Hard Ball Get
  • HOME
  • AFL
    • Gardiner Medal
    • Grand Final Sprint
    • Interclub Medals & Trophies
    • Night Series & Pre-Season Cup
  • VFA / VFL
    • AWARDS / MEDAL WINNERS >
      • J.J. Liston Trophy (Best & Fairest)
      • Frosty Miller Medal (Leading Goalkicker)
      • Norm Goss Medal (Grand Final B.O.G.)
      • Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal
      • Frank Johnson Medal (Rep. B.O.G.)
      • Seconds/Thirds
    • FINALS >
      • Grand Finals
      • Grand Finals - A History
      • Premiership Captains/Coaches
      • Premiership Tables
      • Finals Records
      • Minor Premiers... no GF
      • Grand Finals - Second Division
      • Challenge Finals
      • Drawn & Postponed Finals
      • Finals Systems
    • NON-PREMIERSHIP MATCHES >
      • Centenary Cup
      • Foxtel Cup
      • Lightning Premierships
      • NFL Night Series
      • Practice/Exhibition Matches
      • Pre-Season Cup
      • Premiers Cup (VSFL)
      • Promotion Playoffs
      • VFL-TFL Challenge
    • RECORDS
    • SECOND DIVISION
  • NON-PREM
    • NFL - 1976 WILLS CUP
    • NFL - 1977 ARDATH CUP
    • NFL - 1978 ESCORT CUP
    • NFL - 1979 ESCORT CUP
  • REPRESENTATIVE
    • STATE MATCHES >
      • 1870s
      • 1880s
      • 1890s
      • 1900s
      • 1910s
      • 1920s
      • 1930s
      • 1940s
      • 1950s
    • STATE UNIFORMS >
      • QLD Uniforms
      • SA Uniforms
      • WA Uniforms
    • VICTORIA >
      • VIC Matches
      • VIC Uniforms
    • VFA-VFL COMBINE >
      • VFA Rep. Awards
      • VFA Rep. Captains-Coaches
      • VFA Rep Matches
      • VFA Rep. Records
      • VFA Rep. Uniforms
  • DISCOVERIES
    • UNEARTHING
    • MYTHBUSTING
    • IN THE NEWS
    • FURTHER READING
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT

1981 AFC ESCORT CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 1981 AFC series was the second season of national football involving all the VFL, SANFL and WAFL clubs in the same competition, with lower ranked teams advancing through qualifying rounds and earning the right to face the top teams in the main draw.

A total of thirty-four top level clubs from across Australia played 35 matches over five months, with the qualifying rounds held during the pre-season and the main draw held midweek throughout the premiership season.

The 1981 competition was even more heavily-stacked in the VFL's favour with the VFL's top six teams entering directly into the main draw, whereas all 10 SANFL and 8 WAFL teams now had to advance through qualifying (in 1980 the top two clubs from SA and WA bypassed qualifying).

This imbalance resulted in no SANFL or WAFL teams making it to the quarter finals for the first time in the AFC era.
DOUBLE-HEADER

On May 5th the first double-header at VFL Park was played. The opening match was a qualifying play-off between Footscray and the A.C.T. and kicked-off at 6:30pm. This was followed by a Round 3 match between Hawthorn and East Fremantle at 8:30pm.

Picture
1981 Grand Final programme (David Eastman collection)
The VFL later trialled the concept twice during the 1986 premiership season at the MCG (Rd.5 Melbourne-Sydney/North Melb.-Geelong and Rd.19 (Melbourne-Geelong/North Melb.-Footscray) and then at Waverley during the 1988 Night Series (Rd.1 Geelong-St Kilda/Hawthorn-Brisbane) before shelving the concept.

ESSENDON'S BREAKTHROUGH

The 1981 series is best remembered for the "Baby Bombers", led by their rookie head coach Kevin Sheedy, overcoming a heavily-favoured Carlton side in the final. Trailing at halftime by 16 points, the Dons piled on 8.9 to 2.5 in the second half to steal the trophy from the Blues' grasp; Essendon's first senior silverware since their 1965 VFL premiership win. Tim Watson's epic leap over a pack followed by a running goal remains this author's fondest memory of the match.


