The 1926 VFL season was the 30th 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 1 May to 9 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 57 points in the 1926 VFL grand final; it was Melbourne's second VFL premiership. Collingwood won the minor premiership by finishing atop the home-and-away ladder with a 15–3 win–loss record. Melbourne's Ivor Warne-Smith won the Brownlow Medal as the league's best and fairest player, and Collingwood's Gordon Coventry won the leading goalkicker medal as the league's leading goalkicker.
Background In 1926, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, with no "reserves", although any of the 18 players who had left the playing field for any reason could later resume their place on the field at any time during the match.
Teams played each other in a home-and-away season of 18 rounds; matches 12 to 17 were the "home-and-way reverse" of matches 1 to 6, and match 18 the "home-and-away reverse" of match 9.
Once the 18 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1926 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" | | 13.14 (92) | | 8.15 (63) | MCG | 18,742 | 1 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.14 (104) | | 6.17 (53) | Windy Hill | 15,000 | 1 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.11 (77) | | 12.13 (85) | Lake Oval | 20,000 | 1 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.15 (93) | | 3.9 (27) | Corio Oval | 15,000 | 1 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.13 (55) | | 14.10 (94) | Brunswick Street Oval | 25,000 | 1 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.14 (50) | | 9.16 (70) | Glenferrie Oval | 16,000 | 1 May 1926
Round 2
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.9 (57) | | 13.12 (90) | Western Oval | 15,000 | 8 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.11 (47) | | 10.18 (78) | Victoria Park | 25,000 | 8 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.15 (69) | | 8.10 (58) | Princes Park | 18,000 | 8 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 5.8 (38) | | 5.12 (42) | Arden Street Oval | 7,000 | 8 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.15 (105) | | 16.14 (110) | Junction Oval | 20,000 | 8 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.8 (116) | | 8.10 (58) | Punt Road Oval | 22,000 | 8 May 1926
Round 3
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.17 (119) | | 14.5 (89) | MCG | 9,495 | 15 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.13 (79) | | 11.12 (78) | Brunswick Street Oval | 15,000 | 15 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.9 (69) | | 8.13 (61) | Windy Hill | 30,000 | 15 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.11 (47) | | 6.14 (50) | Lake Oval | 23,000 | 15 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.11 (47) | | 17.17 (119) | Glenferrie Oval | 13,000 | 15 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.10 (64) | | 8.12 (60) | Corio Oval | 18,000 | 15 May 1926
Round 4
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.12 (84) | | 12.7 (79) | Victoria Park | 15,000 | 22 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.11 (71) | | 9.12 (66) | Princes Park | 25,000 | 22 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.16 (112) | | 14.16 (100) | Punt Road Oval | 14,000 | 22 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.8 (50) | | 7.16 (58) | Arden Street Oval | 14,000 | 22 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.8 (62) | | 7.9 (51) | Junction Oval | 22,000 | 22 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.5 (47) | | 6.13 (49) | Western Oval | 20,000 | 22 May 1926
Round 5
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.8 (122) | | 12.17 (89) | MCG | 28,628 | 29 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.7 (85) | | 5.8 (38) | Windy Hill | 20,000 | 29 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.15 (75) | | 11.7 (73) | Lake Oval | 15,000 | 29 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.13 (67) | | 14.16 (100) | Glenferrie Oval | 10,000 | 29 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.14 (68) | | 10.15 (75) | Corio Oval | 19,500 | 29 May 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.16 (58) | | 7.6 (48) | Brunswick Street Oval | 25,000 | 29 May 1926
Round 6
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.10 (46) | | 15.15 (105) | Western Oval | 16,000 | 5 June 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.16 (88) | | 8.11 (59) | Victoria Park | 16,000 | 5 June 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.13 (73) | | 6.15 (51) | Princes Park | 30,000 | 5 June 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.7 (79) | | 6.14 (50) | Junction Oval | 10,000 | 5 June 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.13 (73) | | 12.11 (83) | Punt Road Oval | 26,000 | 5 June 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.11 (77) | | 11.15 (81) | Arden Street Oval | 10,000 | 5 June 1926
Round 7
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.13 (73) | | 10.14 (74) | Arden Street Oval | 12,000 | 7 June 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.16 (88) | | 8.17 (65) | MCG | 20,974 | 7 June 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.15 (81) | | 14.12 (96) | Brunswick Street Oval | 8,000 | 7 June 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.11 (89) | | 7.9 (51) | Corio Oval | 25,600 | 7 June 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.12 (66) | | 10.16 (76) | Junction Oval | 24,000 | 7 June 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.11 (71) | | 14.9 (93) | Western Oval | 20,000 | 7 June 1926
Round 8
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.19 (85) | | 9.12 (66) | Punt Road Oval | 22,000 | 19 June 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.9 (69) | | 11.9 (75) | Windy Hill | 23,000 | 19 June 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 28.16 (184) | | 8.10 (58) | Victoria Park | 14,000 | 19 June 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.7 (109) | | 7.10 (52) | Princes Park | 20,000 | 19 June 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.12 (72) | | 18.10 (118) | Glenferrie Oval | 9,000 | 19 June 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.15 (93) | | 9.5 (59) | Lake Oval | 15,000 | 19 June 1926
