Victorian Football Association
Season 1897
Link to Full Season Results (includes quarter scores, best players, goalkickers and more)
Season Notes
Changes to the membership of the Association
Eight teams left the Association at the end of the 1896 and formed the Victorian Football League.
Brunswick were admitted to the Association in March 1897.
Decisions made at the Association's AGM held on Friday 9 April 1897
1. Behinds would now count towards the score. A goal would count for six points, a behind for one point.
2. Team size was reduced from 20 to 18 men.
3. Points for the premiership would be counted as four points for a win, two points for a draw.
North Melbourne home matches
The North Melbourne Cricket Ground was under an upgrade during the winter of 1897
The overcome this, the North Melbourne Football Club arranged to ground share with Essendon FC and played most of their home matches at the EMCG
Results
Round 1
|
1 May 1897 |
Port Melbourne |
0-2 |
4-10 |
4-10 |
8-19 |
67 |
Venue: Port Melbourne |
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North Melbourne |
1-2 |
1-2 |
2-6 |
2-6 |
18 |
Result: Port Melbourne won by 49 points |
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1 May 1897 |
Richmond |
0-1 |
1-4 |
2-6 |
5-8 |
38 |
Venue: MCG |
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Brunswick |
0-2 |
1-2 |
2-3 |
2-3 |
15 |
Result: Richmond won by 23 points |
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1 May 1897 |
Footscray |
1-0 |
4-2 |
4-5 |
4-5 |
29 |
Venue: Williamstown |
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Williamstown |
2-3 |
3-3 |
3-4 |
3-4 |
22 |
Result: Footscray won by 7 points |
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Round 2
|
8 May 1897 |
Port Melbourne |
2-3 |
6-5 |
8-12 |
10-12 |
72 |
Venue: Port Melbourne |
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Richmond |
0-1 |
0-3 |
0-3 |
3-5 |
23 |
Result: Port Melbourne won by 49 points |
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8 May 1897 |
Williamstown |
1-4 |
3-4 |
3-5 |
4-6 |
30 |
Venue: Williamstown |
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North Melbourne |
1-1 |
3-4 |
4-7 |
4-9 |
33 |
Result: North Melbourne won by 3 points |
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8 May 1897 |
Footscray |
2-2 |
5-4 |
6-9 |
6-12 |
48 |
Venue: Footscray |
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Brunswick |
0-0 |
0-4 |
3-4 |
3-4 |
22 |
Result: Footscray won by 26 points |
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Round 3
|
15 May 1897 |
Williamstown |
0-0 |
2-0 |
2-0 |
2-3 |
15 |
Venue: Williamstown |
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Port Melbourne |
0-2 |
0-2 |
3-8 |
4-8 |
32 |
Result: Port Melbourne won by 17 points |
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15 May 1897 |
Footscray |
5-5 |
6-5 |
8-11 |
10-15 |
75 |
Venue: Richmond City Reserve |
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Richmond |
0-1 |
3-6 |
3-8 |
5-10 |
40 |
Result: Footscray won by 35 points |
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15 May 1897 |
North Melbourne |
0-5 |
0-7 |
0-10 |
1-10 |
16 |
Venue: Brunswick |
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Brunswick |
0-0 |
0-1 |
0-1 |
3-3 |
21 |
Result: Brunswick won by 5 points |
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Round 4
|
22 May 1897 |
Port Melbourne |
3-5 |
6-8 |
12-13 |
17-18 |
120 |
Venue: Port Melbourne |
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Brunswick |
0-0 |
1-0 |
2-0 |
2-1 |
13 |
Result: Port Melbourne won by 107 points |
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22 May 1897 |
Footscray |
2-3 |
6-6 |
8-6 |
9-8 |
62 |
Venue: EMCG |
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North Melbourne |
4-4 |
5-5 |
7-5 |
8-7 |
55 |
Result: Footscray won by 7 points |
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22 May 1897 |
Richmond |
1-2 |
4-5 |
6-8 |
7-10 |
52 |
Venue: Richmond City Reserve |
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Williamstown |
2-0 |
