Why six points for a goal

[Aut Vincere Aut Mori]

Prior to 1897 behinds were recorded but not given any value. However, in 1897 it was decided to allocate six points for a goal and one point for a behind. Unusually, the newly formed VFL led the change and the VFA and other competitions followed.
1) was this change accepted in SA, WA, Tas, etc or was there a lag time in the acceptance
2) why was 6:1 points ratio decided as the value between a goal and behind.
3) was there much discussion formally or informally about the goal value and even the change in scoring. (Was there a ‘leave the game alone’ brigade back in 1896)
It was provably one of the most significant rule chqnges in the game but has little written about it. Our scoring and goal arrangement is particulary unique and dates from 1897. Interested in the history.


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[Michael Riley]

Early discussions 1896 - looks like the idea was around for a while
The Coming Football Season. (1896, May 14). Cobram Courier (Vic. : 1888 - 1954), p. 6. Retrieved October 2, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article209188521

By Sept 1896 the Association was not looking at this - but was looking at a crossbar in the goals
VICTORIAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION. (1896, September 26). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 8. Retrieved October 2, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article193448436

By March 1897 - 6 points was in for the VFL - not clear why - though it mentions making it fairer - and points to rugby as an example
NEXT WINTER'S FOOTBALL. (1897, March 12). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 6. Retrieved October 2, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9187855

 

[Quolls19]

from 1859 there was much discussion and argument about the “Point” of behinds, which had no value and their main function was to clear the ball away From the goal line. Behinds started to be reported/counted in the press but only goals counted for a win.

Most early British college football games had exactly the same or similar methods to clear the ball away from the opponents goal area. What became soccer still has it.

what became known as Australian rules was generally played on rectangular grounds (paddocks really), which is one reason why Behind posts were originally 40 Yards from each goal post.

but I digress, there was much argument And discussion about keeping behinds, getting rid of them or giving them some value, introducing a crossbar, giving value for over, under or both.

After the change in 1897 there was still occasionally the same discussion, including reducing the value of goals to 3 points.

below is the near official explanation. (The Australasian was a very powerful player in football for some time)
The Australasian
Sat 20 Mar 1897



BEHINDS TO BE RECKONED

Another decided innovation is that which elevate behinds from meaningless addenda into tangible items in the score. It has been enacted that "the side securing the greater number of points shall win the match, and that a goal shall count six points and a behind one." To apportion fair values to goals and behinds objectively proved a delicate undertaking, and the ratio of 6 to 1 was adopted only after a long and careful consideration. The trouble was to secure for behinds just so much recognition as would compensate the attacking party without offering an inducement to defenders to help the ball behind. Whether the allotment determined upon is the fairest that could be made it is impossible to say. Perhaps 5 to 1, the proportion between goals and tries in the Rugby game, would have given wider satisfaction. With a 6 to 1 margin, I am afraid defenders will often think it good business to stave off the major liability by voluntarily sacrificing the minor point, in the new laws a behind is defined in two several places in order doubtless to preclude the chance of mistakes. Law 5 states that "a behind shall be scored when the ball is kicked or forced behind without striking either of the behind posts: and law 7 enacts that "a behind shall be counted when the ball strikes a goal-post, or is touched at the mark, or in transit before passing between the posts." After a behind has been gained the ball is to be kicked off as heretofore. The rule bearing upon this point is painfully elaborate without being correspondingly clear. It reads:-"In case the ball is kicked or forced behind, any one of the side behind whose goal it is driven may kick off from any portion of a space to be indicated by two lines running parallel in a straight line from the goal-posts for a distance of 10 yards, and a horizontal line at the end of the said distance joining the two parallel lines, such lines to be marked in white." The concluding clause of the rule is, however, clear enough for anything. It says: "Should the ball drop out of bounds from the kick-off a free kick shall be awarded to the opposing side from the point whereat the ball crosses the boundary." Strong and persistent attempts were made to penalise every kick out; and, as a matter of fact, it was only at the last moment a law to this effect was excised in favour of the old law which gives the umpire power to discriminate between wilful and accidental kicks-out. The original framers of the new ruIes went considerably further in their desire to prevent out-of-bounds play. Their proposal was that- "Except in case of kicking for goal, should a player when the ball is in play, wilfully kick or force it out of bounds the umpire shall give a free kick to the nearest player ot the opposing team from the spot whence the ball was kicked or forced out." Had this suggestion been adopted, as to my mind it should have been, the game would at once have been rid of a blot that sooner or later will have to be eradicated. So long as kicking out entails upon the offender no appreciable penalty, spectators will continue to be treated to uninteresting boundary play. Were the game carried out in the field and not at the fence, as at present, it would be a pleasanter game to play and an infinitely finer game to look at.

the six points equals a goal was hardly a new innovation:


From the Australasian 16/10/1869

RETROSPECT OF THE SEASON.

By Fair Play

Most of the matches during the past season were played on the agreement that the side kicking the greatest number of goals in the afternoon won the match, and as very often no more than one goal was kicked, this prevented some drawn games. This arrangement has thus in some degree obviated the inconvenience of drawn matches but I think that if some such rule as the following were drawn up by the various clubs at the beginning of next season, it would, have a good effect:- " That when the ball is kicked six times behind its adversary's goal the side so kicking should score one goal and the game be recommenced as if a goal were kicked" I merely propose six as it appears to me to be a fair number, but of course, if taken into consideration, the number could be altered as thought fit.