# 1904 VFL season

The 1904 VFL season was the eighth 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 7 May to 17 September, comprising a 17-round home-and-away season followed by a two-week finals series featuring the top four clubs.
Fitzroy won the premiership, defeating Carlton by 24 points in the 1904 VFL grand final; it was Fitzroy's third VFL premiership. Fitzroy also won the minor premiership by finishing atop the home-and-away ladder with a 12–5 win–loss record. Melbourne's Vin Coutie won the leading goalkicker medal as the league's leading goalkicker.

## Background

In 1904, 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 17 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1904 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 |
| Essendon | 8.10 (58) | South Melbourne | 2.5 (17) | EMCG | 7 May 1904 |
| Collingwood | 9.15 (69) | Geelong | 7.9 (51) | Victoria Park | 7 May 1904 |
| Carlton | 1.8 (14) | Fitzroy | 16.12 (108) | Princes Park | 7 May 1904 |
| St Kilda | 12.13 (85) | Melbourne | 5.9 (39) | Junction Oval | 7 May 1904 |

### Round 2

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Fitzroy | 11.17 (83) | St Kilda | 5.3 (33) | Brunswick Street Oval | 14 May 1904 |
| Geelong | 10.7 (67) | Essendon | 5.13 (43) | Corio Oval | 14 May 1904 |
| Melbourne | 7.7 (49) | Collingwood | 7.13 (55) | MCG | 14 May 1904 |
| South Melbourne | 1.13 (19) | Carlton | 5.6 (36) | Lake Oval | 14 May 1904 |

### Round 3

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Collingwood | 4.5 (29) | South Melbourne | 7.13 (55) | Victoria Park | 21 May 1904 |
| Carlton | 8.17 (65) | Geelong | 4.8 (32) | Princes Park | 21 May 1904 |
| Melbourne | 3.5 (23) | Fitzroy | 14.15 (99) | MCG | 21 May 1904 |
| St Kilda | 5.3 (33) | Essendon | 10.9 (69) | Junction Oval | 21 May 1904 |

### Round 4

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Geelong | 6.4 (40) | South Melbourne | 6.16 (52) | Corio Oval | 28 May 1904 |
| Fitzroy | 4.9 (33) | Collingwood | 6.6 (42) | Brunswick Street Oval | 28 May 1904 |
| St Kilda | 4.7 (31) | Carlton | 6.4 (40) | Junction Oval | 28 May 1904 |
| Melbourne | 9.17 (71) | Essendon | 6.3 (39) | SCG | 28 May 1904 |

### Round 5

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Geelong | 6.13 (49) | St Kilda | 4.10 (34) | Corio Oval | 4 June 1904 |
| Essendon | 6.5 (41) | Fitzroy | 11.17 (83) | EMCG | 4 June 1904 |
| South Melbourne | 8.16 (64) | Melbourne | 5.9 (39) | Lake Oval | 4 June 1904 |
| Collingwood | 6.12 (48) | Carlton | 8.5 (53) | Victoria Park | 4 June 1904 |

### Round 6

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Fitzroy | 12.6 (78) | Geelong | 6.18 (54) | Brunswick Street Oval | 6 June 1904 |
| South Melbourne | 15.10 (100) | St Kilda | 9.4 (58) | Lake Oval | 6 June 1904 |
| Essendon | 6.5 (41) | Collingwood | 6.7 (43) | EMCG | 6 June 1904 |
| Melbourne | 8.10 (58) | Carlton | 5.5 (35) | MCG | 6 June 1904 |

### Round 7

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Geelong | 9.12 (66) | Melbourne | 15.7 (97) | Corio Oval | 11 June 1904 |
| Fitzroy | 6.9 (45) | South Melbourne | 5.14 (44) | Brunswick Street Oval | 11 June 1904 |
| Carlton | 7.5 (47) | Essendon | 7.11 (53) | Princes Park | 11 June 1904 |
| St Kilda | 7.7 (49) | Collingwood | 4.10 (34) | Junction Oval | 11 June 1904 |

