1971 VFL Grand Final
Encyclopedia
The 1971 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football
game contested between the Hawthorn Football Club
and St Kilda Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
in Melbourne
on 25 September 1971. It was the 75th annual Grand Final
of the Victorian Football League
, staged to determine the premiers for the 1971 VFL season
. The match, attended 118,192 spectators, was won by Hawthorn by a margin of 7 points, marking that club's second premiership victory.
, while for Hawthorn it was their first since losing the 1963 VFL Grand Final
. Both clubs were aiming for just their second premiership.
At the conclusion of the regular home-and-away season
, Hawthorn had finished first on the ladder with 19 wins and 3 losses. St Kilda had finished second with 16 wins and 6 losses. Hawthorn's Peter Hudson
was the leading goal-kicker in the competition with 140 goals.
In the finals series leading up to the Grand Final, Hawthorn met St Kilda in the Second Semi Final, Hawthorn dominated aearly with Hudson kicking 7 goals to be well clear by three quarter time. St Kilda staged a fightback to lose by only two points. Hawtorn's victory sent them straight through to the Grand Final. St Kilda, after this loss, defeated Richmond
by 30 points in the Preliminary Final to match up with Hawthorn in the premiership decider.
The Grand Final was played in wet conditions and it was probably the toughest grand final ever played. Both sides dished out physical punishment and cope it as well. an even contest throughout.
early, and then Cowboy Neale
clashed heavily with Hudson leaving Hudson with double vision for the rest of the game. Barry Lawrence
was moved onto Hawthorn's Hudson and kept him well in check. Les Hawken who had a fitness test earlier in the week hurt his ankle again and was replaced.
were suffering from concussion, Day being worst , was replaced at half time by Ray Wilson
. As no-one else could replace Hudson he played on.
The Saints were two points up at half time and had the better of the third term, in which John Bonney
, Barry Breen
and Ross Smith
all kicked goals while the Hawks could only manage a single major. St Kilda were 20 points up at three quarter time.
" You'll have to win this for us. Bob!" , Keddie had been quiet with only five touches. Keddie was Hawthorn's match winner with four goals in the space of 16 minutes during the last quarter after being moved to full-forward. The Hawks scored 7.3 in the quarter to the Saints' three straight goals.
Going into the game, Hudson needed four goals to surpass Bob Pratt
's record for most goals in a VFL season but only managed to kick three which left him level with Pratt on 150 goals. Late in the Grand Final he had a set shot on goal to break the record but kicked the ball into the man on the mark, Barry Lawrence. Other near goals in the game for Hudson included him running into an open goal and kicking it out of bounds, as well as a disallowed goal on the run where the umpire deemed that Keddie was over his mark when he handballed to Hudson in the goal square.
Hawthorn's next success came five years later, when they won the 1976 VFL Grand Final
against North Melbourne
. It would take another 26 years for St Kilda to appear in another premiership decider, when they were defeated by Adelaide in the 1997 AFL Grand Final
.
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...
game contested between the Hawthorn Football Club
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...
and St Kilda Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
on 25 September 1971. It was the 75th annual Grand Final
AFL Grand Final
The AFL Grand Final is an annual Australian rules football match, traditionally held on the final Saturday in September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia to determine the Australian Football League premiership champions for that year...
of the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
, staged to determine the premiers for the 1971 VFL season
1971 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1971.-Premiership season:In 1971, 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...
. The match, attended 118,192 spectators, was won by Hawthorn by a margin of 7 points, marking that club's second premiership victory.
Background
This was St Kilda's first appearance in a premiership decider since winning the 1966 VFL Grand Final1966 VFL Grand Final
The 1966 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Collingwood Football Club and St Kilda Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 24 September 1966. It was the 70th annual grand final of the Victorian Football League , staged to...
, while for Hawthorn it was their first since losing the 1963 VFL Grand Final
1963 VFL Grand Final
The 1963 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Geelong Football Club and Hawthorn Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 5 October 1963. It was the 67th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine the...
. Both clubs were aiming for just their second premiership.
At the conclusion of the regular home-and-away season
1971 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1971.-Premiership season:In 1971, 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...
, Hawthorn had finished first on the ladder with 19 wins and 3 losses. St Kilda had finished second with 16 wins and 6 losses. Hawthorn's Peter Hudson
Peter Hudson
Peter John Hudson AM is a former Australian Rules Football player, considered one of the greatest full-forwards in the game's history....
was the leading goal-kicker in the competition with 140 goals.
In the finals series leading up to the Grand Final, Hawthorn met St Kilda in the Second Semi Final, Hawthorn dominated aearly with Hudson kicking 7 goals to be well clear by three quarter time. St Kilda staged a fightback to lose by only two points. Hawtorn's victory sent them straight through to the Grand Final. St Kilda, after this loss, defeated Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The 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,...
by 30 points in the Preliminary Final to match up with Hawthorn in the premiership decider.
