# 1961 VFL season

The 1961 VFL season was the 65th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 15 April until 23 September, and comprised an 18-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top four clubs.
The premiership was won by the Hawthorn Football Club for the first time, after it defeated Footscray by 43 points in the 1961 VFL Grand Final.

## Background

In 1961, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man. A player could be substituted for any reason; however, once substituted, a player could not return to the field of play under any circumstances.
Teams played each other in a home-and-away season of 18 rounds; matches 12 to 18 were the "home-and-way reverse" of matches 1 to 7.
Once the 18 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1961 VFL Premiers were determined by the specific format and conventions of the Page–McIntyre system.

## Home-and-away season
### Round 1

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 7.14 (56) | South Melbourne | 11.15 (81) | Glenferrie Oval | 20,000 | 15 April 1961 |
| Fitzroy | 6.10 (46) | Melbourne | 10.15 (75) | Brunswick Street Oval | 31,787 | 15 April 1961 |
| Richmond | 11.8 (74) | Footscray | 15.12 (102) | Punt Road Oval | 20,000 | 15 April 1961 |
| North Melbourne | 8.10 (58) | Essendon | 6.13 (49) | Arden Street Oval | 24,000 | 15 April 1961 |
| Geelong | 13.18 (96) | Collingwood | 8.9 (57) | Kardinia Park | 23,973 | 15 April 1961 |
| St Kilda | 5.8 (38) | Carlton | 6.12 (48) | Junction Oval | 30,400 | 15 April 1961 |

### Round 2

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Footscray | 13.19 (97) | North Melbourne | 8.4 (52) | Western Oval | 22,178 | 22 April 1961 |
| Essendon | 13.7 (85) | St Kilda | 9.15 (69) | Windy Hill | 23,000 | 22 April 1961 |
| Collingwood | 3.16 (34) | Richmond | 7.15 (57) | Victoria Park | 23,000 | 22 April 1961 |
| Carlton | 9.5 (59) | Fitzroy | 6.18 (54) | Princes Park | 29,384 | 22 April 1961 |
| Melbourne | 5.14 (44) | Hawthorn | 11.10 (76) | MCG | 34,640 | 22 April 1961 |
| South Melbourne | 12.8 (80) | Geelong | 12.12 (84) | Lake Oval | 24,258 | 22 April 1961 |

### Round 3

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Richmond | 6.9 (45) | South Melbourne | 12.17 (89) | Punt Road Oval | 27,650 | 25 April 1961 |
| Essendon | 8.9 (57) | Melbourne | 11.16 (82) | Windy Hill | 32,000 | 25 April 1961 |
| Collingwood | 12.16 (88) | North Melbourne | 9.8 (62) | Victoria Park | 26,574 | 29 April 1961 |
| Carlton | 11.6 (72) | Footscray | 11.15 (81) | Princes Park | 34,254 | 29 April 1961 |
| St Kilda | 12.11 (83) | Geelong | 6.14 (50) | Junction Oval | 29,300 | 29 April 1961 |
| Hawthorn | 13.17 (95) | Fitzroy | 10.9 (69) | Glenferrie Oval | 21,500 | 29 April 1961 |

### Round 4

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 12.9 (81) | St Kilda | 12.12 (84) | MCG | 40,572 | 6 May 1961 |
| Fitzroy | 13.17 (95) | Richmond | 16.12 (108) | Brunswick Street Oval | 17,861 | 6 May 1961 |
| North Melbourne | 8.7 (55) | Hawthorn | 12.13 (85) | Arden Street Oval | 13,500 | 6 May 1961 |
| Geelong | 7.19 (61) | Essendon | 22.11 (143) | Kardinia Park | 21,437 | 6 May 1961 |
| Footscray | 10.13 (73) | Collingwood | 10.4 (64) | Western Oval | 34,029 | 6 May 1961 |
| South Melbourne | 7.14 (56) | Carlton | 11.6 (72) | Lake Oval | 25,624 | 6 May 1961 |

