1.
Australian rules football
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The main way to score points is by kicking the oval-shaped ball between the two tall goal posts. The team with the score by the end of the match wins unless a draw is declared. During general play, players may position themselves anywhere on the field, the primary methods are kicking, handballing and running with the ball. There are rules on how the ball can be handled, for example, throwing the ball is not allowed and players must not get caught holding the ball. A distinctive feature of the game is the mark, where players anywhere on the field who catch a ball from a kick are awarded possession, possession of the ball is in dispute at all times except when a free kick or mark is paid. Players can tackle using their hands or use their body to obstruct opponents. The game features frequent physical contests, spectacular marking, fast movement of players and the ball and high scoring. The sports origins can be traced to matches played in Melbourne, Victoria in 1858. Its annual Grand Final is the highest attended club championship event in the world, the sport is also played at amateur level in many countries and in several variations. The games rules are governed by the AFL Commission with the advice of the AFLs Laws of the Game Committee, there is evidence of football being played sporadically in the Australian colonies in the first half of the 19th century. The earliest such match, held in St Kilda on 15 June, was between Melbourne Grammar and St Kilda Grammar. Born in Australia, Wills played a nascent form of rugby football whilst a pupil at Rugby School in England and his letter is regarded by many historians as giving impetus for the development of a new code of football today known as Australian football. Two weeks later, Wills friend, cricketer Jerry Bryant, posted an advertisement for a match at the Richmond Paddock adjoining the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This was the first of several kickabouts held that year involving members of the Melbourne Cricket Club, including Wills, Bryant, W. J. Hammersley, trees were used as goalposts and play typically lasted an entire afternoon. Without an agreed code of laws, some players were guided by rules they had learned in the British Isles. Another significant milestone in 1858 was a match played under experimental rules between Melbourne Grammar and Scotch College, held at the Richmond Paddock. This 40-a-side contest, umpired by Wills and Scotch College teacher John Macadam, began on 7 August and it is commemorated with a statue outside the MCG, and the two schools have competed annually ever since in the Cordner-Eggleston Cup, the worlds oldest continuous football competition. Since the early 20th century, it has suggested that Australian football was derived from the Irish sport of Gaelic football
2.
1909 VFL Grand Final
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It was the 12th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine the premiers for the 1909 VFL season. The match, attended by 37,759 spectators, was won by South Melbourne by two points, marking that clubs first premiership victory, Carlton and South Melbourne finished in the top two during the minor round of the 1909 season, each finishing with a 14–4 record. South Melbourne was the premier, with a higher percentage than Carlton. During the season, the Carlton Football Club had been split by infighting within the committee, captain Fred Pompey Elliott took over the coaching duties in Round 14, and Carlton won its last four matches. As premiers in 1906,1907, and 1908, Carlton was attempting to win its fourth consecutive premiership, the finals were played under the amended Argus system. Both teams won their semi-finals, and Carlton defeated South Melbourne in the final 10.9 to 7.5, South Melbourne, as minor premiers, was then entitled to a Grand Final challenge match to decide the premiership. The South Melbourne side was missing full-back Bill Dolphin, who was injured, and winger Jim Caldwell, norm Clark was available for Carlton. The match, played in a rather unsettling wind, was closely contested. In the first quarter, South Melbourne’s back-flanker Tom Grimshaw was felled, but eventually recovered consciousness, in the second quarter, Carlton’s Jack Baquie badly injured his ankle and left the field, but eventually returned in the third quarter to stand in the forward-pocket. In the last quarter, Carlton had several chances to win, with five minutes to go, Mallee Johnson and Charlie Hammond got the ball to centre half-forward Harvey Kelly, who kicked a goal, bringing Carlton to two points behind. Carlton lost the ensuing centre-bounce at the restart of play, the ball got to South Melbournes forward Len Mortimer, but his kick did not make the distance. South Melbourne 4.14 defeated Carlton 4.12, the 1909 Grand Final was filmed by Charles Cozens Spencers Sydney-based film company, and is the oldest known surviving footage of Australian rules football in action. The near-complete silent film can be viewed on the National Film, Carlton Blueseum Article, Grand Final,19091909 VFL Grand Final, South Melbourne vs Carlton on YouTube
