# 1978 VFL season

The 1978 VFL season was the 82nd season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 1 April until 30 September, 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 Hawthorn Football Club for the fourth time, after it defeated North Melbourne by 18 points in the 1978 VFL Grand Final.

## Rule changes

* The 19th and 20th men were converted into interchange players, meaning that any two players could be rested at any time, and could return to the field.
* Goal umpires required to touch goal post if the ball had hit post. Also two flags were positioned at one post and one flag at the other to save time when signalling scores.

## Night series

Fitzroy defeated North Melbourne 13.18 (96) to 2.8 (20) in the final.

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

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 22.15 (147) | Melbourne | 9.14 (68) | Princes Park | 10,632 | 1 April 1978 |
| Footscray | 11.14 (80) | North Melbourne | 23.11 (149) | Western Oval | 20,420 | 1 April 1978 |
| Fitzroy | 15.11 (101) | St Kilda | 16.13 (109) | Junction Oval | 17,030 | 1 April 1978 |
| Essendon | 19.9 (123) | South Melbourne | 14.18 (102) | Windy Hill | 23,562 | 1 April 1978 |
| Geelong | 11.10 (76) | Collingwood | 17.16 (118) | Kardinia Park | 27,463 | 1 April 1978 |
| Richmond | 25.24 (174) | Carlton | 14.13 (97) | MCG | 49,031 | 1 April 1978 |

### Round 2

| | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | | |
| Saturday, 8 April (2:10 pm) | Carlton 13.17 (95) | def. by | Geelong 15.19 (109) | Princes Park (crowd: 18,932) | Report |
| Saturday, 8 April (2:10 pm) | Collingwood 22.23 (155) | def. | Essendon 12.16 (88) | Victoria Park (crowd: 34,665) | Report |
| Saturday, 8 April (2:10 pm) | Melbourne 24.23 (167) | def. | Fitzroy 23.19 (157) | MCG (crowd: 15,613) | Report |
| Saturday, 8 April (2:10 pm) | St Kilda 20.17 (137) | def. | Footscray 19.16 (130) | Moorabbin Oval (crowd: 18,540) | Report |
| Saturday, 8 April (2:10 pm) | South Melbourne 16.8 (104) | def. by | Hawthorn 18.24 (132) | Lake Oval (crowd: 15,072) | Report |
| Saturday, 8 April (2:10 pm) | North Melbourne 25.16 (166) | def. | Richmond 14.9 (93) | Arden Street Oval (crowd: 22,505) | Report |
| Fitzroy broke South Melbourne's 1976 record for the highest losing score against Melbourne by four points. This record would last until the 1989 VFL season. ||||||

### Round 3

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Richmond | 16.14 (110) | St Kilda | 15.20 (110) | MCG | 35,602 | 15 April 1978 |
| Footscray | 10.16 (76) | Geelong | 21.14 (140) | Western Oval | 16,949 | 15 April 1978 |
| Essendon | 15.15 (105) | Fitzroy | 14.17 (101) | Windy Hill | 16,300 | 15 April 1978 |
| Carlton | 13.20 (98) | Melbourne | 11.19 (85) | Princes Park | 17,765 | 15 April 1978 |
| South Melbourne | 18.11 (119) | Collingwood | 14.18 (102) | Lake Oval | 20,733 | 15 April 1978 |
| North Melbourne | 16.15 (111) | Hawthorn | 12.14 (86) | VFL Park | 39,097 | 15 April 1978 |

### Round 4

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Geelong | 18.17 (125) | Richmond | 15.8 (98) | Kardinia Park | 20,566 | 22 April 1978 |
| Fitzroy | 21.17 (143) | South Melbourne | 18.16 (124) | Junction Oval | 13,660 | 22 April 1978 |
| Collingwood | 14.19 (103) | Hawthorn | 15.15 (105) | Victoria Park | 28,714 | 22 April 1978 |
| St Kilda | 14.16 (100) | North Melbourne | 17.17 (119) | Moorabbin Oval | 29,117 | 22 April 1978 |
| Melbourne | 18.19 (127) | Footscray | 18.12 (120) | MCG | 14,865 | 22 April 1978 |
| Carlton | 16.8 (104) | Essendon | 19.17 (131) | VFL Park | 34,516 | 22 April 1978 |

