1954 VFL season
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| 1954 VFL Premiership season | |
|---|---|
| Teams | 12 |
| Premiers |
Footscray (1st premiership) |
| Minor premiers |
Geelong (9th minor premiership) |
| Matches played | 112 |
| Highest attendance | 80,897 |
| Leading Goalkicker Medallist | Jack C. Collins (Footscray) |
| Brownlow Medallist | Roy Wright (Richmond) |
|
← 1953 1955 → | |
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1954.
Premiership season
In 1954, 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 18 rounds; matches 12 to 18 were the "home-and-way reverse" of matches 1 to 7.
Once the 18 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1954 VFL Premiers were determined by the specific format and conventions of the "Page-McIntyre system".
Round 1
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Footscray | 7.11 (53) | St Kilda | 9.10 (64) | Western Oval | 24,000 | 17 April 1954 |
| Fitzroy | 7.16 (58) | Geelong | 19.16 (130) | Brunswick Street Oval | 27,000 | 17 April 1954 |
| South Melbourne | 11.18 (84) | Carlton | 11.13 (79) | Lake Oval | 38,000 | 17 April 1954 |
| North Melbourne | 15.11 (101) | Richmond | 13.14 (92) | Arden Street Oval | 24,000 | 19 April 1954 |
| Hawthorn | 8.13 (61) | Essendon | 14.11 (95) | Glenferrie Oval | 23,000 | 19 April 1954 |
| Melbourne | 9.10 (64) | Collingwood | 15.12 (102) | MCG | 45,848 | 19 April 1954 |
Round 2
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Geelong | 8.12 (60) | North Melbourne | 9.15 (69) | Kardinia Park | 21,000 | 24 April 1954 |
| Essendon | 5.18 (48) | South Melbourne | 8.13 (61) | Windy Hill | 23,000 | 24 April 1954 |
| Collingwood | 12.12 (84) | Fitzroy | 5.8 (38) | Victoria Park | 25,000 | 24 April 1954 |
| Carlton | 12.10 (82) | Melbourne | 15.11 (101) | Princes Park | 21,000 | 24 April 1954 |
| St Kilda | 5.9 (39) | Hawthorn | 10.10 (70) | Junction Oval | 14,000 | 24 April 1954 |
| Richmond | 12.19 (91) | Footscray | 9.19 (73) | Punt Road Oval | 23,000 | 24 April 1954 |
Round 3
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 11.9 (75) | Melbourne | 9.10 (64) | Glenferrie Oval | 17,000 | 1 May 1954 |
| Footscray | 17.14 (116) | South Melbourne | 3.11 (29) | Western Oval | 24,500 | 1 May 1954 |
| Fitzroy | 9.10 (64) | North Melbourne | 13.16 (94) | Brunswick Street Oval | 16,000 | 1 May 1954 |
| Essendon | 15.10 (100) | Geelong | 16.20 (116) | Windy Hill | 27,500 | 1 May 1954 |
| St Kilda | 10.10 (70) | Collingwood | 10.16 (76) | Junction Oval | 22,500 | 1 May 1954 |
| Richmond | 14.20 (104) | Carlton | 12.8 (80) | Punt Road Oval | 25,000 | 1 May 1954 |
Round 4
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Geelong | 13.17 (95) | St Kilda | 8.5 (53) | Kardinia Park | 18,000 | 8 May 1954 |
| Collingwood | 10.17 (77) | Essendon | 9.10 (64) | Victoria Park | 37,000 | 8 May 1954 |
| Carlton | 17.21 (123) | Footscray | 20.14 (134) | Princes Park | 22,000 | 8 May 1954 |
| South Melbourne | 12.9 (81) | Richmond | 10.16 (76) | Lake Oval | 23,000 | 8 May 1954 |
| North Melbourne | 11.10 (76) | Hawthorn | 10.13 (73) | Arden Street Oval | 16,000 | 8 May 1954 |
| Melbourne | 14.12 (96) | Fitzroy | 7.12 (54) | MCG | 17,500 | 8 May 1954 |
Round 5
