Setting the Scene – The World

The days before the outbreak of World War One were the last days of what the French called 'La Belle Époque’. The period of the late-nineteenth century had been a period of optimism and scientific discoveries. It was also a period of relative peace - albeit a peace which disguised the rampant imperialism of the colonial powers. The great Charlie Chaplin made his first film in 1914, the magnificent Babe Ruth played his first Baseball game, and Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa to take up the struggle for Indian independence. In Mexico, Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata continued to lead peasant armies in the ongoing Mexican revolution. In England the Suffragettes were on the offensive, protesting for women’s right to vote.

In Australia, things happened quickly in the years before the outbreak of War. The nation's total population grew to a little under five million.¹ In Melbourne, the impressive City Baths building was opened in 1903, Flinders Street Station was completed in 1910, and the Domed Reading Room at the State Library opened in 1913. In 1905, the first Australian Open tournament was held, and the first Victorian (State) Secondary School was opened. The first electric tram clattered down Melbourne streets in 1906. The first Coles store opened. New houses were built - in styles much sought after by buyers today: ‘Federation Style’ and ‘Edwardian Style’. Melbourne also proudly claimed the famous Dame Nellie Melba.

Melbourne, in 1914, was the Australian capital. The city was home to the Australian Federal Parliament, and the Australian Armed Services.(The construction of Canberra, to the plan of architect Walter Burley Griffin, had only just commenced).

Setting the Scene - In Football

The Victorian Football League legalised player payments in 1911. Of the VFL clubs only Melbourne and University did not pay their players. A new weekly publication - the 'Football Record' - was successfully introduced by the VFL in 1912. Fitzroy won the 1913 VFL premiership, its fifth since the breakaway from the VFA in 1897, making it the most successful club in the competition. The on-field rules allowed for eighteen players and no reserves.

Zoning laws restricting players to a particular zone, and therefore to the club allocated to that zone, had been in place in South Australia since 1897. The VFL, after much discussion, introduced zoning in 1915.

Port Adelaide reigned as Premiers in South Australia. Subiaco, in winning the Western Australian premiership, managed to keep East Fremantle at bay for the time being. East Fremantle had won the title nine times since 1900, including four premierships in a row (1908-1911). 'Old Easts' were to be a force again in 1914.

Football Cards and Stars

At the outbreak of war in 1914, outstanding VFL players included Billy Dick, Carlton captain; Jock McHale, Dick Lee and Dan Minogue of Collingwood; Percy Parratt and Jim Freake of Fitzroy; Vic Thorp of Richmond; Mark Tandy of South Melbourne; and Dave McNamara, Wels Eicke and Roy Cazaly of St.Kilda (1913 VFL Grand Finalists).

Football cards had first appeared in the 1890's. Cigarette cards, particularly in the last years before the war, were produced in their thousands and consumed voraciously. After 1914, however, no multi-card series appeared until 1920. The 'Champion Footballers' post cards produced by ‘Sport Magazine’ were advertised in the VFL's 'Football Record' (the cards including many images that had appeared in the 'Football Record' throughout the season).

Vic Thorpe - Sport Magazine 1914 - Source Australian Rules Football Cards

Percy Parratt - Sport Magazine 1914 - Source Australian Rules Football Cards

Dick Lee - Sport Magazine 1914 - Source Australian Rules Football Cards

Sport Series of Champion Footballers - VFL Record 1914 week four Finals p18 Source SLV

Victoria

VFL Teams

Leader 12-Sep-1914 p33 Geelong v Sth Melb Semi Final - Geelong Team - JC Bartlett Jun - Source State Library of Victoria	Leader 2-May-1914 p28 Fitzroy v Melbourne - Fitzroy Team - JC Bartlett Jun - Source State Library of Victoria	Leader 2-May-1914 p28 Fitzroy v Melbourne - Melbourne Team - JC Bartlett Jun - Source State Library of Victoria
Leader 9-May-1914 p34 St.Kilda v Carlton - Carlton Team- JC Bartlett Jun - Source State Library of Victoria	Leader 9-May-1914 p34 St.Kilda v Carlton - St.Kilda Team - JC Bartlett Jun - Source State Library of Victoria	Leader 16-May-1914 Fitzroy v Sth Melb - Sth Melb Team - JC Bartlett Jun - Source State Library of Victoria

Missing: Collingwood, Essendon, Richmond, University.

