# 1905 VFL season

The 1905 VFL season was the ninth 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 6 May to 30 September, comprising a 17-match home-and-away season followed by a three-week finals series featuring the top four clubs.
Fitzroy won the premiership, defeating Collingwood by 13 points in the 1905 VFL grand final; it was Fitzroy's second consecutive premiership and fourth VFL premiership overall. Collingwood won the minor premiership by finishing atop the home-and-away ladder with a 15–2 win–loss record. Collingwood's Charlie Pannam won the leading goalkicker medal as the league's leading goalkicker.

## Background

In 1905, 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 14 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1905 VFL Premiers were determined by the specific format and conventions of the amended "Argus system".

## Home-and-away season
### Round 1

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Melbourne | 9.8 (62) | St Kilda | 6.10 (46) | MCG | 6 May 1905 |
| Geelong | 5.9 (39) | South Melbourne | 8.14 (62) | Corio Oval | 6 May 1905 |
| Carlton | 8.12 (60) | Essendon | 7.10 (52) | Princes Park | 6 May 1905 |
| Fitzroy | 4.10 (34) | Collingwood | 3.13 (31) | Brunswick Street Oval | 6 May 1905 |

### Round 2

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Essendon | 12.10 (82) | Geelong | 7.6 (48) | EMCG | 13 May 1905 |
| South Melbourne | 11.7 (73) | Melbourne | 10.7 (67) | Lake Oval | 13 May 1905 |
| St Kilda | 4.9 (33) | Fitzroy | 9.10 (64) | Junction Oval | 13 May 1905 |
| Collingwood | 10.10 (70) | Carlton | 4.14 (38) | Victoria Park | 13 May 1905 |

### Round 3

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Fitzroy | 10.16 (76) | Geelong | 4.11 (35) | Brunswick Street Oval | 20 May 1905 |
| Melbourne | 8.14 (62) | Essendon | 5.9 (39) | MCG | 20 May 1905 |
| St Kilda | 10.10 (70) | Collingwood | 18.10 (118) | Junction Oval | 20 May 1905 |
| South Melbourne | 5.15 (45) | Carlton | 7.13 (55) | Lake Oval | 20 May 1905 |

### Round 4

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Geelong | 5.13 (43) | St Kilda | 7.4 (46) | Corio Oval | 27 May 1905 |
| Essendon | 14.11 (95) | South Melbourne | 5.9 (39) | EMCG | 27 May 1905 |
| Collingwood | 5.16 (46) | Melbourne | 4.7 (31) | Victoria Park | 27 May 1905 |
| Carlton | 5.7 (37) | Fitzroy | 10.13 (73) | Princes Park | 27 May 1905 |

### Round 5

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Collingwood | 12.9 (81) | South Melbourne | 2.10 (22) | Victoria Park | 3 June 1905 |
| Melbourne | 3.12 (30) | Fitzroy | 5.8 (38) | MCG | 3 June 1905 |
| Carlton | 5.10 (40) | Geelong | 4.4 (28) | Princes Park | 5 June 1905 |
| St Kilda | 5.9 (39) | Essendon | 7.12 (54) | Junction Oval | 5 June 1905 |

### Round 6

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| South Melbourne | 6.11 (47) | St Kilda | 3.6 (24) | Lake Oval | 10 June 1905 |
| Fitzroy | 5.5 (35) | Essendon | 3.10 (28) | Brunswick Street Oval | 10 June 1905 |
| Geelong | 4.3 (27) | Collingwood | 6.10 (46) | Corio Oval | 10 June 1905 |
| Melbourne | 5.8 (38) | Carlton | 6.5 (41) | MCG | 10 June 1905 |

### Round 7

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Geelong | 7.14 (56) | Melbourne | 7.12 (54) | Corio Oval | 17 June 1905 |
| Fitzroy | 9.14 (68) | South Melbourne | 6.6 (42) | Brunswick Street Oval | 17 June 1905 |
| Essendon | 6.7 (43) | Collingwood | 10.12 (72) | EMCG | 17 June 1905 |
| St Kilda | 3.7 (25) | Carlton | 8.15 (63) | Junction Oval | 17 June 1905 |

