The 1968 VFL season was the 72nd season of the

Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia serving as one of the second-tier regional semi-professional competitions which sit underneath the fully professional Australian Football League (AFL). It ...

(VFL), the highest level senior

Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...

competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 15 April until 28 September, and comprised a 20-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top four clubs. The premiership was won by the

Carlton Football Club The Carlton Football Club, nicknamed the Blues, is a professional Australian rules football club that competes in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's top professional competition. Founded in 1864 in Carlton, an inner suburb of Mel ...

for the ninth time, after it defeated by three points in the

1968 VFL Grand Final The 1968 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Carlton Football Club and Essendon Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday, 28 September 1968. It was the 71st annual Grand Final o ...

Premiership season

In 1968, 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 20 rounds; matches 12 to 20 were the "home-and-way reverse" of matches 1 to 9. Once the 20 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1968 VFL ''Premiers'' were determined by the specific format and conventions of the

Page–McIntyre system The McIntyre System, or systems as there have been five of them, is a playoff system that gives an advantage to teams or competitors qualifying higher. The systems were developed by Ken McIntyre, an Australian lawyer, historian and English lect ...

Round 1

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.18 (72) , , 13.10 (88) ,

Western Oval Whitten Oval (also known as Victoria University Whitten Oval under a naming rights agreement) is a stadium in the inner-western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in Barkly Street, West Footscray. It is the training and administra ...

, 18,269 , 15 April 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 26.16 (172) , , 15.9 (99) , Windy Hill , 17,000 , 15 April 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.12 (72) , , 11.22 (88) ,

Victoria Park Victoria Park may refer to: Places Australia * Victoria Park Nature Reserve, a protected area in Northern Rivers region, New South Wales * Victoria Park, Adelaide, a park and racecourse * Victoria Park, Brisbane, a public park and former golf ...

, 37,018 , 15 April 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.22 (100) , , 7.12 (54) , Princes Park , 30,158 , 15 April 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 18.17 (125) , , 13.22 (100) ,

Lake Oval Lakeside Stadium is an Australian sports arena in the South Melbourne suburb of Albert Park. Comprising an athletics track and soccer stadium, it currently serves as the home ground and administrative base for association football club South M ...

, 23,675 , 15 April 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.10 (94) , , 12.18 (90) ,

MCG The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hem ...

, 24,991 , 15 April 1968

Round 2

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.24 (126) , , 19.12 (126) ,

Glenferrie Oval Glenferrie Oval is an Australian rules football stadium located in Hawthorn, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is the historic home of, and is synonymous with, the Hawthorn Football Club, who played there from 1903 and as a VFL/AFL ...

, 13,536 , 20 April 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.22 (118) , , 9.8 (62) ,

Moorabbin Oval Moorabbin Oval (also known as RSEA Park under a naming rights agreement) is an Australian rules football ground in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia at Linton Street in the suburb of Moorabbin, Victoria, Moorabbin. The ground was most ...

, 21,758 , 20 April 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.17 (71) , , 6.11 (47) ,

Kardinia Park Kardinia Park is a major public park located in South Geelong, Victoria. A number of public and sporting facilities are located in the park: a major AFL stadium, a secondary football oval, a cricket field, an open air swimming pool, a number of ...

, 14,589 , 20 April 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.9 (63) , , 10.22 (82) ,

Arden Street Oval Arden Street Oval (also known as North Melbourne Cricket Ground) is a sports oval in North Melbourne, Victoria, North Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria. It is currently the training base of the North Melbourne Football Club, an Australia ...

, 14,810 , 20 April 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.16 (100) , , 10.11 (71) , Princes Park , 17,149 , 20 April 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.16 (118) , , 10.12 (72) ,

, 51,889 , 20 April 1968

Round 3

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 1.11 (17) , , 7.8 (50) , Princes Park , 37,406 , 25 April 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.15 (75) , , 17.21 (123) ,

, 52,175 , 25 April 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.10 (94) , , 16.9 (105) ,

, 14,054 , 27 April 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 2.19 (31) , , 10.7 (67) ,

, 29,491 , 27 April 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.10 (88) , , 14.14 (98) ,

, 17,260 , 27 April 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.17 (107) , , 14.7 (91) ,

, 13,122 , 27 April 1968

Round 4

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.10 (82) , , 12.4 (76) ,

, 19,498 , 4 May 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.19 (97) , , 12.13 (85) , Princes Park , 11,378 , 4 May 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.19 (115) , , 10.15 (75) , Windy Hill , 19,000 , 4 May 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.12 (84) , , 7.18 (60) ,

