1909 VFL Grand Final, South Melbourne vs Carlton Footage

[The Dice Man]

A fun way of wasting time is looking up past players size and seeing how they rate compared with today's players.

Gordon Coventry (1920s) was smaller than Dane Swan.

Jack Titus (970 goals as Richmond Full-forward in 1930s-40s)) was smaller than Robbie Nahas.

Richmond's 2-time brownlow medal ruckman from the 1950s, Roy Wright, was the same height as Brett Deledio.

In 1952 Geoff Leek was 'officially' measured as the VFL's tallest player - 194cm - 1 cm taller than Michael Hurley.

On height, do you think WW1 and WW2 contributed? I mean the first men sent I imagine we're the biggest and strongest, maybe it effects the stats.

One think I've noticed in France is they're all short. I'm only 6ft but I'm tall here and hard to find shoes and clothes to fit. And as France has been in so many wars, I figure that's why they're all short people. Just thought maybe there is something in that.

 

[Watsclarkosmob]

wow they even fumbled back then.

 

[Mister Dog]

For anyone who has really enjoyed this thread i'd strongly recommend getting yourself a copy of:

The Courage Book of VFL Finals.
Available on ebay for around $25 or probably still at most libraries.

It has full descriptions and newspaper clippings of every Finals match up to the 70's.
I remember reading it as a 10 year old many years ago and it really transports you back there.
It's full of brilliant photo's as well.

 

[LordLucifer]

The ladies hats also doubled for cake tins and its how they smuggled the afternoon tea in to the ground.

 

[Ron The Bear]

For anyone who has really enjoyed this thread i'd strongly recommend getting yourself a copy of:

The Courage Book of VFL Finals.
Available on ebay for around $25 or probably still at most libraries.

It has full descriptions and newspaper clippings of every Finals match up to the 70's.
I remember reading it as a 10 year old many years ago and it really transports you back there.
It's full of brilliant photo's as well.

It's still around, under the title The Complete Book Of AFL Finals. 2009 softcover, 708 pages, $30.

http://www.fivemile.com.au/books/adults/sport/the-complete-book-of-afl-finals-2009-edition-173.html

 

[fabulousphil]

Very, very cool piece of history and the first known filming of Aussie Rules football.




Also, lol at 2:50 where the dude looks visibly awkward for having the Sash on the wrong way.

Compare to 1939 GF (post below)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=exITiVjbyg8#t=235

 

[fabulousphil]

 

[piesnz]

Few observations

• Anyone notice the wierd running style a few players had coming onto the ground where they had their arms straight down, hands pointing behind their back. Looks like if someone tried to do a deliberately effeminate/unco run these days. Wonder if they were taking the piss.

Was going to comment on this too. I've seen people run like this in older films too from the 60s. Is this how people used to sprint then? Wonder when someone made the innovation to use your hands for power...? Kind of like the Fosbury flop taking over from the scissor style in high jumping I'm guessing.

 

[tigers_of_old_08]

We will never again see so many bowler hats at the MCG for a game of footy.

 

[Lord Nicholson]

We will never again see so many bowler hats at the MCG for a game of footy.

You never know, Roos might inspire some pretty big attendances.

 

[childeric]

Interesting to see the fullback kick out with a dropkick

The 1939 GF was played on 30 September

World War 2 had started on 3 September which may account for the relatively small crowd of 78,000

 

[Lensen]

It's a shame the game play is so sped up that its almost impossible to watch. Hopefully someone with the requisite editing skills can slow it down a tad so it's more "realistic".

In any case even the pre-match footage is fascinating - I can't get over how dressed up people got just to go out! Everyone's dressed back then as people would dress now to go to a wedding!

 

[jenny61_99]

It's a shame the game play is so sped up that its almost impossible to watch. Hopefully someone with the requisite editing skills can slow it down a tad so it's more "realistic".

In any case even the pre-match footage is fascinating - I can't get over how dressed up people got just to go out! Everyone's dressed back then as people would dress now to go to a wedding!

Also liked the refreshment stands (home made goodies no doubt) before they went in, and the kids almost prepared to get run over to sell what I presume was the footy record. The shorts were much shorter by this stage. And how good were the "banners"? Bunch of streamers strung across the run through!

 

[Bluelegs]

Norm Smith kicking a goal at 5:35,

 

[Royce Hafey]

Those men in the panarama shot of the crowd look so happy as if life is perfect in that video, pity what most of them had to all go through some five six years later.

Yep. Over 1% of the Australian population died in WW1. Life wasn't perfect in 1909, far from it. But Australians enjoyed the highest living standards in the world. The war ended that too. The Piddington Royal Commission in 1920 estimated that, to restore working class living standards to what they had been in 1914, wages would have had to be increased by 30%.

 

[Oneiros]

Great video, awesome find. Hilarious to watch Melbournites clinging to the sides of trams like Mumbai rush hour as well. MCG has had several completely different looks over time, but it has always looked like a sporting cathedral.

I can't even imagine how a single Field Umpire kept up with play like that, must have been a bona fide marathon runner (how the hell did the first umpire dislocate his elbow?)

 

[Oneiros]

On height, do you think WW1 and WW2 contributed? I mean the first men sent I imagine we're the biggest and strongest, maybe it effects the stats.

One think I've noticed in France is they're all short. I'm only 6ft but I'm tall here and hard to find shoes and clothes to fit. And as France has been in so many wars, I figure that's why they're all short people. Just thought maybe there is something in that.

Not just the two World Wars but also earlier wars going back to the Napoleonic have all had serious repercussions for French demographics that are still being felt. WWI definitely had the worst impact that, absolutely dreadful toll was taken of French manpower. They did the heavy lifting for most of the war and by the end of it were utterly spent.

 

[Milang_Panthers]

That's awesome!

 

[Milang_Panthers]

Interesting to see the fullback kick out with a dropkick

The 1939 GF was played on 30 September

World War 2 had started on 3 September which may account for the relatively small crowd of 78,000

Yeah was a great action shot of the kick out

 

[Gods_Son23]

the most hats I've ever seen in one place

 

[Oneiros]

Wonder if that was the first use of the slow-mo replay?

 

[Sprout]

Nothing tops that 1909 footage. Brilliant stuff.

 

[giggler99]

Great find! Amazing how everyone wore suites and top hats to the footy back then, can't get around how that part of society changed so much after the war.

Has anyone identified who the League officials are at the end?

 

[dooloo]

fair throw at 4:10!

also lol at the south outfits, half the sashes are the wrong way!

They were our first Irish imports

 

[Jizzy_Wizzy]

Awesome thread.

I should probably go and do some work now.........