### Round 5

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Richmond | 19.16 (130) | Melbourne | 8.11 (59) | MCG | 34,212 | 25 April 1978 |
| St Kilda | 14.14 (98) | Geelong | 9.11 (65) | VFL Park | 43,388 | 25 April 1978 |
| Hawthorn | 14.17 (101) | Fitzroy | 15.12 (102) | Princes Park | 13,528 | 29 April 1978 |
| Footscray | 15.20 (110) | Essendon | 13.15 (93) | Western Oval | 20,328 | 29 April 1978 |
| North Melbourne | 19.10 (124) | Collingwood | 17.13 (115) | Arden Street Oval | 31,424 | 29 April 1978 |
| South Melbourne | 18.9 (117) | Carlton | 17.14 (116) | Lake Oval | 20,183 | 29 April 1978 |

### Round 6

| | Round 6 | Round 6 | Round 6 | | |
| Saturday, 6 May (2:10 pm) | Carlton 19.12 (126) | def. by | Hawthorn 24.13 (157) | Princes Park (crowd: 19,649) | Report |
| Saturday, 6 May (2:10 pm) | Fitzroy 14.12 (96) | def. by | Collingwood 22.16 (148) | Junction Oval (crowd: 25232) | Report |
| Saturday, 6 May (2:10 pm) | Essendon 22.18 (150) | def. | Richmond 19.15 (129) | Windy Hill (crowd: 21946) | Report |
| Saturday, 6 May (2:10 pm) | Footscray 16.9 (105) | def. by | South Melbourne 18.15 (123) | VFL Park (crowd: 19263) | Report |
| Saturday, 6 May (2:10 pm) | Geelong 12.16 (88) | def. by | North Melbourne 16.14 (110) | Kardinia Park (crowd: 23,074) | Report |
| Saturday, 6 May (2:10 pm) | Melbourne 21.15 (141) | def. by | St Kilda 31.18 (204) | MCG (crowd: 24852) | Report |
| Melbourne and St Kilda set the current record for the highest aggregate score in a game, the two teams amassing 52.33 (345). This broke the record set in the 1972 VFL Grand Final. The Saints also kicked their highest score in a match. ||||||

### Round 7

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Richmond | 14.14 (98) | South Melbourne | 19.11 (125) | MCG | 25,904 | 13 May 1978 |
| Hawthorn | 27.15 (177) | Footscray | 13.13 (91) | Princes Park | 9,099 | 13 May 1978 |
| North Melbourne | 14.14 (98) | Fitzroy | 14.11 (95) | Arden Street Oval | 14,150 | 13 May 1978 |
| St Kilda | 17.11 (113) | Essendon | 16.11 (107) | Moorabbin Oval | 30,760 | 13 May 1978 |
| Collingwood | 9.14 (68) | Carlton | 12.13 (85) | Victoria Park | 26,782 | 13 May 1978 |
| Geelong | 18.18 (126) | Melbourne | 21.13 (139) | VFL Park | 13,072 | 13 May 1978 |

### Round 8

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 8.13 (61) | North Melbourne | 20.17 (137) | MCG | 21,268 | 20 May 1978 |
| Essendon | 11.10 (76) | Geelong | 7.18 (60) | Windy Hill | 21,212 | 20 May 1978 |
| Carlton | 8.15 (63) | Fitzroy | 9.7 (61) | Princes Park | 21,520 | 20 May 1978 |
| South Melbourne | 20.16 (136) | St Kilda | 4.13 (37) | Lake Oval | 21,494 | 20 May 1978 |
| Footscray | 14.5 (89) | Collingwood | 14.9 (93) | Western Oval | 19,096 | 20 May 1978 |
| Richmond | 9.16 (70) | Hawthorn | 14.15 (99) | VFL Park | 27,224 | 20 May 1978 |

