1896 Carlton Football Club season

Carlton Football Club

1896 season
President	A. H. Shaw[1]
Captain(s)	Tom Blake[1]
Home ground	University Cricket Ground
VFA season	Equal 12th (2–14–2)
← 1895 1897 →

The 1896 VFA season was the 20th season in the Victorian Football Association to be contested by the Carlton Football Club. The club finished equal-last out of thirteen teams, with a record of 2–14–2 from eighteen matches. It was the final VFA season contested by the club before joining the newly established Victorian Football League in 1897.

Club summary

The 1896 VFA season was the 20th season of the VFA competition since its inception in 1877; and, having competed in every season, it was also the 20th season contested by the Carlton Football Club. It was the last time the club ever competed in the VFA as a senior club, before the club joined the Victorian Football League competition the following year; Carlton would later return to the former VFA from 2000–2002, but fielding its reserves team rather than its senior team.

Carlton's primary home ground in 1896 was the University Cricket Ground, within the grounds of the University of Melbourne in Carlton; but, home matches were also moved to the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Jolimont, and to the Richmond City Reserve in Richmond.

Mr A. H. Shaw took over the role as president of the football club in 1896. Shaw replaced Mr F. B. Bromby, who had served in the role for one year in 1895.^[1]

Season summary

Non-premiership matches

Carlton's played one non-premiership match in 1896. This match was played against Ballarat Imperial in Ballarat on the same weekend as Round 1 of the premiership seasons, during which both clubs had a bye.

Date	Opponent	Scores (Carlton's scores indicated in bold)			Venue
		Home	Away	Result
Sunday, 3 May	Ballarat Imperial	6.3	4.5	Lost by 2 goals[2]	Saxon Paddock, Ballarat (A)[3]

Premiership season

In a generally uncompetitive season, Carlton finished with a record of 2–14–2 from eighteen matches, to finish equal last in the Association with Richmond. A draw against equal sixth-placed Port Melbourne was Carlton's best result, as all other premiership points earned came against teams finishing ninth or lower. Throughout the season, Carlton was in a battle with Richmond for last place on the ladder; Richmond ultimately won its last two matches, breaking a streak of fifteen losses in a row, to draw level with Carlton, thus resulting in the two clubs sharing last place.^[4][5]

Round	Date	Opponent	Scores (Carlton's scores indicated in bold)			Venue	Ladder position
			Home	Away	Result
1	Bye						N/A
2	Saturday, 9 May	Essendon	10.17	0.7	Lost by 10 goals[6]	East Melbourne Cricket Ground (A)[7]	11th
3	Saturday, 16 May	North Melbourne	2.6	6.4	Lost by 4 goals[8]	University Cricket Ground (H)[9]	11th
4	Saturday, 23 May	Richmond	3.3	6.5	Won by 3 goals[10]	Richmond Cricket Ground (A)[11]	10th
5	Saturday, 30 May	Collingwood	3.10	4.8	Lost by 1 goal[12]	University Cricket Ground (H)[13]	12th
6	Saturday, 13 June	St Kilda	5.11	3.2	Lost by 2 goals[14]	St Kilda Cricket Ground (A)[15]	12th
7	Saturday, 20 June	Geelong	1.1	1.13	Match drawn[16]	Melbourne Cricket Ground (H)[17]	12th
8	Saturday, 27 June	Port Melbourne	3.5	3.6	Match drawn[18]	University Cricket Ground (H)[19]	12th
9	Saturday, 4 July	Fitzroy	1.2	3.9	Lost by 2 goals[20]	Melbourne Cricket Ground (H)[21]	12th
10	Saturday, 11 July	Footscray	3.10	5.2	Lost by 2 goals[22]	University Cricket Ground (H)[23]	12th
11	Saturday, 18 July	South Melbourne	3.16	1.3	Lost by 2 goals[24]	South Melbourne Cricket Ground (A)[25]	12th
12	Saturday, 25 July	Melbourne	7.11	3.4	Lost by 4 goals[26]	Melbourne Cricket Ground (A)[27]	12th
13	Saturday, 1 August	Williamstown	2.3	3.7	Lost by 1 goal[28]	University Cricket Ground[29]	12th
14	Bye						12th[30]
15	Saturday, 15 August	Footscray	7.8	4.2	Lost by 3 goals[31]	Western Reserve (A)[32]	12th
16	Saturday, 22 August	St Kilda	5.4	3.7	Won by 2 goals[33]	University Cricket Ground (H)[34]	12th
17	Saturday, 29 August	North Melbourne	Postponed (inclement weather)			North Melbourne Recreation Reserve (A)[35]	12th
17	Saturday, 5 September	North Melbourne	6.6	1.9	Lost by 5 goals[36]	North Melbourne Recreation Reserve (A)[35]	12th
18	Saturday, 12 September	Collingwood	9.15	1.3	Lost by 8 goals[37]	Victoria Park (A)[38]	12th
19	Saturday, 19 September	Richmond	2.6	5.5	Lost by 3 goals[4]	Richmond City Reserve (H)[39]	12th
20	Saturday, 26 September	Williamstown	6.4	5.3	Lost by 1 goal[5]	Williamstown Cricket Ground[40]	12th

