[page updated: 31 October 2011]
The non-existent Champion of the Colony award [1856-1945].
My research has found no evidence that this Australian Football award ever existed.
Within the "list of winners" itself there appear errors of "fact." For example, the 1856-59 years refer to Corio Bay and Richmond Cricketers as clubs. However, no such football clubs are known to have existed at that time.
Further, Hugh Gavin is named as winner in 1903 having played for Essendon. Gavin wasn't even in Victoria that season - he was playing football in Western Australia !
The following books have lists of significant official award winners up to date of their publication, e.g. Brownlow, Magarey & Sandover Medals.
Sporting Globe Football Book (pub. 1946)
Jack Donnelly's Football Guide (1947)
Hugh Buggy's Let's Look at Football (1951)
Nowhere in any of them is there a mention of a "Champion" award !
Surely, if this award had been so prestigious, they would have commented upon it. But they don't.
I have not been able to find a single reference to the award in any player's obituary. There is no reference to the Champion award in any index for major Melbourne papers of the time, nor in any of the digital copies available online - [The Argus] available via the National Library of Australia, and [The Age] available through Google News Archive.
In contrast, the Brownlow Medal is consistently mentioned in indexes and online searches from inception in 1924.
The table below shows the alleged winners of the Champion of the Colony award, plus other details relevant year by year.
| SEASON | PLAYER _Club_ | LACK OF REFERENCE SOURCES |
|---|---|---|
| 1856 | No such award existed. | Tom Wills (Corio Bay) is listed as winner in some 21st Century publications but that cannot be true. Wills had been in England for some years and only arrived back in Victoria on 23rd December 1856. There appears to be no evidence that such a football club existed at this time. No evidence from any 1856 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Wills won such an award that year. |
| 1857 | No such award existed. | Tom Wills (Corio Bay) is listed as winner in some 21st Century publications. There appears to be no evidence that such a football club existed at this time. No evidence from any 1857 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Wills won such an award that year. |
| 1858 | No such award existed. | George Bruce (Richmond Cricketers) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. There appears to be no evidence that such a football club existed at this time. No evidence from any 1858 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Bruce won such an award that year. |
| 1859 | No such award existed. | Tom Wills (Corio Bay) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. There appears to be no evidence that such a football club existed at this time. Geelong was founded on 18th July 1859, so why isnt that name shown. No evidence from any 1859 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Wills won such an award that year. |
| 1860 | No such award existed. | Jerry Bryant (Melbourne) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1860 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Bryant won such an award that year. |
| 1861 | No such award existed. | George O'Mullane (South Yarra) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1861 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that O'Mullane won such an award that year. |
| 1862 | No such award existed. | Henry Harrison (Melbourne) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1862 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Harrison won such an award that year. |
| 1863 | No such award existed. | Henry Harrison (Melbourne) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1863 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Harrison won such an award that year. |
| 1864 | No such award existed. | A M Greenfield (Ballarat) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1864 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Greenfield won such an award that year. |
| 1865 | No such award existed. | Tom Wills (Melbourne) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1865 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Wills won such an award that year. |
| 1866 | No such award existed. | Henry Harrison (Melbourne) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1866 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Harrison won such an award that year. |
| 1867 | No such award existed. | Henry Harrison (Melbourne) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1867 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Harrison won such an award that year. |
| 1868 | No such award existed. | Jack Conway (Carlton) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1868 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Conway won such an award that year. |
| 1869 | No such award existed. | Henry Harrison (Melbourne) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1869 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Harrison won such an award that year. |
| 1870 | No such award existed. | Tom Riddell (South Yarra) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1870 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Riddell won such an award that year. |
| 1871 | No such award existed. | Ben Goldsmith (Melbourne) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1871 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Goldsmith won such an award that year. |
| 1872 | No such award existed. | Tom Wills (Geelong) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1872 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Wills won such an award that year. |
| 1873 | No such award existed. | Jack Donovan (Carlton) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1873 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Donovan won such an award that year. |
| 1874 | No such award existed. | Bill Lacey (Carlton) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1874 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Lacey won such an award that year. |
| 1875 | No such award existed. | George Robertson (Carlton) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1875 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Robertson won such an award that year. |
| 1876 | No such award existed. | George Coulthard (Carlton) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1876 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Coulthard won such an award that year. |
| 1877 | No such award existed. | George Coulthard (Carlton) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1877 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Coulthard won such an award that year. |
| 1878 | No such award existed. | Percy Douglass (Geelong) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1878 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Douglass won such an award that year. |
