1977 AMCO-HERALD CUP

David Eastman   //   February 15, 2017

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The first VFL Night Series ran from 1956 to 1971 and was brought to an end by dwindling crowds and the League's move to a Final Five. It seems hard to believe in today's multimedia world but matches in those series at Lake Oval were not televised.

It took the strong ratings and advertising revenue generated by the 1976 NFL Wills Cup to finally alert football administrators to the potential benefits of football broadcast live on network television.

The 1976 NFL series was planned as a forerunner to a full-scale national competition in 1977 that would feature all VFL, SANFL and WAFL clubs plus representative teams from Tasmania, Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT. [Canberra Times, 15-4-1976]

However, the NFL's plans for 1977 were thrown into disarray when the VFL announced they were withdrawing from the national competition to form their own rival night series, the Amco-Herald Cup. The series would be based at the League's headquarters, VFL Park with new light towers constructed specifically for the event at a cost of a million dollars.

Live telecasts of the rival competitions went head-to-head from 7:30pm each Tuesday night with the VFL series broadcast nationally on the Seven network and the NFL series on the ATV-0 network.

Night football at VFL Park makes its debut in front of 8,468 enthusiastic fans

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

The original VFL night series had been a consolation tournament featuring only the eight teams that missed the VFL finals* and played in September/October. In contrast, the 1977 series featured all 12 clubs and was played mid-week throughout the VFL premiership season. 

A twelve-team competition meant only six teams would advance to the quarter finals instead of the required eight so a 'lucky-loser' system was adopted. This resulted in the two defeated teams from Round 1 with the highest percentage also advancing to the quarter-finals. From that stage onward all matches were played on a knockout basis.

*(all but one series during the 1956-71 era was contested only by the bottom-8 sides of the season. The 1957 Night Series was the exception, featuring all 12 VFL clubs; with each of the top-4 sides moving to the night competition as their VFL Finals Series commitments ended)

