South Melbourne go through the 1918 home and away season with just one loss. The secret to their defeat by St Kilda did not emerge for 50 years, and what a secret it was! But how would the Southerners go in the finals? Five Grand Finals for just one premiership so far in the VFL raised some questions about South Melbourne’s ability to handle the pressure in big games. Essendon and St Kilda returned to the VFL in 1918 allowing an eight team competition and the spectators set records for war time attendance. But it was time up for the Stewards, those extra officials that could go onto the ground and report players. They would not be missed.
South Melbourne Collingwood Grand FInal 1918 
Umpire Jack Elder 
South Melbourne VFL Premiers 1918
End of World War One Soundscape from Imperial War Museum
If you want to learn more about the soundscape created by the Imperial War Museum to mark 11.00am November 11th 1918 check out these links