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grandfinalhistory.bsky.social
A podcast about the history of VFL and AFL taking it one season at a time
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Pleased to see a great player of an earlier generation recognised in the Australian Football Hall of Fame And here is some observations from the 1930s trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/ar...

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

#AFL should the player have more time or less time to get rid of the ball when tackled? Its always been a problem. Here is the advice from Round 1 1943 Footy Record. It was sure to fix the problem 😁 viewer.slv.vic.gov.au?entity=IE846...

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

Jack Titus was a champion full forward for the Tigers but in 1943 he was also busy jumping from his car and climbing on to a run away cart pulled by two horses in Punt Rd. Any nominations of which of today's players could do the same? trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/ar...

submitted 22 days ago • 0 comments

David Hill revolutionised sports TV broadcasting in Australia and around the world. Getting some well deserved recognition for his career. If you like watching sport, David Hill is likely responsible for some of the ways sport is shown on TV www.theage.com.au/world/north-...

submitted 26 days ago • 0 comments

Sad week for the AFL with untimely deaths of Robert Walls and Adam Selwood. Robert Walls had many memories of the MCG including Premierships as a player and coach and more. Worth a look at this 2013 Grand Final Record article. Vale Robert & Adam viewer.slv.vic.gov.au?entity=IE936...

submitted 28 days ago • 0 comments

#AFLPowerRoos share a common bond that can be honoured this Anzac Day. George Brock played 24 games for Port and 4 with North. Saturday 2nd Aug 1942 he rang North to advising he could not play that afternoon. That afternoon his RAAF training plane crashed and he was killed. RIP

submitted 52 days ago • 0 comments

#AFLPowerRoos share a common bond that can be honoured this Anzac Day. George Brock played 24 games for Port and 4 with North. Saturday 2nd Aug 1942 he rang North to advising he could not play that afternoon. That afternoon his RAAF training plane crashed and he was killed. RIP

submitted 52 days ago • 0 comments

The Collingwood Essendon Anzac Day game is a fine tradition but the biggest legacy to the game is the strength of Michael Long in 1995 standing up against racist abuse and the work of the late Tony Peek to change the rules of the game resulting in a fundamental improvement in the games culture

submitted 52 days ago • 1 comment

Americans were taking over the city & were amazed by the footy & yet some wanted to Americanise the local game to help it expand north There were bigger problems north of Australia with the Japanese advancing www.podbean.com/eas/pb-ndu8f...

submitted 68 days ago • 0 comments

Unusual ruling by the VFL tribunal in 1942 meant that a bye would count as a playing week when a player was suspended. Teams got 4 points for a bye so it was the equivalent of a playing week. Don't think that will still apply when Tasmania joins the AFL? trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/ar...

submitted 81 days ago • 0 comments

Great article on a long rivalry between Cambridge & Oxford Australian Football clubs www.theage.com.au/world/europe... The clubs also hold the record for the 1st TV broadcast of Australian Football. A BBC broadcast in 1954, two years before TV started in Australia trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/ar...

submitted 86 days ago • 0 comments

Congratulations to Footscray for celebrating their 100th anniversary of VFL/AFL Odd to do it at Collingwood's home ground given it took them 17 years to have their first win at the Magpies home ground in 1942 (Victoria Park rather than MCG back then) #AFL Footscray

submitted 87 days ago • 0 comments

Football history has many flavours and the movie Ange and the Boss, about Soccer Legend Ferenc Puskás is an absolute delight. Do your self a favour and check session times below angeandtheboss.com

submitted 90 days ago • 0 comments

It's almost time for the Round 1 Richmond Carlton game and what better way to prepare than reading the great series from Jake Niall in the Age about Carlton's 30 years of strife since their last Flag www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/hi...

submitted 96 days ago • 0 comments

Welcome back footy for 2025 and a fine article from Dean Bilton to whet the appetite. Only missing the eternal complaint from fans that we don't see the long kicking high marking game of the past 😀

submitted 101 days ago • 0 comments

@rhettrospective.bsky.social Is the 1940 membership card that was returned from Tobruk still in the club files? trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/ar...