TOURNAMENT FORMAT

The competition again featured 34 teams (all 12 VFL clubs, all 10 SANFL clubs, all 8 WAFL clubs + Tasmania, Queensland, N.S.W. and the A.C.T.) but due to a change in the qualifying format, the number of matches increased from 33 to 35.

Clubs were ranked based on their ladder position in their respective competitions the previous year.

As with the 1980 series, rounds 1 and 2 were qualifying rounds but in 1981 the format was modified so that each of the leagues and state teams split into their own groups for qualifying, competing against each other for the right to advance to the main draw (Round 3). This was intended to reduce travel and increase crowds for the early stages of the competition.

ROUND 1 (QUALIFYING)

VFL

Teams 7-12 from the 1980 season:

Essendon (7) d. Fitzroy (12)
Hawthorn (8) d. St Kilda (11)
Melbourne (9) d. Footscray (10)

- Essendon, Hawthorn and Melbourne advanced directly to Rd.3
- Footscray (losing VFL team with best %) advanced to a Rd.2 playoff
  against the top State team
- St Kilda and Fitzroy were eliminated


SANFL

Teams 1-10 from the 1980 season:

Port Adelaide (1) d. Woodville (10)
Norwood (2) def. by West Adelaide (9)
Sturt (3) def. by North Adelaide (8)
Glenelg (4) def. by South Adelaide (7)
West Torrens (5) def. by Central District (6)

- South Adelaide (winning SANFL team with best %) advanced directly to Rd.3
- Port, West, North and Centrals advanced to Qualifying Rd.2

WAFL
Teams 1-8 from the 1980 season:

South Fremantle (1) def. by Subiaco (8)
Swan Districts (2) def. by East Fremantle (7)
East Perth (3) def. Perth (6)
Claremont (4) def. by West Perth (5)

- the four winning teams advanced to Qualifying Rd.2

STATE TEAMS
All four representative teams:

Tasmania d. Queensland
A.C.T. d. New South Wales

- the two winning teams advanced to Qualifying Rd.2


ROUND 2 (QUALIFYING)

The teams were re-ranked based on their ladder % after Round 1 of Qualifying (see the Match Reports section below for the ladders)

SANFL
Central District (2) def. by West Adelaide (5)
North Adelaide (3) def. by Port Adelaide (4)

- West and Port joined South Adelaide in Rd.3
WAFL
East Fremantle (1) def. by West Perth (4)
East Perth (3) d. Subiaco (4)

- East Perth and West Perth advanced to Rd.3
- East Fremantle also advanced to Rd.3 as the losing WAFL team from Rd.2 with the highest % after both qualifying rounds
  (119.47% compared to Subiaco's 94.78%)
STATE TEAMS & VFL
A.C.T. d. Tasmania and advanced to a playoff against the VFL's losing team from Round 1 with the highest % (Footscray).
The match was held at the end of qualifying and Footscray won, advancing to Round 3 and eliminating the A.C.T. from the competition.


ROUND 3 (MAIN DRAW)

The competition became a straight-knockout format at this point and the match-ups were random (in qualifying match-ups had been based on each team's ranking).

VFL
Teams 1-6 from the 1980 season (Richmond, Collingwood, Geelong, Carlton, North Melbourne, South Melbourne) joined the competition at this stage.
They were joined by the four VFL teams that survived qualifying (Essendon, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Footscray).

Eight of these 10 VFL teams advanced to the quarter finals.

SANFL
The three teams that advanced from qualifying (South Adelaide, Port Adelaide, West Adelaide) were all eliminated at this stage.

WAFL
The three teams that advanced from qualifying (East Perth, West Perth, East Fremantle) were all eliminated at this stage.


QUARTER FINALS / SEMI FINALS / GRAND FINAL

Straight knockout format: all winners advanced and losing teams were eliminated.


OUTCOMES

Whilst the modified qualifying format had reduced the amount of travel for all teams, the fact that all SANFL and WAFL teams now entered at this stage, while VFL teams 1 to 6 still bypassed qualifying, again tipped the advantage too far in the VFL's favour. The direct result of this was no SANFL or WAFL teams in the quarter finals for the first time in the AFC Night Series era.


