# 1977 VFL season

The 1977 VFL season was the 81st season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 2 April until 1 October, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top five clubs.
The premiership was won by the North Melbourne Football Club for the second time, after it defeated Collingwood by 27 points in the 1977 VFL Grand Final replay.

## Night series

Hawthorn defeated Carlton 14.11 (95) to 11.5 (71) in the final.

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

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 10.12 (72) | South Melbourne | 21.15 (141) | MCG | 22,049 | 2 April 1977 |
| Hawthorn | 13.14 (92) | North Melbourne | 23.14 (152) | Princes Park | 20,317 | 2 April 1977 |
| Fitzroy | 21.17 (143) | Richmond | 18.21 (129) | Junction Oval | 17,740 | 2 April 1977 |
| Essendon | 14.25 (109) | St Kilda | 10.17 (77) | Windy Hill | 17,265 | 2 April 1977 |
| Collingwood | 19.16 (130) | Footscray | 18.11 (119) | Victoria Park | 27,377 | 2 April 1977 |
| Geelong | 6.9 (45) | Carlton | 17.21 (123) | Kardinia Park | 25,317 | 2 April 1977 |

### Round 2

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Carlton | 16.17 (113) | Fitzroy | 12.9 (81) | Princes Park | 25,173 | 9 April 1977 |
| South Melbourne | 27.13 (175) | Essendon | 15.8 (98) | Lake Oval | 23,000 | 9 April 1977 |
| North Melbourne | 16.6 (102) | Collingwood | 13.15 (93) | Arden Street Oval | 28,073 | 9 April 1977 |
| Footscray | 18.8 (116) | Melbourne | 12.23 (95) | Western Oval | 18,295 | 11 April 1977 |
| Richmond | 19.6 (120) | Hawthorn | 17.17 (119) | MCG | 42,192 | 11 April 1977 |
| St Kilda | 11.17 (83) | Geelong | 17.17 (119) | Moorabbin Oval | 20,338 | 11 April 1977 |

### Round 3

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 14.18 (102) | North Melbourne | 16.9 (105) | MCG | 19,543 | 16 April 1977 |
| Geelong | 6.14 (50) | Hawthorn | 15.15 (105) | Kardinia Park | 19,336 | 16 April 1977 |
| Collingwood | 24.22 (166) | Essendon | 16.19 (115) | Victoria Park | 26,210 | 16 April 1977 |
| Carlton | 24.26 (170) | St Kilda | 9.9 (63) | Princes Park | 19,336 | 16 April 1977 |
| South Melbourne | 11.13 (79) | Richmond | 13.13 (91) | Lake Oval | 25,768 | 16 April 1977 |
| Footscray | 20.16 (136) | Fitzroy | 16.12 (108) | VFL Park | 17,415 | 16 April 1977 |

### Round 4

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Essendon | 19.10 (124) | Melbourne | 16.24 (120) | Windy Hill | 14,529 | 23 April 1977 |
| North Melbourne | 16.21 (117) | Footscray | 12.10 (82) | Arden Street Oval | 17,239 | 23 April 1977 |
| St Kilda | 19.20 (134) | Fitzroy | 14.14 (98) | Moorabbin Oval | 13,401 | 23 April 1977 |
| Hawthorn | 13.18 (96) | Carlton | 12.11 (83) | Princes Park | 32,135 | 23 April 1977 |
| Richmond | 14.16 (100) | Collingwood | 17.24 (126) | MCG | 91,936 | 25 April 1977 |
| South Melbourne | 12.15 (87) | Geelong | 16.18 (114) | VFL Park | 27,136 | 25 April 1977 |

### Round 5

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 13.24 (102) | Richmond | 19.17 (131) | MCG | 22,272 | 30 April 1977 |
| Footscray | 17.14 (116) | St Kilda | 17.14 (116) | Western Oval | 15,453 | 30 April 1977 |
| Fitzroy | 12.14 (86) | Hawthorn | 21.16 (142) | Junction Oval | 10,428 | 30 April 1977 |
| Collingwood | 18.16 (124) | Geelong | 15.19 (109) | Victoria Park | 24,281 | 30 April 1977 |
| Carlton | 21.8 (134) | South Melbourne | 16.11 (107) | Princes Park | 21,533 | 30 April 1977 |
| North Melbourne | 18.17 (125) | Essendon | 15.15 (105) | VFL Park | 22,323 | 30 April 1977 |

