1975 VFL season
Encyclopedia
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League
season of 1975.
Teams played each other in a home-and-away season of 22 rounds; matches 12 to 22 were the "home-and-way reverse" of matches 1 to 11 (except that rounds 14 and 15 were the reverse of 4 and 3 respectively).
Once the 22 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1975 VFL Premiers were determined by the specific format and conventions of the "McIntyre Final Five system".
defeated Hawthorn
19.8 (122) to 9.13 (67), in front of a crowd of 110551 people. (For an explanation of scoring see Australian rules football
).
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
season of 1975.
Premiership season
In 1975, 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 22 rounds; matches 12 to 22 were the "home-and-way reverse" of matches 1 to 11 (except that rounds 14 and 15 were the reverse of 4 and 3 respectively).
Once the 22 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1975 VFL Premiers were determined by the specific format and conventions of the "McIntyre Final Five system".
Grand final
North MelbourneNorth Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
defeated Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
19.8 (122) to 9.13 (67), in front of a crowd of 110551 people. (For an explanation of scoring see Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
).
Awards
- The 1975 VFL Premiership team was North MelbourneNorth Melbourne Football ClubThe North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
. - The VFL's leading goalkickerColeman MedalThe Coleman Medal is awarded yearly to the Australian Football League player who kicks the most goals in regular-season matches in that year...
was Leigh MatthewsLeigh MatthewsLeigh Raymond "Lethal Leigh" Matthews AM is a former player and coach of Australian rules football. He played for Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League from 1969 to 1985, coached Collingwood from 1986–1995, and coached the Brisbane Lions from 1999 to 2008...
of HawthornHawthorn Football ClubThe Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
who kicked 68 goals (including one goal in the finals). - The winner of the 1975 Brownlow MedalBrownlow MedalThe Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
was Gary DempseyGary DempseyGary Dempsey is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Footscray and North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League....
of Footscray with 20 votes. - South MelbourneSydney SwansThe Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
took the "wooden spoon" in 1975.
Notable events
- There is a wild brawl in the round 1 match between HawthornHawthorn Football ClubThe Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
and North MelbourneNorth Melbourne Football ClubThe North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
involving 34 of the 36 players. Hawthorn's Don ScottDon Scott (footballer)Don Scott is a former Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League. Scott was a fearless ruckman and premiership captain for Hawthorn Football Club....
and North Melbourne's Brad Smith do not participate. There were no reports from this match. - FootscrayWestern BulldogsThe Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
had three new, highly talented recruits from interstate in 1975: 183 cm centreman Peter FeatherbyPeter FeatherbyPeter Featherby is a former Australian rules footballer. He began his senior career with Subiaco Football Club in the West Australian Football League, but is also played with two Victorian Football League clubs....
from Subiaco Football ClubSubiaco Football ClubThe Subiaco Football Club, nicknamed the Lions, is an Australian rules football club in the West Australian Football League . It was founded in 1896, and admitted to the WAFL in 1901, along with North Fremantle...
in the West Australian National Football LeagueWest Australian Football LeagueThe West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
(WANFL), 183 cm forward Ian LowIan LowIan Low is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Footscray and Collingwood in the Victorian Football League ....
from Manuka Football ClubManuka Football ClubManuka Football Club is a defunct Australian Rules Football club that played in the AFL Canberra from 1928 - 1991. The club played at Manuka Oval in the inner-south suburbs of Canberra.-Guernsey:...
in the Canberra Australian National Football LeagueAustralian rules football in the Australian Capital TerritoryAustralian rules football in the Australian Capital Territory has a history dating back to the formation of the territory in the 1910s.Traditionally, Canberra was considered to be one of the points which define the Barassi Line, however the popularity of Australian rules football suffered...
(CANFL), and 190.5 cm forward-flanker Neil Sachse from North Adelaide Football Club in the South Australian National Football LeagueSouth Australian National Football LeagueThe South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
(SANFL). In an accidental collision in the round 2 match against FitzroyFitzroy Football ClubThe Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
Neil Sachse is badly injured and is left a quadriplegic. - Brent CrosswellBrent CrosswellBrent Tasman Crosswell is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton, Melbourne and North Melbourne in a 222 game Victorian Football League career...
plays for CarltonCarlton Football ClubThe Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
in round 1, he does not play for Carlton again. Carlton give him a clearance to North MelbourneNorth Melbourne Football ClubThe North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
and he plays his first game for North Melbourne in round 7. - On 17 June, HawthornHawthorn Football ClubThe Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
announce that they have given full-forward Peter HudsonPeter HudsonPeter John Hudson AM is a former Australian Rules Football player, considered one of the greatest full-forwards in the game's history....
a clearance to Glenorchy Football ClubGlenorchy Football ClubThe Glenorchy District Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently playing in the Tasmanian State League and the Southern Football League in Tasmania, Australia.-Origins:...
who had only played three and a half games for Hawthorn in three years, - The second quarter of the round 14 match between CarltonCarlton Football ClubThe Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
and EssendonEssendon Football ClubThe Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
at Windy HillWindy Hill, EssendonWindy Hill is an Australian rules football ground located in Essendon, a northwestern suburb of the Melbourne metropolitan area....
lasted almost 40 minutes, with Carlton scoring 14.1 (85) to Essendon's 4.1 (25) for a record quarter aggregate score of 18.2 (110). It is the first quarter to beat South Melbourne’s 1919 team record of 17.4 (106).- Near the end of the quarter, a massive brawl involving all 36 players erupted when Essendon centreman Neville FieldsNeville FieldsNeville Fields is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon and South Melbourne in the VFL.Fields was a left footed centreman and won Essendon's 'Most improved player' award in 1971. He was their best and fairest the following season and went on to represent Victoria in...