Date

Teams

1/4

1/2

3/4

Final

Margin

Venue

Day/Time

Crowd

ROUND 1 (QUALIFYING)

Mar-07

Claremont

3.4 (22)

6.6 (42)

8.10 (58)

12.15 (87)

1

Subiaco Oval,

Sat

-

West Perth

3.3 (21)

7.6 (48)

9.9 (63)

13.10 (88)

Perth

(D)

Mar-07

South Fremantle

3.2 (20)

7.7 (49)

7.8 (50)

12.14 (86)

21

Claremont Oval,

Sat

-

Subiaco

2.7 (19)

5.7 (37)

12.8 (80)

16.11 (107)

Perth

(D)

Mar-07

Essendon

2.4 (16)

5.9 (39)

8.11 (59)

13.16 (94)

42

VFL Park, Waverley

Sat

24,255

Fitzroy

0.2 (2)

2.3 (15)

7.8 (50)

7.10 (52)

(8:30pm)

Mar-08

Swan Districts

1.2 (8)

1.8 (14)

4.15 (39)

9.16 (70)

71

Subiaco Oval,

Sun

-

East Fremantle

4.2 (26)

5.6 (36)

13.9 (87)

21.15 (141)

Perth

(D)

Mar-08

East Perth

3.2 (20)

9.6 (60)

14.9 (93)

19.13 (127)

25

Leederville Oval,

Sun

-

Perth

4.1 (25)

6.2 (38)

12.4 (76)

16.6 (102)

Perth

(D)

Mar-09

Central District

2.4 (16)

5.5 (35)

8.10 (58)

14.18 (102)

34

Norwood Oval,

Mon

-

West Torrens

2.2 (14)

3.4 (22)

5.12 (42)

9.14 (68)

Adelaide

(6:30pm)

Mar-09

Port Adelaide

2.4 (16)

4.7 (31)

11.12 (78)

14.17 (101)

29

Norwood Oval,

Mon

-

Woodville

2.3 (15)

5.6 (36)

8.7 (55)

10.12 (72)

Adelaide

(8:30pm)

Mar-10

West Adelaide

2.7 (19)

3.8 (26)

8.11 (59)

15.12 (102)

22

Norwood Oval,

Tue

-

Norwood

3.1 (19)

7.1 (43)

9.4 (58)

12.8 (80)

Adelaide

(6:30pm)

Mar-10

North Adelaide

1.1 (7)

7.5 (47)

11.9 (75)

15.16 (106)

31

Norwood Oval,

Tue

-

Sturt

3.5 (23)

4.7 (31)

7.10 (52)

10.15 (75)

Adelaide

(8:30pm)

Mar-13

South Adelaide

6.0 (36)

8.2 (50)

10.9 (69)

13.10 (88)

35

Norwood Oval,

Fri

-

Glenelg

0.3 (3)

2.9 (21)

3.12 (30)

6.17 (53)

Adelaide

(8:30pm)

Mar-13

Melbourne

1.3 (9)

3.3 (21)

4.5 (29)

6.5 (41)

10

VFL Park, Waverley

Fri

3,627

Footscray

0.0 (0)

1.6 (12)

1.7 (13)

4.7 (31)

(8:30pm)

Mar-14

Hawthorn

2.3 (15)

5.6 (36)

10.9 (69)

15.11 (101)

53

VFL Park, Waverley

Sat

8,100

St Kilda

1.2 (8)

2.3 (15)

4.4 (28)

7.6 (48)

(8:30pm)

Apr-11

Queensland

3.1 (19)

4.2 (26)

7.6 (48)

12.8 (80)

16

Chelmer Oval,

Sat

-

Tasmania

0.6 (6)

6.8 (44)

11.12 (78)

13.18 (96)

Brisbane

(7:30pm)

Apr-12

A.C.T.

4.5 (29)

4.7 (31)

9.17 (71)

14.24 (108)

57

Football Park, A.C.T.

Sun

-

New South Wales

0.3 (3)

3.4 (22)

5.6 (36)

7.9 (51)

(Phillip Oval)

(D)

ROUND 2 (QUALIFYING)

Mar-14

East Fremantle

4.3 (27)

7.4 (46)

10.10 (70)

12.14 (86)

44

Subiaco Oval,

Sat

-

West Perth

3.0 (18)

7.5 (47)

15.13 (103)

18.22 (130)

Perth

(1:30pm)

Mar-14

East Perth

1.2 (8)

7.6 (48)

10.15 (75)

18.17 (125)

32

Subiaco Oval,

Sat

-

Subiaco

1.2 (8)

