NON-PREMIERSHIP MATCHES

1958 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-28

Essendon (5)

0.2 (2)

4.8 (32)

7.10 (52)

16.16 (112)

27

Lake Oval,

Thu

6,800

Geelong (12)

5.9 (39)

6.10 (46)

9.18 (72)

11.19 (85)

South Melbourne

(8:00pm)

Sep-02

Carlton (7)

3.5 (23)

4.10 (34)

6.17 (53)

8.21 (69)

3

Lake Oval,

Tue

11,000

Richmond (10)

4.4 (28)

4.6 (30)

6.9 (45)

9.12 (66)

South Melbourne

(8:00pm)

Sep-04

St Kilda (8)

6.4 (40)

9.7 (61)

11.9 (75)

17.10 (112)

29

Lake Oval,

Thu

14,000

Footscray (11)

0.2 (2)

4.5 (29)

11.8 (74)

12.11 (83)

South Melbourne

(8:00pm)

Sep-09

South Melbourne (9)

0.4 (4)

0.11 (11)

3.17 (35)

4.20 (44)

29

Lake Oval,

Tue

17,850

Hawthorn (6)

3.6 (24)

7.9 (51)

7.12 (54)

9.19 (73)

South Melbourne

(8:00pm)

SEMI FINALS

Sep-11

Essendon (5)

1.4 (10)

4.8 (32)

5.14 (44)

6.16 (52)

20

Lake Oval,

Thu

16,200

Carlton (7)

2.1 (13)

5.3 (33)

8.7 (55)

10.12 (72)

South Melbourne

(8:00pm)

Sep-16

St Kilda (8)

3.5 (23)

6.7 (43)

8.9 (57)

13.13 (91)

45

Lake Oval,

Tue

15,500

Hawthorn (6)

2.4 (16)

3.9 (27)

4.9 (33)

6.10 (46)

South Melbourne

(8:00pm)

GRAND FINAL

Sep-22

Carlton (7)

2.5 (17)

5.6 (36)

9.10 (64)

15.11 (101)

8

Lake Oval,

Mon

27,800

St Kilda (8)

5.0 (30)

8.6 (54)

14.9 (93)

16.13 (109)

South Melbourne

(8:00pm)

 

ABOUT

ABOUT THE 1958 SERIES

*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).


*Dividend sharing - the lack of a dividend sharing scheme in 1956 had seen the Night Series clubs make more money than the VFL Finallists, and directly resulted in all 12 clubs participating in the 1957 series and sharing gate receipts from both competitions.

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.
Picture
Carlton lost their first five night Grand Finals - could this be the source of their hoodoo? [The Age 23-9-1958]
TEAMS / FORMAT

PARTICIPATING TEAMS

The series featured the eight teams that missed the VFL finals series:
5th - Essendon
6th - Hawthorn
7th - Carlton
8th - St Kilda
9th - South Melbourne
10th - Richmond
11th - Footscray
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 £400 cash prize (increased from £200), and the runner-up receiving prizemoney for the first time (£200).

SERIES FORMAT

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

EVENTS

NOTABLE EVENTS

*Extra-time - in the 1956 and 1957 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.


*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.


*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.

IMAGES

IMAGES FROM THE 1958 SERIES

Picture
Carlton's John Heathcote shoots for goal during the 1958 final. Other players include Carlton's John Benetti (#8), St Kilda's Brian Muir (on the ground) and Jim Guyatt (#27) [The Age 23-9-1958]
MATCH REPORTS

MATCH REPORTS

Listed below are match reports for all 7 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
SEMI FINALS
G.F. TEAMS
GRAND FINAL
ROUND 1

Match 1 - Thursday, August 28

ESSENDON

0.2 (2)

4.8 (32)

7.10 (52)

16.16 (112)

GEELONG

5.9 (39)

6.10 (46)

9.18 (72)

11.19 (85)

BEST PLAYERS:

Essendon

Shearman, Birt, Mitchell, Gamble, Pascoe, Leek

Geelong

Tresize, W. Goggin, Hovey, Williams, Cougle, Martin

GOALKICKERS:

Essendon

Pascoe 5, Maloney 3, Driscoll 2, Mitchell 2, Birt 2, Timms, Leek

Geelong

Cougle 3, Falconer 3, Tresize 2, W. Goggin, E. Nicholls, Bartle

REPLACEMENTS:

Essendon

(none)

Geelong

Barton replaced O’Neill (selected side)

Nicholls replaced Rice (selected side)

Wooller replaced Byron (second quarter)

Helmer replaced Hovey (last quarter)

UMPIRE:

Irving

CROWD:

6,800

SOURCE:

AGE/SUN/Football Record

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 2 - Tuesday, September 2

CARLTON

3.5 (23)

4.10 (34)

6.17 (53)

8.21 (69)

RICHMOND

4.4 (28)

4.6 (30)

6.9 (45)

9.12 (66)

BEST PLAYERS:

Carlton

Gilchrist, Chick, James, White, Bennetti, Heathcote

Richmond

Branton, Holt, Langridge, Cuzens, Crowe, Swift

GOALKICKERS:

Carlton

White 4, Gilchist, Bennetti, Brereton, Burke

Richmond

Branton 3, Langridge 3, Holt 2, Morcom, Crowe

REPLACEMENTS:

Carlton

Pavlou replaced Barry (selected side)

Hall replaced Donaldson (selected side) and then replaced Ousley (last quarter)

Richmond

(none)

UMPIRE:

Nash

CROWD:

11,000

SOURCE:

AGE/SUN/Football Record

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 3 - Thursday, September 4

ST KILDA

6.4 (40)

9.7 (61)

11.9 (75)

17.10 (112)

FOOTSCRAY

0.2 (2)

4.5 (29)

11.8 (74)

12.11 (83)

BEST PLAYERS:

St Kilda

Minahan, Jeans, Young, Guy, Roberts, Kupsch

Footscray

Ros, Collins, Gilmore, Schultz, Whitten, Howard

GOALKICKERS:

St Kilda

Young 6, Jeans 3, Minahan 2, Oswald 2, Walton, Stephenson, Morrow, Bowe

Footscray

Baxter 2, Howard 2, Collins 2, Clegg, Daffy, Ross, Gilmore, E. Whitten, Fleming

REPLACEMENTS:

St Kilda

McCarthy replaced McIntyre (selected side)

Andrews replaced Morrow (last quarter)

Footscray

D. Whitten replaced Gallagher (last quarter)

UMPIRE:

Woolfe

CROWD:

14,000

SOURCE:

AGE/Football Record

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 4 - Tuesday, September 9

SOUTH MELBOURNE

0.4 (4)

0.11 (11)

3.17 (35)

4.20 (44)

HAWTHORN

3.6 (24)

7.9 (51)

7.12 (54)

9.19 (73)

BEST PLAYERS:

South Melbourne

Clegg, McGowan, Goldsmith, Gillett, McLaughlin, McCormack

Hawthorn

Edwards, Peck, Youren, Wilson, Kaine, Gent

GOALKICKERS:

South Melbourne

Goldsmith 2, McGowan, Boyd

Hawthorn

Kaine 4, Peck 3, Ingersoll, Wilson

REPLACEMENTS:

South Melbourne

Svensson replaced Gunn (selected side)

Dorgan replaced Tampio (last quarter)

Hawthorn

Ingersoll replaced Elward (selected side)

O’Brien replaced Simmonds (selected side)

UMPIRE:

Barbour

CROWD:

17,850

SOURCE:

AGE/Football Record

NOTES:

-

 

SEMI FINALS

Match 5 - Thursday, September 11

ESSENDON

1.4 (10)

4.8 (32)

5.14 (44)

6.16 (52)

CARLTON

2.1 (13)

5.3 (33)

8.7 (55)

10.12 (72)

BEST PLAYERS:

Essendon

Leek, Towner, Birt, Hebbard, Mitchell, Gamble

Carlton

Comben, Gilchrist, Heathcote, J. Nicholls, James, Silvagni

GOALKICKERS:

Essendon

Hebbard 2, Evans, Birt, Gallagher, Maloney

Carlton

Brereton 2, Gilchrist 2, Burke, Bennetti, Donaldson, Crowe, Heathcote, White

REPLACEMENTS:

Essendon

Peucker replaced Murdoch (last quarter)

Fraser replaced Donohoe (last quarter)

Carlton

Armstrong replaced Kerr (second quarter)

UMPIRE:

Huntington

CROWD:

16,200

SOURCE:

AGE/Football Record

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 6 - Tuesday, September 16

ST KILDA

3.5 (23)

6.7 (43)

8.9 (57)

13.13 (91)

HAWTHORN

2.4 (16)

3.9 (27)

4.9 (33)

6.10 (46)

BEST PLAYERS:

St Kilda

Guy, Young, Howell, Minihan, Annand, McCarthy

Hawthorn

Edwards, Youren, Arthur, Simmonds, Voigt, Hughes

GOALKICKERS:

St Kilda

Young 6, McIntyre 3, Oswald 3, Minihan

Hawthorn

Arthur, Edwards, Kennedy, Pack, Howells, Simmonds

REPLACEMENTS:

St Kilda

(none)

Hawthorn

Collard replaced Wilson (last quarter)

UMPIRE:

Nash

CROWD:

15,500

SOURCE:

AGE/Football Record

NOTES:

-

 

G.F. TEAMS

CARLTON

COACH

Jim Francis

 

BACKS

Comben (C)

Ferry

J. Nicholls

HALF-BACKS

James

Hall

D. Nicholls

CENTRES

Chick

Gilchrist

Pavlou

HALF-FORWARDS

Bennetti

Silvagni

White*

FORWARDS

Burke

Crowe

Brereton

FOLLOWERS

Donaldson

McColl

ROVER

Heathcote

 

RESERVES

Ousley

Sullivan*

EMERGENCIES

O’Dwyer*

Barry

*Sullivan replaced White in the selected side

(O'Dwyer was promoted from emergency to reserve)

ST KILDA

COACH

Alan 'Butch' Killigrew

 

BACKS

Guyatt

Howell

Muir

HALF-BACKS

Walton

N. Roberts (C)

Guy

CENTRES

Bowe

Mulrooney

Coffey

HALF-FORWARDS

McCarthy

McIntyre

Jeans

FORWARDS

Stephenson

Young

Minihan

FOLLOWERS

Morrow

Annand

ROVER

Oswald

 

RESERVES

Kupsch

Hanrahan

EMERGENCIES

Kee, Andrew, J. Roberts, I. Synman

 

GRAND FINAL

1958 VFL NIGHT PREMIERSHIP - GRAND FINAL

Match 7 - Monday, September 22

ST KILDA

5.0 (30)

8.6 (54)

14.9 (93)

16.13 (109)

CARLTON

2.5 (17)

5.6 (36)

9.10 (64)

15.11 (101)

BEST PLAYERS:

St Kilda

Guy, Young, Jeans, Howell, Minihan, Morrow

Carlton

Silvagni, Bennetti, Gilchrist, Comben, Burke, Heathcote

GOALKICKERS:

St Kilda

Young 6, Muir 2, Oswald 2, Morrow 2, McIntyre, Stephenson, McCarthy, Minihan

Carlton

Silvagni 4, Brereton 3, Burke 2, Bennetti 2, O’Dwyer, Donaldson, Crowe, Pavlou

REPLACEMENTS:

St Kilda

Kupsch replaced Annand (third quarter)

Carlton

Sullivan replaced White (selected side)

Ousley replaced McColl (second quarter)

UMPIRE:

Barbour

CROWD:

27,800*

SOURCE:

AGE/SUN/Football Record

NOTES:

Neil Roberts captained St Kilda in the absence of Brian Gleeson (injured)

PRIZEMONEY:

St Kilda received £400 and the K.G. Luke Trophy, Carlton received £200

*CROWD DISCREPANCY:

Media reports of the day (and current AFL records) have the crowd for this match as 26,400

The opening Football Record of the 1959 Night Series (3-9-1959) has the same crowd figure.

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

 

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