Australian Football

Ballarat's Victor Hutchins¹ was a stalwart of that club's strong sides of the first decade of the 20th century, finally participating in a premiership team, after several near misses, in 1908. In that year's Grand Final Ballarat led at every change to defeat South Ballarat 7.9 (51) to 4.12 (36), with Hutchins contributing both a goal and a fine personal display to the victory. Six years earlier he had been a conspicuous performer on a half forward flank for Essendon as the Dons lost the 1902 VFL Grand Final to Collingwood. Hutchins spent just one season with the Same Old, and played only 11 senior games. However, he was a household name in Ballarat at a time when the standard of football on display each Saturday afternoon in the local competition lost little if anything in comparison with that being served up in the supposed 'big league' in the metropolis.

Author - John Devaney