4.4 (28)

6.9 (45)

13.15 (93)

Perth

(3:30pm)

Mar-17

West Adelaide

2.3 (15)

6.6 (42)

12.13 (85)

19.15 (129)

37

Norwood Oval,

Tue

-

Central District

2.2 (14)

6.3 (39)

10.6 (66)

14.8 (92)

Adelaide

(6:30pm)

Mar-17

North Adelaide

3.5 (23)

5.9 (39)

8.12 (60)

8.18 (66)

24

Norwood Oval,

Tue

-

Port Adelaide

3.0 (18)

6.3 (39)

9.7 (61)

13.12 (90)

Adelaide

(8:30pm)

Apr-26

Tasmania

2.6 (18)

5.11 (41)

7.15 (57)

11.20 (86)

20

North Hobart Oval*

Sun

8,497

A.C.T.

4.1 (25)

6.2 (38)

9.3 (57)

17.4 (106)

(D)

May-05

A.C.T.

2.0 (12)

4.3 (27)

6.5 (41)

11.7 (73)

26

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

3,889

Footscray

3.6 (24)

7.7 (49)

8.15 (63)

14.15 (99)

(6pm**)

ROUND 3 (MAIN DRAW)

Mar-20

South Adelaide

0.1 (1)

1.3 (9)

3.6 (24)

4.7 (31)

44

VFL Park, Waverley

Fri

3,029

Geelong

3.4 (22)

6.5 (41)

9.12 (66)

10.15 (75)

(8:30pm)

Mar-21

Melbourne

0.3 (3)

3.5 (23)

3.8 (26)

7.10 (52)

34

VFL Park, Waverley

Sat

12,951

Richmond

2.0 (12)

5.2 (32)

9.4 (58)

13.8 (86)

(8:30pm)

Mar-24

West Perth

3.3 (21)

5.3 (33)

8.5 (53)

8.7 (55)

78

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

2,327

North Melbourne

2.1 (13)

5.5 (35)

13.6 (84)

20.13 (133)

(8:30pm)

Mar-31

West Adelaide

2.0 (12)

3.4 (22)

6.5 (41)

8.6 (54)

61

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

1,521

South Melbourne

4.4 (28)

6.8 (44)

11.15 (81)

16.19 (115)

(8:30pm)

Apr-07

Port Adelaide

2.1 (13)

4.2 (26)

4.7 (31)

8.10 (58)

49

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

5,360

Essendon

2.3 (15)

7.3 (45)

9.12 (66)

15.17 (107)

(8:30pm)

Apr-14

East Perth

1.2 (8)

1.3 (9)

2.7 (19)

4.16 (40)

98

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

7,136

Collingwood

3.4 (22)

9.8 (62)

13.12 (90)

20.18 (138)

(8:30pm)

May-05

East Fremantle

3.3 (21)

4.3 (27)

5.4 (34)

5.4 (34)

78

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

3,889

Hawthorn

2.0 (12)

5.4 (34)

9.15 (69)

15.22 (112)

(8:30pm)

May-19

Footscray

1.5 (11)

4.6 (30)

5.9 (39)

8.12 (60)

7

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

6,934

Carlton

2.1 (13)

5.2 (32)

9.6 (60)

10.7 (67)

(8:30pm)

QUARTER FINALS

May-12

Geelong

1.1 (7)

2.3 (15)

3.8 (26)

5.12 (42)

13

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

7,066

South Melbourne

2.1 (13)

2.3 (15)

8.5 (53)

8.7 (55)

(8:30pm)

May 26***

North Melbourne v Collingwood postponed due to torrential rain (moved to June 16)

Jun-02

Essendon

3.1 (19)

4.3 (27)

7.6 (48)

14.9 (93)

18

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

7,775

Hawthorn

1.4 (10)

2.6 (18)

3.12 (30)

10.15 (75)

(8:30pm)

Jun-09***

Richmond

1.3 (9)

4.6 (30)

6.8 (44)

8.13 (61)

9

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

6,394

Carlton

2.2 (14)

6.3 (39)

8.7 (55)

10.10 (70)

(8:30pm)

Jun-16***

North Melbourne

0.7 (7)

1.7 (13)

7.11 (53)

11.15 (81)

22

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

11,992

Collingwood

2.0 (12)

4.3 (27)

8.3 (51)