, 30,606 , 4 May 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.10 (46) , , 4.13 (37) ,

, 19,144 , 4 May 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.11 (77) , , 15.10 (100) ,

, 17,606 , 4 May 1968

Round 5

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.13 (49) , , 9.7 (61) ,

, 14,409 , 11 May 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.16 (112) , , 11.15 (81) , Windy Hill , 18,500 , 11 May 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.11 (113) , , 11.16 (82) ,

, 20,688 , 11 May 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.15 (111) , , 5.9 (39) , Princes Park , 14,490 , 11 May 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.10 (58) , , 13.25 (103) ,

, 17,783 , 11 May 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.9 (63) , , 10.10 (70) ,

, 31,862 , 11 May 1968

Round 6

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.7 (85) , , 6.12 (48) ,

, 10,441 , 18 May 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.8 (44) , , 19.6 (120) , Princes Park , 12,852 , 18 May 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.14 (92) , , 9.12 (66) ,

, 28,302 , 18 May 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.17 (101) , , 4.7 (31) ,

, 24,317 , 18 May 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.11 (71) , , 12.10 (82) ,

, 10,100 , 18 May 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.11 (71) , , 12.11 (83) ,

, 13,420 , 18 May 1968

Round 7

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.15 (57) , , 8.13 (61) ,

, 7,730 , 25 May 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.14 (80) , , 10.18 (78) , Windy Hill , 22,980 , 25 May 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.11 (101) , , 9.13 (67) , Princes Park , 26,045 , 25 May 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.14 (80) , , 11.10 (76) ,

, 17,263 , 25 May 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.13 (79) , , 4.11 (35) ,

, 16,056 , 25 May 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.21 (87) , , 7.6 (48) ,

, 11,474 , 25 May 1968

Round 8

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.8 (62) , , 11.9 (75) ,

, 14,755 , 8 June 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.13 (79) , , 13.7 (85) ,

, 24,375 , 8 June 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.11 (65) , , 13.11 (89) ,

, 13,209 , 8 June 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.15 (81) , , 11.14 (80) ,

, 31,325 , 10 June 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.17 (113) , , 8.9 (57) ,

, 43,231 , 10 June 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 4.10 (34) , , 13.15 (93) , Princes Park , 19,306 , 10 June 1968

Round 9

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.9 (63) , , 17.17 (119) ,

, 39,609 , 15 June 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.9 (99) , , 11.9 (75) ,

, 29,404 , 15 June 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.17 (83) , , 5.11 (41) , Windy Hill , 14,000 , 15 June 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 20.11 (131) , , 10.15 (75) , Princes Park , 15,270 , 15 June 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 21.14 (140) , , 16.14 (110) ,

, 11,039 , 15 June 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 19.10 (124) , , 15.9 (99) ,

, 17,193 , 15 June 1968

Round 10

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.15 (93) , , 8.15 (63) ,

, 17,794 , 22 June 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.12 (84) , , 15.15 (105) , Princes Park , 11,204 , 22 June 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.14 (62) , , 15.16 (106) ,

, 7,884 , 22 June 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.14 (68) , , 15.6 (96) ,

, 32,932 , 22 June 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 5.7 (37) , , 9.11 (65) ,

, 13,120 , 22 June 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 3.10 (28) , , 8.8 (56) ,

, 28,885 , 22 June 1968

Round 11

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.11 (101) , , 17.9 (111) ,

, 19,279 , 29 June 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.20 (104) , , 12.9 (81) , Windy Hill , 24,450 , 29 June 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.16 (94) , , 4.8 (32) ,

, 14,814 , 29 June 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.19 (85) , , 6.7 (43) , Princes Park , 15,234 , 29 June 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.20 (122) , , 16.8 (104) ,

, 17,844 , 29 June 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.15 (117) , , 13.12 (90) ,

, 11,241 , 29 June 1968

Round 12

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.19 (109) , , 6.9 (45) ,

, 19,059 , 6 July 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.14 (80) , , 14.16 (100) , Princes Park , 8,530 , 6 July 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.9 (57) , , 9.18 (72) ,

, 7,844 , 6 July 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.17 (83) , , 17.10 (112) ,

, 12,480 , 6 July 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.12 (114) , , 17.15 (117) ,

, 43,165 , 6 July 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.7 (55) , , 9.9 (63) ,

, 25,007 , 6 July 1968

Round 13

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.11 (71) , , 10.16 (76) ,

, 30,581 , 13 July 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 18.18 (126) , , 5.13 (43) ,

, 13,092 , 13 July 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.19 (115) , , 9.9 (63) , Windy Hill , 11,690 , 13 July 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 18.14 (122) , , 18.7 (115) ,

