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NON-PREMIERSHIP MATCHES


1961 VFL NIGHT PREMIERSHIP

RESULTS
ABOUT
TEAMS / FORMAT
IMAGES
MATCH REPORTS
RESULTS

SUMMARY OF RESULTS

Date

Teams

1/4

1/2

3/4

Final

Margin

Venue

Day/Time

Crowd

ROUND 1

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)

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)

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)

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)

SEMI FINALS

Sep-14

Collingwood vs North Melbourne moved to Sept.15 due to torrential rain

Mon

-

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)

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)

GRAND FINAL

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)

 

ABOUT

ABOUT THE 1961 SERIES

*Geelong's comeback - the Cats claimed their first senior trophy since winning the 1952 VFL Premiership.

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.

TEAMS / FORMAT

PARTICIPATING TEAMS

The series featured the eight teams that missed the VFL finals series:

5th - Fitzroy
6th - Geelong
7th - Essendon
8th - Carlton
9th - Collingwood
10th - Richmond
11th - South Melbourne
12th - North Melbourne


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

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

IMAGES

IMAGES FROM THE 1961 SERIES

Picture
Action from the opening round Richmond-Carlton match won by the Blues (AFL History instagram)
Picture
The 1961 Night Premiership Trophy, located at the Geelong FC Museum [David Eastman]
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 31

COLLINGWOOD

2.2 (14)

5.7 (37)

10.11 (71)

14.14 (98)

FITZROY

2.3 (15)

5.6 (36)

8.9 (57)

11.13 (79)

BEST PLAYERS:

Collingwood

Rist, M. Delanty, Norman, Burns, Weideman, Henderson

Fitzroy

Clark, Abrahams, Aston, Vernon, Campbell, Powell

GOALKICKERS:

Collingwood

M. Delanty 4, Weideman 3, Norman 3, K. Rose, Poore, Hutchesson, Roper

Fitzroy

Clark 3, Abrahams 3, Campbell 2, Vernon, Wright, Crow

REPLACEMENTS:

Collingwood

List replaced Turner (selected side)

Burns replaced Gray (first quarter)

Thripp replaced Mahon (second quarter)

Fitzroy

Stevens replaced Duncan (three-quarter time)

Wicks replaced Slocum (three-quarter time)

UMPIRE:

Hodgson

CROWD:

16,222

SOURCE:

AGE/Football Record

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 2 - Tuesday, September 5

NORTH MELBOURNE

6.4 (40)

10.5 (65)

13.8 (86)

14.12 (96)

ESSENDON

2.2 (14)

3.8 (26)

7.11 (53)

11.15 (81)

BEST PLAYERS:

North Melbourne

Dwyer, Dugdale, Teasdale, Robertson, Rowe, Snell

Essendon

Timms, Hebard, Mitchell, Leek, Epis, Murdoch

GOALKICKERS:

North Melbourne

Dugdale 6, Eastmure 3, Snell 3, Teasdale, Aylett

Essendon

Evans 3, Timms 3, King 2, Sampson, Murdoch, Mitchell

REPLACEMENTS:

North Melbourne

O’Brien replaced Ryan (third quarter)

Darby replaced Waddington (last quarter)

Essendon

(none)

UMPIRE:

Irving

CROWD:

17,854

SOURCE:

AGE/Football Record

NOTES:

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 3 - Thursday, September 7

SOUTH MELBOURNE

3.3 (21)

3.4 (22)

6.5 (41)

12.8 (80)

GEELONG

3.0 (18)

7.5 (47)

9.6 (60)

13.7 (85)

BEST PLAYERS:

South Melbourne

F. Johnson, McCormack, Skilton, Oaten, Munn, McGowan

Geelong

Miller, Wade, B. Goggin, McGrath, Callan, Helber

GOALKICKERS:

South Melbourne

Oaten 3, McGowan 3, Skilton 2, Johnson 2, McCormack, Hopkins

Geelong

Wade 6, B. Goggin 3, Wooller, Yeates, M. Goggin, A. Lord

REPLACEMENTS:

South Melbourne

Woolley replaced Oaten (three-quarter time)

Geelong

Norman replaced Goodland (third quarter)

UMPIRE:

Brewer

CROWD:

21,760

SOURCE:

AGE/Football Record

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 4 - Tuesday, September 12

RICHMOND

1.3 (9)

1.4 (10)

4.5 (29)

5.8 (38)

CARLTON

3.2 (20)

5.5 (35)

9.9 (63)

12.12 (84)

BEST PLAYERS:

Richmond

Gahan, Branton, Saddington, Robertson, Johnson, Patterson

Carlton

Silvagni, Carroll, Collis, Cox, Heathcote, Collins

GOALKICKERS:

Richmond

Richmond 2, Saddington, Langridge, Johnson

Carlton

Carroll 6, Cross 2, Heathcote, Brereton, Collis, J. Williams

REPLACEMENTS:

Richmond

Richmond replaced Williamson (third quarter)

