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1978 AMCO-HERALD CUP

Despite the events of 1977 the NFL remained hopeful of convincing the VFL to return to the fold, enabling a full national competition in 1978. During September and October 1977 a series of meetings were held between Australia's top football bodies and the NFL proposed a knockout series featuring 32 teams:

12 VFL teams
6 SANFL teams
5 WAFL teams
3 Tasmanian teams (1 each from the TANFL, NTFA and NWFU)
2 VFA teams
4 state representative teams (A.C.T., Queensland, N.S.W. and the Australian Amateurs)

Also, in addition to the usual venues in Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne, some matches would be played in Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Darwin to promote Australian football. The VFL rejected the NFL's plans and proposed that the last 15 games of the series should be played at VFL Park, Waverley. They refused to participate if the VFA was involved and did not see any need for the Australian Amateurs to be included.

Picture
Fitzroy's Ron Alexander, coach Graham Campbell, and acting-skipper Garry Wilson celebrate the Lions' boilover win in the final (Hutton's Football Book, Jim Main, 1981)
NFL General Manager, Keith Webb observed: "The VFL is trying to get all the NFL participants into a VFL-run competition. But the NFL is a national body and as such it should run the national competition, not a state body such as the VFL". [Canberra Times, 20-10-1977, p.22/24]

The SANFL and WAFL rejected the VFL's proposals and the stand-off continued. However, the first signs of a breakaway appeared with the Tasmanian Football League choosing to participate in both the NFL and VFL competitions - making them the first non-VFL team to play in the Victorian League's series.

The rival competitions again went head-to-head nationally on the Seven and ATV-0 networks. On two occasions games were played in the same city, on the same night:
  • May 9: Geelong v Hawthorn at VFL Park drew a crowd of 8,146 / Port Melbourne v N.S.W. at Lake Oval drew a crowd of 3,682
  • May 23: Fitzroy v Richmond at VFL Park drew a crowd of 8,172 / Sandringham v A.C.T. at Lake Oval drew a crowd of 2,680

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

A thirteen-team competition meant only seven teams would advance to the quarter finals instead of the required eight so a 'lucky-loser' system was again adopted.

This resulted in the defeated team from Round 1 with the highest percentage (Geelong) advancing to the quarter-finals. They were joined by the winners of the 1977 series (Hawthorn) who received a first-round bye. From the quarter finals onward all matches were played on a knockout basis.


Date

Teams

1/4

1/2

3/4

Final

Margin

Venue

Day/Time

Crowd

ROUND 1

Mar-03

Collingwood

2.0 (12)

5.0 (30)

7.2 (44)

10.8 (68)

58

VFL Park, Waverley

Fri

18,585

South Melbourne

3.0 (18)

6.3 (39)

14.8 (92)

19.12 (126)

(8:30pm)

Mar-10

Footscray

4.5 (29)

5.6 (36)

6.7 (43)

9.9 (63)

17

VFL Park, Waverley

Fri

10,136

North Melbourne

3.1 (19)

5.7 (37)

6.12 (48)

11.14 (80)

(8:30pm)

Mar-17

Geelong*

1.3 (9)

1.4 (10)

6.10 (46)

8.14 (62)

1

VFL Park, Waverley

Fri

10,321

Carlton

2.7 (19)

4.10 (34)

5.13 (43)

8.15 (63)

(8:30pm)

Mar-23

Tasmania

1.6 (12)

3.7 (25)

9.8 (62)

10.10 (70)

18

VFL Park, Waverley

Thu

5,136

Fitzroy

2.2 (14)

3.4 (22)

7.7 (49)

13.10 (88)

(8:30pm)

Apr-04

Richmond

2.3 (15)

5.6 (36)

8.7 (55)

13.10 (88)

51

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

15,764

Essendon

2.0 (12)

2.1 (13)

4.4 (28)

5.7 (37)

(8:30pm)

Apr-11

Melbourne

5.4 (34)

5.5 (35)

7.7 (49)

8.9 (57)

