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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).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LADDERS AFTER ROUND 1 OF QUALIFYING

(number in parentheses indicates the team's ranking based on the 1980 premiership season)

VFL TEAMS

W

L

FOR

AGST

%

Essendon (7)

1

-

114

52

219.23

advanced to Rd.3 (main draw)

Hawthorn (8)

1

-

101

48

210.46

advanced to Rd.3 (main draw)

Melbourne (9)

1

-

41

31

132.25

advanced to Rd.3 (main draw)

Footscray (10)*

-

1

31

41

75.60

*advanced to a playoff at the end of Qual. Rd.2 vs top rep team

St Kilda (11)

-

1

48

101

47.52

eliminated

Fitzroy (12)

-

1

52

114

45.61

eliminated

SANFL TEAMS

W

L

FOR

AGST

%

South Adelaide (7)*

1

-

88

53

166.03

*advanced directly to Rd.3 (main draw)

Central District (6)

1

-

102

68

150.00

advanced to Qualifying Rd.2

North Adelaide (8)

1

-

106

75

141.33

advanced to Qualifying Rd.2

Port Adelaide (1)

1

-

101

72

140.27

advanced to Qualifying Rd.2

West Adelaide (9)

1

-

102

80

127.50

advanced to Qualifying Rd.2

Norwood (2)

-

1

80

102

78.43

eliminated

Woodville (10)

-

1

72

101

71.28

eliminated

Sturt (3)

-

1

75

106

70.75

eliminated

West Torrens (5)

-

1

68

102

66.66

eliminated

Glenelg (4)

-

1

53

88

60.22

eliminated

WAFL TEAMS

W

L

FOR

AGST

%

East Fremantle (7)

1

-

141

70

201.42

advanced to Qualifying Rd.2

East Perth (3)

1

-

127

102

124.50

advanced to Qualifying Rd.2

Subiaco (8)

1

-

107

86

124.41

advanced to Qualifying Rd.2

West Perth (5)

1

-

88

87

101.14

advanced to Qualifying Rd.2

Claremont (4)

-

1

87

88

98.86

eliminated

South Fremantle (1)

-

1

86

107

80.37

eliminated

Perth (6)

-

1

102

127

80.31

eliminated

Swan Districts (2)

-

1

70

141

49.64

eliminated

STATE TEAMS

W

L

FOR

AGST

%

ACT

1

-

108

57

189.47

advanced to Qualifying Rd.2

TAS

1

-

96

80

120.00

advanced to Qualifying Rd.2

NSW

-

1

51

108

47.22

eliminated

QLD

-

1

80

96

39.60

eliminated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROUND 2 (QUALIFYING)

Match 12 - Saturday, March 14

WEST PERTH

3.0 (18)

7.5 (47)

15.13 (103)

18.22 (130)

EAST FREMANTLE

4.3 (27)

7.4 (46)

10.10 (70)

12.14 (86)

BEST PLAYERS:

West Perth

Bewick, Hillier, Stasinowsky, Watling, Gavranich, Ellen

East Fremantle

Judge, Peake, Clucas, Dobson, Cormack, Trott

GOALKICKERS:

West Perth

Stasinowsky 5, Alderton 3, Davison 2, Bewick 2, J. Duckworth 2, McEvoy, Gavranich, Wilson, Fitzsimmons

East Fremantle

Clucas 5, Trott 2, Cormack, Judge, Mazzuchelli, Sims, Hetherington

UMPIRES:

Capes, Phillips

CROWD:

unknown

SOURCE:

West Australian

NOTES:

First part of a double-header, this game started at 1:30pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 13 - Saturday, March 14

EAST PERTH

1.2 (8)

7.6 (48)

10.15 (75)

18.17 (125)

SUBIACO

1.2 (8)

4.4 (28)

6.9 (45)

13.15 (93)

BEST PLAYERS:

East Perth

Michalczyk, Hayes, Campbell, Nolan, Colyer, Cox

Subiaco

Brown, Buckenara, Hamilton, Taylor, Lee, Dobson

GOALKICKERS:

East Perth

Campbell 4, Arnold 4, Hayes 3, Otway 3, Colyer 2, Nolan, Turner

Subiaco

Taylor 3, Brown 2, Hamilton 2, Court 2, Buckenara 2, Lee, Begg

UMPIRES:

Morris, Buckey

CROWD:

unknown

SOURCE:

West Australian

NOTES:

Second part of a double-header, this game started at 3:30pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 15 - Tuesday, March 17

WEST ADELAIDE

2.3 (15)

