The 1969 VFL season was the 73rd 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 5 April until 27 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

Richmond Football Club The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed the Tigers, is an Australian rules football team playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). Between its inception in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond in 1885 and 1907, the club competed in the Victo ...

for the seventh time, after it defeated by 25 points in the

1969 VFL Grand Final The 1969 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Carlton Football Club and Richmond Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 27 September 1969. It was the 72nd annual Grand Final of ...

Premiership season

In 1969, 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; rounds 12 to 20 were the "home-and-away reverse" of rounds 1 to 9. Once the 20 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1969 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" , , 15.20 (110) , , 14.17 (101) ,

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 ...

, 14,046 , 5 April 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.9 (111) , , 11.23 (89) ,

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 ...

, 28,104 , 5 April 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.13 (79) , , 11.16 (82) ,

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 ...

, 37,767 , 5 April 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.16 (118) , , 13.13 (91) ,

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 ...

, 23,501 , 7 April 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.13 (103) , , 23.21 (159) , Princes Park , 20,210 , 7 April 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.21 (111) , , 12.10 (82) ,

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 ...

, 62,152 , 7 April 1969

Round 2

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.7 (79) , , 15.17 (107) ,

, 16,379 , 12 April 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.11 (65) , , 14.14 (98) ,

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 ...

, 21,352 , 12 April 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.13 (91) , , 14.7 (91) , Windy Hill , 18,400 , 12 April 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.16 (82) , , 14.15 (99) ,

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 ...

, 27,353 , 12 April 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 30.30 (210) , , 12.10 (82) , Princes Park , 26,400 , 12 April 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.14 (98) , , 15.10 (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 ...

, 12,464 , 12 April 1969

Round 3

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 19.20 (134) , , 11.8 (74) ,

, 15,068 , 19 April 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.7 (91) , , 19.18 (132) , Princes Park , 12,240 , 19 April 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.13 (85) , , 14.14 (98) , Windy Hill , 15,800 , 19 April 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 19.16 (130) , , 9.8 (62) ,

, 18,729 , 19 April 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.28 (106) , , 16.15 (111) ,

, 26,884 , 19 April 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.10 (52) , , 11.15 (81) ,

, 20,250 , 19 April 1969

Round 4

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.15 (69) , , 13.14 (92) ,

, 42,954 , 25 April 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.19 (79) , , 13.19 (97) ,

, 38,358 , 25 April 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.11 (89) , , 23.15 (153) , Princes Park , 39,120 , 26 April 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.13 (91) , , 19.22 (136) ,

, 16,663 , 26 April 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 19.16 (130) , , 12.13 (85) ,

, 15,589 , 26 April 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 19.15 (129) , , 13.18 (96) ,

, 13,224 , 26 April 1969

Round 5

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 21.10 (136) , , 14.20 (104) ,

, 13,186 , 3 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.18 (84) , , 22.12 (144) ,

, 17,522 , 3 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.17 (113) , , 12.11 (83) , Windy Hill , 23,000 , 3 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 20.17 (137) , , 17.10 (112) , Princes Park , 19,041 , 3 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 18.12 (120) , , 6.19 (55) ,

, 22,991 , 3 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 18.12 (120) , , 16.18 (114) ,

, 34,959 , 3 May 1969

Round 6

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.15 (93) , , 16.25 (121) ,

, 26,848 , 10 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.13 (115) , , 8.14 (62) ,

, 19,025 , 10 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.9 (93) , , 7.14 (56) ,

, 17,536 , 10 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.9 (87) , , 14.12 (96) ,

, 15,338 , 10 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.12 (90) , , 17.13 (115) , Princes Park , 13,028 , 10 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 18.16 (124) , , 13.7 (85) ,

, 32,025 , 10 May 1969

Round 7

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.15 (99) , , 14.23 (107) ,

, 17,102 , 17 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.10 (58) , , 9.12 (66) ,

, 11,462 , 17 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.20 (98) , , 13.7 (85) ,

, 14,614 , 17 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.24 (108) , , 12.6 (78) , Princes Park , 14,973 , 17 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.10 (52) , , 8.13 (61) ,

, 35,933 , 17 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.10 (106) , , 11.14 (80) ,

, 19,008 , 17 May 1969

Round 8

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.13 (103) , , 13.16 (94) ,

, 16,602 , 24 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.9 (81) , , 15.12 (102) , Princes Park , 9,086 , 24 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.15 (105) , , 13.12 (90) , Windy Hill , 15,400 , 24 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.16 (94) , , 13.12 (90) ,

, 21,788 , 24 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.8 (74) , , 18.22 (130) ,

, 21,142 , 24 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.14 (86) , , 17.13 (115) ,

