1954 VFL season
# 1954 VFL season

The 1954 VFL season was the 58th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 17 April until 25 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 the Footscray Football Club for the first time, after it defeated Melbourne by 51 points in the 1954 VFL Grand Final.

## Background

In 1954, 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 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 1954 VFL Premiers were determined by the specific format and conventions of the Page–McIntyre system.

## Home-and-away season

### Round 1

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Footscray | 7.11 (53) | St Kilda | 9.10 (64) | Western Oval | 24,000 | 17 April 1954 |
| Fitzroy | 7.16 (58) | Geelong | 19.16 (130) | Brunswick Street Oval | 27,000 | 17 April 1954 |
| South Melbourne | 11.18 (84) | Carlton | 11.13 (79) | Lake Oval | 38,000 | 17 April 1954 |
| North Melbourne | 15.11 (101) | Richmond | 13.14 (92) | Arden Street Oval | 24,000 | 19 April 1954 |
| Hawthorn | 8.13 (61) | Essendon | 14.11 (95) | Glenferrie Oval | 23,000 | 19 April 1954 |
| Melbourne | 9.10 (64) | Collingwood | 15.12 (102) | MCG | 45,848 | 19 April 1954 |

### Round 2

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Geelong | 8.12 (60) | North Melbourne | 9.15 (69) | Kardinia Park | 21,000 | 24 April 1954 |
| Essendon | 5.18 (48) | South Melbourne | 8.13 (61) | Windy Hill | 23,000 | 24 April 1954 |
| Collingwood | 12.12 (84) | Fitzroy | 5.8 (38) | Victoria Park | 25,000 | 24 April 1954 |
| Carlton | 12.10 (82) | Melbourne | 15.11 (101) | Princes Park | 21,000 | 24 April 1954 |
| St Kilda | 5.9 (39) | Hawthorn | 10.10 (70) | Junction Oval | 14,000 | 24 April 1954 |
| Richmond | 12.19 (91) | Footscray | 9.19 (73) | Punt Road Oval | 23,000 | 24 April 1954 |

### Round 3

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Hawthorn | 11.9 (75) | Melbourne | 9.10 (64) | Glenferrie Oval | 17,000 | 1 May 1954 |
| Footscray | 17.14 (116) | South Melbourne | 3.11 (29) | Western Oval | 24,500 | 1 May 1954 |
| Fitzroy | 9.10 (64) | North Melbourne | 13.16 (94) | Brunswick Street Oval | 16,000 | 1 May 1954 |
| Essendon | 15.10 (100) | Geelong | 16.20 (116) | Windy Hill | 27,500 | 1 May 1954 |
| St Kilda | 10.10 (70) | Collingwood | 10.16 (76) | Junction Oval | 22,500 | 1 May 1954 |
| Richmond | 14.20 (104) | Carlton | 12.8 (80) | Punt Road Oval | 25,000 | 1 May 1954 |

### Round 4

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Geelong | 13.17 (95) | St Kilda | 8.5 (53) | Kardinia Park | 18,000 | 8 May 1954 |
| Collingwood | 10.17 (77) | Essendon | 9.10 (64) | Victoria Park | 37,000 | 8 May 1954 |
| Carlton | 17.21 (123) | Footscray | 20.14 (134) | Princes Park | 22,000 | 8 May 1954 |
| South Melbourne | 12.9 (81) | Richmond | 10.16 (76) | Lake Oval | 23,000 | 8 May 1954 |
| North Melbourne | 11.10 (76) | Hawthorn | 10.13 (73) | Arden Street Oval | 16,000 | 8 May 1954 |
| Melbourne | 14.12 (96) | Fitzroy | 7.12 (54) | MCG | 17,500 | 8 May 1954 |

### Round 5

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Melbourne | 14.13 (97) | Richmond | 10.7 (67) | MCG | 24,247 | 15 May 1954 |
| Footscray | 11.7 (73) | North Melbourne | 5.5 (35) | Western Oval | 25,500 | 15 May 1954 |
| Fitzroy | 10.16 (76) | St Kilda | 11.10 (76) | Brunswick Street Oval | 12,000 | 15 May 1954 |
| Hawthorn | 14.13 (97) | Geelong | 13.14 (92) | Glenferrie Oval | 18,000 | 15 May 1954 |
| South Melbourne | 6.13 (49) | Collingwood | 14.17 (101) | Lake Oval | 30,000 | 15 May 1954 |
| Essendon | 8.18 (66) | Carlton | 9.15 (69) | Windy Hill | 25,000 | 15 May 1954 |

### Round 6

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| North Melbourne | 8.14 (62) | South Melbourne | 12.13 (85) | Arden Street Oval | 15,000 | 22 May 1954 |
| St Kilda | 14.15 (99) | Melbourne | 12.6 (78) | Junction Oval | 16,000 | 22 May 1954 |
| Richmond | 10.12 (72) | Hawthorn | 11.12 (78) | Punt Road Oval | 23,000 | 22 May 1954 |
| Footscray | 12.8 (80) | Essendon | 4.7 (31) | Western Oval | 30,000 | 22 May 1954 |
| Geelong | 13.17 (95) | Collingwood | 9.8 (62) | Kardinia Park | 32,500 | 22 May 1954 |
| Fitzroy | 8.10 (58) | Carlton | 15.10 (100) | Brunswick Street Oval | 20,000 | 22 May 1954 |

