1958 VFL NIGHT PREMIERSHIP
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*St Kilda's breakthrough - the 1958 series was notable for The Saints winning just the second senior trophy in their long history (the other was for the 1940 VFL Lightning Premiership).
*TV cuts crowds - commercial television was introduced into Australia in September 1956, primarily for the Olympic Games held later that year in Melbourne. At first this had little impact on football crowds but by September 1958, the number of TV sets in Melbourne had grown dramatically and the VFL were concerned about the effect this would have on Night Series crowds. An article in the Football Record [28-8-1958] asked "Will TV Affect Attendances at Night Footy?" and noted "Many viewers have their popular programs they don't like to miss, and it could mean attendances fall below the high mark set last year." The VFL were right to be concerned with total crowds at the first four games slumping to 49,650, down from 72,000 in 1957 and 67,700 in 1956. The September 4th edition of the Record concluded "The only explanation is that many footy fans now prefer to watch their favourite programs rather than journey out into the night for entertainment." Crowds rebounded for the semi-finals and final, largely driven by St Kilda's success, but this reduction in night football crowds soon became a trend, with only four of the remaining thirteen series during this era topping the 1958 aggregate. *Extra-time - in the 1956-57 series if scores were level at the end of the final quarter (including time-on) timekeepers were instructed to sound the siren and the ball would return to the centre where play was re-started and continued until one of the teams scored. This rule was thought to be unfair because a team could have the ball in their goalsquare when the final siren sounded, only to lose possession (and the game) after play was re-started. From 1958 to 1971 timekeepers instead let play continue, not sounding the siren until one of the teams scored. This system was utilised just once during this era when Richmond defeated Footscray in 1968 after 11 seconds of extra time. |
Carlton lost their first five night Grand Finals - could this be the source of their hoodoo? [The Age 23-9-1958]
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In 1958 the League returned to the original fixture - the top four teams played finals at the MCG and the Night Series was contested only by the clubs that missed the finals.
To avoid a repeat of 1956 a new dividend-sharing scheme was introduced that saw all 12 clubs receive a share of Night Series gate receipts, with the competing clubs receiving more based on how many games they played. As before, the Night Series clubs also received a share of the gate receipts from the VFL finals series. [Football Record 22-9-1958]
*Prizemoney - increased from £200 to £400 for the winning team, and awarded to the runner-up (£200) for the first time.
*Leading Goalkicker in the Series - St Kilda's Bill Young kicked 18 goals in the Saints' three matches, eclipsing Fred Goldsmith's record of 16 set in the 1957 series.
*Roberts' glorious year continues - St Kilda captain Brian Gleeson was unable to play in the night final due to injury. In his absence the Saints were led to a flag by Neil Roberts, who had just been announced as the 1958 Brownlow Medallist.
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ROUND 1 |
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DATE |
TEAMS |
1/4 |
1/2 |
3/4 |
FINAL |
MARGIN |
VENUE |
DAY/TIME |
CROWD |
|
Aug-28 |
Essendon (5) |
0.2 (2) |
4.8 (32) |
7.10 (52) |
16.16 (112) |
27 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Thu (8:00pm) |
6,800 |
|
Geelong (12) |
5.9 (39) |
6.10 (46) |
9.18 (72) |
11.19 (85) |
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Sep-02 |
Carlton (7) |
3.5 (23) |
4.10 (34) |
6.17 (53) |
8.21 (69) |
3 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Tue (8:00pm) |
11,000 |
|
Richmond (10) |
4.4 (28) |
4.6 (30) |
6.9 (45) |
9.12 (66) |
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Sep-04 |
St Kilda (8) |
6.4 (40) |
9.7 (61) |
11.9 (75) |
17.10 (112) |
29 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Thu (8:00pm) |
14,000 |
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Footscray (11) |
0.2 (2) |
4.5 (29) |
11.8 (74) |
12.11 (83) |
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Sep-09 |
Hawthorn (6) |
3.6 (24) |
7.9 (51) |
7.12 (54) |
9.19 (73) |
29 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Tue (8:00pm) |
17,850 |
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South Melbourne (9) |
0.4 (4) |
0.11 (11) |
3.17 (35) |
4.20 (44) |
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SEMI FINALS |
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DATE |
TEAMS |
1/4 |
1/2 |
3/4 |
FINAL |
MARGIN |
VENUE |
DAY/TIME |
CROWD |
|
Sep-11 |
Carlton (7) |
2.1 (13) |
5.3 (33) |
8.7 (55) |
10.12 (72) |
20 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Thu (8:00pm) |
16,200 |
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Essendon (5) |
1.4 (10) |
4.8 (32) |
5.14 (44) |
6.16 (52) |
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Sep-16 |
St Kilda (8) |
3.5 (23) |
6.7 (43) |
8.9 (57) |
13.13 (91) |
45 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Tue (8:00pm) |
15,500 |
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Hawthorn (6) |
2.4 (16) |
3.9 (27) |
4.9 (33) |
6.10 (46) |
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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-22 |
St Kilda (8) |
5.0 (30) |
8.6 (54) |
14.9 (93) |
16.13 (109) |
8 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Mon (8:00pm) |
27,800 |
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Carlton (7) |
2.5 (17) |
5.6 (36) |
9.10 (64) |
15.11 (101) |
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MATCH REPORTS
Unless otherwise noted the information was sourced from The Football Record and The Age newspaper.
