	Hotham	0-6	0-8	Result: South Melbourne won by 8 goals

25 July 1885	Fitzroy	1-7	1-9	Venue: Fitzroy; Attendance: 2000
	Melbourne	0-2	1-7	Result: DRAW

25 July 1885	Geelong	1-0	6-7	Venue: Corio Oval; Attendance: 2000
	Williamstown	2-11	3-13	Result: Geelong won by 3 goals

25 July 1885	University	3-2	4-4	Venue: University; Attendance: 4000
	Carlton	4-3	5-8	Result: Carlton won by 1 goal

25 July 1885	Essendon	6-17	7-26	Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 1000
	Richmond	1-2	3-8	Result: Essendon won by 4 goals

Round 15

1 August 1885	Essendon	3-8	4-11	Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 6000
	Fitzroy	2-4	3-10	Result: Essendon won by 1 goal

1 August 1885	South Melbourne	0-5	6-10	Venue: South Melbourne; Attendance: 9000
	Williamstown	0-4	1-6	Result: South Melbourne won by 5 goals

1 August 1885	Carlton	2-1	3-7	Venue: Prince's Oval; Attendance: 7000
	Richmond	0-4	1-8	Result: Carlton won by 2 goals

1 August 1885	University	2-	3-7	Venue: University
	Geelong	2-	5-11	Result: Geelong won by 2 goals

1 August 1885	Hotham	2-5	3-7	Venue: Hotham; Attendance: Large assemblage
	Melbourne	0-3	0-4	Result: Hotham won by 3 goals

Round 16

8 August 1885	Williamstown	0-5	2-19	Venue: Garden's Reserve, Williamstown; Attendance: 1500
	Fitzroy	2-4	3-6	Result: Fitzroy won by 1 goal

8 August 1885	University	1-2	2-2	Venue: University; Attendance: 5000
	South Melbourne	8-9	12-15	Result: Carlton won by 10 goals

8 August 1885	Essendon	2-7	6-13	Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 12000
	Carlton	2-6	3-8	Result: Essendon won by 3 goals

8 August 1885	Richmond	1-6	5-12	Venue: Richmond; Attendance: 1000
	Melbourne	2-6	2-10	Result: Richmond won by 3 goals

8 August 1885	Geelong	3-6	6-11	Venue: Corio Oval; Attendance: 3000
	South Ballarat	1-4	2-11	Result: Geelong won by 4 goals

8 August 1885	Hotham	-	-	Venue: Hotham
	Ballarat Imperial	-	-	Result: CANCELLED
Ballarat Imperial “sending word at the last moment, that they were unable to get together a team” – The Argus

Round 17

15 August 1885	South Melbourne	2-8	3-17	Venue: South Melbourne; Attendance: 18000
	Essendon	1-2	3-10	Result: DRAW
Protest by Essendon upheld and disputed goal in the second half and thereby the match awarded to Essendon (VFA Meeting 28 August 1885), however this decision was rescinded at a further VFA Meeting on 25 September 1885; Argus: “12,000 purchased their tickets in Melbourne with a view to avoid crushing at the ticket boxes”
15 August 1885	Richmond	0-7	1-15	Venue: Richmond; Attendance: Good attendance
	Geelong	4-4	4-13	Result: Geelong won by 3 goals

15 August 1885	Fitzroy	1-14	2-18	Venue: Fitzroy; Attendance: 2000
	Hotham	0-1	4-4	Result: Hotham won by 2 goals

15 August 1885	Carlton	1-3	2-9	Venue: Prince's Oval; Attendance: 2500
	Williamstown	0-5	0-10	Result: Carlton won by 2 goals

15 August 1885	University	1-7	1-8	Venue: University; Attendance: But few spectators
	Melbourne	0-3	3-16	Result: Melbourne won by 2 goals

Round 18

22 August 1885	Melbourne	0-1	2-7	Venue: Friendly Societies' Gardens; Attendance: Large attendance
	South Melbourne	6-7	9-10	Result: South Melbourne won by 7 goals
“The new football ground of the Melbourne club situated at the Friendly Societies' gardens was opened on Saturday afternoon...” – The Age 24 Aug 1885
22 August 1885	Hotham	1-2	1-6	Venue: Hotham; Attendance: Very large attendance
	Essendon	1-1	5-5	Result: Essendon won by 4 goals

22 August 1885	Geelong	2-10	4-18	Venue: Corio Oval; Attendance: 3500
	Carlton	0-6	1-7	Result: Geelong won by 3 goals

22 August 1885	Richmond	0-6	0-7	Venue: Richmond; Attendance: Fair attendance
	Fitzroy	0-7	6-12	Result: Fitzroy won by 6 goals

22 August 1885	Ballarat	0-2	2-13	Venue: Saxon Paddock
	Williamstown	4-10	4-11	Result: Williamstown won by 2 goals

Round 19

29 August 1885	South Melbourne	2-2	5-11	Venue: South Melbourne; Attendance: 13500
	Geelong	2-4	2-9	Result: South Melbourne won by 3 goals

29 August 1885	Melbourne	0-3	2-9	Venue: Friendly Societies' Gardens; Attendance: Very moderate
	Carlton	2-6	5-8	Result: Carlton won by 3 goals

