| 1961 VFL premiership season | |
|---|---|
| Teams | 12 |
| Premiers | Hawthorn 1st premiership |
| Minor premiers | Hawthorn 1st minor premiership |
| Consolation series | Geelong 1st Consolation series win |
| Brownlow Medallist | John James(Carlton) |
| Coleman Medallist | Tom Carroll(Carlton) |
| Matches played | 112 |
| Highest | 107,935 |
The1961 VFL season was the 65th season of theVictorian Football League (VFL), the highest level seniorAustralian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 15 April until 23 September, and comprised an 18-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top four clubs.
The premiership was won by theHawthorn Football Club for the first time, after it defeatedFootscray by 43 points in the1961 VFL Grand Final.
In 1961, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the19th man and the20th man. A player could be substituted for any reason; however, once substituted, a player could not return to the field of play under any circumstances.
Teams played each other in a home-and-away season of 18 rounds; matches 12 to 18 were the "home-and-way reverse" of matches 1 to 7.
Once the 18 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1961 VFLPremiers were determined by the specific format and conventions of thePage–McIntyre system.
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 7.14 (56) | South Melbourne | 11.15 (81) | Glenferrie Oval | 20,000 | 15 April 1961 |
| Fitzroy | 6.10 (46) | Melbourne | 10.15 (75) | Brunswick Street Oval | 31,787 | 15 April 1961 |
| Richmond | 11.8 (74) | Footscray | 15.12 (102) | Punt Road Oval | 20,000 | 15 April 1961 |
| North Melbourne | 8.10 (58) | Essendon | 6.13 (49) | Arden Street Oval | 24,000 | 15 April 1961 |
| Geelong | 13.18 (96) | Collingwood | 8.9 (57) | Kardinia Park | 23,973 | 15 April 1961 |
| St Kilda | 5.8 (38) | Carlton | 6.12 (48) | Junction Oval | 30,400 | 15 April 1961 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Footscray | 13.19 (97) | North Melbourne | 8.4 (52) | Western Oval | 22,178 | 22 April 1961 |
| Essendon | 13.7 (85) | St Kilda | 9.15 (69) | Windy Hill | 23,000 | 22 April 1961 |
| Collingwood | 3.16 (34) | Richmond | 7.15 (57) | Victoria Park | 23,000 | 22 April 1961 |
| Carlton | 9.5 (59) | Fitzroy | 6.18 (54) | Princes Park | 29,384 | 22 April 1961 |
| Melbourne | 5.14 (44) | Hawthorn | 11.10 (76) | MCG | 34,640 | 22 April 1961 |
| South Melbourne | 12.8 (80) | Geelong | 12.12 (84) | Lake Oval | 24,258 | 22 April 1961 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Richmond | 6.9 (45) | South Melbourne | 12.17 (89) | Punt Road Oval | 27,650 | 25 April 1961 |
| Essendon | 8.9 (57) | Melbourne | 11.16 (82) | Windy Hill | 32,000 | 25 April 1961 |
| Collingwood | 12.16 (88) | North Melbourne | 9.8 (62) | Victoria Park | 26,574 | 29 April 1961 |
| Carlton | 11.6 (72) | Footscray | 11.15 (81) | Princes Park | 34,254 | 29 April 1961 |
| St Kilda | 12.11 (83) | Geelong | 6.14 (50) | Junction Oval | 29,300 | 29 April 1961 |
| Hawthorn | 13.17 (95) | Fitzroy | 10.9 (69) | Glenferrie Oval | 21,500 | 29 April 1961 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 12.9 (81) | St Kilda | 12.12 (84) | MCG | 40,572 | 6 May 1961 |
| Fitzroy | 13.17 (95) | Richmond | 16.12 (108) | Brunswick Street Oval | 17,861 | 6 May 1961 |
| North Melbourne | 8.7 (55) | Hawthorn | 12.13 (85) | Arden Street Oval | 13,500 | 6 May 1961 |
| Geelong | 7.19 (61) | Essendon | 22.11 (143) | Kardinia Park | 21,437 | 6 May 1961 |
| Footscray | 10.13 (73) | Collingwood | 10.4 (64) | Western Oval | 34,029 | 6 May 1961 |