### Round 7

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Melbourne | 15.21 (111) | South Melbourne | 14.5 (89) | MCG | 23,025 | 29 May 1954 |
| Essendon | 22.13 (145) | Fitzroy | 7.12 (54) | Windy Hill | 17,500 | 29 May 1954 |
| Collingwood | 11.8 (74) | Richmond | 14.13 (97) | Victoria Park | 34,000 | 29 May 1954 |
| Carlton | 12.20 (92) | Geelong | 11.16 (82) | Princes Park | 31,000 | 29 May 1954 |
| St Kilda | 10.12 (72) | North Melbourne | 9.24 (78) | Junction Oval | 20,500 | 29 May 1954 |
| Hawthorn | 10.9 (69) | Footscray | 11.12 (78) | Glenferrie Oval | 26,000 | 29 May 1954 |

### Round 8

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Richmond | 17.13 (115) | St Kilda | 10.6 (66) | Punt Road Oval | 17,000 | 5 June 1954 |
| Geelong | 11.5 (71) | Melbourne | 10.20 (80) | Kardinia Park | 17,000 | 5 June 1954 |
| Essendon | 14.14 (98) | North Melbourne | 10.15 (75) | Windy Hill | 23,000 | 5 June 1954 |
| South Melbourne | 6.13 (49) | Hawthorn | 8.10 (58) | Lake Oval | 22,000 | 5 June 1954 |
| Footscray | 13.9 (87) | Fitzroy | 10.14 (74) | Western Oval | 21,000 | 5 June 1954 |
| Collingwood | 11.15 (81) | Carlton | 10.12 (72) | Victoria Park | 40,000 | 5 June 1954 |

### Round 9

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| St Kilda | 2.18 (30) | South Melbourne | 13.18 (96) | Junction Oval | 21,500 | 12 June 1954 |
| Fitzroy | 6.17 (53) | Richmond | 11.13 (79) | Brunswick Street Oval | 19,000 | 12 June 1954 |
| North Melbourne | 13.13 (91) | Collingwood | 10.12 (72) | Arden Street Oval | 30,000 | 12 June 1954 |
| Carlton | 5.11 (41) | Hawthorn | 4.12 (36) | Princes Park | 34,000 | 14 June 1954 |
| Geelong | 9.13 (67) | Footscray | 8.15 (63) | Kardinia Park | 33,400 | 14 June 1954 |
| Melbourne | 11.13 (79) | Essendon | 14.17 (101) | MCG | 36,800 | 14 June 1954 |

### Round 10

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Footscray | 10.13 (73) | Melbourne | 8.9 (57) | Western Oval | 24,000 | 26 June 1954 |
| Fitzroy | 11.10 (76) | South Melbourne | 10.14 (74) | Brunswick Street Oval | 14,000 | 26 June 1954 |
| Richmond | 18.12 (120) | Geelong | 13.17 (95) | Punt Road Oval | 30,000 | 26 June 1954 |
| St Kilda | 9.12 (66) | Essendon | 10.19 (79) | Junction Oval | 20,000 | 26 June 1954 |
| Hawthorn | 11.5 (71) | Collingwood | 10.15 (75) | Glenferrie Oval | 25,000 | 26 June 1954 |
| North Melbourne | 9.13 (67) | Carlton | 9.10 (64) | Arden Street Oval | 25,000 | 26 June 1954 |

### Round 11

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Melbourne | 15.15 (105) | North Melbourne | 11.6 (72) | MCG | 18,180 | 3 July 1954 |
| Essendon | 13.9 (87) | Richmond | 13.6 (84) | Windy Hill | 28,000 | 3 July 1954 |
| Collingwood | 12.10 (82) | Footscray | 10.12 (72) | Victoria Park | 40,000 | 3 July 1954 |
| Carlton | 9.16 (70) | St Kilda | 12.10 (82) | Princes Park | 15,000 | 3 July 1954 |
| South Melbourne | 9.10 (64) | Geelong | 17.12 (114) | Lake Oval | 18,000 | 3 July 1954 |
| Hawthorn | 11.15 (81) | Fitzroy | 11.10 (76) | Glenferrie Oval | 12,000 | 3 July 1954 |

### Round 12

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Essendon | 13.16 (94) | Hawthorn | 9.9 (63) | Windy Hill | 20,000 | 10 July 1954 |
| Collingwood | 8.6 (54) | Melbourne | 5.16 (46) | Victoria Park | 29,000 | 10 July 1954 |
| Carlton | 11.10 (76) | South Melbourne | 10.10 (70) | Princes Park | 17,000 | 10 July 1954 |
| Richmond | 14.14 (98) | North Melbourne | 6.15 (51) | Punt Road Oval | 27,000 | 10 July 1954 |
| St Kilda | 9.8 (62) | Footscray | 13.14 (92) | Junction Oval | 22,500 | 10 July 1954 |
| Geelong | 10.8 (68) | Fitzroy | 6.6 (42) | Kardinia Park | 15,000 | 10 July 1954 |

