# 1915 VFL season

The 1915 VFL season was the 19th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest-level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured nine clubs and ran from 24 April to 18 September, comprising a 16-match home-and-away season followed by a four-week finals series featuring the top four clubs.
Carlton won the premiership, defeating Collingwood by 33 points in the 1915 VFL grand final; it was Carlton's second consecutive premiership and fifth VFL premiership overall. Collingwood won the minor premiership by finishing atop the home-and-away ladder with a 14–2 win–loss record. Fitzroy's Jimmy Freake won the leading goalkicker medal as the league's leading goalkicker.

## Background

In 1915, the VFL competition consisted of nine 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. With the VFL being reduced to nine clubs, a bye was required in the fixture for the first time in the league's history. Each team played each other twice in a home-and-away season of 18 rounds (i.e., 16 matches and 2 byes); once the 18 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1915 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 |
| St Kilda | 8.16 (64) | South Melbourne | 4.13 (37) | Junction Oval | 24 April 1915 |
| Melbourne | 12.10 (82) | Richmond | 11.7 (73) | MCG | 24 April 1915 |
| Collingwood | 7.10 (52) | Essendon | 3.8 (26) | Victoria Park | 24 April 1915 |
| Carlton | 5.11 (41) | Fitzroy | 6.5 (41) | Princes Park | 24 April 1915 |

### Round 2

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Geelong | 7.14 (56) | St Kilda | 6.18 (54) | Corio Oval | 1 May 1915 |
| Fitzroy | 14.17 (101) | Melbourne | 9.2 (56) | Brunswick Street Oval | 1 May 1915 |
| Richmond | 4.6 (30) | Collingwood | 12.11 (83) | Punt Road Oval | 1 May 1915 |
| South Melbourne | 6.11 (47) | Carlton | 8.12 (60) | Lake Oval | 1 May 1915 |

### Round 3

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Richmond | 9.15 (69) | South Melbourne | 8.19 (67) | Punt Road Oval | 8 May 1915 |
| Essendon | 4.10 (34) | Fitzroy | 16.6 (102) | EMCG | 8 May 1915 |
| Melbourne | 15.12 (102) | Geelong | 12.11 (83) | MCG | 8 May 1915 |
| St Kilda | 7.14 (56) | Collingwood | 10.16 (76) | Junction Oval | 8 May 1915 |

### Round 4

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Geelong | 4.10 (34) | Richmond | 10.11 (71) | Corio Oval | 15 May 1915 |
| Fitzroy | 5.19 (49) | St Kilda | 2.6 (18) | Brunswick Street Oval | 15 May 1915 |
| Collingwood | 9.13 (67) | Melbourne | 5.9 (39) | Victoria Park | 15 May 1915 |
| Carlton | 3.13 (31) | Essendon | 8.8 (56) | Princes Park | 15 May 1915 |

### Round 5

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Essendon | 7.10 (52) | St Kilda | 6.4 (40) | EMCG | 22 May 1915 |
| Collingwood | 8.14 (62) | Geelong | 3.12 (30) | Victoria Park | 22 May 1915 |
| South Melbourne | 8.8 (56) | Fitzroy | 6.4 (40) | Lake Oval | 22 May 1915 |
| Melbourne | 8.3 (51) | Carlton | 10.12 (72) | MCG | 22 May 1915 |

### Round 6

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Essendon | 8.7 (55) | South Melbourne | 8.16 (64) | EMCG | 29 May 1915 |
| St Kilda | 9.11 (65) | Melbourne | 13.11 (89) | Junction Oval | 29 May 1915 |
| Richmond | 7.12 (54) | Fitzroy | 8.12 (60) | Punt Road Oval | 29 May 1915 |
| Geelong | 5.10 (40) | Carlton | 9.13 (67) | Corio Oval | 29 May 1915 |

### Round 7

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Essendon | 12.6 (78) | Geelong | 12.8 (80) | EMCG | 5 June 1915 |
| Carlton | 11.9 (75) | Collingwood | 10.13 (73) | Princes Park | 5 June 1915 |
| Richmond | 7.6 (48) | St Kilda | 5.20 (50) | Punt Road Oval | 7 June 1915 |
| South Melbourne | 7.5 (47) | Melbourne | 10.8 (68) | Lake Oval | 7 June 1915 |

