# 1907 VFL season

The 1907 VFL season was the eleventh 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 27 April to 21 September, comprising a 17-match home-and-away season followed by a three-week finals series featuring the top four clubs.
Carlton won the premiership, defeating South Melbourne by five points in the 1907 VFL grand final; it was Carlton's second (consecutive and overall) VFL premiership. Carlton also won its second consecutive minor premiership by finishing atop the home-and-away ladder with a 13–4 win–loss record. Collingwood's Dick Lee won the leading goalkicker medal as the league's leading goalkicker.

## Background

In 1907, 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 1907 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 | 14.15 (99) | Geelong | 9.2 (56) | EMCG | 27 April 1907 |
| Collingwood | 6.11 (47) | Fitzroy | 5.9 (39) | Victoria Park | 27 April 1907 |
| Carlton | 4.6 (30) | St Kilda | 8.8 (56) | Princes Park | 27 April 1907 |
| South Melbourne | 6.5 (41) | Melbourne | 9.6 (60) | Lake Oval | 27 April 1907 |

### Round 2

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Fitzroy | 7.15 (57) | South Melbourne | 7.5 (47) | Brunswick Street Oval | 4 May 1907 |
| Melbourne | 5.11 (41) | Essendon | 6.12 (48) | MCG | 4 May 1907 |
| St Kilda | 8.14 (62) | Collingwood | 8.6 (54) | Junction Oval | 4 May 1907 |
| Geelong | 3.9 (27) | Carlton | 8.14 (62) | Corio Oval | 4 May 1907 |

### Round 3

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Fitzroy | 9.10 (64) | Geelong | 12.5 (77) | Brunswick Street Oval | 11 May 1907 |
| St Kilda | 9.13 (67) | Essendon | 5.7 (37) | Junction Oval | 11 May 1907 |
| South Melbourne | 9.12 (66) | Collingwood | 5.8 (38) | Lake Oval | 11 May 1907 |
| Melbourne | 7.5 (47) | Carlton | 12.14 (86) | MCG | 11 May 1907 |

### Round 4

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Geelong | 7.4 (46) | St Kilda | 11.16 (82) | Corio Oval | 18 May 1907 |
| Essendon | 6.8 (44) | South Melbourne | 6.11 (47) | EMCG | 18 May 1907 |
| Collingwood | 4.10 (34) | Melbourne | 6.10 (46) | Victoria Park | 18 May 1907 |
| Carlton | 10.17 (77) | Fitzroy | 3.7 (25) | Princes Park | 18 May 1907 |

### Round 5

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Geelong | 9.5 (59) | Melbourne | 7.9 (51) | Corio Oval | 25 May 1907 |
| Carlton | 5.16 (46) | South Melbourne | 9.7 (61) | Princes Park | 25 May 1907 |
| St Kilda | 13.9 (87) | Fitzroy | 9.10 (64) | Junction Oval | 25 May 1907 |
| Essendon | 5.8 (38) | Collingwood | 6.11 (47) | EMCG | 25 May 1907 |

### Round 6

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Melbourne | 7.9 (51) | St Kilda | 15.18 (108) | MCG | 1 June 1907 |
| Collingwood | 4.6 (30) | Carlton | 4.17 (41) | Victoria Park | 1 June 1907 |
| South Melbourne | 6.9 (45) | Geelong | 4.9 (33) | Lake Oval | 3 June 1907 |
| Fitzroy | 10.7 (67) | Essendon | 4.12 (36) | Brunswick Street Oval | 3 June 1907 |

### Round 7

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| St Kilda | 4.8 (32) | South Melbourne | 7.2 (44) | Junction Oval | 15 June 1907 |
| Carlton | 15.14 (104) | Essendon | 7.8 (50) | Princes Park | 15 June 1907 |
| Melbourne | 8.7 (55) | Fitzroy | 6.11 (47) | MCG | 15 June 1907 |
| Geelong | 3.14 (32) | Collingwood | 5.8 (38) | Corio Oval | 15 June 1907 |

### Round 8

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Melbourne | 7.10 (52) | South Melbourne | 5.10 (40) | MCG | 22 June 1907 |
| Geelong | 7.11 (53) | Essendon | 3.10 (28) | Corio Oval | 22 June 1907 |
| Fitzroy | 11.3 (69) | Collingwood | 11.12 (78) | Brunswick Street Oval | 22 June 1907 |
| St Kilda | 3.15 (33) | Carlton | 8.14 (62) | Junction Oval | 22 June 1907 |

### Round 9

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Essendon | 5.13 (43) | Melbourne | 3.10 (28) | EMCG | 29 June 1907 |
| Collingwood | 9.13 (67) | St Kilda | 7.10 (52) | Victoria Park | 29 June 1907 |
| Carlton | 5.9 (39) | Geelong | 7.4 (46) | Princes Park | 29 June 1907 |
| South Melbourne | 6.8 (44) | Fitzroy | 7.10 (52) | Lake Oval | 29 June 1907 |

