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1917 Summary
The Great War continued to play havoc with life at home in Australia, and of course, the football competitions of the time suffered as well. In 1917, 6 Clubs were able to compete, and South Melbourne and Geelong returned to competition after the 4 Club competition in 1916. In all, Collingwood, Richmond, South, Geelong, Fitzroy and Carlton would fight it out for the 1917 Premiership, but it would be Collingwood who would prevail.
Carlton would finish second on the ladder after 9 wins from 15 games. The Blues had reached the past three Grand Finals, and were surprisingly bundled out of the finals by Fitzroy in the first Semi Final. We were officially ranked third for the season after the final loss, and the Roys would lose the Grand Final to the Pies by 35 points.
"The 'Age' says five League football teams play football this season. At a meeting of delegates all the clubs were represented except Melbourne and St. Kilda, which have definitely decided not to play. Though finality was not quite reached, it is understood that Fitzroy, Carlton, Collingwood and Richmond, the competing clubs last season, will play again this year under the same conditions, namely, that all gate money over bare expenses will be devoted to the patriotic funds. The South Melbourne club committee held a meeting on Monday, 16th inst., when it was decided to to play this year. Geelong club has not yet considered the matter, and Essendon, finding a difficulty in raising a team, is considered an unlikely competitor this year."
(Toora and Welshpool Ensign and South Gippsland Observer, March 30 1917 p2)
Ladder
| Pos | Team | Wins | Draws | Losses | Points | For | Against | % |
| 1 | Collingwood | 10 | 1 | 4 | 42 | 139.196.1030 | 105.142.772 | 133.4 |
| 2 | Carlton | 9 | 1 | 5 | 38 | 113.165.843 | 94.160.724 | 116.4 |
| 3 | Sth Melbourne | 9 | 0 | 6 | 36 | 119.197.911 | 99.178.772 | 118 |
| 4 | Fitzroy | 6 | 1 | 8 | 26 | 114.148.832 | 132.171.963 | 86.4 |
| 5 | Geelong | 6 | 0 | 9 | 24 | 95.165.735 | 127.165.927 | 79.3 |
| 6 | Richmond | 3 | 1 | 11 | 14 | 104.137.761 | 127.192.954 | 79.8 |
People of 1917
Coach: Norman ClarkCaptain: Billy Dick
Leading Goal-kicker: Vin Gardiner - 22 goals
Milestones
Debuts: Horrie White, Phil McCumisky, Dave Crone, Jack Greenhill, Lyle Downs, Willis Hardy, Darcy Lear, Frank Martin
Enlistments
At the South Melbourne AGM (Record Emerald Hill 02 March 1918 p2);"Players have enlisted from the six League clubs which played this season as follows:-
Carlton, 22, Collingwood, 16, Fitzroy, 32, Geelong, 14, Richmond, 31, South Melbourne, 18, Total, 133"
The V.F.L. had donated £992/9s to the War Effort in 1917, and a grand total for for the last three seasons of £4,377/0/6 ($8,754.05)
War Service
Carlton announced that no player eligible for war sevice will wear their uniform.(Referee March 21 p6)
The Herald May 04 (p3)
"By the way Carlton is like the other clubs, well represented in kahki.
Three great players - Sergt. G. Challis, S. McKenzie, and F. McDonald have been killed in action.
Others in the colors of the glorious and "terrible Australians" as one admiring British war correspondent call them, are -
Capt. A. W. Williamson, Sgt-Major H. Burleigh, Sergt. A. Baud, Corporals T. Campbell, F. Holmes, F. Triplett, Bombardier M. T. Stockdale, Privates F. Fielding, V. Gordon, F. Hanna, A. Harrison, S. Kittle, P. Sweet (trainer)
Former players of Carlton now at the front are -
Dug Gillespie (whose brother Dave, the brilliant full-back in Carlton's triumphant years, died of wounds), R. Moran, H. Evans, Don, Starr, Cameron, Parke, H. Mathieson, and Les Beck.
vs Brunswick District Football Club at Carlton April 21
No detailsvs Field Artillery Team at Carlton April 28
Practice match vs Artillery made up of many ex VFL players.Carlton players in the Artillery team; M. Carter, Stockdale, Miller, Roberts, Thompson, Jacobs, A. Sharp, Sharp.
Carlton won easily.
vs Williamstown Juniors (26) at Carlton, May 05
Carlton lost by 11 points, 7.6.48 - 8.11.59G. Walker and Huntingdon (Melbourne) played (they are waiting for clearances), Hardy (Carlton Juniors), Crone (Fitzroy), Crowley (Brunswick Juniors), Crozier (Wonthaggi)
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