Premiership season
In 1971, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man. 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 1971 VFL ''Premiers'' were determined by the specific format and conventions of the Page–McIntyre system.Round 1
, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 24.21 (165) , , 7.18 (60) , MCG , 28,727 , 3 April 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.9 (57) , , 21.25 (151) , Kardinia Park , 20,771 , 3 April 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.15 (99) , , 22.18 (150) , Junction Oval , 18,386 , 3 April 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.12 (72) , , 13.18 (96) ,Round 2
, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 20.9 (129) , , 9.15 (69) , Princes Park , 30,480 , 10 April 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.20 (92) , , 16.14 (110) , Lake Oval , 17,090 , 10 April 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.13 (97) , , 7.11 (53) , Glenferrie Oval , 15,310 , 10 April 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.15 (63) , , 16.11 (107) , Western Oval , 20,378 , 12 April 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.12 (108) , , 12.8 (80) , Moorabbin Oval , 24,174 , 12 April 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.9 (69) , , 16.10 (106) , MCG , 82,172 , 12 April 1971Round 3
, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.15 (99) , , 14.9 (93) , Western Oval , 15,003 , 17 April 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.26 (128) , , 14.10 (94) , Junction Oval , 8,917 , 17 April 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.19 (115) , , 16.11 (107) , Glenferrie Oval , 14,090 , 17 April 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.12 (66) , , 9.12 (66) ,Round 4
, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 19.20 (134) , , 12.9 (81) , Victoria Park , 25,759 , 24 April 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 5.9 (39) , , 20.13 (133) , Lake Oval , 18,895 , 24 April 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.9 (69) , , 18.19 (127) , Moorabbin Oval , 25,153 , 24 April 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.15 (99) , , 13.14 (92) , Arden Street Oval , 13,972 , 24 April 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.8 (86) , , 13.21 (99) , Kardinia Park , 23,555 , 24 April 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.18 (78) , , 6.7 (43) , VFL Park , 27,342 , 24 April 1971Round 5
, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.8 (92) , , 17.18 (120) , Junction Oval , 12,363 , 1 May 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 21.15 (141) , , 16.12 (108) ,Round 6
, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.12 (84) , , 22.14 (146) , Arden Street Oval , 13,047 , 8 May 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 18.5 (113) , , 16.11 (107) , Western Oval , 19,205 , 8 May 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.25 (109) , , 9.11 (65) , Moorabbin Oval , 21,604 , 8 May 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.12 (72) , , 18.19 (127) , MCG , 80,231 , 8 May 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.14 (92) , , 14.10 (94) , Lake Oval , 17,171 , 8 May 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.13 (91) , , 20.16 (136) , VFL Park , 11,432 , 8 May 1971Round 7
, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 22.17 (149) , , 15.14 (104) , MCG , 21,069 , 15 May 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 21.19 (145) , , 12.6 (78) , Glenferrie Oval , 22,956 , 15 May 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.16 (82) , , 13.14 (92) , Junction Oval , 17,573 , 15 May 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.17 (89) , , 16.9 (105) ,Round 8
, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.12 (72) , , 14.22 (106) , Kardinia Park , 20,247 , 22 May 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.11 (89) , , 19.19 (133) , Lake Oval , 15,147 , 22 May 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.17 (119) , , 12.7 (79) , Western Oval , 21,295 , 22 May 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 20.15 (135) , , 13.10 (88) , Moorabbin Oval , 38,127 , 22 May 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.26 (122) , , 9.16 (70) , MCG , 52,783 , 22 May 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.10 (52) , , 22.15 (147) , VFL Park , 14,860 , 22 May 1971Round 9
, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.10 (70) , , 10.7 (67) , MCG , 39,380 , 29 May 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.17 (119) , , 10.18 (78) , Junction Oval , 12,255 , 29 May 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.10 (100) , , 10.6 (66) , Victoria Park , 20,350 , 29 May 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 4.12 (36) , , 14.12 (96) , Princes Park , 29,250 , 29 May 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.28 (124) , , 16.13 (109) , Arden Street Oval , 7,335 , 29 May 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.11 (89) , , 17.11 (113) , VFL Park , 16,300 , 29 May 1971Round 10
, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.18 (96) , , 8.15 (63) ,Round 11
, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.17 (89) , , 13.20 (98) , Arden Street Oval , 9,454 , 14 June 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.11 (83) , , 20.13 (133) , Kardinia Park , 23,388 , 14 June 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.14 (74) , , 14.10 (94) , MCG , 52,256 , 14 June 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.16 (118) , , 9.5 (59) , Moorabbin Oval , 22,488 , 14 June 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 17.13 (115) , , 8.9 (57) , Junction Oval , 14,212 , 14 June 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 24.14 (158) , , 11.7 (73) , VFL Park , 50,246 , 14 June 1971Round 12
, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.18 (114) , , 3.5 (23) , Princes Park , 13,300 , 19 June 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.15 (99) , , 3.3 (21) , Moorabbin Oval , 14,181 , 19 June 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.11 (47) , , 8.17 (65) , MCG , 24,831 , 19 June 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.20 (104) , , 11.5 (71) , Glenferrie Oval , 14,181 , 19 June 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.15 (63) , , 6.10 (46) , Western Oval , 21,188 , 19 June 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 2.6 (18) , , 6.13 (49) , VFL Park , 12,528 , 19 June 1971Round 13
, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.16 (52) , , 16.15 (111) , Arden Street Oval , 8,508 , 26 June 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.9 (87) , , 9.12 (66) , Kardinia Park , 11,222 , 26 June 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 18.16 (124) , , 12.12 (84) , Victoria Park , 33,338 , 26 June 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.13 (79) , , 12.8 (80) , MCG , 28,471 , 26 June 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.6 (84) , , 14.14 (98) ,Round 14
, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.6 (84) , , 15.13 (103) , Kardinia Park , 14,283 , 3 July 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 30.20 (200) , , 7.11 (53) , Victoria Park , 26,831 , 3 July 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.9 (87) , , 13.12 (90) , Moorabbin Oval , 28,825 , 3 July 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 18.15 (123) , , 19.11 (125) , Lake Oval , 13,360 , 3 July 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.11 (89) , , 11.16 (82) , Arden Street Oval , 8,777 , 3 July 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.16 (88) , , 11.6 (72) , VFL Park , 27,511 , 3 July 1971Round 15
, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.18 (90) , , 11.13 (79) , MCG , 22,870 , 10 July 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 20.5 (125) , , 15.12 (102) , Glenferrie Oval , 21,647 , 10 July 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.12 (78) , , 12.17 (89) ,Round 16
, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Bernard , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.8 (86) , , 6.15 (51) , Western Oval , 17,826 , 17 July 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 3.15 (33) , , 11.16 (82) , Lake Oval , 10,519 , 17 July 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 4.10 (34) , , 7.7 (49) , MCG , 20,013 , 17 July 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 6.9 (45) , , 8.12 (60) , Arden Street Oval , 9,835 , 17 July 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.19 (97) , , 8.6 (54) , Moorabbin Oval , 25,518 , 17 July 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.7 (85) , , 16.18 (114) , VFL Park , 9,012 , 17 July 1971Round 17
, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 20.19 (139) , , 11.10 (76) , Junction Oval , 8,889 , 24 July 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.8 (50) , , 14.15 (99) ,Round 18
, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 8.14 (62) , , 9.8 (62) , Arden Street Oval , 6,522 , 31 July 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 16.12 (108) , , 11.10 (76) , MCG , 47,951 , 31 July 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.8 (86) , , 13.18 (96) , Lake Oval , 7,895 , 31 July 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 21.11 (137) , , 19.14 (128) , Kardinia Park , 22,000 , 31 July 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.10 (76) , , 15.16 (106) , Western Oval , 21,670 , 31 July 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 13.5 (83) , , 9.10 (64) , VFL Park , 14,563 , 31 July 1971Round 19
, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 23.16 (154) , , 9.8 (62) , Glenferrie Oval , 9,112 , 7 August 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.17 (83) , , 8.10 (58) , Junction Oval , 8,253 , 7 August 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 7.23 (65) , , 9.12 (66) ,Round 20
, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 24.7 (151) , , 11.10 (76) , Kardinia Park , 12,085 , 14 August 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 14.11 (95) , , 9.10 (64) , Moorabbin Oval , 25,081 , 14 August 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.9 (75) , , 15.20 (110) , Western Oval , 15,096 , 14 August 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 18.18 (126) , , 10.12 (72) , MCG , 28,388 , 14 August 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 11.15 (81) , , 19.6 (120) , Glenferrie Oval , 22,753 , 14 August 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 9.8 (62) , , 18.18 (126) , VFL Park , 19,491 , 14 August 1971Round 21
, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 18.14 (122) , , 6.14 (50) , Moorabbin Oval , 16,205 , 21 August 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.12 (102) , , 19.9 (123) , MCG , 37,732 , 21 August 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.15 (105) , , 20.20 (140) , Victoria Park , 41,312 , 21 August 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 18.18 (126) , , 15.5 (95) , Kardinia Park , 17,864 , 21 August 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.13 (103) , , 10.12 (72) , Arden Street Oval , 8,733 , 21 August 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 15.15 (105) , , 11.16 (82) , Junction Oval , 22,413 , 21 August 1971Round 22
, - bgcolor="#CCCCFF" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 18.16 (124) , , 8.17 (65) , Glenferrie Oval , 14,809 , 28 August 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 10.14 (74) , , 12.18 (90) , Western Oval , 16,707 , 28 August 1971 , - bgcolor="#FFFFFF" , , 12.12 (84) , , 13.17 (95) ,Ladder
Consolation Night Series Competition
The consolation night series were held under the floodlights at Lake Oval, South Melbourne, for the teams (5th to 12th on ladder) out of the finals at the end of the home and away rounds. Final:Premiership Finals
First Semi-Final
Second Semi-Final
Preliminary Final
Grand final
Awards
* The 1971 VFL Premiership team was Hawthorn. * The VFL's leading goalkicker was Peter Hudson of Hawthorn who kicked 150 goals (including 10 goals in the finals). * The winner of the 1971 Brownlow Medal was Ian Stewart of Richmond with 21 votes. * South Melbourne took the " wooden spoon" in 1971. * The reserves premiership was won by . Richmond 14.14 (98) defeated 8.18 (66) in the Grand Final, held as a curtain-raiser to the seniors Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 25 September.Notable events
* Fitzroy wingerReferences
* 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