### Round 6

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 25.41 (191) | St Kilda | 16.7 (103) | Princes Park | 11,918 | 7 May 1977 |
| Geelong | 21.17 (143) | Melbourne | 13.15 (93) | Kardinia Park | 17,219 | 7 May 1977 |
| Essendon | 13.11 (89) | Footscray | 29.15 (189) | Windy Hill | 19,399 | 7 May 1977 |
| Richmond | 19.15 (129) | North Melbourne | 14.12 (96) | MCG | 34,408 | 7 May 1977 |
| South Melbourne | 21.19 (145) | Fitzroy | 19.12 (126) | Lake Oval | 11,802 | 7 May 1977 |
| Collingwood | 22.20 (152) | Carlton | 7.8 (50) | VFL Park | 64,256 | 7 May 1977 |

### Round 7

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| St Kilda | 14.14 (98) | South Melbourne | 14.14 (98) | Moorabbin Oval | 18,563 | 14 May 1977 |
| Footscray | 8.13 (61) | Hawthorn | 20.11 (131) | Western Oval | 17,935 | 14 May 1977 |
| North Melbourne | 23.11 (149) | Geelong | 12.12 (84) | Arden Street Oval | 17,259 | 14 May 1977 |
| Fitzroy | 11.14 (80) | Collingwood | 15.23 (113) | Junction Oval | 20,735 | 14 May 1977 |
| Melbourne | 14.12 (96) | Carlton | 16.20 (116) | MCG | 27,456 | 14 May 1977 |
| Essendon | 15.9 (99) | Richmond | 14.15 (99) | VFL Park | 32,326 | 14 May 1977 |

### Round 8

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Collingwood | 19.21 (135) | St Kilda | 11.12 (78) | Victoria Park | 21,598 | 21 May 1977 |
| Carlton | 8.17 (65) | North Melbourne | 9.8 (62) | Princes Park | 22,364 | 21 May 1977 |
| South Melbourne | 7.13 (55) | Hawthorn | 18.7 (115) | Lake Oval | 11,443 | 21 May 1977 |
| Richmond | 16.18 (114) | Footscray | 13.17 (95) | MCG | 21,519 | 21 May 1977 |
| Geelong | 13.16 (94) | Essendon | 13.9 (87) | Kardinia Park | 15,674 | 21 May 1977 |
| Melbourne | 19.26 (140) | Fitzroy | 14.8 (92) | VFL Park | 11,259 | 21 May 1977 |

### Round 9

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| St Kilda | 18.19 (127) | Melbourne | 20.12 (132) | Moorabbin Oval | 15,254 | 28 May 1977 |
| South Melbourne | 14.14 (98) | Footscray | 11.13 (79) | Lake Oval | 12,104 | 28 May 1977 |
| North Melbourne | 12.12 (84) | Fitzroy | 10.14 (74) | Arden Street Oval | 8,940 | 28 May 1977 |
| Hawthorn | 16.12 (108) | Collingwood | 22.10 (142) | Princes Park | 34,727 | 28 May 1977 |
| Essendon | 14.12 (96) | Carlton | 10.17 (77) | Windy Hill | 23,224 | 28 May 1977 |
| Richmond | 18.13 (121) | Geelong | 10.11 (71) | VFL Park | 26,007 | 28 May 1977 |

### Round 10

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Footscray | 21.14 (140) | Geelong | 15.13 (103) | Western Oval | 15,093 | 4 June 1977 |
| Collingwood | 15.20 (110) | South Melbourne | 20.16 (136) | Victoria Park | 24,309 | 4 June 1977 |
| Carlton | 16.9 (105) | Richmond | 19.11 (125) | Princes Park | 28,556 | 4 June 1977 |
| Melbourne | 16.19 (115) | Hawthorn | 19.13 (127) | MCG | 21,586 | 4 June 1977 |
| Fitzroy | 14.16 (100) | Essendon | 23.16 (154) | Junction Oval | 13,150 | 4 June 1977 |
| North Melbourne | 21.16 (142) | St Kilda | 7.15 (57) | VFL Park | 19,199 | 4 June 1977 |

