1903 VFL season#First Semi Final
{{Short description|Seventh season of the Victorian Football League (VFL)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox VFL season
| year = 1903
| image = Collingwood 1903 VFL premiers.jpg
| imagesize = 258px
| caption = {{AFL Col}} 1903 VFL premiership team
| date = 2 May—12 September 1903
| teams = 8
| premiers = {{AFL Col}}
| premcount = 2
| minorpremiers = {{AFL Col}}
| mpcount = 2
| leadinggoalkicker = Teddy Lockwood ({{AFL Col}})
| goals = 33
| matches = 71
| prevseason = {{coloured link|white|1902 VFL season|1902}}
| nextseason = {{coloured link|white|1904 VFL season|1904}}
}}
The 1903 VFL season was the seventh season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest-level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured eight clubs and ran from 2 May to 12 September, comprising a 17-round home-and-away season followed by a two-week finals series featuring the top four clubs.
{{AFL Col}} won the premiership, defeating {{AFL Fit}} by two points in the 1903 VFL grand final; it was Collingwood's second (consecutive and overall) VFL premiership. Collingwood also won its second consecutive minor premiership by finishing atop the home-and-away ladder with a 15–2 win–loss record. Collingwood's Teddy Lockwood won the leading goalkicker medal as the league's leading goalkicker.
Background
In 1903, the VFL competition consisted of eight teams of 18 on-the-field players each, with no "reserves", although any of the 18 players who had left the playing field for any reason could later resume their place on the field at any time during the match.
Each team played each other twice in a home-and-away season of 14 rounds. Then, based on ladder positions after those 14 rounds, three further 'sectional rounds' were played, with the teams ranked 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th playing in one section and the teams ranked 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th playing in the other.
Once the 17 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1903 VFL Premiers were determined by the specific format and conventions of the amended "Argus system".
Home-and-away season
=Round 1=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 3.3 (21)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 11.7 (73)
| East Melbourne Cricket Ground
| 2 May 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 9.4 (58)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 5.7 (37)
| 2 May 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 6.14 (50)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 5.13 (43)
| 2 May 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 2.8 (20)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 9.18 (72)
| 2 May 1903
{{s-end}}
=Round 2=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 13.14 (92)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 3.6 (24)
| 9 May 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 4.5 (29)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 6.11 (47)
| MCG
| 9 May 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 3.12 (30)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 4.6 (30)
| 9 May 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 8.7 (55)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 6.9 (45)
| SCG
| 3 August 1903
{{s-end}}
The match between Geelong and Carlton, originally to have been played at Corio Oval, was postponed due to a railway strike. It was played between Rounds 13 and 14, and was opportunistically moved to the Sydney Cricket Ground.{{citation|first=Stephen|last=Rodgers|publisher=Viking O'Neal|title=Every Game Ever Played, VFL/AFL Results 1897–1991|page=36|location=Ringwood, VIC}}
=Round 3=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 15.10 (100)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 4.8 (32)
| 16 May 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 12.17 (89)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 3.4 (22)
| 16 May 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 16.17 (113)
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 5.3 (33)
| 16 May 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 5.5 (35)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 7.14 (56)
| East Melbourne Cricket Ground
| 16 May 1903
{{s-end}}
=Round 4=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 12.16 (88)
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 1.4 (10)
| 23 May 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 5.7 (37)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 6.11 (47)
| 23 May 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 3.7 (25)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 4.4 (28)
| MCG
| 23 May 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 7.20 (62)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 6.9 (45)
| SCG
| 23 May 1903
{{s-end}}
=Round 5=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 13.17 (95)
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 3.10 (28)
| 30 May 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 10.13 (73)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 5.10 (40)
| East Melbourne Cricket Ground
| 30 May 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 10.17 (77)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 7.4 (46)
