1971 HEINZ 'BIG RED' NIGHT PREMIERSHIP
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*The Demons return to the winner's circle - seven seasons after their glory era ended, Melbourne finally won another flag. The 1971 decider was their third straight Night Series Grand Final and first night premiership.
*Prizemoney - this was the first year that all prizemoney was provided by the sponsor of the series. From 1964 (the first year of sponsorship) to 1970 the VFL had paid 35% of the winner's cheque and 38% of the runner-up's cheque. *Bulldogs and Lions slug it out - the first semi-final between Fitzroy and Footscray ground to a halt due to an all-in brawl involving 28 players. It's not known who won the fight, but Fitzroy won the match comfortably. *No coach, no worries - Melbourne’s senior coach Ian Ridley missed their Grand Final victory due to a work-related holiday in Fiji; assistant coach Bernie Massey led the team in Ridley’s absence. |
Action from the opening round Carlton-Essendon clash (1972 VFL Year Book)
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In 1972 the VFL expanded the final series from four teams to five, leaving just 7 clubs to compete in the night premiership. This was an unworkable number and the night series ended with little fanfare.
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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-02 |
Footscray (8) |
3.6 (24) |
7.12 (54) |
8.17 (65) |
11.25 (91) |
21 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Thu (8:00pm) |
10,028 |
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South Melbourne (12) |
2.3 (15) |
3.4 (22) |
8.6 (54) |
10.10 (70) |
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Sep-07 |
Fitzroy (6) |
4.3 (27) |
7.8 (50) |
10.8 (68) |
14.16 (100) |
42 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Tue (8:00pm) |
7,280 |
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North Melbourne (9) |
4.1 (25) |
5.3 (33) |
8.6 (54) |
8.10 (58) |
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Sep-09 |
Carlton (5) |
3.2 (20) |
5.4 (34) |
8.12 (60) |
9.15 (69) |
9 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Thu (8:00pm) |
7,328 |
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Essendon (11) |
2.0 (12) |
5.3 (33) |
6.5 (41) |
9.6 (60) |
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Sep-14 |
Melbourne (7) |
2.2 (14) |
10.6 (66) |
15.10 (100) |
19.20 (134) |
60 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Tue (8:00pm) |
8,108 |
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Geelong (10) |
4.3 (27) |
7.4 (46) |
11.7 (73) |
11.8 (74) |
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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-16 |
Fitzroy (6) |
4.4 (28) |
7.10 (52) |
11.13 (79) |
16.17 (113) |
35 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Thu (8:00pm) |
12,124 |
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Footscray (8) |
3.3 (21) |
4.5 (29) |
5.9 (39) |
11.12 (78) |
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Sep-21 |
Melbourne (7) |
2.3 (15) |
6.8 (44) |
9.11 (65) |
14.16 (100) |
26 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Tue (8:00pm) |
11,919 |
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Carlton (5) |
3.2 (20) |
6.5 (41) |
8.7 (55) |
11.8 (74) |
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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-27 |
Melbourne (7) |
3.2 (20) |
5.5 (35) |
11.6 (72) |
12.7 (79) |
16 |
Lake Oval, South Melbourne |
Mon (8:00pm) |
21,169 |
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Fitzroy (6) |
0.2 (2) |
2.3 (15) |
6.7 (43) |
9.9 (63) |
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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 2 |
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FOOTSCRAY |
3.6
(24) |
7.12
(54) |
8.17
(65) |
11.25
(91) |
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SOUTH
MELBOURNE |
2.3
(15)* |
3.4
(22) |
8.6
(54) |
10.10
(70) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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Footscray |
Bisset, Salmon, Quinlan, Dempsey, Magee,
McGowan |
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South
Melbourne |
Hoffman,
Bedford, Ball, Murphy, Doyle, McHenry |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Footscray |
Dempsey
3, Quinlan 2, Bishop 2, Dell 2, Salmon 2 |
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South
Melbourne |
Hoffman
4, McHenry 2, Pavone, Bedford, Doyle, Prentice |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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Footscray |
(none) |
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South
Melbourne |
Robertson
replaced Pitura (selected side) |
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Pavone replaced Robertson (second quarter) |
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UMPIRE: |
Sheen |
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CROWD: |
10,028 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/SUN/Football
Record |
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SCORE
DISCREPANCY: |
South