6.6 (42)

12.13 (85)

19.15 (129)

CENTRAL DISTRICT

2.2 (14)

6.3 (39)

10.6 (66)

14.8 (92)

BEST PLAYERS:

West Adelaide

Borchard, Kennedy, Wells, Luders, Thorn, Gregg

Central District

Moore, Gillies, Van Dommele, Graham, Norsworthy, Beythien

GOALKICKERS:

West Adelaide

Luders 7, Falting 3, Borchard 2, Thorn 2, Wells 2, Rechner, Lindner, Fielke

Central District

Trigg 3, Mutze 3, Graham 2, George 2, Moore, Ruciack, Beythien, McLay

UMPIRES:

unknown

CROWD:

unknown

SOURCE:

Advertiser

NOTES:

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 16 - Tuesday, March 17

PORT ADELAIDE

3.0 (18)

6.3 (39)

9.7 (61)

13.12 (90)

NORTH ADELAIDE

3.5 (23)

5.9 (39)

8.12 (60)

8.18 (66)

BEST PLAYERS:

Port Adelaide

Clifford, Ebert, Cunningham, Agius, Phillips, Sorrell

North Adelaide

Redden, Algate, Clisby, Phillips, Nunan, Schlein

GOALKICKERS:

Port Adelaide

Agius 4, Evans 2, Cunningham 2, Clifford, Kinnear, Nott, Cahill, Hamill

North Adelaide

Algate 2, Nunan 2, Schmidt, McAdam, Maksimovic, Gehling

UMPIRES:

Mead, J. Hylton

CROWD:

unknown

SOURCE:

Advertiser

NOTES:

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 25 - Sunday, April 26

A.C.T.

4.1 (25)

6.2 (38)

9.3 (57)

17.4 (106)

TASMANIA

2.6 (18)

5.11 (41)

7.15 (57)

11.20 (86)

BEST PLAYERS:

A.C.T.

Kenny, Croser, McCormick, Miller, Neale, Hannam

Tasmania

Saunders, Munnings, Anderson, Hughes, Thompson, McLeod

GOALKICKERS:

A.C.T.

Neale 7, McCormick 3, Hughes 2, Williamson 2, Anderson 2, Flaherty

Tasmania

W. Fox 2, Saunders 2, Vanderfeen, Thompson, Hunnibell, Linton, Howard, Anderson, Ling

UMPIRES:

H. Nielsen, A. Muston

CROWD:

8,497

SOURCE:

Mercury/Canberra Times

NOTES:

The match was originally scheduled for Football Park in Canberra but was moved to Hobart by the AFC because Canberra had already hosted a

match in Round 1. According to the Canberra Times the decision created a great deal of tension between the ACTAFL and the AFC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 26 - Tuesday, May 5

FOOTSCRAY

3.6 (24)

7.7 (49)

8.15 (63)

14.15 (99)

ACT

2.0 (12)

4.3 (27)

6.5 (41)

11.7 (73)

BEST PLAYERS:

Footscray

Gallagher, Dunstan, Davidson, Salt, Wheeler, Hampshire

ACT

Neale, White, Miller, Anderson, McCormick

GOALKICKERS:

Footscray

Gallagher 4, W. Berry 2, Hawkins 2, Wheeler 2, Davidson, Dunstan, McKenna, Feery

ACT

Neale 6, Brock 2, White, Hughes, Anderson

UMPIRES:

Quinn, Clayton

CROWD:

3,889

SOURCE:

AGE

NOTES:

This was the first half of a double-header. The second match was a Round 3 clash between Hawthorn and East Fremantle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WAFL LADDER AFTER ROUND 2 OF QUALIFYING

Because the WAFL had less teams in the competition (8) than the VFL (12) or SANFL (10), only promoting their winners from each qualifying round would

leave them with less teams in Round 3 than the other leagues.

Instead the four winning WAFL teams from Round 1 played off in Round 2 with both winners advancing to Round 3; they were also joined by the losing

team with the highest percentage after the qualifying rounds.