Lockhart replaced Loughran (three-quarter time)

Carlton

J. Carroll replaced Crowe (half-time)

UMPIRE:

Nunn

CROWD:

23,468

SOURCE:

AGE/Football Record

NOTES:

-

 

SEMI FINALS

Match 5 - Friday, September 15

COLLINGWOOD

2.4 (16)

5.4 (34)

9.5 (59)

10.8 (68)

NORTH MELBOURNE

0.2 (2)

7.5 (47)

8.7 (55)

14.10 (94)

BEST PLAYERS:

Collingwood

Henderson, Reeves, Bennett, Withers, Delanty, Weideman

North Melbourne

Aylett, Gaudion, Waddington, Ryan, Dwyer, Jenkins, Eastmure

GOALKICKERS:

Collingwood

Donald 2, Delanty 2, Beers, Weideman, Norman, Turner, Bennett, Hutchesson

North Melbourne

Aylett 6, Dugdale 3, Eastmure 3, Snell, Mantello

REPLACEMENTS:

Collingwood

(none)

North Melbourne

O’Brien replaced Gaudion (last quarter)

UMPIRE:

Andrew

CROWD:

15,110

SOURCE:

AGE/Football Record

NOTES:

Originally scheduled for Sept.14 but postponed due to torrential rain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 6 - Tuesday, September 19

GEELONG

4.4 (28)

7.6 (48)

10.8 (68)

14.12 (96)

CARLTON

2.4 (16)

5.8 (38)

9.9 (63)

10.11 (71)

BEST PLAYERS:

Geelong

Rice, Long, B. Goggin, Nicholls, Callan, Wooller

Carlton

Silvagni, Nicholls, T. Carroll, Crowe, Collins, Brereton

GOALKICKERS:

Geelong

Wooller 4, Long 3, Wade 2, Rice 2, B. Goggin, Yeates, A. Lord

Carlton

T. Carroll 5, Brereton 3, Silvagni, Nicholls

REPLACEMENTS:

Geelong

Noran replaced Helmer (half-time)

Luttrell replaced O’Neill (last quarter)

Carlton

B. Williams replaced J. Williams (half-time)

J. Carroll replaced Barry (last quarter)

UMPIRE:

Nunn

CROWD:

27,240

SOURCE:

AGE/Football Record

NOTES:

-

 

G.F. TEAMS

NORTH MELBOURNE

COACH

Wally Carter

 

BACKS

Waddington

Cheatley

Robinson

HALF-BACKS

Dean

Ryan

Rowe

CENTRES

Robertson

Dwyer

Gaudion

HALF-FORWARDS

Ward

Teasdale

Mantello

FORWARDS

Snell

Dugdale

Eastmure

FOLLOWERS

Jenkins

Railton

ROVER

Aylett (C)

 

RESERVES

Hughes

J. O’Brien

EMERGENCIES

Darby, D. O’Brien, Perry, Pickering, Saunders

GEELONG

COACH

Bob Davis

 

BACKS

Lowe

West

Callan

HALF-BACKS

Nicholls

Vinar

Devine

CENTRES

M. Goggin

Miller

Hamer*

HALF-FORWARDS

A. Lord

Wooller

Norman

FORWARDS

Long

Wade

Rice

FOLLOWERS

McGrath

Yeates (C)

ROVER

W. Goggin*

 

RESERVES

Stephens

Sutherland

EMERGENCIES

Pomeroy*

O’Donnell*

*Hamer and Bill Goggin were late withdrawals from the selected team.

O’Donnell and Pomeroy were promoted from emergencies to the starting eighteen.

 

GRAND FINAL

1961 VFL NIGHT PREMIERSHIP - GRAND FINAL

Match 7 - Monday, September 25

NORTH MELBOURNE

0.0 (0)

4.3 (27)

5.5 (35)

9.8 (62)

GEELONG

1.9 (15)

4.10 (34)

6.15 (51)

9.20 (74)

BEST PLAYERS:

North Melbourne

Dwyer, Waddington, Cheatley, Gaudion, Teasdale, Snell, Robinson

Geelong

Long, O’Donnell, Yeates, Wooller, Pomeroy, Miller, M. Goggin

GOALKICKERS:

North Melbourne

Teasdale 3, Dugdale 2, Robertson, Aylett, Eastmure, Jenkins

Geelong

O’Donnell 3, Wade 2, Yeates, Norman, Callan, Wooller

REPLACEMENTS:

North Melbourne

(none)

Geelong

Stephens replaced Rice (second quarter)

Sutherland replaced Nicholls (last quarter)

UMPIRE:

Irving

CROWD:

30,365*

SOURCE:

AGE/SUN/Football Record

NOTES:

Geelong trailed by 11 points with seven minutes to go but kicked three goals against the wind to steal the match.

CROWD DISCREPANCY:

Current AFL records have the crowd for this match as 30,465

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
actually 30,365.

 


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

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© David Eastman 2013-2022. All rights reserved.
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