### Round 5

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Richmond | 13.7 (85) | St Kilda | 11.20 (86) | Punt Road Oval | 22,000 | 13 May 1961 |
| Geelong | 7.13 (55) | Melbourne | 17.18 (120) | Kardinia Park | 18,673 | 13 May 1961 |
| Collingwood | 8.7 (55) | Fitzroy | 16.20 (116) | Victoria Park | 30,560 | 13 May 1961 |
| South Melbourne | 12.12 (84) | Footscray | 12.10 (82) | Lake Oval | 26,748 | 13 May 1961 |
| Hawthorn | 9.21 (75) | Essendon | 12.4 (76) | Glenferrie Oval | 31,000 | 13 May 1961 |
| North Melbourne | 11.17 (83) | Carlton | 17.7 (109) | Arden Street Oval | 21,500 | 13 May 1961 |

### Round 6

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Fitzroy | 14.13 (97) | North Melbourne | 11.13 (79) | Brunswick Street Oval | 17,693 | 20 May 1961 |
| Essendon | 20.13 (133) | South Melbourne | 6.18 (54) | Windy Hill | 32,600 | 20 May 1961 |
| Richmond | 9.14 (68) | Geelong | 16.16 (112) | Punt Road Oval | 24,600 | 20 May 1961 |
| Footscray | 9.8 (62) | Melbourne | 13.9 (87) | Western Oval | 29,490 | 27 May 1961 |
| Carlton | 9.11 (65) | Collingwood | 7.12 (54) | Princes Park | 33,161 | 27 May 1961 |
| St Kilda | 14.16 (100) | Hawthorn | 12.9 (81) | Junction Oval | 32,900 | 27 May 1961 |

### Round 7

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 9.14 (68) | St Kilda | 11.16 (82) | Arden Street Oval | 13,000 | 3 June 1961 |
| Hawthorn | 10.13 (73) | Richmond | 8.12 (60) | Glenferrie Oval | 15,000 | 3 June 1961 |
| Collingwood | 18.11 (119) | Essendon | 8.10 (58) | Victoria Park | 28,290 | 3 June 1961 |
| Geelong | 13.13 (91) | Footscray | 4.14 (38) | Kardinia Park | 18,683 | 3 June 1961 |
| South Melbourne | 7.8 (50) | Fitzroy | 17.15 (117) | Lake Oval | 14,500 | 3 June 1961 |
| Melbourne | 15.14 (104) | Carlton | 11.13 (79) | MCG | 49,678 | 3 June 1961 |

### Round 8

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| St Kilda | 16.14 (110) | South Melbourne | 5.16 (46) | Junction Oval | 28,800 | 10 June 1961 |
| North Melbourne | 11.13 (79) | Geelong | 11.13 (79) | Arden Street Oval | 16,000 | 10 June 1961 |
| Fitzroy | 10.14 (74) | Essendon | 6.18 (54) | Brunswick Street Oval | 28,083 | 10 June 1961 |
| Footscray | 14.19 (103) | Hawthorn | 13.13 (91) | Western Oval | 24,132 | 12 June 1961 |
| Carlton | 7.7 (49) | Richmond | 13.11 (89) | Princes Park | 24,660 | 12 June 1961 |
| Melbourne | 17.19 (121) | Collingwood | 7.10 (52) | MCG | 78,465 | 12 June 1961 |

### Round 9

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Geelong | 9.7 (61) | Hawthorn | 10.10 (70) | Kardinia Park | 14,197 | 17 June 1961 |
| Collingwood | 14.10 (94) | St Kilda | 12.12 (84) | Victoria Park | 27,280 | 17 June 1961 |
| Richmond | 12.10 (82) | North Melbourne | 10.16 (76) | Punt Road Oval | 10,000 | 17 June 1961 |
| South Melbourne | 8.14 (62) | Melbourne | 14.14 (98) | Lake Oval | 10,200 | 17 June 1961 |
| Footscray | 9.5 (59) | Fitzroy | 9.9 (63) | Western Oval | 21,197 | 17 June 1961 |
| Essendon | 12.17 (89) | Carlton | 7.12 (54) | Windy Hill | 23,000 | 17 June 1961 |

