1956 VFL NIGHT PREMIERSHIP
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SERIES BACKGROUND
Years of frustration and false starts had seen metropolitan Melbourne fall behind other regions in the race for night football. The deadlock was broken when the South Melbourne Cricket Club (SMCC) decided to invest in four light towers to enable night football, soccer, baseball and other sports to be played at the venue. *The eight teams that missed the VFL finals series competed for the K.G. Luke Trophy (valued at £75 and donated by VFL President Kenneth Luke) with the winning team receiving a £200 cash prize. *The Lake Oval was the venue for the series, and also the home ground of the South Melbourne Football Club, so it was natural that the Swans played in the inaugural match. This soon developed into something of a tradition with South playing the opener in ten of the fifteen series they participated in during this era. *Specially-made white footballs (manufactured by both Sherrin and Ross Faulkner) were used throughout the competition. *An exhibition match was played in the period between the night series second semi-final and Grand Final. This was a charity match between the teams finishing 3rd (Footscray) and 4th (Geelong) in the VFL premiership. The match was a fundraiser for Operation Gratitude, a massive fundraising campaign for the RSL and Legacy which ran throughout the second half of 1956. *The series was originally meant to involve VFL and VFA clubs but the VFL chose to go it alone after the SMCC set a deadline of September 12th for the night final to be played (that deadline was later extended to September 17th). The VFA home & away season only ended on September 1st which did not leave enough time for a joint series. |
The Argus announces South Melbourne's night premiership triumph [Argus 18-9-1956]
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*Alcohol consumption was a growing problem during the series with the large crowds transporting in and consuming copious amounts of alcohol. One report of the Richmond-Hawthorn opening round match described night football as "becoming the Mecca of thousands of unruly drinkers, with thousands of empty bottles scattered about the terraces by halftime". [The Argus 31-8-1956]
*For this inaugural series no dividend sharing arrangement with the top-four clubs (who were playing in the VFL finals) was in place. The relatively large night series crowds meant a bottom-eight club that lost their opening round match in the night competition would bank around £700, with the winning club making as much as £2000. This was considerably more than the VFL's top-four clubs who had to divide their finals takings among all 12 clubs.
It was this financial imbalance that led to all clubs taking part in the 1957 Night Series, with the top-four entering the night competition as they were eliminated from the VFL finals race. [The Football Record 14-9-1956 / The Age 20-7-1982]
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ROUND 1 |
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DATE |
TEAMS |
1/4 |
1/2 |
3/4 |
FINAL |
MARGIN |
VENUE |
DAY/TIME |
CROWD |
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Aug-23 |
South Melbourne (9) |
1.0 (6) |
6.7 (43) |
7.10 (52) |
13.15 (93) |
20 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Thu (8:00pm) |
14,000 |
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St Kilda (11) |
3.6 (24) |
5.7 (37) |
10.12 (72) |
10.13 (73) |
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Aug-28 |
North Melbourne (12) |
2.4 (16) |
4.7 (31) |
8.12 (60) |
8.13 (61) |
2 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Tue (8:00pm) |
13,500 |
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Essendon (6) |
1.1 (7) |
4.5 (29) |
7.6 (48) |
8.11 (59) |
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Aug-30 |
Richmond (10) |
2.4 (16) |
6.8 (44) |
8.8 (56) |