The VFL Season - Carlton Wins the Challenge Match

University lost all eighteen games of the 1914 VFL season. The club played as amateurs and the 1911 rule to allow player payments greatly affected the competitiveness of the team. This, combined with players' enlistments in the Services, meant University was not able to remain competitive in the VFL. The club bowed out at the end of the year. University would continue in the Metropolitan Amateur Football Association (later the Victorian Amateur Football Association), fielding multiple teams. Melbourne University continues to field teams in the main amateur competition to this day.

Opening the Season - Punch

Melbourne football crowds included many female spectators, some dressed in high fashion and others in more regular attire. Australian Rules football crowds generally differed from those attending other football codes around the world in having a higher proportion of female fans.

Punch 30-April-1914 p24 Crowd - Allan Studios Collingwood - Source State Library of Victoria	Punch 30-April-1914 p24 Crowd2 - Allan Studios Collingwood - Source State Library of Victoria	Punch 30-April-1914 p24 Fitz v Melb 25Apr - Allan Studios Collingwood - Source State Library of Victoria
Punch 30-April-1914 p25 a - Source State Library of Victoria	Punch 30-April-1914 p24 - Source State Library of Victoria	Punch 30-April-1914 p25 - Source State Library of Victoria

Opening the Season - Weekly Times

Collingwood full-forward Dick Lee was leading goal scorer for the year with 57 goals, including eleven in one game against University. His iconic mark was also taken in the 1914 season, in Round One against Carlton. The famous photo was snapped by photographer Albert Sutcliffe (of Harvie & Sutcliffe).

South Melbourne played well all season, remaining in the top four for most of the year. Carlton did not enter the top four until Round 10, and then worked their way to the top of the ladder by Round 15.

Weekly Times 2-May-1914 p29 Collingwood v Carlton - Source State Library of Victoria

Weekly Times 2-May-1914 p29 Fitzroy v Melbourne - Source State Library of Victoria

Dick Lee's Mark

Opening the Season - The Leader

Leader 2-May-1914 p28 Fitzroy v Melbourne - Crowd 1 - JC Bartlett Jun - Source State Library of Victoria	Leader 2-May-1914 p28 Fitzroy v Melbourne - Crowd 2 - JC Bartlett Jun - Source State Library of Victoria	Leader 2-May-1914 p28 Fitzroy v Melbourne - Crowd 3 - JC Bartlett Jun - Source State Library of Victoria
Leader 2-May-1914 p28 Fitzroy v Melbourne - Incidents in Play 4 - JC Bartlett - Source State Library of Victoria	Leader 2-May-1914 p28 Fitzroy v Melbourne - Incidents in Play 5 - JC Bartlett Jun - Source State Library of Victoria	Leader 2-May-1914 p28 Fitzroy v Melbourne - Incidents in Play 6 - JC Bartlett Jun - Source State Library of Victoria
Leader 2-May-1914 p28 Fitzroy v Melbourne - Incidents in Play 7 - JC Bartlett Jun - Source State Library of Victoria

The Season in Progress - The Leader

Leader 9-May-1914 p34 St.Kilda v Carlton - Incidents in the Game - JC Bartlett Jun - Source State Library of Victoria	Leader 9-May-1914 p34 St.Kilda v Carlton - Incidents in the Game 4 - JC Bartlett Jun - Source State Library of Victoria	Leader 9-May-1914 p34 St.Kilda v Carlton - Supporters - JC Bartlett Jun - Source State Library of Victoria
Leader 16-May-1914 Fitz v Sth Melb - Supporters - JC Bartlett Jun - Source State Library of Victoria	Leader 16-May-1914 Fitz v Sth Melb - Supporters 2 - JC Bartlett Jun - Source State Library of Victoria