### Round 8

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Collingwood | 5.11 (41) | Fitzroy | 3.1 (19) | Victoria Park | 1 July 1905 |
| St Kilda | 8.6 (54) | Melbourne | 7.9 (51) | Junction Oval | 1 July 1905 |
| South Melbourne | 4.5 (29) | Geelong | 6.7 (43) | Lake Oval | 1 July 1905 |
| Essendon | 7.20 (62) | Carlton | 8.12 (60) | EMCG | 1 July 1905 |

### Round 9

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Melbourne | 3.8 (26) | South Melbourne | 8.10 (58) | MCG | 8 July 1905 |
| Fitzroy | 14.7 (91) | St Kilda | 6.4 (40) | Brunswick Street Oval | 8 July 1905 |
| Carlton | 6.8 (44) | Collingwood | 8.11 (59) | Princes Park | 8 July 1905 |
| Geelong | 9.8 (62) | Essendon | 6.12 (48) | Corio Oval | 8 July 1905 |

### Round 10

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Essendon | 8.17 (65) | Melbourne | 5.11 (41) | EMCG | 15 July 1905 |
| Collingwood | 13.19 (97) | St Kilda | 3.9 (27) | Victoria Park | 15 July 1905 |
| Carlton | 7.16 (58) | South Melbourne | 8.13 (61) | Princes Park | 15 July 1905 |
| Geelong | 9.8 (62) | Fitzroy | 2.15 (27) | Corio Oval | 15 July 1905 |

### Round 11

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| St Kilda | 3.5 (23) | Geelong | 6.12 (48) | Junction Oval | 22 July 1905 |
| South Melbourne | 7.8 (50) | Essendon | 6.13 (49) | Lake Oval | 22 July 1905 |
| Melbourne | 6.5 (41) | Collingwood | 9.20 (74) | MCG | 22 July 1905 |
| Fitzroy | 5.9 (39) | Carlton | 6.5 (41) | Brunswick Street Oval | 22 July 1905 |

### Round 12

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Fitzroy | 5.7 (37) | Melbourne | 2.6 (18) | Brunswick Street Oval | 29 July 1905 |
| Essendon | 9.16 (70) | St Kilda | 3.9 (27) | EMCG | 29 July 1905 |
| South Melbourne | 3.3 (21) | Collingwood | 4.5 (29) | Lake Oval | 29 July 1905 |
| Geelong | 6.5 (41) | Carlton | 6.11 (47) | Corio Oval | 29 July 1905 |

### Round 13

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| St Kilda | 5.11 (41) | South Melbourne | 5.9 (39) | Junction Oval | 5 August 1905 |
| Essendon | 3.11 (29) | Fitzroy | 5.12 (42) | EMCG | 5 August 1905 |
| Collingwood | 7.8 (50) | Geelong | 4.12 (36) | Victoria Park | 5 August 1905 |
| Carlton | 12.10 (82) | Melbourne | 2.8 (20) | Princes Park | 5 August 1905 |

### Round 14

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Collingwood | 7.11 (53) | Essendon | 10.6 (66) | Victoria Park | 19 August 1905 |
| Carlton | 9.19 (73) | St Kilda | 3.5 (23) | Princes Park | 19 August 1905 |
| Melbourne | 13.12 (90) | Geelong | 7.13 (55) | MCG | 19 August 1905 |
| South Melbourne | 7.8 (50) | Fitzroy | 7.8 (50) | Lake Oval | 19 August 1905 |

### Pre-sectional ladder

* Section A
* Section B
| # | Team | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | Pts |
| 1 | Collingwood | 14 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 867 | 519 | 167.1 | 48 |
| 2 | Fitzroy | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 693 | 517 | 134.0 | 42 |
| 3 | Carlton | 14 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 739 | 636 | 116.2 | 36 |
| 4 | Essendon | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 782 | 690 | 113.3 | 28 |
| 5 | South Melbourne | 14 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 638 | 725 | 88.0 | 26 |
| 6 | Geelong | 14 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 623 | 720 | 86.5 | 20 |
| 7 | Melbourne | 14 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 631 | 764 | 82.6 | 12 |
| 8 | St Kilda | 14 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 518 | 920 | 56.3 | 12 |
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for Source: AFL Tables