12.10 (82) |
9 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Thu (8:00pm) |
15,200 |
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Hawthorn (7) |
2.4 (16) |
4.8 (32) |
6.16 (52) |
9.19 (73) |
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Sep-04 |
Carlton (5) |
5.3 (33) |
7.10 (52) |
10.15 (75) |
13.18 (96) |
14 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Tue (8:00pm) |
25,000 |
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Fitzroy (8) |
5.1 (31) |
6.3 (39) |
9.8 (62) |
12.10 (82) |
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SEMI FINALS |
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DATE |
TEAMS |
1/4 |
1/2 |
3/4 |
FINAL |
MARGIN |
VENUE |
DAY/TIME |
CROWD |
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Sep-06 |
South Melbourne (9) |
4.1 (25) |
7.7 (49) |
8.8 (56) |
9.13 (67) |
5 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Thu (8:00pm) |
17,500 |
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North Melbourne (12) |
3.7 (25) |
3.10 (28) |
7.12 (54) |
8.14 (62) |
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Sep-12 |
Carlton (5) |
3.5 (23) |
8.7 (55) |
8.8 (56) |
11.15 (81) |
12 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Wed (8:00pm) |
25,500 |
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Richmond (10) |
2.5 (17) |
5.7 (37) |
7.12 (54) |
9.15 (69) |
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EXHIBITION MATCH |
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DATE |
TEAMS |
1/4 |
1/2 |
3/4 |
FINAL |
MARGIN |
VENUE |
DAY/TIME |
CROWD |
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Sep-14 |
Footscray (3) |
4.2 (26) |
8.6 (54) |
12.11 (83) |
12.16 (88) |
45 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Fri (8:00pm) |
12,500 |
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Geelong (4) |
1.2 (8) |
4.3 (27) |
5.5 (35) |
6.7 (43) |
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GRAND FINAL |
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DATE |
TEAMS |
1/4 |
1/2 |
3/4 |
FINAL |
MARGIN |
VENUE |
DAY/TIME |
CROWD |
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Sep-17 |
South Melbourne (9) |
3.6 (24) |
7.8 (50) |
10.13 (73) |
13.16 (94) |
6 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Mon (8:00pm) |
33,120 |
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Carlton (5) |
2.4 (16) |
2.7 (19) |
7.8 (50) |
13.10 (88) |
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St Kilda's Graham Minahan and Bill Gleeson train under the new Lake Oval lights [The Argus 21-8-1956]
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South Melbourne and Carlton players fight for possession of the white football in the inaugural Night Grand Final [The Age 18-9-1956]
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MATCH REPORTS
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ROUND
1 |
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Match
1 - Thursday, August 23 |
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SOUTH
MELBOURNE |
1.0
(6) |
6.7
(43) |
7.10
(52) |
13.15
(93) |
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ST
KILDA |
3.6
(24) |
5.7
(37) |
10.12
(72) |
10.13
(73) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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South
Melbourne |
McCormack,
Ledwidge, Dorgan, E. Lane, Oaten, Marks |
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St
Kilda |
Roberts,
Muir, Stephenson, Moloney, Gleeson, Walsh |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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South
Melbourne |
Goldsmith
4, McCormack 2, C. Lane 2, Oaten 2, Keyter, E.
Lane, Ferguson |
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St
Kilda |
Young
4, Muir 2, Gleeson 2, B. McCarthy, Minahan |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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South
Melbourne |
C.