| 1879 | No such award existed. | George Coulthard (Carlton) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1879 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Coulthard won such an award that year. |
| 1880 | No such award existed. | James Wilson (Geelong) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1880 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Wilson won such an award that year. |
| 1881 | No such award existed. | James Wilson (Geelong) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1881 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Wilson won such an award that year. |
| 1882 | No such award existed. | James Wilson (Geelong) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1882 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Wilson won such an award that year. |
| 1883 | No such award existed. | Jack Baker (Carlton) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1883 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Baker won such an award that year. |
| 1884 | No such award existed. | Jack Kerley (Geelong) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1884 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Kerley won such an award that year. |
| 1885 | No such award existed. | Peter Burns (Geelong) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1885 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Burns won such an award that year. |
| 1886 | No such award existed. | Charlie Pearson (Essendon) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1886 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Pearson won such an award that year. |
| 1887 | No such award existed. | Jack Worrall (Fitzroy) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1887 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Worrall won such an award that year. |
| 1888 | No such award existed. | Peter Burns (South Melbourne) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1888 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Burns won such an award that year. |
| 1889 | No such award existed. | Bill Hannaysee (Port Melbourne) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1889 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Hannaysee won such an award that year. |
| 1890 | No such award existed. | Jack Worrall (Fitzroy) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1890 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Worrall won such an award that year. |
| 1891 | No such award existed. | Peter Burns (South Melbourne) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1891 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Burns won such an award that year. |
| 1892 | No such award existed. | Charlie Forbes (Essendon) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1892 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Forbes won such an award that year. |
| 1893 | No such award existed. | Albert Thurgood (Essendon) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1893 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Thurgood won such an award that year. |
| 1894 | No such award existed. | Albert Thurgood (Essendon) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1894 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Thurgood won such an award that year. |
| 1895 | No such award existed. | George Vautin (Essendon) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1895 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Vautin won such an award that year. |
| 1896 | No such award existed. | Bill Strickland (Collingwood) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1896 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Strickland won such an award that year. |
| 1897 | No such award existed. | Fred McGinis (Melbourne) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1897 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that McGinis won such an award that year. |
| 1898 | No such award existed. | Dick Condon (Collingwood) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1898 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Condon won such an award that year. |
| 1899 | No such award existed. | Mick Grace (Fitzroy) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1899 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Grace won such an award that year. |
| 1900 | No such award existed. | Fred Leach (Collingwood) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1900 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Leach won such an award that year. |
| 1901 | No such award existed. | Albert Thurgood (Essendon) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1901 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Thurgood won such an award that year. |
| 1902 | No such award existed. | Ted Rowell (Collingwood) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1902 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Rowell won such an award that year. |
| 1903 | No such award existed. | Hugh Gavin (Essendon) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. Gavin played 0 games for Essendon that season. He wasn't even in Victoria. He played the 1903 season in the Goldfields competition in WA. No evidence from any 1903 paper or publication is ever cited in support of claims that Gavin won such an award that year. |
| 1904 | No such award existed. | Vic Cumberland (St Kilda) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1904 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Cumberland won such an award that year. |
| 1905 | No such award existed. | Percy Trotter (Fitzroy) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1905 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Trotter won such an award that year. |
| 1906 | No such award existed. | Jack McKenzie (Essendon) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1906 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that McKenzie won such an award that year. |
| 1907 | No such award existed. | Dave McNamara (St Kilda) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1907 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that McNamara won such an award that year. |
| 1908 | No such award existed. | Bill Busbridge (Essendon) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1908 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Busbridge won such an award that year. |
| 1909 | No such award existed. | Bill Busbridge (Essendon) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1909 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Busbridge won such an award that year. |
| 1910 | No such award existed. | Dick Lee (Collingwood) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1910 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Lee won such an award that year. |
| 1911 | No such award existed. | Bruce Sloss (South Melbourne) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1911 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Sloss won such an award that year. |
| 1912 | No such award existed. | Ern Cameron (Essendon) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1912 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Cameron won such an award that year. |
