Matches
After four straight Collingwood Premierships 1927-1930, 1931 saw something different.
Geelong and Richmond topped the ladder at the end of the season, both with 15 wins from 18 games. Carlton and Collingwood completed the four, but each had managed only 12 wins for the season.
A new finals system was used. The new Page-McIntyre system instituted a Grand final, where the winner was the season premier. The previous system, where the ladder leader at the end of the home and away system was able to play off against the winner of the final (if they themselves did not win it) for the premiership was abandoned.
Carlton eliminated Collingwood in the first week of the Finals, winning by 88 points. The following week Richmond easily accounted for Geelong in the Second Semi final winning a place into the Grand Final. Geelong fought a close Preliminary final with Carlton. Geelong were up by three points at half time, then Carlton were up by a single point at three quarter time, before Geelong scrambled seven individual points in the final quarter, and held Carlton goal-less to win their way through to the Grand Final.
Many Australian families, and many at the grand final were touched by the war, with the deaths and permanent injury of brothers, fathers, uncles, cousins and friends. The procession on Sunday passed Melbourne's Shrine of Rememberance, still incomplete, a project Monash had been closely involved in.
Reg Hickey came third in the Brownlow medal count behind Haydn Bunton (Fitzroy) and Alan Hopkins (Footscray).
George Moloney came second in the season's leading Goal kickers, with 74 goals, behind Carlton's Harry Vallence's 86 goals.
Reference_ 1931 VFL Grand Final - Defeated Team (Richmond)
Sat, 10-Oct-1931
Attendance: 60,712
Goal Kickers
Geelong:Baker 2, L.Hardiman 2, Metherell 2, Collins 1, Moloney 1, Troughton 1
Richmond:D.Strang 3, Titus 2, Ford 1, Twyford 1
The Age - Mon 12-Oct-1931 p15
http://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1931/091419311010.html
Table of contents
Introduction
Argus 12Oct1931p9
Season and Lead-up
Argus 10Oct1931p5 Geelong at Halftime in the Preliminary Final v Carlton
After four straight Collingwood Premierships 1927-1930, 1931 saw something different.
Geelong and Richmond topped the ladder at the end of the season, both with 15 wins from 18 games. Carlton and Collingwood completed the four, but each had managed only 12 wins for the season.
A new finals system was used. The new Page-McIntyre system instituted a Grand final, where the winner was the season premier. The previous system, where the ladder leader at the end of the home and away system was able to play off against the winner of the final (if they themselves did not win it) for the premiership was abandoned.
Carlton eliminated Collingwood in the first week of the Finals, winning by 88 points. The following week Richmond easily accounted for Geelong in the Second Semi final winning a place into the Grand Final. Geelong fought a close Preliminary final with Carlton. Geelong were up by three points at half time, then Carlton were up by a single point at three quarter time, before Geelong scrambled seven individual points in the final quarter, and held Carlton goal-less to win their way through to the Grand Final.
Death of General John Monash
On the 8th of October 1931, General John Monash, leader of the Australian Armed forces during WW1 died. A State funeral was arranged on Grand Final Weekend. Over 60,000 attended the Grand Final on Saturday, but on the Sunday over 250,000 came into the city for the funeral.Many Australian families, and many at the grand final were touched by the war, with the deaths and permanent injury of brothers, fathers, uncles, cousins and friends. The procession on Sunday passed Melbourne's Shrine of Rememberance, still incomplete, a project Monash had been closely involved in.
Sir John Monash - Australasian 17-Oct-1931 - Source: State Library of Victoria Newspaper Collection
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Teams
Finals Photos of Geelong and Richmond (Taken at matches prior to the Final)- Australasian 3-Oct-1931 - Source: State Library of Victoria Newspaper Collection
Geelong
Geelong had an experinced team. Five players had already played over 100 League games (Edward Baker, Arthur Coghlan, Cargi Greeves, Reg Hickey, George Todd, and Jack Williams).Reg Hickey came third in the Brownlow medal count behind Haydn Bunton (Fitzroy) and Alan Hopkins (Footscray).
George Moloney came second in the season's leading Goal kickers, with 74 goals, behind Carlton's Harry Vallence's 86 goals.
Table Talk 15 Oct 1931 P6 Geelong 600thumb
Richmond
Allan Geddes, Basil McCormack and Tom O'Halloran had all played 100 League games and were the experienced men in the team. Richmond were slightly younder and less experienced than their Geelong opponents. The youngest and lease experienced player on the field was a 17 year old playing his 6th League game, a very young Jack Dyer.Links for Player Pages
Reference_ 1931 VFL Grand Final - Winning Team (Geelong)Reference_ 1931 VFL Grand Final - Defeated Team (Richmond)
The Game
M.C.G.Sat, 10-Oct-1931
Attendance: 60,712
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Final |
| Geelong | 2.3 (15) | 5.6 (36) | 8.11 (59) | 9.14 (68) |
| Richmond | 1.2 (8) | 4.5 (29) | 5.5 (35) | 7.6 (48) |
| GE by 7 | GE by 7 | GE by 24 | GE by 20 |
Goal Kickers
Geelong:Baker 2, L.Hardiman 2, Metherell 2, Collins 1, Moloney 1, Troughton 1
Richmond:D.Strang 3, Titus 2, Ford 1, Twyford 1
Match Reviews
The Argus Mon 12-Oct-1931 p9The Age - Mon 12-Oct-1931 p15
Photos
The Age 12Oct1931p12 Moloney Geelong ONeill Richmond
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Table Talk 15 Oct 1931 P6 Evans Geelong And Murdoch Rich 600thumb
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Table Talk 15 Oct 1931 P6 LHardiman And Moloney Geelong 600thumb
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1931 Geelong v Richmond Grand Final 1_02_06 - VFL On Film 1909-1945 - Marking Time V1
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1931 Geelong v Richmond Grand Final 1_02_22 - VFL On Film 1909-1945 - Marking Time V1
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1931 Geelong v Richmond Grand Final 1_02_44 - VFL On Film 1909-1945 - Marking Time V1
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1931 Doug Strang Place Kick for Goal Grand Final 1_02_50 - VFL On Film 1909-1945 - Marking Time V1
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Table Talk 15 Oct 1931 P6 Grand Final 600thumb
The Aftermath
Richmond would go on to win the 1932 Premiership.External Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1931_VFL_Grand_Finalhttp://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1931/091419311010.html