Lane replaced Skilton (first quarter) |
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Ferguson
replaced Elder (third quarter) |
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St
Kilda |
Hanrahan replaced B. McCarthy (last quarter) |
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Watt
replaced Williamson (last quarter) |
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UMPIRE: |
Schwab |
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CROWD: |
14,000 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/ARGUS/Football
Record |
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NOTES: |
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The
opening game of the series ground to a halt when a South Melbourne player was
flattened in the goalsquare. According to The Argus match report |
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about
14 players from both sides began to trade punches. It took nearly five
minutes for umpires to break up the fights, only for a skirmish to break-out |
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at
the other end of the field resulting in "opposing players swinging
punches wildly". Umpires were
this time assisted by police to end the melee. |
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Match
2 - Tuesday, August 28 |
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NORTH
MELBOURNE |
2.4
(16) |
4.7
(31) |
8.12
(60)* |
8.13
(61) |
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ESSENDON |
1.1
(7) |
4.5
(29) |
7.6
(48)* |
8.11
(59) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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North
Melbourne |
Aylett,
O’Halloran, Dwyer, Martyn,
Templar, Spencer |
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Essendon |
Clarke,
Booth, Sewell, Gill, Pascoe, Heenan |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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North
Melbourne |
Spencer
4, Aylett 2, Mantello, Dwyer |
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Essendon |
Willey
3, Booth 2, Hutchison, Shearman, Donohue |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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North
Melbourne |
Crampton replaced Brady (selected side), Ford
replaced English (selected side) |
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Dozzi replaced K. Dean (last quarter) |
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Wilson
replaced Templar (last quarter) |
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Essendon |
Carstairs replaced Donohoe
(third quarter) |
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Dench replaced Clarkson (third quarter) |
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UMPIRE: |
Barbour |
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CROWD: |
13,500 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/Football
Record |
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SCORE
DISCREPANCIES: |
NM's
3/4 time score in The Football Record = 8.12 (The Age has 7.11) |
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Essendon's 3/4 time score in The Football
Record = 7.6 (The Age has 7.8) |
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Match
3 - Thursday, August 30 |
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RICHMOND |
2.4
(16) |
6.8
(44) |
8.8
(56) |
12.10
(82) |
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HAWTHORN |
2.4
(16) |
4.8
(32) |
6.16
(52) |
9.19
(73) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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Richmond |
H.
Rowe, D. Rowe, Branton, McDonald, Allsopp, Cations |
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Hawthorn |
Coghlan, Metcalfe, O’Brien, Hughes, Kaine, M. Considine |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Richmond |
Dummett 4, Branton
3, Allsopp, McDonald, Cooke, Naismith, Poulter |
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Hawthorn |
Douglas
2, Coghlan 2, Kaine,
O’Brien, Cooper, Metcalfe, Peck |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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Richmond |
unknown |
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Hawthorn |
unknown |
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UMPIRE: |
Frood |
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CROWD: |
15,200 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/SUN/Football
Record |
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NOTES: |
- |
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Match
4 - Tuesday, September 4 |
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CARLTON |
5.3
(33) |
7.10
(52) |
10.15
(75) |
13.18
(96) |
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FITZROY |
5.1
(31) |
6.3
(39) |
9.8
(62) |
12.10
(82) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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Carlton |
Hands,
Mills, Kerr, Clarke, Beasy, Ousley |
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Fitzroy |
Murray,
Clark, Williams, Abraham, Johnstone, Henderson |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Carlton |
Ousley 4, Beasy
3, Mills 2, Clarke 2, Hands, Kerr |
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Fitzroy |
Abraham
5, Johnstone 2, Ongarello,
Aston, Clark, Campbell, Knight |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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Carlton |
Licciardo replaced Holt (third quarter) |
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Hamilton
replaced Burnar (three-quarter time) |
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Fitzroy |
Ashton
replaced Furness (three-quarter time) |
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Chivers replaced McGregor (three-quarter
time) |
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UMPIRE: |
Nunn |
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CROWD: |
25,000 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/SUN/Football
Record |
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NOTES: |
- |
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SEMI-FINALS |
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Match
5 - Thursday, September 6 |
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SOUTH
MELBOURNE |
4.1
(25) |
7.7
(49) |
8.8
(56) |
9.13
(67) |
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NORTH
MELBOURNE |
3.7
(25) |
3.10
(28) |
7.12
(54) |
8.14