9.5 (59)

(8:30pm)

SEMI FINALS

Jun-23

South Melbourne

0.2 (2)

3.3 (21)

3.5 (23)

4.9 (33)

55

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

5,676

Essendon

2.3 (15)

5.3 (33)

8.8 (56)

13.10 (88)

(8:30pm)

Jun-30

Carlton

2.2 (14)

4.5 (29)

6.9 (45)

9.18 (72)

42

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

9,661

North Melbourne

2.4 (16)

3.4 (22)

3.5 (23)

4.6 (30)

(8:30pm)

GRAND FINAL

Jul-14

Essendon

0.1 (1)

1.2 (8)

4.10 (34)

9.11 (65)

24

VFL Park, Waverley

Tue

42,269

Carlton

2.0 (12)

4.0 (24)

5.3 (33)

6.5 (41)

(8:30pm)

FIXTURE NOTES

Apr-13

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

Apr-26

*TAS v A.C.T. was originally scheduled for Football Park, Canberra.
It was transferred to North Hobart Oval after the TANFL successfully appealed to the AFC that they should be the home team
(in Round 1 Tasmania had travelled to Brisbane whilst the A.C.T. had played at home vs NSW).

May-05

**First half of a double-header played at VFL Park: Footscray v A.C.T. (6pm) followed by Hawthorn v East Fremantle (8:30pm).

May-Jun

***The original schedule for May 26 to June 16 was:

May 26 - Collingwood v NM
June 2 - Essendon v Hawthorn
June 9 - no match (due to the VFL Queen's Birthday split-round June 6 & 8)
June 16 - Richmond v Carlton

Torrential rain forced the postponement of the May 26 Collingwood-NM match. Originally it was planned to play this game on the vacant date in the fixture (June 9). However, this was not possible because Collingwood had a premiership match on the Monday of the VFL split round (June 8).

Carlton and Richmond were playing on the Saturday of the split round (June 6) so their night series match was moved forward to
June 9 and the Collingwood-NM night series match was played June 16.

 


NOTABLE EVENTS

*Luders and the Cowboy saddle-up - West Adelaide's Roger Luders and Kevin 'Cowboy' Neale, the former St Kilda champion, both had days out during the qualifying rounds.

Luders kicked 8 goals versus Norwood followed by a 7-goal haul a week later against Central District. Neale then starred for the A.C.T., kicking 7 goals in their upset win over Tasmania.


*Leading goalkicker of the series - not surprisingly, both players topped the goalkicking for the series; Luders led all scorers with 19 goals from 3 games, closely followed by Neale on 17 goals from 3 games. Carlton's Peter Bosustow (Carlton) was third with 11 goals from 4 games.


*Big names make their debut - three VFL Premiership-winning coaches of the 1980s made their debuts in the 1981 Night Series.

The opening round match between Essendon and Fitzroy marked the official start of Kevin Sheedy and Robert Walls' senior coaching careers. Sheedy remained in charge of the Bombers until 2007, leading them to flags in 1984-85, 1993 and 2000. Walls coached in all but one-season between 1981 and 1997, spending time at the helm of Fitzroy, Carlton, Brisbane and Richmond and leading Carlton to the 1987 premiership.

Picture
Carlton's Wayne Harmes flies high during the Blues' win over Footscray (Escort Championships programme)
Allan Jeans had previously coached St Kilda from 1961 to 1976, the highlight being the Saints' sole VFL premiership (in 1966). The opening round night match between Hawthorn and St Kilda was Jeans' return to coaching at the top level and signalled a return to glory for the Hawks, with Jeans leading them to premierships in 1983, 1986 and 1989. This match was also notable as the VFL-AFL debut of SANFL champion Rick Davies.


*Collingwood massacre the Royals - the biggest blowout win of the 1981 series was Collingwood's 98-point thumping of East Perth. The Royals soon recovered, later playing finals and finishing 4th that season in the WAFL.


*Fixturing fiasco - the quarter final between Collingwood and North Melbourne was originally scheduled for May 26 but was postponed due to torrential rain. June 9 was a vacant date in the Night Series fixture due to the Queen's Birthday split round (June 6/8) in the VFL competition.