### Round 11

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| South Melbourne | 12.9 (81) | North Melbourne | 9.11 (65) | Lake Oval | 20,785 | 11 June 1977 |
| Geelong | 20.13 (133) | Fitzroy | 11.16 (82) | Kardinia Park | 14,664 | 11 June 1977 |
| Carlton | 17.14 (116) | Footscray | 8.19 (67) | VFL Park | 25,745 | 11 June 1977 |
| St Kilda | 13.10 (88) | Richmond | 16.5 (101) | Moorabbin Oval | 23,979 | 13 June 1977 |
| Hawthorn | 23.25 (163) | Essendon | 8.9 (57) | Princes Park | 25,609 | 13 June 1977 |
| Melbourne | 11.20 (86) | Collingwood | 17.17 (119) | MCG | 63,188 | 13 June 1977 |

### Round 12

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Carlton | 3.13 (31) | Geelong | 2.12 (24) | Princes Park | 11,009 | 18 June 1977 |
| South Melbourne | 8.22 (70) | Melbourne | 9.10 (64) | Lake Oval | 20,785 | 18 June 1977 |
| North Melbourne | 6.11 (47) | Hawthorn | 6.12 (48) | Arden Street Oval | 9,027 | 18 June 1977 |
| Richmond | 13.15 (93) | Fitzroy | 6.5 (41) | MCG | 12,877 | 18 June 1977 |
| Footscray | 5.6 (36) | Collingwood | 9.15 (69) | Western Oval | 11,921 | 18 June 1977 |
| St Kilda | 5.12 (42) | Essendon | 5.16 (46) | VFL Park | 14,337 | 18 June 1977 |

### Round 13

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Geelong | 11.9 (75) | St Kilda | 12.13 (85) | Kardinia Park | 13,033 | 25 June 1977 |
| Essendon | 9.9 (63) | South Melbourne | 6.15 (51) | Windy Hill | 16,309 | 25 June 1977 |
| Collingwood | 13.19 (97) | North Melbourne | 8.8 (56) | Victoria Park | 28,079 | 25 June 1977 |
| Melbourne | 7.9 (51) | Footscray | 15.12 (102) | MCG | 12,566 | 25 June 1977 |
| Fitzroy | 11.9 (75) | Carlton | 9.14 (68) | Junction Oval | 10,850 | 25 June 1977 |
| Hawthorn | 9.12 (66) | Richmond | 7.10 (52) | VFL Park | 34,820 | 25 June 1977 |

### Round 14

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Geelong | 7.15 (57) | South Melbourne | 9.10 (64) | Kardinia Park | 14,933 | 2 July 1977 |
| Footscray | 9.10 (64) | North Melbourne | 11.15 (81) | Western Oval | 17,151 | 2 July 1977 |
| Collingwood | 22.9 (141) | Richmond | 11.12 (78) | Victoria Park | 32,833 | 2 July 1977 |
| Carlton | 9.8 (62) | Hawthorn | 7.6 (48) | Princes Park | 24,520 | 2 July 1977 |
| Melbourne | 9.16 (70) | Essendon | 8.11 (59) | MCG | 21,473 | 2 July 1977 |
| Fitzroy | 10.12 (72) | St Kilda | 14.12 (96) | VFL Park | 17,028 | 2 July 1977 |

### Round 15

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Fitzroy | 15.13 (103) | Footscray | 11.19 (85) | Junction Oval | 8,680 | 9 July 1977 |
| North Melbourne | 18.19 (127) | Melbourne | 11.10 (76) | Arden Street Oval | 11,253 | 9 July 1977 |
| Hawthorn | 28.23 (191) | Geelong | 13.6 (84) | Princes Park | 21,391 | 9 July 1977 |
| Essendon | 14.19 (103) | Collingwood | 17.12 (114) | Windy Hill | 27,042 | 9 July 1977 |
| St Kilda | 17.12 (114) | Carlton | 18.14 (122) | Moorabbin Oval | 8,120 | 9 July 1977 |
| Richmond | 14.16 (100) | South Melbourne | 10.11 (71) | VFL Park | 34,291 | 9 July 1977 |

