The 1930 VFL season was the 34th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest-level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs and ran from 3 May to 11 October, comprising an 18-match home-and-away season followed by a four-week finals series featuring the top four clubs.
won the premiership, defeating by 30 points in the 1930 VFL grand final; it was Collingwood's fourth consecutive premiership, the only time in the league's history that a club has won four consecutive premierships, and ninth VFL premiership overall. Collingwood also won the minor premiership by finishing atop the home-and-away ladder with a 15–3 win–loss record. Collingwood's Harry Collier, 's Allan Hopkins and 's Stan Judkins tied for the Brownlow Medal as the league's best and fairest players, and Collingwood's Gordon Coventry won his fifth consecutive leading goalkicker medal as the league's leading goalkicker, becoming the first player to win the award five times consecutively.
Background
Format In 1930, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus one substitute player, known as the 19th man. A player could be substituted for any reason, Once he had been substituted, a player could not return to the field of play under any circumstances. Teams played each other in a home-and-away season of 18 rounds; matches 12 to 18 were the "home-and-way reverse" of matches 5 to 11 (i.e., the last seven matches of the round). Once the 18 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1930 VFL Premiers were determined by the specific format and conventions of the amended "Argus system".
Home-and-away season
Round 1
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.7 (103) | | 14.8 (92) | Glenferrie Oval | 18,000 | 3 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.13 (121) | | 2.7 (19) | Corio Oval | 9,500 | 3 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.14 (86) | | 11.6 (72) | Brunswick Street Oval | 18,500 | 3 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.16 (70) | | 13.17 (95) | Lake Oval | 16,000 | 3 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.18 (60) | | 10.14 (74) | Punt Road Oval | 32,000 | 3 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.9 (51) | | 8.10 (58) | Windy Hill | 26,000 | 3 May 1930
Round 2
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.10 (106) | | 11.12 (78) | Junction Oval | 21,500 | 10 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.12 (78) | | 10.10 (70) | Victoria Park | 19,000 | 10 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.14 (116) | | 7.5 (47) | Princes Park | 35,000 | 10 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.16 (100) | | 8.15 (63) | MCG | 14,909 | 10 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.9 (45) | | 9.11 (65) | Arden Street Oval | 9,000 | 10 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.14 (74) | | 9.4 (58) | Western Oval | 18,000 | 10 May 1930
Round 3
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.10 (70) | | 9.6 (60) | Corio Oval | 13,000 | 17 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.9 (99) | | 15.14 (104) | Brunswick Street Oval | 20,000 | 17 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.8 (74) | | 16.20 (116) | Arden Street Oval | 13,000 | 17 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.17 (77) | | 12.7 (79) | Punt Road Oval | 16,000 | 17 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.12 (84) | | 16.19 (115) | Lake Oval | 18,000 | 17 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.12 (72) | | 13.9 (87) | Glenferrie Oval | 28,000 | 17 May 1930
Round 4
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.15 (123) | | 15.12 (102) | MCG | 8,662 | 24 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.10 (64) | | 14.7 (91) | Western Oval | 20,000 | 24 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.12 (96) | | 8.13 (61) | Windy Hill | 15,000 | 24 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.12 (72) | | 12.18 (90) | Victoria Park | 17,000 | 24 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.18 (138) | | 11.18 (84) | Princes Park | 21,000 | 24 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.18 (108) | | 8.10 (58) | Junction Oval | 26,000 | 24 May 1930
Round 5
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.15 (99) | | 10.11 (71) | Arden Street Oval | 12,000 | 31 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.11 (59) | | 11.11 (77) | Glenferrie Oval | 18,000 | 31 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.18 (120) | | 9.8 (62) | MCG | 16,975 | 31 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.15 (51) | | 15.14 (104) | Lake Oval | 18,000 | 31 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.11 (71) | | 9.12 (66) | Brunswick Street Oval | 21,000 | 31 May 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.10 (58) | | 10.6 (66) | Corio Oval | 15,500 | 31 May 1930
Round 6
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.9 (57) | | 8.8 (56) | Western Oval | 9,000 | 7 June 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.24 (114) | | 8.9 (57) | Victoria Park | 10,000 | 7 June 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.16 (118) | | 6.12 (48) | Princes Park | 30,000 | 7 June 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.15 (81) | | 9.12 (66) | Punt Road Oval | 16,000 | 9 June 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.11 (107) | | 9.12 (66) | Windy Hill | 20,000 | 9 June 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.10 (76) | | 10.7 (67) | Junction Oval | 29,000 | 9 June 1930
Round 7
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.15 (69) | | 10.10 (70) | Corio Oval | 9,500 | 14 June 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.14 (56) | | 10.12 (72) | Western Oval | 15,000 | 14 June 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.11 (113) | | 9.10 (64) | Lake Oval | 11,000 | 14 June 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.13 (91) | | 16.10 (106) | Brunswick Street Oval | 15,000 | 14 June 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.13 (79) | | 14.13 (97) | MCG | 28,779 | 14 June 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.9 (63) | | 15.23 (113) | Arden Street Oval | 15,000 | 14 June 1930
