The 1970 VFL season was the 74th 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, and ran from 4 April until 26 September. It was the first season to play comprise a 22-game home-and-away season, which became the standard for the following fifty years, and which was followed by a

finals series Final, Finals or The Final may refer to: *Final (competition), the last or championship round of a sporting competition, match, game, or other contest which decides a winner for an event ** Another term for playoffs, describing a sequence of cont ...

featuring the top four clubs. The season saw the opening of the league's privately owned stadium,

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 ...

, in Mulgrave. 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 tenth time, after it defeated by ten points in the 1970 VFL Grand Final. A crowd of 121,696 attended the match, the all-time record for the highest Australian rules football crowd.

Premiership season

In 1970, 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 22 rounds; matches 12 to 22 were the "home-and-way reverse" of matches 1 to 11. Once the 22 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1970 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" , , 21.19 (145) , , 14.12 (96) , Princes Park , 23,948 , 4 April 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.16 (100) , , 7.6 (48) ,

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 ...

, 21,429 , 4 April 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.14 (68) , , 14.9 (93) ,

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 ...

, 15,242 , 4 April 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 19.12 (126) , , 21.9 (135) ,

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 ...

, 20,509 , 4 April 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.12 (84) , , 23.10 (148) ,

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 ...

, 26,596 , 4 April 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.12 (96) , , 16.20 (116) ,

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 ...

, 38,617 , 5 April 1970

Round 2

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.11 (59) , , 8.12 (60) ,

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 ...

, 10,986 , 11 April 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.9 (51) , , 23.23 (161) ,

Junction Oval Junction Oval (also known as the St Kilda Cricket Ground, or the CitiPower Centre due to sponsorship reasons) is a historic sports ground in the suburb of St Kilda in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The oval's location near the St Kilda Junc ...

, 22,857 , 11 April 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.14 (74) , , 14.22 (106) , Windy Hill , 19,380 , 11 April 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 19.19 (133) , , 13.16 (94) ,

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 ...

, 35,318 , 11 April 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.12 (96) , , 11.19 (85) ,

, 25,575 , 11 April 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.9 (81) , , 16.7 (103) ,

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 ...

, 28,302 , 11 April 1970

Round 3

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.23 (107) , , 10.14 (74) ,

, 17,972 , 18 April 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.24 (108) , , 15.11 (101) ,

, 24,532 , 18 April 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 18.13 (121) , , 8.16 (64) ,

, 10,182 , 18 April 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.17 (89) , , 15.10 (100) ,

, 14,726 , 18 April 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.12 (114) , , 15.11 (101) ,

, 46,373 , 18 April 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.11 (53) , , 17.12 (114) ,

, 27,557 , 18 April 1970

Round 4

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.16 (112) , , 13.15 (93) , Princes Park , 20,540 , 25 April 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.19 (109) , , 7.12 (54) ,

, 32,147 , 25 April 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.19 (121) , , 13.13 (91) ,

, 22,909 , 25 April 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.10 (70) , , 16.14 (110) ,

, 19,017 , 25 April 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.9 (93) , , 14.17 (101) ,

, 35,654 , 25 April 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.11 (77) , , 9.6 (60) ,

, 24,371 , 25 April 1970

Round 5

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.13 (49) , , 10.11 (71) ,

, 23,084 , 2 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.13 (79) , , 11.10 (76) ,

, 19,610 , 2 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 5.24 (54) , , 7.7 (49) ,

, 7,450 , 2 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.14 (68) , , 14.4 (88) , Windy Hill , 16,077 , 2 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.9 (57) , , 12.14 (86) ,

, 22,800 , 2 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.17 (65) , , 8.9 (57) ,

, 28,454 , 2 May 1970

Round 6

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 23.9 (147) , , 15.20 (110) , Princes Park , 20,022 , 9 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.25 (79) , , 9.8 (62) ,

, 20,312 , 9 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 18.15 (123) , , 11.11 (77) ,

, 21,139 , 9 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.12 (72) , , 7.15 (57) ,

, 34,219 , 9 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.6 (66) , , 17.30 (132) ,

, 20,091 , 9 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 20.10 (130) , , 21.11 (137) ,

, 26,133 , 9 May 1970

Round 7

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.14 (68) , , 7.4 (46) ,

, 16,346 , 16 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.15 (105) , , 9.18 (72) ,

, 22,774 , 16 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.21 (81) , , 8.8 (56) ,

, 17,618 , 16 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.20 (116) , , 15.2 (92) ,

, 43,435 , 16 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 23.12 (150) , , 10.13 (73) ,

, 28,395 , 16 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.12 (60) , , 9.22 (76) ,

, 13,339 , 16 May 1970

Round 8

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.10 (100) , , 18.19 (127) ,

, 36,064 , 23 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 21.20 (146) , , 12.12 (84) ,