| 30 May 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 5.4 (34)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 10.7 (67)
| 30 May 1903
{{s-end}}
=Round 6=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 5.11 (41)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 6.12 (48)
| East Melbourne Cricket Ground
| 6 June 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 8.8 (56)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 4.5 (29)
| 6 June 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 8.9 (57)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 2.15 (27)
| 6 June 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 8.3 (51)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 12.12 (84)
| 6 June 1903
{{s-end}}
=Round 7=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 8.14 (62)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 3.4 (22)
| 8 June 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 4.9 (33)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 2.13 (25)
| 8 June 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 5.8 (38)
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 6.11 (47)
| 8 June 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 4.8 (32)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 1.2 (8)
| MCG
| 8 June 1903
{{s-end}}
=Round 8=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 6.6 (42)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 3.17 (35)
| MCG
| 13 June 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 5.9 (39)
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 7.13 (55)
| 13 June 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 8.6 (54)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 3.11 (29)
| 13 June 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 12.9 (81)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 10.7 (67)
| 13 June 1903
{{s-end}}
=Round 9=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 4.10 (34)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 3.8 (26)
| 20 June 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 4.8 (32)
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 4.5 (29)
| East Melbourne Cricket Ground
| 20 June 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 8.6 (54)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 6.11 (47)
| 20 June 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 4.11 (35)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 6.6 (42)
| 20 June 1903
{{s-end}}
=Round 10=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 6.14 (50)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 2.2 (14)
| 4 July 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 5.9 (39)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 10.7 (67)
| MCG
| 4 July 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 5.7 (37)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 7.11 (53)
| 4 July 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 2.4 (16)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 5.11 (41)
| 4 July 1903
{{s-end}}
=Round 11=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 9.13 (67)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 3.12 (30)
| 11 July 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 3.16 (34)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 4.5 (29)
| East Melbourne Cricket Ground
| 11 July 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 8.8 (56)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 5.6 (36)
| 11 July 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 4.3 (27)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 8.14 (62)
| 11 July 1903
{{s-end}}
=Round 12=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 7.8 (50)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 2.8 (20)
| 18 July 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 5.11 (41)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 5.8 (38)
| 18 July 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 13.11 (89)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 6.8 (44)
| 18 July 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 4.8 (32)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 11.8 (74)
| MCG
| 18 July 1903
{{s-end}}
=Round 13=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 4.8 (32)
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 9.7 (61)
| MCG
| 25 July 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 6.15 (51)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 5.7 (37)
| 25 July 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 5.7 (37)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 7.17 (59)
| 25 July 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 8.8 (56)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 3.6 (24)
| 25 July 1903
{{s-end}}
=Round 14=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 5.11 (41)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 8.8 (56)
| 8 August 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 7.4 (46)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 11.7 (73)
| East Melbourne Cricket Ground
| 8 August 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 5.3 (33)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 9.12 (66)
