Grand Final History
Welcome to Grand Final History, a Podcast that explores every VFL and AFL premiership since 1897. Each episode takes you through a summary of the season, the changing rules, emerging trends, controversies and highlights. Then into the finals culminating in two teams challenging each other in a Grand Final to become the premiers for the year (Apart from the seasons where a round robin system replaced the Grand Final). From the early years of the VFL when 8 suburban clubs built a competition to a national league playing games in every state and territory across the country.
Episodes
![Episode 24 1920 Morning Games](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/1225332/Grand_FInal_Main_Logo6o020_300x300.jpg)
Thursday Nov 11, 2021
Episode 24 1920 Morning Games
Thursday Nov 11, 2021
Thursday Nov 11, 2021
Innovation was the theme in 1920 for the VFL: New jumpers proposed to avoid clashes, new rules to open the game and reduce congestion, proposals for ground rationalisation down to two grounds in Melbourne and scheduling Morning Games in the fixture. It was all happening over 100 years ago. Also, controversy in Grand Final week as one player is barred from playing due to a zoning restriction and another makes his debut, in his one and only VFL game, in the Grand Final.
![Episode 23 1919 A Spanish VIsitor](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/1225332/Grand_FInal_Main_Logo6o020_300x300.jpg)
Sunday Oct 03, 2021
Episode 23 1919 A Spanish VIsitor
Sunday Oct 03, 2021
Sunday Oct 03, 2021
Borders closed between states, travel restricted, buildings closed, masks required when in public but the footy went on. Might seem familiar today but that was life in 1919 as the Spanish Flu arrived in Australia along with thousands of returning service men and women. All nine VFL teams were playing in 1919, but the Flu was taking its toll on players. Roy Cazaly was out for a few weeks and many players struggled to regain form when returning from illness. St Kilda set a couple of interesting records during the season, firstly not allowing Geelong to score a goal in an entire game, even though it was Geelong’s home game. But not so good for the Saints was their game against South Melbourne losing by 27 goals and allowing South to set the record high score for the VFL including 17 goals in the last quarter! That is still a record over 100 years later. Richmond and Collingwood battled it out for the Grand Final. Who would take home the 1919 VFL Premiership?
![Episode 22 1918 Goodbye Mr Steward](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/1225332/Grand_FInal_Main_Logo6o020_300x300.jpg)
Thursday Sep 02, 2021
Episode 22 1918 Goodbye Mr Steward
Thursday Sep 02, 2021
Thursday Sep 02, 2021
South Melbourne go through the 1918 home and away season with just one loss. The secret to their defeat by St Kilda did not emerge for 50 years, and what a secret it was! But how would the Southerners go in the finals? Five Grand Finals for just one premiership so far in the VFL raised some questions about South Melbourne’s ability to handle the pressure in big games. Essendon and St Kilda returned to the VFL in 1918 allowing an eight team competition and the spectators set records for war time attendance. But it was time up for the Stewards, those extra officials that could go onto the ground and report players. They would not be missed.
![Episode 21 1917 A Lucky Horseshoe](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/1225332/Grand_FInal_Main_Logo6o020_300x300.jpg)
Wednesday Aug 11, 2021
Episode 21 1917 A Lucky Horseshoe
Wednesday Aug 11, 2021
Wednesday Aug 11, 2021
During a year of turmoil around the world and in Australia football provides a respite from war, tragedy and political division. But there are financial scandals that lead the resignation of the VFL president as clubs use money raised for Patriotic Funds to cover their own expenses. 1917 saw a six team competition and before the Grand Final one former player sent a lucky horseshoe made from a German artillery shell to encourage his team mates. Would it help them get to the “Top of the Tree”?
![Episode 20A Supplementary The Second 10 Years](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/1225332/Grand_FInal_Main_Logo6o020_300x300.jpg)
Sunday Jul 18, 2021
Episode 20A Supplementary The Second 10 Years
Sunday Jul 18, 2021
Sunday Jul 18, 2021
Ten years in one episode! The leage expands and contracts, players become professional but gambling and bribery allegations cast a cloud. Collingwood tries doping in a semi final yet lose the game anyway. Violence rears its ugly head involving players, crowds, police and the courts. Coaches are sacked, comittees dumped and players go on strike. The game is captured on film and the first exhibition match is played in London in front of the future King. And the spectre of WWI casts doubt on whether the game can continue, as spectators and players enlist, some never to return.
