1976 VFA season

none December 2017 December 2017 1976 10 Port Melbourne 11 Port Melbourne 10 10 Williamstown 2 Frankston 1 white 1975 VFA season 1975 white 1977 VFA season 1977 The 1976 Victorian Football Association season was the 95th season of the top division of the Australian rules football competition, and the 16th season of second division competition. The Division 1 premiership was won by the Port Melbourne Football Club, after it defeated Dandenong in the Grand Final on 19 September by 57 points; it was Port Melbourne's 11th Division 1 premiership, taking it past Williamstown to become the club with the most Division 1 premierships in VFA history, a title it still holds outright as of 2024; and, it was the second of six premierships won by the club in nine seasons between 1974 and 1982. The Division 2 premiership was won by Williamstown; it was its second Division 2 premiership, won in its first season in after relegation. Division 1 The Division 1 home-and-away season was played over 18 rounds; the top four then contested the finals under the Page–McIntyre system. The finals were played at the St Kilda Cricket Ground. Ladder main WDL Q 1976 VFA Division 1 Ladder true points y 4 2 PMB Port Melbourne NBU Preston CAU Caulfield DAN Dandenong COB Coburg GLW Geelong West PRA Prahran BRU Brunswick SAN Sandringham OAK Oakleigh 15 3 0 2288 1883 P 13 5 0 2164 1920 11 7 0 2095 1978 10 8 0 1966 1781 9 9 0 2052 1940 9 9 0 1960 2079 8 10 0 1847 2019 5 12 1 1836 2105 5 13 0 1982 2068 4 13 1 1639 2056 #CCFFCC A A A A Premiers #FFCCCC R 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for. complete The Age 23 August 1976 Cook kicks 14 at Port 23 Melbourne Marc Fiddian Finals Semi-finals Sunday, 29 August Caulfield 15.9 (99) A Dandenong 20.19 (139) St Kilda Cricket Ground 11,352 The Age 25 Marc Fiddian Dandenong outsmarts the Bears 30 August 1976 Melbourne Sunday, 5 September Port Melbourne 19.18 (132) H Preston 14.9 (93) St Kilda Cricket Ground 11,578 The Age 33 Marc Fiddian 6 September 1976 Port has too many big guns Melbourne Preliminary Final Sunday, 12 September Preston 11.8 (74) A Dandenong 20.16 (136) St Kilda Cricket Ground 10,828 The Age 25 Marc Fiddian Much too Dandy 13 September 1976 Melbourne Grand Final The 1976 Division 1 Grand Final became infamous for violent clashes and brawls during the second quarter. Early in the second quarter Port Melbourne full-forward Fred Cook was king-hit more than 70m behind the play, sparking a brawl in Port Melbourne's forward-line; as this was in progress, Dandenong half-forward flanker Pat Flaherty was felled at the other end of the field, sparking further brawling. The brawl delayed the restart of play for ten minutes.The Age Melbourne Marc Fiddian Ken Knox 34 22 September 1976 Haenen in the clear Then, at the 16-minute mark of the same quarter, Port Melbourne captain-coach Norm Brown was king hit by Alan Harper, sparking further brawling. In all, nine players and officials were reported during the second quarter brawls. Dandenong secretary Lionel Farrow described the game as being worse than the controversial 1967 Grand Final played between the same clubs nine years earlier. Cook required twenty-three stitches in his mouth as a result of his injuries, but recovered and kicked 5.6 for the game. Brown suffered a broken nose and lost teeth, and Dandenong's Alan Harper suffered a broken jaw.The Age Melbourne Ken Piesse 33 21 September 1976 VFA won't see film At the time of the first brawl, Port Melbourne already held a large lead, and nothing changed on the scoreboard after the brawls; the rest of the game passed without incident, and Port Melbourne won the game comfortably. 1976 VFA Division 1 Grand Final Sunday, 19 September Port Melbourne 8.5 (53) 12.10 (82) 13.14 (92) 19.18 (132) Cook 5, Rasmussen 4, Bond 2, Christou 2, Holt 2, Kerr 2, Brown, Haenen Cook (lacerated mouth), Brown (broken nose, lost teeth) Haenen, for striking boundary umpire Walker (cleared)Harland, for striking Harper (four weeks)Dermott, for kneeing Harper (reprimand)Holt, for striking Droscher (two weeks)Allen, for striking Thompson (two weeks)Thomas (trainer), for grabbing Harper by the hair (entire 1977 season) H Dandenong 3.2 (20) 5.6 (36) 8.11 (59) 10.15 (75) Flaherty 3, Briese 2, Taylor 2, Hibbert, Payze, Wright Miller (broken foot), Crane (groin), Harper (broken jaw) Droscher, for striking Holt (two weeks)Shinners, for striking Thomas (trainer) (four weeks)Melai (trainer), for using abusive language (six weeks) St Kilda Cricket Ground 32,137 Cook all heart in Port win Marc Fiddian 20 September 1976 The Age 31 Melbourne Graeme Marcy All reports took place in the second quarter; the suspensions and penalties received are indicated in parentheses. Awards The leading goalkicker for the season was Fred Cook (Port Melbourne), who kicked 115 goals in the home-and-away season and 124 goals overall. The J. J. Liston Trophy was won by Danny Hibbert (Dandenong), who polled 34 votes. Hibbert finished ahead of Derek King (Oakleigh), who finished second with 33 votes, and Ken Marks (Preston), who finished third with 30 votes.The Age Melbourne Marc Fiddian 32, 36 26 August 1976 Hibbert