### Round 8

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Carlton | 15.17 (107) | Richmond | 8.5 (53) | Princes Park | 12 June 1915 |
| South Melbourne | 14.17 (101) | Geelong | 13.5 (83) | Lake Oval | 12 June 1915 |
| Melbourne | 10.12 (72) | Essendon | 6.17 (53) | MCG | 12 June 1915 |
| Fitzroy | 6.14 (50) | Collingwood | 11.8 (74) | Brunswick Street Oval | 12 June 1915 |

### Round 9

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Essendon | 5.6 (36) | Richmond | 5.8 (38) | EMCG | 19 June 1915 |
| Collingwood | 5.13 (43) | South Melbourne | 3.10 (28) | Victoria Park | 19 June 1915 |
| Geelong | 4.12 (36) | Fitzroy | 10.12 (72) | Corio Oval | 19 June 1915 |
| St Kilda | 1.1 (7) | Carlton | 5.15 (45) | Junction Oval | 19 June 1915 |

### Round 10

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| South Melbourne | 9.11 (65) | St Kilda | 7.5 (47) | Lake Oval | 26 June 1915 |
| Richmond | 8.12 (60) | Melbourne | 10.11 (71) | Punt Road Oval | 26 June 1915 |
| Essendon | 5.12 (42) | Collingwood | 11.12 (78) | EMCG | 26 June 1915 |
| Fitzroy | 7.8 (50) | Carlton | 5.8 (38) | Brunswick Street Oval | 26 June 1915 |

### Round 11

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Collingwood | 10.20 (80) | Richmond | 6.7 (43) | Victoria Park | 3 July 1915 |
| Carlton | 7.15 (57) | South Melbourne | 7.5 (47) | Princes Park | 3 July 1915 |
| St Kilda | 12.17 (89) | Geelong | 8.7 (55) | Junction Oval | 3 July 1915 |
| Melbourne | 12.13 (85) | Fitzroy | 10.13 (73) | MCG | 3 July 1915 |

### Round 12

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Geelong | 5.9 (39) | Melbourne | 11.13 (79) | Corio Oval | 10 July 1915 |
| Collingwood | 17.20 (122) | St Kilda | 3.6 (24) | Victoria Park | 10 July 1915 |
| South Melbourne | 10.12 (72) | Richmond | 7.11 (53) | Lake Oval | 10 July 1915 |
| Fitzroy | 6.12 (48) | Essendon | 5.5 (35) | Brunswick Street Oval | 10 July 1915 |

### Round 13

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Richmond | 12.15 (87) | Geelong | 12.7 (79) | Punt Road Oval | 17 July 1915 |
| St Kilda | 7.7 (49) | Fitzroy | 14.14 (98) | Junction Oval | 17 July 1915 |
| Melbourne | 8.6 (54) | Collingwood | 12.21 (93) | MCG | 17 July 1915 |
| Essendon | 5.15 (45) | Carlton | 12.15 (87) | EMCG | 17 July 1915 |

### Round 14

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Fitzroy | 8.6 (54) | South Melbourne | 7.6 (48) | Brunswick Street Oval | 24 July 1915 |
| Carlton | 11.8 (74) | Melbourne | 5.15 (45) | Princes Park | 24 July 1915 |
| St Kilda | 10.10 (70) | Essendon | 3.13 (31) | Junction Oval | 24 July 1915 |
| Geelong | 7.9 (51) | Collingwood | 13.13 (91) | Corio Oval | 24 July 1915 |

### Round 15

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Melbourne | 9.19 (73) | St Kilda | 7.6 (48) | MCG | 31 July 1915 |
| Fitzroy | 18.17 (125) | Richmond | 7.7 (49) | Brunswick Street Oval | 31 July 1915 |
| Carlton | 9.20 (74) | Geelong | 8.12 (60) | Princes Park | 31 July 1915 |
| South Melbourne | 13.19 (97) | Essendon | 6.4 (40) | Lake Oval | 31 July 1915 |

### Round 16

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Melbourne | 4.12 (36) | South Melbourne | 5.13 (43) | MCG | 7 August 1915 |
| St Kilda | 6.18 (54) | Richmond | 4.6 (30) | Junction Oval | 7 August 1915 |
| Geelong | 7.11 (53) | Essendon | 6.9 (45) | Corio Oval | 7 August 1915 |
| Collingwood | 9.8 (62) | Carlton | 9.9 (63) | Victoria Park | 7 August 1915 |