29 August 1885	University	0-2	2-5	Venue: University
	Essendon	3-8	4-14	Result: Essendon won by 2 goals

29 August 1885	Richmond	1-5	1-10	Venue: Richmond; Attendance: Meagre
	Hotham	1-6	1-10	Result: DRAW

29 August 1885	Fitzroy	0-7	2-20	Venue: Fitzroy
	South Ballarat	1-8	1-10	Result: Fitzroy won by 1 goal

Round 20

5 September 1885	Carlton	0-3	1-7	Venue: Prince's Oval; Attendance: 12500
	South Melbourne	2-7	3-10	Result: South Melbourne won by 2 goals

5 September 1885	Williamstown	4-13	4-17	Venue: Garden's Reserve, Williamstown; Attendance: Large number
	Essendon	0-0	0-1	Result: Williamstown won by 4 goals

5 September 1885	Melbourne	3-4	4-6	Venue: Friendly Societies' Gardens; Attendance: Moderate
	Hotham	1-5	3-7	Result: Melbourne won by 1 goal

5 September 1885	Fitzroy	5-16	5-18	Venue: Fitzroy; Attendance: 3000
	Geelong	0-1	5-10	Result: DRAW

5 September 1885	Richmond	1-5	2-12	Venue: Richmond
	University	1-1	2-3	Result: DRAW

Round 21

12 September 1885	Geelong	3-7	6-11	Venue: Corio Oval; Attendance: 5000
	Essendon	5-5	7-10	Result: Essendon won by 1 goal

12 September 1885	Fitzroy	2-6	2-6	Venue: Fitzroy; Attendance: 7000
	South Melbourne	1-4	4-11	Result: South Melbourne won by 2 goals

12 September 1885	Williamstown	1-1	4-13	Venue: Garden's Reserve, Williamstown; Attendance: Large
	Melbourne	2-5	2-8	Result: Williamstown won by 2 goals

12 September 1885	Carlton	1-4	2-9	Venue: Prince's Oval
	Hotham	1-5	4-10	Result: Hotham won by 2 goals

Round 22

19 September 1885	Hotham	2-4	2-5	Venue: Hotham
	South Melbourne	1-4	4-11	Result: South Melbourne won by 2 goals

19 September 1885	Melbourne	2-5	2-5	Venue: Friendly Societies' Gardens; Attendance: 2000
	Essendon	0-5	3-8	Result: Essendon won by 1 goal

19 September 1885	Carlton	2-7	4-15	Venue: Prince's Oval
	University	1-1	1-1	Result: Carlton won by 3 goals

19 September 1885	Williamstown	1-7	3-15	Venue: Garden's Reserve, Williamstown; Attendance: 2000
	Geelong	3-7	4-11	Result: Geelong won by 1 goal

Round 23

26 September 1885	Richmond	0-1	4-7	Venue: Friendly Societies' Gardens; Attendance: Large gathering
	South Melbourne	9-9	9-9	Result: South Melbourne won by 5 goals

26 September 1885	Fitzroy	1-2	2-4	Venue: Fitzroy; Attendance: 6000
	Carlton	0-5	1-9	Result: Fitzroy won by 1 goal

26 September 1885	Geelong	2-7	2-9	Venue: Corio Oval
	Melbourne	1-5	2-10	Result: DRAW

26 September 1885	Williamstown	0-0	2-10	Venue: Garden's Reserve, Williamstown; Attendance: Good attendance
	Hotham	2-4	2-4	Result: DRAW

Ladder

	Team	P	W	L	D	F	A	Points	Proportional Points	%
1	South Melbourne	17	15	0	2	109	24	64	82.82	454.17
2	Essendon	19	13	2	4	89	45	60	69.47	197.78
3	Geelong	20	11	4	5	79	56	54	59.40	141.07
4	Carlton	21	11	8	2	65	59	48	50.29	110.17
5	Fitzroy	22	10	8	4	57	55	48	48.00	103.64
6	Williamstown	18	9	7	2	48	50	40	48.89	96.00
7	Hotham	16	6	6	4	49	49	32	44.00	100.00
8	Richmond	18	4	12	2	31	71	20	24.44	43.66
9	Melbourne	22	5	15	2	36	84	24	24.00	42.86
10	University	18	1	15	2	25	72	8	9.78	34.72
11	*Ballarat Imperial*	4	1	3	0	9	16	4	*22.00*	56.25
12	*South Ballarat*	4	0	3	1	8	16	2	*11.00*	50.00
13	*Ballarat*	3	0	3	0	5	13	0	*0.00*	38.46
	Total	202	86	86	30	610	610	404

Notes:

- Premiership awarded to the team with the least losses.

- Final ladders appearing in various publications of the time have consistent order of rank for top four teams, but inconsistent rankings for other teams.

- Therefore the Proportional Points system (officially used only from the 1888 season onwards) is used to calculate order of 5th-10th placed teams.

- However if two teams are virtually level on Proportional Points (less than 2.00 points separate) then head-to-head results between teams used:

- Fitzroy played Williamstown twice and won both games, therefore rank above them.

- Richmond played Melbourne twice and won both games, therefore rank above them.

- Rule requiring a minimum of 18 games to qualify for the Premiership not in force until 1888

- For the three Ballarat clubs, only matches between them and the Metropolitan clubs (including Geelong) are listed in this ladder.

- 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 games were cancelled and do not appear in this ladder:

- 6 June 1885 - Essendon vs South Melbourne

- 13 June 1885 - Hotham vs Richmond

- 27 June 1885 - Hotham vs Williamstown

- 8 August 1885 - Hotham vs Ballarat Imperial

1885 premiers: South Melbourne

About this document

Prepared and maintained by Andrew Robinson

Author: Andrew Robinson (contact: andrewxx166 at hotmail dot com)
First created: 27 January 2012
Last updated: 1 September 2012

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