1909 VFL Grand Final

The 1909 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Carlton Football Club and South Melbourne Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 2 October 1909. It was the 12th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine the premiers for the 1909 VFL season. The match, attended by 37,759 spectators, was won by South Melbourne by two points, marking that club's first premiership victory.

Carlton and South Melbourne finished in the top two during the minor round of the 1909 season, each finishing with a 14–4 record. South Melbourne was the minor premier, with a higher percentage than Carlton. Carlton won the clubs' two meetings during the minor rounds: in Round 2 by 17 points; and in Round 11 by 24 points, after trailing 0.11 (11) to 4.4 (28) at half-time, then scoring nine goals to none in the third quarter.

During the season, the Carlton Football Club had been split by infighting within the committee, resulting in the resignation of coach Jack Worrall Round 13. Captain Fred "Pompey" Elliott took over the coaching duties in Round 14, and Carlton won its last four matches.

As premiers in 1906, 1907, and 1908, Carlton was attempting to win its fourth consecutive premiership; South Melbourne was attempting to win its first premiership. The finals were played under the amended Argus system. Both teams won their semi-finals, and Carlton defeated South Melbourne in the final 10.9 (69) to 7.5 (47). South Melbourne, as minor premiers, was then entitled to a Grand Final challenge match to decide the premiership.

The South Melbourne side was missing full-back Bill Dolphin, who was injured, and winger Jim Caldwell, who had been suspended for nine matches for striking Carlton’s George Bruce in the Final. Norm Clark was available for Carlton.

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