1979 VFL season

83rd season of the Victorian Football League (VFL) December 2017 December 2021 vfl_premiership 1979 12 12 14 Night series 1 138 3574281 113,545 Kelvin Templeton () Peter Moore () 1978 1980 The 1979 VFL season was the 83rd season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 31 March until 29 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 Carlton Football Club for the twelfth time, after it defeated by five points in the 1979 VFL Grand Final. The season saw the beginning of the league's expansion into the interstate and Sunday television markets, with two Sunday matches played in Sydney, New South Wales. Night series defeated 12.8 (80) to 7.10 (52) in the final. Home-and-away season Round 1 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.15 (69) | | 21.23 (149) | Victoria Park | 29,345 | 7 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 23.13 (151) | | 15.11 (101) | Princes Park | 24,771 | 7 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.21 (111) | | 19.11 (125) | SMCG | 18,603 | 7 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.14 (128) | | 14.19 (103) | Moorabbin Oval | 22,060 | 7 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.17 (125) | | 16.17 (113) | MCG | 24,133 | 7 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.27 (129) | | 16.13 (109) | NMCG | 22,633 | 7 April 1979 Round 2 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.16 (94) | | 20.13 (133) | Western Oval | 23,457 | 14 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.14 (86) | | 21.13 (139) | Junction Oval | 19,437 | 14 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.24 (102) | | 19.18 (132) | Princes Park | 29,355 | 14 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.16 (106) | | 9.13 (67) | Kardinia Park | 23,858 | 16 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 21.22 (148) | | 9.10 (64) | Windy Hill | 26,499 | 16 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.18 (96) | | 23.9 (147) | MCG | 59,942 | 16 April 1979 Round 3 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.14 (80) | | 14.17 (101) | VFL Park | 41,717 | 31 March 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.10 (118) | | 16.15 (111) | SMCG | 14,431 | 21 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.15 (123) | | 11.17 (83) | Princes Park | 14,703 | 21 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.14 (104) | | 16.13 (109) | Moorabbin Oval | 18,275 | 21 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.12 (132) | | 16.16 (112) | MCG | 24,635 | 21 April 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.19 (127) | | 14.15 (99) | NMCG | 29,747 | 21 April 1979 Despite being formally a part of Round 3, the Essendon vs Carlton match was played as a stand-alone match on the Saturday before Round 1, and was therefore the opening match of the season. Round 4 Round 4 Wednesday, 25 April (2:10 pm) 29.15 (189) H 15.5 (95) VFL Park 37,276 Report Wednesday, 25 April (2:10 pm) 16.23 (119) H 15.19 (109) MCG 44,708 Report Saturday, 28 April (2:10 pm) 11.16 (82) A 20.19 (139) Junction Oval 21,577 Report Saturday, 28 April (2:10 pm) 31.21 (207) H 3.11 (29) Victoria Park 29,380 Report Saturday, 28 April (2:10 pm) 20.8 (128) D 19.14 (128) Western Oval 26,981 Report Saturday, 28 April (2:10 pm) 10.13 (73) A 19.9 (123) Kardinia Park 21,353 Report In the ANZAC Day clash at VFL Park, kicked their highest score against . It was also at the time the highest score in a match that South Melbourne had conceded, the previous highest being 28.17 (185) by North Melbourne in Round 12, 1974. At Victoria Park, broke several records in their win against , kicking their highest-ever score in a match – 31.21 (207), which they would top the following year against the same team – and also broke a 60-year-old League record in terms of greatest winning margin (178 points), previously held by , who beat St Kilda by 171 points back in Round 12, 1919. Round 5 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.24 (138) | | 12.16 (88) | NMCG | 16,015 | 5 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.16 (76) | | 25.22 (172) | Windy Hill | 19,741 | 5 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.20 (110) | | 13.18 (96) | Princes Park | 24,248 | 5 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.16 (82) | | 24.17 (161) | MCG | 31,448 | 5 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.10 (112) | | 22.10 (142) | Moorabbin Oval | 15,481 | 5 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.17 (89) | | 20.17 (137) | VFL Park | 34,163 | 5 May 1979 Round 6 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.15 (99) | | 19.19 (133) | Victoria Park | 27,824 | 12 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 26.19 (175) | | 11.20 (86) | SMCG | 12,394 | 12 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.18 (72) | | 