39

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

8,867

St Kilda

1.1 (7)

4.8 (32)

9.11 (65)

14.12 (96)

(8:30pm)

*Geelong advanced as the losing team in Round 1 with the highest percentage

Hawthorn (winners of the 1977 series) received a first-round bye and advanced directly to the quarter finals

QUARTER FINALS

Apr-18

South Melbourne

2.3 (15)

3.6 (24)

6.10 (46)

9.14 (68)

24

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

5,822

Fitzroy

3.0 (18)

5.4 (34)

10.5 (65)

14.8 (92)

(8:30pm)

May-02

Richmond

2.2 (14)

3.2 (20)

13.6 (84)

15.10 (100)

17

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

12,061

Carlton

0.3 (3)

3.9 (27)

4.10 (34)

11.17 (83)

(8:30pm)

May-09

Hawthorn

1.1 (7)

2.3 (15)

5.5 (35)

5.6 (36)

31

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

8,146

Geelong

1.1 (7)

4.1 (25)

6.4 (40)

10.7 (67)

(8:30pm)

May-16

St Kilda

3.5 (23)

5.5 (35)

7.7 (49)

8.8 (56)

4

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

20,694

North Melbourne

1.5 (11)

2.7 (19)

6.10 (46)

8.12 (60)

(8:30pm)

SEMI FINALS

May-23

Fitzroy

3.2 (20)

5.6 (36)

7.10 (52)

10.14 (74)

16

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

8,172

Richmond

1.4 (10)

1.7 (13)

2.8 (20)

8.10 (58)

(8:30pm)

May-30

Geelong

3.0 (18)

6.2 (38)

8.4 (52)

9.5 (59)

39

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

6,590

North Melbourne

4.0 (24)

5.1 (31)

7.3 (45)

15.8 (98)

(8:30pm)

GRAND FINAL

Jun-13

VFL officials decided at 8am on the day of the match to postpone the Grand Final to June 20 due to torrential rain

Jun-20

Fitzroy

2.3 (15)

3.5 (23)

10.13 (73)

13.18 (96)

76

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

26,420

North Melbourne

2.1 (13)

2.5 (17)

2.6 (18)

2.8 (20)

(8:30pm)

FIXTURE NOTES

Apr-25

No match due to the Anzac Day split-round in the VFL premiership competition

Jun-06

No match due to the Queen's Birthday split-round in the VFL premiership competition

 


NOTABLE EVENTS

*A series of firsts - not only was the 1978 series the first to feature a non-VFL team (Tasmania), it was also the first to include matches played in the pre-season.


*A glimpse of the future - although the term "Australian Football Championships" appeared on the cover of the Football Record throughout the 1978 Amco-Herald Cup (see right), the competition was organised and run entirely by the VFL.

In June 1978 the VFL announced their plans to form a new company to oversee a night series that would be broadcast nationally and Australian Football Championships Pty. Ltd. was incorporated on July 28, 1978 to run the new national night competition. The VFL were joined by the WAFL, TANFL, ACTAFL and NSWAFL in the joint venture. However, the SANFL rejected the VFL's overtures, choosing to remain aligned with the NFL instead. They were joined by the VFA and QAFL in a greatly-reduced NFL series in 1979.


*No gloves, no worries - the May 9th Hawthorn-Geelong match was played in wet, greasy conditions and four Hawthorn players wore gloves throughout the match; a first for Australian football. The following day The Age reported that the Hawks were defeated by the "kittens without mittens".


Picture
Tasmania vs Fitzroy programme (private collection)
*Fitzroy pull-off an upset - at the time of the Grand Final, North Melbourne (10-1) were first and Fitzroy (2-9) last in the day competition. On paper a Kangaroos victory seemed a certainty and North's predicted winning margin was the only thing the various football media outlets disagreed on in the lead-up to the match.   

However, their respective win-loss records did not tell the full story. Seven of the Lions' losses had been by 10-points or less and North, after a strong start to the season, had tapered-off in the month before the Night Grand Final, posting two lucky 3-point wins (one of which was against Fitzroy) as well as copping a 59-point thrashing from Carlton.

