The 1940 VAFA season was the 45th season of the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA). The season was curtailed on 22 June without premierships awarded as a result of World War II, and the next season was not held until 1946.[1][2]
| 1940 VAFA season | |
|---|---|
| Date | ended 22 June 1940 |
| Teams | 34 |
This was the only time the VAFA had curtailed a season until 2021, when competition was suspended due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]
Association membership
editPrior to the start of the season, Brightonvale, Geelong and Old Brightonians withdrew from the competition (with Brightonvale folding entirely), while Black Rock District, Pascoe Vale and Power House were admitted.[4] However, Black Rock District withdrew prior to the start of the season.[5] The 1940 season set a new record for the number of VAFA teams competing.[6]
World War II
editIt initially appeared that World War II would not heavily affect the VAFA.[7] This was despite many players joining the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF) at the end of the 1939 season, and other players joining during the 1940 season.[8][9][10]
However, on 3 June 1940, the VAFA executive announced that the season would be abandoned "owing to the present critical situation overseas and the necessity of our young men preparing themselves to play their part in the defence of the Empire".[7][11]
The executive's decision was immediately opposed by a number of clubs, including Glen Huntly, South Camberwell and State Savings Bank, who advocated for continuing the season until the government requested a cessation.[7][12]
Over the following days, a petition asking the executive to reconsider its decision was signed by 19 clubs, however the decision was not changed and the season ceased following the games held on Saturday, 22 June.[13]
The VAFA did not resume playing until 1946. Around 3,000 VAFA players and officials served in World War II.[5][14]
Other notable events
edit- Former Northcote VFA captain-coach Alex Gray joined State Savings Bank as coach.[15][16]
- Brunswick player W. Mason was suspended for two games after being found guilty of charging A.N. Ellis (Coburg) on 4 May. Additionally, the VAFA reprimanded Ellis for "not being frank in his evidence".[17]
- South Camberwell player J. Davison was suspended for two games after using "insulting languague" towards an umpire.[17]
A Section
edit| 1940 VAFA A Section season | |
|---|---|
| Teams | 10 |
| Minor premiers | University Blacks |
Ladder
editUniversity Blacks and Collegians both finished with the same amount of points and one loss each, with the Blacks ahead on percentage.[1] The article from The Herald included the premiership points for all clubs, excluding State Savings Bank.[18]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University Blacks | 1 | 24 | ||||||
| 2 | Collegians | 1 | 24 | ||||||
| Ormond | 20 | ||||||||
| Coburg | 20 | ||||||||
| Ivanhoe | 16 | ||||||||
| Brunswick | 12 | ||||||||
| Elsternwick | 12 | ||||||||
| Malvern | 8 | ||||||||
| Old Scotch | 4 | ||||||||
| State Savings Bank | ? |
Source: [1][18]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
B Section
edit| 1940 VAFA B Section season | |
|---|---|
| Teams | 6 |
Ladder
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Paradians | |||||||||
| Footscray TSOB | |||||||||
| MHSOB | |||||||||
| Parkside | |||||||||
| St Paul's (Ascot Vale) | |||||||||
| Old Melburnians |
Source:[1]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
C Section North
edit| 1940 VAFA C Section North season | |
|---|---|
| Teams | 8 |
Ladder
editThe final game between Myer and Fairfield was abandoned.[1]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alphington | |||||||||
| Heidelberg West | |||||||||
| Pascoe Vale | |||||||||
| UHSOB | |||||||||
| Parkside | |||||||||
| Power House | |||||||||
| Myer | |||||||||
| Fairfield |
Source:[1]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
C Section South
edit| 1940 VAFA C Section South season | |
|---|---|
| Teams | 10 |
Ladder
editThe final game between Caulfield Grammarians and South Caulfield was abandoned.[1]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton TSOB | |||||||||
| Mt Carmel Old Collegians | |||||||||
| Glen Huntly | |||||||||
| Murrumbeena | |||||||||
| Hampton Rovers | |||||||||
| East Malvern | |||||||||
| Sandringham | |||||||||
| South Camberwell | |||||||||
| Caulfield Grammarians | |||||||||
| South Caulfield |
Source:[1]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h "Amateurs Conclude". Trove. The Age. 24 June 1940.
- ^ "Premier Section Finals Series". Victorian Amateur Football Association. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "VAFA, Joint League Statement: 2021 Season Cancelled". Victorian Amateur Football Association. 2 September 2021. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024.
- ^ "BRIGHTONVALE". Australian Football.
- ^ a b "History of the VAFA". Victorian Amateur Football Association. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024.
- ^ "RECORD NUMBER OF AMATEUR TEAMS". Sporting Globe. 17 April 1940. p. 11. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ a b c "Wars at Home and Abroad". Victorian Amateur Football Association. For the Love of the Game. 23 April 2020. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024.
- ^ "NEW MEN REBUILD TEAMS FOR AMATEUR FOOTBALL SEASON". The Herald. 26 April 1940. p. 15. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ "BLACKS v. COLLEGIANS LEADING AMATEUR MATCH THIS WEEK". The Sun. 9 May 1940. p. 30. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ Coutts, Bob (31 May 1940). "DEPLETED AMATEUR TEAMS TO MEET TOMORROW". The Herald. p. 16. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ "AMATEUR FOOTBALL COMPETITION WILL BE SUSPENDED". Sun News-Pictorial. The Sun. 4 June 1940.
- ^ "AMATEURS DIVIDED". Trove. The Argus. 5 June 1940.
- ^ "Amateur Clubs Hit By War". Trove. The Sun. 13 June 1940.
- ^ "World War II". Old Xaverians Football Club. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Former Northcote Player To Coach Amateurs". The Sun News-Pictorial. 15 March 1940. p. 32. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ "Alex Gray". Demonwiki. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ a b "AMATEUR PLAYERS SUSPENDED". The Sun News-Pictorial. 21 May 1940. p. 22. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ a b "AMATEUR SIDES TO FINISH". The Herald. 21 June 1940. p. 16. Retrieved 6 August 2024.