, 48,656 , 24 May 1969

Round 9

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.15 (69) , , 14.10 (94) ,

, 13,765 , 31 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.13 (61) , , 7.8 (50) ,

, 8,529 , 31 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.16 (118) , , 9.4 (58) ,

, 21,154 , 31 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.13 (103) , , 6.9 (45) , Princes Park , 16,930 , 31 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.11 (95) , , 7.7 (49) ,

, 15,186 , 31 May 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.17 (107) , , 6.9 (45) ,

, 8,923 , 31 May 1969

Round 10

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.10 (94) , , 11.14 (80) ,

, 44,710 , 7 June 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.9 (81) , , 16.9 (105) , Princes Park , 10,170 , 7 June 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.22 (106) , , 8.11 (59) ,

, 38,436 , 14 June 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.13 (103) , , 18.15 (123) ,

, 18,453 , 14 June 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.18 (120) , , 12.23 (95) ,

, 27,330 , 16 June 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.15 (57) , , 10.18 (78) ,

, 26,914 , 16 June 1969

Round 11

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 25.13 (163) , , 14.21 (105) ,

, 13,369 , 21 June 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.11 (113) , , 12.14 (86) ,

, 24,278 , 21 June 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 20.23 (143) , , 15.7 (97) ,

, 12,893 , 21 June 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 24.14 (158) , , 14.14 (98) , Princes Park , 16,260 , 21 June 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.18 (120) , , 13.16 (94) ,

, 19,491 , 21 June 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.19 (97) , , 16.12 (108) , Windy Hill , 28,850 , 21 June 1969

Round 12

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.15 (63) , , 7.12 (54) , Windy Hill , 16,957 , 28 June 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.24 (78) , , 6.11 (47) ,

, 31,923 , 28 June 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.12 (66) , , 7.12 (54) , Princes Park , 22,154 , 28 June 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.11 (83) , , 11.14 (80) ,

, 9,461 , 28 June 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.12 (78) , , 15.9 (99) ,

, 23,557 , 28 June 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.13 (115) , , 10.8 (68) ,

, 11,603 , 28 June 1969

Round 13

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 18.21 (129) , , 11.14 (80) , Princes Park , 7,540 , 5 July 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 19.16 (130) , , 19.13 (127) ,

, 6,470 , 5 July 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.15 (87) , , 12.5 (77) ,

, 14,995 , 5 July 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.14 (74) , , 13.16 (94) ,

, 20,247 , 5 July 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.15 (93) , , 12.19 (91) ,

, 45,546 , 5 July 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.14 (80) , , 22.17 (149) ,

, 18,848 , 5 July 1969

Round 14

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.12 (48) , , 17.15 (117) ,

, 10,597 , 12 July 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.12 (114) , , 16.16 (112) , Princes Park , 15,078 , 12 July 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.15 (87) , , 17.11 (113) ,

, 9,598 , 12 July 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.4 (58) , , 11.8 (74) ,

, 11,874 , 12 July 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.19 (121) , , 16.18 (114) ,

, 17,605 , 12 July 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.11 (107) , , 15.19 (109) ,

, 32,485 , 12 July 1969

Round 15

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 22.12 (144) , , 11.11 (77) ,

, 21,959 , 19 July 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.14 (92) , , 16.8 (104) ,

, 19,522 , 19 July 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.16 (106) , , 14.9 (93) ,

, 15,955 , 19 July 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 20.6 (126) , , 14.12 (96) , Princes Park , 9,670 , 19 July 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.21 (99) , , 13.16 (94) , Windy Hill , 15,012 , 19 July 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.16 (106) , , 17.14 (116) ,

, 43,610 , 19 July 1969

Round 16

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.17 (95) , , 21.5 (131) ,

, 32,527 , 26 July 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.16 (94) , , 9.13 (67) ,

, 14,103 , 26 July 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.8 (74) , , 19.12 (126) ,

, 15,151 , 26 July 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.12 (66) , , 8.9 (57) , Princes Park , 16,211 , 2 August 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.11 (83) , , 10.13 (73) ,

, 29,759 , 2 August 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 23.17 (155) , , 11.12 (78) ,

, 21,025 , 2 August 1969

Round 17

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.14 (68) , , 15.10 (100) ,

, 13,400 , 9 August 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 22.12 (144) , , 18.18 (126) ,

, 13,504 , 9 August 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 19.18 (132) , , 14.11 (95) , Windy Hill , 15,548 , 9 August 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.11 (95) , , 17.8 (110) , Princes Park , 27,166 , 9 August 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 19.11 (125) , , 12.13 (85) ,

, 23,519 , 9 August 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.16 (82) , , 16.8 (104) ,

, 21,201 , 9 August 1969

Round 18

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.10 (88) , , 13.21 (99) ,

, 19,480 , 16 August 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 19.25 (139) , , 11.10 (76) , Windy Hill , 15,246 , 16 August 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.11 (89) , , 14.14 (98) ,