![Episode 20. Then There Was Four](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/1225332/Grand_FInal_Main_Logo6o020_300x300.jpg)
Saturday Jun 26, 2021
Episode 20. Then There Was Four
Saturday Jun 26, 2021
Saturday Jun 26, 2021
How do you run a league and a season of football when more than half the clubs refuse to play? 1916 was the year when a majority of VFL clubs said football was a distraction from the war effort and others argued that it provided a welcome relief and entertainment for the working man. And it would be an opportunity to raise money for the Patriotic Funds. It was a season like no other. Four clubs playing each other four times in a shortened season before the finals. Where every team made the Final Four!
In London there was the first exhibition game of Australian Rules, played by Australian Servicemen from the VFL, VFA, SA and WA football leagues and more. Attended by thousands of spectators including the future King of England. A moment of respite in a year that would claim the lives of many footballers and people from all walks of life.
![Episode 19 1915 Then there was nine](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/1225332/Grand_FInal_Main_Logo6o020_300x300.jpg)
Saturday Jun 05, 2021
Episode 19 1915 Then there was nine
Saturday Jun 05, 2021
Saturday Jun 05, 2021
1915, The season starts the day before the Gallipoli landings, with only nine clubs now that University has departed. But many people are asking why footballers are being paid to play a game while soldiers are needed to defend the empire. There is a vote to shorten the season and a majority of clubs agree. A charity game between VFA premiers North Melbourne and St Kilda is played, the purpose is to raise finds for wounded soldiers. But there is not much charity on the field, and why were North using "ring ins" from other VFA clubs? It was a tough season with attendance down due to the war but the finals bought the crowds back. Team selection for the Grand final caused a sensation, two players bought back from army training to play in the Premiership match. Pity about that 16km route march in the morning.
![Episode 18 1914 The Storm Begins](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/1225332/Grand_FInal_Main_Logo6o020_300x300.jpg)
Sunday May 16, 2021
Episode 18 1914 The Storm Begins
Sunday May 16, 2021
Sunday May 16, 2021
Carlton undertake one of the most successful rebuilding efforts of any VFL/AFL team, making the Grand Final with 9 first year players. Can they go all the way?
And what happens when a player is reported for striking a spectator who punched him first, what ruling will the tribunal bring down? In a season that was marked by the start of the WWI the VFL had one of its most even seasons ever. But it would be the final year for University, competing against professionals was challenging, putting a team on the field when the majority of players enlist was impossible. This was one of many impacts on the VFL with the start of the war, in a year that was the beginning of the storm.
![Episode 17 1913 The Calm](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/1225332/Grand_FInal_Main_Logo6o020_300x300.jpg)
Wednesday Apr 28, 2021
Episode 17 1913 The Calm
Wednesday Apr 28, 2021
Wednesday Apr 28, 2021
Melbourne players threaten to go on strike, a deadly virus causes a club to change travel plans, players form thier first union and St Kilda makes a barnstorming entrance into the finals. With record crowds squeezed into the MCG, can St Kilda pull off one of the biggest upsets yet in the VFL's history. In other matters there is an outbreak of peace and goodwill between the VFL and VFA but it won't last.
![Episode 16 1912 Footy Record](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/1225332/Grand_FInal_Main_Logo6o020_300x300.jpg)
Tuesday Apr 06, 2021
Episode 16 1912 Footy Record
Tuesday Apr 06, 2021
Tuesday Apr 06, 2021
It was the year of the Olympics and the Titanic's maiden voyage. But in Melbourne the focus was on the footy. Players now had numbers on their jumpers and the Footy Record was on sale before the game. Could Essendon go back to back under super coach Jack Worrall? One club would mourn the loss of an iconic leader with a shock death before the season began. Another club would have the honour of being the last team to be beaten by University as the students endured another tough year.
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