The Season in Progress - Winner

Winner Melbourne 29 Jul 1914 P8 Collingwood V StKilda

Winner Melbourne 5 Aug 1914 P8 Collingwood V Essendon

The Season in Progress - Punch

Punch 28-May-1914 p22 Sth Melb v St.Kilda - 23 May - Allan Studios Collingwood - Source State Library of Victoria	Punch 28-May-1914 p22 St.Kilda v Sth Melb - 23 May - Allan Studios Collingwood - Source State Library of Victoria	Punch 28-May-1914 p22 - Source State Library of Victoria
Punch 4-Jun-1914 p26 Sth Melb v Ess - 30 May - Allan Studios Collingwood - Source State Library of Victoria	Punch 4-Jun-1914 p26 Sth Melb v Ess - 30 May 2 - Allan Studios Collingwood - Source State Library of Victoria	Punch 4-Jun-1914 p26 - Source State Library of Victoria
Punch 2-Jul-1914 p24 Carlton v St.Kilda - June 27 - Allan Studios Collingwood - Source State Library of Victoria	Punch 2-Jul-1914 p24 Carlton v St.Kilda June 27 2 - Allan Studios Collingwood - Source State Library of Victoria	Punch 2-Jul-1914 p24 - Source State Library of Victoria
Punch 23-Jul-1914 p26 Sth Melb v St.Kilda - 18 Jul - Allan Studios Collingwood - Source State Library of Victoria		Punch 23-Jul-1914 p26 - Source State Library of Victoria
Punch 30-Jul-1914 p17 Essendon v Sth Melb - 25 Jul b - Allan Studios Collingwood - Source State Library of Victoria	Punch 30-Jul-1914 p17 Essendon v Sth Melb - 25 Jul - Allan Studios Collingwood - Source State Library of Victoria	Punch 30-Jul-1914 p17 - Source State Library of Victoria

War was declared in Europe after Round 17 of the VFL season. Temporarily football was swept off the pages of the newspapers as they rushed to show pictures of soldiers at Broadmeadows. The focus was no longer on professional sport, as the ‘big game’ in Europe had commenced. Newspapers included background information on the Generals, Admirals, weapons, and towns to be fought over. Though at first difficult to get, pictures of the mustering camps took centre stage. For the remainder of the war, photos of football would be far less prominent in the newspapers.

The Finals

In the VFL semi-finals, South Melbourne defeated Geelong, and Carlton defeated Fitzroy. Carlton and South Melbourne were through to the Final.

Carlton led the ladder at the end of the home and away season. This meant that even if Carlton did not win the final series, they still had the right to challenge - against the winners of the Final - for the premiership the following week.

In the Final, South Melbourne led Carlton all day and won a close game by 16 points. Carlton took up their right of challenge.

Weekly Times 12-Sep-1914 p28 Semi Final Sth Melb v Geelong - Source State Library of Victoria	Leader 12-Sep-1914 p33 Geelong v Sth Melb Semi Final - JC Bartlett Jun - Source State Library of Victoria	Leader 12-Sep-1914 p33 Geelong v Sth Melb Semi Final - Spectators - JC Bartlett Jun - Source State Library of Victoria
Punch 17-Sep-1914 p31 - Source State Library of Victoria - at the Semi Finals
Winner Melbourne 16 Sep 1914 P6 Carlton V Fitzroy SF	Winner Melbourne 16 Sep 1914 P7 Watching The SF	Winner Melbourne 9 Sep 1914 P6 Melbourne V Geelong SF

The VFL Grand Final

In the challenge match, Carlton 6.9 (45) defeated South Melbourne 4.15 (39).² South Melbourne led at the end of the first quarter, but were held scoreless in the second quarter, losing the lead. South were down by nine points at three-quarter time and outscored Carlton in the final quarter.