### Round 8

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Melbourne | 13.13 (91) | St Kilda | 4.2 (26) | MCG | 25 June 1904 |
| South Melbourne | 10.9 (69) | Essendon | 4.5 (29) | Lake Oval | 25 June 1904 |
| Geelong | 4.10 (34) | Collingwood | 8.10 (58) | Corio Oval | 25 June 1904 |
| Fitzroy | 8.8 (56) | Carlton | 7.10 (52) | Brunswick Street Oval | 25 June 1904 |

### Round 9

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Essendon | 9.12 (66) | Geelong | 4.4 (28) | EMCG | 2 July 1904 |
| Collingwood | 4.5 (29) | Melbourne | 8.6 (54) | Victoria Park | 2 July 1904 |
| Carlton | 9.7 (61) | South Melbourne | 5.7 (37) | Princes Park | 2 July 1904 |
| St Kilda | 11.12 (78) | Fitzroy | 4.7 (31) | Junction Oval | 2 July 1904 |

### Round 10

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Fitzroy | 8.10 (58) | Melbourne | 5.13 (43) | Brunswick Street Oval | 9 July 1904 |
| Essendon | 6.8 (44) | St Kilda | 6.3 (39) | EMCG | 9 July 1904 |
| South Melbourne | 5.15 (45) | Collingwood | 6.6 (42) | Lake Oval | 9 July 1904 |
| Geelong | 4.11 (35) | Carlton | 5.5 (35) | Corio Oval | 9 July 1904 |

### Round 11

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Collingwood | 7.13 (55) | Fitzroy | 3.6 (24) | Victoria Park | 16 July 1904 |
| Carlton | 9.7 (61) | St Kilda | 4.1 (25) | Princes Park | 16 July 1904 |
| South Melbourne | 6.5 (41) | Geelong | 4.15 (39) | Lake Oval | 16 July 1904 |
| Melbourne | 3.12 (30) | Essendon | 4.11 (35) | MCG | 16 July 1904 |

### Round 12

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Melbourne | 9.13 (67) | South Melbourne | 11.7 (73) | MCG | 23 July 1904 |
| Carlton | 6.10 (46) | Collingwood | 6.4 (40) | Princes Park | 23 July 1904 |
| St Kilda | 5.5 (35) | Geelong | 7.16 (58) | Junction Oval | 23 July 1904 |
| Fitzroy | 6.8 (44) | Essendon | 3.9 (27) | Brunswick Street Oval | 23 July 1904 |

### Round 13

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| St Kilda | 6.10 (46) | South Melbourne | 10.5 (65) | Junction Oval | 30 July 1904 |
| Collingwood | 5.6 (36) | Essendon | 7.10 (52) | Victoria Park | 30 July 1904 |
| Carlton | 6.14 (50) | Melbourne | 4.10 (34) | Princes Park | 30 July 1904 |
| Geelong | 5.12 (42) | Fitzroy | 4.13 (37) | Corio Oval | 30 July 1904 |

### Round 14

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Collingwood | 14.12 (96) | St Kilda | 6.10 (46) | Victoria Park | 13 August 1904 |
| Melbourne | 11.10 (76) | Geelong | 6.4 (40) | MCG | 13 August 1904 |
| South Melbourne | 5.16 (46) | Fitzroy | 8.10 (58) | Lake Oval | 13 August 1904 |
| Essendon | 5.5 (35) | Carlton | 5.9 (39) | EMCG | 13 August 1904 |

### Pre-sectional ladder

* Section A
* Section B
| # | Team | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | Pts |
| 1 | Fitzroy | 14 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 837 | 594 | 140.9 | 40 |
| 2 | Carlton | 14 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 634 | 611 | 103.8 | 38 |
| 3 | South Melbourne | 14 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 727 | 647 | 112.4 | 36 |
| 4 | Collingwood | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 676 | 632 | 107.0 | 28 |
| 5 | Essendon | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 632 | 646 | 97.8 | 28 |
| 6 | Melbourne | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 771 | 754 | 102.3 | 24 |
| 7 | Geelong | 14 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 635 | 786 | 80.8 | 18 |
| 8 | St Kilda | 14 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 618 | 860 | 71.9 | 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 | 14.12 (96) | Carlton | 6.10 (46) | Victoria Park | 20 August 1904 |
| Essendon | 8.9 (57) | Geelong | 5.9 (39) | EMCG | 20 August 1904 |
| Fitzroy | 4.14 (38) | South Melbourne | 3.15 (33) | Brunswick Street Oval | 20 August 1904 |
| Melbourne | 13.15 (93) | St Kilda | 3.3 (21) | MCG | 20 August 1904 |