Match summary
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
2.2 | 4.4 | 5.7 | 12.10 (82) |
| St Kilda | 2.1 | 4.6 | 8.9 | 11.9 (75) |
The Grand Final was played in wet conditions and it was probably the toughest grand final ever played. Both sides dished out physical punishment and cope it as well. an even contest throughout.
1st Quarter
Hawthorn started well with star full forward Peter Hudson kickibng two goals early in the term. St Kilda lost their fullback Bob MurrayRobert W. Murray
Robert W. "Bob" Murray is a former Australian rules footballer in the VFL.He played in Sandringham's 1962 premiership where they defeated Moorabbin by one point after being 44 points down at 3/4 time...
early, and then Cowboy Neale
Kevin Neale
Kevin "Cowboy" Neale is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League .-St Kilda :...
clashed heavily with Hudson leaving Hudson with double vision for the rest of the game. Barry Lawrence
Barry Lawrence
Barry K. Lawrence is a former Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League. He played for St Kilda.Barry played as a forward for Longford in Tasmania, he had once signed the play with Hawthorn in 1967 but he decided to stay in Tasmania for two more years before jioning St Kilda. he...
was moved onto Hawthorn's Hudson and kept him well in check. Les Hawken who had a fitness test earlier in the week hurt his ankle again and was replaced.
2nd Quarter
The rain was relentless and St Kilda managed to inch ahead as the Hawthorn forward line with the concussed Hudson failing to take advantage of the opportunities.3rd Quarter
In the Hawthorn rooms , both Hudson and Robert DayRobert Day (footballer)
Robert John Day is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Hawthorn in the VFL.Day was a centreman and started his career with West Adelaide in the SANFL. In 1966 he was named in the All Australian team and he won three best and fairests during his time with West Adelaide...
were suffering from concussion, Day being worst , was replaced at half time by Ray Wilson
Ray Wilson (Australian rules footballer)
Ray Wilson is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Hawthorn in the VFL.Wilson was a wingman and made his debut for Hawthorn in 1966, winning that season's Hawthorn 'Best and Fairest' award. He played on the interchange bench in Hawthorn's 1971 Grand Final win over St Kilda.-External...
. As no-one else could replace Hudson he played on.
The Saints were two points up at half time and had the better of the third term, in which John Bonney
John Bonney
John Bonney is a former Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda. A wingman recruited from the small Tasmanian club Cooee, Bonney played in the St Kilda grand final team of 1971. As an aspiring young player, he rang Collingwood hoping for a game, but was turned away...
, Barry Breen
Barry Breen
Barry Breen was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League, playing with St Kilda Football Club. Breen attended De La Salle College, Malvern...
and Ross Smith
Ross G. Smith
Ross G. Smith is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League .Smith played with St Kilda as a courageous rover. He won the Brownlow Medal in 1967 and captained Victoria at the 1972 Perth Carnival...
all kicked goals while the Hawks could only manage a single major. St Kilda were 20 points up at three quarter time.
Final Quarter
At the 3/4 time address John Kennedy told Bob KeddieBob Keddie
Bob Keddie is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League and West Adelaide, South Adelaide and Glenelg in the South Australian National Football League ....
" You'll have to win this for us. Bob!" , Keddie had been quiet with only five touches. Keddie was Hawthorn's match winner with four goals in the space of 16 minutes during the last quarter after being moved to full-forward. The Hawks scored 7.3 in the quarter to the Saints' three straight goals.
Going into the game, Hudson needed four goals to surpass Bob Pratt
Bob Pratt
Harold Robert "Bob" Pratt was a former Australian rules footballer from Mitcham, Victoria.Pratt played with South Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League from 1930–1939 and again in 1946, and with the Coburg Football Club in the Victorian Football Association from 1940 to 1941...
's record for most goals in a VFL season but only managed to kick three which left him level with Pratt on 150 goals. Late in the Grand Final he had a set shot on goal to break the record but kicked the ball into the man on the mark, Barry Lawrence. Other near goals in the game for Hudson included him running into an open goal and kicking it out of bounds, as well as a disallowed goal on the run where the umpire deemed that Keddie was over his mark when he handballed to Hudson in the goal square.
Hawthorn's next success came five years later, when they won the 1976 VFL Grand Final
1976 VFL Grand Final
The 1976 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Hawthorn Football Club and North Melbourne Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 25 September 1976. It was the 80th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to...
against North Melbourne
North 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...
. It would take another 26 years for St Kilda to appear in another premiership decider, when they were defeated by Adelaide in the 1997 AFL Grand Final
1997 AFL Grand Final
-Match details:-References:...
.
Teams
Goalkickers
Hawthorn:
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St Kilda:
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See also
- 1971 VFL season1971 VFL seasonResults and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1971.-Premiership season:In 1971, 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...