ran past Carlton forward Craig DavisCraig Davis (Australian rules footballer)Craig Davis is a former Australian rules footballer who played with four clubs during his eleven seasons in the VFL in the 1970s and early 1980s...
and king-hit him in retaliation for some supposed earlier act of aggression against an Essendon player. Noticing the unconscious Davis, both Rod AshmanRod AshmanRodney Ashman is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Carlton Blues.A forward, Ashman played in back to back premierships in 1981 and 1982.He was named in the forward pocket in Carlton's Team of the Century....
and Rod AustinRod AustinRod Austin is a former Australian rules footballer who played as a defender for the Carlton Blues from 1972 until 1985....
ran to remonstrate with Fields, followed by their Carlton team-mates, and the fight was on. Carlton's Phillip PinnellPhillip PinnellPhillip Pinnell is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton and Melbourne in the VFL.Pinnell was a defender but started off as a winger when he debuted for Carlton in 1969. He played in that season's losing grand final against Richmond but was a premiership player the following...
knocked out Essendon's Dean Hartigan. It took a long time for the match to resume. Field umpire Ian Robinson was showered with cans by spectators. Eight players were reported. Many more players would have been reported had the umpires been able to turn their attention elsewhere (the VFL responded to this problem by introducing two field umpires in the following season). The tribunal decisions were: - Rod AshmanRod AshmanRodney Ashman is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Carlton Blues.A forward, Ashman played in back to back premierships in 1981 and 1982.He was named in the forward pocket in Carlton's Team of the Century....
of Carlton was suspended for 4 weeks, for striking Neville FieldsNeville FieldsNeville Fields is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon and South Melbourne in the VFL.Fields was a left footed centreman and won Essendon's 'Most improved player' award in 1971. He was their best and fairest the following season and went on to represent Victoria in...
. - Rod AustinRod AustinRod Austin is a former Australian rules footballer who played as a defender for the Carlton Blues from 1972 until 1985....
of Carlton was suspended for 4 weeks, for striking Neville FieldsNeville FieldsNeville Fields is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon and South Melbourne in the VFL.Fields was a left footed centreman and won Essendon's 'Most improved player' award in 1971. He was their best and fairest the following season and went on to represent Victoria in...
. - Phillip PinnellPhillip PinnellPhillip Pinnell is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton and Melbourne in the VFL.Pinnell was a defender but started off as a winger when he debuted for Carlton in 1969. He played in that season's losing grand final against Richmond but was a premiership player the following...
of Carlton was suspended for 2 weeks, for striking Robin CloseRobin CloseRobin Close is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the VFL during the late 1960s and 1970s....
. - David McKayDavid McKay (footballer)David McKay is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Carlton Blues during the 1970s.In 1970, in just his second season of VFL football McKay won a premiership with Carlton and was voted as best on ground in the Grand Final. Originally from Newlyn, he was also part of winning...
of Carlton was found guilty of striking Laurie Moloney, and severely reprimanded. - Ron AndrewsRon AndrewsRon Andrews is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon and Collingwood in the VFL.Andrews was a centre half back and had a reputation throughout his career as being a tough and uncompromising player...
of Essendon was found not guilty of striking David McKayDavid McKay (footballer)David McKay is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Carlton Blues during the 1970s.In 1970, in just his second season of VFL football McKay won a premiership with Carlton and was voted as best on ground in the Grand Final. Originally from Newlyn, he was also part of winning...
. - Robin CloseRobin CloseRobin Close is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the VFL during the late 1960s and 1970s....
of Essendon was suspended for 2 weeks, for striking Phillip PinnellPhillip PinnellPhillip Pinnell is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton and Melbourne in the VFL.Pinnell was a defender but started off as a winger when he debuted for Carlton in 1969. He played in that season's losing grand final against Richmond but was a premiership player the following...
. - Laurie Moloney of Essendon was suspended for 2 weeks, for charging Phillip PinnellPhillip PinnellPhillip Pinnell is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton and Melbourne in the VFL.Pinnell was a defender but started off as a winger when he debuted for Carlton in 1969. He played in that season's losing grand final against Richmond but was a premiership player the following...
. - Neville FieldsNeville FieldsNeville Fields is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon and South Melbourne in the VFL.Fields was a left footed centreman and won Essendon's 'Most improved player' award in 1971. He was their best and fairest the following season and went on to represent Victoria in...
of Essendon was found not guilty of striking Rod AustinRod AustinRod Austin is a former Australian rules footballer who played as a defender for the Carlton Blues from 1972 until 1985....
.
- Near the end of the quarter, a massive brawl involving all 36 players erupted when Essendon centreman Neville Fields
- At the end of the season, greatly dis-satisfied with the approach of coach Des TuddenhamDes TuddenhamDesmond Vincent Tuddenham is a former Australian rules footballer who played during the 1960s and 1970s. He was a half forward flanker....
(especially his emphasis on "vigour" with players who were renowned for their skill), and disturbed by the fact that, under Tuddenham, EssendonEssendon Football ClubThe Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
had been involved in two massive brawls in two consecutive years, the committee of the Essendon Football Club sacked Tuddenham and paid out his contract.- Also, given the example of an injured John Nicholls in the 1973 Grand Final, and that of Tuddenham having his leg broken in the round 10 match against RichmondRichmond Football ClubThe Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
, Essendon now recognized the dangers of having its coach on the playing field and liable to injury.
- Also, given the example of an injured John Nicholls in the 1973 Grand Final, and that of Tuddenham having his leg broken in the round 10 match against Richmond