Ladder

1896 VFA Ladder
	TEAM	P	W	L	D	GF	GA	PTS
1	Collingwood (P)	18	14	3	1	86	55	58
	South Melbourne	18	14	3	1	85	55	58
3	Essendon	18	14	4	0	122	64	56
4	Fitzroy	18	12	6	0	80	59	48
	Melbourne	18	12	6	0	119	66	48
6	North Melbourne	18	8	9	1	92	80	34
	Port Melbourne	18	7	8	3	72	71	34
	Williamstown	18	7	8	3	64	89	34
9	Footscray	18	5	10	3	69	94	26
	St Kilda	18	6	11	1	69	88	26
11	Geelong	18	4	11	3	87	80	22
12	Carlton	18	2	14	2	46	93	12
	Richmond	18	3	15	0	52	136	12
Key: P = Played, W = Won, L = Lost, D = Drawn, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, (P) = Premiers								Source[5]

The Association had no formal tie-breakers in cases where clubs were equal on premiership points.

Notable events

• Following Carlton's 3–4 loss against Collingwood in Round 5, it was revealed that, due to a timekeepers' error, the final quarter had lasted 30 minutes instead of the regulation 25 minutes. Because Collingwood had scored the winning goal inside those extra five minutes – and, in fact, on the final bell – Carlton formally challenged to have the result amended to a 3–3 draw.^[41] The challenge was dismissed at the Association's next meeting, held three weeks later.^[42]
• On 2 October, the day before the playoff match for the premiership between Collingwood and South Melbourne, six of the league's strongest clubs – Collingwood, Essendon, Fitzroy, Geelong, Melbourne and South Melbourne – opted to split from the Victorian Football Association, and established the Victorian Football League as a distinct rival competition from 1897. The six clubs invited Carlton and St Kilda to defect to the new competition, as seventh and eighth clubs, and both accepted.^[43]

References

1. "Honour Board". Carlton Football Club. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
2. Observer (4 May 1896). "Football – Opening of the season". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. pp. 5–6.
3. "Opening of the football season". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 2 May 1896. p. 4.
4. Observer (21 September 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. pp. 5–6.
5. Observer (28 September 1896). "Football Notes". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. p. 6.
6. Observer (11 May 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. pp. 5–6.
7. "Football". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 6 May 1896. p. 6.
8. Observer (18 May 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. pp. 5–6.
9. "Football – Today's matches". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 16 May 1896. p. 4.
10. Observer (25 May 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. p. 6.
11. "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 19 May 1896. p. 7.
12. Observer (1 June 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. p. 6.
13. "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 27 May 1896. p. 7.
14. Observer (15 June 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. p. 7.
15. "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 9 June 1896. p. 7.
16. Observer (22 June 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. p. 6.
17. "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 17 June 1896. p. 7.
18. Observer (29 June 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. p. 6.
19. "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 23 June 1896. p. 3.
20. Observer (6 July 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. p. 6.
21. "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 30 June 1896. p. 3.
22. Observer (13 July 1896). "Football – Essendon beaten by Geelong". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. p. 6.
23. "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 7 July 1896. p. 3.
24. Observer (20 July 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. p. 6.
25. "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 14 Jul 1896. p. 7.
26. Observer (27 July 1896). "Football – some exciting games and a riot". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. p. 6.
27. "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 22 July 1896. p. 6.
28. Observer (3 August 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. p. 6.
29. "Football". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 28 July 1896. p. 3.
30. Observer (10 August 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. p. 6.
31. The Argus misprinted the final score of this game as 4.2–4.2, although the same article's prose made clear that Footscray won. The Age confirms the final score. Follower (17 August 1896). "The Football Season - public interest revived". The Age. Melbourne, VIC. p. 3.; Observer (17 August 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. pp. 5–6.
32. "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 11 August 1896. p. 3.
33. Observer (24 August 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. pp. 5–6.
34. "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 18 August 1896. p. 3.
35. "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 25 August 1896. p. 7.
36. Observer (7 September 1896). "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. p. 6.
37. "Football – Notes on Saturday's matches". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 14 September 1896. p. 6.
38. "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 9 September 1896. p. 6.
39. "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 15 September 1896. p. 3.
40. "Football – Victorian Football Association". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 25 September 1896. p. 7.
41. "Football". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 2 June 1896. p. 3.
42. "Football – Today's matches". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 20 June 1896. p. 4.
43. "New Football Association". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 3 October 1896. p. 10.