1929 VFL Grand Final
Encyclopedia
The 1929 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football
game contested between the Collingwood Football Club
and Richmond Football Club
, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
in Melbourne
on 28 September 1929. It was the 33rd annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League
, staged to determine the premiers for the 1929 VFL season
. The match, attended by 63,336 spectators, was won by Collingwood by a margin of 29 points, marking that club's eighth premiership victory and third in succession.
became the first player to kick 100 goals in a season (124 in total), and Albert Collier
won the Brownlow Medal.
While Collingwood finished on top of the ladder, Carlton
were second on 15 wins, Richmond on 12 wins and a draw and St Kilda on 12 wins. The 2nd Semi-Final saw the upset of the season, with the rugged and determined Tigers beating the Magpies by 62 points for Collingwood's only loss of the season. They went on to beat Carlton in the Preliminary Final with a thrilling finish; Jack Titus
scored the winning goal right on the bell. A third Collingwood v Richmond Grand Final was scheduled.
In the week leading up to the Grand Final, Collingwood received handwritten anonymous letters, threatening the lives of eleven prominent players. Fortunately, they were intercepted by officials and withheld from the players until after the game.
While ‘Nuts’
kicked only 2 goals for the day, the attention that the Richmond defence paid him allowed Horrie ‘Tubby’ Edmonds
to fulfill the most important day of his footballing life, kicking 5 goals playing deep near the boundary line in attack.
Charlie Ahern
, 24 years old and playing in only his third VFL match, provided inspiration to the side. His main role was to protect Syd Coventry
and, despite fracturing his arm, he battled on manfully, and held his own in what was, at times, a physically spiteful match. Ahern was to die only 18 months later from rectal cancer.
Collingwood won by 29 points, attributable to the Magpies’ rock-solid defence, Edmonds' 5 goals and that players carried on in the face of serious injuries.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
game contested between the Collingwood Football Club
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
and Richmond Football Club
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
on 28 September 1929. It was the 33rd annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
, staged to determine the premiers for the 1929 VFL season
1929 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1929.-Premiership season:In 1929, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, with no "reserves", although any of the 18 players who had left the playing field for any reason could later resume...
. The match, attended by 63,336 spectators, was won by Collingwood by a margin of 29 points, marking that club's eighth premiership victory and third in succession.
Background
Collingwood’s 1929 season was extremely successful. They won all 18 games of the home-and-away season, a record that still stand today. ‘Nuts’ CoventryGordon Coventry
Gordon "Nuts" Coventry was an Australian rules footballer who played for Collingwood Football Club in the Victorian Football League . With 1,299 goals over 18 seasons, Coventry remains one of the greatest full forwards the game has ever seen...
became the first player to kick 100 goals in a season (124 in total), and Albert Collier
Albert Collier
Albert "Leeter" Collier was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League.-Playing career:...
won the Brownlow Medal.
While Collingwood finished on top of the ladder, Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
were second on 15 wins, Richmond on 12 wins and a draw and St Kilda on 12 wins. The 2nd Semi-Final saw the upset of the season, with the rugged and determined Tigers beating the Magpies by 62 points for Collingwood's only loss of the season. They went on to beat Carlton in the Preliminary Final with a thrilling finish; Jack Titus
Jack Titus
Jack "Skinny" Titus was an Australian rules football player who played in the Victorian Football League between 1926 and 1943 for the Richmond Football Club. In the golden era of the 1930s, Titus was one of the great forwards who regularly thrilled the crowds with spectacular goalkicking feats...
scored the winning goal right on the bell. A third Collingwood v Richmond Grand Final was scheduled.
In the week leading up to the Grand Final, Collingwood received handwritten anonymous letters, threatening the lives of eleven prominent players. Fortunately, they were intercepted by officials and withheld from the players until after the game.
Match summary
Richmond kicked the first goal of the day but wasted opportunities for the rest of the quarter. Collingwood took advantage and led by 27 points at half time, a lead they held for the rest of the match. The two teams fought determinedly and, quite often, outside the spirit of the game. Bob Makeham was knocked senseless in the 2nd quarter, although he played on despite concussion.While ‘Nuts’
Gordon Coventry
Gordon "Nuts" Coventry was an Australian rules footballer who played for Collingwood Football Club in the Victorian Football League . With 1,299 goals over 18 seasons, Coventry remains one of the greatest full forwards the game has ever seen...
kicked only 2 goals for the day, the attention that the Richmond defence paid him allowed Horrie ‘Tubby’ Edmonds
Horace Edmonds
Horace Stephens 'Tubby' Edmonds was an Australian rules footballer who played in the VFL between 1929 and 1934 for the Collingwood Football Club, between 1934 and 1935 for the Richmond Football Club and one game for the Footscray Football Club in 1937 .Horace Edmonds was married to Jessie Williams...
to fulfill the most important day of his footballing life, kicking 5 goals playing deep near the boundary line in attack.
Charlie Ahern
Charlie Ahern
Charlie Ahern was an Australian rules footballer who played for Collingwood in the Victorian Football League .Despite having played just two VFL games, in rounds nine and 12 earlier in the year, Ahern was a surprise pick in Collingwood's side for the 1929 Grand Final. They won and Ahern became the...
, 24 years old and playing in only his third VFL match, provided inspiration to the side. His main role was to protect Syd Coventry
Syd Coventry
-St Kilda:Originally from Diamond Creek, Victoria, Coventry journeyed across the Bass Strait after the First World War to work in the mines at Queenstown, Tasmania, taking with him a reputation as a fine footballer...
and, despite fracturing his arm, he battled on manfully, and held his own in what was, at times, a physically spiteful match. Ahern was to die only 18 months later from rectal cancer.
Collingwood won by 29 points, attributable to the Magpies’ rock-solid defence, Edmonds' 5 goals and that players carried on in the face of serious injuries.
Match statistics
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collingwood | 6.3 | 7.6 | 9.6 | 11.13 (79) |
| Richmond | 2.0 | 3.3 | 5.5 | 7.8 (50) |
| Best | Collingwood | Libbis Billy Libbis William 'Billy' Libbis was an Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood and Melbourne in the VFL.Libbis was a rover and made his debut in 1925... , Wescott Leo Wescott Henry 'Leo' Wescott was an Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood in the VFL.Wescott was a back pocket specialist and started his career at Collingwood in 1922... , S Coventry Syd Coventry -St Kilda:Originally from Diamond Creek, Victoria, Coventry journeyed across the Bass Strait after the First World War to work in the mines at Queenstown, Tasmania, taking with him a reputation as a fine footballer... , Ahern Charlie Ahern Charlie Ahern was an Australian rules footballer who played for Collingwood in the Victorian Football League .Despite having played just two VFL games, in rounds nine and 12 earlier in the year, Ahern was a surprise pick in Collingwood's side for the 1929 Grand Final. They won and Ahern became the... , Clayden George Clayden George Clayden was an Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood in the VFL.Clayden usually played either across the centre half back or in the ruck and was known as one of the toughest players during his era... , Dibbs Charlie Dibbs Charlie Dibbs was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Collingwood Magpies in the Victorian Football League during the 1920s and 30s.... , A Collier Albert Collier Albert "Leeter" Collier was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League.-Playing career:... , Edmonds Horace Edmonds Horace Stephens 'Tubby' Edmonds was an Australian rules footballer who played in the VFL between 1929 and 1934 for the Collingwood Football Club, between 1934 and 1935 for the Richmond Football Club and one game for the Footscray Football Club in 1937 .Horace Edmonds was married to Jessie Williams... |
| Richmond | Murdoch Joe Murdoch Arthur 'Joe' Murdoch was an Australian rules footballer who played in the VFL in between 1927 and 1936 for the Richmond Football Club.... , Bentley Percy Bentley Percy Bentley was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League.Bentley was a strong ruckman and great tactician who was a key player and coach for the Richmond Football Club during his era... , Geddes Alan Geddes Alan Geddes was an Australian rules football player who played in the VFL between 1925 and 1935 for the Richmond Football Club... , Watson, Empey Ralph Empey Ralph Empey was an Australian rules footballer who played with Richmond in the Victorian Football League .... , Weidner Harry Weidner Harry Weidner was an Australian rules footballer who played with Richmond in the Victorian Football League .Weidner was a half forward flanker from Warragul who kicked at least 25 goals every season from 1928 to 1931 and was Richmond's second top goal-kicker in the first of those years... , Harris Don Harris (Australian footballer) Don Harris was an Australian rules footballer who played with Richmond and Collingwood in the Victorian Football League .... |
|
| Goals | Collingwood | Edmonds (5), G Coventry Gordon Coventry Gordon "Nuts" Coventry was an Australian rules footballer who played for Collingwood Football Club in the Victorian Football League . With 1,299 goals over 18 seasons, Coventry remains one of the greatest full forwards the game has ever seen... (2), H Collier Harry Collier Harry Collier was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League.-Playing career:Originally from Ivanhoe, Victoria, Collier played for the Collingwood Football Club, debuting in 1926... , Libbis, F Murphy Jack Murphy (footballer) Jack P.J. Murphy is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood in the VFL.Murphy played 160 games for the Magpies, usually in defence, and won the 1941 Copeland Trophy for Collingwood's best and fairest player. His son John played for Sturt in the SANFL and South... , L Murphy Len Murphy Leonard 'Len' Murphy was an Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood and Footscray in the VFL. His older brother Frank played beside him for much of his career.... |
| Richmond | Baggott Jack Baggott Jack Baggott was an Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League between 1927 and 1935 for the Richmond Football Club. In 1936 he became captain-coach of the Essendon Football Club and was there until part way through the 1937 season... (2), Weidner Harry Weidner Harry Weidner was an Australian rules footballer who played with Richmond in the Victorian Football League .Weidner was a half forward flanker from Warragul who kicked at least 25 goals every season from 1928 to 1931 and was Richmond's second top goal-kicker in the first of those years... (2), Geddes, O’Halloran Thomas O'Halloran Thomas O'Halloran was an Australian rules footballer who played in the VFL between 1925 and 1934 for the Richmond Football Club. He served as Richmond's Vice President in 1936 and 1940.- References :... , Lilburne Cyril Lilburne Cyril 'Dooley' Lilburne was an Australian rules football player who played in the VFL between 1926 and 1929 for the Richmond Football Club.- References :* Hogan P: The Tigers Of Old , Richmond FC, Melbourne 1996... |
- Umpire - R ScottBob Scott (umpire)Robert H. "Bob" Scott was a leading Australian rules football field umpire in the Victorian Football League in the 1920s and 1930s....
- Attendance - 63,366
- Gate - ₤3,227
Teams
See also
- 1929 VFL season1929 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1929.-Premiership season:In 1929, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, with no "reserves", although any of the 18 players who had left the playing field for any reason could later resume...