4-2 |
6-4 |
8-4 |
52 |
Result: DRAW |
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Round 5
|
24 May 1897 |
Footscray |
1-3 |
1-3 |
2-5 |
2-5 |
17 |
Venue: Footscray |
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Port Melbourne |
0-1 |
3-5 |
3-5 |
7-9 |
51 |
Result: Port Melbourne won by 34 points |
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Morning game, start 10:30am |
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24 May 1897 |
North Melbourne |
1-2 |
4-6 |
4-9 |
5-13 |
43 |
Venue: EMCG |
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Richmond |
2-2 |
2-4 |
5-6 |
6-6 |
42 |
Result: North Melbourne won by 1 point |
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Played in 'forenoon'. In Saturday fixtures scheduled for Port Melbourne, but played at EMCG. Season Fixtures: NMRR. |
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24 May 1897 |
Williamstown |
1-3 |
3-9 |
5-13 |
9-16 |
70 |
Venue: Williamstown |
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Brunswick |
0-2 |
1-2 |
4-2 |
4-2 |
26 |
Result: Williamstown won by 44 points |
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Played in 'forenoon'; Season fixtures Brunswick |
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Round 6
|
29 May 1897 |
North Melbourne |
0-2 |
2-2 |
2-4 |
6-5 |
41 |
Venue: EMCG |
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Port Melbourne |
1-0 |
2-2 |
2-5 |
2-8 |
20 |
Result: North Melbourne won by 21 points |
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29 May 1897 |
Footscray |
2-1 |
2-4 |
2-8 |
2-10 |
22 |
Venue: Footscray |
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Williamstown |
0-2 |
0-2 |
0-3 |
0-4 |
4 |
Result: Footscray won by 18 points |
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29 May 1897 |
Brunswick |
4-1 |
5-1 |
6-3 |
8-6 |
54 |
Venue: Brunswick |
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Richmond |
0-2 |
2-8 |
3-12 |
4-15 |
39 |
Result: Brunswick won by 15 points |
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Round 7
|
5 June 1897 |
Richmond |
0-1 |
3-1 |
6-1 |
8-1 |
49 |
Venue: Richmond Cricket Ground |
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Port Melbourne |
4-5 |
6-8 |
7-11 |
8-12 |
60 |
Result: Port Melbourne won by 11 points |
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5 June 1897 |
Brunswick |
2-1 |
2-1 |
2-1 |
4-4 |
28 |
Venue: Brunswick |
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Footscray |
2-5 |
4-5 |
8-6 |
8-8 |
56 |
Result: Footscray won by 28 points |
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5 June 1897 |
North Melbourne |
2-3 |
4-4 |
5-8 |
5-8 |
38 |
Venue: EMCG |
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Williamstown |
0-3 |
0-4 |
2-4 |
3-5 |
23 |
Result: North Melbourne won by 15 points |
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Round 8
|
12 June 1897 |
Port Melbourne |
1-1 |
3-2 |
4-6 |
4-10 |
34 |
Venue: Port Melbourne |
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Williamstown |
0-2 |
0-4 |
3-6 |
4-5 |
29 |
Result: Port Melbourne won by 5 points |
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12 June 1897 |
Brunswick |
0-2 |
0-3 |
2-5 |
2-9 |
21 |
Venue: Brunswick |
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North Melbourne |
1-1 |
4-3 |
4-6 |
8-9 |
57 |
Result: North Melbourne won by 36 points |
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12 June 1897 |
Footscray |
1-5 |
6-10 |
7-13 |
8-13 |
61 |
Venue: Footscray |
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Richmond |
1-3 |
1-6 |
2-6 |
6-8 |
44 |
Result: Footscray won by 17 points |
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Round 9
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19 June 1897 |
Brunswick |
1-1 |
1-1 |
1-1 |
1-1 |
7 |
Venue: Brunswick |
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Port Melbourne |
1-4 |
3-3 |
4-8 |
6-9 |
45 |
Result: Port Melbourne won by 38 points |
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Charity Match Round |