7.5 (47) | Kardinia Park | 27,824 | 12 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 21.14 (140) | | 24.19 (163) | MCG | 21,783 | 12 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.12 (108) | | 25.18 (168) | Princes Park | 29,935 | 12 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.15 (99) | | 13.16 (94) | VFL Park | 22,626 | 12 May 1979 Round 7 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 22.17 (149) | | 14.17 (101) | Western Oval | 15,045 | 19 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.18 (102) | | 11.24 (90) | Junction Oval | 15,870 | 19 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 23.18 (156) | | 9.20 (74) | Windy Hill | 21,592 | 19 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.14 (104) | | 16.12 (108) | Princes Park | 39,411 | 19 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.15 (111) | | 14.15 (99) | Moorabbin Oval | 18,087 | 19 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.14 (92) | | 6.15 (51) | VFL Park | 37,260 | 19 May 1979 Round 8 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.18 (120) | | 10.17 (77) | Princes Park | 10,997 | 26 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 22.26 (158) | | 12.13 (85) | MCG | 21,672 | 26 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.16 (94) | | 21.22 (148) | NMCG | 17,469 | 26 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.11 (83) | | 12.12 (84) | Kardinia Park | 25,402 | 26 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.8 (44) | | 20.11 (131) | SMCG | 21,282 | 26 May 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.10 (64) | | 15.13 (103) | VFL Park | 28,817 | 26 May 1979 Round 9 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.9 (111) | | 23.18 (156) | MCG | 23,261 | 2 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.15 (123) | | 11.12 (78) | Junction Oval | 14,963 | 2 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.18 (132) | | 10.20 (80) | Victoria Park | 31,474 | 2 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.12 (108) | | 17.14 (116) | Princes Park | 24,875 | 2 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.12 (78) | | 18.19 (127) | Western Oval | 21,362 | 2 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.15 (123) | | 17.8 (110) | VFL Park | 15,750 | 2 June 1979 Round 10 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.19 (115) | | 14.15 (99) | Windy Hill | 18,916 | 9 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.15 (123) | | 16.11 (107) | Princes Park | 46,106 | 9 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.11 (65) | | 12.13 (85) | Moorabbin Oval | 17,390 | 9 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.17 (101) | | 18.19 (127) | MCG | 24,824 | 9 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.8 (74) | | 17.17 (119) | VFL Park | 14,357 | 9 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.9 (105) | | 23.18 (156) | SCG | 31,391 | 10 June 1979 Round 11 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.18 (132) | | 9.11 (65) | Junction Oval | 17,520 | 16 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.10 (100) | | 15.11 (101) | Princes Park | 12,513 | 16 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.16 (82) | | 13.18 (96) | MCG | 53,562 | 16 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.17 (107) | | 16.14 (110) | Moorabbin Oval | 19,705 | 18 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.18 (126) | | 20.12 (132) | SMCG | 26,740 | 18 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.12 (108) | | 20.12 (132) | VFL Park | 53,116 | 18 June 1979 Round 12 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 25.16 (166) | | 16.14 (110) | MCG | 21,216 | 23 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.18 (132) | | 13.15 (93) | Princes Park | 13,176 | 23 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.12 (120) | | 11.15 (81) | Western Oval | 14,308 | 23 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.11 (101) | | 6.18 (54) | Windy Hill | 30,795 | 23 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.17 (107) | | 14.17 (101) | Kardinia Park | 29,941 | 23 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.20 (122) | | 11.14 (80) | VFL Park | 56,975 | 23 June 1979 Round 13 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 25.19 (169) | | 8.16 (64) | Victoria Park | 22,903 | 30 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 21.12 (138) | | 12.10 (82) | Princes Park | 21,792 | 30 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.21 (69) | | 12.9 (81) | NMCG | 13,925 | 30 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.20 (110) | | 20.16 (136) | SMCG | 13,850 | 30 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.12 (66) | | 15.15 (105) | Moorabbin Oval | 18,802 | 30 June 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.3 (57) | | 16.12 (108) | VFL Park | 13,272 | 30 June 1979 Round 14 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.11 (71) | | 6.14 (50) | Windy Hill | 25,240 | 7 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.18 (120) | | 10.16 (76) | MCG | 19,879 | 7 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.11 (89) | | 10.14 (74) | SMCG | 10,626 | 7 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.16 (118) | | 14.16 (100) | NMCG | 14,971 | 7 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.16 (52) | | 15.11 (101) | Moorabbin Oval | 21,588 | 7 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.14 (116) | | 9.11 (65) | VFL Park | 58,736 | 7 July 1979 Round 15 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 24.23 (167) | | 24.10 (154) | MCG | 15,039 | 14 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 24.16 (160) | | 11.15 (81) | Western Oval | 13,386 | 14 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.16 (76) | | 20.13 (133) | Victoria Park | 30,415 | 14 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.18 (126) | | 12.11 (83) | Princes Park | 44,661 | 14 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.12 (78) | | 11.13 (79) | VFL Park | 20,777 | 14 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.15 (135) | | 22.20 (152) | SCG | 17,140 | 15 July 1979 Round 16 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.20 (104) | | 18.11 (119) | Princes Park | 13,557 | 21 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.9 (129) | | 14.20 (104) | Kardinia Park | 14,613 | 21 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 23.17 (155) | | 3.15 (33) | Victoria Park | 21,041 | 21 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.16 (112) | | 15.9 (99) | Junction Oval | 19,684 | 21 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.7 (61) | | 19.26 (140) | MCG | 26,388 | 21 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.18 (66) | | 12.16 (88) | VFL Park | 14,725 | 21 July 1979 Round 17 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.14 (128) | | 16.12 (108) | Moorabbin Oval | 12,969 | 28 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.10 (82) | | 18.14 (122) | Western Oval | 14,284 | 28 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.21 (111) | | 12.11 (83) | Princes Park | 22,159 | 28 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.15 (111) | | 19.10 (124) | MCG | 38,111 | 28 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.17 (71) | | 14.8 (92) | Windy Hill | 31,968 | 28 July 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | (details) | 36.22 (238) | | 6.12 (48) | VFL Park | 12,149 | 28 July 1979 Fitzroy's 190-point winning margin remains, as of 2026, the biggest in AFL/VFL history. Round 18 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 31.9 (195) | | 15.16 (106) | SMCG | 9,815 | 4 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.14 (104) | | 15.25 (115) | Princes Park | 15,104 | 4 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 21.8 (134) | | 16.9 (105) | MCG | 25,367 | 4 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.16 (124) | | 9.9 (63) | Kardinia Park | 30,495 | 4 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.11 (119) | | 21.15 (141) | NMCG | 28,902 | 4 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 28.22 (190) | | 18.11 (119) | VFL Park | 24,651 | 4 August 1979 Round 19 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.19 (97) | | 6.5 (41) | Western Oval | 12,537 | 11 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.12 (54) | | 17.19 (121) | Junction Oval | 16,659 | 11 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.12 (96) | | 8.8 (56) | Windy Hill | 23,336 | 11 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.11 (95) | | 13.9 (87) | Victoria Park | 18,041 | 11 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 22.17 (149) | | 6.9 (45) | Princes Park | 17,127 | 11 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.25 (73) | | 14.11 (95) | VFL Park | 12,897 | 11 August 1979 Round 20 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.16 (70) | | 10.14 (74) | Windy Hill | 19,034 | 18 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.27 (117) | | 6.9 (45) | NMCG | 10,680 | 18 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.6 (102) | | 10.12 (72) | SMCG | 11,298 | 18 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.6 (60) | | 10.16 (76) | Moorabbin Oval | 12,330 | 18 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.15 (75) | | 13.17 (95) | MCG | 61,624 | 18 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.18 (90) | | 8.6 (54) | VFL Park | 25,075 | 18 August 1979 Round 21 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 24.17 (161) | | 12.24 (96) | MCG | 18,435 | 25 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.18 (60) | | 24.21 (165) | Princes Park | 18,501 | 25 