| South Melbourne | 7.14 (56) | Carlton | 11.6 (72) | Lake Oval | 25,624 | 6 May 1961 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Richmond | 13.7 (85) | St Kilda | 11.20 (86) | Punt Road Oval | 22,000 | 13 May 1961 |
| Geelong | 7.13 (55) | Melbourne | 17.18 (120) | Kardinia Park | 18,673 | 13 May 1961 |
| Collingwood | 8.7 (55) | Fitzroy | 16.20 (116) | Victoria Park | 30,560 | 13 May 1961 |
| South Melbourne | 12.12 (84) | Footscray | 12.10 (82) | Lake Oval | 26,748 | 13 May 1961 |
| Hawthorn | 9.21 (75) | Essendon | 12.4 (76) | Glenferrie Oval | 31,000 | 13 May 1961 |
| North Melbourne | 11.17 (83) | Carlton | 17.7 (109) | Arden Street Oval | 21,500 | 13 May 1961 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Fitzroy | 14.13 (97) | North Melbourne | 11.13 (79) | Brunswick Street Oval | 17,693 | 20 May 1961 |
| Essendon | 20.13 (133) | South Melbourne | 6.18 (54) | Windy Hill | 32,600 | 20 May 1961 |
| Richmond | 9.14 (68) | Geelong | 16.16 (112) | Punt Road Oval | 24,600 | 20 May 1961 |
| Footscray | 9.8 (62) | Melbourne | 13.9 (87) | Western Oval | 29,490 | 27 May 1961 |
| Carlton | 9.11 (65) | Collingwood | 7.12 (54) | Princes Park | 33,161 | 27 May 1961 |
| St Kilda | 14.16 (100) | Hawthorn | 12.9 (81) | Junction Oval | 32,900 | 27 May 1961 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 9.14 (68) | St Kilda | 11.16 (82) | Arden Street Oval | 13,000 | 3 June 1961 |
| Hawthorn | 10.13 (73) | Richmond | 8.12 (60) | Glenferrie Oval | 15,000 | 3 June 1961 |
| Collingwood | 18.11 (119) | Essendon | 8.10 (58) | Victoria Park | 28,290 | 3 June 1961 |
| Geelong | 13.13 (91) | Footscray | 4.14 (38) | Kardinia Park | 18,683 | 3 June 1961 |
| South Melbourne | 7.8 (50) | Fitzroy | 17.15 (117) | Lake Oval | 14,500 | 3 June 1961 |
| Melbourne | 15.14 (104) | Carlton | 11.13 (79) | MCG | 49,678 | 3 June 1961 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| St Kilda | 16.14 (110) | South Melbourne | 5.16 (46) | Junction Oval | 28,800 | 10 June 1961 |
| North Melbourne | 11.13 (79) | Geelong | 11.13 (79) | Arden Street Oval | 16,000 | 10 June 1961 |
| Fitzroy | 10.14 (74) | Essendon | 6.18 (54) | Brunswick Street Oval | 28,083 | 10 June 1961 |
| Footscray | 14.19 (103) | Hawthorn | 13.13 (91) | Western Oval | 24,132 | 12 June 1961 |
| Carlton | 7.7 (49) | Richmond | 13.11 (89) | Princes Park | 24,660 | 12 June 1961 |
| Melbourne | 17.19 (121) | Collingwood | 7.10 (52) | MCG | 78,465 | 12 June 1961 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Geelong | 9.7 (61) | Hawthorn | 10.10 (70) | Kardinia Park | 14,197 | 17 June 1961 |
| Collingwood | 14.10 (94) | St Kilda | 12.12 (84) | Victoria Park | 27,280 | 17 June 1961 |
| Richmond | 12.10 (82) | North Melbourne | 10.16 (76) | Punt Road Oval | 10,000 | 17 June 1961 |
| South Melbourne | 8.14 (62) | Melbourne | 14.14 (98) | Lake Oval | 10,200 | 17 June 1961 |
| Footscray | 9.5 (59) | Fitzroy | 9.9 (63) | Western Oval | 21,197 | 17 June 1961 |
| Essendon | 12.17 (89) | Carlton | 7.12 (54) | Windy Hill | 23,000 | 17 June 1961 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Collingwood | 12.12 (84) | South Melbourne | 6.8 (44) | Victoria Park | 24,637 | 24 June 1961 |
| North Melbourne | 5.14 (44) | Melbourne | 14.9 (93) | Arden Street Oval | 11,500 | 24 June 1961 |
| St Kilda | 8.11 (59) | Footscray | 4.13 (37) | Junction Oval | 28,100 | 24 June 1961 |
| Geelong | 9.10 (64) | Fitzroy | 8.9 (57) | Kardinia Park | 16,881 | 24 June 1961 |
| Richmond | 12.20 (92) | Essendon | 10.14 (74) | Punt Road Oval | 23,000 | 24 June 1961 |
