NON-PREMIERSHIP MATCHES

1957 VFL NIGHT PREMIERSHIP

RESULTS
ABOUT
TEAMS / FORMAT
EVENTS
IMAGES
MATCH REPORTS
RESULTS

SUMMARY OF RESULTS

Date

Teams

1/4

1/2

3/4

Final

Margin

Venue

Day/Time

Crowd

ROUND 1

Aug-29

South Melbourne (10)

3.7 (25)

8.13 (61)

10.16 (76)

15.19 (109)

30

Lake Oval,

Thu

25,000

St Kilda (9)

1.4 (10)

4.9 (33)

8.10 (58)

11.13 (79)

South Melbourne

(8:00pm)

Sep-03

Richmond (7)

3.1 (19)

3.5 (23)

7.9 (51)

9.12 (66)

25

Lake Oval,

Tue

14,000

Geelong (12)

2.4 (16)

9.6 (60)

11.9 (75)

13.13 (91)

South Melbourne

(8:00pm)

Sep-05

North Melbourne (8)

3.2 (20)

4.3 (27)

9.8 (62)

9.13 (67)

18

Lake Oval,

Thu

16,500

Collingwood (5)

1.1 (7)

3.9 (27)

3.10 (28)

6.13 (49)

South Melbourne

(8:00pm)

Sep-10

Footscray (6)

1.4 (10)

7.7 (49)

12.13 (85)

16.17 (113)

33

Lake Oval,

Tue

16,500

Fitzroy (11)

6.1 (37)

9.4 (58)

9.6 (60)

12.8 (80)

South Melbourne

(8:00pm)

QUARTER FINALS

Sep-12

Carlton (4)

2.2 (14)

2.6 (18)

4.8 (32)

6.11 (47)

15

Lake Oval,

Thu

25,000

South Melbourne (10)

0.3 (3)

4.9 (33)

5.11 (41)

8.14 (62)

South Melbourne

(8:00pm)

Sep-17

Geelong vs North Melbourne moved to Sept.24 due to torrential rain

Tue

-

Sep-19

Hawthorn (3)

1.3 (9)

3.8 (26)

5.11 (41)

7.15 (57)

19

Lake Oval,

Thu

14,000

Footscray (6)

3.2 (20)

5.4 (34)

8.6 (54)

11.10 (76)

South Melbourne

(8:00pm)

Sep-24

Geelong (12)

1.6 (12)

4.9 (33)

7.14 (56)

11.18 (84)

12

Lake Oval,

Tue

8,100

North Melbourne (8)

4.6 (30)

8.10 (58)

10.11 (71)

10.12 (72)

South Melbourne

(8:00pm)

Sep-26

Footscray (6)

4.4 (28)

6.7 (43)

9.13 (67)

11.16 (82)

26

Lake Oval,

Thu

10,000

Melbourne (1)

1.3 (9)

3.4 (22)

6.4 (40)

8.8 (56)

South Melbourne

(8:00pm)

SEMI FINALS

Oct-01

Essendon vs South Melbourne moved to Oct.4 due to an unplayable surface

Tue

-

Oct-03

Geelong (12)

2.4 (16)

4.7 (31)

7.9 (51)

10.11 (71)

26

Lake Oval,

Thu

14,600

Footscray (6)

3.1 (19)

3.4 (22)

5.8 (38)

6.9 (45)

South Melbourne

(8:00pm)

Oct-04

Essendon (2)

3.6 (24)

6.7 (43)

10.7 (67)

15.14 (104)

12

Lake Oval,

Fri

18,500

South Melbourne (10)

5.2 (32)

11.8 (74)

13.12 (90)

17.14 (116)

South Melbourne

(8:00pm)

GRAND FINAL

Oct-07

Geelong (12)

0.0 (0)

1.0 (6)

3.4 (22)

8.4 (52)

51

Lake Oval,

Mon

25,000

South Melbourne (10)

2.4 (16)

5.9 (39)

10.13 (73)

15.13 (103)

South Melbourne

(8:00pm)

 

ABOUT

ABOUT THE 1957 SERIES

The unexpected popularity of the inaugural Night Premiership in 1956, combined with a one-sided dividend sharing arrangement, meant the night series clubs actually received more money than those competing in the VFL finals (Melbourne, Collingwood, Footscray and Geelong).

For example, a bottom-eight club that lost their opening round match in the 1956 competition banked around £700, with the winning club making as much as £2000. This was considerably more than the top-four that had to divide their finals takings among all twelve 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]

However, this resulted in an unwieldy draw which included an uneven number of teams in the quarter finals. The situation wasn’t helped by two matches being postponed due to poor weather (the postponed Geelong v North Melbourne match was actually moved twice due to the first move creating a scheduling clash).