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ROUND 1
DATE	TEAMS	1/4	1/2	3/4	FINAL	MARGIN	VENUE	DAY/TIME	CROWD
May-03	Richmond	5.3 (33)	8.6 (54)	14.11 (95)	19.14 (128)	56	Lake Oval, South Melbourne	Tue (7:45pm)	4,805
	Collingwood	1.2 (8)	1.8 (14)	4.13 (37)	9.18 (72)
May-10	Carlton	3.2 (20)	7.6 (48)	11.9 (75)	12.17 (89)	10	Lake Oval, South Melbourne	Tue (7:45pm)	4,118
	St Kilda	1.5 (11)	1.10 (16)	4.15 (39)	10.19 (79)
May-17	Fitzroy	2.1 (13)	4.5 (29)	10.11 (71)	16.12 (108)	34	VFL Park, Waverley	Tue (8:45pm)*	8,468
	North Melbourne	2.3 (15)	5.4 (34)	8.6 (54)	11.8 (74)
May-24	South Melbourne	5.2 (32)	9.4 (58)	11.11 (77)	15.14 (104)	47	VFL Park, Waverley	Tue (7:50pm)	3,475
	Footscray	2.1 (13)	4.2 (26)	6.6 (42)	8.9 (57)
May-31	Hawthorn	2.3 (15)	5.4 (34)	10.6 (66)	13.6 (84)	42	VFL Park, Waverley	Tue (7:50pm)	2,743
	Geelong	0.0 (0)	0.2 (2)	2.4 (16)	6.6 (42)
Jun-07	Melbourne	4.4 (28)	6.6 (42)	9.8 (62)	10.11 (71)	32	VFL Park, Waverley	Tue (7:50pm)	10,036
	Essendon	1.1 (7)	1.4 (10)	2.6 (18)	5.9 (39)
QUARTER FINALS
DATE	TEAMS	1/4	1/2	3/4	FINAL	MARGIN	VENUE	DAY/TIME	CROWD
Jun-21	St Kilda**	5.2 (32)	5.8 (38)	16.14 (110)	19.14 (128)	42	VFL Park, Waverley	Tue (7:50pm)	5,123
	South Melbourne	4.3 (27)	5.5 (35)	7.9 (51)	12.14 (86)
Jun-28	Hawthorn	0.4 (4)	2.6 (18)	5.9 (39)	7.10 (52)	11	VFL Park, Waverley	Tue (7:50pm)	3,346
	North Melbourne**	0.4 (4)	1.5 (11)	2.9 (21)	5.11 (41)
Jul-05	Carlton	4.4 (28)	8.9 (57)	9.12 (66)	15.13 (103)	22	VFL Park, Waverley	Tue (7:50pm)	6,841
	Melbourne	3.5 (23)	5.8 (38)	10.11 (71)	11.15 (81)
Jul-12	Richmond	4.1 (25)	6.2 (38)	11.5 (71)	15.11 (101)	30	VFL Park, Waverley	Tue (7:50pm)	8,169
	Fitzroy	2.2 (14)	6.5 (41)	9.10 (64)	10.11 (71)
SEMI FINALS
DATE	TEAMS	1/4	1/2	3/4	FINAL	MARGIN	VENUE	DAY/TIME	CROWD
Jul-19	Hawthorn	3.2 (20)	6.6 (42)	10.13 (73)	14.15 (99)	24	VFL Park, Waverley	Tue (7:50pm)	9,232
	St Kilda	5.4 (34)	7.6 (48)	7.13 (55)	10.15 (75)
Jul-26	Carlton	3.2 (20)	3.7 (25)	5.10 (40)	6.13 (49)	19	VFL Park, Waverley	Tue (7:50pm)	6,056
	Richmond	2.2 (14)	2.2 (14)	4.3 (27)	4.6 (30)
GRAND FINAL
DATE	TEAMS	1/4	1/2	3/4	FINAL	MARGIN	VENUE	DAY/TIME	CROWD
Aug-02	Hawthorn	3.7 (25)	6.8 (44)	10.11 (71)	14.11 (95)	24	VFL Park, Waverley	Tue (7:50pm)	27,407
	Carlton	5.1 (31)	7.3 (45)	9.3 (57)	11.5 (71)
FIXTURE NOTES
May-03	Richmond-Collingwood originally scheduled for VFL Park but the new light towers were not completed - match transferred to Lake Oval
May-10	Carlton-St Kilda originally scheduled for VFL Park but the new light towers were not completed - match transferred to Lake Oval
May-17	*First night match at VFL Park - the start was delayed by 55 minutes due to a power failure just before the opening bounce
Jun-14	No match due to Queen's Birthday split-round (Herald Shield double-header played instead)
Qtr Finals	**St Kilda and North Melbourne advanced to the Quarter Finals as the two defeated teams with the highest percentage after Round 1

 

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NOTABLE EVENTS

*Yellow is the new white - ever since the first matches were played under lights in 1879, a white football had been the norm for night play. The 1977 VFL Night Series was the first to use a yellow football and, although the rival NFL series continued to use a white ball until at least 1978, yellow quickly became the standard for night matches Australia-wide.

Footnote - the only documented use of a yellow ball prior to 1977 was a Western Australian state team practice match played before the 1950 National Carnival; on that occasion the yellow ball was trialled for a half and "seemed to suit the players far better than the white ball". [West Australian 15-6-1950]


*Lake Oval's last hurrah - construction delays meant the $1 million light towers at VFL Park were not ready for the series-opener on May 3rd.

Rather than postpone their heavily-promoted new series, the League transferred the Richmond-Collingwood (May 3) and Carlton-St Kilda (May 10) matches to Lake Oval in South Melbourne, the former home of the VFL Night Premiership from 1956 to 1971 and the only other venue in Melbourne with lighting up to television broadcast standards.


*Lights out - on May 17th the first night match to be played at VFL Park was delayed by 55 minutes due to a massive power failure. At 7:20pm a fuse blew in an S.E.C. feeder pole in nearby Wellington Road, cutting a third of the power to the stadium's new lighting system.

Five minutes after the scheduled start time of 7:50pm restless fans started jeering and slow-clapping, leading to an announcement over the public address system asking fans to be patient.

At 8:05pm all power to the ground had to be cut-off so repairs could be made. Everyone at the ground sat in near-total darkness for the next 18 minutes with the only lighting provided by a back-up generator. Finally, at 8:45pm night football's new era at Waverley made its belated debut. [The Age 18-5-1977]


*Fitzroy fined for wrong shorts - The Lions were officially the away team for their opening match of the series but wore their home shorts, causing a colour clash with North Melbourne who also took to the field in royal blue shorts.

