# 1908 VFL season

The 1908 VFL season was the twelfth season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest-level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured ten clubs and ran from 2 May to 26 September, comprising an 18-match home-and-away season followed by a three-week finals series featuring the top four clubs. Victorian Football Association (VFA) club Richmond and Metropolitan Junior Football Association (MJFA) club University featured for the first time in 1908.
Carlton won the premiership, defeating Essendon by nine points in the 1908 VFL grand final; it was Carlton's third (consecutive and overall) VFL premiership, marking the first time a club won three consecutive VFL premierships. Carlton also won its third consecutive minor premiership by finishing atop the home-and-away ladder with a 17–1 win–loss record. Collingwood's Dick Lee won his second consecutive leading goalkicker medal as the league's leading goalkicker.

## Background

In 1908, the VFL competition consisted of ten 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 18 rounds.
Once the 18 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1908 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 |
| Fitzroy | 6.8 (44) | South Melbourne | 7.11 (53) | Brunswick Street Oval | 2 May 1908 |
| Essendon | 14.11 (95) | University | 3.11 (29) | EMCG | 2 May 1908 |
| Carlton | 6.12 (48) | St Kilda | 3.4 (22) | Princes Park | 2 May 1908 |
| Richmond | 8.14 (62) | Melbourne | 7.9 (51) | Punt Road Oval | 2 May 1908 |
| Geelong | 12.13 (85) | Collingwood | 5.8 (38) | Corio Oval | 2 May 1908 |

### Round 2

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Collingwood | 3.14 (32) | Fitzroy | 9.9 (63) | Victoria Park | 9 May 1908 |
| University | 14.10 (94) | Richmond | 12.4 (76) | EMCG | 9 May 1908 |
| South Melbourne | 7.9 (51) | Geelong | 4.8 (32) | Lake Oval | 9 May 1908 |
| St Kilda | 7.6 (48) | Essendon | 12.14 (86) | Junction Oval | 9 May 1908 |
| Melbourne | 6.8 (44) | Carlton | 9.8 (62) | MCG | 9 May 1908 |

### Round 3

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Geelong | 7.8 (50) | Melbourne | 10.12 (72) | Corio Oval | 16 May 1908 |
| Carlton | 5.13 (43) | Essendon | 4.8 (32) | Princes Park | 16 May 1908 |
| South Melbourne | 4.2 (26) | St Kilda | 7.13 (55) | Lake Oval | 16 May 1908 |
| Richmond | 7.13 (55) | Fitzroy | 11.14 (80) | Punt Road Oval | 16 May 1908 |
| University | 7.12 (54) | Collingwood | 8.14 (62) | EMCG | 16 May 1908 |

### Round 4

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| St Kilda | 5.10 (40) | University | 8.6 (54) | Junction Oval | 23 May 1908 |
| Melbourne | 12.3 (75) | South Melbourne | 10.13 (73) | MCG | 23 May 1908 |
| Fitzroy | 7.18 (60) | Geelong | 6.8 (44) | Brunswick Street Oval | 23 May 1908 |
| Essendon | 11.16 (82) | Richmond | 6.9 (45) | EMCG | 23 May 1908 |
| Collingwood | 5.9 (39) | Carlton | 10.7 (67) | Victoria Park | 23 May 1908 |

### Round 5

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| South Melbourne | 12.4 (76) | University | 9.11 (65) | Lake Oval | 30 May 1908 |
| Carlton | 10.12 (72) | Fitzroy | 5.10 (40) | Princes Park | 30 May 1908 |
| St Kilda | 9.12 (66) | Melbourne | 2.13 (25) | Junction Oval | 30 May 1908 |
| Richmond | 8.17 (65) | Geelong | 8.11 (59) | Punt Road Oval | 30 May 1908 |
| Essendon | 10.9 (69) | Collingwood | 9.10 (64) | EMCG | 30 May 1908 |

### Round 6

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Geelong | 5.9 (39) | St Kilda | 6.6 (42) | Corio Oval | 6 June 1908 |
| Collingwood | 12.7 (79) | Richmond | 9.10 (64) | Victoria Park | 6 June 1908 |
| University | 12.7 (79) | Melbourne | 1.13 (19) | EMCG | 6 June 1908 |
| Fitzroy | 5.8 (38) | Essendon | 5.12 (42) | Brunswick Street Oval | 6 June 1908 |
| South Melbourne | 7.9 (51) | Carlton | 8.5 (53) | Lake Oval | 6 June 1908 |

### Round 7

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Richmond | 9.9 (63) | South Melbourne | 11.11 (77) | Punt Road Oval | 8 June 1908 |
| Carlton | 13.14 (92) | Geelong | 2.13 (25) | Princes Park | 8 June 1908 |
| University | 9.7 (61) | Fitzroy | 12.12 (84) | EMCG | 8 June 1908 |
| Melbourne | 10.6 (66) | Essendon | 10.12 (72) | MCG | 8 June 1908 |
| St Kilda | 12.11 (83) | Collingwood | 5.12 (42) | Junction Oval | 8 June 1908 |