WAFL TEAMS

W

L

FOR

AGST

%

East Perth

2

-

252

195

129.23

advanced to Rd.3 (main draw)

West Perth

2

-

218

173

126.01

advanced to Rd.3 (main draw)

East Fremantle

1

1

227

190

119.47

advanced to Rd.3 (main draw)

Subiaco

1

1

200

211

94.78

eliminated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROUND 3 (MAIN DRAW)

Match 17 - Friday, March 20

GEELONG

3.4 (22)

6.5 (41)

9.12 (66)

10.15 (75)

SOUTH ADELAIDE

0.1 (1)

1.3 (9)

3.6 (24)

4.7 (31)

BEST PLAYERS:

Geelong

I. Nankervis, Johnston, Bright, Middlemiss, Mangles

South Adelaide

Schneebichler, White, Linke, Collins, Butler

GOALKICKERS:

Geelong

Bright 3, Johnston 2, Bruns, Mangles, Floyd, Sidebottom, Featherby

South Adelaide

Linke 2, Farquahar, Schneebichler

UMPIRES:

Quinn, Sutcliffe

CROWD:

3,029

SOURCE:

Canberra Times

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 18 - Saturday, March 21

RICHMOND

2.0 (12)

5.2 (32)

9.4 (58)

13.8 (86)

MELBOURNE

0.3 (3)

3.5 (23)

3.8 (26)

7.10 (52)

BEST PLAYERS:

Richmond

Welsh, Tempany, Smith, Cloke, Strachan

Melbourne

Fowler, Moir, Healy, O'Donnell, Gordon

GOALKICKERS:

Richmond

Cloke 4, Welsh 3, Tempany 3, Roach 2, Weightman

Melbourne

O'Donnell 3, Flower 2, Seddon, Moir

UMPIRES:

Dargeval, Sawers

CROWD:

12,951

SOURCE:

AGE

NOTES:

Melbourne closed to within 8 points with ten minutes to play but Richmond kicked the last 4 goals to post a 34 point win.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 19 - Tuesday, March 24

NORTH MELBOURNE

2.1 (13)

5.5 (35)

13.6 (84)

20.13 (133)

WEST PERTH

3.3 (21)

5.3 (33)

8.5 (53)

8.7 (55)

BEST PLAYERS:

North Melbourne

W. Schimmelbusch, Kelly, Glendinning, Spencer, McCann

West Perth

Stasinowsky, Gavranich, J. Duckworth, Hendricks, Davison

GOALKICKERS:

North Melbourne

Spencer 4, Kelly 3, Blight 3, Easton 3, Good 2, W. Schimmelbusch 2, Hodgeman, Wilson, D. Schimmelbusch

West Perth

J. Duckworth 3, Davison 2, Stasinowsky 2, Wilson

UMPIRES:

Howe, Morgan

CROWD:

2,327

SOURCE:

Canberra Times

NOTES:

Hodgeman replaced D. Smith in North Melbourne's selected side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 20 - Tuesday, March 31

SOUTH MELBOURNE

4.4 (28)

6.8 (44)

11.15 (81)

16.19 (115)

WEST ADELAIDE

2.0 (12)

3.4 (22)

6.5 (41)

8.6 (54)

BEST PLAYERS:

South Melbourne

P. Morwood, Evans, Scott, Jackson, Round

West Adelaide

D. Kennedy, Donaldson, Thorn, Luders, Rechner

GOALKICKERS:

South Melbourne

P. Morwood 4, Evans 4, Scott 2, T. Morwood 2, Koop, J. Roberts, Wright, M. Smith

West Adelaide

Luders 4, Thorn 2, Rechner, Wells

UMPIRES:

Dye, Marcy

CROWD:

1,521

SOURCE:

Canberra Times

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 21 - Tuesday, April 7

ESSENDON

2.3 (15)

7.3 (45)

9.12 (66)

15.17 (107)

PORT ADELAIDE

2.1 (13)

4.2 (26)

4.7 (31)

8.10 (58)

BEST PLAYERS:

Essendon

Neagle, T. Daniher, Buhagiar, Taubert, Carman

Port Adelaide

Cunningham, Agius, Evans, Johnston, Sorrell

GOALKICKERS:

Essendon

T. Daniher 5, Carman 3, Buhagiar 3, Taubert, Neagle, Hawker, Merrett

Port Adelaide

Evans 4, Agius 2, S. Williams, Ebert

UMPIRES:

Chapman, Dargavel

CROWD:

5,360

SOURCE:

Canberra Times

NOTES:

A typo in the Canberra Times has T. Daniher listed as "R. Daniher" in the goalkickers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 24 - Tuesday, April 14

COLLINGWOOD

3.4 (22)

9.8 (62)

13.12 (90)

20.18 (138)

EAST PERTH

1.2 (8)

1.3 (9)

2.7 (19)

4.16 (40)

BEST PLAYERS:

Collingwood

Davis, Kink, Moore, Carlson, R. Shaw

East Perth

Dimmer, Michalczyk, Kickett, McTaggart, Curtis

GOALKICKERS:

Collingwood

Davis 5, Kink 5, Morris 3, Taylor 2, Moore 2, Hanneberry, Wearmouth, Carlson

East Perth

Curtis 2, Cox, Dimmer

UMPIRES:

Robinson, Fellows

CROWD:

7,136

SOURCE:

Canberra Times

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 27 - Tuesday, May 5

HAWTHORN

2.0 (12)

5.4 (34)

9.15 (69)

15.22 (112)

EAST FREMANTLE

3.3 (21)

4.3 (27)

5.4 (34)

5.4 (34)

BEST PLAYERS:

Hawthorn

Goad, Mew, Hendrie, Robertson, Murnane, Wallace

East Fremantle

Mitchell, Ellis, Carter, Simms

GOALKICKERS:

Hawthorn

Hendrie 3, Kennedy 3, Davies 2, Wallace 2, Murnane 2, Mace 2, Considine

East Fremantle

Simms 2, Green, Browning, Ellis

UMPIRES:

Morgan, Bryant

CROWD:

3,889

SOURCE:

AGE

NOTES:

This was the second half of a double-header. The first match was a Round 2 clash between Footscray and the A.C.T.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 29 - Tuesday, May 19

CARLTON

2.1 (13)

5.2 (32)

9.6 (60)

10.7 (67)

FOOTSCRAY

1.5 (11)

4.6 (30)

5.9 (39)

8.12 (60)

BEST PLAYERS:

Carlton

Bosustow, Harmes, English, Maclure, Hunter, Johnston

Footscray

Edmond, de Koning, Dunstan, Hawkins, Egan

GOALKICKERS:

Carlton

Bosustow 4, Johnston 2, McConville 2, Harmes, Kerr

Footscray

Edmond 6, Dunstan, Gallagher

UMPIRES:

Sawers, Smith

CROWD:

6,934

SOURCE:

AGE

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

QUARTER FINALS

Match 28 - Tuesday, May 12

SOUTH MELBOURNE

2.1 (13)

2.3 (15)

8.5 (53)

8.7 (55)

GEELONG

1.1 (7)

2.3 (15)

3.8 (26)

5.12 (42)

BEST PLAYERS:

South Melbourne

Koop, Cowton, Taylor, Wright, Boyse, Kruse

Geelong

Preston, Lunn, K. Matthews, Floyd, Sidebottom

GOALKICKERS:

South Melbourne

Koop 3, Boyse 2, T. Morwood, Taylor, Windbanks

Geelong

K. Matthews 2, Middlemiss, Harrison, Taylor

UMPIRES:

Deller, Marcy

CROWD:

7,066

SOURCE:

AGE

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 30 - Tuesday, June 2

ESSENDON

3.1 (19)

4.3 (27)

7.6 (48)

14.9 (93)

HAWTHORN

1.4 (10)

2.6 (18)

3.12 (30)

10.15 (75)

BEST PLAYERS:

Essendon

T. Daniher, Van der Haar, Fowler, S. Madden, Carman, Stoneham, Watson

Hawthorn

Matthews, Wallace, Tuck, Dipierdomenico, Robertson, Scott

GOALKICKERS:

Essendon

Schultz 3, Burdett 2, Carman 2, Van der Haar 2, Thomson 2, Light, S. Madden, Eustice

Hawthorn

Matthews 4, Tuck 2, Russo, Goad, Hendrie, K. Ablett

UMPIRES:

Chapman, Robinson

CROWD:

7,775

SOURCE:

AGE

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 31 - Tuesday, June 9

CARLTON

2.2 (14)

6.3 (39)

8.7 (55)

10.10 (70)

RICHMOND

1.3 (9)

4.6 (30)

6.8 (44)

8.13 (61)

BEST PLAYERS:

Carlton

Hocking, Harmes, Glascott, Maclure, Keogh, Bosustow, Marcou

Richmond

Smith, Strachan, Wall, Laughlin, Roach

GOALKICKERS:

Carlton

Bosustow 3, Marcou 3, McKay 3, Kourkoumelis

Richmond

Roach 3, Smith 2, Seemens, Loughlin, Wall

UMPIRES:

Dye, Smith

CROWD:

6,394

SOURCE:

AGE

NOTES:

Originally scheduled for June 16 but moved to allow the postponed North Melb.-Collingwood match to be played on that date (see below).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 32 - Tuesday, June 16

NORTH MELBOURNE

0.7 (7)

1.7 (13)

7.11 (53)

11.15 (81)

COLLINGWOOD

2.0 (12)

4.3 (27)