In the last minute, with South Melbourne trailing by only six points, ‘the ball was kicked into their forward 50. Ern Jamieson of Carlton leaped into the back of South Melbourne player Tom Bollard at full-forward, to punch the ball away, but a free kick was not given, allowing the ball to be cleared to safety and give Carlton victory.’ (Wikipedia)

Weekly Times 3-Oct-1914 p19 Grand Final Captains - Source State Library of Victoria	Punch 8-Oct-1914 p18 Grand Final - Allan Studios Collingwood - Source State Library of Victoria	Punch 8-Oct-1914 p18 - Source State Library of Victoria
Winner Melbourne 30 Sep 1914 P6 Carlton Wins GF Thumb

VFA - North Melbourne on Top

In the Association, North Melbourne and Footscray easily accounted for their opponents in the semi-finals. In the Final, North was down five points at the end of the first quarter, but five goals in the second term gave them a 20 point margin at half-time. This became a 35 point margin at the end of the game.

North Melbourne would dominate VFA football in the seasons to follow. The Northerners' 1914 Final win was part of a 58-game winning streak that included three consecutive premierships (1914,1915,1918). North Melbourne's team included ruckman Syd Barker and captain Charlie Hardy. Hardy would later join Essendon and made his VFL debut aged 34 years.

Association Premiership Argus 24-Aug-1914 p5	Weekly Times 29-Aug-1914 p28 Footscray v Nth Melb - VFA Final - Source State Library of Victoria	Winner Melbourne 26 Aug 1914 P6 Association Premiership Incident
Winner Melbourne 26 Aug 1914 P6 Association Premiership

Hawthorn played its first season of VFA football in 1914. In 1925 Hawthorn would join VFA powerhouses Footscray and North Melbourne in their move to the VFL. In 1914, however, Hawthorn won only three matches, ending the season near the bottom of the VFA ladder.

Football Outside Victoria

The 1914 Sydney Carnival

The third Carnival of the Australian National Football Council (ANFC) was scheduled for August 1914. In many ways the Carnival became lost in the news of the declaration of War. Horrific battles had begun in Belgium. In a massive call-up, young Australian men were being mustered into camps around the country.

The Carnival produced few good games. South Australia's five point win over Western Australia was one of the best. The Queensland side suffered a number of heavy 100+ point losses. At future Carnivals the States were divided into two divisions in order to provide a more even competition.

Victoria won the Carnival with a convincing 11-11 (77) to 5-10 (40) win over South Australia.

linked_images/other/nsw_arfhs/1914-Collage.jpg

Referee Sydney - 5-Aug-1914 p12 Carnival

Referee Sydney - 12-Aug-1914 p16 Lee Vic Matson WA

Victorian Carnival Team - Chronicle Adelaide 22-Aug-1914 p33

Referee Sydney - 12-Aug-1914 p16 Victorian Carnival Team

Referee Sydney - 12-Aug-1914 p11 WA Carnival Team

Several members of the successful Victorian team were casualties of the European war the following year. Bruce Sloss, who had played for Essendon, Brighton, and South Melbourne, enlisted in 1915 and was killed behind the lines by a German shell on 4 January 1917. He was 27 years old.³

Jack Cooper (Fitzroy) enlisted in November 1915 and was killed in action during the Battle of Passchendaele on 20 September 1917. He was 28 years old. His remains were never recovered.⁴

South Australia - Port Adelaide's Perfect Season - Champions of Australia

Premiership won by Port Adelaide - Advertiser Adelaide 21-Sep-1914 p15

Port Adelaide - Adelaide Chronicle 26-Sep-1914 p32 - Photographer - Krischock

Norwood team v East Fremantle - Western Mail - Perth 14-Aug-1914 p30 photographer C.H.Park

The Opening of the Season:

The Governor at the Opening of the Season - The Mail Adelaide 2-May-1914 p1s photo by Edwards and Errington	Londrigan leads Port Adelaide Out - The Mail Adelaide 2-May-1914 p4s photo by Edwards and Errington	Windsor in the Thick of it - The Mail Adelaide 2-May-1914 p4s photo by Edwards and Errington
Opening of the Football Season - Chronicle Adelaide - 9-May-1914 p31 Krischock

Much has been written about Port Adelaide's 1914 season, the first perfect season in the South Australian Football League (SAFL). In the home and away season, Port scored 1068 points to their opponents' 510, resulting in an average score more than twice that of their opponents. Port were led by Jack Londrigan, and also boasted Harold Oliver (a South Australian Football Hall of Fame member), Jack Ashley (1914 Magarey Medallist), and rover Angelo Congear.