Ultimately, the inclusion of the VFL finallists, along with the rescheduled matches, created such a long and complicated series that in 1958 the League reverted back to the original format involving only the bottom-eight clubs (offset by a new and equitable dividend sharing agreement) and it remained unchanged throughout the rest of this era.
TEAMS / FORMAT

PARTICIPATING TEAMS

The series featured all twelve VFL clubs (the top four entered the series when they finished participating in the VFL finals:
1st - Melbourne (entered at the quarter-final stage)
2nd - Essendon (entered at the semi-final stage)
3rd - Hawthorn (entered at the quarter-final stage)
4th - Carlton (entered at the quarter-final stage)
5th - Collingwood
6th - Footscray
7th - Richmond
8th - North Melbourne
9th - St Kilda
10th - South Melbourne
11th - Fitzroy
12th - Geelong
They 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.

SERIES FORMAT

ROUND 1:
The teams were randomly drawn in the opening round (5 vs 8 / 6 vs 11 / 7 vs 12 / 9 vs 10) with winning teams advancing to the next stage, and losing teams eliminated from the series.

QUARTER FINALS / SEMI-FINALS:
The top-four clubs entered the night competition at this stage as they were eliminated from the VFL finals race. [The Football Record 14-9-1956 / The Age 20-7-1982]

However, Essendon (2nd) received the double-chance after losing the VFL Second Semi Final. This meant they advanced to the VFL Preliminary Final rather than being eliminated (and moving to the Night Series). This created an uneven number of teams in the Night Series quarter finals (four first-round qualifiers plus three teams from the VFL finals).

This forced the highest-ranked winner from the opening round (6th-placed Footscray) to play twice in the quarter finals to balance the numbers. They defeated 3rd-placed Hawthorn in the second quarter final then won another quarter final a week later against Melbourne, the VFL premiers. In contrast, lower-ranked South Melbourne (10th) and Geelong (12th) played one less match to advance to the semi finals.

Another anomaly was the VFL premiers (Melbourne), entering the night competition in the quarter finals whilst the VFL runner-up (Essendon) entered in the semi finals.

The fixturing situation wasn’t helped by two matches being postponed due to poor weather (the postponed Geelong v North Melbourne match was actually moved twice due to the first move creating a scheduling clash).

Ultimately, the inclusion of the VFL finalists, along with the rescheduled matches, created such a long and complicated series that in 1958 the League reverted back to the original format involving only the bottom-eight clubs (offset by a new and equitable dividend sharing agreement) and it remained unchanged throughout the rest of this era.

EVENTS

NOTABLE EVENTS

*A round-robin tournament of softball matches (featuring four teams from the Women's Amateur Softball Association) were held as curtain-raisers throughout the series. The teams were dressed and named to match four of the VFL clubs:

Magpies - black & white tops, black pants
Tigers - gold tops, black pants
Saints - red & white tops, navy blue pants
Swans - white tops, red pants

*Another curtain-raiser featured a football match between the South Melbourne 4ths (U'17) and the visiting South Sydney 3rds (U'18s) from the NSWAFL.

*Footscray's champion forward, Jack Collins kicked 7 goals against Hawthorn in the quarter-finals.

*Leading goalkicker for the series was South Melbourne's Fred Goldsmith who kicked 16 goals in the Swans' four matches, eclipsing the previous record of 11 (also set by Goldsmith) in the 1956 series. Jack Collins (Footscray) was close behind with 15 goals from 4 matches.

*Rain Insurance - throughout the 1956-1971 era of the Night Series the VFL were covered for low attendances or cancellations caused by adverse weather. All games were insured against ten points of rain falling between 4pm and 8pm on matchdays. [Football Record 29-8-1957]
IMAGES

IMAGES FROM THE 1957 SERIES

Picture
The Age (30-8-1957)
MATCH REPORTS

MATCH REPORTS

Listed below are match reports for all 11 games played during the series. This is the first time these reports have been collated and published online or in print. Unless otherwise noted the information was sourced from The Football Record and The Age newspaper.