### Round 9

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Geelong | 16.13 (109) | South Melbourne | 14.11 (95) | Kardinia Park | 21,603 | 27 May 1978 |
| Fitzroy | 13.14 (92) | Footscray | 18.9 (117) | Junction Oval | 11,903 | 27 May 1978 |
| Collingwood | 12.20 (92) | Richmond | 10.16 (76) | Victoria Park | 28,651 | 27 May 1978 |
| Carlton | 18.9 (117) | North Melbourne | 8.11 (59) | Princes Park | 30,976 | 27 May 1978 |
| St Kilda | 8.9 (57) | Hawthorn | 13.19 (97) | Moorabbin Oval | 25,293 | 27 May 1978 |
| Melbourne | 8.12 (60) | Essendon | 15.12 (102) | VFL Park | 28,231 | 27 May 1978 |

### Round 10

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 12.24 (96) | Geelong | 8.13 (61) | Princes Park | 11,066 | 3 June 1978 |
| Richmond | 12.14 (86) | Fitzroy | 11.14 (80) | MCG | 21,122 | 3 June 1978 |
| North Melbourne | 13.7 (85) | Essendon | 12.10 (82) | Arden Street Oval | 28,828 | 3 June 1978 |
| South Melbourne | 24.18 (162) | Melbourne | 14.8 (92) | Lake Oval | 15,738 | 5 June 1978 |
| Footscray | 19.11 (125) | Carlton | 15.14 (104) | Western Oval | 30,197 | 5 June 1978 |
| St Kilda | 14.13 (97) | Collingwood | 18.23 (131) | VFL Park | 72,669 | 5 June 1978 |

### Round 11

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Fitzroy | 16.15 (111) | Geelong | 16.18 (114) | Junction Oval | 10,300 | 17 June 1978 |
| Essendon | 16.8 (104) | Hawthorn | 19.19 (133) | Windy Hill | 23,302 | 17 June 1978 |
| Collingwood | 17.25 (127) | Melbourne | 10.7 (67) | Victoria Park | 19,931 | 17 June 1978 |
| Carlton | 23.27 (165) | St Kilda | 8.17 (65) | Princes Park | 25,388 | 17 June 1978 |
| Richmond | 23.17 (155) | Footscray | 14.13 (97) | MCG | 22,764 | 17 June 1978 |
| South Melbourne | 15.7 (97) | North Melbourne | 17.15 (117) | VFL Park | 31,037 | 17 June 1978 |

### Round 12

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Carlton | 20.17 (137) | Richmond | 13.16 (94) | Princes Park | 28,266 | 24 June 1978 |
| Melbourne | 15.18 (108) | Hawthorn | 18.20 (128) | MCG | 14,652 | 24 June 1978 |
| North Melbourne | 8.12 (60) | Footscray | 13.12 (90) | Arden Street Oval | 14,269 | 24 June 1978 |
| St Kilda | 17.9 (111) | Fitzroy | 20.14 (134) | Moorabbin Oval | 15,822 | 24 June 1978 |
| South Melbourne | 13.19 (97) | Essendon | 17.18 (120) | Lake Oval | 18,574 | 24 June 1978 |
| Collingwood | 7.14 (56) | Geelong | 13.18 (96) | VFL Park | 31,636 | 24 June 1978 |