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.13 (115) | | 12.17 (89) | Kardinia Park | 18,039 | 25 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 22.19 (151) | | 14.16 (100) | Junction Oval | 12,076 | 25 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.12 (120) | | 14.17 (101) | Victoria Park | 36,509 | 25 August 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.16 (76) | | 13.17 (95) | VFL Park | 32,127 | 25 August 1979 Round 22 |- ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.11 (65) | | 14.19 (103) | Western Oval | 12,839 | 1 September 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.15 (63) | | 18.14 (122) | Windy Hill | 22,589 | 1 September 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 23.16 (154) | | 15.13 (103) | Victoria Park | 27,206 | 1 September 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 23.16 (154) | | 17.19 (121) | Princes Park | 24,479 | 1 September 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.16 (112) | | 15.17 (107) | Kardinia Park | 21,801 | 1 September 1979 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 21.18 (144) | | 9.11 (65) | VFL Park | 20,571 | 1 September 1979 Ladder (P) Premiers Qualified for finals |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 1 || align=left | (P) || 22 || 19 || 3 || 0 || 2772 || 1986 || 139.6 || 76 |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 2 || align=left | || 22 || 17 || 5 || 0 || 2574 || 2083 || 123.6 || 68 |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 3 || align=left | || 22 || 15 || 7 || 0 || 2501 || 1974 || 126.7 || 60 |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 4 || align=left | || 22 || 15 || 7 || 0 || 2699 || 2198 || 122.8 || 60 |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 5 || align=left | || 22 || 12 || 9 || 1 || 2236 || 2127 || 105.1 || 50 |- | 6 || align=left | || 22 || 12 || 10 || 0 || 2149 || 2140 || 100.4 || 48 |- | 7 || align=left | || 22 || 10 || 12 || 0 || 2332 || 2336 || 99.8 || 40 |- | 8 || align=left | || 22 || 9 || 13 || 0 || 2451 || 2512 || 97.6 || 36 |- | 9 || align=left | || 22 || 7 || 14 || 1 || 2015 || 2463 || 81.8 || 30 |- | 10 || align=left | || 22 || 6 || 16 || 0 || 2424 || 2666 || 90.9 || 24 |- | 11 || align=left | || 22 || 6 || 16 || 0 || 2093 || 2759 || 75.9 || 24 |- | 12 || align=left | || 22 || 3 || 19 || 0 || 1857 || 2859 || 65.0 || 12 |} Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points forAverage score: 106.5Source: AFL Tables Finals series Finals week 1 |- ! Home team ! Score ! Away team ! Score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.22 (124) | | 5.13 (43) | VFL Park | 49,470 | 8 September |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.28 (82) | | 18.13 (121) | MCG | 84,660 | 8 September |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" Finals week 2 |- ! Home team ! Score ! Away team ! Score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.20 (116) | | 12.22 (94) | MCG | 87,139 | 15 September |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.21 (111) | | 11.7 (73) | VFL Park | 69,142 | 15 September Preliminary final |- ! Home team ! Score ! Away team ! Score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.17 (95) | | 18.14 (122) | VFL Park | 73,380 | 22 September Grand final 1979 VFL Grand Final |- ! Game ! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | Grand final | | 11.16 (82) | | 11.11 (77) | MCG | 113,545 | 29 September 1979 Season notes The record for greatest winning margin was set twice during 1979. In Round 4, Collingwood defeated St Kilda by 178 points, breaking the record set sixty years earlier, in the 1919 VFL season by South Melbourne. Collingwood's new record was broken only three months later in Round 17, when Fitzroy defeated Melbourne by 190 points, a record which remains as of 2026. Fitzroy's score of 36.22 (238) in the same game also set the record for highest score in a VFL/AFL game. This beat the record set by Footscray in the 1978 VFL season by twenty-five points, and remained the record until 1992. Fitzroy made the finals for the first time since 1960, ending a nineteen-year finals drought. Awards The leading goalkicker was Kelvin Templeton of Footscray with 91 goals The Brownlow Medal was won by Peter Moore The reserves premiership, known as the Commodore Cup, was won by . North Melbourne 13.14 (92) defeated 9.13 (67) in the grand final, held as a stand-alone night match at VFL Park on Friday, 28 September, before a crowd of 6,047.The Age Melbourne, VIC 29 September 1979 Murphy shines in Roos' win 40 See also List of VFL debuts in 1979 References Stephen Rogers and Ashley Brown (1998). Every Game Ever Played. 6th ed. Victoria: Penguin Books. Sources 1979 VFL season at AFL Tables 1979 VFL season at Australian Football 1979 Category:1979 in Australian men's sport Category:1979 in Australian rules football