### Round 16

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Essendon | 17.14 (116) | North Melbourne | 11.11 (77) | Windy Hill | 17,489 | 16 July 1977 |
| Richmond | 10.11 (71) | Melbourne | 13.12 (90) | MCG | 19,075 | 16 July 1977 |
| St Kilda | 10.16 (76) | Footscray | 13.18 (96) | Moorabbin Oval | 12,659 | 16 July 1977 |
| Hawthorn | 20.14 (134) | Fitzroy | 11.12 (78) | Princes Park | 8,200 | 16 July 1977 |
| South Melbourne | 12.4 (76) | Carlton | 13.7 (85) | Lake Oval | 17,058 | 16 July 1977 |
| Geelong | 16.6 (102) | Collingwood | 12.25 (97) | VFL Park | 26,029 | 16 July 1977 |

### Round 17

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 15.11 (101) | Richmond | 14.14 (98) | Arden Street Oval | 15,359 | 23 July 1977 |
| Fitzroy | 7.13 (55) | South Melbourne | 16.21 (117) | Junction Oval | 10,220 | 23 July 1977 |
| Carlton | 11.8 (74) | Collingwood | 15.16 (106) | Princes Park | 38,220 | 23 July 1977 |
| Melbourne | 15.18 (108) | Geelong | 20.14 (134) | MCG | 15,890 | 23 July 1977 |
| Footscray | 12.21 (93) | Essendon | 11.10 (76) | Western Oval | 17,834 | 23 July 1977 |
| St Kilda | 11.11 (77) | Hawthorn | 24.19 (163) | VFL Park | 20,469 | 23 July 1977 |

### Round 18

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Geelong | 6.15 (51) | North Melbourne | 14.11 (95) | Kardinia Park | 17,898 | 30 July 1977 |
| Collingwood | 18.14 (122) | Fitzroy | 13.11 (89) | Victoria Park | 16,885 | 30 July 1977 |
| South Melbourne | 21.12 (138) | St Kilda | 12.11 (83) | Lake Oval | 13,906 | 30 July 1977 |
| Hawthorn | 18.10 (118) | Footscray | 15.14 (104) | Princes Park | 10,420 | 30 July 1977 |
| Richmond | 16.15 (111) | Essendon | 9.11 (65) | MCG | 33,085 | 30 July 1977 |
| Carlton | 17.11 (113) | Melbourne | 7.4 (46) | VFL Park | 18,852 | 30 July 1977 |

### Round 19

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Footscray | 19.15 (129) | Richmond | 15.11 (101) | Western Oval | 16,897 | 6 August 1977 |
| Fitzroy | 23.8 (146) | Melbourne | 12.12 (84) | Junction Oval | 7,475 | 6 August 1977 |
| Essendon | 15.20 (110) | Geelong | 18.16 (124) | Windy Hill | 13,664 | 6 August 1977 |
| St Kilda | 11.9 (75) | Collingwood | 14.17 (101) | Moorabbin Oval | 21,876 | 6 August 1977 |
| North Melbourne | 8.15 (63) | Carlton | 6.7 (43) | Arden Street Oval | 22,160 | 6 August 1977 |
| Hawthorn | 10.18 (78) | South Melbourne | 16.7 (103) | VFL Park | 31,253 | 6 August 1977 |