### Round 10

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Collingwood | 12.12 (84) | South Melbourne | 6.8 (44) | Victoria Park | 24,637 | 24 June 1961 |
| North Melbourne | 5.14 (44) | Melbourne | 14.9 (93) | Arden Street Oval | 11,500 | 24 June 1961 |
| St Kilda | 8.11 (59) | Footscray | 4.13 (37) | Junction Oval | 28,100 | 24 June 1961 |
| Geelong | 9.10 (64) | Fitzroy | 8.9 (57) | Kardinia Park | 16,881 | 24 June 1961 |
| Richmond | 12.20 (92) | Essendon | 10.14 (74) | Punt Road Oval | 23,000 | 24 June 1961 |
| Hawthorn | 12.6 (78) | Carlton | 6.10 (46) | Glenferrie Oval | 21,500 | 24 June 1961 |

### Round 11

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 17.18 (120) | Richmond | 7.12 (54) | MCG | 38,000 | 1 July 1961 |
| Fitzroy | 9.9 (63) | St Kilda | 9.8 (62) | Brunswick Street Oval | 19,291 | 1 July 1961 |
| Essendon | 12.11 (83) | Footscray | 13.14 (92) | Windy Hill | 22,440 | 1 July 1961 |
| Carlton | 10.18 (78) | Geelong | 17.16 (118) | Princes Park | 17,936 | 1 July 1961 |
| South Melbourne | 9.14 (68) | North Melbourne | 7.8 (50) | Lake Oval | 8,750 | 1 July 1961 |
| Hawthorn | 13.12 (90) | Collingwood | 4.12 (36) | Glenferrie Oval | 31,500 | 1 July 1961 |

### Round 12

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Footscray | 6.6 (42) | Richmond | 4.9 (33) | Western Oval | 16,648 | 8 July 1961 |
| Essendon | 9.9 (63) | North Melbourne | 3.10 (28) | Windy Hill | 12,800 | 8 July 1961 |
| Collingwood | 5.11 (41) | Geelong | 8.10 (58) | Victoria Park | 20,700 | 8 July 1961 |
| Carlton | 9.8 (62) | St Kilda | 3.12 (30) | Princes Park | 14,636 | 8 July 1961 |
| South Melbourne | 7.7 (49) | Hawthorn | 9.11 (65) | Lake Oval | 13,860 | 8 July 1961 |
| Melbourne | 6.8 (44) | Fitzroy | 6.8 (44) | MCG | 29,947 | 8 July 1961 |

### Round 13

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 8.10 (58) | Melbourne | 5.10 (40) | Glenferrie Oval | 27,500 | 15 July 1961 |
| North Melbourne | 10.15 (75) | Footscray | 11.6 (72) | Arden Street Oval | 15,000 | 15 July 1961 |
| Richmond | 5.8 (38) | Collingwood | 6.18 (54) | Punt Road Oval | 22,799 | 15 July 1961 |
| Geelong | 11.16 (82) | South Melbourne | 9.13 (67) | Kardinia Park | 18,489 | 22 July 1961 |
| St Kilda | 13.20 (98) | Essendon | 7.8 (50) | Junction Oval | 34,600 | 22 July 1961 |
| Fitzroy | 12.13 (85) | Carlton | 9.22 (76) | Brunswick Street Oval | 34,561 | 22 July 1961 |

### Round 14

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Geelong | 11.7 (73) | St Kilda | 10.8 (68) | Kardinia Park | 25,723 | 29 July 1961 |
| Fitzroy | 12.15 (87) | Hawthorn | 13.16 (94) | Brunswick Street Oval | 23,012 | 29 July 1961 |
| South Melbourne | 16.9 (105) | Richmond | 9.14 (68) | Lake Oval | 14,350 | 29 July 1961 |
| Melbourne | 10.18 (78) | Essendon | 13.9 (87) | MCG | 31,455 | 29 July 1961 |
| North Melbourne | 9.13 (67) | Collingwood | 9.10 (64) | Arden Street Oval | 15,000 | 29 July 1961 |
| Footscray | 12.11 (83) | Carlton | 7.9 (51) | Western Oval | 21,639 | 29 July 1961 |

