Grand Final History Podcast. Every season of the VFL/AFL, taking it one season at a time

[Grand Final History]

Hi everyone

Time for some shameless self promotion. The Grand Final History Podcast is a history of every season of the VFL/AFL starting way back in 1897 and moving forward one season at a time. Each show covers a bit of what was going on in the world, how the season unfolded and a detailed look at the finals.

As I write this in May 2025 I have made it up to season 1942 with many more to come. So you can listen year by year or just go for the seasons your team won the premiership.

Much has changed in football since the VFL's early years but many issues stay the same. The holding the ball/holding the man rule has been contentious since the game started, plenty of supporters claim we don't see the long kicking high marking game of the past, regardless of what decade they are in, players of today are not as good as those in the past and they want too much money, the League is only interested in money and not the spectators or the game and gambling is a problem. Fitzroy supporters were complaining about the Grand Final always being held at the MCG and the "large sums in travelling expenses" this caused in 1905. That same year viruses and vaccinations were causing South Melbourne problems with their travel plans but that was due to a Smallpox outbreak in Tasmania and not COVID!

Grand Final History available where ever you get your podcast from or check out the website with all the episodes and a grand final database covering all the things that make up grand final day wherever the match is held at www.grandfinalhistory.au

 

[Grand Final History]

Eleven teams started the 1943 season but only ten made it to the final round. To ensure only one bye per team, the club on the bottom of the ladder after round eleven was eliminated! The earliest Wooden Spoon ever! The war meant everything was different, US Marines were at the MCG, they even played a gridiron game, the American football code as a rare game on the G once it was occupied for the war. The Americans even took on the Australians in a hybrid football game described as ‘aerial bombardment”. All the while the VFL season unfolded, with challenges of player availability and news of loss at the front line. Still plans were being prepared for peace time, would the VFL be expanding?

 

[Occidental]

Very much enjoying your Podcast series. You've clearly done a great deal of research, and it pays off.
I've listened in chronological order from 1897 and have made it up to 1918.
I particularly like the way you clearly explain the convoluted and ever-changing methods they employed in organising the Finals in those early VFL years.
I also really like the way you link the big issues of the day (political/social) to the current issues of the footy world.
One tiny irk - Fitzroy being the Maroons. I've only ever heard them pronounced as "Mar-Owns" and not "Mar-Oons" (if that makes sense). Minor point only.
I'm looking forward to many more hours of listening - especially when "The Machine" wins 4 in row!

Congratulations on your efforts
Great stuff.

 

[Grand Final History]

Glad your enjoying it. Hadn't thought about the pronunciation of the Maroons, might bring it up in the soon to be released 1944 edition it will fit with some comments I have about the Gorillas mascot that might be considered controversial by some . Going year by year has helped me realise just how dominant Collingwood was in that late 1920's and 1930's era. Much as I hate to admit it.

 

[Grand Final History]

Supporters were “Up the Junction” in 1944, making their way to the Junction Oval, hosting the Grand Final for the first time since 1899, baked by hot winds on a 30C day with trams and busses on strike. It had been another tough wartime season, so tough even Jack Dyer got suspended, for the only time in his career. Some had suggested that anyone who hit Dyer deserved a Victoria Cross. The Tigers had considered a boycott in protest against a team mates suspension but were in their third Grand Final in a row against Fitzroy, back in the Grand Final 22 years after their last premiership. As the Allies progressed through Europe and the Pacific, football administrators grappled with the future of football, would their be peace in our time between the VFL and the VFA?

 

[Occidental]

GDay again. I’ve kept listening in chronological order and I’ve made it up to Archie Croft’s Swans flag of 1933.
Still thoroughly enjoying every episode.
I especially like the vignettes you include about the big names of the time eg Jack Worrall, Percy Page, Jock McHale, Checker Hughes etc etc. it adds a lot of colour and quite frankly those identities should never be forgotten for their contributions that shaped our game.
Plus the ever present issues that the League kept facing are really well covered; the issues around player payments, the ongoing rift with the VFA, problems with cricket clubs and ground managers over who is actually in charge of the grounds and all the ongoing and ever present rule changes.
You’ve made an excellent, engaging resource for anyone interested in the history of our game. Well done!

 

[Grand Final History]

GDay again. I’ve kept listening in chronological order and I’ve made it up to Archie Croft’s Swans flag of 1933.
Still thoroughly enjoying every episode.
I especially like the vignettes you include about the big names of the time eg Jack Worrall, Percy Page, Jock McHale, Checker Hughes etc etc. it adds a lot of colour and quite frankly those identities should never be forgotten for their contributions that shaped our game.
Plus the ever present issues that the League kept facing are really well covered; the issues around player payments, the ongoing rift with the VFA, problems with cricket clubs and ground managers over who is actually in charge of the grounds and all the ongoing and ever present rule changes.
You’ve made an excellent, engaging resource for anyone interested in the history of our game. Well done!

Thanks for the feedback and glad you are enjoying the pod. It is a lot of fun to put together but each episode takes some time so please be patient when you catch up with me. I have also done a couple of articles on the footy almanac site you might be interested in. One celebrating the 100th anniversary of football being broadcast behind a paywall (you had to pay for a radio licence in 1925) and a look at the coaching DNA that flows from Jock McHale to most premiership coaches.