, 12,836 , 16 August 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.17 (113) , , 13.18 (96) ,

, 11,250 , 16 August 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.16 (70) , , 12.18 (90) , Princes Park , 17,890 , 16 August 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.15 (99) , , 13.14 (92) ,

, 27,209 , 16 August 1969

Round 19

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.14 (110) , , 14.11 (95) ,

, 31,569 , 23 August 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 19.15 (129) , , 6.22 (58) ,

, 19,428 , 23 August 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 20.7 (127) , , 24.12 (156) , Princes Park , 27,657 , 23 August 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 21.18 (144) , , 8.10 (58) ,

, 11,109 , 23 August 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.13 (97) , , 14.15 (99) ,

, 17,790 , 23 August 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.10 (94) , , 12.10 (82) ,

, 16,043 , 23 August 1969

Round 20

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.17 (101) , , 13.12 (90) ,

, 13,539 , 30 August 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.15 (93) , , 9.16 (70) , Princes Park , 12,990 , 30 August 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.18 (120) , , 13.7 (85) ,

, 10,038 , 30 August 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 23.16 (154) , , 9.10 (64) ,

, 33,591 , 30 August 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.11 (89) , , 14.12 (96) ,

, 17,504 , 30 August 1969 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.16 (118) , , 20.9 (129) , Windy Hill , 24,456 , 30 August 1969

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 ...

10.17 (77) defeated

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

9.18 (72).

Premiership Finals

First Semi-Final

Second Semi-Final

Preliminary Final

Grand final

Awards

* The 1969 VFL Premiership team was

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, ...

. * The VFL's leading goalkicker was

Doug Wade Douglas Graeme Wade (born 16 October 1941) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club and North Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He was the League's leading goal scorer (winn ...

Geelong Geelong ( ) (Wathawurrung: ''Djilang''/''Djalang'') is a port city in the southeastern Australian state of Victoria, located at the eastern end of Corio Bay (the smaller western portion of Port Phillip Bay) and the left bank of Barwon River, ...

who kicked 127 goals (including 5 goals in the final series). * The winner of the 1969

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 Kevin Murray of

Fitzroy Fitzroy or FitzRoy may refer to: People As a given name *Several members of the Somerset family (Dukes of Beaufort) have this as a middle-name: **FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (1788–1855) ** Henry Charles FitzRoy Somerset, 8th Duke of Beau ...

with 19 votes. *

took the "wooden spoon" in 1969. * The reserves premiership was won by . Melbourne 12.16 (88) defeated 8.12 (60) in the Grand Final, held as a curtain-raiser to the seniors Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 27 September.

Notable events

* In December 1968, with

VFL Park Waverley Park (also and originally called VFL Park) was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian-based Victorian Football Lea ...

under construction, the VFL announced that the

1970 VFL season The 1970 VFL season was the 74th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, and ran from 4 April until 26 September. It was the fi ...

would be extended to 21 or 22 rounds, with each of the 12 clubs to play three games at VFL Park. In all, 18 premiership matches would be played at Waverley that season. The idea was that if a 21-round season had been decided, each club would play nine home games, nine away games and three games at VFL park. If a 22-round season was agreed upon, six clubs would play ten games on their home grounds, and the other six would play nine home ground matches. In 1971, the home ground advantage would be reversed, so that those teams that had nine home ground games in 1970 would play ten home ground games in 1971 and vice versa for the other six teams. * The VFL introduced a rule awarding a free kick against a player if he kicked the ball out of bounds on the full. The rule is considered to be a major contributor to an increase in scoring, and an increased prominence of full forwards, by forcing teams to play more direct football – a trend which had also seen under the out-of-bounds rules which were in place during the 1930s. Three full-forwards kicked large hauls of goals in 1969:

with 127 goals,

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 ...

with 120 goals (including 16.1 in Round 5), and

Peter McKenna Peter McKenna (born 27 August 1946 in Brunswick West, Victoria) is a former Australian rules footballer who represented Collingwood and Carlton in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the 1960s and 1970s. He also represented Devonport ...

of Collingwood with 98 goals (including 16.4 in Round 19). The VFL was reprimanded for introducing the rule change without the approval of the

Australian National Football Council The Australian National Football Council (ANFC) was the national governing body for Australian rules football in Australia from 1906 until 1995. The council was a body of delegates representing each of the principal leagues which controlled the ...

, but there was no further penalty and the rule was soon agreed to at ANFC level. *Prior to the season, Geoff Bryant of

Victorian Football Association 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 ...

club Box Hill was cleared to the

North Melbourne Football Club The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed the Kangaroos, is a professional Australian rules football club. The men's team competes in the Australian Football League (AFL), and the women's team in the AFL Women's (AFLW). The Kangaroos also ...