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ROUND
1 |
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Match
1 - Thursday, August 28 |
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ESSENDON |
0.2
(2) |
4.8
(32) |
7.10
(52) |
16.16
(112) |
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GEELONG |
5.9
(39) |
6.10
(46) |
9.18
(72) |
11.19
(85) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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Essendon |
Shearman,
Birt, Mitchell, Gamble, Pascoe, Leek |
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Geelong |
Tresize, W. Goggin,
Hovey, Williams, Cougle, Martin |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Essendon |
Pascoe
5, Maloney 3, Driscoll 2, Mitchell 2, Birt 2, Timms, Leek |
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Geelong |
Cougle 3, Falconer 3, Tresize
2, W. Goggin, E. Nicholls, Bartle |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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Essendon |
- |
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Geelong |
Barton
replaced O’Neill (selected side) |
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Nicholls
replaced Rice (selected side) |
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Wooller replaced Byron (second quarter) |
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Helmer replaced Hovey (last quarter) |
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UMPIRE: |
Irving |
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CROWD: |
6,800 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/SUN/Football
Record |
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NOTES: |
- |
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Match
2 - Tuesday, September 2 |
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CARLTON |
3.5
(23) |
4.10
(34) |
6.17
(53) |
8.21
(69) |
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RICHMOND |
4.4
(28) |
4.6
(30) |
6.9
(45) |
9.12
(66) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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Carlton |
Gilchrist,
Chick, James, White, Bennetti, Heathcote |
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Richmond |
Branton, Holt, Langridge,
Cuzens, Crowe, Swift |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Carlton |
White
4, Gilchist, Bennetti,
Brereton, Burke |
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Richmond |
Branton 3, Langridge
3, Holt 2, Morcom, Crowe |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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Carlton |
Pavlou replaced Barry (selected side) |
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Hall
replaced Donaldson (selected side) and then replaced Ousley
(last quarter) |
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Richmond |
(none) |
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UMPIRE: |
Nash |
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CROWD: |
11,000 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/SUN/Football
Record |
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NOTES: |
- |
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Match
3 - Thursday, September 4 |
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ST
KILDA |
6.4
(40) |
9.7
(61) |
11.9
(75) |
17.10
(112) |
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FOOTSCRAY |
0.2
(2) |
4.5
(29) |
11.8
(74) |
12.11
(83) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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St
Kilda |
Minahan, Jeans, Young, Guy, Roberts, Kupsch |
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Footscray |
Ros, Collins, Gilmore, Schultz, Whitten,
Howard |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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St
Kilda |
Young
6, Jeans 3, Minahan 2, Oswald 2, Walton,
Stephenson, Morrow, Bowe |
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Footscray |
Baxter
2, Howard 2, Collins 2, Clegg, Daffy, Ross, Gilmore, E. Whitten, Fleming |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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St
Kilda |
McCarthy
replaced McIntyre (selected side) |
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Andrews
replaced Morrow (last quarter) |
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Footscray |
D.