8.3 (51)

9.5 (59)

BEST PLAYERS:

North Melbourne

Hodgeman, Spencer, Byrne, Demetriou, Henshaw, Jarrott

Collingwood

Hanneberry, Daicos, Moore, Twomey, Irwin, Kink

GOALKICKERS:

North Melbourne

Hodgeman 3, Jarrott 3, McDonald 2, Reeves 2, Tanner

Collingwood

Brewer 2, Daicos 2, Fellowes 2, Annear, Bellinger, Browne

UMPIRES:

Chapman, Deller

CROWD:

11,992

SOURCE:

SUN

NOTES:

Originally scheduled for May 26 but 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 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 (6th) so their Night Series match was moved from June 16 to June 9

and the North Melbourne-Collingwood match was moved to the 16th, allowing all teams a three day break between matches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEMI FINALS

Match 33 - Tuesday, June 23

ESSENDON

2.3 (15)

5.3 (33)

8.8 (56)

13.10 (88)

SOUTH MELBOURNE

0.2 (2)

3.3 (21)

3.5 (23)

4.9 (33)

BEST PLAYERS:

Essendon

J. Madden, Fowler, Thomson, Taubert, Burdett

South Melbourne

Wright, Carter, P. Morwood, Ackerley, Foschini

GOALKICKERS:

Essendon

Thomson 3, Crow 3, Dunell 2, Fowler 2, Schultz, Merrett, J. Madden

South Melbourne

J. Roberts, T. Morwood, Scott, Foschini

UMPIRES:

Nash, Sutcliffe

CROWD:

5,676

SOURCE:

Canberra Times

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match 34 - Tuesday, June 30

CARLTON

2.2 (14)

4.5 (29)

6.9 (45)

9.18 (72)

NORTH MELBOURNE

2.4 (16)

3.4 (22)

3.5 (23)

4.6 (30)

BEST PLAYERS:

Carlton

Bosustow, Sheldon, Powell, Maylin, Harmes, Waddell, Keogh

North Melbourne

Henderson, Dench, W. Schimmelbusch, Blight, Glendinning

GOALKICKERS:

Carlton

Bosustow 3, McConville 2, Sheldon, Keogh, Buckley, Lenaghan

North Melbourne

Easton, Glendinning, Good, Jarrott

UMPIRES:

Dargavel, Robinson

CROWD:

6,661

SOURCE:

AGE

NOTES:

-

 

1981 AFC NIGHT SERIES - GRAND FINAL

ESSENDON

CARLTON

Kevin Sheedy

COACH

David Parkin

 

Muir

Merrett

Shaw

BACKS

Doull

Hunter

English

N. Daniher

Crow

Foulds

HALF-BACKS

Harmes

Maclure

McConville

Hawker

Neagle

Clarke

CENTRES

Glascott

Wells

Sheldon

Watson

Van der Haar

Burdett

HALF-FORWARDS

Johnston

Fitzpatrick (C)

Lenaghan

Taubert

T. Daniher

Schultz

FORWARDS

Waddell

Hocking

Bosustow

J. Madden

Bennett

FOLLOWERS

Howell

Keogh

Fowler

ROVER

Marcou

 

S. Madden (C)

Foreman

INTERCHANGE

Sharp

Whitnall

Walsh

Morrison

Besanko

EMERGENCIES

Buckley

Burke

Marchesani

 

Match 35 - Tuesday, July 14

ESSENDON

0.1 (1)

1.2 (8)

4.10 (34)

9.11 (65)

CARLTON

2.0 (12)

4.0 (24)

5.3 (33)

6.5 (41)

BEST PLAYERS:

Essendon

Watson, N. Daniher, Hawker, Merrett, Foulds, Muir, T. Daniher

Carlton

English, Marcou, Hunter, Johnston, Harmes, Doull

GOALKICKERS:

Essendon

N. Daniher 2, Fowler 2, Watson 2, Foreman, Merrett, S. Madden

Carlton

McConville 2, Wells, Bosustow, Johnston, Marcou

UMPIRES:

Cameron, Robinson

CROWD:

42,269

SOURCE:

AGE

NOTES:

Essendon kicked 8.9 to 2.5 in the second half to steal the title from Carlton's grasp.

Carlton would go on to win the 1981 VFL premiership.

This was Essendon's first senior premiership of any sort since the 1965 VFL Grand Final.

 

Picture
Rival captains Simon Madden and Mike Fitzpatrick in action during the Grand Final (blueseum.org/photographer: Geoff Ampt)

MATCH FOOTAGE


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

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