| 8 August 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 12.9 (81)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 4.8 (32)
| 8 August 1903
{{s-end}}
=Pre-sectional ladder=
| class=wikitable
| style=width:1em bgcolor=E6E6FA | | Section A |
| style=width:1em bgcolor=FEEAD3 | | Section B |
{{Australian rules football ladder start}}
|- style=background:#E6E6FA
| 1 || align=left | {{AFL Col}} || 14 || 12 || 2 || 0 || 899 || 568 || 158.3 || 48
|- style=background:#FEEAD3
| 2 || align=left | {{AFL Fit}} || 14 || 11 || 3 || 0 || 794 || 469 || 169.3 || 44
|- style=background:#E6E6FA
| 3 || align=left | {{AFL Car}} || 14 || 9 || 5 || 0 || 726 || 533 || 136.2 || 36
|- style=background:#FEEAD3
| 4 || align=left | {{AFL Gee}} || 14 || 7 || 7 || 0 || 766 || 692 || 110.7 || 28
|- style=background:#E6E6FA
| 5 || align=left | {{AFL|StK}} || 14 || 6 || 7 || 1 || 535 || 739 || 72.4 || 26
|- style=background:#FEEAD3
| 6 || align=left | {{AFL Ess}} || 14 || 5 || 8 || 1 || 511 || 666 || 76.7 || 22
|- style=background:#E6E6FA
| 7 || align=left | {{AFL Mel}} || 14 || 3 || 11 || 0 || 490 || 713 || 68.7 || 12
|- style=background:#FEEAD3
| 8 || align=left | {{AFL SM}} || 14 || 2 || 12 || 0 || 479 || 820 || 58.4 || 8
|}
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for
Source: [https://afltables.com/afl/seas/1903.html#lad AFL Tables]
=Round 15 (Sectional round 1)=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 5.2 (32)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 9.13 (67)
| MCG
| 15 August 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 3.12 (30)
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 2.6 (18)
| 15 August 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 8.7 (55)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 10.14 (74)
| East Melbourne Cricket Ground
| 15 August 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 8.8 (56)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 12.14 (86)
| 15 August 1903
{{s-end}}
=Round 16 (Sectional round 2)=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 5.11 (41)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 6.7 (43)
| 22 August 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 15.12 (102)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 4.7 (31)
| 22 August 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 11.17 (83)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 3.5 (23)
| 22 August 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 7.12 (54)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 4.7 (31)
| 22 August 1903
{{s-end}}
=Round 17 (Sectional round 3)=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 3.10 (28)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 4.7 (31)
| 29 August 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 13.13 (91)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 5.10 (40)
| 29 August 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 14.10 (94)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 5.7 (37)
| East Melbourne Cricket Ground
| 29 August 1903
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 3.9 (27)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 5.4 (34)
| 29 August 1903
{{s-end}}
Ladder
| class=wikitable
| (P) | Premiers |
| bgcolor=FFFFBB | | Qualified for finals |
{{Australian rules football ladder start}}
|- style=background:#FFFFBB
| 1 || align=left | {{AFL Col}} (P) || 17 || 15 || 2 || 0 || 1063 || 667 || 159.4 || 60
|- style=background:#FFFFBB
| 2 || align=left | {{AFL Fit}} || 17 || 14 || 3 || 0 || 985 || 574 || 171.6 || 56
|- style=background:#FFFFBB
| 3 || align=left | {{AFL Car}} || 17 || 11 || 6 || 0 || 865 || 636 || 136.0 || 44
|- style=background:#FFFFBB
| 4 || align=left | {{AFL Gee}} || 17 || 9 || 8 || 0 || 981 || 813 || 120.7 || 36
|-
| 5 || align=left | {{AFL|StK}} || 17 || 7 || 9 || 1 || 635 || 831 || 76.4 || 30
|-
| 6 || align=left | {{AFL Ess}} || 17 || 6 || 10 || 1 || 691 || 879 || 78.6 || 26
|-
| 7 || align=left | {{AFL Mel}} || 17 || 3 || 14 || 0 || 593 || 925 || 64.1 || 12
|-
| 8 || align=left | {{AFL SM}} || 17 || 2 || 15 || 0 || 595 || 1083 || 54.9 || 8
|}
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for
Average score: 47.1
Source: [https://afltables.com/afl/seas/1903.html#flad AFL Tables]
Finals series
=Semi-finals=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Date
| Attendance
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 11.15 (81)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 4.5 (29)
| MCG
| 5 September 1903
| 15,000
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 4.3 (27)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 3.5 (23)
| 5 September 1903
| 16,600
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
{{s-end}}
=Grand final=
{{main|1903 VFL grand final}}
{{AFLGameHeader|title=Grand final}}
{{AFLGame|Saturday, 12 September (3:10 pm)|{{AFL Col}}|4.7 (31)|H|{{AFL Fit}}|3.11 (29)|Melbourne Cricket Ground|32,363|}}
{{AFLGameFooter}}
Win–loss table
The following table can be sorted from biggest winning margin to biggest losing margin for each round. If two or more matches in a round are decided by the same margin, these margins are sorted by percentage (i.e. the lowest-scoring winning team is ranked highest and the lowest-scoring losing team is ranked lowest). Opponents are listed above the margins and home matches are in bold.
