1913:  Cananore (TFL) are awarded the Tasmanian State Premiership on forfeit after opponents Launceston (NTFA) object to the choice of umpire.  Melbourne City, which had lost all 36 matches contested over two seasons, replaced in VFA by Hawthorn. Grand final results - CoA: Port Adelaide 13.16 (94) d. Fitzroy 4.7 (31); VFL: Fitzroy 7.14 (56) d. St Kilda 5.13 (43) [See GREAT GAMES section]; SAFL: Port Adelaide 7.12 (54) d. North Adelaide 5.10 (40); WAFL: Subiaco 6.7 (43) d. Perth 4.7 (31); VFA: Footscray 10.14 (74) d. North Melbourne 11.7 (73) [See GREAT GAMES section]; TFL: Cananore 10.13 (73) d. Lefroy 4.12 (36); NSWAFL: Sydney 9.16 (70) d. Paddington 6.6 (42); QFL: Valley 14.16 (100) d. Royal Australian Artillery 10.7 (67); WA State Premiership: Subiaco 15.11 (101) d. Boulder City 8.6 (54). Other premiers - NTFA: Launceston (on points); NWFU: Latrobe (on points).

1914: Third interstate championships contested in Sydney; won by VFL. Port Adelaide win all 14 matches played for season to secure SAFL premiership and club championship of Australia.  Midland Junction readmitted to WAFL. WA State Premiership suspended. Grand final results - CoA: Port Adelaide 9.16 (70) d. Carlton 5.6 (36); VFL: Carlton 6.9 (45) d. South Melbourne 4.15 (39); SAFL: Port Adelaide 13.15 (93) d. North Adelaide 1.8 (14); WAFL: East Fremantle 5.13 (43) d. South Fremantle 3.6 (24); VFA: North Melbourne 12.14 (86) d. Footscray 7.9 (51); TFL: North Hobart 7.11 (53) d. Cananore 4.11 (35); NSWAFL: South Sydney 7.7 (49) d. Sydney 4.15 (39); QFL: South Brisbane 6.17 (53) d. Valley 4.8 (32); NWFU: Devonport 9.9 (63) d. Latrobe 5.1 (31); TSP: North Hobart 8.18 (66) d. City 4.9 (33).  Other premiers - NTFA: City (on points).

1915: QFL suspends competition as does NTFA. University (VFL) disband. TSP suspended.  North Melbourne (VFA): played 14, won 14 - undefeated premiers. Grand final results - VFL: Carlton 11.12 (78) d. Collingwood 6.9 (45); SAFL: Sturt 6.10 (46) d. Port Adelaide 4.10 (34); WAFL: Subiaco 3.3 (21) d. Perth 2.7 (19); VFA: North Melbourne 11.10 (76) d. Brunswick 3.10 (28); TFL: Lefroy 6.12 (48) d. Cananore 3.5 (23); NSWAFL: Paddington 9.5 (59) d. Newtown 5.11 (41); NWFU: Devonport 3.2 (20) d. Ulverstone 2.6 (18).

1916: SAFL, VFA, TFL, QFL, NTFA and NWFU competitions in recess owing to World War One. VFL premiership contested by just four clubs.  North Fremantle withdraw from WAFL. Grand final results - VFL: Fitzroy 12.13 (85) d. Carlton 8.8 (56); WAFL: South Fremantle 7.12 (54) d. East Fremantle 5.5 (35); NSWAFL: Paddington 3.14 (32) d. Balmain 1.8 (14).

1917: Formation of Northern Territory Football League (NTFL). First premiership won by Wanderers after 1.10 (16) to 1.3 (9) grand final defeat of Waratahs. VFL contested by 6 clubs. Grand final results - VFL: Collingwood 9.20 (74) d. Fitzroy 5.9 (39); WAFL: South Fremantle 6.5 (41) d. East Fremantle 3.8 (26); NSWAFL: Paddington 12.20 (92) d. East Sydney 3.10 (28).

1918: VFA competition resumes. North Melbourne win third consecutive VFA premiership (allowing for break for war). VFL competition consists of 8 clubs.  Midland Junction leave WAFL. NTFL runs during Darwin wet season, October-March. Grand final results - VFL: South Melbourne 9.8 (62) d. Collingwood 7.15 (57); WAFL: East Fremantle 11.8 (74) d. East Perth 8.5 (53); VFA: North Melbourne 18.13 (121) d. Prahran 3.10 (18). Other premiers - NSWAFL: East Sydney; NTFL: Wanderers.

1919: SAFL competition resumes. TFL competition resumes but comes to premature halt owing to influenza epidemic. NTFA and NWFU both similarly affected. WA State Premiership contested once more, with East Perth 9.17 (71) defeating Kalgoorlie Railways 6.10 (46).  VFL competition comprises 9 clubs. VFL Reserves competition established. South Melbourne amass VFL record score of 29.15 (189) against St Kilda.  VFA reverts to 18 players a side. Grand final results - VFL: Collingwood 11.12 (78) d. Richmond 7.11 (53); SAFL: Sturt 5.9 (39) tied North Adelaide 5.9 (39) Replay - Sturt 3.5 (23) d. North Adelaide 2.6 (18); WAFL: East Perth 10.8 (68) d. East Fremantle 7.4 (46); VFA: Footscray 8.17 (65) d. North Melbourne 6.7 (43); NSWAFL: Paddington 11.10 (76) d. East Sydney 8.8 (56); NTFL: Wanderers 9.9 (63) d. Waratahs 3.5 (23).

1920: TFL, QFL, NTFA and NWFU competitions resume. VFA semi final between Footscray and North Melbourne abandoned because of crowd trouble. Grand final results - VFL: Richmond 7.10 (52) d. Collingwood 5.5 (35); SAFL: North Adelaide 9.15 (69) d. Norwood 3.3 (21); WAFL: East Perth 6.16 (52) d. East Fremantle 4.6 (30); VFA: Footscray 10.9 (69) d. Brunswick 8.18 (66); TFL: North Hobart 10.12 (72) d. Lefroy 6.16 (52); NSWAFL: Paddington 15.5 (95) d. Newtown 9.15 (69); NTFL: Wanderers 6.12 (48) d. Vesteys 3.9 (27); QFL: Wynnum 6.13 (49) d. Valley 7.4 (46); NWFU: Latrobe 8.11 (59) d. Ulverstone 5.6 (36); TSP: North Hobart 7.8 (50) d. Launceston 2.14 (26).  WA State Premiership: Not contested.  Other premiers - Launceston (see footnote 1).

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Footnotes

1. Stories in 'The Weekly Courier' (2/9/20) and 'The Examiner' (3/9/20), uncovered by Ross Smith, make it clear that no finals series was conducted in 1920 to determine the season's premiers.  The game that is often cited as a premiership-deciding affair, in which Launceston defeated City 6.11 (47) to 4.3 (27), may actually have been the final, decisive roster match between the two clubs, previewed in 'The Examiner' thus: Should Launceston win they will be the premiers for 1920. Should City win Launceston will have right to challenge for another game. Should a drawn game result, North Launceston will again come into the running, and have a chance of winning premiership honours.  (Return to Main Text)