### Round 15 (Sectional round 1)

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Collingwood | 9.12 (66) | Carlton | 6.13 (49) | Victoria Park | 26 August 1905 |
| Essendon | 10.13 (73) | Geelong | 3.11 (29) | EMCG | 26 August 1905 |
| Fitzroy | 6.9 (45) | St Kilda | 4.7 (31) | Brunswick Street Oval | 26 August 1905 |
| South Melbourne | 13.11 (89) | Melbourne | 5.10 (40) | Lake Oval | 26 August 1905 |

### Round 16 (Sectional round 2)

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Carlton | 12.20 (92) | South Melbourne | 7.7 (49) | Princes Park | 2 September 1905 |
| Melbourne | 3.9 (27) | Collingwood | 7.18 (60) | MCG | 2 September 1905 |
| St Kilda | 8.6 (54) | Essendon | 12.12 (84) | Junction Oval | 2 September 1905 |
| Geelong | 10.8 (68) | Fitzroy | 9.12 (66) | Corio Oval | 2 September 1905 |

### Round 17 (Sectional round 3)

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Melbourne | 5.8 (38) | Carlton | 18.17 (125) | MCG | 9 September 1905 |
| Collingwood | 17.16 (118) | South Melbourne | 5.10 (40) | Victoria Park | 9 September 1905 |
| Essendon | 4.13 (37) | Fitzroy | 11.14 (80) | EMCG | 9 September 1905 |
| St Kilda | 12.15 (87) | Geelong | 3.9 (27) | Junction Oval | 9 September 1905 |

## Ladder

| (P) | Premiers |
| | Qualified for finals |
| # | Team | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | Pts |
| 1 | Collingwood | 17 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 1111 | 635 | 175.0 | 60 |
| 2 | Fitzroy (P) | 17 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 884 | 653 | 135.4 | 50 |
| 3 | Carlton | 17 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 1005 | 789 | 127.4 | 44 |
| 4 | Essendon | 17 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 976 | 853 | 114.4 | 36 |
| 5 | South Melbourne | 17 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 816 | 975 | 83.7 | 30 |
| 6 | Geelong | 17 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 747 | 946 | 79.0 | 24 |
| 7 | St Kilda | 17 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 690 | 1076 | 64.1 | 16 |
| 8 | Melbourne | 17 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 736 | 1038 | 70.9 | 12 |
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for Average score: 51.2 Source: AFL Tables

## Finals series
### Semi-finals

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date | Attendance |
| Fitzroy | 12.7 (79) | Essendon | 4.12 (36) | Princes Park | 16 September 1905 | 14,000 |
| Collingwood | 4.6 (30) | Carlton | 11.10 (76) | MCG | 16 September 1905 | 14,000 |

### Preliminary final

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date | Attendance |
| Fitzroy | 11.6 (72) | Carlton | 6.9 (45) | MCG | 23 September 1905 | 30,000 |

### Grand final

| Team | 1 Qtr | 2 Qtr | 3 Qtr | Final |
| Collingwood | 0.1 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 2.5 (17) |
| Fitzroy | 0.3 | 1.3 | 4.6 | 4.6 (30) |

## Season notes

* Collingwood used only 24 players to play its nineteen games – the smallest number of players to represent one club in a VFL/AFL season.
* The Australasian Football Council was formed.
* VFL decides to pay field umpires 30 shillings per match, and boundary umpires seven shillings per match (approx $75.00 and $20.00 in 2008 buying power).

## Awards

* The 1905 VFL Premiership team was Fitzroy.
* The VFL's leading goalkicker was Charlie Pannam of Collingwood with 38 goals.
* Melbourne took the "wooden spoon" in 1905.