{{Australian rules football win/loss table legend}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:85%; text-align:center"
! rowspan=2 | Team !! colspan=17 | Home-and-away season !! rowspan=2 | {{Tooltip|Ladder|Ladder position and win/loss/draw record}} !! colspan=2 | Finals series | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | SF | GF | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left | {{AFL Car}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|03|COL +21}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|06|GEE -10}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|04|ESS +21}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|01|STK +78}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|02|SM +33}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|03|FIT +27}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|07|MEL -24}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|06|COL -14}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|03|GEE +7}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|01|ESS +36}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|02|STK +35}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|03|SM +30}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|08|FIT -32}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|05|MEL -15}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|01|MEL +35}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|05|COL -2}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|04|STK +3}} | bgcolor=FFFFBB | 3 (11–6–0) | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|02|COL -4}} | bgcolor=C0C0C0 | |
| align=left | {{AFL Col}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|06|CAR -21}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|01|SM +68}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|01|STK +80}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|07|FIT -17}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|04|MEL +31}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|01|GEE +33}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|04|ESS +8}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|03|CAR +14}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|02|SM +7}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|03|STK +25}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|03|FIT +20}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|02|MEL +42}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|04|GEE +14}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|03|ESS +27}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|04|STK +12}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|04|CAR +2}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|02|MEL +51}} | bgcolor=FFFFBB | 1 (15–2–0) | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|03|CAR +4}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|02|FIT +2}} |
| align=left | {{AFL Ess}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|07|FIT -52}} | bgcolor=CCCCFF | {{sort|04|STK 0}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|05|CAR -21}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|04|MEL +3}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|03|GEE +33}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|05|SM -7}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|05|COL -8}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|08|FIT -25}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|04|STK +3}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|08|CAR -36}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|04|MEL +5}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|08|GEE -45}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|03|SM +22}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|06|COL -27}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|06|FIT -19}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|08|GEE -71}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|01|SM +57}} | 6 (6–10–1) | colspan=2 bgcolor=C0C0C0 | | |
| align=left | {{AFL Fit}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|02|ESS +52}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|02|MEL +18}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|03|SM +67}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|02|COL +17}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|01|STK +67}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|06|CAR -27}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|01|GEE +40}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|01|ESS +25}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|01|MEL +8}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|04|SM +16}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|06|COL -20}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|05|STK -3}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|01|CAR +32}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|02|GEE +33}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|03|ESS +19}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|02|SM +60}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|03|GEE +7}} | bgcolor=FFFFBB | 2 (14–3–0) | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|04|GEE +52}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|01|COL -2}} |
| align=left | {{AFL Gee}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|01|STK +52}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|03|CAR +10}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|02|MEL +68}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|03|SM +10}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|06|ESS -33}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|08|COL -33}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|08|FIT -40}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|07|STK -16}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|06|CAR -7}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|02|MEL +28}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|01|SM +37}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|01|ESS +45}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|05|COL -14}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|07|FIT -33}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|02|SM +30}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|01|ESS +71}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|06|FIT -7}} | bgcolor=FFFFBB | 4 (9–8–0) | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|01|FIT -52}} | bgcolor=C0C0C0 | |