However, Collingwood were fixtured to play their split round match on the 8th so a night match on the 9th would result in them playing twice in two days. Richmond and Carlton were playing on the Saturday of the split round (the 6th) so their Night Series match was moved from the 16th to the 9th and the North Melbourne-Collingwood match was moved to the 16th, allowing all teams a three day break between matches.

Such scheduling clashes caused by split rounds or Sunday games in the VFL fixture became an annual headache for AFC officials and ultimately led to the night competition moving to pre-season over the 1987-88 seasons.

MATCH REPORTS

Listed below are match reports for all 35 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 (QUALIFYING)

Match 1 - Saturday, March 7

SUBIACO

2.7 (19)

5.7 (37)

12.8 (80)

16.11 (107)

SOUTH FREMANTLE

3.2 (20)

7.7 (49)

7.8 (50)

12.14 (86)

BEST PLAYERS:

Subiaco

B. Taylor, Brown, Buckenara, Johns, Begg, Melville

South Fremantle

Vigona, Rioli, Monteath, Cronan, Shaw, Morley

GOALKICKERS:

Subiaco

B. Taylor 5, Begg 3, C. Brown 2, Hamilton 2, Melville 2, N. Taylor, Johns

South Fremantle

Monteath 4, Carter 2, Vigona, Hardy, Morley, Rioli, Shaw, Cronan

UMPIRES:

Buckey, Ball

CROWD:

unknown

SOURCE:

West Australian

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 2 - Saturday, March 7

WEST PERTH

3.3 (21)

7.6 (48)

9.9 (63)

13.10 (88)

CLAREMONT

3.4 (22)

6.6 (42)

8.10 (58)

12.15 (87)

BEST PLAYERS:

West Perth

Hillier, Holden, Alderton, Watling, Jager, McEvoy

Claremont

Melville, Moss, Panizza, J. Krakouer, Malaxos, Shaw

GOALKICKERS:

West Perth

Alderton 6, Hillier 2, Watling 2, Bewick, Campbell, Hendriks

Claremont

J. Krakouer 4, Shaw 2, Malaxos, Ralph, Phillips, Moss, Daniels

UMPIRES:

Rowe, Powell

CROWD:

unknown

SOURCE:

West Australian

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 3 - Saturday, March 7

ESSENDON

2.4 (16)

5.9 (39)

8.11 (59)

13.16 (94)

FITZROY

0.2 (2)

2.3 (15)

7.8 (50)

7.10 (52)

BEST PLAYERS:

Essendon

S. Madden, Hawker, Foulds, Carman, Eustice, Bennett

Fitzroy

Quinlan, Alexander, Wilson, Smith, Serafini, Cox

GOALKICKERS:

Essendon

S. Madden 3, Carman 2, Foulds 2, Buhagiar, Stoneham, Merrett, Crow, Bennett, Eustice

Fitzroy

Quinlan 2, Conlan 2, Parish, Cox, Roos

UMPIRES:

unknown

CROWD:

24,255

SOURCE:

AGE/West Australian

NOTES:

Kevin Sheedy and Robert Walls both made their senior coaching debut in this match.

A practice match between Collingwood and Hawthorn was played as a curtain-raiser - the Magpies won 17.15 (117) to 11.9 (75)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 4 - Sunday. March 8

EAST FREMANTLE

4.2 (26)

5.6 (36)

13.9 (87)

21.15 (141)

SWAN DISTRICTS

1.2 (8)

1.8 (14)

4.15 (39)

9.16 (70)

BEST PLAYERS:

East Fremantle

Judge, Peake, Sewell, Carter, Lester-Smith, Ellis

Swan Districts

Fitzgerald, Mullooly, Melrose, Richardson, Rance, Neesham

GOALKICKERS:

East Fremantle

Thomson 4, Judge 3, Sewell 3, Chimmon 3, Sims 2, Kickett 2, Brenton, Lester-Smith, Trott, Peake

Swan Districts

Melrose 2, Cransberg, Holmes, True, Richardson, Narkle, Sidebottom, Neesham

UMPIRES:

Morris, Hearne

CROWD:

unknown

SOURCE:

West Australian

NOTES:

East Fremantle's big win gave them the highest % of all WAFL teams in Round 1 of qualifying and virtually assured them a spot in Round 3.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 5 - Sunday, March 8

EAST PERTH

3.2 (20)

9.6 (60)

14.9 (93)

19.13 (127)

PERTH

4.1 (25)

6.2 (38)

