1959 VFL NIGHT PREMIERSHIP
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*Fitzroy's drought-breakers - the 'Roys broke through for their first flag at senior level since winning the 1944 VFL premiership. It was a brief moment of joy for Fitzroy fans who would not taste premiership success again until the 1978 Night Series.
*Stormy weather - the 1959 series was plagued by rain and heavy winds which kept fans away in droves: - the Round 1 Fitzroy-Richmond match was played in atrocious weather, drawing a record-low Night Series crowd for this era of just 2,600 people. |
The Age announces Fitzroy's first senior premiership since the 1944 VFL Grand Final [29-9-1959]
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- the 1959 series crowds totalled 76,200, down from 107,750 in 1958. This remains the second-lowest total in series history (only surpassed by the 1970 series which attracted 72,732 fans).
*Prizemoney - increased from £400 to £500 for the winning team, and from £200 to £250 for the runner-up.
*Records Broken - in the midst of such a low scoring era in Australian football, the 1959 series produced Night Series records for the biggest winning margin and for most goals in a match:
- Fitzroy's 85-point victory in the first round set a record that remained unsurpassed until 1979;
- North Melbourne's Peter Schofield kicked 10 goals in the series-opener against the Swans (a record for most goals in a Night Series match that would stand until New Year's Eve 1999 when Carlton's Brendan Fevola kicked 12 goals).
*Dividend sharing - in 1958 all 12 league clubs had received a share of gate receipts from both the Night Series and the VFL Finals, with clubs playing the most games in each of the respective series receiving the most revenue.
A new dividend-sharing scheme was introduced in 1959 that saw only the bottom eight clubs receive a share of Night Series gate receipts. To offset this (and avoid a repeat of 1956 when the top four received less than the bottom eight), the League also set aside £1000 to be divided equally between the four clubs competing in the VFL finals. [Football Record 3-9-1959]
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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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Sep-03 |
South Melbourne (9) |
5.2 (32) |
8.5 (53) |
14.6 (90) |
17.10 (112) |
20 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Thu (8:00pm) |
15,800 |
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North Melbourne (6) |
4.1 (25) |
4.5 (29) |
9.11 (65) |
13.14 (92) |
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Sep-07 |
Hawthorn (7) |
5.5 (35) |
5.8 (38) |
8.13 (61) |
11.17 (83) |
52 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Mon (8:00pm) |
12,400 |
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St Kilda (8) |
2.1 (13) |
3.3 (21) |
4.6 (30) |
4.7 (31) |
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Sep-10 |
Geelong (10) |
2.2 (14) |
6.9 (45) |
7.13 (55) |
9.16 (70) |
5 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Thu (8:00pm) |
12,000 |
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Footscray (12) |
3.5 (23) |
4.6 (30) |
5.10 (40) |
9.11 (65) |
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Sep-14 |
Fitzroy (5) |
3.5 (23) |
9.7 (61) |
15.11 (101) |
19.18 (132) |
85 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Mon (8:00pm) |
2,600 |
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Richmond (11) |
1.0 (6) |
2.6 (18) |
4.9 (33) |
6.11 (47) |
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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-17 |
Hawthorn (7) |
4.2 (26) |
9.8 (62) |
10.11 (71) |
13.14 (92) |
4 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Thu (8:00pm) |
16,100 |
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South Melbourne (9) |
5.3 (33) |
8.5 (53) |
11.9 (75) |
13.10 (88) |
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Sep-21 |
Geelong v
Fitzroy moved to Sept.22nd due to torrential rain |
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Sep-22 |
Fitzroy (5) |
1.4 (10) |
2.7 (19) |
6.11 (47) |
10.16 (76) |
26 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Tue (8:00pm) |
8,100 |
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Geelong (10) |
0.3 (3) |
3.8 (26) |
4.11 (35) |
6.14 (50) |
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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-28 |
Fitzroy (5) |
6.1 (37) |
7.5 (47) |
9.10 (64) |
10.10 (70) |
30 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Mon (8:00pm) |
9,300 |
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Hawthorn (7) |
0.1 (1) |
1.7 (13) |
2.9 (21) |
4.16 (40) |
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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, September 3 |
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SOUTH
MELBOURNE |
5.2
(32) |
8.5
(53) |
14.6
(90) |
17.10
(112) |
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NORTH
MELBOURNE |
4.1
(25) |
4.5
(29) |
9.11
(65) |
13.14
(92) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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South
Melbourne |
McCormack,
Boyd, Landorf, Svenson,
McGowan, Skilton |
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North
Melbourne |
Schofield,
Cooke, K. Dean, O’Brien, Taggart, Poole |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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South
Melbourne |
Skilton 5, McGowan 3, Oaten 3, Power 2,
Burke 2, McCormack, Munn |
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North
Melbourne |
Schofield
10, Taggert 2, Jenkins |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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South
Melbourne |
unknown |
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North
Melbourne |
unknown |
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UMPIRE: |
Mance |
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CROWD: |
15,800* |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/SUN/Football
Record |