### Round 10

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Essendon | 5.7 (37) | St Kilda | 9.11 (65) | EMCG | 6 July 1907 |
| Collingwood | 8.9 (57) | South Melbourne | 7.8 (50) | Victoria Park | 6 July 1907 |
| Carlton | 9.16 (70) | Melbourne | 8.6 (54) | Princes Park | 6 July 1907 |
| Geelong | 10.11 (71) | Fitzroy | 4.8 (32) | Corio Oval | 6 July 1907 |

### Round 11

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| St Kilda | 6.18 (54) | Geelong | 9.5 (59) | Junction Oval | 13 July 1907 |
| South Melbourne | 8.11 (59) | Essendon | 6.11 (47) | Lake Oval | 13 July 1907 |
| Melbourne | 2.10 (22) | Collingwood | 15.11 (101) | MCG | 13 July 1907 |
| Fitzroy | 3.8 (26) | Carlton | 15.14 (104) | Brunswick Street Oval | 13 July 1907 |

### Round 12

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Fitzroy | 3.7 (25) | St Kilda | 3.5 (23) | Brunswick Street Oval | 20 July 1907 |
| Collingwood | 10.10 (70) | Essendon | 3.5 (23) | Victoria Park | 20 July 1907 |
| Melbourne | 6.13 (49) | Geelong | 4.10 (34) | MCG | 20 July 1907 |
| South Melbourne | 3.9 (27) | Carlton | 4.12 (36) | Lake Oval | 20 July 1907 |

### Round 13

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Geelong | 6.6 (42) | South Melbourne | 7.8 (50) | Corio Oval | 3 August 1907 |
| Essendon | 8.10 (58) | Fitzroy | 3.13 (31) | EMCG | 3 August 1907 |
| Carlton | 5.15 (45) | Collingwood | 5.4 (34) | Princes Park | 3 August 1907 |
| St Kilda | 4.6 (30) | Melbourne | 7.5 (47) | Junction Oval | 3 August 1907 |

### Round 14

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Fitzroy | 5.9 (39) | Melbourne | 6.19 (55) | Brunswick Street Oval | 10 August 1907 |
| Collingwood | 15.6 (96) | Geelong | 8.9 (57) | Victoria Park | 10 August 1907 |
| South Melbourne | 8.16 (64) | St Kilda | 5.14 (44) | Lake Oval | 10 August 1907 |
| Essendon | 3.7 (25) | Carlton | 10.18 (78) | EMCG | 10 August 1907 |

### Pre-sectional ladder

* Section A
* Section B
| # | Team | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | Pts |
| 1 | Carlton | 14 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 880 | 541 | 162.7 | 44 |
| 2 | Collingwood | 14 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 791 | 642 | 123.2 | 36 |
| 3 | South Melbourne | 14 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 685 | 640 | 107.0 | 32 |
| 4 | St Kilda | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 795 | 687 | 115.7 | 28 |
| 5 | Melbourne | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 658 | 780 | 84.4 | 28 |
| 6 | Geelong | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 692 | 789 | 87.7 | 24 |
| 7 | Essendon | 14 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 613 | 813 | 75.4 | 16 |
| 8 | Fitzroy | 14 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 637 | 859 | 74.2 | 16 |
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for Source: AFL Tables

### Round 15 (Sectional round 1)

| | Round 15 (Sectional round 1) | Round 15 (Sectional round 1) | Round 15 (Sectional round 1) | |
| Saturday, 17 August | South Melbourne 8.9 (57) | def. | Carlton 4.16 (40) | Lake Oval |
| Saturday, 17 August | St Kilda 8.19 (67) | def. | Collingwood 3.8 (26) | Junction Oval |
| Saturday, 17 August | Essendon 10.11 (71) | def. | Melbourne 8.8 (56) | East Melbourne Cricket Ground |
| Saturday, 17 August | Fitzroy 12.16 (88) | def. | Geelong 5.8 (38) | Brunswick Street Oval |

### Round 16 (Sectional round 2)

| | Round 16 (Sectional round 2) | Round 16 (Sectional round 2) | Round 16 (Sectional round 2) | |
| Saturday, 24 August | Carlton 11.12 (78) | def. | Essendon 7.5 (47) | Princes Park |
| Saturday, 24 August | Collingwood 11.16 (82) | def. by | Fitzroy 15.4 (94) | Victoria Park |
| Saturday, 24 August | Geelong 5.8 (38) | def. by | St Kilda 4.17 (41) | Corio Oval |
| Saturday, 24 August | Melbourne 7.8 (50) | def. by | South Melbourne 10.14 (74) | Melbourne Cricket Ground |

### Round 17 (Sectional round 3)

| | Round 17 (Sectional round 3) | Round 17 (Sectional round 3) | Round 17 (Sectional round 3) | |
| Saturday, 31 August | Carlton 9.8 (62) | def. | Melbourne 4.12 (36) | Princes Park |
| Saturday, 31 August | Collingwood 9.17 (71) | def. by | Geelong 12.4 (76) | Victoria Park |
| Saturday, 31 August | Essendon 6.7 (43) | def. by | South Melbourne 15.9 (99) | East Melbourne Cricket Ground |
| Saturday, 31 August | St Kilda 3.14 (32) | def. by | Fitzroy 6.9 (45) | Junction Oval |