, 17,063 , 23 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.5 (89) , , 12.9 (81) ,

, 20,942 , 23 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.13 (67) , , 13.18 (96) ,

, 13,475 , 23 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.14 (68) , , 11.5 (71) ,

, 12,264 , 23 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.13 (85) , , 16.12 (108) ,

, 55,332 , 23 May 1970

Round 9

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.14 (74) , , 15.16 (106) , Princes Park , 19,298 , 30 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.17 (77) , , 15.7 (97) ,

, 22,284 , 30 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.12 (96) , , 7.11 (53) ,

, 19,393 , 30 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 19.14 (128) , , 10.18 (78) ,

, 19,794 , 30 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.15 (93) , , 11.21 (87) , Windy Hill , 24,936 , 30 May 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.13 (79) , , 12.9 (81) ,

, 10,292 , 30 May 1970

Round 10

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.9 (93) , , 12.19 (91) ,

, 16,971 , 6 June 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.13 (97) , , 15.14 (104) , Windy Hill , 20,650 , 6 June 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.23 (107) , , 15.10 (100) ,

, 30,858 , 6 June 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.14 (74) , , 13.13 (91) ,

, 27,665 , 6 June 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.14 (104) , , 14.10 (94) ,

, 22,262 , 6 June 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.8 (62) , , 11.9 (75) ,

, 14,214 , 6 June 1970

Round 11

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.17 (83) , , 9.10 (64) ,

, 19,133 , 15 June 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 22.15 (147) , , 9.8 (62) , Princes Park , 18,760 , 15 June 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 22.15 (147) , , 13.12 (90) ,

, 41,866 , 15 June 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 18.12 (120) , , 12.8 (80) ,

, 14,489 , 15 June 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.15 (111) , , 16.14 (110) ,

, 35,567 , 15 June 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.21 (69) , , 8.9 (57) ,

, 21,105 , 15 June 1970

Round 12

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 5.10 (40) , , 11.5 (71) ,

, 10,007 , 20 June 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.15 (99) , , 10.11 (71) ,

, 12,698 , 20 June 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.11 (83) , , 8.9 (57) ,

, 14,541 , 20 June 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.16 (64) , , 7.9 (51) ,

, 23,008 , 20 June 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.16 (76) , , 12.9 (81) , Windy Hill , 20,270 , 20 June 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.6 (78) , , 12.10 (82) ,

, 13,962 , 20 June 1970

Round 13

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.17 (113) , , 11.8 (74) ,

, 13,196 , 27 June 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.21 (93) , , 11.14 (80) , Princes Park , 25,519 , 27 June 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.9 (105) , , 14.12 (96) ,

, 12,407 , 27 June 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.14 (80) , , 8.11 (59) ,

, 17,073 , 27 June 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.12 (78) , , 9.8 (62) ,

, 18,817 , 27 June 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.13 (79) , , 9.13 (67) ,

, 23,939 , 27 June 1970

Round 14

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.19 (85) , , 11.11 (77) ,

, 13,975 , 4 July 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.12 (78) , , 7.7 (49) , Princes Park , 26,895 , 4 July 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.16 (52) , , 6.10 (46) ,

, 15,415 , 4 July 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 20.8 (128) , , 13.16 (94) ,

, 15,304 , 4 July 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 18.7 (115) , , 13.13 (91) ,

, 19,587 , 4 July 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 5.10 (40) , , 11.5 (71) ,

, 13,238 , 4 July 1970

Round 15

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.15 (81) , , 7.21 (63) ,

, 38,037 , 11 July 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.4 (40) , , 13.10 (88) ,

, 21,921 , 11 July 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.18 (90) , , 8.14 (62) ,

, 9,467 , 11 July 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.8 (62) , , 21.4 (130) , Windy Hill , 13,174 , 11 July 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.15 (93) , , 8.16 (64) ,

, 28,847 , 11 July 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 4.7 (31) , , 13.21 (99) ,

, 12,572 , 11 July 1970

Round 16

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.14 (110) , , 10.11 (71) , Princes Park , 22,988 , 18 July 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.9 (75) , , 12.17 (89) ,

, 25,651 , 18 July 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.17 (95) , , 18.14 (122) ,

, 8,443 , 18 July 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.16 (106) , , 8.17 (65) ,

, 17,220 , 18 July 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.19 (61) , , 10.16 (76) ,

, 36,044 , 18 July 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 23.9 (147) , , 6.12 (48) ,

, 14,151 , 18 July 1970

Round 17

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.14 (92) , , 11.6 (72) ,

, 20,851 , 25 July 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.15 (87) , , 7.14 (56) ,

, 14,660 , 25 July 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 18.17 (125) , , 12.17 (89) , Windy Hill , 9,755 , 25 July 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.21 (105) , , 8.8 (56) ,