### Round 20

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 27.13 (175) | St Kilda | 15.14 (104) | MCG | 12,967 | 13 August 1977 |
| Geelong | 5.16 (46) | Richmond | 19.18 (132) | Kardinia Park | 17,081 | 13 August 1977 |
| Footscray | 9.19 (73) | South Melbourne | 14.12 (96) | Western Oval | 18,514 | 13 August 1977 |
| Collingwood | 13.21 (99) | Hawthorn | 15.15 (105) | Victoria Park | 30,184 | 13 August 1977 |
| Carlton | 22.14 (146) | Essendon | 16.15 (111) | Princes Park | 20,120 | 13 August 1977 |
| Fitzroy | 9.11 (65) | North Melbourne | 10.19 (79) | VFL Park | 12,350 | 13 August 1977 |

### Round 21

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 16.14 (110) | Melbourne | 14.15 (99) | Princes Park | 8,850 | 20 August 1977 |
| Essendon | 10.13 (73) | Fitzroy | 20.17 (137) | Windy Hill | 10,180 | 20 August 1977 |
| St Kilda | 11.12 (78) | North Melbourne | 15.16 (106) | Moorabbin Oval | 11,506 | 20 August 1977 |
| South Melbourne | 8.9 (57) | Collingwood | 12.17 (89) | Lake Oval | 29,186 | 20 August 1977 |
| Richmond | 15.13 (103) | Carlton | 14.16 (100) | MCG | 49,134 | 20 August 1977 |
| Geelong | 10.8 (68) | Footscray | 11.19 (85) | VFL Park | 11,010 | 20 August 1977 |

### Round 22

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Richmond | 25.21 (171) | St Kilda | 17.10 (112) | MCG | 24,122 | 27 August 1977 |
| North Melbourne | 14.9 (93) | South Melbourne | 15.13 (103) | Arden Street Oval | 19,102 | 27 August 1977 |
| Fitzroy | 19.27 (141) | Geelong | 14.16 (100) | Junction Oval | 7,644 | 27 August 1977 |
| Essendon | 19.16 (130) | Hawthorn | 25.18 (168) | Windy Hill | 14,325 | 27 August 1977 |
| Footscray | 15.13 (103) | Carlton | 12.13 (85) | Western Oval | 22,426 | 27 August 1977 |
| Collingwood | 17.13 (115) | Melbourne | 14.17 (101) | VFL Park | 36,306 | 27 August 1977 |

## Ladder

| (P) | Premiers |
| | Qualified for finals |
| # | Team | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | Pts |
| 1 | Collingwood | 22 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 2560 | 1959 | 130.7 | 72 |
| 2 | Hawthorn | 22 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 2618 | 1959 | 133.6 | 68 |
| 3 | North Melbourne (P) | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2124 | 1803 | 117.8 | 60 |
| 4 | Richmond | 22 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 2370 | 2085 | 113.7 | 58 |
| 5 | South Melbourne | 22 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 2148 | 1942 | 110.6 | 54 |
| 6 | Carlton | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 2081 | 1859 | 111.9 | 52 |
| 7 | Footscray | 22 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 2170 | 2141 | 101.4 | 42 |
| 8 | Geelong | 22 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 1930 | 2333 | 82.7 | 32 |
| 9 | Essendon | 22 | 7 | 14 | 1 | 2085 | 2518 | 82.8 | 30 |
| 10 | Fitzroy | 22 | 6 | 16 | 0 | 2072 | 2474 | 83.8 | 24 |
| 11 | Melbourne | 22 | 5 | 17 | 0 | 2117 | 2492 | 85.0 | 20 |
| 12 | St Kilda | 22 | 3 | 17 | 2 | 1966 | 2676 | 73.5 | 16 |
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for Average score: 99.4 Source: AFL Tables