| 1913 | No such award existed. | Vic Cumberland (St Kilda) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1913 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Cumberland won such an award that year. |
| 1914 | No such award existed. | Dave McNamara (St Kilda) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1914 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that McNamara won such an award that year. |
| 1915 | No such award existed. | Dick Lee (Collingwood) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1915 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Lee won such an award that year. |
| 1916 | No such award existed. | Vic Thorp (Richmond) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1916 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Thorp won such an award that year. |
| 1917 | No such award existed. | Paddy O'Brien (Carlton) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1917 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that O'Brien won such an award that year. |
| 1918 | No such award existed. | Jack Howell (South Melbourne) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1918 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Howell won such an award that year. |
| 1919 | No such award existed. | Vic Thorp (Richmond) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1919 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Thorp won such an award that year. |
| 1920 | No such award existed. | Roy Cazaly (South Melbourne) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. Cazaly played 0 games with South Melbourne that season. He was still playing with St Kilda! No evidence from any 1920 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Cazaly won such an award that year. |
| 1921 | No such award existed. | Horrie Clover (Carlton) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1921 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Clover won such an award that year. |
| 1922 | No such award existed. | Goldie Collins (Fitzroy) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1922 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Collins won such an award that year. |
| 1923 | No such award existed. | Tom Fitzmaurice (Essendon) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1923 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Fitzmaurice won such an award that year. |
| 1924 | No such award existed. | Tom Fitzmaurice (Essendon) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1924 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Fitzmaurice won such an award that year. |
| 1925 | No such award existed. | Colin Watson (St Kilda) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1925 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Watson won such an award that year. |
| 1926 | No such award existed. | Ivor Warne-Smith (Melbourne) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1926 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Warne-Smith won such an award that year. |
| 1927 | No such award existed. | Syd Coventry (Collingwood) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1927 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Coventry won such an award that year. |
| 1928 | No such award existed. | Ivor Warne-Smith (Melbourne) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1928 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Warne-Smith won such an award that year. |
| 1929 | No such award existed. | Syd Coventry (Collingwood) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1929 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Coventry won such an award that year. |
| 1930 | No such award existed. | Allan Hopkins (Footscray) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1930 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Hopkins won such an award that year. |
| 1931 | No such award existed. | George Todd (Geelong) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1931 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Todd won such an award that year. |
| 1932 | No such award existed. | Haydn Bunton (Fitzroy) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1932 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Bunton won such an award that year. |
| 1933 | No such award existed. | Gordon Coventry (Collingwood) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1933 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Coventry won such an award that year. |
| 1934 | No such award existed. | Laurie Nash (South Melbourne) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1934 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Nash won such an award that year. |
| 1935 | No such award existed. | Laurie Nash (South Melbourne) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1935 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Nash won such an award that year. |
| 1936 | No such award existed. | Harry Collier (Collingwood) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1936 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Collier won such an award that year. |
| 1937 | No such award existed. | Dick Reynolds (Essendon) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1937 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Reynolds won such an award that year. |
| 1938 | No such award existed. | Jack Regan (Collingwood) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1938 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Regan won such an award that year. |
| 1939 | No such award existed. | Dick Reynolds (Essendon) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1939 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Reynolds won such an award that year. |
| 1940 | No such award existed. | Jack Dyer (Richmond) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1940 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Dyer won such an award that year. |
| 1941 | No such award existed. | Ted Cordner (Melbourne) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1941 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Cordner won such an award that year. |
| 1942 | No such award existed. | Jack Dyer (Richmond) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1942 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Dyer won such an award that year. |
| 1943 | No such award existed. | Jack Dyer (Richmond) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1943 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Dyer won such an award that year. |
| 1944 | No such award existed. | Norm Smith (Melbourne) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1944 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Smith won such an award that year. |
| 1945 | No such award existed. | Jack Graham (South Melbourne) is listed as winner in 21st Century publications and online websites. No evidence from any 1945 paper or publication has to my knowledge ever been cited in support of claims that Graham won such an award that year. |