, 15,678 , 25 July 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.15 (105) , , 11.17 (83) ,

, 55,740 , 25 July 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.7 (61) , , 10.11 (71) ,

, 13,828 , 25 July 1970

Round 18

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.11 (77) , , 14.18 (102) ,

, 16,698 , 1 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.17 (83) , , 10.19 (79) , Princes Park , 27,271 , 1 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.13 (61) , , 10.15 (75) ,

, 16,591 , 1 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.13 (91) , , 16.22 (118) ,

, 8,952 , 1 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.9 (75) , , 17.15 (117) ,

, 18,760 , 1 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.10 (88) , , 8.13 (61) ,

, 26,378 , 1 August 1970

Round 19

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.23 (83) , , 11.15 (81) ,

, 13,118 , 8 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.16 (88) , , 14.10 (94) , Windy Hill , 13,572 , 8 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.10 (64) , , 18.10 (118) ,

, 25,158 , 8 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.7 (103) , , 13.8 (86) ,

, 17,437 , 8 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.23 (101) , , 2.12 (24) ,

, 39,959 , 8 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.16 (88) , , 5.7 (37) ,

, 29,667 , 8 August 1970

Round 20

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.6 (48) , , 16.10 (106) ,

, 8,837 , 15 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.14 (74) , , 11.15 (81) ,

, 29,918 , 15 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.10 (82) , , 11.14 (80) ,

, 11,398 , 15 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 24.16 (160) , , 11.13 (79) ,

, 24,785 , 15 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.9 (87) , , 18.9 (117) ,

, 20,841 , 15 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.14 (56) , , 17.14 (116) ,

, 22,570 , 15 August 1970

Round 21

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 21.14 (140) , , 9.20 (74) ,

, 8,061 , 22 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.12 (108) , , 13.18 (96) ,

, 13,670 , 22 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 18.14 (122) , , 17.6 (108) , Princes Park , 21,568 , 22 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.15 (99) , , 10.20 (80) ,

, 20,071 , 22 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 23.13 (151) , , 11.11 (77) ,

, 25,862 , 22 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.14 (98) , , 16.12 (108) ,

, 38,222 , 22 August 1970

Round 22

, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.10 (82) , , 10.12 (72) ,

, 16,672 , 29 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.11 (65) , , 18.16 (124) ,

, 11,626 , 29 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.11 (59) , , 14.19 (103) , Windy Hill , 14,310 , 29 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 22.15 (147) , , 7.9 (51) ,

, 41,451 , 29 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.11 (83) , , 6.6 (42) ,

, 6,435 , 29 August 1970 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.15 (87) , , 14.17 (101) ,

, 40,973 , 29 August 1970

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: 13.17 (95) 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 ...

13.15 (93).

Premiership Finals

First Semi-Final

Second Semi-Final

Preliminary Final

Grand final

Crowd figures

Awards

* The 1970 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 ...

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 ...

who kicked 146 goals. * The winner of the 1970

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 Peter Bedford of

with 25 votes. *

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 ...

took the "wooden spoon" in 1970. * The reserves premiership was won by for the second consecutive year. Melbourne 16.10 (106) defeated 16.8 (104) in the Grand Final, held as a curtain-raiser to the seniors Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 26 September.

Leading Goalkickers

*Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the player led the goalkicking at the end of that round. *DNP = did not play in that round.

Notable events

* Unhappy with their treatment over the three seasons they spent at Princes Park,

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 ...

moved their home ground to the

in St Kilda. *On Monday 9 March, the

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

representative team played a match under

Gaelic football Gaelic football ( ga, Peil Ghaelach; short name '), commonly known as simply Gaelic, GAA or Football is an Irish team sport. It is played between two teams of 15 players on a rectangular grass pitch. The objective of the sport is to score by kic ...

rules against the 1969 All-Ireland Senior football champions,

Kerry Kerry or Kerri may refer to: * Kerry (name), a given name and surname of Gaelic origin (including a list of people with the name) Places * Kerry, Queensland, Australia * County Kerry, Ireland ** Kerry Airport, an international airport in Count ...

, 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 ...

. Kerry 4-11 defeated Victoria 2–10. *

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 ...

's Don McKenzie,

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 ...

Darryl Gerlach Darryl Gerlach (born 25 January 1944) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the VFL. Gerlach played his football in the back pocket for Essendon although he started his career in the centre. He was a premiership ...

Geoff Pryor Geoffrey Pryor (born 1944 in Canberra) is a retired Australian political cartoonist. He was the editorial cartoonist for ''The Canberra Times ''The Canberra Times'' is a daily newspaper in Canberra, Australia, which is published by Austr ...