### Round 13

| | Round 13 | Round 13 | Round 13 | | |
| Saturday, 1 July (2:10 pm) | Geelong 8.9 (57) | def. by | Carlton 9.13 (67) | Kardinia Park (crowd: 25,185) | Report |
| Saturday, 1 July (2:10 pm) | Essendon 12.26 (98) | def. by | Collingwood 14.21 (105) | Windy Hill (crowd: 29,768) | Report |
| Saturday, 1 July (2:10 pm) | Fitzroy 19.27 (141) | def. | Melbourne 8.13 (61) | VFL Park (crowd: 13,933) | Report |
| Saturday, 1 July (2:10 pm) | Footscray 33.15 (213) | def. | St Kilda 16.10 (106) | Western Oval (crowd: 16,300) | Report |
| Saturday, 1 July (2:10 pm) | Hawthorn 21.14 (140) | def. | South Melbourne 18.11 (119) | Princes Park (crowd: 13,853) | Report |
| Saturday, 1 July (2:10 pm) | Richmond 21.16 (142) | def. | North Melbourne 17.15 (117) | MCG (crowd: 27,156) | Report |
| Footscray kicked their highest-ever score of 33.15 (213) and Kelvin Templeton also set a club record for most goals in a game by an individual player, kicking 15 goals 9 behinds. It also set the record for the most scoring shots in a game by an individual player. The last Bulldog to kick 10 goals in a game was Ron Grove against Melbourne in Round 5, 1946. The score also broke the VFL record previously held by Carlton who kicked 30.30 (210) against Hawthorn in Round 2, 1969. ||||||

### Round 14

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 19.7 (121) | St Kilda | 18.16 (124) | Arden Street Oval | 12,599 | 8 July 1978 |
| Footscray | 20.7 (127) | Melbourne | 8.11 (59) | Western Oval | 13,325 | 8 July 1978 |
| Richmond | 17.20 (122) | Geelong | 18.9 (117) | MCG | 24,417 | 8 July 1978 |
| South Melbourne | 22.11 (143) | Fitzroy | 13.15 (93) | Lake Oval | 16,642 | 8 July 1978 |
| Essendon | 13.24 (102) | Carlton | 14.11 (95) | Windy Hill | 29,831 | 8 July 1978 |
| Hawthorn | 10.14 (74) | Collingwood | 13.6 (84) | VFL Park | 46,066 | 8 July 1978 |

### Round 15

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 10.14 (74) | North Melbourne | 7.13 (55) | Princes Park | 16,214 | 15 July 1978 |
| Collingwood | 17.12 (114) | South Melbourne | 12.22 (94) | Victoria Park | 23,729 | 15 July 1978 |
| St Kilda | 10.11 (71) | Richmond | 19.11 (125) | Moorabbin Oval | 18,954 | 15 July 1978 |
| Geelong | 12.12 (84) | Footscray | 10.12 (72) | Kardinia Park | 15,700 | 15 July 1978 |
| Fitzroy | 15.11 (101) | Essendon | 11.17 (83) | Junction Oval | 13,550 | 15 July 1978 |
| Melbourne | 2.14 (26) | Carlton | 17.13 (115) | VFL Park | 16,870 | 15 July 1978 |

### Round 16

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 14.9 (93) | Richmond | 17.19 (121) | MCG | 18,416 | 22 July 1978 |
| Geelong | 16.8 (104) | St Kilda | 12.20 (92) | Kardinia Park | 16,219 | 22 July 1978 |
| Fitzroy | 18.14 (122) | Hawthorn | 17.19 (121) | Junction Oval | 12,240 | 22 July 1978 |
| Collingwood | 7.17 (59) | North Melbourne | 15.11 (101) | Victoria Park | 32,286 | 22 July 1978 |
| Carlton | 16.16 (112) | South Melbourne | 9.17 (71) | Princes Park | 24,277 | 22 July 1978 |
| Essendon | 13.8 (86) | Footscray | 15.17 (107) | VFL Park | 30,200 | 22 July 1978 |