Almanac Footy (History): The 100th Anniversary of the first footy (radio) paywall.

www.footyalmanac.com.au

Almanac Footy (History) – The McHale (and Dan Minogue) V/AFL Premiership DNA Coaching Game

www.footyalmanac.com.au

 

[Grand Final History]

Ted Whitten said it was the best game he ever saw, several of the players had no memory of what happened, a suspended player got reported and Ted Whitfield’s pre-match routine was to drink 6 beers with a top up at halftime. The Bloodbath was an extraordinary Grand Final played shortly after the end of World War II where a football match occasionally broke out between the fights. 1945 was a pivotal year, supporters were back watching footy and the country waited for the end of hostilities, mourned the death of the US president and an Australian Prime Minister then saw the dawn of the Atomic Era. Listen to the episode to see how the 1945 season unfolded and how the legend of the Bloodbath began.

 

[Gibbke]

The oldest footage of a GF uncovered, if I'm not mistaken, is from the 1909 match. There's one shot which grabs my attention - a slow pan up close to the crowd, as they all gawk and smile nervously into the camera. You can make out every face clearly, the different clothes and haircuts, and the features such as handlebar moustaches that make them look not like us! But the big question is what they're thinking...in 1909, WW1 wasn't for another 5 years but the tensions were brewing and would have been constant talking points, all of our modcons were non-existent and a power supply would have been the equivalent of NBN broadband - you may or may not have it. All the inventions they'd never seen, all of the conflicts, attitudes to race, religion, sex, responsibilities, patriotism...even the words used in conversation, never mind their accents (I'm trying to imagine a crowd of barrackers all talking like Don Bradman!)...what would the chat have sounded like?

 

[kid_a]

Hi everyone

Time for some shameless self promotion. The Grand Final History Podcast is a history of every season of the VFL/AFL starting way back in 1897 and moving forward one season at a time. Each show covers a bit of what was going on in the world, how the season unfolded and a detailed look at the finals.

As I write this in May 2025 I have made it up to season 1942 with many more to come. So you can listen year by year or just go for the seasons your team won the premiership.

Much has changed in football since the VFL's early years but many issues stay the same. The holding the ball/holding the man rule has been contentious since the game started, plenty of supporters claim we don't see the long kicking high marking game of the past, regardless of what decade they are in, players of today are not as good as those in the past and they want too much money, the League is only interested in money and not the spectators or the game and gambling is a problem. Fitzroy supporters were complaining about the Grand Final always being held at the MCG and the "large sums in travelling expenses" this caused in 1905. That same year viruses and vaccinations were causing South Melbourne problems with their travel plans but that was due to a Smallpox outbreak in Tasmania and not COVID!

Grand Final History available where ever you get your podcast from or check out the website with all the episodes and a grand final database covering all the things that make up grand final day wherever the match is held at www.grandfinalhistory.au

I've been listening to your pod for a while, just want to say I love the effort and detail you go into. Looking forward to the next release

 

[Grand Final History]

The VFL celebrated its 50th Jubilee season with the return of the MCG, the Brownlow and some rule changes including the addition of a 20th man. The game had become a “Gigantic Industry’ according to VFL Secretary Like McBrien but clubs are still having trouble getting enough jumpers and balls with rationing still in place. Jack Dyer has a moment with a deflating ball that would become worse with every retelling of the tale. Bob Pratt’s comeback would end after one game, some players would return to VFL footy after the trauma of being POW’s at Changi and the Burma Railway and some future champions would make their debut’s. The finals were thrilling, the second drawn semi final had the MCG curators fretting and the Grand Final would define what a “Premiership Quarter” looked like.

 

[Grand Final History]

This episode is a special review of the VFL's fifth decade from 1937 to 1946. A ten year period that include the Depression, World War II and the war between the VFA and the VFL. A decade that saw the Greatest Game Ever Played (1937 Grand Final) and the most volent Grand Final in VFL history (The 1945 Bloodbath).
A lot going on so enjoy the review.

 

[Grand Final History]

Carlton shocked their supporters and the football world in 1947 when they selected their new captain who had only played two games in the VFL. It was a time of change with the invention of the Four'nTwenty Pie, as immigrants beginning new lives, far away from the chaos in Europe and women playing footy in front of one of the biggest crowds of the season. Collingwood threatened to forfeit rather than play their home game against Carlton at the MCG, it was all about money and bribery scandals saw a lifetime ban imposed. Fred Fanning kicked 18 goals in his last game for Melbourne. The Final Four saw the last four premiership winners playing for the premiership but only one team could take the 194 Flag by the narrowest of margins.

 

[Occidental]

Just listened to your 1947 pod. In a word - Brilliant.
From the Marshall Plan, bread rationing, post war mass immigration, the Yanks being interested in our great game, record crowds in attendance following the wars end, the wasted opportunity to follow up on Women's football, the invention of the 4n20 Pie, Fred Fanning booting 18, .... You captured how the Western World was basically reinventing itself after the horrors of 1939-45.
Plus, the Granny was won by a single point due to a snap from the boundary in the last minute....

Your best yet.

 

[Grand Final History]

Thanks for the feedback. It is a lot of fun doing these and glad you enjoy them