Country football grand final takes seven weekends to get result

It took almost two months to get a result in this 1919 grand final — and thanks to a premiership player’s grandson, now we know why.

Local heroes: The Ultima 1919 premiership photo. Warrick Grey’s grandfather, Stan Grey, is third from the left in the back row.

THE premiership medal passed down to Meatian West farmer Warrick Grey is now 100 years old.

It had belonged to his grandfather, Stan, who had been part of an Ultima premiership in 1919, but Grey knew very little else about the achievement, not even who Ultima had played.

In setting out to answer that question, Grey stumbled upon the saga that unfolded before the medal could draped around Stan’s neck.

The 1919 Northern District Association grand final between Ultima and Quambatook took a staggering seven weekends to produce a result.

Illness, a storm and a disputed score at the end of a match all contributed to the delay.

In the Swan Hill library, in the microfilm pages of The Ultima and Chillingollah Star, Grey and his wife, Tamara, uncovered a story that was “better than any book I’ve ever read”.

“We did know that we had this medallion from 1919, and this year would be the centenary for it,” Grey said.

“So I just thought it would be good to actually find out who we played, at least, and maybe have a special day at the footy club just to remember some of our history.

“So that’s why we went in … and uncovered this whole other story in the meantime.”

Hard won: Warrick Grey with the premiership medallion won by his grandfather, Stan Grey, in 1919. The grand final scores from the match that was finally completed are on the scoreboard behind him. Picture: Dannika Bonser

In 1919 there were just four teams in the Northern District Association — Ultima, Quambatook, Lalbert and Waitchie.

The grand final was originally supposed to be played on August 30 that year, but the Star reported later that “influenza took the first hand when it got most of the Ultima players down and preventing the final being played on the day set apart for it”.

When the two sides reconvened on September 6 in Quambatook, “the day was a boisterous one, and was not likely to be conducive to good football”.

A storm broke at quarter time, forcing players and spectators to “seek shelter”. Although the game was eventually able to restart, “the ground was not in a fit state to play on, and, although they got through another quarter, it was decided to abandon the match, with Ultima leading by three points”.

The third attempt that was played on September 13. At the end of the match “the goalkeepers cards when checked did not tally, there being one point in dispute”.

The Star report concluded at the end of the game that the scores “were even, the bulk of the cards showing” Ultima 4.4 (28) to Quambatook 3.10 (28).

The delegates of the association met the next week at Ultima to “endeavour to come to an amicable settlement regarding the disputed draw of the grand final”. But despite the discussions and “sworn declarations” being produced, the matter was referred to “the League” to adjudicate.

Warrick Grey, Ultimo, has a premiership medallion won by the Ultimo Football Club by his grandfather Stan Grey in 1919. Picture: DANNIKA BONSER

Finally, almost a month after the disputed draw, a replay was scheduled for October 11 at Lalbert.

In the report on the grand final, published October 17, it was noted that there was not the same interest in the game, attributed to the “lateness of the season”, and that the “warm day and lack of training told against the players”.

“It was a great relief to all when the tinkling of the final bell caused a cessation of play.”

The final score was Ultima 4.8 (32) to Quambatook 2.9 (21).

The last line reads “Ultima are premiers for 1919”, something Grey had feared he would not read as his investigations had progressed.

“It went on for weeks and we were starting to think, did anybody actually win this premiership or did they just give everyone a medal in the end to make it go away?” he said. “We were (worried there would not be a result), but we read on and read on, and a few weeks later we finally came across the article that said they did play it all again and Ultima did win.”

Stan Grey would remain in the area, eventually retiring to Swan Hill. He had four sons, the youngest being twins Les (Grey’s dad) and Ken, who stayed on the farm.

While the twins played for Lalbert, Warrick Grey would play at Ultima where he is also a premiership player like his grandfather.

Team family: Corey, Baden, Tamara, Warrick and Quinn Grey are all involved with the Ultima Football Club. Picture: Dannika Bonser

At 47, he still plays in the reserves alongside his oldest son, Baden, and is the first year coach of the under-17.5 team that his younger sons Corey, 16, and Quinn, 14, play in.

Last year he played a reserves match with Baden and Corey, and hopes one day to be able to play with all three sons.

And Tamara, as a committeewoman and trainer, has a front-row seat to watch her boys play every week.

Ultima, now in the Golden Rivers Football League, will hold a special day on June 29 to celebrate the centenary of the phenomenal 1919 grand final, as well as all premierships played in a year ending in a ‘9’.

But while it bagged the 1919 flag, is seems Ultima was due for more drama again in the finals in 1920.

Grey said he found out that Ultima beat Chillingollah, which had joined the competition that year, to get into the final, but Chillingollah put in a protest.

“It was five weeks before they could play the grand final because the protest was being heard … it didn’t say anywhere what that protest was about.”

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