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CROWD
DISCREPANCY: |
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The
Football Record (7-9-1959) has a crowd of 15,000, The Age
(4-9-1959) has 15,800 |
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Series
attendance totals published in later editions of the Football Record
are based on a crowd of 15,800 for this match. |
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Match
2 - Monday, September 7 |
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HAWTHORN |
5.5
(35) |
5.8
(38) |
8.13
(61) |
11.17
(83) |
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ST
KILDA |
2.1
(13) |
3.3
(21) |
4.6
(30) |
4.7
(31) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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Hawthorn |
Hughes,
Arthur, Peck, Nalder, Youren,
Yeoman |
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St
Kilda |
Howell,
Guy, W. Stephenson, Jeans, Synman, Morrow |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Hawthorn |
Arthur
4, Peck 3, Voigt 2, Nisbett, O’Mahony |
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St
Kilda |
W.
Stephenson 3, Burgess |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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Hawthorn |
unknown |
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St
Kilda |
unknown |
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UMPIRE: |
Nash |
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CROWD: |
12,400 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/SUN/Football
Record |
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NOTES: |
- |
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Match
3 - Thursday, September 10 |
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GEELONG |
2.2
(14) |
6.9
(45) |
7.13
(55) |
9.16
(70) |
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FOOTSCRAY |
3.5
(23) |
4.6
(30)* |
5.10
(40) |
9.11
(65) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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Geelong |
Tresize, Long, Goodland, Rice, W. Goggin, McGrath |
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Footscray |
Gardiner,
Baxter, Lee, Ion, Spargo, A. Edwards |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Geelong |
Long
4, Tresize 2, Goodland, Webb, Yeates |
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Footscray |
Gardiner
3, Baxter 3, Westacott, Devery,
Prior |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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Geelong |
(none) |
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Footscray |
Westacott replaced Whitten (selected side) |
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Howard
replaced Maloney (third quarter) |
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UMPIRE: |
Woolfe |
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CROWD: |
12,000 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/SUN/Football
Record |
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SCORE
DISCREPANCY: |
Footscray's 1/2 time score in The Football
Record = 4.6 (The Age has 4.8) |
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Match
4 - Monday, September 14 |
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FITZROY |
3.5
(23) |
9.7
(61) |
15.11
(101) |
19.18
(132) |
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RICHMOND |
1.0
(6) |
2.6
(18) |
4.9
(33) |
6.11
(47) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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Fitzroy |
Aston,
Henderson, Furness, Barclay, Slocum, Abrahams |
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Richmond |
Dean,
Patterson, Rees, O’Toole, Cuzens, Branton |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Fitzroy |
Gotch 5, Slocum 3, Barclay 2, Abrahams 2,
Wright 2, Clark 2, Aston 2, Wiegard |
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Richmond |
O’Toole
2, Wilson, Allsopp, Langridge,
Gardner |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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Fitzroy |
(none) |
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Richmond |
Jacobs
replaced Williams (quarter unknown) |
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Holt
replaced Langridge (quarter unknown) |
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UMPIRE: |
Barbour |
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CROWD: |
2,600 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/SUN/Football
Record |
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NOTES: |
Low
crowd due to the match being played on an extremely cold and wet night. |
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Kevin
Murray (Fitzroy) was reported for charging – later found guilty but given a
reprimand by the tribunal. |
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SEMI-FINALS |
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Match
5 - Thursday, September 17 |
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HAWTHORN |
4.2
(26) |
9.8
(62) |
10.11
(71) |
13.14
(92) |
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SOUTH
MELBOURNE |
5.3
(33) |
8.5
(53) |
11.9
(75) |
13.10
(88) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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Hawthorn |
Edwards,
Arthur, Peck, Woodley, Wilson, O’Mahony |
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South
Melbourne |
Skilton, Heriot,
McGowan, Gunn, McCormack, Oaten |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Hawthorn |
Voigt
4, Peck 3, O’Mahony 3, Arthur 2, Edwards |
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South
Melbourne |
Skilton 4, McGowan 3, Oaten 3, Gunn 2, Taube |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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Hawthorn |
(none) |
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South
Melbourne |
Bourke
replaced Kelton (last quarter) |
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Dunn
replaced Gunn (last quarter) |