## Finals series
### Finals week 1

| | Elimination final | Elimination final | Elimination final | | |
| 3 September 2:30pm | Richmond | def. | South Melbourne | VFL Park (crowd: 63,663) | |
| | 5.4 (34) 7.6 (48) 11.8 (74) 13.10 (88) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 2.3 (15) 6.7 (43) 6.10 (46) 7.12 (54) | Umpires: Deller, Smith Television broadcast: Seven Network | Umpires: Deller, Smith Television broadcast: Seven Network |
| Edwards, Monteath, Cloke, Dunne 2 Malthouse, Noonan, Bartlett, Raines, Roberts 1 | Edwards, Monteath, Cloke, Dunne 2 Malthouse, Noonan, Bartlett, Raines, Roberts 1 | Goals | 2 Lambert 1 Goss, Browning, Teasdale, Daniher, Morrison | 2 Lambert 1 Goss, Browning, Teasdale, Daniher, Morrison |
| Bourke, Cloke, Bartlett, Malthouse, Monteath, Sheedy, Edwards | Bourke, Cloke, Bartlett, Malthouse, Monteath, Sheedy, Edwards | Best | Round, McLeish, Browning, Morrison, Rantall, O'Neill, Teasdale | Round, McLeish, Browning, Morrison, Rantall, O'Neill, Teasdale |
| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 19.11 (125) | North Melbourne | 12.15 (87) | MCG | 64,068 | 3 September |

### Finals week 2

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 16.14 (110) | Richmond | 9.9 (63) | VFL Park | 48,105 | 10 September |
| Collingwood | 17.10 (112) | Hawthorn | 16.14 (110) | MCG | 87,421 | 10 September |

### Preliminary final

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 5.15 (45) | North Melbourne | 16.16 (112) | VFL Park | 61,242 | 17 September |

### Grand final

| Game | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Grand final | Collingwood | 9.22 (76) | North Melbourne | 10.16 (76) | MCG | 108,224 | 24 September 1977 |

### Grand final replay

| Game | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Grand final | Collingwood | 19.10 (124) | North Melbourne | 21.25 (151) | MCG | 98,491 | 1 October 1977 |

## Season notes

* In early March, following proposals dating back to 1968, the Victorian government announced the legalisation of betting on VFL football via the TAB.
* Hawthorn's round 6 victory over St Kilda set the following records – 41 behinds (previous highest 34) and 66 scoring shots (previous highest 60). 13 different Hawthorn players kicked a behind – still a VFL/AFL record.
* In shocking conditions in Round 12, Carlton and Geelong played the first match since the 1927 Grand Final where both teams scored three or fewer goals. Both teams' scores were lower than any score from any other game during 1977. In the same round, North Melbourne's Malcolm Blight missed a set shot for goal after the final siren at the Arden Street Oval, which resulted in Hawthorn winning the game.
* In the Round 15 game against Geelong, Hawthorn had three players – Hudson with eight, John Hendrie with eight, and Leigh Matthews with seven – kick seven or more goals in one match. This has been repeated only by Fitzroy with Matthew Rendell, Bernie Quinlan and Michael Conlan in 1983 against North Melbourne.
* In Round 16, Geelong beat Collingwood despite having fifteen fewer scoring shots. This equalled Richmond's record against Fitzroy from 1957.
* For the only time in VFL/AFL history, two players from one team – Peter Hudson (110) and Leigh Matthews (91) of Hawthorn – combined for over 200 goals in one season. Additionally, it was the first time since 1906 that one club produced the top two leading goalkickers in a season.
* In the Reserve and Under-19 Grades, the appalling weather of mid- to late June caused the only cancellation (as opposed to postponement) of matches in VFL/AFL history until 2015. These cancellations affected Round 14 in the Reserves and Round 13 in the Under-19s.
* South Melbourne played in its last finals series before relocating to Sydney, as well as its first final series since 1970, and only its second since the infamous 1945 "bloodbath" grand final.
* St Kilda "won" its nineteenth wooden spoon and first since 1955. With the club having finished last 27 times since 1897, this twenty-two year gap is the longest between spoons for the club.
* Collingwood became the first VFL/AFL team to win the Minor Premiership after winning the wooden spoon the year before.

## Awards

* The Coleman Medal was won by Peter Hudson of Hawthorn with 105 goals
* The Brownlow Medal was won by Graham Teasdale of South Melbourne.
* The under 19s premiership was won by Richmond. Richmond 9.23 (77) defeated Fitzroy 7.12 (54) in the grand final, held as a curtain-raiser to the reserves grand final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 24 September
* The reserves premiership was won by Richmond. Richmond 19.18 (132) defeated Footscray 10.15 (75) in the grand final, held as a curtain-raiser to the seniors grand final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 24 September.