1925 is marked in the history books as a remarkable year for Geelong football fans, with the side winning it’s first ever VFL flag.

However, the premiership year wasn’t without drama.

In round 12 Geelong defeated North Melbourne by 95 points, although the match made headlines for all the wrong reasons.

The Argus described the affair as “the worst game for years” involving incidents that were “outstanding and disgraceful”.

“It was freely rumoured on Friday that trouble was brewing and, as results proved, rumour seems to have been well-founded,” The Argus reported.

Six players were reported on a total of 17 charges during the game, with North Melbourne’s Fred Rutley consequently being awarded the lengthiest suspension in the League’s history for an on-field infringement.

Rutley, in his debut season with the Northerners, was suspended for life after being found guilty of a kicking charge.

“Never have so many spiteful and vicious acts been witnessed in a match. Players were sent down with cowardly acts after they had kicked the ball. Other acts of foul play included tripping, charging, chopping players as they ran past, and deliberate punching – in fact, it appeared as if all the rules were totally ignored.”

Just behalf half time a spectator in the North Melbourne enclosure threw a rock at Geelong’s Arthur Coghlan, hitting him behind the knee and resulting in him requiring treatment.

The action was “not resented by bystanders” according to The Argus, with rough play worsening over the second half and Geelong skipper Cliff Rankin being knocked unconscious.

The tribunal sat on the Wednesday evening following the game and immediately announced the unusual procedure of hearing all the evidence at once and then announcing separate verdicts.

Geelong President Dr J. E. Piper told the tribunal that he was shocked by the brutality of the match.

“Our men were told when the season began that any player reported and disqualified would receive no pay and no help from the club. Up until a week ago, no Geelong player had been reported this season,” Piper said.

Although Rutley was reported for ‘attempting to kick’ Geelong’s Eric Fleming, boundary umpire Heron told the tribunal that after the Geelong player overbalanced and fell on his knees, Rutley “ran in and kicked him in the back”.

Fleming agreed he had been kicked, but could not say by whom.

Rutley was also charged with ‘attempting to kick’ Geelong’s Sid Hall.

Field umpire Scott told the tribunal that during the third quarter he saw Rutley attempt to kick the Geelong player in the calf and therefore, awarded a free kick to Hall.

Hall certainly didn’t hold back, telling the tribunal that “he [Rutley] ran up and kicked me. I was sore for two days.”

Rutley pleaded not guilty to both charges.

The tribunal sat until just before midnight before announcing its verdicts.

The charge against North’s Johnson was not sustained, while teammates Trevaskis and Russ were suspended for three matches and the rest of the season respectively; Geelong’s Coghlan and Thomas were suspended until the end of the 1926 season and North’s Rutley was stood down for life.

“The tribunal considers this one of the worst and most serious charges that has ever come before it,” chairman of the tribunal Sir Baldwin Spencer explained of Rutley’s charge.

It seemed Rutley’s football career was at an end however, he later appealed to the League for leniency and his ban was lifted in 1930 when he briefly resumed his career with North Melbourne.

Ultimately, his suspension amounted to 89 games.