### Round 17

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| St Kilda | 20.21 (141) | Melbourne | 13.11 (89) | Moorabbin Oval | 13,118 | 29 July 1978 |
| North Melbourne | 18.14 (122) | Geelong | 10.16 (76) | Arden Street Oval | 15,775 | 29 July 1978 |
| South Melbourne | 15.15 (105) | Footscray | 13.13 (91) | Lake Oval | 14,112 | 29 July 1978 |
| Richmond | 20.16 (136) | Essendon | 13.18 (96) | MCG | 41,878 | 29 July 1978 |
| Hawthorn | 13.17 (95) | Carlton | 18.11 (119) | Princes Park | 28,132 | 29 July 1978 |
| Collingwood | 16.11 (107) | Fitzroy | 11.11 (77) | VFL Park | 32,246 | 29 July 1978 |

### Round 18

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Footscray | 17.10 (112) | Hawthorn | 17.16 (118) | Western Oval | 17,285 | 5 August 1978 |
| Fitzroy | 11.16 (82) | North Melbourne | 19.10 (124) | Junction Oval | 13,022 | 5 August 1978 |
| Essendon | 11.16 (82) | St Kilda | 18.13 (121) | Windy Hill | 18,410 | 5 August 1978 |
| Carlton | 14.19 (103) | Collingwood | 8.14 (62) | Princes Park | 43,313 | 5 August 1978 |
| Melbourne | 13.17 (95) | Geelong | 14.17 (101) | MCG | 12,363 | 5 August 1978 |
| South Melbourne | 14.9 (93) | Richmond | 9.16 (70) | VFL Park | 31,717 | 5 August 1978 |

### Round 19

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| St Kilda | 13.7 (85) | South Melbourne | 3.19 (37) | Moorabbin Oval | 20,933 | 12 August 1978 |
| Hawthorn | 18.19 (127) | Richmond | 10.10 (70) | Princes Park | 15,980 | 12 August 1978 |
| Collingwood | 11.16 (82) | Footscray | 10.6 (66) | Victoria Park | 24,069 | 12 August 1978 |
| North Melbourne | 26.18 (174) | Melbourne | 8.13 (61) | Arden Street Oval | 9,183 | 12 August 1978 |
| Geelong | 14.8 (92) | Essendon | 13.7 (85) | Kardinia Park | 15,080 | 12 August 1978 |
| Fitzroy | 8.10 (58) | Carlton | 9.15 (69) | VFL Park | 21,410 | 12 August 1978 |

### Round 20

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Essendon | 19.16 (130) | Melbourne | 21.10 (136) | Windy Hill | 11,984 | 19 August 1978 |
| South Melbourne | 24.11 (155) | Geelong | 26.11 (167) | Lake Oval | 15,259 | 19 August 1978 |
| Footscray | 9.17 (71) | Fitzroy | 21.13 (139) | Western Oval | 12,525 | 19 August 1978 |
| Richmond | 16.13 (109) | Collingwood | 19.9 (123) | MCG | 59,580 | 19 August 1978 |
| North Melbourne | 9.16 (70) | Carlton | 19.17 (131) | Arden Street Oval | 28,965 | 19 August 1978 |
| Hawthorn | 12.11 (83) | St Kilda | 21.13 (139) | VFL Park | 31,677 | 19 August 1978 |
* Richmond were leading Collingwood by 55 points at the 10-minute mark of the second quarter before the Magpies hit back to win by 14 points. It was at the time the third-biggest comeback in League history.