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 14.13 (97) | Richmond | 10.7 (67) | MCG | 24,247 | 15 May 1954 |
| Footscray | 11.7 (73) | North Melbourne | 5.5 (35) | Western Oval | 25,500 | 15 May 1954 |
| Fitzroy | 10.16 (76) | St Kilda | 11.10 (76) | Brunswick Street Oval | 12,000 | 15 May 1954 |
| Hawthorn | 14.13 (97) | Geelong | 13.14 (92) | Glenferrie Oval | 18,000 | 15 May 1954 |
| South Melbourne | 6.13 (49) | Collingwood | 14.17 (101) | Lake Oval | 30,000 | 15 May 1954 |
| Essendon | 8.18 (66) | Carlton | 9.15 (69) | Windy Hill | 25,000 | 15 May 1954 |
Round 6
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 8.14 (62) | South Melbourne | 12.13 (85) | Arden Street Oval | 15,000 | 22 May 1954 |
| St Kilda | 14.15 (99) | Melbourne | 12.6 (78) | Junction Oval | 16,000 | 22 May 1954 |
| Richmond | 10.12 (72) | Hawthorn | 11.12 (78) | Punt Road Oval | 23,000 | 22 May 1954 |
| Footscray | 12.8 (80) | Essendon | 4.7 (31) | Western Oval | 30,000 | 22 May 1954 |
| Geelong | 13.17 (95) | Collingwood | 9.8 (62) | Kardinia Park | 32,500 | 22 May 1954 |
| Fitzroy | 8.10 (58) | Carlton | 15.10 (100) | Brunswick Street Oval | 20,000 | 22 May 1954 |
Round 7
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 15.21 (111) | South Melbourne | 14.5 (89) | MCG | 23,025 | 29 May 1954 |
| Essendon | 22.13 (145) | Fitzroy | 7.12 (54) | Windy Hill | 17,500 | 29 May 1954 |
| Collingwood | 11.8 (74) | Richmond | 14.13 (97) | Victoria Park | 34,000 | 29 May 1954 |
| Carlton | 12.20 (92) | Geelong | 11.16 (82) | Princes Park | 31,000 | 29 May 1954 |
| St Kilda | 10.12 (72) | North Melbourne | 9.24 (78) | Junction Oval | 20,500 | 29 May 1954 |
| Hawthorn | 10.9 (69) | Footscray | 11.12 (78) | Glenferrie Oval | 26,000 | 29 May 1954 |
Round 8
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Richmond | 17.13 (115) | St Kilda | 10.6 (66) | Punt Road Oval | 17,000 | 5 June 1954 |
| Geelong | 11.5 (71) | Melbourne | 10.20 (80) | Kardinia Park | 17,000 | 5 June 1954 |
| Essendon | 14.14 (98) | North Melbourne | 10.15 (75) | Windy Hill | 23,000 | 5 June 1954 |
| South Melbourne | 6.13 (49) | Hawthorn | 8.10 (58) | Lake Oval | 22,000 | 5 June 1954 |
| Footscray | 13.9 (87) | Fitzroy | 10.14 (74) | Western Oval | 21,000 | 5 June 1954 |
| Collingwood | 11.15 (81) | Carlton | 10.12 (72) | Victoria Park | 40,000 | 5 June 1954 |
Round 9
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| St Kilda | 2.18 (30) | South Melbourne | 13.18 (96) | Junction Oval | 21,500 | 12 June 1954 |
| Fitzroy | 6.17 (53) | Richmond | 11.13 (79) | Brunswick Street Oval | 19,000 | 12 June 1954 |
| North Melbourne | 13.13 (91) | Collingwood | 10.12 (72) | Arden Street Oval | 30,000 | 12 June 1954 |
| Carlton | 5.11 (41) | Hawthorn | 4.12 (36) | Princes Park | 34,000 | 14 June 1954 |
| Geelong | 9.13 (67) | Footscray | 8.15 (63) | Kardinia Park | 33,400 | 14 June 1954 |
| Melbourne | 11.13 (79) | Essendon | 14.17 (101) | MCG | 36,800 | 14 June 1954 |
Round 10
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Footscray | 10.13 (73) | Melbourne | 8.9 (57) | Western Oval | 24,000 | 26 June 1954 |
| Fitzroy | 11.10 (76) | South Melbourne | 10.14 (74) | Brunswick Street Oval | 14,000 | 26 June 1954 |
