Next Flag: Carlton or St Kilda?

[crashlander]

1897 and 1924. In the former, the top four teams played each other once, and the team with the best record after those 3 games was the premier. Some time after this, the VFL adopted something resembling our current finals and GF system. For whatever reason, in 1924 they decided to experiment with the setup, and reverted to the pre 1897 system of the top 4 teams playing each other once. Richmond beat Essendon in the last scheduled final, but still won the flag, owing to a superior record in those final 3 matches.

Notwithstanding all of that, opposition supporters will always try to discredit flags of other teams, no matter what system is in place. They should all stand and be left as they are.

Essendon won by percentage, as both Richmond and Essendon had 2 wins apiece.
Essendon then played a game against the VFA premiers, Footscray. Footscray obliterated them, and no, not all of Essendon's team was drunk. One of the reasons Hawthorn and the Dogs got an invite to the VFL.
That one, more than any other, is the dodgiest premiership ever. Even dodgier than the 1916 flag in WWI. There were 4 teams playing only. Carlton lost 2 games for the season. Fitzroy won 2 and drew one. We met in the GF and were beaten. The availability of players, especially during the finals, was very dodgy. Very dodgy, as well as the fact as there were no bench players at all.