ROUND 1
QUARTER FINALS
SEMI FINALS
G.F. TEAMS
GRAND FINAL
ROUND 1

Match 1 - Thursday, August 29

SOUTH MELBOURNE

3.7 (25)

8.13 (61)

10.16 (76)

15.19 (109)

ST KILDA

1.4 (10)

4.9 (33)

8.10 (58)

11.13 (79)

BEST PLAYERS:

South Melbourne

Clegg, Taylor, Goldsmith, Keyter, Skilton, McLaughlin

St Kilda

Annand, Kupsch, Davies, Young, Jeans, Linney

GOALKICKERS:

South Melbourne

Oaten 3, Hogan 3, Lane 2, Skilton 2, Goldsmith 2, Keyter, Kelton, Clegg

St Kilda

Young 5, Minihan 2, Linney 2, Gleeson, Jeans

REPLACEMENTS:

South Melbourne

McCormack replaced Keyter (last quarter)

St Kilda

Muir replaced Roberts (half-time)

UMPIRE:

Mance

CROWD:

25,000

SOURCE:

AGE/Football Record

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 2 - Tuesday, September 3

RICHMOND

3.1 (19)

3.5 (23)

7.9 (51)

9.12 (66)

GEELONG

2.4 (16)

9.6 (60)

11.9 (75)

13.13 (91)

BEST PLAYERS:

Richmond

Saddington, Peake, Cations, Branton, Dummett

Geelong

Pianto, Haygarth, Smith, Rayson, Long, Tresize

GOALKICKERS:

Richmond

Dummett 3, Langridge 2, Branton 2, Clements, Jenkins

Geelong

Pianto 4, Wooller 2, Crowe 2, Rayson 2, Helmer 2, Rice

REPLACEMENTS:

Richmond

Dean replaced Wright (first quarter)

Geelong

Bullen replaced Pianto (last quarter)

Bourke replaced Wooller (last quarter)

UMPIRE:

Schwab

CROWD:

14,000

SOURCE:

AGE/Football Record

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 3 - Thursday, September 5

NORTH MELBOURNE

3.2 (20)

4.3 (27)

9.8 (62)

9.13 (67)

COLLINGWOOD

1.1 (7)

3.9 (27)

3.10 (28)

6.13 (49)

BEST PLAYERS:

North Melbourne

Mantello, Teasdale, Murphy, Templar, Dwyer, Meade

Collingwood

Waller, Sharp, Kingston, Brewer, Merrett, Reeves

GOALKICKERS:

North Melbourne

Murphy 2, Dugdale, Eastmure, Russell, Aylett, O’Sullivan, Templar, Mantello

Collingwood

W. Twomey 3, Gray, B. Turner, Jones

REPLACEMENTS:

North Melbourne

Meade replaced Edwards (selected side), Wiltshire replaced Brady (selected side)

Pelly replaced Doolan (third quarter)

Collingwood

Brewer replaced Tuck (selected side)

Burns replaced Hamilton (last quarter)

UMPIRE:

Woolfe

CROWD:

16,500

SOURCE:

AGE/SUN/Football Record

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 4 - Tuesday, September 10

FOOTSCRAY

1.4 (10)

7.7 (49)

12.13 (85)

16.17 (113)

FITZROY

6.1 (37)

9.4 (58)

9.6 (60)

12.8 (80)

BEST PLAYERS:

Footscray

Gilmore, O’Halloran, Henriksen, Payne, J. Kerr, Costello

Fitzroy

Murray, Ongarello, Abrahams, Vernon, Campbell, Williams

GOALKICKERS:

Footscray

Payne 5, J. Kerr 4, O’Halloran 3, Costello 2, Edwards, McAsey

Fitzroy

Ongarello 6, Abrahams 3, Slocum 2, Clark

REPLACEMENTS:

Footscray

(none)

Fitzroy

Wiegard replaced Stephen (three-quarter time)

Lane replaced MacGregor (three-quarter time)

UMPIRE:

Barbour

CROWD:

16,500*

SOURCE:

AGE/Football Record

*CROWD DISCREPANCY:

Football Record (12-9-1957) has a crowd of 16,500, The Age (11-9-1957) has 16,300.
Series attendance totals published in later editions of the Football Record are based on a crowd of 16,500 for this match.

 

QUARTER FINALS

Match 5 - Thursday, September 12

CARLTON

2.2 (14)*

2.6 (18)

4.8 (32)

6.11 (47)

SOUTH MELBOURNE

0.3 (3)

4.9 (33)

5.11 (41)*

8.14 (62)

BEST PLAYERS:

Carlton

James, Ferry, Zeunert, Kerr, D. Nicholls, Beasy

South Melbourne

Gunn, Taylor, Skilton, Clegg, Ledwidge, Hogan

GOALKICKERS:

Carlton

J. Nicholls 2, Ousley 2, Beasy, Buckley

South Melbourne

Goldsmith 3, Oaten 2, Hogan, Lane, Tagliabue

REPLACEMENTS:

Carlton

Holt replaced Donaldson (selected team)

O’Brien replaced Miers (third quarter)

Benetti replaced Clarke (third quarter)

South Melbourne

McGowan replaced Skilton (last quarter)

UMPIRE:

Frood

CROWD:

25,000

SOURCE:

AGE/Football Record

NOTES:

Carlton entered the competition at the quarter final stage after losing the VFL First Semi Final a fortnight earlier.