| Richmond | 18.12 (120) | Geelong | 13.17 (95) | Punt Road Oval | 30,000 | 26 June 1954 |
| St Kilda | 9.12 (66) | Essendon | 10.19 (79) | Junction Oval | 20,000 | 26 June 1954 |
| Hawthorn | 11.5 (71) | Collingwood | 10.15 (75) | Glenferrie Oval | 25,000 | 26 June 1954 |
| North Melbourne | 9.13 (67) | Carlton | 9.10 (64) | Arden Street Oval | 25,000 | 26 June 1954 |
Round 11
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 15.15 (105) | North Melbourne | 11.6 (72) | MCG | 18,180 | 3 July 1954 |
| Essendon | 13.9 (87) | Richmond | 13.6 (84) | Windy Hill | 28,000 | 3 July 1954 |
| Collingwood | 12.10 (82) | Footscray | 10.12 (72) | Victoria Park | 40,000 | 3 July 1954 |
| Carlton | 9.16 (70) | St Kilda | 12.10 (82) | Princes Park | 15,000 | 3 July 1954 |
| South Melbourne | 9.10 (64) | Geelong | 17.12 (114) | Lake Oval | 18,000 | 3 July 1954 |
| Hawthorn | 11.15 (81) | Fitzroy | 11.10 (76) | Glenferrie Oval | 12,000 | 3 July 1954 |
Round 12
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Essendon | 13.16 (94) | Hawthorn | 9.9 (63) | Windy Hill | 20,000 | 10 July 1954 |
| Collingwood | 8.6 (54) | Melbourne | 5.16 (46) | Victoria Park | 29,000 | 10 July 1954 |
| Carlton | 11.10 (76) | South Melbourne | 10.10 (70) | Princes Park | 17,000 | 10 July 1954 |
| Richmond | 14.14 (98) | North Melbourne | 6.15 (51) | Punt Road Oval | 27,000 | 10 July 1954 |
| St Kilda | 9.8 (62) | Footscray | 13.14 (92) | Junction Oval | 22,500 | 10 July 1954 |
| Geelong | 10.8 (68) | Fitzroy | 6.6 (42) | Kardinia Park | 15,000 | 10 July 1954 |
Round 13
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 14.17 (101) | St Kilda | 5.10 (40) | Glenferrie Oval | 11,000 | 17 July 1954 |
| North Melbourne | 5.13 (43) | Geelong | 10.2 (62) | Arden Street Oval | 20,000 | 17 July 1954 |
| Melbourne | 10.16 (76) | Carlton | 6.5 (41) | MCG | 29,406 | 17 July 1954 |
| Footscray | 6.9 (45) | Richmond | 6.13 (49) | Western Oval | 30,250 | 24 July 1954 |
| South Melbourne | 8.18 (66) | Essendon | 13.8 (86) | Lake Oval | 23,000 | 24 July 1954 |
| Fitzroy | 12.9 (81) | Collingwood | 6.13 (49) | Brunswick Street Oval | 20,000 | 24 July 1954 |
Round 14
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Collingwood | 12.13 (85) | St Kilda | 7.15 (57) | Victoria Park | 16,500 | 31 July 1954 |
| Carlton | 9.11 (65) | Richmond | 6.10 (46) | Princes Park | 25,863 | 31 July 1954 |
| Melbourne | 16.14 (110) | Hawthorn | 5.3 (33) | MCG | 26,708 | 31 July 1954 |
| South Melbourne | 6.5 (41) | Footscray | 11.12 (78) | Lake Oval | 19,500 | 31 July 1954 |
| North Melbourne | 8.19 (67) | Fitzroy | 8.6 (54) | Arden Street Oval | 11,000 | 31 July 1954 |
| Geelong | 16.14 (110) | Essendon | 11.10 (76) | Kardinia Park | 28,158 | 31 July 1954 |
Round 15
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Richmond | 12.15 (87) | South Melbourne | 6.16 (52) | Punt Road Oval | 12,000 | 7 August 1954 |
| Hawthorn | 9.5 (59) | North Melbourne | 10.22 (82) | Glenferrie Oval | 7,000 | 7 August 1954 |
| Fitzroy | 8.11 (59) | Melbourne | 6.12 (48) | Brunswick Street Oval | 10,000 | 7 August 1954 |
| St Kilda | 7.17 (59) | Geelong | 18.13 (121) | Junction Oval | 12,000 | 7 August 1954 |