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19 June 1897 |
North Melbourne |
1-2 |
2-5 |
2-10 |
3-12 |
30 |
Venue: EMCG |
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Footscray |
0-1 |
1-3 |
1-3 |
2-4 |
16 |
Result: North Melbourne won by 14 points |
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Charity Match Round. The Argus observed: 'The association clubs had set apart Saturday for their charity matches and as this step was determined upon some time back it is no fault of their that financially it will be a failure. Indeed, with the disabilities under which they labour, it is unreasonable to expect them to do much in alms-giving.' |
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19 June 1897 |
Williamstown |
3-4 |
3-5 |
5-7 |
8-15 |
63 |
Venue: Williamstown |
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Richmond |
1-1 |
2-3 |
3-3 |
3-3 |
21 |
Result: Williamstown won by 42 points |
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Charity Match Round |
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Round 10
|
26 June 1897 |
Port Melbourne |
2-2 |
2-7 |
3-9 |
3-11 |
29 |
Venue: Port Melbourne |
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Footscray |
0-1 |
0-3 |
2-4 |
3-6 |
24 |
Result: Port Melbourne won by 5 points |
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26 June 1897 |
Richmond |
0-1 |
2-1 |
2-1 |
2-2 |
14 |
Venue: Richmond Cricket Ground |
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North Melbourne |
2-1 |
4-5 |
4-6 |
7-8 |
50 |
Result: North Melbourne won by 36 points |
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26 June 1897 |
Brunswick |
0-1 |
0-1 |
0-1 |
0-1 |
1 |
Venue: Brunswick |
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Williamstown |
1-2 |
4-4 |
4-5 |
6-7 |
43 |
Result: Williamstown won by 42 points |
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Round 11
|
3 July 1897 |
North Melbourne |
0-0 |
2-6 |
3-8 |
3-10 |
28 |
Venue: EMCG |
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Port Melbourne |
4-1 |
5-2 |
6-3 |
7-4 |
46 |
Result: Port Melbourne won by 18 points |
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3 July 1897 |
Williamstown |
1-1 |
2-1 |
2-4 |
3-5 |
23 |
Venue: Williamstown |
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Footscray |
0-2 |
0-6 |
0-6 |
2-9 |
21 |
Result: Williamstown won by 2 points |
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3 July 1897 |
Brunswick |
0-2 |
2-4 |
5-5 |
6-8 |
44 |
Venue: Brunswick |
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Richmond |
1-2 |
2-2 |
3-5 |
4-8 |
32 |
Result: Brunswick won by 12 points |
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Round 12
|
10 July 1897 |
Richmond |
0-2 |
2-4 |
2-6 |
3-6 |
24 |
Venue: Richmond Cricket Ground |
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Port Melbourne |
2-4 |
4-4 |
4-5 |
5-6 |
36 |
Result: Port Melbourne won by 12 points |
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10 July 1897 |
North Melbourne |
2-1 |
4-1 |
5-1 |
5-2 |
32 |
Venue: EMCG |
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Williamstown |
0-2 |
3-4 |
3-5 |
4-7 |
31 |
Result: North Melbourne won by 1 point |
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10 July 1897 |
Brunswick |
0-1 |
2-1 |
2-1 |
3-8 |
26 |
Venue: Brunswick |
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Footscray |
4-4 |
7-8 |
9-10 |
10-13 |
73 |
Result: Footscray won by 47 points |
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The Argus reported: 'When Footscray went to Brunswick on Saturday, they discovered that nearly half their regular team had inadvertently wandered across the Saltwater River to Flemington and stayed there All the reserves were called out, a few useful substitutes found, and both the regular men and the reserves played such good football that, to use a contradiction in terms, the missing were not missed although amongst them were included such men as Evans, Grundon, Williams, Brockwell, Armstrong, and Hinch; while amongst the subs were such matured veterans as Arthur Lee. Footscray, opening the game with many misgivings, closed it easy winners by 73 points to 26, and never allowed the other side a hope of getting to the front.' |
