3.9 (27) 3.8 (26) 0.1 (1) 2.4 (16) 2.6 (18) 3.9 (27) | FIT 0.1 (1) 2.4 (16) 2.6 (18) SM 2.3 (15) | |
The 1899 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Fitzroy Football Club and South Melbourne Football Club, held at the St Kilda Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 16 September 1899. It was the 2nd annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine the premiers for the 1899 VFL season. The match, attended by 4,823 spectators, was won by Fitzroy by a margin of 1 point, becoming the first club to claim back-to-back VFL premierships.
Contents
Lead-up
Fitzroy had won the minor premiership in the 1899 season, while South Melbourne had finished sixth after the home-and-away season. In the sectional rounds, Fitzroy and South Melbourne each finished with records of 3–0 to qualify for the final.
Had South Melbourne won the match, it would not have immediately won the premiership; Fitzroy, as the minor premiers, would have had the right to challenge South to a rematch for the premiership on the following Saturday.
Summary
Due to an expanded finals system, South Melbourne had made their inaugural Grand Final despite finishing the home and away season in sixth position. Rain the wind favoured South Melbourne in the opening quarter and Harry Lampe slotted the first two goals of the match. Fitzroy then had the advantage the following quarter and goals to Mick Grace and Fred Fontaine had them ahead at half time. Charlie Colgan gave South Melbourne the lead with the only goal of the third term but Fitzroy finished strongly and Bill McSpeerin's goal 15 minutes into the final quarter gave Fitzroy the win.
Teams
Goalkickers
Fitzroy:
South Melbourne: