NON-PREMIERSHIP MATCHES
1961 VFL NIGHT PREMIERSHIP
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
|
Date |
Teams |
1/4 |
1/2 |
3/4 |
Final |
Margin |
Venue |
Day/Time |
Crowd |
|
ROUND 1 |
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Aug-31 |
Collingwood (9) |
2.2 (14) |
5.7 (37) |
10.11 (71) |
14.14 (98) |
19 |
Lake Oval, |
Thu |
16,222 |
|
Fitzroy (5) |
2.3 (15) |
5.6 (36) |
8.9 (57) |
11.13 (79) |
South Melbourne |
(8:00pm) |
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Sep-05 |
North Melbourne (12) |
6.4 (40) |
10.5 (65) |
13.8 (86) |
14.12 (96) |
15 |
Lake Oval, |
Tue |
17,854 |
|
Essendon (7) |
2.2 (14) |
3.8 (26) |
7.11 (53) |
11.15 (81) |
South Melbourne |
(8:00pm) |
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Sep-07 |
South Melbourne (11) |
3.3 (21) |
3.4 (22) |
6.5 (41) |
12.8 (80) |
5 |
Lake Oval, |
Thu |
21,760 |
|
Geelong (6) |
3.0 (18) |
7.5 (47) |
9.6 (60) |
13.7 (85) |
South Melbourne |
(8:00pm) |
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Sep-12 |
Richmond (10) |
1.3 (9) |
1.4 (10) |
4.5 (29) |
5.8 (38) |
46 |
Lake Oval, |
Tue |
23,468 |
|
Carlton (8) |
3.2 (20) |
5.5 (35) |
9.9 (63) |
12.12 (84) |
South Melbourne |
(8:00pm) |
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SEMI FINALS |
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Sep-14 |
Collingwood vs North Melbourne
moved to Sept.15 due to torrential rain |
Mon |
- |
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Sep-15 |
Collingwood (9) |
2.4 (16) |
5.4 (34) |
9.5 (59) |
10.8 (68) |
26 |
Lake Oval, |
Fri |
15,110 |
|
North Melbourne (12) |
0.2 (2) |
7.5 (47) |
8.7 (55) |
14.10 (94) |
South Melbourne |
(8:00pm) |
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Sep-19 |
Geelong (6) |
4.4 (28) |
7.6 (48) |
10.8 (68) |
14.12 (96) |
25 |
Lake Oval, |
Tue |
27,240 |
|
Carlton (8) |
2.4 (16) |
5.8 (38) |
9.9 (63) |
10.11 (71) |
South Melbourne |
(8:00pm) |
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|
GRAND FINAL |
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|
Sep-25 |
North Melbourne (12) |
0.0 (0) |
4.3 (27) |
5.5 (35) |
9.8 (62) |
12 |
Lake Oval, |
Mon |
30,365 |
|
Geelong (6) |
1.9 (15) |
4.10 (34) |
6.15 (51) |
9.20 (74) |
South Melbourne |
(8:00pm) |
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ABOUT THE 1961 SERIES
However, they did it the hard way; trailing 1961 wooden-spooners North Melbourne by 11 points with seven minutes to go then kicking three goals against the wind to steal the flag.
For North Melbourne it was a missed chance to claim their first silverware at senior level since transferring from the VFA to the VFL in 1925. Their only other opportunity had been in 1950 when they reached the VFL Grand Final but that also ended in heartbreak (the Shinboners' premiership drought would eventually end in 1965).
*Leading goalkicker in the series - Carlton's Tom Carroll (2 games) and North Melbourne's John Dugdale (3 games) kicked 11 goals each to lead all scorers in the series. Geelong's Doug Wade (3 games) was next best with 10 goals.
*Big crowds return - after disappointing crowd totals in 1959 (76,300) and 1960 (93,100) fans flocked back to night football with the 1961 series total exploding to 152,019. This total was only surpassed in this era by the 1957 series (187,200 from 11 games) and 1965 series (153,635 from 7 games).
*VFL Players' Provident Fund - this served as a pension fund for players and 1961 marked the first time players received credits for taking part in Night Series matches. Night games were deemed to be worth 50% of the usual amount credited for premiership matches.
PARTICIPATING TEAMS
|
5th - Fitzroy
6th - Geelong 7th - Essendon 8th - Carlton 9th - Collingwood 10th - Richmond 11th - South Melbourne 12th - North Melbourne |
SERIES FORMAT
IMAGES FROM THE 1961 SERIES
MATCH REPORTS
|
Match 1 - Thursday, August 31 |
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|
COLLINGWOOD |
2.2 (14) |
5.7 (37) |
10.11 (71) |
14.14 (98) |
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|
FITZROY |
2.3 (15) |
5.6 (36) |
8.9 (57) |
11.13 (79) |
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BEST PLAYERS: |
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|
Collingwood |
Rist, M. Delanty, Norman, Burns, Weideman,
Henderson |
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Fitzroy |
Clark, Abrahams, Aston, Vernon, Campbell, Powell |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Collingwood |
M. Delanty 4, Weideman 3, Norman 3, K. Rose,
Poore, Hutchesson, Roper |
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Fitzroy |
Clark 3, Abrahams 3, Campbell 2, Vernon, Wright,
Crow |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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Collingwood |
List replaced Turner (selected side) |
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Burns replaced Gray (first quarter) |
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|
Thripp replaced Mahon (second quarter) |
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Fitzroy |
Stevens replaced Duncan (three-quarter time) |
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Wicks replaced Slocum (three-quarter time) |
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UMPIRE: |
Hodgson |
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CROWD: |
16,222 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/Football Record |
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NOTES: |
- |
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Match 2 - Tuesday, September 5 |
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NORTH MELBOURNE |
6.4 (40) |
10.5 (65) |
13.8 (86) |
14.12 (96) |
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ESSENDON |
2.2 (14) |
3.8 (26) |
7.11 (53) |
11.15 (81) |
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BEST PLAYERS: |
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North Melbourne |
Dwyer, Dugdale, Teasdale, Robertson, Rowe, Snell |
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Essendon |
Timms, Hebard, Mitchell, Leek, Epis, Murdoch |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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North Melbourne |
Dugdale 6, Eastmure 3,
Snell 3, Teasdale, Aylett |
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Essendon |
Evans 3, Timms 3, King 2, Sampson, Murdoch,
Mitchell |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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North Melbourne |
O’Brien replaced Ryan (third quarter) |
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|
Darby replaced Waddington (last quarter) |
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Essendon |
(none) |
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UMPIRE: |
Irving |
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CROWD: |
17,854 |
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|
SOURCE: |
AGE/Football Record |
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NOTES: |
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|
Essendon's qtr by qtr scores in the Football Record (7-9-1961) are totally
wrong: they are shown as 2.3 / 5.6 / 8.9 / 11.15 |
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|
However, the actual match report on the same page
confirms the totals in The Age were correct: 2.2 / 3.8 /
7.11 / 11.15 |
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Match 3 - Thursday, September 7 |
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SOUTH MELBOURNE |
3.3 (21) |
3.4 (22) |
6.5 (41) |
12.8 (80) |
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GEELONG |
3.0 (18) |
7.5 (47) |
9.6 (60) |
13.7 (85) |
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BEST PLAYERS: |
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|
South Melbourne |
F. Johnson, McCormack, Skilton, Oaten, Munn,
McGowan |
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|
Geelong |
Miller, Wade, B. Goggin, McGrath, Callan, Helber |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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South Melbourne |
Oaten 3, McGowan 3, Skilton 2, Johnson 2,
McCormack, Hopkins |
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|
Geelong |
Wade 6, B. Goggin 3, Wooller,
Yeates, M. Goggin, A. Lord |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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South Melbourne |
Woolley replaced Oaten (three-quarter time) |
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Geelong |
Norman replaced Goodland (third quarter) |
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UMPIRE: |
Brewer |
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CROWD: |
21,760 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/Football Record |
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NOTES: |
- |
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Match 4 - Tuesday, September 12 |
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RICHMOND |
1.3 (9) |
1.4 (10) |
4.5 (29) |
5.8 (38) |
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CARLTON |
3.2 (20) |
5.5 (35) |
9.9 (63) |
12.12 (84) |
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BEST PLAYERS: |
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Richmond |
Gahan, Branton, Saddington,
Robertson, Johnson, Patterson |
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Carlton |
Silvagni, Carroll, Collis, Cox, Heathcote,
Collins |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Richmond |
Richmond 2, Saddington,
Langridge, Johnson |
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Carlton |
Carroll 6, Cross 2, Heathcote, Brereton, Collis,
J. Williams |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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Richmond |
Richmond replaced Williamson (third quarter) |
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Lockhart replaced Loughran (three-quarter time) |
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Carlton |
J. Carroll replaced Crowe (half-time) |
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UMPIRE: |
Nunn |
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CROWD: |
23,468 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/Football Record |
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NOTES: |
- |
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Match 5 - Friday, September 15 |
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COLLINGWOOD |
2.4 (16) |
5.4 (34) |
9.5 (59) |
10.8 (68) |
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NORTH MELBOURNE |
0.2 (2) |
7.5 (47) |
8.7 (55) |
14.10 (94) |
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BEST PLAYERS: |
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Collingwood |
Henderson, Reeves, Bennett, Withers, Delanty,
Weideman |
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North Melbourne |
Aylett, Gaudion,
Waddington, Ryan, Dwyer, Jenkins, Eastmure |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Collingwood |
Donald 2, Delanty 2, Beers, Weideman, Norman,
Turner, Bennett, Hutchesson |
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North Melbourne |
Aylett 6, Dugdale 3, Eastmure
3, Snell, Mantello |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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Collingwood |
(none) |
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North Melbourne |
O’Brien replaced Gaudion
(last quarter) |
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UMPIRE: |
Andrew |
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CROWD: |
15,110 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/Football Record |
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NOTES: |
Originally scheduled for Sept.14 but postponed
due to torrential rain |
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Match 6 - Tuesday, September 19 |
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GEELONG |
4.4 (28) |
7.6 (48) |
10.8 (68) |
14.12 (96) |
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CARLTON |
2.4 (16) |
5.8 (38) |
9.9 (63) |
10.11 (71) |
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BEST PLAYERS: |
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Geelong |
Rice, Long, B. Goggin, Nicholls, Callan, Wooller |
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Carlton |
Silvagni, Nicholls, T. Carroll, Crowe, Collins,
Brereton |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Geelong |
Wooller 4, Long 3, Wade 2, Rice 2, B. Goggin, Yeates, A.
Lord |
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Carlton |
T. Carroll 5, Brereton 3, Silvagni, Nicholls |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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Geelong |
Noran replaced Helmer (half-time) |
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Luttrell replaced O’Neill (last quarter) |
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Carlton |
B. Williams replaced J. Williams (half-time) |
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J. Carroll replaced Barry (last quarter) |
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UMPIRE: |
Nunn |
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CROWD: |
27,240 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/Football Record |
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NOTES: |
- |
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NORTH MELBOURNE |
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COACH |
Wally Carter |
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BACKS |
Waddington |
Cheatley |
Robinson |
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HALF-BACKS |
Dean |
Ryan |
Rowe |
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CENTRES |
Robertson |
Dwyer |
Gaudion |
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HALF-FORWARDS |
Ward |
Teasdale |
Mantello |
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FORWARDS |
Snell |
Dugdale |
Eastmure |
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FOLLOWERS |
Jenkins |
Railton |
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ROVER |
Aylett (C) |
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RESERVES |
Hughes |
J. O’Brien |
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EMERGENCIES |
Darby, D. O’Brien, Perry, Pickering, Saunders |
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GEELONG |
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COACH |
Bob Davis |
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BACKS |
Lowe |
West |
Callan |
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HALF-BACKS |
Nicholls |
Vinar |
Devine |
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CENTRES |
M. Goggin |
Miller |
Hamer* |
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HALF-FORWARDS |
A. Lord |
Wooller |
Norman |
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FORWARDS |
Long |
Wade |
Rice |
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FOLLOWERS |
McGrath |
Yeates (C) |
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ROVER |
W. Goggin* |
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RESERVES |
Stephens |
Sutherland |
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EMERGENCIES |
Pomeroy* |
O’Donnell* |
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*Hamer and Bill Goggin were late withdrawals
from the selected team. |
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O’Donnell and Pomeroy were promoted
from emergencies to the starting eighteen. |
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1961 VFL NIGHT PREMIERSHIP - GRAND FINAL
|
Match 7 - Monday, September 25 |
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|
NORTH MELBOURNE |
0.0 (0) |
4.3 (27) |
5.5 (35) |
9.8 (62) |
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GEELONG |
1.9 (15) |
4.10 (34) |
6.15 (51) |
9.20 (74) |
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BEST PLAYERS: |
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North Melbourne |
Dwyer, Waddington, Cheatley,
Gaudion, Teasdale, Snell, Robinson |
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Geelong |
Long, O’Donnell, Yeates, Wooller,
Pomeroy, Miller, M. Goggin |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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North Melbourne |
Teasdale 3, Dugdale 2, Robertson, Aylett, Eastmure, Jenkins |
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Geelong |
O’Donnell 3, Wade 2, Yeates, Norman, Callan, Wooller |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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North Melbourne |
(none) |
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Geelong |
Stephens replaced Rice (second quarter) |
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Sutherland replaced Nicholls (last quarter) |
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UMPIRE: |
Irving |
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CROWD: |
30,365* |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/SUN/Football Record |
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NOTES: |
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Geelong trailed by 11 points with seven minutes
to go but kicked three goals against the wind to steal the match. |
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CROWD DISCREPANCY: |
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Current AFL records have the crowd for this match
as 30,465 |
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The Age (26-9-1961) and The Football Record
(31-8-1962 / 2-9-1965 / 25-9-1967 / 4-9-1968 / 28-9-1970) confirm it was |
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Written and researched by David Eastman
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First published 15/2/2017
Last updated 11/7/2021 |
