The 1912 VFL season was the 16th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured ten clubs, ran from 27 April until 28 September, and comprised an 18-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top four clubs.
The premiership was won by the Essendon Football Club for the fourth time and second time consecutively, after it defeated by 14 points in the 1912 VFL Grand Final.
Background
In 1912, the VFL competition consisted of ten teams of 18 on-the-field players each, with no "reserves", although any of the 18 players who had left the playing field for any reason could later resume their place on the field at any time during the match.
Each team played each other twice in a home-and-away season of 18 rounds.
Once the 18 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1912 VFL Premiers were determined by the specific format and conventions of the amended "Argus system".
Home-and-away season
Round 1
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.14 (116) | | 6.6 (42) | EMCG | 27 April 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.16 (70) | | 4.7 (31) | Princes Park | 27 April 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.10 (46) | | 7.11 (53) | Junction Oval | 27 April 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.5 (47) | | 4.10 (34) | Lake Oval | 27 April 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.14 (68) | | 5.9 (39) | MCG | 27 April 1912
Round 2
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 5.8 (38) | | 2.23 (35) | Punt Road Oval | 4 May 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.15 (93) | | 6.11 (47) | Corio Oval | 4 May 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.17 (53) | | 10.10 (70) | Victoria Park | 4 May 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.12 (60) | | 10.8 (68) | MCG | 4 May 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 5.11 (41) | | 9.10 (64) | Brunswick Street Oval | 4 May 1912
Round 3
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.14 (56) | | 5.6 (36) | Brunswick Street Oval | 11 May 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.9 (63) | | 6.12 (48) | MCG | 11 May 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.18 (54) | | 3.4 (22) | Lake Oval | 11 May 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.21 (93) | | 4.12 (36) | Junction Oval | 11 May 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.11 (59) | | 6.14 (50) | EMCG | 11 May 1912
Round 4
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.12 (78) | | 5.5 (35) | Corio Oval | 18 May 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.9 (45) | | 6.10 (46) | Princes Park | 18 May 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 3.13 (31) | | 7.14 (56) | MCG | 18 May 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.6 (60) | | 13.8 (86) | Punt Road Oval | 18 May 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.8 (56) | | 9.8 (62) | Lake Oval | 18 May 1912
Round 5
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 5.5 (35) | | 7.8 (50) | Junction Oval | 25 May 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.11 (59) | | 4.8 (32) | Brunswick Street Oval | 25 May 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.7 (49) | | 7.10 (52) | EMCG | 25 May 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.12 (72) | | 6.4 (40) | Victoria Park | 25 May 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.2 (50) | | 5.14 (44) | MCG | 25 May 1912
Round 6
Prior to this round, it was noted by the Football Record that Melbourne had been generally strong while competing at their home ground, but had faltered while away.
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.12 (78) | | 10.6 (66) | Brunswick Street Oval | 1 June 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.15 (87) | | 6.11 (47) | Princes Park | 1 June 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 5.8 (38) | | 9.16 (70) | MCG | 1 June 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.10 (70) | | 13.14 (92) | Punt Road Oval | 1 June 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.13 (91) | | 2.15 (27) | Corio Oval | 1 June 1912
Round 7
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.13 (73) | | 4.12 (36) | Victoria Park | 3 June 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.15 (93) | | 8.13 (61) | Lake Oval | 3 June 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.10 (46) | | 8.7 (55) | Junction Oval | 3 June 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.6 (54) | | 16.12 (108) | MCG | 3 June 1912 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.8 (50) | | 17.17 (119) | Punt Road Oval | 3 June 1912