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UMPIRE: |
Irving |
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CROWD: |
16,100 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/SUN/Football
Record |
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NOTES: |
- |
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Match
6 - Tuesday, September 22 |
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FITZROY |
1.4
(10) |
2.7
(19) |
6.11
(47) |
10.16
(76) |
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GEELONG |
0.3
(3) |
3.8
(26) |
4.11
(35) |
6.14
(50) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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Fitzroy |
Henderson,
Gotch, Murray, Furness, Wright, Mackenzie |
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Geelong |
Long,
Tresize, Rice, Yeates, Helmer, Vinar |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Fitzroy |
Gotch 4, Wright 4, Clark, Campbell |
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Geelong |
Helmer 2, Yeates,
Webb, Borack, Long |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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Fitzroy |
Zorzi replaced Pert (selected team) |
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Pigot replaced Barclay (second quarter) |
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Geelong |
O’Connell
replaced Yeates (last quarter) |
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UMPIRE: |
Schwab |
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CROWD: |
8,100 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/SUN/Football
Record |
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NOTES: |
Originally
scheduled for Sept.21 but postponed due to torrential rain |
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1959 VFL NIGHT PREMIERSHIP - GRAND FINAL
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FITZROY |
HAWTHORN |
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Len Smith |
COACH |
Jack
Hale |
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MacKenzie |
Henderson |
Ross |
BACKS |
McVilly |
Hughes |
Kennedy
(C) |
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Hughson* |
Ongarello |
Murray |
HALF-BACKS |
Nalder |
Kaine |
S.
Hay |
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Williams |
Furness |
Aston |
CENTRES |
Youren |
Edwards |
Yeoman |
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Abrahams |
Barclay |
Campbell |
HALF-FORWARDS |
Simmonds |
McArthur* |
O’Mahony |
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Clark |
Gotch |
Wright |
FORWARDS |
Peck |
Voigt |
Wilson |
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Gale (C) |
Harvey |
FOLLOWERS |
Woodley |
Cooper |
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Slocum |
ROVER |
Arthur |
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Powell* |
Bromage |
RESERVES |
Fisher |
Howells* |
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Webb, Zoral,
McMaster, Smith, Laver |
EMERGENCIES |
P.
Hay*, Shelton, M. Young, Nisbett, Northcote |
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*Powell replaced Hughson in starting
18 |
*Howells replaced McArthur in the
selected side |
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(Hughson was demoted to 19th man and
entered |
(P. Hay was promoted from emergency
to reserve) |
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the
game in the final quarter) |
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Match
7 - Monday, September 28 |
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FITZROY |
6.1
(37) |
7.5
(47) |
9.10
(64) |
10.10
(70) |
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HAWTHORN |
0.1
(1) |
1.7
(13) |
2.9
(21) |
4.16
(40) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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Fitzroy |
Wright,
Clark, Aston, Furness, Murray, Ross |
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Hawthorn |
Nalder, Howells, Youren,
Arthur, Woodley, McVilly |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Fitzroy |
Wright
4, Campbell 2, Slocum 2, Clark, Abrahams |
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Hawthorn |
Fisher,
Edwards, McVilly, Youren |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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Fitzroy |
Powell
was promoted into the starting line-up, Hughson was demoted to 19th man |
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Hughson
replaced Slocum (last quarter) |
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Bromage replaced Gotch
(last quarter) |
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Hawthorn |
Howells
replaced McArthur (selected side) - P.Hay promoted
from emergency to 20th man |
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Fisher
replaced ??? (it's unknown when he entered the
game as 19th man or who he replaced) |
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UMPIRE: |
Nash |
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CROWD: |
9,300* |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/SUN/Football
Record |
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NOTES: |
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Like
most of the 1959 series the crowd was low due to bad weather. The final was
played on what The Age described as a "bitterly cold and wet
night". |
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These
teams played a rematch under lights on Oct.10 at Shepparton;
Hawthorn winning by 23 points (10.13 to 7.8) in front of 12,000 local fans. |
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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
9,200 |
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Later
editions of the Football Record (1-9-1960 / 26-9-1960 / 2-9-1965 / 25-9-1967
/ 4-9-1968 / 28-9-1970) confirm it was actually 9,300 |
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Written and researched by David Eastman
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First published 15/2/2017
Last updated 17/11/2018 |