*SCORE DISCREPANCIES:

SM's 3/4 time score in The Football Record = 5.11 (The Age has 5.2 - presumably meant to be 5.12 because 1/2 time score
was 4.9). Carlton's 1/4 time score in The Football Record = 2.2 (The Age has 2.3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 6 - Thursday, September 19

HAWTHORN

1.3 (9)

3.8 (26)

5.11 (41)

7.15 (57)

FOOTSCRAY

3.2 (20)

5.4 (34)

8.6 (54)

11.10 (76)

BEST PLAYERS:

Hawthorn

Edwards, Hughes, O’Brien, Crane, Arthur, Shelton

Footscray

O’Halloran, Gallagher, Collins, Lee, Gilmore, E. Whitten

GOALKICKERS:

Hawthorn

Arthur 3, Ingersoll 2, Simmonds, Shelton

Footscray

Collins 7, O’Halloran 2, E. Whitten, Costello

REPLACEMENTS:

Hawthorn

unknown

Footscray

unknown

UMPIRE:

Flanagan

CROWD:

14,000

SOURCE:

AGE/SUN/Football Record

NOTES:

Hawthorn entered the series at the quarter final stage after losing the VFL Preliminary Final the weekend before.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 7 - Tuesday, September 24

GEELONG

1.6 (12)

4.9 (33)

7.14 (56)

11.18 (84)

NORTH MELBOURNE

4.6 (30)

8.10 (58)

10.11 (71)

10.12 (72)

BEST PLAYERS:

Geelong

Smith, Pianto, Borrack, Crowe, Rayson, Bullen

North Melbourne

Mantello, Russell, Teasdale, Dugdale, Aylett, Martyn

GOALKICKERS:

Geelong

O’Connell 2, Rice 2, Helmer 2, Long 2*, Nicholls, Crowe, Bullen

North Melbourne

Dugdale 5, Schofield 2, Aylett, Templar, Martyn

REPLACEMENTS:

Geelong

(none)

North Melbourne

Pelly replaced Templar (quarter unknown)

UMPIRE:

Nunn

CROWD:

8,100

SOURCE:

AGE/SUN/Football Record

NOTES:

Originally Sept.17 but postponed due to torrential rain. The match was moved to Sept.19, pushing Footscray v Hawthorn
back to Sept.24.

The VFL realised this was untenable as the winner of Footscray-Hawthorn would have to play their next night match 2 days
later (Sept.26).

As a result, Footscray v Hawthorn returned to its original date of Sept.19 and Geelong v North Melbourne was moved to Sept.24.

GOALS DISCREPANCY:

Match reports in The Age and The Sun are missing one of Geelong's goals and have Long kicking only 1 goal.
The Football Record (26-9-1957) confirms Long kicked the missing goal, crediting him with 2 for the match.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 8 - Thursday, September 26

FOOTSCRAY

4.4 (28)

6.7 (43)

9.13 (67)

11.16 (82)

MELBOURNE

1.3 (9)

3.4 (22)*

6.4 (40)

8.8 (56)

BEST PLAYERS:

Footscray

Donald, O’Halloran, J. Collins, Payne, Quarrell, R. Collins

Melbourne

L. Mithen, Williams, Barassi, R. Johnson, Thorogood, Brenchley

GOALKICKERS:

Footscray

J. Collins 5, R. Collins 2, B. Kerr 2, J. Kerr, O’Halloran

Melbourne

Barassi 3, Brenchley 2, McLean, R. Johnson, K. Mithen

REPLACEMENTS:

Footscray

McAsey replaced E.J. Whitten (half-time)

Stockman replaced Lee (last quarter)

Melbourne

K.Mithen replaced Case (three-quarter time)

Turner replaced Ridley (last quarter)

UMPIRE:

Mance

CROWD:

10,000

SOURCE:

AGE/Football Record

NOTES:

Melbourne entered the series at the quarter final stage after winning the VFL Grand Final the previous weekend.
They were missing five members of their VFL premiership side (Adams, Beckwith, Carroll, T. Johnson, J. Lord).