, 16,357 , 13 July 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.14 (80) , , 10.14 (74) , Princes Park , 24,245 , 13 July 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.10 (82) , , 15.11 (101) ,

, 11,191 , 13 July 1968

Round 14

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.10 (70) , , 12.8 (80) ,

, 18,976 , 20 July 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.11 (89) , , 9.16 (70) ,

, 23,932 , 20 July 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.17 (95) , , 9.14 (68) , Princes Park , 7,563 , 20 July 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 24.8 (152) , , 10.10 (70) ,

, 13,810 , 20 July 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.10 (76) , , 12.13 (85) ,

, 28,246 , 20 July 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.13 (55) , , 6.13 (49) , Windy Hill , 32,000 , 20 July 1968

Round 15

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.16 (94) , , 9.10 (64) ,

, 42,740 , 27 July 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 4.12 (36) , , 7.12 (54) ,

, 25,849 , 27 July 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.14 (68) , , 11.15 (81) , Princes Park , 18,470 , 27 July 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 5.8 (38) , , 6.4 (40) ,

, 5,826 , 27 July 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.12 (66) , , 10.11 (71) ,

, 10,148 , 27 July 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.12 (54) , , 14.13 (97) ,

, 14,690 , 27 July 1968

Round 16

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.21 (111) , , 10.11 (71) ,

, 22,404 , 3 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.9 (75) , , 10.8 (68) ,

, 14,240 , 3 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.13 (61) , , 6.3 (39) ,

, 13,355 , 3 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.15 (93) , , 13.16 (94) , Princes Park , 12,080 , 3 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.11 (101) , , 10.16 (76) ,

, 26,928 , 3 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.6 (102) , , 10.10 (70) ,

, 15,184 , 3 August 1968

Round 17

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.9 (51) , , 11.19 (85) ,

, 9,374 , 10 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.7 (67) , , 7.9 (51) ,

, 20,822 , 10 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 18.14 (122) , , 11.14 (80) , Princes Park , 15,620 , 10 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.14 (74) , , 9.11 (65) ,

, 18,733 , 10 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.19 (91) , , 6.5 (41) ,

, 15,643 , 10 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 20.18 (138) , , 7.11 (53) , Windy Hill , 21,300 , 10 August 1968

Round 18

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.13 (97) , , 8.11 (59) ,

, 14,359 , 17 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.8 (44) , , 16.13 (109) ,

, 15,211 , 17 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.12 (72) , , 14.10 (94) , Princes Park , 9,782 , 17 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.14 (68) , , 11.13 (79) ,

, 7,412 , 17 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.14 (74) , , 7.12 (54) ,

, 68,529 , 17 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.10 (70) , , 16.11 (107) ,

, 24,496 , 17 August 1968

Round 19

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.13 (79) , , 11.22 (88) ,

, 21,772 , 24 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.13 (97) , , 13.9 (87) ,

, 13,872 , 24 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.6 (66) , , 9.12 (66) , Windy Hill , 24,700 , 24 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 21.17 (143) , , 12.19 (91) , Princes Park , 16,123 , 24 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.12 (78) , , 11.16 (82) ,

, 8,012 , 24 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.14 (86) , , 12.15 (87) ,

, 29,967 , 24 August 1968

Round 20

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.14 (116) , , 18.18 (126) , Princes Park , 11,440 , 31 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 23.19 (157) , , 14.14 (98) ,

, 11,648 , 31 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 18.21 (129) , , 12.8 (80) ,

, 34,546 , 31 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.14 (110) , , 8.11 (59) ,

, 34,073 , 31 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.13 (85) , , 15.22 (112) ,

, 19,196 , 31 August 1968 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.13 (79) , , 15.10 (100) ,

, 16,189 , 31 August 1968

Ladder

Consolation Night Series Competition

The consolation night series were held under the floodlights at Lake Oval,

South Melbourne South Melbourne is an inner suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km south of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Port Phillip local government area. South Melbourne recorded a population of 11,548 at t ...

, for the teams (5th to 12th on ladder) out of the finals at the end of the home and away rounds. Final:

Hawthorn Hawthorn or Hawthorns may refer to: Plants * '' Crataegus'' (hawthorn), a large genus of shrubs and trees in the family Rosaceae * ''Rhaphiolepis'' (hawthorn), a genus of about 15 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the family Rosace ...

16.15 (111) defeated

North Melbourne North Melbourne is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, north-west of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Melbourne local government area. North Melbourne recorded a population of 14,953 at the ...

6.14 (50).

