1956 Night Series Cup

December 2023 November 2013 1956 Night Series Cup VFL Night Series Cup 1956 180px VFL Night Premiership 8 1st 7 143150 1953 1957 The 1956 VFL Night Premiership Cup was the Victorian Football League end of season cup competition played between the eight teams that didn't make the finals of that season. It was held between 23 August to 17 September 1956 with games being played at the Lake Oval, home ground of South Melbourne as it was the only ground equipped to host night games. Eight teams played in the first competition with the final seeing an attendance of 32,450 as defeated in the final by 6 points (13.16.94 to 13.10.88). Games Quarterfinals The opening match of the 1956 edition saw record the first victory of the new competition by 20 points over . But the match was remembered for the brawl that happened in the third quarter which featured all of the players, umpires and some spectators in scenes not since the 1945 VFL Grand Final between and South Melbourne.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54426190/brawl-at-night-football/ Wild Brawl Mars Night Football 24 August 1956 3 The Age 30 June 2020 newspapers.com The following match which was played five days later saw a surprise victory by who defeated by two points with North Melbourne leading at every change to get the win.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54427135/north-in-narrow-win-over-dons/ North in Narrow Win Over Dons 29 August 1956 16 The Age 30 June 2020 newspapers.com and Carlton also recorded narrow wins over and in the remaining two quarter-finals which was played on 30 August and the 4 September.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54427300/richmond-in-narrow-win/ Richmond in Narrow Win 31 August 1956 18 The Age 30 June 2020 newspapers.comBig Crowd Sees Blues' Night Win 5 September 1956 16 The Age Quarterfinals Thursday 23 August 13.15 (93) H 10.13 (73) Lake Oval 14,000 Tuesday 28 August 8.13 (61) H 8.11 (59) Lake Oval 13,000 Thursday 30 August 12.10 (82) H 9.19 (73) Lake Oval 15,200 Tuesday 4 September 13.18 (96) H 12.10 (82) Lake Oval 25,000 Semifinals The semi-finals began on the 6 September with South Melbourne taking on North Melbourne. In another tight tussle between the teams, it was not until late on in the final quarter with the usage of the wind that South Melbourne would take the win with a goal from Monks sealing the five point victory.https://newspapers.com/clip/54428413/souths-narrow-semi-final-win/ South's Narrow Semifinal win The Age 7 September 1956 30 June 2020 newspapers.com In the second semi-final, an attendance of 25,500 saw Carlton win the match by 12 points in what The Age called fast, rugged and exciting football with Carlton leading at each break to record the victory.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54430768/carlton-wins-rugged-semi-final/ Carlton Wins Rugged Semifinal The Age 13 September 1956 30 June 2020 newspapers.com Semifinals Thursday 6 September 9.13 (67) H 8.14 (62) Lake Oval 17,500 Wednesday 12 September 9.15 (69) A 11.15 (81) Lake Oval 25,500 Final The final of the 1956 edition was played on the 17 September 1956 between South Melbourne and Carlton. With an attendance of 32,450 watching the match, South Melbourne's win was credited in the second quarter when they outscored Carlton 4.2 to 0.3 to open up a thirty-one point lead. Carlton tried to come back into the match throughout the final quarter and had a chance to take the lead but a dropped pass from Hands would give South Melbourne the win by six points and become the first winners of the Night Series Cup.South Melbourne in title win Perry Beames 18 September 1956 18 The Age Final Monday 17 September 13.16 (94) H 13.10 (88) Lake Oval 32,450 See also List of Australian Football League night premiers 1956 VFL season References