Fitzroy and Collingwood played the only scoreless quarter in VFL history: the fourth in Round 13, 1901.
In other Fitzroy firsts:
In Round 7, 1903, Bill McSpeerin became the first of 110 players to play 100 games for Fitzroy.
Fitzroy played Collingwood in the first VFL game in Sydney, winning 7.20.62 to 6.9.45 at Moore Park in 1903. It was the first time jumper numbers were worn.
Fitzroy became the only VFL team to win the wooden spoon and the premiership in the same year – 1916. The season, reduced to four teams by war, lasted only 12 weeks. Fitzroy, with two wins and a draw, finished last but beat Collingwood and then Carlton twice.
Fitzroy played Carlton in Round 1, 1924, when, for the first time, both sides scored 100 points. Fitzroy won 19.9.123 to 15.17.107.
Fitzroy, with Vic Chanter at fullback, were the only team to hold Essendon’s John Coleman goalless. It was Round 10, 1952. Fitzroy won by 24 points at Brunswick Street.
Fitzroy defeated Melbourne 12.10.82 to 10.10.70 in the first VFL match in Hobart in 1952.
Fitzroy’s Len Smith and Melbourne’s Norm Smith were opposing coaches in the 1960 finals – the only such occurrence in VFL finals.
Scoreless quarter
Fitzroy 2.7.19 lost to Collingwood 3.6.24 in round 13 of the 1901 season on July 20. Not a single point was scored in the final quarter.
The Argus on July 22 reported the final moments:
“Collingwood, leading by 5 points at the final change of ends, defended their goal so successfully, and were, on the other hand, met with such strong opposition that not a single point was scored in the final quarter. The excite- ment was great, as 20 minutes out of the 25 minutes over which the quarter was supposed to last had gone, and Fitzroy were attacking, when suddenly the bell rang, announcing the termination of the game. The Fitzroy players, who had been watching the big clock in the pavilion, heard the tinkle, and stopped for a moment, but, thinking the sound came from a tram-gong, went on again, but were stopped by the furious ringing of the timekeepers’ bell. There were hundreds of people who had been checking the time, and soon the timekeepers were surrounded by an excited crowd, gesticulating and producing their watches. Players and spectators mingled on the field, but the game was over, and gradually the teams reached their dressing-rooms.”
Vic Chanter
Former Fitzroy fullback Vic Chanter passed away in November 2010, aged 89.
Chanter played his first game for Fitzroy in 1946 and took on the fullback role in 1947 after 1944 premiership captain Fred Hughson left the club.
He won the best and fairest award in 1951 and retired in 1952 after playing 108 games.
Chanter is remembered as the only fullback in VFL history to keep Essendon legend and Coleman Medal namesake John Coleman goalless in a match.
This occurred at a muddy Brunswick Street Oval in round 10 of 1952.
More Fitzroy firsts
Hear This: John Trait became the first umpire to use a whistle in a Fitzroy-Carlton game in 1886.
Time-on: Fitzroy became the first club to use an electronic time clock to time each quarter in 1888.
A pennant: Fitzroy were the first club to receive a premiership pennant in 1895.
A draw: Fitzroy and South Melbourne played the first VFL draw in 1897. Both sides scored 5-13-43.
Grand final: Fitzroy won the first VFL Grand Final in 1898, defeating Essendon 5-8-38 to 3-5-23, after a top-four play-off system without a grand final had decided the first VFL premiers in 1897.
Brothers in arms: Fitzroy’s Bill and Jack Dalton and Jim and Michael Grace were the first brothers to play in a VFL premiership team in 1898.
Two in a row: Fitzroy completed the VFL’s first back-to-back premierships, beating South 3-9-27 to 3-8-26 in 1899.
An Aboriginal: Fitzroy’s Joe Johnson became the VFL’s first Aboriginal player. He had 55 games from 1904-05, including the 1904-05 flag sides and was the first Aboriginal premiership player.
Killed in action: Fitzroy’s Stan Reid, killed in the Boer War, was the first VFL player to lose his life in active service.
The Big V: Barclay Bailes and Herbert Milne were the first Fitzroy players to represent Victoria in the 1908 Jubilee Anniversary Carnival. Each State and New Zealand competed for a prize named in honour of long-serving Fitzroy secretary Con Hickey.
All aboard for WA: Fitzroy were the first Victorian club to travel to Western Australia in 1922. They played twice each in Perth and Kalgoorlie. Comment: I read recently that Kalgoorlie defeated Fitzroy in that game!
A flood: Fitzroy played Essendon in the only VFL grand final postponed by a week, due to a flood at the MCG in 1923.
Home away from home: Fitzroy were the first club to provide a home for interstate and country recruits in 1961.
Royalty on Sunday: Fitzroy played in the VFL’s first Sunday match before royalty on 5 April, 1970. The players appeared after halftime groomed and showered to be introduced by president Ern Joseph to Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Phillip, Prince Charles and Princess Anne. Fitzroy upset premiers Richmond 16-20-116 to 14-12-96.
Welcome Waverley: Fitzroy played Geelong in the first VFL game at Waverley in 1970. Shane Molloy, father of Jarrod, kicked the first goal on the ground in the Reserves.
Run ends: Fitzroy full-back Harvey Merrigan held Collingwood ace Peter McKenna goalless after he’d kicked at least one goal in a VFL record 120 games in a row.
Night football: Fitzroy played in the first official match under lights against North Melbourne in the 1977 pre-season series. They won 16-12-108 to 11-8-74.
Record score: Fitzroy kicked the VFL’s highest score of 36-22-238 against Melbourne’s 6-12-48 at Waverley in Round 17, 1979. Bob Beecroft booted 10 goals and Harvey Merrigan the one that gave them the record score on their way to a record 190-point margin.
Top and bottom: In 1980, Fitzroy became the only wooden spoon team in history to score more points over the entire season than the top team, Geelong.
No multiples: Fitzroy beat Collingwood 8-11-59 to 4-9-33 in 1981 in the VFL’s first game without a multiple goalkicker.
Tall timber tumbles: Fitzroy beat North Melbourne by 150 points in Round 3, 1983 – the greatest defeat by a side on top of the ladder.
A Fitzroy Knight: Douglas Nicholls, a famous Aboriginal sportsman who played 53 games with Fitzroy from 1932-37, representing Victoria in 1934-35 after earlier excelling in boxing and sprinting, was knighted in the 1972 Queen’s Birthday Honours. He was later appointed Governor of South Australia before ill-health forced his retirement.
Finals hat-trick: Fitzroy played in the Seniors, Reserves and Under 19s finals for the first time in the same year in 1983.
Carrara capers: Fitzroy beat the Brisbane Bears 20-9-129 to 16-18-114 in the first AFL match at Carrara in 1987.
Another Waverley first: Fitzroy beat North 20-9-129 to 7-13-55 in the first VFL match for premiership points played under lights at Waverley in 1987.
National capital: Fitzroy played West Coast in the first AFL premiership match played in Canberra in 1995.
Comment: I was at this game. There was a great atmosphere and a strong pro-Fitzroy crowd. Canberra offered a real lifeline for Fitzroy, but this was never realised. Bruce Stadium has since been converted into a rugby ground.
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