SCORE DISCREPANCY:

Melbourne's 1/2 time score in The Football Record = 3.4 (The Age has 4.4)

 

SEMI FINALS

Match 9 - Thursday, October 3

GEELONG

2.4 (16)

4.7 (31)*

7.9 (51)

10.11 (71)

FOOTSCRAY

3.1 (19)

3.4 (22)

5.8 (38)

6.9 (45)

BEST PLAYERS:

Geelong

Haygarth, Borrack, Smith, Long, Rayson, Davis

Footscray

Edwards, Ross, O’Halloran, Gallagher, Buckley, Donald

GOALKICKERS:

Geelong

Bullen 3, Long 3, Wooller 2, Tresize, Helmer

Footscray

Collins 3, Kerr 2, Ross

REPLACEMENTS:

Geelong

Hetherington replaced Williams (selected team)

Footscray

(none)

UMPIRE:

Nash

CROWD:

14,600*

SOURCE:

AGE/Football Record

*CROWD DISCREPANCY:

Football Record (4-10-1957) has a crowd of 14,000, The Age (4-10-1957) has 14,600 (the AFL have 14,600).
Series attendance totals published in later editions of the Football Record are based on a crowd of 14,600 for this match.

SCORE DISCREPANCY:

Geelong's 1/2 time score in The Football Record = 4.7 (The Age has 6.7)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 10 - Friday, October 4

ESSENDON

3.6 (24)

6.7 (43)

10.7 (67)

15.14 (104)

SOUTH MELBOURNE

5.2 (32)

11.8 (74)

13.12 (90)

17.14 (116)

BEST PLAYERS:

Essendon

Leek, Towner, Birt, Mitchell, Sewell, Pascoe

South Melbourne

Clegg, Goldsmith, Keyter, Hudson, Oaten, Gillett

GOALKICKERS:

Essendon

Gallagher 3, Mitchell 3, Pascoe 3, Birt 2, Hebbard, Maloney, Elliott, Shearman

South Melbourne

Goldsmith 6, Keyter 6, Oaten 2, Skilton, Hogan, Clegg

REPLACEMENTS:

Essendon

Donohoe replaced Suter (three-quarter time)

South Melbourne

Lane replaced Power (last quarter)

UMPIRE:

Barbour

CROWD:

18,500

SOURCE:

AGE/Football Record

NOTES:

Originally scheduled for Oct.1 but postponed due to torrential rain making the ground unplayable.

Essendon entered the series at the semi final stage after losing the VFL Grand Final a fortnight earlier.

They were missing five members of their VFL Grand Final side: Hutchison (retired), Burgess, Heenan, Booth and Fox.

 

G.F. TEAMS

GEELONG

COACH

Reg Hickey

 

BACKS

Smith

Hetherington

Le Deux

HALF-BACKS

Haygarth

Borrack

Williams

CENTRES

Brown

Rayson

Nicholls

HALF-FORWARDS

Bullen

Herbert

Helmer

FORWARDS

Crowe

Wooller

Rice

FOLLOWERS

Davis (C)

Long

ROVER

Tresize

 

RESERVES

Goggin

Bourke

EMERGENCIES

Laird

West

SOUTH MELBOURNE

COACH

Herbie Matthews

 

BACKS

Hamilton

Hudson

Gillett

HALF-BACKS

McLaughlin

Ledwidge

Harris

CENTRES

Dorgan

Pratt

Crough

HALF-FORWARDS

Gunn

Oaten

Skilton

FORWARDS

Keyter

Goldsmith

McGowan

FOLLOWERS

Taylor

Clegg (C)

ROVER

Hogan

 

RESERVES

Lane

Tagliabue

EMERGENCIES

Trethowan

Kelton

Matthews

 

GRAND FINAL

1957 VFL NIGHT PREMIERSHIP - GRAND FINAL

Match 11 - Monday, October 7

GEELONG

0.0 (0)

1.0 (6)

3.4 (22)

8.4 (52)

SOUTH MELBOURNE

2.4 (16)

5.9 (39)

10.13 (73)

15.13 (103)

BEST PLAYERS:

Geelong

Tresize, Le Deux, Williams, Haygarth, Brown, Smith

South Melbourne

Gunn, Clegg, Goldsmith, Taylor, Hudson, McGowan, Harris

GOALKICKERS:

Geelong

Tresize 4, Rayson 3, Bullen

South Melbourne

Goldsmith 5, McGowan 4, Skilton 2, Dorgan, Aitkin, Hogan, Clegg

REPLACEMENTS:

Geelong

(none)

South Melbourne

Lane replaced Skilton (last quarter)

Tagliabue replaced Taylor (last quarter)

UMPIRE:

Schwab

CROWD:

25,000

SOURCE:

SUN

NOTES:

For winning the series South Melbourne received a cash prize of £200 and the K.G. Luke Trophy (valued at £75).

 

Written and researched by David Eastman
First published 15/2/2017
Last updated 11/7/2021