### Round 15

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 15.10 (100) | North Melbourne | 6.11 (47) | Glenferrie Oval | 14,000 | 5 August 1961 |
| Essendon | 13.16 (94) | Geelong | 7.14 (56) | Windy Hill | 27,500 | 5 August 1961 |
| Collingwood | 5.10 (40) | Footscray | 11.12 (78) | Victoria Park | 22,324 | 5 August 1961 |
| Carlton | 17.9 (111) | South Melbourne | 7.10 (52) | Princes Park | 16,889 | 5 August 1961 |
| St Kilda | 9.12 (66) | Melbourne | 7.13 (55) | Junction Oval | 33,100 | 5 August 1961 |
| Richmond | 9.9 (63) | Fitzroy | 9.14 (68) | Punt Road Oval | 15,547 | 5 August 1961 |

### Round 16

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Footscray | 14.17 (101) | South Melbourne | 5.16 (46) | Western Oval | 19,242 | 12 August 1961 |
| Essendon | 10.12 (72) | Hawthorn | 11.13 (79) | Windy Hill | 27,200 | 12 August 1961 |
| Carlton | 9.16 (70) | North Melbourne | 10.8 (68) | Princes Park | 15,439 | 12 August 1961 |
| St Kilda | 12.19 (91) | Richmond | 0.8 (8) | Junction Oval | 20,600 | 12 August 1961 |
| Melbourne | 12.17 (89) | Geelong | 12.15 (87) | MCG | 48,245 | 12 August 1961 |
| Fitzroy | 12.20 (92) | Collingwood | 10.10 (70) | Brunswick Street Oval | 23,768 | 12 August 1961 |

### Round 17

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 19.6 (120) | St Kilda | 14.7 (91) | Glenferrie Oval | 34,500 | 19 August 1961 |
| Geelong | 11.11 (77) | Richmond | 6.10 (46) | Kardinia Park | 17,976 | 19 August 1961 |
| Melbourne | 11.22 (88) | Footscray | 7.6 (48) | MCG | 52,195 | 19 August 1961 |
| North Melbourne | 10.15 (75) | Fitzroy | 8.15 (63) | Arden Street Oval | 15,000 | 19 August 1961 |
| South Melbourne | 11.12 (78) | Essendon | 16.11 (107) | Lake Oval | 14,125 | 19 August 1961 |
| Collingwood | 10.12 (72) | Carlton | 13.10 (88) | Victoria Park | 31,849 | 19 August 1961 |

### Round 18

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Footscray | 12.12 (84) | Geelong | 8.15 (63) | Western Oval | 42,015 | 26 August 1961 |
| Fitzroy | 25.29 (179) | South Melbourne | 11.10 (76) | Brunswick Street Oval | 12,815 | 26 August 1961 |
| Carlton | 13.12 (90) | Melbourne | 13.13 (91) | Princes Park | 21,863 | 26 August 1961 |
| St Kilda | 10.12 (72) | North Melbourne | 9.13 (67) | Junction Oval | 24,250 | 26 August 1961 |
| Richmond | 8.8 (56) | Hawthorn | 11.15 (81) | Punt Road Oval | 15,177 | 26 August 1961 |
| Essendon | 12.16 (88) | Collingwood | 13.10 (88) | Windy Hill | 18,500 | 26 August 1961 |