### Round 16 (Sectional round 2)

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Carlton | 1.8 (14) | Melbourne | 5.13 (43) | Princes Park | 27 August 1904 |
| St Kilda | 2.8 (20) | Collingwood | 12.9 (81) | Junction Oval | 27 August 1904 |
| South Melbourne | 4.3 (27) | Essendon | 8.11 (59) | Lake Oval | 27 August 1904 |
| Geelong | 4.6 (30) | Fitzroy | 8.5 (53) | Corio Oval | 27 August 1904 |

### Round 17 (Sectional round 3)

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Carlton | 16.11 (107) | St Kilda | 7.7 (49) | Princes Park | 3 September 1904 |
| Melbourne | 5.10 (40) | Collingwood | 7.9 (51) | MCG | 3 September 1904 |
| Essendon | 13.9 (87) | Fitzroy | 4.2 (26) | EMCG | 3 September 1904 |
| Geelong | 3.4 (22) | South Melbourne | 6.8 (44) | Corio Oval | 3 September 1904 |

## Ladder

| (P) | Premiers |
| | Qualified for finals |
| # | Team | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | Pts |
| 1 | Fitzroy (P) | 17 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 954 | 744 | 128.2 | 48 |
| 2 | Carlton | 17 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 804 | 762 | 105.5 | 42 |
| 3 | Collingwood | 17 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 867 | 741 | 117.0 | 40 |
| 4 | Essendon | 17 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 835 | 738 | 113.1 | 40 |
| 5 | South Melbourne | 17 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 831 | 766 | 108.5 | 40 |
| 6 | Melbourne | 17 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 947 | 840 | 112.7 | 32 |
| 7 | Geelong | 17 | 4 | 12 | 1 | 726 | 940 | 77.2 | 18 |
| 8 | St Kilda | 17 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 708 | 1141 | 62.1 | 12 |
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for Average score: 49.1 Source: AFL Tables

## Finals series
### Semi-finals

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date | Attendance |
| Carlton | 6.7 (43) | Essendon | 6.4 (40) | Victoria Park | 10 September 1904 | 16,000 |
| Fitzroy | 9.7 (61) | Collingwood | 7.8 (50) | MCG | 10 September 1904 | 25,000 |

### Grand final

| | Grand final | Grand final | Grand final | |
| Saturday, 17 September (2:50 pm) | Fitzroy 9.7 (61) | def. | Carlton 5.7 (37) | Melbourne Cricket Ground (crowd: 32,688) |

## Season notes

* The final home-and-away match between South Melbourne and Fitzroy at the Lake Oval was a torrid affair. Billy McGee of South Melbourne and Harry Clarke of Fitzroy were each suspended for three matches, while South Melbourne's Billy Gent ran amok during the match, charging at players and was reported on three striking charges; Gent was suspended for the remainder of 1904 and all of 1905 (20 matches).
* After the drawn match between Geelong and Carlton at Corio Oval on 9 July 1904, a spectator was arrested for attacking the field umpire, Henry "Ivo" Crapp.
* The VFL introduced boundary umpires.
* In round four, Essendon played Melbourne in Sydney in front of only 6,000 spectators at the Sydney Cricket Ground, lost to Melbourne, took five days to return to Melbourne by sea, then lost again to Fitzroy in their Saturday's round five match.
* In the Final Premiership match Carlton was surging ahead of Fitzroy, and one of the Carlton forwards (Ross, 1996, does not name him, but it was most likely Mick Grace) took a powerful high overhead mark with his knees in his opponent's back. The field umpire, Henry "Ivo" Crapp, obeying the VFL rules of the day, paid a free kick to the Fitzroy player for "interference". Fitzroy steadied and went on to win the game. There was such an outcry after the match that the VFL immediately amended its rules to allow for what it now termed "unintentional interference".

## Awards

* The 1904 VFL Premiership team was Fitzroy.
* The VFL's leading goalkicker was Vince Coutie of Melbourne with 39 goals.
* St Kilda took the "wooden spoon" in 1904.