Whitten replaced Gallagher (last quarter) |
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UMPIRE: |
Woolfe |
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CROWD: |
14,000 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/Football
Record |
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NOTES: |
- |
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Match
4 - Tuesday, September 9 |
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HAWTHORN |
3.6
(24) |
7.9
(51) |
7.12
(54) |
9.19
(73) |
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SOUTH
MELBOURNE |
0.4
(4) |
0.11
(11) |
3.17
(35) |
4.20
(44) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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Hawthorn |
Edwards,
Peck, Youren, Wilson, Kaine,
Gent |
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South
Melbourne |
Clegg,
McGowan, Goldsmith, Gillett, McLaughlin, McCormack |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Hawthorn |
Kaine 4, Peck 3, Ingersoll, Wilson |
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South
Melbourne |
Goldsmith
2, McGowan, Boyd |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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Hawthorn |
Ingersoll
replaced Elward (selected side) |
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O’Brien
replaced Simmonds (selected side) |
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South
Melbourne |
Svensson replaced Gunn (selected side) |
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Dorgan
replaced Tampio (last quarter) |
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UMPIRE: |
Barbour
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CROWD: |
17,850 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/Football
Record |
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NOTES: |
- |
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SEMI-FINALS |
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Match
5 - Thursday, September 11 |
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CARLTON |
2.1
(13) |
5.3
(33) |
8.7
(55) |
10.12
(72) |
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ESSENDON |
1.4
(10) |
4.8
(32) |
5.14
(44) |
6.16
(52) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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Carlton |
Comben, Gilchrist, Heathcote,
J. Nicholls, James, Silvagni |
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Essendon |
Leek,
Towner, Birt, Hebbard,
Mitchell, Gamble |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Carlton |
Brereton
2, Gilchrist 2, Burke, Bennetti, Donaldson, Crowe, Heathcote, White |
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Essendon |
Hebbard 2, Evans, Birt,
Gallagher, Maloney |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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Carlton |
Armstrong
replaced Kerr (second quarter) |
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Essendon |
Peucker replaced Murdoch (last quarter) |
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Fraser
replaced Donohoe (last quarter) |
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UMPIRE: |
Huntington |
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CROWD: |
16,200 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/Football
Record |
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NOTES: |
- |
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Match
6 - Tuesday, September 16 |
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ST
KILDA |
3.5
(23) |
6.7
(43) |
8.9
(57) |
13.13
(91) |
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HAWTHORN |
2.4
(16) |
3.9
(27) |
4.9
(33) |
6.10
(46) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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St
Kilda |
Guy,
Young, Howell, Minihan, Annand,
McCarthy |
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Hawthorn |
Edwards,
Youren, Arthur, Simmonds,
Voigt, Hughes |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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St
Kilda |
Young
6, McIntyre 3, Oswald 3, Minihan |
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Hawthorn |
Arthur,
Edwards, Kennedy, Pack, Howells, Simmonds |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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St
Kilda |
(none) |
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Hawthorn |
Collard
replaced Wilson (last quarter) |
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UMPIRE: |
Nash |
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CROWD: |
15,500 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/Football
Record |
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NOTES: |
- |
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1958 VFL NIGHT PREMIERSHIP - GRAND FINAL
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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GRAND
FINAL |
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Match
7 - Monday, September 22 |
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ST
KILDA |
5.0
(30) |
8.6
(54) |
14.9
(93) |
16.13
(109) |
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CARLTON |
2.5
(17) |
5.6
(36) |
9.10
(64) |
15.11
(101) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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St
Kilda |
Guy,
Young, Jeans, Howell, Minihan, Morrow |
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Carlton |
Silvagni, Bennetti,
Gilchrist, Comben, Burke, Heathcote |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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St
Kilda |
Young
6, Muir 2, Oswald 2, Morrow 2, McIntyre, Stephenson, McCarthy, Minihan |
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Carlton |
Silvagni 4, Brereton 3, Burke 2, Bennetti 2, O’Dwyer, Donaldson,
Crowe, Pavlou |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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St
Kilda |
Kupsch replaced Annand
(third quarter) |
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Carlton |
Sullivan
replaced White (selected side) |
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Ousley replaced McColl (second quarter) |
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UMPIRE: |
Barbour |
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CROWD: |
27,800* |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/SUN/Football
Record |
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NOTES: |
Neil
Roberts captained St Kilda in the absence of Brian Gleeson (injured) |
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PRIZEMONEY: |
St
Kilda received £400 and the K.G. Luke Trophy, Carlton received £200 |
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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
26,400 |
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The
opening Football Record of the 1959 Night Series (3-9-1959) has the
same crowd figure. |
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However,
subsequent editions of the Football Record (26-9-1960 / 2-9-1965 /
25-9-1967 / 4-9-1968 / 28-9-1970) confirm it was actually 27,800 |
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