12.4 (76)

16.6 (102)

BEST PLAYERS:

East Perth

Campbell, Williams, Curtis, Hayes, Michalczyk, Ironmonger

Perth

W. Simms, Johnson, Montgomery,Cousins, D. Simms, Dowell

GOALKICKERS:

East Perth

Campbell 4, Hayes 4, Nolan 3, Otway 2, Michalczyk, Curtis, Cox, Ironmonger, Turner, Walsh

Perth

D. Simms 4, Montgomery 3, Cousins 3, Johnson 2, Baynes, Collins, W.Simms, Turner

UMPIRES:

Capes, Phillips

CROWD:

unknown

SOURCE:

West Australian

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 6 - Monday, March 9

CENTRAL DISTRICT

2.4 (16)

5.5 (35)

8.10 (58)

14.18 (102)

WEST TORRENS

2.2 (14)

3.4 (22)

5.12 (42)

9.14 (68)

BEST PLAYERS:

Central District

Moore, Gillies, Van Dommelle, Cochrane, Ruciack, O’Brien, Krieg, McLay

West Torrens

Hill, Inglis, McSporran, Grambeau, Hanna

GOALKICKERS:

Central District

Ruciack 5, George 3, Wilson 2, Van Dommelle 2, Kreig, McLay

West Torrens

Johnston 2, Foote 2, Hanna 2, Hank, Hill, Rendell

UMPIRES:

Kinnear, Argent

CROWD:

unknown

SOURCE:

Advertiser

NOTES:

First part of a double-header, this game started at 6:30pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 7 - Monday, March 9

PORT ADELAIDE

2.4 (16)

4.7 (31)

11.12 (78)

14.17 (101)

WOODVILLE

2.3 (15)

5.6 (36)

8.7 (55)

10.12 (72)

BEST PLAYERS:

Port Adelaide

Giles, Abernethy, Cunningham, Eckermann, Clifford, Boyd

Woodville

Kersten, Huppatz, Beecroft, Parker, Hounsell, Davis

GOALKICKERS:

Port Adelaide

Boyd 4, Cunningham 2, Evans 2, Clifford 2, Agius 2, Abernethy, Cahill

Woodville

Beecroft 4, Lukosius 2, Close, Hewitt, Carty, Huppatz

UMPIRES:

Schofield, Field

CROWD:

unknown

SOURCE:

Advertiser

NOTES:

Second half of a double-header, this game started at 8:30pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 8 - Tuesday, March 10

WEST ADELAIDE

2.7 (19)

3.8 (26)

8.11 (59)

15.12 (102)

NORWOOD

3.1 (19)

7.1 (43)

9.4 (58)

12.8 (80)

BEST PLAYERS:

West Adelaide

Gregg, Luders, Tate, Borchard, Dunlop, Falting, Fielke

Norwood

Turbill, Gallagher, Wilkinson, Dalwood, Stemper

GOALKICKERS:

West Adelaide

Luders 8, Falting 3, Pierson, Tate, Hamilton, Rechner

Norwood

Adler 4, Turbill 2, Wilkinson 2, Dalwood, Hoffman, Aish, Woodcock

UMPIRES:

Mead, G. Hilton

CROWD:

unknown

SOURCE:

Advertiser

NOTES:

First part of a double-header, this game started at 6:30pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 9 - Tuesday, March 10

NORTH ADELAIDE

1.1 (7)

7.5 (47)

11.9 (75)

15.16 (106)

STURT

3.5 (23)

4.7 (31)

7.10 (52)

10.15 (75)

BEST PLAYERS:

North Adelaide

Riley, Lokan, McAdam, Maksimovic, Nunan, Arnold, Gehling

Sturt

Craig, P. Heinrich, Howard, Fry, Smith

GOALKICKERS:

North Adelaide

Schmidt 3, Algate 3, Lokan 2, Ah Chee 2, Arnold, McAdam, Gehling, Maksimovic, Schlein

Sturt

Hollis 3, Heinrich 2, Welch, Klomp, Brand, Hargraves, Wilson

UMPIRES:

unknown

CROWD:

unknown

SOURCE:

Advertiser

NOTES:

Second half of a double-header, this game started at 8:30pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 10 - Friday, March 13

SOUTH ADELAIDE

6.0 (36)

8.2 (50)

10.9 (69)