| align=left | {{AFL Mel}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|05|SM -7}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|07|FIT -18}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|07|GEE -68}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|05|ESS -3}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|05|COL -31}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|07|STK -30}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|02|CAR +24}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|04|SM +7}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|08|FIT -8}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|07|GEE -28}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|05|ESS -5}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|07|COL -42}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|07|STK -29}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|04|CAR +15}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|08|CAR -35}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|06|STK -23}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|07|COL -51}} | 7 (3–14–0) | colspan=2 bgcolor=C0C0C0 | | |
| align=left | {{AFL SM}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|04|MEL +7}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|08|COL -68}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|06|FIT -67}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|06|GEE -10}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|07|CAR -33}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|04|ESS +7}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|06|STK -9}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|05|MEL -7}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|07|COL -7}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|05|FIT -16}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|08|GEE -37}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|06|CAR -30}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|06|ESS -22}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|08|STK -49}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|07|GEE -30}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|07|FIT -60}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|08|ESS -57}} | 8 (2–15–0) | colspan=2 bgcolor=C0C0C0 | | |
| align=left | {{AFL|StK}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|08|GEE -52}} | bgcolor=CCCCFF | {{sort|05|ESS 0}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|08|COL -80}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|08|CAR -78}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|08|FIT -67}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|02|MEL +30}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|03|SM +9}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|02|GEE +16}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|05|ESS -3}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|06|COL -25}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|07|CAR -35}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|04|FIT +3}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|02|MEL +29}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|01|SM +49}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|05|COL -12}} | bgcolor=CCFFCC | {{sort|03|MEL +23}} | bgcolor=FFCFCF | {{sort|05|CAR -3}} | 5 (7–9–1) | colspan=2 bgcolor=C0C0C0 | |
Source: [https://afltables.com/afl/seas/1903.html AFL Tables]
Season notes
- Boundary umpires were added to some VFL matches, relieving the field umpire of the task of returning the ball to play from the boundary, and would be made permanent from 1904.
- Following their Round 1 loss to Geelong, St Kilda had played 100 VFL games for a record of two wins and 98 losses.
- The Round 2 match between Geelong and Carlton on 9 May was postponed after a railway strike on the afternoon of 8 May prevented the Carlton team from getting to Geelong. The league decided to use the opportunity to promote the game in Sydney, and arranged to play the match on Saturday, 1 August at the Sydney Cricket Ground, but due to heavy rain, the match was postponed {{cite news|newspaper=Evening News|location=Sydney, NSW|page=4|date=4 August 1903|title=To-day's football}} to Monday, 3 August before a crowd of 5,000; Geelong won 8.7 (55) to 6.9 (45).{{cite news|newspaper=Australian Town and Country Journal|location=Sydney, NSW|title=Geelong v. Carlton|date=5 August 1903|page=51}} In Round 3, Melbourne had to travel to Geelong by boat as the strike still had not been resolved.
- On 23 May, a crowd of 18,000 attended the round 4 match between Fitzroy and Collingwood at the Sydney Cricket Ground; Fitzroy won 7.20 (62) to 6.9 (45). Players wore large numbers on the back of their guernseys to assist the crowd.
- St Kilda's win over South Melbourne in Round 7 was its first away win in 54 VFL matches; the 53 consecutive away losses is an AFL/VFL record. It was also St Kilda's first senior away win since defeating Port Melbourne in 1894, after 77 consecutive winless away matches (including three draws) and 62 consecutive away losses.
- 1903 was the first time that the VFL Premiership was decided on the last kick of the day. The usually accurate Fitzroy captain Gerald Brosnan missed the goal from 30 metres out, and Fitzroy lost to Collingwood by two points.
Awards
- The 1903 VFL Premiership team was Collingwood.
- The VFL's leading goalkicker was Teddy Lockwood of Collingwood with 35 goals.
- South Melbourne took the "wooden spoon" in 1903.
References
{{Reflist}}
- Ross, J. (ed), 100 Years of Australian Football 1897–1996: The Complete Story of the AFL, All the Big Stories, All the Great Pictures, All the Champions, Every AFL Season Reported, Viking, (Ringwood), 1996. {{ISBN|0-670-86814-0}}
Sources
- [https://afltables.com/afl/seas/1903.html 1903 VFL season] at AFL Tables
- [https://www.australianfootball.com/seasons/season/afl/138/premiership%2Bseason/1/1/1903 1903 VFL season] at Australian Football
{{Australian Football League}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1903 VFL season}}