, and Barry Davis, and 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 ...

and

Des Tuddenham Desmond Vincent Tuddenham (born 29 January 1943) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for and in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the 1960s and 1970s. Early years and football career Tuddenham was born and raised in Ro ...

did not play in Round 1 due to separate disputes over player payments with their respective clubs (see Dispute over player payments). *

missed the finals in consecutive years, the first time this had occurred since

1939 This year also marks the start of the Second World War, the largest and deadliest conflict in human history. Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January 1 ** Third Reich *** Jews are forbidden to ...

. * The second half of the Round 1 match between

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, ...

and

, played at the

on Sunday, 5 April 1970, was attended by

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. She was queen ...

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, later Philip Mountbatten; 10 June 1921 – 9 April 2021) was the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. As such, he served as the consort of the British monarch from El ...

The Prince of Wales Prince of Wales ( cy, Tywysog Cymru, ; la, Princeps Cambriae/Walliae) is a title traditionally given to the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. Prior to the conquest by Edward I in the 13th century, it was used by the rulers o ...

and

Anne, Princess Royal Anne, Princess Royal (Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise; born 15 August 1950), is a member of the British royal family. She is the second child and only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and the only sister of ...

, who were present as part of the 1970 royal tour commemorating the bicentenary of the

first voyage of James Cook The first voyage of James Cook was a combined Royal Navy and Royal Society expedition to the south Pacific Ocean aboard HMS ''Endeavour'', from 1768 to 1771. It was the first of three Pacific voyages of which James Cook was the commander. The ...

. The royals met the players on the field at half time and were present to unfurl Richmond's 1969 premiership flag before watching the second half. The match was specially scheduled to accommodate the royals' itinerary; it was the first VFL match played on a Sunday, and the second half was televised live in spite of the rules which normally precluded live telecasts of VFL matches. * In Round 10, Collingwood trailed St Kilda by over ten goals late in the second quarter but came back to win by seven points. Their 52-point deficit remains, as of 2019, the greatest at half-time deficit by a winning side. * The 1970 VFL season was the first in which three full-forwards (

Alex Jesaulenko Oleksandr "Alex" Jesaulenko ( ; uk, Олександр Васильович Єсауленко, Oleksandr Vasiliovych Yesaulenko, ; born 2 August 1945) is a former Australian rules footballer and who played for the Carlton Football Club and t ...

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 ...

, and

) kicked at least 100 goals in a home-and-away season. * South Melbourne ended the second-longest finals drought in league history (twenty-four seasons) by finishing fourth, making the finals for the first time since

1945 1945 marked the end of World War II and the fall of Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan. It is also the only year in which nuclear weapons have been used in combat. Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. Januar ...

. * In Round 5,

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 ...

played his 321st senior VFL game, breaking the record set by

Dick Reynolds Richard Sylvannus Reynolds (20 June 1915 – 2 September 2002) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Essendon Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Reynolds is one of four footballers to have won three Brownlow ...

. Whitten retired after this match. * On Monday 31 August

HSV-7 HSV is a television station in Melbourne, Australia. It is part of the Seven Network, one of the three main commercial television networks in Australia, its first and oldest station. It launched in time for the 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melb ...

broadcast the first live

count. * In the 1970 Second Semi-Final, Carlton's Syd Jackson was reported for striking Collingwood defender

Lee Adamson Lee Adamson (born 27 June 1946) is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia serving as one of the second-tier ...

. Carlton president George Harris, eager to have Jackson in his Grand Final team, devised the strategy of having the club's advocate to assert to the tribunal (on Jackson's behalf) that Jackson had been provoked by an extended series of racial taunts from Adamson, including repeatedly calling him "

Sambo , aka = Sombo (in English-speaking countries) , focus = Hybrid , country = Soviet Union , pioneers = Viktor Spiridonov, Vasili Oshchepkov, Anatoly Kharlampiev , famous_pract = List of Practitioners , oly ...

" and, furthermore, stating that Jackson would respond in the same way to any future vilification. The tribunal took the stance that the VFL had to be seen to protect its only top-level Aboriginal footballer at the time, and they immediately exonerated him, without hearing Adamson's side of the story, stating that Jackson had no case to answer.Carter, R., "Adamson Denies Jackson's Claim", ''The Age'', (Thursday, 30 September, 1970), p. 30.
/ref> Jackson revealed much later that it had all been a set-up by George Harris

* The 1970 VFL Grand Final, 1970 Grand Final between and was considered to be the most memorable Grand Final in VFL/AFL history. Collingwood had a great lead over Carlton during most of the game, however Carlton managed to come back and win the Grand Final by 10 points.

Footnotes

References

* Maplestone, M., ''Flying Higher: History of the Essendon Football Club 1872–1996'', Essendon Football Club, (Melbourne), 1996. * Rogers, S. & Browne, 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

1970 Season – AFL Tables
{{DEFAULTSORT:1970 Vfl Season Australian Football League seasons

Season A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperate and pol ...