| Hawthorn | 12.6 (78) | Carlton | 6.10 (46) | Glenferrie Oval | 21,500 | 24 June 1961 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 17.18 (120) | Richmond | 7.12 (54) | MCG | 38,000 | 1 July 1961 |
| Fitzroy | 9.9 (63) | St Kilda | 9.8 (62) | Brunswick Street Oval | 19,291 | 1 July 1961 |
| Essendon | 12.11 (83) | Footscray | 13.14 (92) | Windy Hill | 22,440 | 1 July 1961 |
| Carlton | 10.18 (78) | Geelong | 17.16 (118) | Princes Park | 17,936 | 1 July 1961 |
| South Melbourne | 9.14 (68) | North Melbourne | 7.8 (50) | Lake Oval | 8,750 | 1 July 1961 |
| Hawthorn | 13.12 (90) | Collingwood | 4.12 (36) | Glenferrie Oval | 31,500 | 1 July 1961 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Footscray | 6.6 (42) | Richmond | 4.9 (33) | Western Oval | 16,648 | 8 July 1961 |
| Essendon | 9.9 (63) | North Melbourne | 3.10 (28) | Windy Hill | 12,800 | 8 July 1961 |
| Collingwood | 5.11 (41) | Geelong | 8.10 (58) | Victoria Park | 20,700 | 8 July 1961 |
| Carlton | 9.8 (62) | St Kilda | 3.12 (30) | Princes Park | 14,636 | 8 July 1961 |
| South Melbourne | 7.7 (49) | Hawthorn | 9.11 (65) | Lake Oval | 13,860 | 8 July 1961 |
| Melbourne | 6.8 (44) | Fitzroy | 6.8 (44) | MCG | 29,947 | 8 July 1961 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 8.10 (58) | Melbourne | 5.10 (40) | Glenferrie Oval | 27,500 | 15 July 1961 |
| North Melbourne | 10.15 (75) | Footscray | 11.6 (72) | Arden Street Oval | 15,000 | 15 July 1961 |
| Richmond | 5.8 (38) | Collingwood | 6.18 (54) | Punt Road Oval | 22,799 | 15 July 1961 |
| Geelong | 11.16 (82) | South Melbourne | 9.13 (67) | Kardinia Park | 18,489 | 22 July 1961 |
| St Kilda | 13.20 (98) | Essendon | 7.8 (50) | Junction Oval | 34,600 | 22 July 1961 |
| Fitzroy | 12.13 (85) | Carlton | 9.22 (76) | Brunswick Street Oval | 34,561 | 22 July 1961 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Geelong | 11.7 (73) | St Kilda | 10.8 (68) | Kardinia Park | 25,723 | 29 July 1961 |
| Fitzroy | 12.15 (87) | Hawthorn | 13.16 (94) | Brunswick Street Oval | 23,012 | 29 July 1961 |
| South Melbourne | 16.9 (105) | Richmond | 9.14 (68) | Lake Oval | 14,350 | 29 July 1961 |
| Melbourne | 10.18 (78) | Essendon | 13.9 (87) | MCG | 31,455 | 29 July 1961 |
| North Melbourne | 9.13 (67) | Collingwood | 9.10 (64) | Arden Street Oval | 15,000 | 29 July 1961 |
| Footscray | 12.11 (83) | Carlton | 7.9 (51) | Western Oval | 21,639 | 29 July 1961 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 15.10 (100) | North Melbourne | 6.11 (47) | Glenferrie Oval | 14,000 | 5 August 1961 |
| Essendon | 13.16 (94) | Geelong | 7.14 (56) | Windy Hill | 27,500 | 5 August 1961 |
| Collingwood | 5.10 (40) | Footscray | 11.12 (78) | Victoria Park | 22,324 | 5 August 1961 |
| Carlton | 17.9 (111) | South Melbourne | 7.10 (52) | Princes Park | 16,889 | 5 August 1961 |
| St Kilda | 9.12 (66) | Melbourne | 7.13 (55) | Junction Oval | 33,100 | 5 August 1961 |
| Richmond | 9.9 (63) | Fitzroy | 9.14 (68) | Punt Road Oval | 15,547 | 5 August 1961 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Footscray | 14.17 (101) | South Melbourne | 5.16 (46) | Western Oval | 19,242 | 12 August 1961 |
| Essendon | 10.12 (72) | Hawthorn | 11.13 (79) | Windy Hill | 27,200 | 12 August 1961 |
| Carlton | 9.16 (70) | North Melbourne | 10.8 (68) | Princes Park | 15,439 | 12 August 1961 |
| St Kilda | 12.19 (91) | Richmond | 0.8 (8) | Junction Oval | 20,600 | 12 August 1961 |
| Melbourne | 12.17 (89) | Geelong | 12.15 (87) | MCG | 48,245 | 12 August 1961 |