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Round 13
|
17 July 1897 |
Port Melbourne |
2-1 |
5-3 |
8-7 |
9-14 |
68 |
Venue: Port Melbourne |
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Williamstown |
0-2 |
0-2 |
2-4 |
2-4 |
16 |
Result: Port Melbourne won by 52 points |
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17 July 1897 |
Brunswick |
1-4 |
1-5 |
3-6 |
3-7 |
25 |
Venue: Brunswick |
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North Melbourne |
1-1 |
3-6 |
5-6 |
5-7 |
37 |
Result: North Melbourne won by 12 points |
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17 July 1897 |
Footscray |
1-6 |
3-12 |
6-15 |
7-17 |
59 |
Venue: Footscray |
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Richmond |
0-0 |
0-1 |
0-3 |
0-5 |
5 |
Result: Footscray won by 54 points |
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Round 14
|
24 July 1897 |
Brunswick |
1-2 |
2-2 |
4-2 |
6-2 |
38 |
Venue: Brunswick |
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Port Melbourne |
5-7 |
8-11 |
10-12 |
14-15 |
99 |
Result: Port Melbourne won by 61 points |
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24 July 1897 |
Footscray |
1-0 |
1-1 |
3-3 |
4-4 |
28 |
Venue: Footscray |
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North Melbourne |
0-3 |
0-3 |
1-3 |
1-4 |
10 |
Result: Footscray won by 18 points |
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24 July 1897 |
Williamstown |
2-0 |
4-5 |
6-8 |
9-15 |
69 |
Venue: Williamstown |
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Richmond |
2-1 |
2-1 |
4-1 |
5-3 |
33 |
Result: Williamstown won by 36 points |
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Representative Match
|
31 July 1897 |
Ballarat Association |
0-4 |
3-7 |
5-8 |
6-11 |
47 |
Venue: Eastern Oval, Ballarat |
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Victorian Football Association |
2-1 |
6-4 |
6-6 |
7-8 |
50 |
Result: Victorian Football Association won by 3 points |
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Round 15
|
7 August 1897 |
Port Melbourne |
0-2 |
0-6 |
0-7 |
1-10 |
16 |
Venue: Port Melbourne |
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Footscray |
0-2 |
0-3 |
1-7 |
1-8 |
14 |
Result: Port Melbourne won by 2 points |
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7 August 1897 |
Williamstown |
3-6 |
6-8 |
8-8 |
9-12 |
66 |
Venue: Williamstown |
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Brunswick |
0-1 |
1-3 |
2-8 |
2-8 |
20 |
Result: Williamstown won by 46 points |
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7 August 1897 |
North Melbourne |
4-3 |
4-5 |
7-9 |
9-14 |
68 |
Venue: EMCG |
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Richmond |
0-0 |
1-8 |
2-9 |
5-14 |
44 |
Result: North Melbourne won by 24 points |
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Round 16
|
14 August 1897 |
Port Melbourne |
0-2 |
2-5 |
2-8 |
2-11 |
23 |
Venue: Port Melbourne |
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North Melbourne |
2-3 |
2-4 |
2-5 |
4-5 |
29 |
Result: North Melbourne won by 6 points |
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14 August 1897 |
Footscray |
0-0 |
0-4 |
1-5 |
3-6 |
24 |
Venue: Footscray |
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Williamstown |
2-2 |
2-2 |
3-7 |
3-7 |
25 |
Result: Williamstown won by 1 point |
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14 August 1897 |
Richmond |
1-3 |
1-12 |
4-15 |
5-21 |
51 |
Venue: Richmond Cricket Ground |
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Brunswick |
3-3 |
3-3 |
4-4 |
5-4 |
34 |
Result: Richmond won by 17 points |
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Round 17
|
21 August 1897 |
Port Melbourne |
2-4 |
5-4 |
8-7 |
13-9 |
87 |
Venue: Port Melbourne |
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Richmond |
2-1 |
3-2 |
3-2 |
3-3 |
21 |
Result: Port Melbourne won by 66 points |