## Ladder

| (P) | Premiers |
| | Qualified for finals |
| # | Team | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | Pts |
| 1 | Carlton (P) | 17 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 1060 | 681 | 155.7 | 52 |
| 2 | South Melbourne | 17 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 915 | 773 | 118.4 | 44 |
| 3 | St Kilda | 17 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 935 | 796 | 117.5 | 36 |
| 4 | Collingwood | 17 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 970 | 879 | 110.4 | 36 |
| 5 | Fitzroy | 17 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 864 | 1011 | 85.5 | 28 |
| 6 | Geelong | 17 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 844 | 989 | 85.3 | 28 |
| 7 | Melbourne | 17 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 800 | 987 | 81.1 | 28 |
| 8 | Essendon | 17 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 774 | 1046 | 74.0 | 20 |
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for Average score: 52.7 Source: AFL Tables

## Finals series
### Semi-finals

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date | |
| South Melbourne | 12.10 (82) | Collingwood | 6.12 (48) | MCG | 07 September 1907 | Attendance: 28,856 |
| Carlton | 13.13 (91) | St Kilda | 4.11 (35) | MCG | 14 September 1907 | Attendance: 25,531 |

### Grand final

| Team | 1 Qtr | 2 Qtr | 3 Qtr | Final |
| Carlton | 1.4 | 4.6 | 6.10 | 6.14 (50) |
| South Melbourne | 1.3 | 3.5 | 4.7 | 6.9 (45) |

## Season notes

* In November 1906, the VFL was a founding member of the Australasian Football Council, which served as the new national administrative body governing the sport.
* The rules concerning kick-ins were amended, such that if the full back crossed outside the goal square before kicking the ball, a ball-up would be called on the top of the goal square. Previously, the full-back was given a second opportunity to kick legally, before a free kick would be awarded.
* Due to the "Special" football train arriving late, the start of the Round 3 match between Fitzroy and Geelong at Brunswick Street Oval was delayed by twenty minutes.
* In round 6, St Kilda defeated Melbourne 15.18 (108) to 7.9 (51); it was the first time in the club's 173 VFL matches to that point that St Kilda had scored 100 points or more.
* The VFL played two representative matches on Saturday 8 June, in the week between Rounds 6 and 7: on the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the VFL 25.20 (170) defeated the Ballarat Football Association 3.7 (25); and at Bendigo, the VFL 14.10 (94) defeated the Bendigo Football League 7.11 (53). The VFL also played a return match against the Ballarat Association on the Ballarat City Oval on Saturday 27 July, the week between Rounds 12 and 13; in a rain-affected game, the VFL 8.4 (52) defeated Ballarat 3.7 (25).
* In Round 8, Fitzroy kicked eleven goals without a behind against Collingwood, before three misses in the last quarter. They did not score in the second and third quarters after kicking 7.0 (42) in the first quarter.
* In Round 11, Geelong defeated St Kilda despite having ten fewer scoring shots; before this, no VFL team had won with a deficit in scoring shots greater than eight. They repeated the feat of winning with ten fewer shots against Collingwood in the last round.
* During that last match, Collingwood succumbed to Geelong despite being 38 points ahead at three quarter time; this record was not beaten until 1936.
* Owing to rough play – and, in some observers' opinions, an over-correction after no players were reported in the particularly rough round 14 match between South Melbourne and St Kilda – eight players were reported during the matches in Sectional Round 1: three by the matches' central umpires, and five (all in the Carlton vs South Melbourne match) by the club delegates. The VFL Investigation Committee took three full evenings to complete the hearings, with Friday evening's session forced to run until almost 5am to complete it in time for Saturday's matches. Seven of the eight reported players were suspended, most notably South Melbourne's Billy Gent who was disqualified for life. The four suspensions from the Carlton vs South Melbourne match – Fred Elliott, Jim Marchbank, Bert Franks and Billy Gent – were later overturned on procedural grounds in May 1908, after it was determined that the historical VFL practice of players being reported by club delegates was not allowed under the Australasian Football Council rules which the VFL had adopted in 1907.
* The playing surface in each of the season's semi-finals that had been played on the Melbourne Cricket Ground (South Melbourne vs Collingwood, and Carlton vs St Kilda) had been so rock hard and dusty that the two match winners demanded that the MCG be watered before the next Saturday, unless there was substantial rain. The VFL acquiesced to this request, and the ground was watered; the ensuing premiership final, which Carlton won by five points, was on significantly softer ground.
* In the 1907 pre-season, then VFA team Richmond played a practice match against VFL team Geelong at Corio Oval, in direct defiance of a VFA edict. On 22 October 1907, Richmond, who had become quite dissatisfied with the VFA, applied to join the VFL: their application was unanimously accepted at a meeting five days later, and Richmond competed for the first time in the 1908 VFL season.
* St Kilda qualified for its first VFL finals appearance.

## Awards

* The 1907 VFL Premiership team was Carlton.
* The VFL's leading goalkicker was Dick Lee of Collingwood with 47 goals.
* Essendon took the "wooden spoon" in 1907.