In the Final, Port's 13.15 (93) to North Adelaide's 1.8 (14) summed up the season.

Port Adelaide also defeated a combined team from the other SAFL clubs: 14.14 (98) to 5.10 (40).

Championship of Australia

Since 1907, the premier team of the SAFL had played off against the VFL premier for the title (albeit unofficial) 'Champion of Australia'. (There had also been games involving the SAFL premiers and the VFA premiers between 1888 and 1893). In 1913, Port Adelaide easily defeated Fitzroy. The following year, Port faced Carlton.⁵

Playing on the Adelaide Oval, Port Adelaide 9.16 (70) easily defeated Carlton 5.6 (36) to claim the title. These challenge matches were not resumed after the war, and only appeared again, in a different format, from 1968-1976.

Western Australia - East Fremantle wins in a challenge

Easts v Perth - Western Mail - Perth 1-May-1914 p26 photographer CH Park

Perth v Easts - Western Mail - Perth 1-May-1914 p26 photographer CH Park

Subiaco Players 1914 - Western Mail Perth 15-May-1914 p26 - photographer JW Dawson

Perth v Easts3 - Western Mail - Perth 1-May-1914 p26 photographer CH Park

Perth v Easts4 - Western Mail - Perth 1-May-1914 p26 photographer CH Park

Perth v Easts5 - Western Mail - Perth 1-May-1914 p26 photographer CH Park

The Midland Junction (Railways) club returned to the Western Australian Football League (WAFL) in 1914. However, 'Railways' dissolved in 1917. Many of its players joined the military and the club could not continue. Another WAFL club - North Fremantle - was also hit by loss of players to the War and went into 'voluntary recession' after the end of the 1915 season.

The usual State Championship match between the premier team of the WAFL and the premier in the Goldfields League was not played from 1914-18 due to the War. The fading numbers on the Kalgoorlie goldfields, and a deterioration of the relationship between the two Leagues, meant the State Championship concept faded over subsequent years. The last match between WAFL and Goldfields was played in 1924.

The Ball or the Man - South v East - Western Mail - Perth 19-Jun-1914 p30- photographer CH Park	Watching the Game from the Grandstand - South v East - Western Mail - Perth 19-Jun-1914 p30- photographer CH Park	Exciting Play - South v East - Western Mail - Perth 19-Jun-1914 p30- photographer CH Park
South's Goal in Danger - South v East - Western Mail - Perth 19-Jun-1914 p30- photographer CH Park

The 1914 WAFL home and away season ended with East Fremantle as ladder leaders, earning them the right of challenge. In the Semi Final Subiaco 8.18 (66) defeated East Fremantle 3.7 (25) by a wide margin. Subiaco then went down to South Fremantle in the Final. So, as in Victoria, where Carlton used its right of challenge, East Fremantle used its right of challenge against South Fremantle.

In the Challenge match, East 5.3 (43) defeated South 3.6 (24). Dix and Truscott starred for East.

During the Sydney Carnival, Norwood travelled to Perth and played East Fremantle.

Norwood v East Fremantle1 - Western Mail - Perth 14-Aug-1914 p30 photographer CH Park

Norwood v East Fremantle2 - Western Mail - Perth 14-Aug-1914 p30 photographer CH Park

Norwood v East Fremantle3 - Western Mail - Perth 14-Aug-1914 p30 photographer CH Park

Outside Senior Football

As is the case today, Australian Rules was, in 1914, a game played by many thousands across the country, not only at the elite (or 'senior') level. Country football teams, schoolboy teams, and amateur leagues also played the game. The newspapers of the day included news and photos of these competitions. A few such photos have been included below:
DOWN TO HERE FEB 25