. Under a rule that the VFA had introduced in

1967 Events January * January 1 – Canada begins a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Confederation, featuring the Expo 67 World's Fair. * January 5 ** Spain and Romania sign an agreement in Paris, establishing full consular and ...

, a

transfer fee Transfer may refer to: Arts and media * ''Transfer'' (2010 film), a German science-fiction movie directed by Damir Lukacevic and starring Zana Marjanović * ''Transfer'' (1966 film), a short film * ''Transfer'' (journal), in management studies ...

of $2,000 was set for Bryant's clearance; but, under the Coulter Laws, VFL clubs were forbidden from paying any sort of transfer fee. The VFA formally approved Bryant's clearance, and it initially appeared that it had done so without the transfer fee being paid; but VFA secretary Fred Hill then reported to the press that North Melbourne had indeed secretly paid the transfer fee in defiance of the VFL's rules – and, in fact, Box Hill president Reg Shineberg claimed to have received the fee in cash, under cover of darkness, from a man he did not know. North Melbourne was required to face the VFL arbitrators over the allegations, but charges against the club were dropped when the VFA did not provide any written corroborating evidence. Whether or not the illegal transfer fee was actually paid was never proven. * In Round 2,

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 ...

set the record for highest score in a game, scoring 30.30 (210) against

. This beat

's 38-year-old record, set in the

1931 VFL season The 1931 VFL season was the 35th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 2 May until 10 October, and comprised an 18- ...

, by eleven points. This Carlton record stood for another 9 years, remained unbeaten until the

1978 VFL season The 1978 VFL season was the 82nd season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 1 April until 30 September, and comprised a 22 ...

. * The lowest score of the season was a record high 6.9 (45). The previous record high lowest score was 42 points in 1943. * In Round 4,

and Collingwood played a tough, spiteful, and vicious match with many brawls at Princes Park. "Percy" Jones of Carlton was reported for striking both

Terry Waters Terry Waters (14 December 1943 – 27 July 2020) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Originally from Victorian Football Association (VFA) club Dandenong, Waters' transfer app ...

and "Jerker" Jenkin of Collingwood during the first quarter; Carlton's

Ricky McLean Roderick "Ricky" McLean (born 8 November 1947) is a former Australian rules football player who played in the VFL between 1966 and 1971 for the Carlton Football Club and between 1972 and 1974 and again in 1976 for the Richmond Football Club. M ...

was reported for striking Collingwood's

Len Thompson Len Thompson (27 August 1947 – 18 September 2007) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Collingwood Football Club, South Melbourne Football Club and Fitzroy Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Collingwoo ...

during the first quarter and for striking Collingwood's Brian McKenzie during the last quarter;

Ted Potter Ted Potter (born 11 November 1944) is a former Australian rules footballer. A key defender, he was a regular in the Collingwood Magpies The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed the Magpies or colloquially the Pies, is a professional Aust ...

was reported for striking Carlton's John Nicholls during the last quarter (Nicholls had to leave the field with an eye injury); Len Thompson was reported for striking Carlton's

Vin Waite Vincent Waite (26 February 1949 – 5 July 2003) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton in the VFL. His son Jarrad followed in his footsteps and started his football career with Carlton, being drafted under the father-son ...

(Carlton's 19th man, who substituted for the injured Nicholls) during the last quarter. Whilst the field umpire ( Ray Sleeth) was writing out the match reports he had an extended, heated clash with Carlton president George Harris; the reason for this extended clash was later evident when all of the charges against all of the players were dismissed on a technicality: the umpires had taken too long to inform the club officials of the charges after the final siren had sounded. * In Round 8, Michael Patterson was hit in the face with a football by Carlton trainer, Ron Vincent. The event was immortalised in Mike Brady's football anthem "Up There Cazaly". * On 27 July 1969,

Ted Whitten Edward James Whitten Sr. OAM (27 July 1933 – 17 August 1995) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Footscray Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Born and raised into a working-class family in Footscray, Whit ...

turned 36. The Round 16 Footscray team of twenty contained ten players who had not even been born when Whitten played his first game for Footscray in 1951. * In the First Semi-Final

thrashed

by a VFL semi-final record margin, 25.17 (167) to 7.7 (49) in front of a record crowd of 101,233 spectators. * In the 1969 Grand Final, Ian Owen's Richmond guernsey carried the number 52. There is no record of any Grand Final player carrying a larger number. (Owen played the entire match with a depressed fracture of the cheekbone that he had sustained in the Preliminary Final against Collingwood a week earlier.)

References

Bibliography

* 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

1969 Season – AFL Tables

Blueseum: Match Report: Round 4, 1969
{{DEFAULTSORT:1969 Vfl Season 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 ...