Melbourne's 1/4 time score in The Football Record = 2.3 (The Age has 2.2) |
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Match
2 - Tuesday, September 7 |
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FITZROY |
4.3
(27) |
7.8
(50) |
10.8
(68) |
14.16
(100) |
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NORTH
MELBOURNE |
4.1
(25) |
5.3
(33) |
8.6
(54) |
8.10
(58) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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Fitzroy |
Murray,
Zunneberg, Murphy, Molloy, Brown, Wall, Shanahan |
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North
Melbourne |
Hodgetts, Redenbach,
Doolan, Dench, Feltham |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Fitzroy |
Shanahan
5, Murphy 2, Wilson 2, Irwin, Richards, Padley,
Brown, Crow |
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North
Melbourne |
Hodgetts 4, Redenbach,
Baker, Muir, Lasslett |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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Fitzroy |
Newton
replaced Shanahan (last quarter) |
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North
Melbourne |
unknown |
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UMPIRE: |
Coates |
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CROWD: |
7,280 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/SUN/Football
Record |
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NOTES: |
- |
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Match
3 - Thursday, September 9 |
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CARLTON |
3.2
(20) |
5.4
(34) |
8.12
(60) |
9.15
(69) |
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ESSENDON |
2.0
(12) |
5.3
(33) |
6.5
(41) |
9.6
(60) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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Carlton |
Jesaulenko, Doull, Southby, Jones, Quirk, Robertson, O’Connell |
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Essendon |
Fields,
Noonan, Schultz, Williams, Smith, Davis, Cassin, Daniel |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Carlton |
Jones
4, Gallagher, Collins, Barrot, Jesaulenko,
Robertson |
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Essendon |
Fields
2, Payne 2, Noonan 2, Moloney, Cassin, Graco |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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Carlton |
unknown |
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Essendon |
unknown |
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UMPIRE: |
Matheson |
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CROWD: |
7,328 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/SUN/Football
Record |
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NOTES: |
- |
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Match
4 - Tuesday, September 14 |
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MELBOURNE |
2.2
(14) |
10.6
(66) |
15.10
(100) |
19.20
(134) |
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GEELONG |
4.3
(27) |
7.4
(46) |
11.7
(73) |
11.8
(74) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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Melbourne |
Osborne,
Wells, Davis, Callery, McKenzie, Clark |
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Geelong |
Strahan, Scarlett, Hampshire, Closter, Ryan |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Melbourne |
Osborne
6, Wells 3, Callery 3, Dillon 2, McKenzie, Alves, Townsend, Tilbrook,
Molloy |
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Geelong |
Ryan
2, Strahan 2, Linke 2,
Newland, Blake, Hampshire, Gilmore, Yeates |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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Melbourne |
unknown |
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Geelong |
unknown |
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UMPIRE: |
K. Smith |
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CROWD: |
8,108* |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/SUN/Football
Record |
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CROWD
DISCREPANCY: |
The
Football Record has a crowd of 8,108, The Age (15-9-1971) has 8,105 |
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SEMI-FINALS |
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Match
5 - Thursday, September 16 |
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FITZROY |
4.4
(28) |
7.10
(52) |
11.13
(79) |
16.17
(113) |
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FOOTSCRAY |
3.3
(21) |
4.5
(29) |
5.9
(39) |
11.12
(78) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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Fitzroy |
Wilson,
Murphy, Zunneberg, Padley,
Molloy, Murray |
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Footscray |
Dempsey,
Magee, Merrington, Bisset,
Austin |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Fitzroy |
Shanahan
4, Wilson 3, Irwin 3, Murphy, Ruscuklic, Padley, Lloyd, Crow, Wall |
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Footscray |
Bishop
3, Sandilands 2, Salmon 2, Austin 2, Quinlan 2 |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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Fitzroy |
