NFL NIGHT SERIES - THE VFA PERSPECTIVE
- INTRODUCTION
- SUMMARY OF RESULTS
INTRODUCTION
The NFL invited the VFA to take the VFL's place in the series, thus ending the Association's exile at national level which had started with their departure from the ANFC in 1970.
The format of the series was altered each season and by 1979 the NFL's competition had been heavily weakened with only the SANFL clubs and the top two teams from the VFA and the QAFL taking part (the WAFL clubs and the state representative teams had all transferred to the VFL's night competition the year before).
After lengthy negotiations the SANFL announced in late 1979 they would also switch to the VFL Night Series in 1980. This left the VFA and QAFL clubs on the outer and the NFL was forced to abandon its competition after four seasons of play.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
1977 ARDATH CUP
|
After the VFL chose to run a rival competition in 1977 (the Amco-Herald Cup), the NFL invited the VFA to participate in the VFL's place.
The top four clubs of 1976 (Port Melbourne, Dandenong, Preston and Caulfield) took part with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed teams playing qualifying matches in Round 1 and Port Melbourne (1st) entering in Round 2. Dandenong and Preston survived the Qualifying Round, with Dandenong defeating Central District by 9 points and Preston posting a relatively easy 27 point victory over the New South Wales state side. However, Caulfield were overrun by the ACT representative team, falling by 19 points in one of the biggest upsets of the NFL-era. In Round 2 the VFA teams struggled against stronger opposition with East Fremantle crushing Preston by 69 points and East Perth outlasting Dandenong for an 11 point win. Only Port Melbourne advanced to the quarter finals with a 31 point victory over the Queensland state team. In something of a shock result, Port Melbourne were easily defeated by Norwood, the eventual champions, who were never troubled in their 70 point win over the reigning VFA premiers. |
Caulfield playing the ACT in the
1977 NFL Night Series
|
|
DATE |
ROUND |
VENUE |
VFA TEAM |
SCORE |
OPPONENT |
SCORE |
W/L |
|
27-3-1977 |
1 |
Lake Oval, South Melb.
(N) |
Dandenong |
14.8 (92) |
Central District |
11.17 (83) |
W |
|
5-4-1977 |
1 |
Norwood Oval, Adelaide (N) |
Preston |
15.10 (100) |
New South Wales |
11.7 (73) |
W |
|
19-4-1977 |
1 |
Norwood Oval, Adelaide (N) |
Caulfield |
11.10 (76) |
ACT |
14.11 (95) |
L |
|
17-5-1977 |
2 |
Norwood Oval, Adelaide (N) |
Port Melbourne |
17.9 (111) |
Queensland |
12.8 (80) |
W |
|
24-5-1977 |
2 |
Norwood Oval, Adelaide (N) |
Preston |
7.14 (56) |
East Fremantle |
18.17 (125) |
L |
|
7-6-1977 |
2 |
Norwood Oval, Adelaide (N) |
Dandenong |
6.7 (43) |
East Perth |
7.12 (54) |
L |
|
21-6-1977 |
QF |
Norwood Oval, Adelaide (N) |
Port Melbourne |
12.10 (82) |
Norwood |
23.14 (152) |
L |
1978 ESCORT CUP
|
The top three VFA clubs of 1977 (Port Melbourne, Sandringham and Coburg) took part in a streamlined NFL competition, with all three entering in the 1st round.
In the opening round Port Melbourne were never troubled in a 46 point win over New South Wales but Sandringham were lucky to escape with a 4 point win over the ACT representative team, having been behind at the end of each quarter. Coburg scored an impressive 23 point victory against East Perth, who would later win the 1978 WAFL premiership. The quarter finals were not as successful for the Association clubs: Port Melbourne were challenged in the first half by a tough Queensland side before breaking away in the second half to win by 36 points; Coburg worked hard but suffered an 18 point loss against a strong Glenelg team; and Sandringham were disappointing, easily defeated by South Adelaide who won by 59 points. At the semi final stage, Port Melbourne threw away a golden opportunity to make the final. After leading at every change they were overrun by South Adelaide, the final margin was just 5 points. |
|
|
DATE |
ROUND |
VENUE |
VFA TEAM |
SCORE |
OPPONENT |
SCORE |
W/L |
|
9-5-1978 |
1 |
Lake Oval, South Melb.
(N) |
Port Melbourne |
12.20 (92) |
New South Wales |
7.4 (46) |
W |
|
23-5-1978 |
1 |
Lake Oval, South Melb.
(N) |
Sandringham |
12.10 (82) |
ACT |
12.6 (78) |
W |
|
6-6-1978 |
1 |
Lake Oval, South Melb.
(N) |
Coburg |
10.11 (71) |
East Perth |
7.7 (49) |
W |
|
20-6-1978 |
QF |
Lake Oval, South Melb.
(N) |
Port Melbourne |
13.18 (96) |
Queensland |
9.6 (60) |
W |
|
27-6-1978 |
QF |
Norwood Oval, Adelaide (N) |
Coburg |
13.6 (84) |
Glenelg |
15.11 (101) |
L |
|
4-7-1978 |
QF |
Lake Oval, South Melb.
(N) |
Sandringham |
5.5 (35) |
South Adelaide |
14.10 (94) |
L |
|
18-7-1978 |
SF |
Lake Oval, South Melb.
(N) |
Port Melbourne |
9.9 (63) |
South Adelaide |
9.14 (68) |
L |
1979 ESCORT CUP
In an opening round double-header played on Anzac Day, Prahran were over-run in the final quarter by a Port Adelaide team that would later win the first of three straight SANFL premierships. In the second match, Preston were defeated by an improved Central District team that went on to play their first SANFL finals series since 1972.
|
DATE |
ROUND |
VENUE |
VFA TEAM |
SCORE |
OPPONENT |
SCORE |
W/L |
|
25-4-1979 |
1 |
Preston City Oval |
Prahran |
6.8 (44) |
Port Adelaide |
13.11 (89) |
L |
|
25-4-1979 |
1 |
Preston City Oval |
Preston |
11.10 (76) |
Central District |
16.12 (108) |
L |
|
Written and researched by David Eastman
|
First published 19/9/2014
Last updated 30/6/2019 |
