1906 Episode 10: Letter to America

The tenth year of the VFL saw the competition healthy and popular. The crowds had returned but there were growing rumblings about clubs breaching the original salary cap. No one was supposed to be paid when the rules said it was an amateur competition. But with big gate takings and the desire to win if you could get the best players the rumours of payment would not stop. One reporter called it the world’s most expensive form of amateurism.

And the league were enthusiastic about the potential for international expansion. They even sent a letter to the President of the United States and dared to hope about international games against America.  Listen to the Grand Final History podcast to hear how the tenth VFL premiership unfolded.

The Frank Grey Smith stand opened at the MCG in 1906