The pundits were a little surprised at Fitzroy's six-point half time lead but were left stunned at what followed. The Lions unleashed a fifty-point onslaught in the third-quarter, kicking 7.8 to a solitary point by North Melbourne. By the final siren Fitzroy had outscored the Kangaroos by 73 to 3 in the second half to claim just their second senior flag since the 1944 VFL Premiership (the other was the 1959 Night Premiership).


*Wilson raises the trophy - Fitzroy’s captain Harvey Merrigan was unavailable for the Grand Final due to injury, and in his absence vice-captain Garry Wilson led the team to victory.


*Leading goalkicker of the series - Fitzroy's Bob Beecroft led all scorers with 13 goals from 4 games.


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 Age and The Sun News Pictorial newspapers.

ROUND 1

Match 1 - Friday, March 3

SOUTH MELBOURNE

3.0 (18)

6.3 (39)

14.8 (92)

19.12 (126)

COLLINGWOOD

2.0 (12)

5.0 (30)

7.2 (44)

10.8 (68)

BEST PLAYERS:

South Melbourne

Hounsell, Browning, Zantuck, Dempster, Quade, McLeish, Round, Scarlett

Collingwood

Wearmouth, Atkinson, Thompson, Kink, Bond, Dellamarta, Worthington

GOALKICKERS:

South Melbourne

Dempster 4, Hoffman 4, M. Smith 3, Zantuck 2, Morrison 2, Hounsell, Young, Dean, Round

Collingwood

Dellamarta 3, King 3, Atkinson 2, Wearmouth, Moore

UMPIRES:

Robinson, Sutcliffe

CROWD:

18,585

SOURCE:

AGE

NOTES:

This was the first VFL Night Series match to be played pre-season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 2 - Friday, March 10

NORTH MELBOURNE

3.1 (19)

5.7 (37)

6.12 (48)

11.14 (80)

FOOTSCRAY

4.5 (29)

5.6 (36)

6.7 (43)

9.9 (63)

BEST PLAYERS:

North Melbourne

Melrose, Briedis, Glendinning, Dench, Schimmelbusch, Nettlefold, Blight

Footscray

Whitten, Edmond, Hawkins, Morrison, Wheeler, Low

GOALKICKERS:

North Melbourne

Melrose 3, Briedis 2, Davis 2, Blight 2, Icke 2

Footscray

Templeton 4, Welsh, Hawkins, Edmond, Low, Morrison

UMPIRES:

K. Smith, Nash

CROWD:

10,136

SOURCE:

AGE

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 3 - Friday, March 17

CARLTON

2.7 (19)

4.10 (34)

5.13 (43)

8.15 (63)

GEELONG

1.3 (9)

1.4 (10)

6.10 (46)

8.14 (62)

BEST PLAYERS:

Carlton

Maclure, Doull, Walls, McKay, Southby

Geelong

B. Nankervis, Clarke, Sarah, Malarkey, Neal

GOALKICKERS:

Carlton

Walls 3, Maclure 3, McKay, Harmes

Geelong

Clarke 4, Sarah 2, Floyd, Donohue

UMPIRES:

Morgan, Deller

CROWD:

10,321

SOURCE:

AGE

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 4 - Thursday, March 23

FITZROY

2.2 (14)

3.4 (22)

7.7 (49)

13.10 (88)

TASMANIA

1.6 (12)

3.7 (25)

9.8 (62)

10.10 (70)

BEST PLAYERS:

Fitzroy

McMahon, Irwin, Merrigan, Hodges, Beecroft, Bux

Tasmania

Hudson, Bremner, Rainbird, Linton, Hill, Chisnall

GOALKICKERS:

Fitzroy

Beecroft 4, Padley 3, Irwin 3, Hansen, McMahon, Fowler

Tasmania

Hudson 6, Thirgood 2, Lawrence, Gillies

UMPIRES:

unknown

CROWD:

5,136

SOURCE:

Football Record/Mercury

NOTES:

This was the first VFL Night Series game involving a non-VFL team.