### Round 21

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 15.16 (106) | South Melbourne | 11.19 (85) | MCG | 13,488 | 26 August 1978 |
| Geelong | 13.8 (86) | Hawthorn | 13.10 (88) | Kardinia Park | 21,663 | 26 August 1978 |
| Fitzroy | 20.14 (134) | Richmond | 17.15 (117) | Junction Oval | 11,200 | 26 August 1978 |
| Collingwood | 22.15 (147) | St Kilda | 15.17 (107) | Victoria Park | 31,537 | 26 August 1978 |
| Carlton | 23.7 (145) | Footscray | 15.12 (102) | Princes Park | 22,397 | 26 August 1978 |
| Essendon | 7.9 (51) | North Melbourne | 11.11 (77) | VFL Park | 22,337 | 26 August 1978 |

### Round 22

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 16.15 (111) | South Melbourne | 12.15 (87) | Arden Street Oval | 15,607 | 2 September 1978 |
| Geelong | 13.22 (100) | Fitzroy | 5.8 (38) | Kardinia Park | 22,842 | 2 September 1978 |
| Hawthorn | 17.16 (118) | Essendon | 16.13 (109) | Princes Park | 14,534 | 2 September 1978 |
| Melbourne | 19.11 (125) | Collingwood | 24.12 (156) | MCG | 40,267 | 2 September 1978 |
| St Kilda | 16.10 (106) | Carlton | 9.12 (66) | Moorabbin Oval | 35,850 | 2 September 1978 |
| Footscray | 11.15 (81) | Richmond | 19.20 (134) | VFL Park | 17,768 | 2 September 1978 |

## Ladder

| (P) | Premiers |
| | Qualified for finals |
| # | Team | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | Pts |
| 1 | North Melbourne | 22 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 2407 | 1991 | 120.9 | 64 |
| 2 | Hawthorn (P) | 22 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 2496 | 2120 | 117.7 | 64 |
| 3 | Collingwood | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2347 | 2072 | 113.3 | 60 |
| 4 | Carlton | 22 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 2329 | 1994 | 116.8 | 56 |
| 5 | Geelong | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2153 | 2104 | 102.3 | 48 |
| 6 | St Kilda | 22 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 2330 | 2503 | 93.1 | 46 |
| 7 | Richmond | 22 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 2459 | 2389 | 102.9 | 42 |
| 8 | South Melbourne | 22 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 2390 | 2383 | 100.3 | 36 |
| 9 | Fitzroy | 22 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 2258 | 2339 | 96.5 | 32 |
| 10 | Essendon | 22 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 2203 | 2337 | 94.3 | 32 |
| 11 | Footscray | 22 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 2272 | 2508 | 90.6 | 28 |
| 12 | Melbourne | 22 | 5 | 17 | 0 | 2025 | 2929 | 69.1 | 20 |
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for Average score: 104.8 Source: AFL Tables

## Finals series
### Finals week 1

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Carlton | 15.15 (105) | Geelong | 9.18 (72) | VFL Park | 57,505 | 9 September |
| Collingwood | 14.14 (98) | Hawthorn | 23.16 (154) | MCG | 79,931 | 9 September |

### Finals week 2

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Collingwood | 15.18 (108) | Carlton | 13.15 (93) | MCG | 91,933 | 16 September |
| North Melbourne | 10.13 (73) | Hawthorn | 12.15 (87) | VFL Park | 48,716 | 16 September |

### Preliminary final

| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 14.12 (96) | Collingwood | 12.12 (84) | VFL Park | 73,354 | 23 September |

### Grand final

| Game | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Grand final | Hawthorn | 18.13 (121) | North Melbourne | 15.13 (103) | MCG | 101,704 | 30 September 1978 |

## Notable events

* In Round 20, Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser (who was the Number 1 ticket holder for Carlton throughout his time in office) was booed incessantly during the second half of the North Melbourne vs Carlton match at the Arden Street Oval. The booing continued right up to the moment when Mr. Fraser stepped inside his limousine and was driven away from the ground.

## Awards

* The Coleman Medal was won by Kelvin Templeton of Footscray with 118 goals.
* The Brownlow Medal was won by Malcolm Blight of North Melbourne
* The reserves premiership was won by North Melbourne. North Melbourne 17.29 (131) defeated Hawthorn 11.13 (79) in the grand final, held as a curtain-raiser to the seniors grand final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 30 September.