The VFL subsequently fined them $5000 ($250 per player) despite the Lions pointing out that the League's official match programme listed them as the home team and advised fans that they would be in blue shorts and North Melbourne in white. The VFL enforced the fine, maintaining that Fitzroy were the away team and noting that the Lions had used the visitors rooms for the match.  [The Age 20-5-1977]


*Frozen Cats and Hawks - the Geelong-Hawthorn match on May 31st was played in constant rain and freezing winds on Melbourne’s coldest day in 81 years. Geelong's Kevin Sheehan reportedly tried to call out for the ball during the second half only to realise his jaw had locked due to the cold.


*Lights out, again! - During the curtain-raiser played before the Carlton-Melbourne match on July 5th a ten-minute blackout occurred causing the match to be shortened. VFL officials feared another power failure like that of May 17th had occurred.

They were relieved to find the problem was merely due to a technician in the control booth accidentally knocking out the plug to their $1 million dollar lighting system. [The Age 6-7-1977]


*The 'Flying Doormat' goes berserk - Carlton's Bruce Doull was known as an unflappable defender who had calmly and consistently shut-down opposition forwards throughout the 1970s. That all changed when Hawthorn's Kevin Ablett ripped off Doull's trademark elastic headband and ran away with it in the 1977 night series Grand Final. The normally emotionless Doull went ballistic, charging after Ablett and swinging punches wildly.

It took six seasons until an opponent was game enough to try it again, with cheeky Essendon rover Tony Buhagiar stealing the headband during the 1983 VFL Elimination Final and throwing it into the crowd. This time a better-prepared Doull called his opponent's bluff, calmly reaching into his sock and producing another headband, much to the amusement of teammates and opponents alike.

Temporary camera platforms were set-up for Lake Oval's final fling (Football Record 10-5-1977)

Not happy, Jack! A furious VFL General Manager Jack Hamilton waits for power to be restored prior to the opening night match at Waverley (The Age 18-5-1977)

Tandberg's view on Fitzroy's $5000 fine (The Age 20-5-1977)

Night football's new era is delayed 55 minutes due to a power failure (The Age 18-5-1977)

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MATCH REPORTS

Listed below are match reports for all 13 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.

ROUND 1

Match 1 - Tuesday, May 3

RICHMOND

5.3 (33)

8.6 (54)

14.11 (95)

19.14 (128)

COLLINGWOOD

1.2 (8)

1.8 (14)

4.13 (37)

9.18 (72)

BEST PLAYERS:

Richmond

Sheedy, Jess, Raines, Dickson, Roach, Dunne

Collingwood

Manassa, Cooper, Clifford, Worthington, Kink, Anderson

GOALKICKERS:

Richmond

Dickson 5, Dunne 3, Noonan 3, Heard 2, Monteath 2, Jess 2, Cumming, Scrimshaw

Collingwood

Picken 3, Perry 2, Anderson 2, Manassa, Kink

UMPIRES:

Fellows, Sutcliffe

CROWD:

4,805*

SOURCE:

Football Record

NOTES:

This match was originally scheduled to be played at VFL Park but was moved because the light towers were not completed.

CROWD DISCREPANCY:

The Football Record (May 7) lists an estimated crowd of 4,700; the Night Series Grand Final edition revises this to 4,805

Match 2 - Tuesday, May 10

CARLTON

3.2 (20)

7.6 (48)

11.9 (75)

12.17 (89)

ST KILDA

1.5 (11)

1.10 (16)

4.15 (39)

10.19 (79)

BEST PLAYERS:

Carlton

Maclure, Doull, Ohlsen, Walls, Bedford, Buckley

St Kilda

Barker, G. Elliott, Neale, Duperouzel, R. Greene, Lofts

GOALKICKERS:

Carlton

Ohlsen 3, McKenna 2, Walls 2, Keogh 2, Buckley 2, McConnon

St Kilda

Young 3, Neale, O’Keefe, R. Greene, Stevens, Lofts, Hughes, Duperouzel

UMPIRES:

Quinn, Chapman

CROWD:

4,118

SOURCE:

Football Record

NOTES:

This match was originally scheduled to be played at VFL Park but was moved because the light towers were not completed.