(62) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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South
Melbourne |
Sibun, Goldsmith, Younger, Taylor, Pratt,
Primmer |
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North
Melbourne |
Aylett,
Dwyer, Martyn, Templar, O’Halloran,
Dugdale |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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South
Melbourne |
Goldsmith
4, D. Matthews 2, Clegg, Monks, Oaten |
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North
Melbourne |
Aylett
3, N. Dean, K. Dean, Templar, O’Halloran, Dugdale |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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South
Melbourne |
Younger
replaced Hogan (second quarter) |
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Oaten
replaced Ledwidge (third quarter) |
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North
Melbourne |
Tobin
replaced K. Dean (last quarter) |
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Ford
replaced N. Dean (last quarter) |
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UMPIRE: |
Woolfe |
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CROWD: |
17,500 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/SUN/Football
Record |
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NOTES: |
- |
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Match
6 - Wednesday, September 12 |
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CARLTON |
3.5
(23) |
8.7
(55) |
8.8
(56) |
11.15
(81) |
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RICHMOND |
2.5
(17) |
5.7
(37) |
7.12
(54) |
9.15
(69) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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Carlton |
Nicholls,
Milroy, Mills, Beasy, Hands, James |
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Richmond |
Poulter, D. Rowe, H. Rowe, Claxton, Branton, Dummett |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Carlton |
Crowe
3, Hands 2, Inglis, Beasy,
Mills, Milroy, Zeunert, Clarke |
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Richmond |
Dummett 3, Poulter
2, Claxton 2, McDonald, Branton |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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Carlton |
Ousley replaced Crowe (third quarter) |
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Berner replaced Sullivan (last quarter) |
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Richmond |
(none) |
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UMPIRE: |
Flanagan |
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CROWD: |
25,500 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/Football
Record |
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NOTES: |
- |
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Exhibition
Match - Friday, September 14 |
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FOOTSCRAY |
4.2
(26) |
8.6
(54) |
12.11
(83) |
12.16
(88) |
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GEELONG |
1.2
(8) |
4.3
(27) |
5.5
(35) |
6.7
(43) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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Footscray |
Whitten,
Duffy, Collins, Gallagher, Reynolds, Dixon, Ryan |
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Geelong |
O’Neill,
Pianto, Tresize, Gazzard, O’Connell, Hovey, Williams |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Footscray |
Duffy
4, Collins 3, K. Smith, Ryan, Ross, Dixon, Westcott |
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Geelong |
Wooller 2, O’Connell 2, Smith, Bartle |
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UMPIRE: |
Rowe |
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CROWD: |
12,500 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE |
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NOTES: |
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Fundraiser
for 'Operation Gratitude' played by the VFL teams finishing 3rd (Footscray) and 4th (Geelong) |
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Operation
Gratitude was a massive fundraising campaign for Legacy and the RSL that ran
throughout the second half of 1956. |
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1956 VFL NIGHT PREMIERSHIP - GRAND FINAL
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Match
7 - Monday, September 17 |
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SOUTH
MELBOURNE |
3.6
(24) |
7.8
(50) |
10.13
(73) |
13.16
(94) |
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CARLTON |
2.4
(16) |
2.7
(19) |
7.8
(50) |
13.10
(88) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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South
Melbourne |
Clegg,
McGowan, Goldsmith, Matthews, Sibun, Taylor |
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Carlton |
Hands,
Zeunert, English, Crowe, Gilchrist, Kerr |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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South
Melbourne |
McGowan
4, Goldsmith 3, Sibun, Pratt, Matthews, Taylor,
Clegg, Gillett |
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Carlton |
Crowe
4, Kerr 2, Hands, Hamilton, Nicholls, English, Beasy,
Berner, Sullivan |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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South
Melbourne |
Tagliabue
replaced McCormack (last quarter) |
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Carlton |
Berner replaced Mills (third quarter) |
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Ousley replaced Hamilton (three-quarter
time) |
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UMPIRE: |
Beitzel |
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CROWD: |
33,120* |
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SOURCE: |
AGE |
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NOTES: |
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For
winning the series South Melbourne received a cash prize of £200 and the K.G.
Luke Trophy (valued at £75). |
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CROWD
DISCREPANCY: |
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Media
reports of the day (and current AFL records) have the crowd for this match as
32,450 |
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Later
editions of the Football Record (12-9-1957 / 26-9-1960 / 2-9-1965 / 25-9-1967
/ 4-9-1968 / 28-9-1970) confirm it was actually 33,120 |
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