The Melbourne Football Club had already managed a number of significant achievements in 1925, having rising from equal last place to a position in the final four, a result of which it could be justifiably proud. However, with the arrival of the final series there was still much work to be done. 

Prior to the Albert Chadwick era of coaching, the team was seen as suffering from frequent changes in coaches which prevented the development of effective teamwork and strategies within the playing group. As noted by one football writer, Chadwick’s personality, intellect and profound knowledge of the game, was ideally suited for him to elevate Melbourne from its struggles. And, indeed, he did that. The final series of 1925 was to be his team’s first stepping stone.

Semi Final, 1925

Melbourne met Geelong in the second semi-final in a game which was considered a virtual certainty for Geelong. After all, the Pivotonians from Corio Bay had played brilliantly all year to head the premiership list. Meanwhile Melbourne was handicapped by the absence of dependable goalkicker, Harold Moyes and dashing rover, Jimmy Davidson who both had been injured in training mishaps. However, to everyone’s surprise the club delighted its supporters by turning on a superlative performance to defeat the strong Geelong side, 14.17.101 to 13.8.86.

Melbourne vs Geelong

Saturday 26 September

Venue: MCG

Attendance: 51,256

MELBOURNE 3.9.27 8.10.58 13.13.91 14.17.101

GEELONG 1.1.7 5.2.32 9.5.59 13.8.86

Goalkickers: Percy Tulloh 5, Stan Wittman 3, Harry Davie 2, Hugh Dunbar 1, George Haines 1, Derek Mollison1, Richard Taylor 1

Playing in their first final since 1915, and just their fifth in VFL history, the Fuchsias weren’t at full strength going into the match against the minor premiers although Derek Mollison was able to use the team's week off after the Round 17 match to recover from a case of measles. Melbourne was already the underdog after poor early season form, but without two of their crucial players in Moyes and Davidson, it seemed even more unlikely that they would be able to beat the premiership favourites. They even lost the use of their dressing rooms after Geelong, who brought around 8,000 fans to the MCG for the game, won a toss of the coin and chose the more luxurious Melbourne rooms.

Team

B: Lilley, Coy, Streeter 

HB: Thomas, Chadwick, Corbett 

C: Collins, Taylor, Wilson 

HF: Jorgenson, Mollison, Wittman 

F: Duff, Davie, Dunbar 

Foll: Deane, Warne-Smith, Haines

The teams had last played in Round 9 where Geelong had taken a quarter time lead of 40-1, but with the luck of playing the match on their own home ground and with the breeze in the first quarter Melbourne put in a stronger, faster and more determined effort to turn the tables and jump out to a handy early lead, putting 3.6 on the board in the first 15 minutes and eventually kicked the first 27 points unanswered. The red-hot favourite Geelong managed their first goal late in the term to cut the margin to 20 points at quarter time.

The Blue and Whites steadied from there, with Lloyd Hagger kicking the first of a finals record equalling seven goals in the first 90 seconds of the second quarter, but Melbourne hit back and won the second quarter by a goal despite Geelong resorting to crowding tactics.

With the wind subsiding slightly in the third quarter, Geelong performed significantly better than in the first, yet still trailed by a goal after George Haines kicked a running goal on the bell. Despite a late-quarter rally, the visitors failed to close the gap sufficiently to pose a threat, and Melbourne secured their first finals match victory since the 1900 Grand Final, posting their highest score of the year. The 27 goals kicked were the most ever in a finals match to that point. The Redlegs lost the free kick count 53-51.

The Governor-General Lord Forster and the Governor the Earl of Stradbroke both came to the ground for the end of the match after attending the Moonee Valley races.

The standout performers were Wittman, Taylor, and Haines, and amidst jubilant scenes in the dressing rooms, the Redlegs prepared themselves for a Preliminary Final clash against Collingwood. Under the existing system of finals, Geelong, as the top side after the home and away round of matches, then had the right to challenge the victor for the premiership in a grand final.

Preliminary Final, 1925

Collingwood vs Melbourne

Saturday 3 October

Venue: MCG

Attendance: 49,833

MELBOURNE 2.2.14 3.4.22 3.5.23 3.8.26

COLLINGWOOD 1.3.9 4.8.32 5.9.39 8.15.63

Goalkickers: Bob Corbett 1, Richard Taylor 1, Percy Tulloh 1

The stage was now set for Melbourne to play Collingwood, who had defeated Essendon in the other semi-final, in the preliminary final match. Following their success over Geelong, they were confident of defeating the Magpies to secure the right to compete in what would have been only the second Grand Final in their history.

Melbourne went into the game with an unchanged side and started well enough when it took the lead after kicking with the advantage of the breeze in the opening term. The lead at the first break however, was simply not enough and the Fuchsias gradually faded away as the game went on.

The outcome was a debacle, with only half of the side performing to its potential. Injuries to Taylor, Hugh Dunbar, and Davie further complicated matters, forcing Melbourne to conclude the game with only 15 fit players. Ivor Warne-Smith delivered an exceptional performance, showcasing his prowess and driving Collingwood back repeatedly. In the third quarter, he secured at least nine marks in eleven minutes, a testament to his outstanding skill. This extraordinary individual display unequivocally demonstrated his greatness.

Collingwood had established a ten-point advantage by half-time and subsequently dictated the pace of the game, preventing Melbourne from scoring after the main break and effectively eliminating them from the competition. The standout performers for Melbourne were Warne-Smith, Corbett, and Thomas. Injuries sustained during the game included concussion to Davie, back and leg issues for Taylor, and an unspecified injury to Dunbar. Notably, Ivor Warne-Smith was found to be playing despite suffering from broken ribs incurred the previous week.

The result was exceedingly disappointing as the team failed entirely to replicate its previous exemplary performance, and although holding a weight advantage of almost two pounds per man, too many players allowed themselves to be overwhelmed and effectively excluded from the game.

In the grand final, Geelong exhibited its own aggression, matching Collingwood’s vigour, to secure its first-ever VFL premiership in a highly popular victory.

Melbourne had, however, taken several important steps forward in its own pursuit of a pennant and, as the season ticked over, it looked ahead with apprehension for what was to come.

MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB 1925 STATISTICS 

	Played	Goals
Cannan, J. H.*	5	8
Chadwick, A. E.	18	1
Corbett, R. J	19	2
Davidson, J.	13	7
Davie, H.J.	19	56
Deane, C. F.*	16	21
Donnelly, G. V.*	12	4
Dunbar, Hugh	19	4
Haines, G. V.	19	5
James, C. T.*	1	2
Jorgensen, F.*	10	1
Mollison, C. D	19	9
Moyes, H. M.*	12	26
Shelton, W. H. H	4	1
Taylor, R. J.	19	5
Tymms, W. J.*	2	1
Warne-Smith, I. P.	18	7
Wittman, S. L.	19	2
Collins, J. A.	19	-
Coy, H. F.	19	-
Ewer, R. J.	1	-
Lilley, C. H.	6	-
Parker, J.*	1	-
Richardson, F. B.*	2	-
Streeter, C.	17	-
Sullivan, J.A.*	6	-
Thomas, E.H.	15	-
Wilson, A.M.	3	-
Wright, M	1	-
Wyatt, C.*	1	-
Tulloh, A. P.	7	12
Games won: 13	Games lost: 5	Tied: 1
Games won at home: 8 Games won away:  5

Number of players: 31

New players: 11

** Indicates new player 

Good read but I didnt like the ending

21 minutes ago, Fritta and Turner said:

Good read but I didnt like the ending

But I have a feeling that it might get better next year 😊

One of only the very few times Collingwood has beaten the MFC in a finals game.