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21 August 1897 |
Williamstown |
4-3 |
5-4 |
9-6 |
9-7 |
61 |
Venue: Williamstown |
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North Melbourne |
0-0 |
0-2 |
1-2 |
2-5 |
17 |
Result: Williamstown won by 44 points |
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21 August 1897 |
Footscray |
0-1 |
0-4 |
1-6 |
3-10 |
28 |
Venue: Footscray |
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Brunswick |
0-4 |
1-5 |
1-7 |
2-8 |
20 |
Result: Footscray won by 8 points |
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Round 18
|
28 August 1897 |
Williamstown |
0-0 |
2-6 |
2-6 |
3-9 |
27 |
Venue: Williamstown |
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Port Melbourne |
3-4 |
3-4 |
3-5 |
4-6 |
30 |
Result: Port Melbourne won by 3 points |
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28 August 1897 |
North Melbourne |
0-0 |
5-2 |
5-3 |
10-9 |
69 |
Venue: Footscray |
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Brunswick |
1-5 |
1-5 |
3-15 |
3-15 |
33 |
Result: North Melbourne won by 36 points |
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28 August 1897 |
Richmond |
1-2 |
2-3 |
4-8 |
5-10 |
40 |
Venue: Richmond Cricket Ground |
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Footscray |
0-2 |
6-6 |
6-7 |
9-12 |
66 |
Result: Footscray won by 26 points |
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Round 19
|
4 September 1897 |
Port Melbourne |
2-5 |
3-12 |
7-15 |
9-17 |
71 |
Venue: Port Melbourne |
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Brunswick |
0-0 |
0-3 |
0-3 |
2-6 |
18 |
Result: Port Melbourne won by 53 points |
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4 September 1897 |
Footscray |
0-0 |
2-3 |
2-3 |
4-6 |
30 |
Venue: Footscray |
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North Melbourne |
3-2 |
3-2 |
7-5 |
7-5 |
47 |
Result: North Melbourne won by 17 points |
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4 September 1897 |
Richmond |
0-1 |
2-4 |
2-6 |
3-11 |
29 |
Venue: Richmond Cricket Ground |
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Williamstown |
2-3 |
2-3 |
4-8 |
4-9 |
33 |
Result: Williamstown won by 4 points |
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Round 20
|
11 September 1897 |
Footscray |
1-2 |
2-7 |
6-8 |
7-12 |
54 |
Venue: Footscray |
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Port Melbourne |
0-3 |
2-3 |
3-4 |
3-6 |
24 |
Result: Footscray won by 30 points |
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11 September 1897 |
Richmond |
2-2 |
3-3 |
5-3 |
6-8 |
44 |
Venue: Richmond Cricket Ground |
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North Melbourne |
0-2 |
2-9 |
5-13 |
6-16 |
52 |
Result: North Melbourne won by 8 points |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 September 1897 |
Williamstown |
4-3 |
7-9 |
9-14 |
13-15 |
93 |
Venue: Williamstown |
|
|
Brunswick |
1-3 |
1-3 |
2-4 |
6-7 |
43 |
Result: Williamstown won by 50 points |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Final ladder
|
1897 |
Club |
Won |
Lost |
Drawn |
For |
Against |
% |
Points |
|
1 |
Port Melbourne |
17 |
3 |
0 |
1030 |
505 |
204.0 |
68 |
|
2 |
North Melbourne |
14 |
6 |
0 |
770 |
681 |
113.1 |
56 |
|
3 |
Footscray |
13 |
7 |
0 |
807 |
561 |
143.9 |
52 |
|
4 |
Williamstown |
10 |
9 |
1 |
795 |
605 |
131.4 |
42 |
|
5 |
Brunswick |
3 |
17 |
0 |
509 |
1151 |
44.2 |
12 |
|
6 |
Richmond |
2 |
17 |
1 |
685 |
1093 |
62.7 |
10 |
|
|
Total |
59 |
59 |
2 |
4596 |
4596 |
|
240 |
Note: The premiership was determined by the final ladder standings. No finals were played.
1897 premiers: Port Melbourne
Prepared and maintained by Andrew Robinson
Author: Andrew Robinson (contact:
andrew at elitetograssroots dot net)
First
created: 4
June 2011
Last updated: 6 September 2024
(C) Copyright Andrew Robinson
You are free to copy this document in whole or part provided that proper
acknowledgement is given to the author. All rights reserved.
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