Round 9
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 4.9 (33) | | 5.17 (47) | Arden Street Oval | 5,000 | 26 June 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.8 (56) | | 9.13 (67) | Western Oval | 14,000 | 26 June 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.9 (69) | | 12.12 (84) | Brunswick Street Oval | 12,000 | 26 June 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.10 (70) | | 6.13 (49) | Princes Park | 30,000 | 26 June 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 21.28 (154) | | 1.7 (13) | MCG | 7,514 | 26 June 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.15 (69) | | 8.9 (57) | Lake Oval | 18,000 | 26 June 1926
Round 10
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.10 (58) | | 11.16 (82) | Glenferrie Oval | 10,000 | 3 July 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.19 (67) | | 8.5 (53) | Corio Oval | 21,500 | 3 July 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.17 (59) | | 10.7 (67) | Junction Oval | 12,500 | 3 July 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.13 (49) | | 11.12 (78) | Brunswick Street Oval | 13,000 | 3 July 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.5 (53) | | 10.16 (76) | Arden Street Oval | 5,000 | 3 July 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.17 (59) | | 8.6 (54) | Punt Road Oval | 32,000 | 3 July 1926
Round 11
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.9 (93) | | 10.8 (68) | Western Oval | 12,000 | 10 July 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.8 (74) | | 7.5 (47) | Windy Hill | 10,000 | 10 July 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.15 (99) | | 5.11 (41) | Victoria Park | 23,000 | 10 July 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.14 (80) | | 9.9 (63) | Princes Park | 15,000 | 10 July 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.13 (67) | | 8.8 (56) | Lake Oval | 20,000 | 10 July 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.15 (99) | | 8.12 (60) | MCG | 11,651 | 10 July 1926
Round 12
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.15 (75) | | 16.12 (108) | Punt Road Oval | 27,000 | 17 July 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.14 (56) | | 15.17 (107) | Western Oval | 17,000 | 17 July 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.16 (124) | | 11.16 (82) | Victoria Park | 16,000 | 17 July 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.17 (65) | | 8.9 (57) | Princes Park | 12,000 | 17 July 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 3.11 (29) | | 17.16 (118) | Junction Oval | 14,000 | 17 July 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 4.8 (32) | | 6.14 (50) | Arden Street Oval | 10,000 | 17 July 1926
Round 13
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.10 (70) | | 10.10 (70) | Glenferrie Oval | 4,500 | 7 August 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.18 (90) | | 5.8 (38) | Corio Oval | 10,500 | 7 August 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.17 (77) | | 12.20 (92) | Brunswick Street Oval | 10,000 | 7 August 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.17 (107) | | 6.12 (48) | Lake Oval | 14,000 | 7 August 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.10 (46) | | 10.9 (69) | Windy Hill | 20,000 | 7 August 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.18 (90) | | 8.10 (58) | MCG | 27,785 | 7 August 1926
Round 14
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.11 (53) | | 10.21 (81) | Junction Oval | 15,000 | 14 August 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.8 (104) | | 3.10 (28) | Victoria Park | 7,000 | 14 August 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.10 (82) | | 10.15 (75) | Princes Park | 25,000 | 14 August 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.7 (67) | | 9.16 (70) | Arden Street Oval | 6,000 | 14 August 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.15 (63) | | 14.21 (105) | Western Oval | 10,000 | 14 August 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.14 (62) | | 10.7 (67) | Punt Road Oval | 20,000 | 14 August 1926
Round 15
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.9 (69) | | 14.18 (102) | Glenferrie Oval | 5,000 | 21 August 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.22 (112) | | 7.6 (48) | Corio Oval | 10,000 | 21 August 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.18 (126) | | 9.10 (64) | Brunswick Street Oval | 7,000 | 21 August 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.15 (123) | | 9.9 (63) | Windy Hill | 8,000 | 21 August 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.7 (43) | | 13.15 (93) | MCG | 32,475 | 21 August 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.13 (85) | | 9.8 (62) | Lake Oval | 29,000 | 21 August 1926
Round 16
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.16 (70) | | 15.16 (106) | Arden Street Oval | 12,000 | 28 August 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.19 (73) | | 11.14 (80) | Western Oval | 5,000 | 28 August 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.16 (64) | | 14.13 (97) | Victoria Park | 26,550 | 28 August 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.18 (126) | | 15.14 (104) | Princes Park | 25,000 | 28 August 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.8 (68) | | 13.16 (94) | Punt Road Oval | 15,000 | 28 August 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 2.11 (23) | | 14.11 (95) | Junction Oval | 13,000 | 28 August 1926
Round 17
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.10 (70) | | 12.14 (86) | Glenferrie Oval | 5,000 | 4 September 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.16 (130) | | 8.18 (66) | Corio Oval | 11,500 | 4 September 1926 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.18 (120) | | 13.7 (85) | Brunswick Street Oval