Round 8
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.11 (77) | | 8.8 (56) | Windy Hill | 13,000 | 21 June 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 22.11 (143) | | 14.8 (92) | Victoria Park | 15,000 | 21 June 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.16 (70) | | 9.18 (72) | Princes Park | 30,000 | 21 June 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.18 (72) | | 6.11 (47) | Glenferrie Oval | 8,000 | 21 June 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.19 (109) | | 8.12 (60) | Lake Oval | 12,000 | 21 June 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.16 (100) | | 10.12 (72) | Punt Road Oval | 14,000 | 21 June 1930
Round 9
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 5.13 (43) | | 14.20 (104) | Arden Street Oval | 11,000 | 28 June 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.12 (96) | | 11.6 (72) | Corio Oval | 9,000 | 28 June 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.11 (119) | | 13.17 (95) | Brunswick Street Oval | 11,000 | 28 June 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.12 (114) | | 11.22 (88) | MCG | 28,344 | 28 June 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 5.14 (44) | | 19.10 (124) | Western Oval | 14,000 | 28 June 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.5 (77) | | 13.14 (92) | Junction Oval | 33,000 | 28 June 1930
Round 10
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.15 (81) | | 11.11 (77) | Glenferrie Oval | 7,000 | 5 July 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.20 (98) | | 9.20 (74) | Windy Hill | 16,000 | 5 July 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.20 (116) | | 16.16 (112) | Princes Park | 40,000 | 5 July 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.20 (104) | | 7.10 (52) | Punt Road Oval | 18,000 | 5 July 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.8 (98) | | 7.16 (58) | Corio Oval | 8,000 | 5 July 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.16 (94) | | 12.12 (84) | Lake Oval | 12,000 | 5 July 1930
Round 11
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.9 (45) | | 10.20 (80) | Arden Street Oval | 7,000 | 12 July 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.14 (62) | | 10.15 (75) | Brunswick Street Oval | 8,000 | 12 July 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.14 (98) | | 9.14 (68) | Victoria Park | 16,000 | 12 July 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 5.6 (36) | | 7.18 (60) | Junction Oval | 19,000 | 12 July 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.10 (82) | | 6.5 (41) | MCG | 8,723 | 12 July 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.3 (51) | | 12.14 (86) | Western Oval | 12,000 | 12 July 1930
Round 12
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.10 (58) | | 7.19 (61) | Western Oval | 12,000 | 19 July 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.16 (106) | | 16.12 (108) | Windy Hill | 14,000 | 19 July 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 25.17 (167) | | 13.16 (94) | Victoria Park | 14,000 | 19 July 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.16 (106) | | 13.13 (91) | Princes Park | 23,000 | 19 July 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.15 (123) | | 7.6 (48) | Junction Oval | 10,000 | 19 July 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.19 (109) | | 7.7 (49) | Punt Road Oval | 10,000 | 19 July 1930
Round 13
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.10 (82) | | 9.11 (65) | MCG | 20,232 | 26 July 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.11 (77) | | 10.11 (71) | Lake Oval | 22,000 | 26 July 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.10 (76) | | 11.7 (73) | Glenferrie Oval | 9,000 | 26 July 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.14 (92) | | 9.9 (63) | Corio Oval | 10,000 | 26 July 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 4.15 (39) | | 18.13 (121) | Arden Street Oval | 8,000 | 26 July 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.9 (69) | | 10.16 (76) | Brunswick Street Oval | 19,000 | 26 July 1930
Round 14
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.7 (73) | | 14.10 (94) | Glenferrie Oval | 10,000 | 16 August 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.19 (91) | | 10.11 (71) | Windy Hill | 9,000 | 16 August 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.14 (104) | | 8.9 (57) | Victoria Park | 15,000 | 16 August 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 23.17 (155) | | 3.9 (27) | Princes Park | 11,000 | 16 August 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.11 (65) | | 10.11 (71) | Punt Road Oval | 15,000 | 16 August 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.7 (61) | | 7.10 (52) | Junction Oval | 10,000 | 16 August 1930
Round 15
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.17 (125) | | 6.7 (43) | Corio Oval | 9,000 | 23 August 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.18 (66) | | 11.18 (84) | Western Oval | 12,500 | 23 August 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.5 (71) | | 8.12 (60) | Brunswick Street Oval | 14,000 | 23 August 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.12 (48) | | 14.11 (95) | Arden Street Oval | 8,000 | 23 August 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.7 (91) | | 17.13 (115) | Junction Oval | 16,000 | 23 August 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.11 (83) | | 11.11 (77) | MCG | 31,481 | 23 August 1930
Round 16
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.11 (89) | | 12.7 (79) | Windy Hill | 15,000 | 30 August 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.20 (116) | | 10.17 (77) | Victoria Park | 10,000 | 30 August 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.12 (108) | | 15.7 (97) | Princes Park | 20,000 | 30 August 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.15 (135) | | 5.10 (40) | Punt Road Oval | 7,000 | 30 August 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.16 (88) | | 15.14 (104) | Lake Oval | 28,000 | 30 August 1930 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 3.16 (34) | | 15.14 (104) | Glenferrie Oval | 7,000 | 30 August 1930
Round 17
! Home team