| Fitzroy | 12.20 (92) | Collingwood | 10.10 (70) | Brunswick Street Oval | 23,768 | 12 August 1961 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 19.6 (120) | St Kilda | 14.7 (91) | Glenferrie Oval | 34,500 | 19 August 1961 |
| Geelong | 11.11 (77) | Richmond | 6.10 (46) | Kardinia Park | 17,976 | 19 August 1961 |
| Melbourne | 11.22 (88) | Footscray | 7.6 (48) | MCG | 52,195 | 19 August 1961 |
| North Melbourne | 10.15 (75) | Fitzroy | 8.15 (63) | Arden Street Oval | 15,000 | 19 August 1961 |
| South Melbourne | 11.12 (78) | Essendon | 16.11 (107) | Lake Oval | 14,125 | 19 August 1961 |
| Collingwood | 10.12 (72) | Carlton | 13.10 (88) | Victoria Park | 31,849 | 19 August 1961 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Footscray | 12.12 (84) | Geelong | 8.15 (63) | Western Oval | 42,015 | 26 August 1961 |
| Fitzroy | 25.29 (179) | South Melbourne | 11.10 (76) | Brunswick Street Oval | 12,815 | 26 August 1961 |
| Carlton | 13.12 (90) | Melbourne | 13.13 (91) | Princes Park | 21,863 | 26 August 1961 |
| St Kilda | 10.12 (72) | North Melbourne | 9.13 (67) | Junction Oval | 24,250 | 26 August 1961 |
| Richmond | 8.8 (56) | Hawthorn | 11.15 (81) | Punt Road Oval | 15,177 | 26 August 1961 |
| Essendon | 12.16 (88) | Collingwood | 13.10 (88) | Windy Hill | 18,500 | 26 August 1961 |
| (P) | Premiers |
| Qualified for finals |
| # | Team | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawthorn(P) | 18 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 1467 | 1173 | 125.1 | 56 |
| 2 | Melbourne | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 1510 | 1151 | 131.2 | 50 |
| 3 | St Kilda | 18 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 1373 | 1173 | 117.1 | 44 |
| 4 | Footscray | 18 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 1334 | 1216 | 109.7 | 44 |
| 5 | Fitzroy | 18 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 1469 | 1258 | 116.8 | 42 |
| 6 | Geelong | 18 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 1367 | 1362 | 100.4 | 42 |
| 7 | Essendon | 18 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 1462 | 1335 | 109.5 | 38 |
| 8 | Carlton | 18 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1279 | 1325 | 96.5 | 36 |
| 9 | Collingwood | 18 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 1166 | 1375 | 84.8 | 22 |
| 10 | Richmond | 18 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 1126 | 1428 | 78.9 | 20 |
| 11 | South Melbourne | 18 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 1187 | 1644 | 72.2 | 20 |
| 12 | North Melbourne | 18 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 1133 | 1433 | 79.1 | 18 |
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for
Average score: 73.5
Source:AFL Tables
| First semi-final | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SF1: Saturday, 2 September (2:30 pm) | St Kilda 8.12 (60) | def. by | Footscray 9.15 (69) | MCG (crowd: 86,411) | Report |
| Second semi-final | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SF2: Saturday, 9 September (2:30 pm) | Hawthorn 12.8 (80) | def. | Melbourne 11.7 (73) | MCG (crowd: 87,744) | Report |
| Preliminary final | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 16 September (2:30 pm) | Melbourne 8.10 (58) | def. by | Footscray 13.7 (85) | MCG (crowd: 86,118) | Report |
| Grand Final | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 23 September (2:50 pm) | Hawthorn 13.16 (94) | def. | Footscray 7.9 (51) | MCG (crowd: 107,935) | Report |
| |||||
The 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 season.
Final:Geelong 9.20 (74) defeatedNorth Melbourne 9.8 (62)