| Essendon | 10.11 (71) | Collingwood | 6.16 (52) | Windy Hill | 23,000 | 7 August 1954 |
| Footscray | 6.7 (43) | Carlton | 8.12 (60) | Western Oval | 22,000 | 7 August 1954 |
Round 16
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Geelong | 13.12 (90) | Hawthorn | 7.6 (48) | Kardinia Park | 16,870 | 14 August 1954 |
| Collingwood | 12.16 (88) | South Melbourne | 13.12 (90) | Victoria Park | 18,556 | 14 August 1954 |
| Carlton | 10.16 (76) | Essendon | 11.14 (80) | Princes Park | 29,744 | 14 August 1954 |
| Richmond | 10.18 (78) | Melbourne | 15.4 (94) | Punt Road Oval | 24,000 | 14 August 1954 |
| North Melbourne | 9.14 (68) | Footscray | 9.14 (68) | Arden Street Oval | 22,000 | 14 August 1954 |
| St Kilda | 13.14 (92) | Fitzroy | 9.15 (69) | Junction Oval | 11,500 | 14 August 1954 |
Round 17
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 14.13 (97) | St Kilda | 5.10 (40) | MCG | 16,700 | 21 August 1954 |
| Hawthorn | 10.10 (70) | Richmond | 6.11 (47) | Glenferrie Oval | 14,000 | 21 August 1954 |
| Essendon | 7.17 (59) | Footscray | 11.12 (78) | Windy Hill | 36,000 | 21 August 1954 |
| Collingwood | 6.14 (50) | Geelong | 10.12 (72) | Victoria Park | 36,000 | 21 August 1954 |
| Carlton | 22.11 (143) | Fitzroy | 14.7 (91) | Princes Park | 12,100 | 21 August 1954 |
| South Melbourne | 11.14 (80) | North Melbourne | 14.11 (95) | Lake Oval | 15,000 | 21 August 1954 |
Round 18
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 19.15 (129) | St Kilda | 12.10 (82) | Arden Street Oval | 9,500 | 28 August 1954 |
| Footscray | 17.15 (117) | Hawthorn | 5.4 (34) | Western Oval | 22,896 | 28 August 1954 |
| South Melbourne | 7.7 (49) | Melbourne | 14.17 (101) | Lake Oval | 25,000 | 28 August 1954 |
| Fitzroy | 14.13 (97) | Essendon | 13.13 (91) | Brunswick Street Oval | 20,000 | 28 August 1954 |
| Richmond | 14.17 (101) | Collingwood | 6.12 (48) | Punt Road Oval | 25,000 | 28 August 1954 |
| Geelong | 13.12 (90) | Carlton | 6.13 (49) | Kardinia Park | 23,119 | 28 August 1954 |
Ladder
| ||||||||||||
| TEAM | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | PTS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geelong | 18 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 1630 | 1225 | 133.06 | 52 | |||
| 2 | Footscray (P) | 18 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 1423 | 1095 | 129.95 | 46 | |||
| 3 | North Melbourne | 18 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 1355 | 1361 | 99.56 | 46 | |||
| 4 | Melbourne | 18 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 1504 | 1239 | 121.39 | 44 | |||
| 5 | Richmond | 18 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 1503 | 1310 | 114.73 | 40 | |||
| 6 | Essendon | 18 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 1471 | 1364 | 107.84 | 40 | |||
| 7 | Collingwood | 18 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 1312 | 1301 | 100.85 | 40 | |||
| 8 | Carlton | 18 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 1382 | 1391 | 99.35 | 32 | |||
| 9 | Hawthorn | 18 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 1177 | 1337 | 88.03 | 32 | |||
| 10 | South Melbourne | 18 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 1209 | 1482 | 81.58 | 24 | |||