Victoria

Weekly Times 12-Sep-1914 p28 - Heyfield FC - Source State Library of Victoria	Weekly Times 12-Sep-1914 p28 Maffra FC - Source State Library of Victoria	Ararat FC 1914 - Museum Vic Reg. No MM 000289
Leader 5-Sep-1914 p33 Metropolitan Tramways FA - Brunswick Line - Premiers G Fordham Photo - Source State Library of Victoria	Punch 30-April-1914 p23 - South Melbourne Footballers Cricket Club - Allan Studios Collingwood - Source State Library of Victoria	Punch 11-Jun-1914 p17 - Source State Library of Victoria Fancy Dress
Punch 6-Aug-1914 p20 - Source State Library of Victoria Scotch v Wesley	Punch 16-Jul-1914 p18 - Source State Library of Victoria Scotch v Melbourne Grammar	Punch 20-Aug-1914 p19 - Source State Library of Victoria Wesley v Melbourne Grammar

South Australia

Victor Harbour FC - Chronicle Adelaide - 10-Oct-1914 p29 photographer Bliss	Solomontown Port Pirie Association - Chronicle Adelaide - 1-Aug-1914 p33 photographer GL Marchant	Broken Hill Banks - Chronicle Adelaide - 8-Aug-1914 p34
1914-SCGC-Premiers_11 source-pdfc.com.au_semaphore-central-1914

Western Australia

Geraldton Team - Country Week - Western Mail - Perth 7-Aug-1914 p31 photographer probably CH Park	Bunbury Team - Country Week - Western Mail - Perth 7-Aug-1914 p31 photographer CH Park	West Australian Law Students Football Team - Western Mail Perth 17-Jul-1914 p24 - Photographer Tesla- Hay Street
Mornington Football Team 1914 - Western Mail Perth 10-Jul-1914 p28 photographer FJ Wall	Worsley Football Team 1914 p30- Western Mail Perth 28-Aug-1914 - photographer FJ Wall	Midland Junction Football Club - Western Mail Perth 15-May-1914 p24 - Photographer Midland Junction Studio

Football Humour

Punch 18-Jun-1914 p22 - Source State Library of Victoria - Woman Umpire Cartoon

Punch 30-April-1914 p26 - Source State Library of Victoria - Cartoon

War

The First World War ruined the lives of many footballers. In 1914 thousands of Australian men enlisted and joined the swelling ranks at training camps near the major cities. A significant number of them died at Gallipoli the following year. Even more were to die on the Western Front from 1916-1918. Many of those who were 'lucky' enough to return were still injured physically and/or mentally.



Football clubs all over the country lost players, coaches, trainers, administrators and supporters. Those who returned to rebuild their lives began a new era of football after the War. Victorians often count 1925 as the year of change, as this was the year of change in the VFL (with North Melbourne, Footscray and Hawthorn moving across from the VFA). From the point of view of the country as a whole, however, the War was the turning-point for football. It shut down leagues, dissolved clubs, and terminated the idea of the Championship of Australia.

The Christmas Truce

By the end of 1914 trench lines had formed across northern France and into Belgium. Both sides were shoring up what would become known as the Western Front. On Christmas Day 1914, in many places across the front, a makeshift peace was arranged. Troops from both sides mingled and sang. In a few locations, the men even played football against each other. Considering that approximately half a million men had already died fighting for the same land, how remarkable it is that hatreds could so easily be put aside.⁶.

For the soldiers in Europe, football brought a brief respite from the horror of the War.

Conclusions

The First World War and the influenza epidemic of 1918-19 caused great change. Millions were killed and maimed, international boundaries were redrawn, and new technologies were developed and perfected. In the 1920’s, these new technologies changed people’s daily lives: electricity, radio, telephones, cars, and movie theatres all began to have an impact. The 1920's also brought a period of turmoil and change in Australian football. New Leagues were formed and new laws introduced. Scoring rates increased significantly.

Perhaps the most enduring legacy of 1914 is that it marked the end of an era during which the various interstate senior competitions (VFL, SAFL, WAFL) appeared to be of equal strength. In 1913 and 1914, Port Adelaide had proved, by twice defeating VFL premiership teams, that South Australian football was then on a par with Victoria. (This despite Victoria's victory in the 1914 Sydney Carnival). In the 1920's the strength of the Victorian Football League grew in comparison to the interstate Leagues. Towards the end of the last 100 years of football, with the change of name to AFL, the VFL has not only influenced the other major leagues, it has transformed them.




Note - Winner Photos added March 2016

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End Notes