Match 3 - Tuesday, May 17

FITZROY

2.1 (13)

4.5 (29)

10.11 (71)

16.12 (108)

NORTH MELBOURNE

2.3 (15)

5.4 (34)

8.6 (54)

11.8 (74)

BEST PLAYERS:

Fitzroy

Wilson, Irwin, Parke, Johnston, Murphy, Alexander

North Melbourne

Schimmelbusch, Gumbleton, Frazer, Sutton, Byrne, Dawson

GOALKICKERS:

Fitzroy

Johnston 4, Parke 4, Christou 2, Irwin, O’Keeffe, McMahon, Whitford, Macleod, Wilson

North Melbourne

Frazer 5, Sutton 2, Schimmelbusch 2, Byrne, Dawson

UMPIRES:

Nash, Dye

CROWD:

8,468

SOURCE:

Football Record

NOTES:

The first night match to be played at VFL Park. The game was delayed 55 minutes due to a power failure and commenced at 8:45pm.

Fitzroy were fined $5000 ($250 per player) for wearing coloured shorts when they were officially the away team.

Match 4 - Tuesday, May 24

SOUTH MELBOURNE

5.2 (32)

9.4 (58)

11.11 (77)

15.14 (104)

FOOTSCRAY

2.1 (13)

4.2 (26)

6.6 (42)

8.9 (57)

BEST PLAYERS:

South Melbourne

Young, Goss, Brice, Blair, Zantuck, Teasdale, Jamieson

Footscray

Murrie, Wheeler, Dempsey, Reid, Perrusich, Edmond

GOALKICKERS:

South Melbourne

Young 3, Blair 3, Zantuck 2, Jamieson 2, Teasdale 2, Goss, Round, Pagan

Footscray

Edmond 2, Quinlan, Reid, Sandilands, Whitten, Dempsey, Wheeler

UMPIRES:

Robinson, James

CROWD:

3,475

SOURCE:

Football Record

NOTES:

-

Match 5 - Tuesday, May 31

HAWTHORN

2.3 (15)

5.4 (34)

10.6 (66)

13.6 (84)

GEELONG

0.0 (0)

0.2 (2)

2.4 (16)

6.6 (42)

BEST PLAYERS:

Hawthorn

Hudson, Hendrie, K. Matthews, Trott, O’Halloran, Scott

Geelong

Clarke, Card, Cassidy, B. Nankervis, I. Nankervis, Sheehan

GOALKICKERS:

Hawthorn

Hudson 5, Hendrie 3, K. Matthews 2, Rice, Rowlings, Murphy

Geelong

Ruscuklic 2, Witcombe, I. Nankervis, Clarke, Cassidy

UMPIRES:

Morgan, Polites

CROWD:

2,743

SOURCE:

Football Record

NOTES:

Played in constant rain and freezing winds on Melbourne’s coldest day in 81 years.

Geelong's Kevin Sheehan reportedly tried to call out for the ball during the second half only to realise his jaw had locked due to the cold.

Match 6 - Tuesday, June 7

MELBOURNE

4.4 (28)

6.6 (42)

9.8 (62)

10.11 (71)

ESSENDON

1.1 (7)

1.4 (10)

2.6 (18)

5.9 (39)

BEST PLAYERS:

Melbourne

R. Flower, Wells, Campbell, Biffin, Fowler, Tippett

Essendon

Scanlon, Watson, Fletcher, Close, Primmer, Van der Haar, Andrews

GOALKICKERS:

Melbourne

Walters 3, T. Flower, R. Flower, Tippett, Cook, Wells, Biffin, Fowler

Essendon

Crow, Scanlon, Foulds, Crow, Primmer

UMPIRES:

James, Nash

CROWD:

10,036

SOURCE:

Football Record

NOTES:

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LADDER AFTER ROUND 1

TEAM

W

L

FOR

AGST

%

Hawthorn

1

-

84

42

200.0

South Melbourne

1

-

104

57

182.5

Melbourne

1

-

71

39

182.1

Richmond

1

-

128

72

177.8

Fitzroy

1

-

108

74

145.9

Carlton

1

-

89

79

112.7

St Kilda*

-

1

79

89

88.8

North Melbourne*

-

1

74

108

68.5

Collingwood

-

1

72

128

56.3

Essendon

-

1

39

71

54.9

Footscray

-

1

57

104

54.8

Geelong

-

1

42

84

50.0

*St Kilda and North Melbourne advanced to the next round as the two losing teams with the highest percentage

The quarter-finals draw was determined by ladder position:

(1) Hawthorn v (8) North Melbourne

(2) South Melbourne v (7) St Kilda

(3) Melbourne v (6) Carlton

(4) Richmond v (5) Fitzroy

QUARTER-FINALS

Match 7 - Tuesday, June 21

ST KILDA

5.2 (32)

5.8 (38)

16.14 (110)

19.14 (128)

SOUTH MELBOURNE

4.3 (27)

5.5 (35)

7.9 (51)

12.14 (86)

BEST PLAYERS:

St Kilda

Tweeddale, Lofts, Perovic, Williams, Barker, Ditterich

South Melbourne

Lambert, Morrison, Zantuck, Daniher, Evans, Carter

GOALKICKERS:

St Kilda

Lofts 4, Tweeddale 4, Williams 4, Breen, Stevens, Duperouzel, R. Elliott, Callery, Carlon, Bond

South Melbourne

Morrison 3, Gull 2, Daniher 2, Evans 2, Browning, Carter, Hounsell

UMPIRES:

K. Smith, Henry

CROWD:

5,123

SOURCE:

Football Record

NOTES:

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Match 8 - Tuesday, June 28

HAWTHORN

0.4 (4)

2.6 (18)

5.9 (39)

7.10 (52)

NORTH MELBOURNE

0.4 (4)

1.5 (11)

2.9 (21)

5.11 (41)

BEST PLAYERS:

Hawthorn

Rowlings, Tuck, Scott, O’Halloran, Polkinghorne, Knights

North Melbourne

Dench, Tanner, Cassin, Henshaw, Moore, Baker

GOALKICKERS:

Hawthorn

Hendrie 2, Hudson 2, Bennett, Trott, Rowlings

North Melbourne

Baker 2, Crosswell, Briedis, Byrne

UMPIRES:

Dye, Sawers

CROWD:

3,346

SOURCE:

Football Record

NOTES:

-

Match 9 - Tuesday, July 5

CARLTON

4.4 (28)

8.9 (57)

9.12 (66)

15.13 (103)

MELBOURNE

3.5 (23)

5.8 (38)

10.11 (71)

11.15 (81)

BEST PLAYERS:

Carlton

Byrne, Canfield, Doull, Jesaulenko, Mangels, Walls

Melbourne

Norsworthy, McKellar, Hardeman, Coles, Smith, Fowler, Flower

GOALKICKERS:

Carlton

Ashman 4, Walls 3, Jesaulenko 3, Armstrong 2, Canfield 2, McConnon

Melbourne

Biffin 4, Coles 3, Brewer 2, Fowler, Norsworthy

UMPIRES:

Quinn, Robinson

CROWD:

6,841

SOURCE:

Football Record/SUN/AGE

NOTES:

The Football Record lists only 14 of Carlton’s 15 goals, crediting Canfield with one goal instead of two.

During the Herald Shield curtain-raiser a 10-minute blackout occurred causing the match to be shortened. VFL officials feared another power failure

like that of May 17 had occurred. They were relieved to find the problem was caused by a technician in the control booth accidentally knocking out

the plug to their $1 million dollar lighting system. [The Age 6-7-1977]

Match 10 - Tuesday, July 12

RICHMOND

4.1 (25)

6.2 (38)

11.5 (71)

15.11 (101)

FITZROY

2.2 (14)

6.5 (41)

9.10 (64)

10.11 (71)

BEST PLAYERS:

Richmond

Monteath, McGhie, Pitura, Bourke, Sheedy, Roach, Cloke

Fitzroy

Irwin, Serafini, Hansen, Shepherd, Merrigan, Thompson

GOALKICKERS:

Richmond

Monteath 6, Noonan 4, Hummel 2, Pitura 2, Lynch

Fitzroy

Thompson 2, Hansen, McMahon, Harris, Austen, Wilson, Linton, Serafini, Chapman

UMPIRES:

Deller, Lyons

CROWD:

8,169

SOURCE:

Football Record

NOTES:

-

SEMI-FINALS

Match 11 - Tuesday, July 19

HAWTHORN

3.2 (20)

6.6 (42)

10.13 (73)

14.15 (99)

ST KILDA

5.4 (34)

7.6 (48)

7.13 (55)

10.15 (75)

BEST PLAYERS:

Hawthorn

Hendrie, Welsh, Tuck, G. Ablett, Moore, Rowlings

St Kilda

Neale, Sarau, Barker, Lofts, Mildenhall, Baker

GOALKICKERS:

Hawthorn

Hendrie 5, L. Matthews 4, Hudson 3, Martello, Tuck

St Kilda

Young 3, Hunt 2, Duperouzel 2, Lofts, Breen, Tweeddale

UMPIRES:

Nash, Quinn

CROWD:

9,232

SOURCE:

Football Record

NOTES:

-

Match 12 - Tuesday, July 26

CARLTON

3.2 (20)

3.7 (25)

5.10 (40)

6.13 (49)

RICHMOND

2.2 (14)

2.2 (14)

4.3 (27)

4.6 (30)

BEST PLAYERS:

Carlton

Southby, Walls, Jesaulenko, Pinnell, Keogh, Young, Harmes

Richmond

Wood, Robertson, Clayton, Lee, Cloke, Bartlett

GOALKICKERS:

Carlton

Walls 2, Canfield, McKenna, Sheldon, McKay

Richmond

Bartlett, Edwards, Dickson, Cloke

UMPIRES:

Dye, K. Smith

CROWD:

6,056

SOURCE:

Football Record/SUN

NOTES:

The Football Record lists only 3 of Richmond’s 4 goals, omitting one kicked by Cloke.

The match was played in torrential rain.

 

1977 AMCO-HERALD CUP - GRAND FINAL

HAWTHORN						CARLTON
David Parkin				COACH		Ian Thorogood
Walter	Moore	Welsh		BACKS		Whitnall	Austin	Heath
Polkinghorne	Knights*	O’Halloran		HALF-BACKS		Pinnell**	Southby	Doull
K. Ablett	Rice	G. Ablett		CENTRES		Byrne	Armstrong	Young
Eade	Martello	Hendrie		HALF-FORWARDS		Jesaulenko**	Walls (C)	Keogh
Rowlings	Hudson	Moncrieff		FORWARDS		Canfield	McKenna	Sheldon
	Scott (C)	Tuck		FOLLOWERS		McKay	Mangels
		L. Matthews		ROVER		Buckley
	Bennett	Trott		RESERVES		Ashman	Harmes
		Steele*		EMERGENCIES		Maclure**	Zeunert**
*Knights was a late withdrawal from Hawthorn's selected team (replaced by Steele)
**Jesaulenko and Pinnell were late withdrawals from Carlton's selected team (replaced by Maclure and Zeunert)

 

Match 13 - Tuesday, Aug.2
HAWTHORN	3.7 (25)	6.8 (44)	10.11 (71)	14.11 (95)
CARLTON	5.1 (31)	7.3 (45)	9.3 (57)	11.5 (71)
BEST PLAYERS:
Hawthorn	Scott, Rowlings, Moore, Hudson, Bennett, Ablett
Carlton	Southby, Canfield, Ashman, Doull, Armstrong, Buckley, Walls
GOALKICKERS:
Hawthorn	Hudson 5, Rowlings 2, Martello 2, G. Ablett, Hendrie, Bennett,
	Tuck, L. Matthews
Carlton	Ashman 3, Sheldon 2, Walls 2, Buckley, Keogh, McKenna,
	Armstrong
UMPIRES:	Deller, Robinson
CROWD:	27,407
PRIZEMONEY:	Hawthorn $50,000, Carlton $42,000
SOURCE:	Football Record
NOTES:	-

 

Amco-Herald Cup Grand Final programme (private collection)

Hawthorn players (L-R) Leigh Matthews, Don Scott, Barry Rowlings and John Hendrie celebrate with first-year coach David Parkin. (Football Record, 1996 Pre-Season edition)

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