At the 2018 Sydney Swans Guernsey Presentation and Hall of Fame Induction Dinner, presented by Volkswagen, three new listings were added to the Sydney Swans Heritage List, among them, the 1918 Premiership Team.
In 1918, we finished top of the ladder, losing only one game of the season. We won our second VFL Premiership defeating Collingwood by five points.
The season was played under the amended Argus system. South Melbourne was the minor premier, and Collingwood finished second. The teams both qualified for the Grand Final by winning their semi-finals matches.
If Collingwood had won this match, South Melbourne would have had the right to challenge Collingwood to a rematch for the premiership on the following weekend, because South was the minor Premier. The winner of that match would then have won the premiership. As it turned out no re-match was necessary.
An edited article from a newspaper of the day reports:
“An ideal day for football and the prospect of witnessing what proved to be the final match of the season brought a record attendance for war-time football to the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday to witness the play-off for the League premiership, between South Melbourne and Collingwood.
Nearly 40,000 people were present on Saturday, the official figures being: Attendance, 39,168; receipts, £1,175.
It was another great game, cleanly played and keenly fought out. The day favoured the good exposition of football, and high-marking and long kicking were features.
South Melbourne, however, by sheer doggedness wore their opponents down and in the last minute just managed to get in front. They possess a remarkably even combination, and on the merits of the season’s play have undoubtedly proven themselves to be the best team in the League. Only one defeat is debited against them during the season.
The quarter time scores read: Collingwood, 3 goals 3 behinds; South Melbourne, 2 goals 5 behinds.
The second quarter was all in favour of Collingwood, who scored 1 goal 6 behinds, while their opponents failed to add a point.
When the half-time bell rang the scores were: Collingwood, 4 goals 9 behinds; South Melbourne, 2 goals 5 behinds.
During the half-time interval twelve recruiting sergeants appealed from various parts of the ground for recruits to come forward and become participants in a greater game than football. Judging from the response to the appeal, no recruits came forward, the eligibles among the crowd evidently thought that only one game counted.
In the third term the play opened up considerably, South Melbourne for the first time showing a glimpse of their true form.
At the last change of ends the scores Collingwood 7 goals 12 behinds to South Melbourne’s 6 goals 6 behinds gave Collingwood a handy lead of 12 points.
The last quarter proved the most exciting of the day. South Melbourne’s chances of victory did not look too good, and Belcher was taken into the ruck, where he immediately made his presence felt.
The crowd were now wildly enthusiastic, and play became desperate.
In a rally, in which Tandy was prominent, Ryan drove the ball into the teeth of the goal, where Laird, amidst great excitement, quickly dashed through and snapped a goal just on time, thus giving South Melbourne the match and the premiership by the narrow margin of five points. The game, which was all in favour of Collingwood in the first half, improved considerably in the third and fourth quarters, South Melbourne finishing better than their opponents.
The final scores were:
SOUTH MELBOURNE 9 goals 8 behinds (62 points).
COLLINGWOOD, 7 goals 15 behinds (57 points).
Whether placed or following O’Halloran was always in the thick of it,and was easily South Melbourne’s best man. Howell also rendered invaluable assistance, his high-marking being good. Of the back men Turner, in goal, kicked off well, and was ably supported in defence by O’Donoghue and Rademacher. Tandy and Woods shaped fairly well across the centreline, while Laird (three goals) and Ryan (three goals) both proved themselves to be tricky forwards.”
South Melbourne’s second VFL Premiership flag was unfurled immediately before the 1919 opening round match at the Lake Oval against 1918 Grand Final opponent, Collingwood.