wins Liston Coburg won the seconds premiership; it was the third consecutive season that Coburg had won the seconds premiership, with the first of those coming in Division 2. Coburg 16.16 (112) defeated Port Melbourne 8.19 (67) in the Grand Final, played as a stand-alone match on Saturday 11 September at Toorak Park. Coburg won the lightning premiership. Coburg 5.7 (37) defeated Brunswick 1.7 (13) in the Grand Final, played as a curtain-raiser to the senior Grand Final on Sunday 19 September. Division 2 The Division 2 home-and-away season was played over eighteen rounds; the top four then contested the finals under the Page–McIntyre system; all finals were played on Sundays at Toorak Park. Ladder main WDL Q 1976 VFA Division 2 Ladder true points y 4 2 FRA Frankston MOR Mordialloc WIL Williamstown NOR Northcote CAM Camberwell WER Werribee SUN Sunshine WAV Waverley BOX Box Hill YAR Yarraville 16 1 1 2392 1668 14 4 0 2623 1728 12 6 0 2374 1901 P 11 6 1 2225 1800 10 8 0 2262 2124 7 11 0 1995 2138 6 12 0 1909 2161 6 12 0 1895 2199 6 12 0 1835 2392 1 17 0 1557 2955 Premiers #CCFFCC A A A A 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for. complete The Age 27 Marc Fiddian Bears capture Coburg's spot 9 August 1976 Melbourne Finals Semi-finals Sunday, 15 August Williamstown 16.20 (116) H Northcote 17.10 (112) Toorak Park 9,500 The Age 31 Marc Fiddian Zebras score as teams, fans brawl 16 August 1976 Melbourne Sunday, 22 August Frankston 13.14 (92) A Mordialloc 17.17 (119) Toorak Park 11,000 Preliminary Final Sunday, 29 August Frankston 17.16 (118) A Williamstown 18.12 (120) Toorak Park 8,000 1976 VFA Division 2 Grand Final Sunday, 5 September Mordialloc 3.4 (22) 4.10 (34) 8.12 (60) 9.16 (70) Johnston 3, Norris 2, Williamson 2, Deaton, Neville A Williamstown 2.1 (13) 8.2 (50) 13.5 (83) 19.13 (127) Boxall 7, Mildenhall 3, Cross 2, Gardiner 2, Mahoney 2, Brown, Harley, Tweedley Toorak Park 10,000 Graeme Marcy Awards The leading goalkicker for Division 2 was Peter Neville (Mordialloc) who kicked 129 goals in the home-and-away season, and 134 goals overall. Neville won the title in his first full season of senior football, having played a single game for Sandringham in 1975.The Age Melbourne Marc Fiddian 33 19 June 1976 Pete was worth Mordi's wait The J. Field Medal was won by Colin Boyd (Williamstown), who polled 34 votes. Boyd finished ahead of Stephen Douglas (Werribee), who finished second with 29 votes, and John Johnston (Mordialloc), who finished third with 26 votes. Frankston won the seconds premiership. Frankston 14.23 (107) defeated Camberwell 14.20 (104) in the Grand Final, played as a stand-alone match on Saturday, 4 September at Northcote Park. Notable events Interleague matches The Association played one interleague representative match during the season, against the Ovens & Murray Football League on Anzac Day. Tony Jewell (Caulfield) coached the Association team.The Age Melbourne 33 Marc Fiddian 3 April 1976 Jewell VFA coach 1976 Interleague Matches Sunday, 25 April O&M 17.14 (116) A V.F.A. 19.11 (125) Bunton Park, Albury 4,000 The Age Melbourne 23 Marc Fiddian 26 April 1976 Struggle for VFA Other notable events In response to the poor reputation for on-field violence that the Association had developed, the Viscount Sportsmanship Award, valued at $1,000, was established to be awarded to the club in each division with the fewest reports and suspensions during the season.The Age Melbourne 27 Marc Fiddian 2 April 1976 Nice-look VFA Brunswick won the award in Division 1, losing only a single point for the season.The Age Melbourne Marc Fiddian 22 30 August 1976 Frosty plays second fiddle On 2 May, Camberwell defeated Williamstown for the first time since 19 July 1952, ending a losing streak lasting 16 matches over 24 years.The Age Melbourne 35 Marc Fiddian 1 May 1976 Seaside drought to endThe Age Melbourne 23 Marc Fiddian 3 May 1976 Roosters win final 'replay' On 13 June, Geelong West lost at the Western Oval for the first time since Round 11, 1973,The Age Melbourne 16 Marc Fiddian 14 June 1976 Glory day for Coburg ending a 25-match home winning streak.The Age Melbourne Marc Fiddian 29 28 May 1983 Injury just the start for Mills In a bizarre Division 2 match between Northcote and Williamstown, Williamstown scored eleven straight goals before scoring its first behind late in the second quarter, and Northcote scored sixteen straight behinds before scoring its first goal late in the third quarter. The final score was Williamstown 16.4 (100) d. Northcote 6.21 (57).Seagulls over Williamstown Fiddian Marc 2003 Williamstown Football Club Williamstown, VIC 129 In the final round of Division 1 home-and-away matches, Oakleigh trailed Dandenong by 39 points at three-quarter time, before kicking eight goals to one in the final quarter to win by four points. The result was inconsequential, as Oakleigh was already assured of relegation. Northcote reached the Division 2 finals for the first time since 1966; over the previous nine years, the club had finished in fifth place to just miss the finals on six occasions. See also List of VFA/VFL Premiers References 2 Category:Victorian Football League seasons VFL