### Round 17

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Geelong | 7.10 (52) | South Melbourne | 10.14 (74) | Corio Oval | 14 August 1915 |
| Essendon | 10.15 (75) | Melbourne | 7.14 (56) | EMCG | 14 August 1915 |
| Collingwood | 8.13 (61) | Fitzroy | 8.11 (59) | Victoria Park | 14 August 1915 |
| Richmond | 7.7 (49) | Carlton | 17.15 (117) | Punt Road Oval | 14 August 1915 |

### Round 18

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |
| Fitzroy | 18.13 (121) | Geelong | 4.7 (31) | Brunswick Street Oval | 21 August 1915 |
| Carlton | 14.16 (100) | St Kilda | 6.8 (44) | Princes Park | 21 August 1915 |
| Richmond | 14.15 (99) | Essendon | 6.11 (47) | Punt Road Oval | 21 August 1915 |
| South Melbourne | 4.9 (33) | Collingwood | 7.9 (51) | Lake Oval | 21 August 1915 |

## Ladder

| (P) | Premiers |
| | Qualified for finals |
| # | Team | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | Pts |
| 1 | Collingwood | 16 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 1168 | 703 | 166.1 | 56 |
| 2 | Carlton (P) | 16 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 1108 | 770 | 143.9 | 54 |
| 3 | Fitzroy | 16 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 1143 | 765 | 149.4 | 46 |
| 4 | Melbourne | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 1058 | 1066 | 99.2 | 36 |
| 5 | South Melbourne | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 926 | 872 | 106.2 | 32 |
| 6 | Richmond | 16 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 906 | 1164 | 77.8 | 20 |
| 7 | St Kilda | 16 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 779 | 1026 | 75.9 | 20 |
| 8 | Essendon | 16 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 750 | 1067 | 70.3 | 12 |
| 9 | Geelong | 16 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 862 | 1267 | 68.0 | 12 |
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for Average score: 60.4 Source: AFL Tables

## Finals series

All of the 1915 finals were played at the MCG so the home team in the semi-finals and Preliminary Final is purely the higher ranked team from the ladder but in the Grand Final the home team was the team that won the Preliminary Final.

### Semi finals

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Date |
| Carlton | 11.12 (78) | Melbourne | 10.7 (67) | MCG | 28 August |
| Fitzroy | 9.16 (70) | Collingwood | 4.12 (36) | MCG | 4 September |

### Preliminary Final

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Date |
| Carlton | 6.18 (54) | Fitzroy | 5.8 (38) | MCG | 11 September |

### Grand final
## Season notes

* Prior to the season, VFL delegates voted in favour of rule changes to bring the game closer to a hybridisation of Australian rules football and rugby league: specifically the addition of a crossbar to the goal posts over which goals were to be kicked, disallowing forward handpasses, and rules to allow stronger rugby-style tackling between the shoulders and the hips. The rules could not come into immediate effect as they required approval at a vote of Australasian Football Council delegates, and this vote never took place due to the war, so none of these changes were ever implemented.
* The first round of the 1915 was played on Saturday 24 April 1915, one day before the forces of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed at ANZAC Cove in their first hostile action in World War I.
* As a result of World War I St Kilda changed its traditional colours of red, white, and black (the colours of the German Empire) to red, yellow, and black, the colours of Australian ally Belgium.
* On 12 March 1915, responding to intense public pressure, a motion was put to a VFL meeting (proposed by the Geelong delegate, seconded by the Melbourne delegate) to suspend the VFL competition for the entire season (in March 1915, nobody expected the war to last for as long as it did). The votes were Geelong, Melbourne, Essendon, St Kilda, and South Melbourne "for", and the inner-Melbourne clubs of Carlton, Fitzroy, Collingwood, and Richmond "against". In the absence of the required three-quarters majority, the motion was lost.
* At the instigation of the SAFL, interstate matches were suspended.
* At 2:00PM on Saturday 29 May 1915, Essendon centreman and 1914 Victorian State wingman, Cyril Gove, rode the racehorse Menthe into third place in the Springbank Corinthian Handicap. a race for amateur riders, at Moonee Valley Racecourse. Immediately the race was over, he caught a fast cab down Mount Alexander Road, Melbourne to the East Melbourne Cricket Ground, where he played a full game for Essendon in its round 6 match against South Melbourne.

## Awards

* The 1915 VFL Premiership team was Carlton.
* The VFL's leading goalkicker were Dick Lee of Collingwood and Jimmy Freake of Fitzroy with 66 goals each.
* Geelong took the "wooden spoon" in 1915.