Premiership Finals

First Semi-Final

Second Semi-Final

Preliminary Final

Grand final

Awards

* The 1968 VFL Premiership team was

Carlton Carlton may refer to: People * Carlton (name), a list of those with the given name or surname * Carlton (singer), English soul singer Carlton McCarthy * Carlton, a pen name used by Joseph Caldwell (1773–1835), American educator, Presbyterian ...

. * The VFL's leading goalkicker was

Peter Hudson Peter John Hudson AM (born 19 February 1946) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and for the New Norfolk Football Club and Glenorchy Football Club in the ...

who kicked 125 goals. * The winner of the 1968

Brownlow Medal The Charles Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal (and informally as "Charlie"), is awarded to the " best and fairest" player in the Australian Football League (AFL) during the home-and-away season, as determined by votes cast by ...

was

Bob Skilton Robert John "Bob" Skilton (born 8 November 1938) is a former Australian rules footballer who represented in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Playing as a rover, Skilton is one of only four players to have won the Brownlow Medal three tim ...

with 24 votes. *

took the "

wooden spoon Wooden Spoon may refer to: * Wooden spoon, implement * Wooden spoon (award) A wooden spoon is an award that is given to an individual or team that has come last in a competition. Examples range from the academic to sporting and more frivolous e ...

" in 1968. * The reserves premiership was won by . Essendon 15.7 (97) defeated 13.14 (92) in the Grand Final, held as a curtain-raiser to the seniors Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 28 September.

Notable events

* The season's home-and-away draw was extended from 18 to 20 rounds. This now meant that each team met nine of the other eleven teams twice in a season. * In Round 3, the Anzac Day match between

and

Essendon Essendon may refer to: Australia *Electoral district of Essendon *Electoral district of Essendon and Flemington *Essendon, Victoria **Essendon railway station **Essendon Airport *Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League United King ...

at Princes Park was greatly affected by an unusually strong wind that blew across the ground from wing to wing, making kicking and marking entirely unpredictable as balls would almost turn at right angles in the air as they moved down the ground towards the outer (eastern) end and lost the protection of the stands (or, whilst in the stand-protected western end, the ball went above the protection of the stands). In an otherwise close, hard-fought match with not many scoring opportunities available, Carlton were least able to cope with the windy conditions, kicking 1.11 (17) to Essendon's 7.8 (50). * In Round 7,

played

Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, ...

at Windy Hill in a rain-sodden game that finished in such dark conditions that players could not see across the ground. In the last quarter, a goal was awarded to

Geoff Gosper Geoff Gosper (born 11 May 1940) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon Essendon may refer to: Australia *Electoral district of Essendon *Electoral district of Essendon and Flemington * Essendon, Victoria **Essendon r ...

, although several Richmond players protested that the ball had hit the post. Essendon won the match by two points, 11.14 (80) to Richmond's 10.18 (78). * After the Round 8 match between and

at the

Melbourne Cricket Ground The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadiu ...

, the teams and many of the fans left the ground believing the game had been tied 11.15 (81) apiece. After the goal-umpires checked their scorecards, it was confirmed that the scoreboard was reading incorrectly, and that Richmond had, in fact, won by a point: 11.15 (81) to 11.14 (80). *

became the first player to kick 100 goals in a season since John Coleman in 1952. * In Round 17 and Round 18 respectively,

Ron Barassi Ronald Dale Barassi Jr. (born 27 February 1936) is a former Australian rules footballer, coach and media personality. Regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of the game, Barassi was the first player to be inaugurated into ...

and Brian Dixon played their 250th VFL games. At the time, only thirteen other players had reached the milestone. * After Round 18 of the Under-19s competition, was stripped of all premiership points that it had earned in matches in which it had fielded ineligible player John Taylor, who was residentially tied to . The lost points relegated Geelong from fourth to last place on the ladder. * For the first and, as of 2022, only time in VFL history, the premiership team kicked fewer goals than the runners-up in the Grand Final.

References

* Hogan, P., ''The Tigers of Old'', The Richmond Football Club, (Richmond), 1996. * Maplestone, M., ''Flying Higher: History of the Essendon Football Club 1872–1996'', Essendon Football Club, (Melbourne), 1996. * Rogers, S. & Brown, A., ''Every Game Ever Played: VFL/AFL Results 1897–1997'' (Sixth Edition), Viking Books, (Ringwood), 1998. * 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.

External links

1968 Season – AFL Tables
{{Australian Football League Australian Football League seasons

VFL season The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia serving as one of the second-tier regional semi-professional competitions which sit underneath the fully professional Australian Football League (AFL). It ...