| 11 | Fitzroy | 18 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 1174 | 1604 | 73.19 | 18 | |||
| 12 | St Kilda | 18 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 1149 | 1580 | 72.72 | 18 | |||
| Key: P = Played, W = Won, L = Lost, D = Drawn, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against | ||||||||||||
Finals
First Semi-Final
| Team | 1 Qtr | 2 Qtr | 3 Qtr | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Melbourne | 3.4 | 5.7 | 7.12 | 11.14 (80) |
| Melbourne | 1.4 | 4.7 | 9.11 | 16.14 (100) |
| Attendance: 41,971 | ||||
Second Semi-Final
| Team | 1 Qtr | 2 Qtr | 3 Qtr | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geelong | 4.5 | 4.8 | 7.10 | 8.14 (62) |
| Footscray | 3.1 | 7.7 | 7.10 | 11.19 (85) |
| Attendance: 64,686 | ||||
Preliminary Final
| Team | 1 Qtr | 2 Qtr | 3 Qtr | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geelong | 2.3 | 4.3 | 5.6 | 7.8 (50) |
| Melbourne | 1.1 | 3.3 | 7.5 | 10.7 (67) |
| Attendance: 50,985 | ||||
Grand final
Main article: 1954 VFL Grand Final
| Team | 1 Qtr | 2 Qtr | 3 Qtr | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Footscray | 6.3 | 8.5 | 12.9 | 15.12 (102) |
| Melbourne | 1.4 | 4.6 | 6.7 | 7.9 (51) |
| Attendance: 80,897 | ||||
Awards
- The 1954 VFL Premiership team was Footscray. This was the first, and currently the only, VFL/AFL premiership for Footscray since it entered the VFL in 1925.
- The VFL's leading goalkicker was Jack Collins of Footscray who kicked 84 goals (including 11 goals in the final series).
- The winner of the 1954 Brownlow Medal was Roy Wright of Richmond with 29 votes (he had missed one match through illness, but still won the medal by 10 votes).
- St Kilda took the "wooden spoon" in 1954.
Notable events
- North Melbourne are renamed the "The Kangaroos" from "The Shinboners".
- In round 8, Essendon champion full-forward John Coleman sustained a career-ending knee injury (he left the field having scored 42 goals in five and a half matches). With two other players also injured, Essendon finished the match with 17 men.
- A group of Fitzroy players and supporters, who were offered a series of side bets at 10/1, back Fitzroy. Fitzroy produces a shock result, beating Collingwood 12.9 (81) to 6.13 (49), and the punters collect around ₤2,000 (approx. $40,000 in 2007).
- An injured Charlie Sutton (he had not played in the Second Semi-Final) is picked in Footscray's Grand-Final team. Although not playing in his usual back-pocket position, he plays reasonably well in the forward-pocket, and kicks three goals.
See also
References
- Hogan, P., The Tigers Of Old, The Richmond Football Club, (Richmond), 1996. ISBN 0-646-18748-1
- Maplestone, M., Flying Higher: History of the Essendon Football Club 1872-1996, Essendon Football Club, (Melbourne), 1996. ISBN 0-9591740-2-8
- Rogers, S. & Brown, A., Every Game Ever Played: VFL/AFL Results 1897-1997 (Sixth Edition), Viking Books, (Ringwood), 1998. ISBN 0-670-90809-6
- Ross, J. (ed), 100 Years of Australian Football 1897-1996: The Complete Story of the AFL, All the Big Stories, All the Great Pictures, All the Champions, Every AFL Season Reported, Viking, (Ringwood), 1996. ISBN 0-670-86814-0
External links
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