### Round 8

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Geelong | 4.11 (35) | University | 5.9 (39) | Corio Oval | 13 June 1908 |
| Fitzroy | 7.6 (48) | St Kilda | 12.9 (81) | Brunswick Street Oval | 13 June 1908 |
| Essendon | 8.11 (59) | South Melbourne | 6.9 (45) | EMCG | 13 June 1908 |
| Collingwood | 8.8 (56) | Melbourne | 4.8 (32) | Victoria Park | 13 June 1908 |
| Carlton | 17.13 (115) | Richmond | 2.15 (27) | Princes Park | 13 June 1908 |

### Round 9

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| St Kilda | 9.5 (59) | Richmond | 3.15 (33) | Junction Oval | 20 June 1908 |
| Melbourne | 4.4 (28) | Fitzroy | 3.7 (25) | MCG | 20 June 1908 |
| Geelong | 3.7 (25) | Essendon | 7.9 (51) | Corio Oval | 20 June 1908 |
| South Melbourne | 9.11 (65) | Collingwood | 6.8 (44) | Lake Oval | 20 June 1908 |
| University | 6.15 (51) | Carlton | 7.15 (57) | EMCG | 20 June 1908 |

### Round 10

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Melbourne | 11.16 (82) | Richmond | 1.6 (12) | MCG | 27 June 1908 |
| Collingwood | 9.12 (66) | Geelong | 7.4 (46) | Victoria Park | 27 June 1908 |
| South Melbourne | 2.19 (31) | Fitzroy | 2.6 (18) | Lake Oval | 27 June 1908 |
| University | 6.10 (46) | Essendon | 7.14 (56) | EMCG | 27 June 1908 |
| St Kilda | 6.5 (41) | Carlton | 10.12 (72) | Junction Oval | 27 June 1908 |

### Round 11

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Richmond | 11.5 (71) | University | 8.14 (62) | Punt Road Oval | 4 July 1908 |
| Geelong | 9.4 (58) | South Melbourne | 9.12 (66) | Corio Oval | 4 July 1908 |
| Essendon | 5.10 (40) | St Kilda | 8.9 (57) | EMCG | 4 July 1908 |
| Carlton | 8.15 (63) | Melbourne | 4.7 (31) | Princes Park | 4 July 1908 |
| Fitzroy | 6.6 (42) | Collingwood | 7.2 (44) | Brunswick Street Oval | 4 July 1908 |

### Round 12

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| St Kilda | 5.4 (34) | South Melbourne | 4.5 (29) | Junction Oval | 11 July 1908 |
| Fitzroy | 4.9 (33) | Richmond | 5.4 (34) | Brunswick Street Oval | 11 July 1908 |
| Collingwood | 3.13 (31) | University | 2.2 (14) | Victoria Park | 11 July 1908 |
| Melbourne | 9.12 (66) | Geelong | 7.6 (48) | MCG | 11 July 1908 |
| Essendon | 6.6 (42) | Carlton | 4.5 (29) | EMCG | 11 July 1908 |

### Round 13

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Carlton | 10.17 (77) | Collingwood | 5.7 (37) | Princes Park | 18 July 1908 |
| University | 7.14 (56) | St Kilda | 5.13 (43) | EMCG | 18 July 1908 |
| South Melbourne | 5.10 (40) | Melbourne | 11.8 (74) | Lake Oval | 18 July 1908 |
| Geelong | 7.14 (56) | Fitzroy | 11.8 (74) | Corio Oval | 18 July 1908 |
| Richmond | 7.3 (45) | Essendon | 9.14 (68) | Punt Road Oval | 18 July 1908 |

### Round 14

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Melbourne | 16.11 (107) | St Kilda | 8.3 (51) | MCG | 25 July 1908 |
| Geelong | 6.17 (53) | Richmond | 5.8 (38) | Corio Oval | 25 July 1908 |
| Collingwood | 8.12 (60) | Essendon | 8.8 (56) | Victoria Park | 25 July 1908 |
| University | 11.7 (73) | South Melbourne | 10.11 (71) | EMCG | 25 July 1908 |
| Fitzroy | 4.9 (33) | Carlton | 6.8 (44) | Brunswick Street Oval | 25 July 1908 |

### Round 15

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Melbourne | 7.12 (54) | University | 8.10 (58) | MCG | 1 August 1908 |
| Essendon | 8.13 (61) | Fitzroy | 7.8 (50) | EMCG | 1 August 1908 |
| Carlton | 8.19 (67) | South Melbourne | 6.5 (41) | Princes Park | 1 August 1908 |
| St Kilda | 17.5 (107) | Geelong | 5.8 (38) | Junction Oval | 1 August 1908 |
| Richmond | 11.8 (74) | Collingwood | 10.9 (69) | Punt Road Oval | 1 August 1908 |