unknown |
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Footscray |
unknown |
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UMPIRE: |
Sleeth |
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CROWD: |
12,124 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/SUN/Football
Record |
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NOTES: |
The
match was delayed during the third quarter by a brawl involving 28 players. |
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Match
6 - Tuesday, September 21 |
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MELBOURNE |
2.3
(15) |
6.8
(44) |
9.11
(65) |
14.16
(100) |
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CARLTON |
3.2
(20) |
6.5
(41) |
8.7
(55) |
11.8
(74) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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Melbourne |
Wells,
Davis, Keenan, Townsend, Clark, Molloy, Sinclair, Callery,
Tilbrook |
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Carlton |
Keogh,
Southby, Robertson, Barrot,
Jones |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Melbourne |
Sinclair
3, Dillon 2, Townsend 2, Wells 2, Osborne 2, McKenzie, Keenan, Callery |
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Carlton |
Doull 2, Armstrong 2, Robertson 2,
Jackson, Keogh, Gallagher, Jones, McKay |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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Melbourne |
Sinclair
replaced Alves (selected side) |
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Carlton |
Walsh
replaced Jesaulenko (half-time) |
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Quirk
replaced Hirst (third quarter) |
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UMPIRE: |
Jolley |
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CROWD: |
11,919 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/SUN/Football
Record |
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NOTES: |
- |
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1971 VFL NIGHT PREMIERSHIP - GRAND FINAL
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MELBOURNE |
FITZROY |
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Bernie Massey* |
COACH |
Graham
Donaldson |
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Bourke |
Biffin |
Walker |
BACKS |
Molloy |
Merrigan |
Lloyd |
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Sullivan |
Hardeman |
Davis (C) |
HALF-BACKS |
Zunneberg |
Searl |
Sykes |
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Alves |
Tilbrook |
Rollinson |
CENTRES |
Sault |
Padley |
Rhodes |
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McKenzie |
Molloy |
Clark |
HALF-FORWARDS |
Wall |
Ruscuklic |
Irwin |
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Osborne |
Dillon |
Townsend |
FORWARDS |
Crow |
Shanahan |
Wilson |
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Keenan |
Wells |
FOLLOWERS |
Brown |
Murray
(C) |
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Callery |
ROVER |
Murphy |
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P. Sinclair |
McSpeerin |
RESERVES |
L.
Robertson |
Thompson |
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Hodges |
Leary |
EMERGENCIES |
Richards |
Ellis |
Herrod |
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*Melbourne’s coach Ian Ridley was in
Fiji on a work-related holiday; assistant coach Bernie Massey led the team in
Ridley’s absence |
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Match
7 - Monday, September 27 |
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MELBOURNE |
3.2
(20) |
5.5
(35) |
11.6
(72) |
12.7
(79) |
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FITZROY |
0.2
(2) |
2.3
(15) |
6.7
(43) |
9.9
(63) |
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BEST
PLAYERS: |
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Melbourne |
Townsend,
Callery, Wells, Keenan, Bourke, Molloy |
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Fitzroy |
Rhodes,
Searl, Wilson, Sault, Zunneberg |
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GOALKICKERS: |
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Melbourne |
Dillon
3, Townsend 3, Callery 2, McKenzie, Wells, Alves, Molloy |
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Fitzroy |
Wilson
2, Murphy, Irwin, Sault, Ruscuklic, Thompson,
Brown, Wall |
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REPLACEMENTS: |
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Melbourne |
unknown |
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Fitzroy |
unknown |
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UMPIRE: |
Deller |
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CROWD: |
21,169 |
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SOURCE: |
AGE/SUN/Football
Record |
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NOTES: |
This
was Melbourne's third-straight night Grand Final and first night title. |
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Written and researched by David Eastman
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First published 15/2/2017
Last updated 17/11/2018 |