## Ladder

| (P) | Premiers |
| | Qualified for finals |
| # | Team | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | Pts |
| 1 | Hawthorn (P) | 18 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 1467 | 1173 | 125.1 | 56 |
| 2 | Melbourne | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 1510 | 1151 | 131.2 | 50 |
| 3 | St Kilda | 18 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 1373 | 1173 | 117.1 | 44 |
| 4 | Footscray | 18 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 1334 | 1216 | 109.7 | 44 |
| 5 | Fitzroy | 18 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 1469 | 1258 | 116.8 | 42 |
| 6 | Geelong | 18 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 1367 | 1362 | 100.4 | 42 |
| 7 | Essendon | 18 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 1462 | 1335 | 109.5 | 38 |
| 8 | Carlton | 18 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1279 | 1325 | 96.5 | 36 |
| 9 | Collingwood | 18 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 1166 | 1375 | 84.8 | 22 |
| 10 | Richmond | 18 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 1126 | 1428 | 78.9 | 20 |
| 11 | South Melbourne | 18 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 1187 | 1644 | 72.2 | 20 |
| 12 | North Melbourne | 18 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 1133 | 1433 | 79.1 | 18 |
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for Average score: 73.5 Source: AFL Tables

## Finals series
### Semi-finals

| | First semi-final | First semi-final | First semi-final | | |
| SF1: Saturday, 2 September (2:30 pm) | St Kilda 8.12 (60) | def. by | Footscray 9.15 (69) | MCG (crowd: 86,411) | Report |
| | Second semi-final | Second semi-final | Second semi-final | | |
| SF2: Saturday, 9 September (2:30 pm) | Hawthorn 12.8 (80) | def. | Melbourne 11.7 (73) | MCG (crowd: 87,744) | Report |

### Preliminary final

| | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | | |
| Saturday, 16 September (2:30 pm) | Melbourne 8.10 (58) | def. by | Footscray 13.7 (85) | MCG (crowd: 86,118) | Report |
| Footscray qualified for their second VFL Grand Final and stopped Melbourne from playing what would have been their eighth consecutive grand final. ||||||

### Grand final

| | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | | |
| Saturday, 23 September (2:50 pm) | Hawthorn 13.16 (94) | def. | Footscray 7.9 (51) | MCG (crowd: 107,935) | Report |
| This was the first appearance in a grand final for Hawthorn. This was the first grand final in league history which did not feature any of the VFL's foundation clubs. Hawthorn won its maiden VFL/AFL premiership. ||||||

## Consolation night series competition

The night series were held under the floodlights at Lake Oval, South Melbourne, for the teams (5th to 12th on ladder) out of the finals at the end of the season.
Final: Geelong 9.20 (74) defeated North Melbourne 9.8 (62)

## Season notes

* St Kilda ended a twenty-two year finals appearance drought making the finals for the first time since 1939. This currently stands as the fourth longest finals appearance drought in league history.
* Following a VFL investigation of a complaint that game officials had not reported the incident, rugged South Melbourne ruckman Ken Boyd was suspended for 12 matches, for striking Carlton ruckman John Nicholls.
* In Round 16, Richmond was held goalless by St Kilda. This was the first time a team had been held goalless in a match since Round 11, 1921; and (as of 2023) is the last time it has occurred.
* Having decided to abandon its (1957–1960) experiment of allowing live telecasts of the last quarter of three VFL matches each Saturday afternoon on ABV-2, HSV-7, and GTV-9, the VFL rejected offers from the three television stations to broadcast replays on Saturday evenings. A separate arrangement was made to allow a replay of the entire grand final match.
* In November, Collingwood announced that it has delisted sixteen players from its 1961 playing list, including Ian Brewer and Barry "Hooker" Harrison.

## Awards

* The 1961 VFL Premiership team was Hawthorn.
* The VFL's leading goalkicker was Tom Carroll of Carlton who kicked 54 goals.
* The winner of the 1961 Brownlow Medal was John James of Carlton with 21 votes.
* North Melbourne took the "wooden spoon" in 1961.
* The reserves premiership was won by St Kilda. St Kilda 7.14 (56) defeated Geelong 5.16 (46) in the grand final, which was held as a stand-alone match on 30 September because the second semi-final was drawn and required a replay; the match was played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground before a crowd of 15,242.