The size of the association increased from eight teams to nine in 1899, with the Essendon Town Football Club joining the association. Essendon Town was newly established as a senior club in March 1900,[1] and played its matches at the Essendon Cricket Ground – distinguishing it from the existing Essendon Football Club (formerly in the Association but now competing in the League), which played its home matches at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground, approximately six miles away from Essendon. Like its league counterpart, Essendon Town wore black and red uniforms. Brunswick, which until this season had worn black and red uniforms, changed to black and white uniforms.[2]
Ladder
The premiership was decided on the basis of the best record across sixteen rostered matches, with each club playing the others twice.
Source: [3] Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for. (P) Premiers
Awards
The leading goalkicker for the season was Daily of Footscray, who kicked 34 goals.[3]
Notable events
On 30 June, Brunswick forfeited its away match against Williamstown after club officials forgot to bring the players' uniforms to the game; Williamstown won the match in a walkover, taking the field and scoring a single goal against no opposition as a formality.[4] It was subsequently decided not to award the match to Williamstown as a walkover, and the match was rescheduled for 8 September, the Saturday after the end of the season; but as the game could have no bearing on the final placings, Brunswick opted to forfeit once again.[3]
On 15 September, premiers Footscray played against a combined Association team at the North Melbourne Recreation Reserve, for the benefit of the family of deceased North Melbourne committeeman Frank Mitchell. The combined Association team 8.13 (61) defeated Footscray 3.6 (24).[5]