Tasmania included four former-VFL players: Hudson (Hawthorn), Lawrence (St Kilda), Bremner (Collingwood) and Chisnall (NM).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 5 - Tuesday, April 4

RICHMOND

2.3 (15)

5.6 (36)

8.7 (55)

13.10 (88)

ESSENDON

2.0 (12)

2.1 (13)

4.4 (28)

5.7 (37)

BEST PLAYERS:

Richmond

Monteath, Sheedy, Raines, Wood, Weightman, Bourke

Essendon

Primmer, Andrews, Watson, Boyd, Robins, Walsh

GOALKICKERS:

Richmond

Monteath 4, Edwards 3, Cloke 2, Weightman, Tempany, Scrimshaw, Raines

Essendon

Primmer 2, Watson 2, Merrett

UMPIRES:

James, Polites

CROWD:

15,764

SOURCE:

Football Record/SUN

NOTES:

The Football Record report is missing goals by Tempany, Scrimshaw, Raines (Richmond) and has Watson (Essendon) only kicking 1 goal.

The Sun incorrectly lists Merrett in the Essendon goalkickers as “Marrick”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 6 - Tuesday, April 11

ST KILDA

1.1 (7)

4.8 (32)

9.11 (65)

14.12 (96)

MELBOURNE

5.4 (34)

5.5 (35)

7.7 (49)

8.9 (57)

BEST PLAYERS:

St Kilda

Sidebottom, O’Keefe, Tweeddale, Stevens, Bromberg

Melbourne

Coles, Baker, Seaton, Begg, Fitzsimmons, Wells

GOALKICKERS:

St Kilda

Sidebottom 6, Tweeddale 2, Gellie 2, O’Keefe 2, Stevens, Dunn

Melbourne

Coles 3, Smith 2, Moir, Wells, Begg

UMPIRES:

Morgan, Fellows

CROWD:

8,867

SOURCE:

Football Record/SUN

NOTES:

The Football Record incorrectly lists Coles (Melbourne) as kicking 5 goals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LADDER AFTER ROUND 1

TEAM

W

L

FOR

AGST

%

Hawthorn*

-

-

-

-

-

Richmond

1

-

88

37

237.8

South Melbourne

1

-

126

68

185.3

St Kilda

1

-

96

57

168.4

North Melbourne

1

-

80

63

127.0

Fitzroy

1

-

88

70

125.7

Carlton

1

-

63

62

116.1

Geelong**

-

1

62

63

98.4

Tasmania

-

1

70

88

79.5

Footscray

-

1

63

80

78.7

Melbourne

-

1

57

96

59.3

Collingwood

-

1

68

126

54.0

Essendon

-

1

37

88

42.0

*Hawthorn received a first round bye for winning the 1977 competition

**Geelong advanced to the Quarter-Finals as the losing team with the highest percentage

The Quarter Final draw was determined by ladder position:

(1) Hawthorn v (8) Geelong

(2) Richmond v (7) Carlton

(3) South Melbourne v (6) Fitzroy

(4) St Kilda v (5) North Melbourne

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

QUARTER-FINALS

Match 7 - Tuesday, April 18

FITZROY

3.0 (18)

5.4 (34)

10.5 (65)

14.8 (92)

SOUTH MELBOURNE

2.3 (15)

3.6 (24)

6.10 (46)

9.14 (68)

BEST PLAYERS:

Fitzroy

Alexander, Austen, Smith, Merrigan, Beecroft, Wilson, P. Brown

South Melbourne

Rantall, Hounsell, Blair, Round

GOALKICKERS:

Fitzroy

Beecroft 5, Austen 3, P. Brown 2, McCarthy, Godfrey, Wilson, Padley

South Melbourne

Blair 3, Hounsell, Young, Evans, Morwood, Zantuck, Morrison

UMPIRES:

Cameron, Chapman

CROWD:

5,822

SOURCE:

AGE

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 8 - Tuesday, May 2

RICHMOND

2.2 (14)

3.2 (20)

13.6 84)

15.10 (100)

CARLTON

0.3 (3)

3.9 (27)

4.10 (34)

11.17 (83)

BEST PLAYERS:

Richmond

Raines, Jess, Wood, Cloke, Monteath, Lee, Tempany

Carlton

Harmes, Sheldon, Ashman, Jesaulenko, Collins, Austin, Francis

GOALKICKERS:

Richmond

Cloke 4, Monteath 3, Roach 2, Einsiedel, Tempany, Wood, Edwards, Laughlin, Weightman

Carlton

Francis 3, Ashman 2, Harmes 2, Sheldon, Fitzpatrick, Maclure, Walls

UMPIRES:

Quinn, Polites

CROWD:

12,061

SOURCE:

Football Record

NOTES:

Bourke (injured) was replaced by Parkes in Richmond’s selected side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 9 - Tuesday, May 9

GEELONG

1.1 (7)

4.1 (25)

6.4 (40)

10.7 (67)

HAWTHORN

1.1 (7)

2.3 (15)

5.5 (35)

5.6 (36)

BEST PLAYERS:

Geelong

Higgins, Sheehan, Clarke, B.Nankervis, Card, Bright

Hawthorn

Knights, Martello, Goss, O’Halloran, Wallace, Ablett

GOALKICKERS:

Geelong

Bright 3, Sheehan 2, Clarke 2, Newland, Turner, Cassidy

Hawthorn

Knights 2, K. Matthews, McFaull, Rowlings

UMPIRES:

Sawers, Deller

CROWD:

8,146

SOURCE:

Football Record

NOTES:

Four Hawthorn players trialled gloves in the greasy conditions. This led to The Age reporting the Hawks were defeated by the "kittens without mittens".

An NFL Escort Cup match (Port Melbourne v New South Wales) was played the same night at Lake Oval, South Melbourne (crowd 3,682).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 10 - Tuesday, May 16

NORTH MELBOURNE

1.5 (11)

2.7 (19)

6.10 (46)

8.12 (60)

ST KILDA

3.5 (23)

5.5 (35)

7.7 (49)

8.8 (56)

BEST PLAYERS:

North Melbourne

Glendinning, Bright, McCann, Keenan, Burns, Schimmelbusch

St Kilda

Duperouzel, Tweeddale, Sarau, Bromberg, O’Keefe, Barker

GOALKICKERS:

North Melbourne

Blight 3, McCann 2, Cassin, Briedis, Montgomery

St Kilda

Young 2, Dunne 2, Barker, Duperouzel, Tweeddale, O’Dea

UMPIRES:

Nash, Sutcliffe

CROWD:

20,694

SOURCE:

Football Record

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEMI-FINALS

Match 11 - Tuesday, May 23

FITZROY

3.2 (20)

5.6 (36)

7.10 (52)

10.14 (74)

RICHMOND

1.4 (10)

1.7 (13)

2.8 (20)

8.10 (58)

BEST PLAYERS:

Fitzroy

Irwin, Conlan, Padley, Alexander, Merrigan, Quinlan

Richmond

Dunne,Tempany, Lee, Cloke, Lamb, Monteath

GOALKICKERS:

Fitzroy

Irwin 4, Wilson 2, Quinlan, Padley, McMahon, Beecroft

Richmond

Dunne 4, Lee 2, Laughlin, Weightman

UMPIRES:

Fellows, Cameron

CROWD:

8,172

SOURCE:

Football Record

NOTES:

An NFL Escort Cup match (Sandringham v A.C.T.) was played the same night at Lake Oval, South Melbourne (crowd 2,680).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 12 - Tuesday, May 30

NORTH MELBOURNE

4.0 (24)

5.1 (31)

7.3 (45)

15.8 (98)

GEELONG

3.0 (18)

6.2 (38)

8.4 (52)

9.5 (59)

BEST PLAYERS:

North Melbourne

Keenan, Huppatz, Glendinning, Davis, Melrose, Tanner

Geelong

Preston, Neal, Bruns, B. Nankervis, Turner, Woodman, Clarke

GOALKICKERS:

North Melbourne

Davis 6, Tanner 2, Huppatz 2, Greig, Melrose, Icke, Nettlefold, Keenan

Geelong

Preston 3, Clarke 2, Donohue 2, Bruns, Browne

UMPIRES:

Morgan, Sawers

CROWD:

6,590

SOURCE:

Football Record

NOTES:

-

 

1978 AMCO-HERALD CUP - GRAND FINAL

FITZROY

NORTH MELBOURNE

Graham Campbell

COACH

Ron Barassi

 

Hansen

Carter

B. Brown

BACKS

Henshaw

Glendinning

Cowton

Keays

Smith

Serafini

HALF-BACKS

Cassin

Moylan

Montgomery

Conlan

Irwin

Linton

CENTRES

Boyse

Greig (C)

W. Schimmelbusch

Hodges

Quinlan

Walls

HALF-FORWARDS

Icke

McCann

Sutton

P. Brown

Beecroft

McCarthy

FORWARDS

Jarrott

Baker

Burns

Alexander

McMahon

FOLLOWERS

Keenan

Blight

Wilson (C)

ROVER

Huppatz

 

Padley

Thompson

INTERCHANGE

Nettlefold

Alves

Austen

EMERGENCIES

Good

Brieidis

D. Schimmelbusch

 

Match 13 - Tuesday, June 20

FITZROY

2.3 (15)

3.5 (23)

10.13 (73)

13.18 (96)

NORTH MELBOURNE

2.1 (13)

2.5 (17)

2.6 (18)

2.8 (20)

BEST PLAYERS:

Fitzroy

Walls, Alexander, Wilson, Irwin, Keays, Quinlan, McMahon

North Melbourne

Greig, Boyse, Henshaw, Montgomery, Keenan

GOALKICKERS:

Fitzroy

Beecroft 3, McCarthy 2, McMahon 2, Quinlan, Irwin, Walls, Conlan, Padley, Thompson

North Melbourne

Blight, Schimmelbusch

UMPIRES:

Deller, K. Smith

CROWD:

26,420

SOURCE:

Football Record

PRIZEMONEY:

Fitzroy $50,000, NM $42,000

NOTES:

At the time of this match North Melbourne were first and Fitzroy last in the day competition.

Fitzroy’s captain Harvey Merrigan was unavailable due to injury, in his absence the side was led by Garry Wilson.

 

Picture
(image source - Blueseum.org)

Written and researched by David Eastman
First published 15/2/2017
Last updated 17/11/2018


1979 AFC NIGHT SERIES
NIGHT SERIES/PRE-SEASON CUP (HOME)
1979 NFL ESCORT CUP

VFL/AFL

Night Series
Grand Final Sprint
Inter-Club Awards

VFA/VFL

Awards & Medals
Finals
Non-Premiership
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Records

NON-PREMIERSHIP

NFL Night Series
AFC Night Series
VFL Night Series
AFL Pre-Season​
More

REPRESENTATIVE

State Uniforms
State Matches
VFA/VFL Combine

DISCOVERIES

Unearthing
Mythbusting
In The News
Further Reading
Picture
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The author is a proud member of the Australian Football Heritage Group (AFHG), which is dedicated to preserving Australian football's history.

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© David Eastman 2013-2022. All rights reserved.
  • HOME
  • AFL
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  • VFA / VFL
    • AWARDS / MEDAL WINNERS >
      • J.J. Liston Trophy (Best & Fairest)
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    • RECORDS
    • SECOND DIVISION
  • NON-PREM
    • NFL - 1976 WILLS CUP
    • NFL - 1977 ARDATH CUP
    • NFL - 1978 ESCORT CUP
    • NFL - 1979 ESCORT CUP
  • REPRESENTATIVE
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      • 1870s
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  • DISCOVERIES
    • UNEARTHING
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