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1931

Captain - Coach: Ivor Warne-Smith
Finishing Position: 8th
Best and Fairest: n/a
Leading Goalkicker: George Margitich (66)
Best First Year Player: n/a
Members: 1465

Matches Ladder Playing list Seconds

After two years out of the finals, Melbourne lacked the resources to scour the country for recruits and had to rely on veterans and local youngsters. The committee was reelected unopposed before the start of the year. While the senior side slid to eighth, the Seconds won their maiden premiership.

The Page Final Four system was introduced, removing the challenge system and guaranteeing a Grand Final every year. After improving to a 5-1 record at Round 6, Melbourne looked likely to play finals, before a six game losing streak ended their chances. Even their breakthrough victory was controversial, with Essendon protesting the result of Round 13. Melbourne finished four games out of the finals

Andrew Manzie and T. Parkin were Melbourne's delegates to the league.

The club had receipts of 2189/7/3 and expenditure of 3873/14/3.

Premiership season

RoundOppositionResultScore
1 FitzroyWIN106-94
2 EssendonLOSS73-77
3 GeelongWIN87-83
4 HawthornWIN109-94
5 FootscrayWIN87-71
6 North MelbourneWIN98-59
7 CollingwoodLOSS54-71
8 CarltonLOSS58-122
9 St. KildaLOSS36-63
10 RichmondLOSS53-66
11 South MelbourneLOSS31-82
12 FitzroyLOSS66-77
13 EssendonWIN72-71
14 GeelongLOSS45-77
15 HawthornWIN93-18
16 FootscrayLOSS38-72
17 North MelbourneWIN123-79
18 CollingwoodLOSS57-127

Ladder

WDL%P
Geelong1503151.460
Richmond1503141.160
Carlton1206125.148
Collingwood1206124.048
Footscray1206110.248
Essendon100899.240
South Melbourne90999.136
Melbourne801091.732
St. Kilda801089.232
Fitzroy401486.016
Hawthorn301582.112
North Melbourne001850.80

Playing List

NumberPlayerGamesGoals
1 Stan Wittman 61
2 Wyn Murray 71
3 George Margitich 1766
4 Jim Abernethy 180
5 Hec Davidson 60
6 Ted Esposito 170
7 Bert Avery 180
8 Bill Adams 11
10 Jack Collins 81
11 Frank Smith 120
12 Jack Power 121
13 Gordon Lindsay 10
14 Ivor Warne-Smith 169
15 Harry Crapper 50
16 Robert C Johnson 1544
17 Bill Macdonald 30
18 Bill Cutler 70
19 Edwin Pemberton 50
20 Harry Long 187
21 Bill Vanthoff 1412
22 Reg Conole 142
23 Francis Vine 142
24 Percy Beames 112
25 Billy Collins 20
27 Bill Tymms 110
28 Webber Jackson 125
29 Jimmy Davidson 188
30 Howard Steel 31
31 Lew Gough 40
32 Gordon Ogden 130
34 Ray Usher 151
35 Richard Taylor 1512
37 George Cassidy 32
Ossie Green 10

Tribunal

RoundPlayerChargeSanction
Round 4 Gordon Ogden Attempted Striking 4 matches
Round 5 Stan Wittman Striking Not Guilty

Seconds

1931 Seconds season

WDL%P
Collingwood 1503143.060
Melbourne 1404175.056
Geelong1404157.656
Essendon1305135.952
Carlton1008 40
St Kilda1008 40
Richmond909 36
South Melbourne7011 28
Fitzroy5013 20
Footscray5013 20
Hawthorn5013 20
North Melbourne1017 4

Finals

RoundOppositionResultScore
SF Collingwood WIN111-49
GF GeelongWIN61-53

Media
Sun - 18/02/1931, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/276266714|01/02/1932]
Argus - 18/02/1931
Herald - 24/02/1931
Sporting Globe - 28/02/1931

Links
AFL Tables page
Wikipedia page