### Round 16

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Fitzroy | 13.16 (94) | University | 11.7 (73) | Brunswick Street Oval | 8 August 1908 |
| Essendon | 17.17 (119) | Melbourne | 8.11 (59) | EMCG | 8 August 1908 |
| Collingwood | 10.10 (70) | St Kilda | 7.9 (51) | Victoria Park | 8 August 1908 |
| South Melbourne | 18.12 (120) | Richmond | 4.4 (28) | Lake Oval | 8 August 1908 |
| Geelong | 5.9 (39) | Carlton | 6.13 (49) | Corio Oval | 8 August 1908 |

### Round 17

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| University | 13.18 (96) | Geelong | 6.8 (44) | EMCG | 15 August 1908 |
| St Kilda | 4.7 (31) | Fitzroy | 3.4 (22) | Junction Oval | 15 August 1908 |
| South Melbourne | 5.8 (38) | Essendon | 3.14 (32) | Lake Oval | 15 August 1908 |
| Melbourne | 4.8 (32) | Collingwood | 6.9 (45) | MCG | 15 August 1908 |
| Richmond | 4.17 (41) | Carlton | 6.12 (48) | Punt Road Oval | 15 August 1908 |

### Round 18

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Richmond | 16.11 (107) | St Kilda | 6.8 (44) | Punt Road Oval | 5 September 1908 |
| Fitzroy | 11.18 (84) | Melbourne | 1.4 (10) | Brunswick Street Oval | 5 September 1908 |
| Essendon | 13.20 (98) | Geelong | 3.9 (27) | EMCG | 5 September 1908 |
| Collingwood | 12.16 (88) | South Melbourne | 3.4 (22) | Victoria Park | 5 September 1908 |
| Carlton | 10.7 (67) | University | 4.4 (28) | Princes Park | 5 September 1908 |

## Ladder

| (P) | Premiers |
| | Qualified for finals |
| # | Team | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | Pts |
| 1 | Carlton (P) | 18 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 1125 | 664 | 169.4 | 68 |
| 2 | Essendon | 18 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 1160 | 814 | 142.5 | 56 |
| 3 | St Kilda | 18 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 955 | 942 | 101.4 | 40 |
| 4 | Collingwood | 18 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 966 | 996 | 97.0 | 40 |
| 5 | South Melbourne | 18 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 975 | 962 | 101.4 | 36 |
| 6 | University | 18 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 1032 | 1075 | 96.0 | 32 |
| 7 | Fitzroy | 18 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 932 | 852 | 109.4 | 28 |
| 8 | Melbourne | 18 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 927 | 1065 | 87.0 | 28 |
| 9 | Richmond | 18 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 940 | 1275 | 73.7 | 24 |
| 10 | Geelong | 18 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 803 | 1170 | 68.6 | 8 |
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for Average score: 54.5 Source: AFL Tables

## Finals series
### Semi-finals

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date | |
| Essendon | 9.14 (68) | Collingwood | 5.3 (33) | MCG | 12 September 1908 | Attendance: 24,700 |
| Carlton | 12.12 (84) | St Kilda | 3.8 (26) | MCG | 19 September 1908 | Attendance: 26,100 |

### Grand final

| Team | 1 Qtr | 2 Qtr | 3 Qtr | Final |
| Carlton | 2.3 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 5.5 (35) |
| Essendon | 1.1 | 2.4 | 3.5 | 3.8 (26) |

## Season notes

* Richmond Football Club and University Football Club were admitted to the VFL competition.
* With fiery former Collingwood coach Dick Condon as playing coach and former Collingwood champion Charlie Pannam as captain, Richmond won its first VFL match against Melbourne, 8.14 (62) to 7.9 (51). University had its first VFL victory in the second round of the season, beating Richmond 14.10 (94) to 12.4 (76).
* In the first round match between Fitzroy and South Melbourne at the Brunswick Street Oval, an umpire was hit by a stone thrown by a spectator.
* The sixth round match between Fitzroy and Essendon, also at the Brunswick Street Oval, was a fiery affair that resulted in a number of suspensions. A horde of Fitzroy supporters invaded the ground immediately the final bell had rung, kicking, punching and otherwise assaulting Essendon players as they tried to leave the playing field. Essendon fans also jumped the fence, in order to protect their players. A riot ensued.
* A ten-day Carnival, the "Jubilee of Australasian Football (1858–1908)" was held in Melbourne in August 1908, involving teams from New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia.
* At an official Carnival function, when proposing a toast to "The Australasian Game" the Prime Minister of Australia, the Melbourne-born Alfred Deakin (1856–1919) spoke of his youthful experiences of playing a rudimentary form of Australian football.

## Awards

* The 1908 VFL Premiership team was Carlton.
* The VFL's leading goalkicker was Dick Lee of Collingwood with 54 goals.
* Geelong took the "wooden spoon" in 1908.