13.10 (88)

GLENELG

0.3 (3)

2.9 (21)

3.12 (30)

6.17 (53)

BEST PLAYERS:

South Adelaide

Naley, Palmer, Dawkins, Butler, Emery, Linke, White

Glenelg

Carey, Cornes, Weston, Marshall

GOALKICKERS:

South Adelaide

Linke 4, Naley 2, Harradine 2, Dawkins 2, Schneebichler, Collins, Slattery

Glenelg

Twelftree, Marshall, McInerney, Copping, MacFarlane, Holst

UMPIRES:

unknown

CROWD:

unknown

SOURCE:

Advertiser

NOTES:

South Adelaide advanced directly to the main draw (Rd.3) as the winning SANFL team with the highest % from Round 1 of qualifying.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 11 - Friday, March 13

MELBOURNE

1.3 (9)

3.3 (21)

4.5 (29)

6.5 (41)

FOOTSCRAY

0.0 (0)

1.6 (12)

1.7 (13)

4.7 (31)

BEST PLAYERS:

Melbourne

Catoggio, Giles, Flower, Gaunt

Footscray

I. Dunstan, Hampshire, McKenna, B.Reid, Berry

GOALKICKERS:

Melbourne

Gaunt 4, Martyn, Catoggio

Footscray

Templeton 2, McKenna, N. Cordy

UMPIRES:

James, Cameron

CROWD:

3,627

SOURCE:

Canberra Times

NOTES:

Footscray's narrow loss allowed them to advance to Qualifying Rd.2 as the losing VFL team with the highest percentage after Rd.1.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 14 - Saturday, March 14

HAWTHORN

2.3 (15)

5.6 (36)

10.9 (69)

15.11 (101)

ST KILDA

1.2 (8)

2.3 (15)

4.4 (28)

7.6 (48)

BEST PLAYERS:

Hawthorn

Matthews, Scott, Goss, Davies, Dipierdomenico, Hendrie

St Kilda

Barker, Jesaulenko, Roberts, Dunne, Duperouzel, Kellett

GOALKICKERS:

Hawthorn

Matthews 5, Scott 4, Ablett, Davies, Goad, Eade, Hendrie, Kennedy

St Kilda

Dunne 2, Breen, Sartori, Duperouzel, Meehan, Fehring

UMPIRES:

Nash, Robinson

CROWD:

8,100

SOURCE:

AGE

NOTES:

Allan Jeans' first match as Hawthorn's senior coach and SANFL champion Rick Davies' first match for Hawthorn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 22 - Saturday, April 11

TASMANIA

0.6 (6)

6.8 (44)

11.12 (78)

13.18 (96)

QUEENSLAND

3.1 (19)

4.2 (26)

7.6 (48)

12.8 (80)

BEST PLAYERS:

Tasmania

Ling, Squires, Anderson, Spaulding, Thompson, Fox

Queensland

unknown

GOALKICKERS:

Tasmania

Ling 4, Courto 3, Munnings 2, Anderson, Howard, Fox, Thompson

Queensland

Maddison 4, B. Smith 2, Ives 2, Gillespie, Woolnough, Fox, Albury

UMPIRES:

unknown

CROWD:

unknown

SOURCE:

Courier Mail, Canberra Times, Examiner

NOTES:

This match was played at night - Chelmer Oval was one of the few 'minor' venues at that time to have suitable floodlights installed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 23 - Sunday, April 12

A.C.T.

4.5 (29)

4.7 (31)

9.17 (71)

14.24 (108)

NEW SOUTH WALES

0.3 (3)

3.4 (22)

5.6 (36)

7.9 (51)

BEST PLAYERS:

A.C.T.

Hannam, Harrold, Miller, Paul, Feltham, Croser, Kenny

New South Wales

Geddes, Pilkington, Nicholls, Coburn, Stewart, Wellington

GOALKICKERS:

A.C.T.

Neale 4, Senjov 3, White 2, Williamson, McCormack, Miller, Hughes, Southwell

New South Wales

Stewart 2, Tooze, Powell, Pilkington, Nicholls, Newton

UMPIRES:

unknown

CROWD:

unknown

SOURCE:

Canberra Times

NOTES:

Some sources list Wagga as the venue - the match was played at Phillip Oval, Canberra (renamed Football Park from 1981 onwards).