submitted 124 days ago • 1 comment

A world war & some want to play football on Sundays, undermining the nation’s spiritual & moral foundations &risking national destruction. A lot going on in 1941. Melbourne aiming for their third premiership in a row but should football be played at all? kieranmagee.podbean.com/e/a-historic...

submitted 133 days ago • 0 comments

Remember this treat for winter to keep colds and flu away, as recommended by Richmond legend Jack Titus. A glass of "Dad and Mum" Bonox and Rum!. Jack never missed a game so it must have worked! viewer.slv.vic.gov.au?entity=IE846...

submitted 137 days ago • 0 comments

The Jack Dyer diet before the 1941 finals wouldn't work for modern footballers & scientific dieticians. No liquids, no breakfast & a light steak for lunch🥩. Jack Titus had permission to follow his own preparations, a 3 course lunch and a couple of cups of tea!🫖 trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/ar...

submitted 141 days ago • 0 comments

Great story from 1941. A football returned from Mid East & Tobruk Campaign to the VFL. Signed by Army Engineers and listing battle locations. Can anyone at the AFL confirm if the letter and football still on display? trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/ar...

submitted 144 days ago • 0 comments

Oldest umpire whistle discovered aflua.com.au/oldest-umpir...

submitted 149 days ago • 0 comments

Not a footy post but an unusual moment in History from June 1941 as Crete was being evacuated the Herald reported the Japanese Foreign Office paid tribute to the courage of the Anzacs, calling them "Samurai of Crete" Incredible given what happened 6 months later trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/ar...

submitted 151 days ago • 0 comments

The greatest shirtfront in the toughest season ever, with more players reported in 1940 than ever before. Drama on field & turmoil off field as the VFA recruit the biggest stars and many players made the biggest decisions of their lives to enlist for WWII grandfinalhistory.au/episode-44-t...

submitted 166 days ago • 0 comments

Jack Dyer gives a wonderful "Don't Argue" fend off in the 1940 Patriotic Premiership Final against St Kilda. The Saints won the match, their first ever premiership in the VFL Video here www.britishpathe.com/asset/47864/ Match report trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/ar...

submitted 168 days ago • 0 comments

A great find and recovery by Rhett An extraordinary moment of VFL history with some slightly dodgy re-enactment by the then club presidents bringing the fateful 1896 meeting to life

submitted 170 days ago • 0 comments

The 1940 tied Brownlow between Des Fothergill & Herbie Matthews saw a rare philosophical analysis like "Schrodinger's Cat" The tie could not be resolved and League Secretary said "It had been successfully argued that the Brownlow medal had neither been won nor lost" trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/ar...

submitted 180 days ago • 0 comments

Football club outings can go bad. North Melbourne's day on the bay March 1940 had fights & arrests Phonse Tobin (Tobin Bros Funerals) was convicted. He alleged police perjury & he got sued. Declared bankrupt & not discharged to 1973. Take care on club outings. adb.anu.edu.au/biography/to...

submitted 183 days ago • 1 comment

A few people might be surprised by this statement by Jack Dyer but it was in front of the Tribunal in 1940 so he must of been telling the truth "I have never deliberately struck any player on the football field" trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/ar...

submitted 189 days ago • 0 comments

Adelaide and night tests are back. Worth remembering South Australian cricketer Gordon Inkster who predicted night cricket after seeing baseball under lights in the USA in 1930 trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/ar...

submitted 192 days ago • 0 comments

If you are wondering when Essendon took on the "Bombers" mascot here is the answer. A short announcement pre season April 1940. Proximity to Essendon airport the oft stated reason. How many of the "Gilt airplane badges" are still out there? trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/ar...

submitted 193 days ago • 0 comments

War in Europe & the battle between the VFL & VFA continues with an 18 year old star getting the biggest $ offer for an Australian footballer Batman, Angry Anderson and the Sydney Olympics, they are all connected and the trail goes back to 1939. grandfinalhistory.au/episode-43-1...

submitted 195 days ago • 0 comments

Lots of talk recently re WildCard round to "Create more interest" in late season games. It's all been debated before. 1940 proposal Knockout double header at the G. 3rd plays 5th, 4th plays 6th & winners play 1st Semi Final Top 2 teams play 2nd Semi as per usual. trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/ar...

submitted 200 days ago • 1 comment