### Round 13

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Hawthorn | 14.17 (101) | St Kilda | 5.10 (40) | Glenferrie Oval | 11,000 | 17 July 1954 |
| North Melbourne | 5.13 (43) | Geelong | 10.2 (62) | Arden Street Oval | 20,000 | 17 July 1954 |
| Melbourne | 10.16 (76) | Carlton | 6.5 (41) | MCG | 29,406 | 17 July 1954 |
| Footscray | 6.9 (45) | Richmond | 6.13 (49) | Western Oval | 30,250 | 24 July 1954 |
| South Melbourne | 8.18 (66) | Essendon | 13.8 (86) | Lake Oval | 23,000 | 24 July 1954 |
| Fitzroy | 12.9 (81) | Collingwood | 6.13 (49) | Brunswick Street Oval | 20,000 | 24 July 1954 |

### Round 14

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Collingwood | 12.13 (85) | St Kilda | 7.15 (57) | Victoria Park | 16,500 | 31 July 1954 |
| Carlton | 9.11 (65) | Richmond | 6.10 (46) | Princes Park | 25,863 | 31 July 1954 |
| Melbourne | 16.14 (110) | Hawthorn | 5.3 (33) | MCG | 26,708 | 31 July 1954 |
| South Melbourne | 6.5 (41) | Footscray | 11.12 (78) | Lake Oval | 19,500 | 31 July 1954 |
| North Melbourne | 8.19 (67) | Fitzroy | 8.6 (54) | Arden Street Oval | 11,000 | 31 July 1954 |
| Geelong | 16.14 (110) | Essendon | 11.10 (76) | Kardinia Park | 28,158 | 31 July 1954 |

### Round 15

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Richmond | 12.15 (87) | South Melbourne | 6.16 (52) | Punt Road Oval | 12,000 | 7 August 1954 |
| Hawthorn | 9.5 (59) | North Melbourne | 10.22 (82) | Glenferrie Oval | 7,000 | 7 August 1954 |
| Fitzroy | 8.11 (59) | Melbourne | 6.12 (48) | Brunswick Street Oval | 10,000 | 7 August 1954 |
| St Kilda | 7.17 (59) | Geelong | 18.13 (121) | Junction Oval | 12,000 | 7 August 1954 |
| Essendon | 10.11 (71) | Collingwood | 6.16 (52) | Windy Hill | 23,000 | 7 August 1954 |
| Footscray | 6.7 (43) | Carlton | 8.12 (60) | Western Oval | 22,000 | 7 August 1954 |

### Round 16

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Geelong | 13.12 (90) | Hawthorn | 7.6 (48) | Kardinia Park | 16,870 | 14 August 1954 |
| Collingwood | 12.16 (88) | South Melbourne | 13.12 (90) | Victoria Park | 18,556 | 14 August 1954 |
| Carlton | 10.16 (76) | Essendon | 11.14 (80) | Princes Park | 29,744 | 14 August 1954 |
| Richmond | 10.18 (78) | Melbourne | 15.4 (94) | Punt Road Oval | 24,000 | 14 August 1954 |
| North Melbourne | 9.14 (68) | Footscray | 9.14 (68) | Arden Street Oval | 22,000 | 14 August 1954 |
| St Kilda | 13.14 (92) | Fitzroy | 9.15 (69) | Junction Oval | 11,500 | 14 August 1954 |

### Round 17

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Melbourne | 14.13 (97) | St Kilda | 5.10 (40) | MCG | 16,700 | 21 August 1954 |
| Hawthorn | 10.10 (70) | Richmond | 6.11 (47) | Glenferrie Oval | 14,000 | 21 August 1954 |
| Essendon | 7.17 (59) | Footscray | 11.12 (78) | Windy Hill | 36,000 | 21 August 1954 |
| Collingwood | 6.14 (50) | Geelong | 10.12 (72) | Victoria Park | 36,000 | 21 August 1954 |
| Carlton | 22.11 (143) | Fitzroy | 14.7 (91) | Princes Park | 12,100 | 21 August 1954 |
| South Melbourne | 11.14 (80) | North Melbourne | 14.11 (95) | Lake Oval | 15,000 | 21 August 1954 |

### Round 18

| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| North Melbourne | 19.15 (129) | St Kilda | 12.10 (82) | Arden Street Oval | 9,500 | 28 August 1954 |
| Footscray | 17.15 (117) | Hawthorn | 5.4 (34) | Western Oval | 22,896 | 28 August 1954 |
| South Melbourne | 7.7 (49) | Melbourne | 14.17 (101) | Lake Oval | 25,000 | 28 August 1954 |
| Fitzroy | 14.13 (97) | Essendon | 13.13 (91) | Brunswick Street Oval | 20,000 | 28 August 1954 |
| Richmond | 14.17 (101) | Collingwood | 6.12 (48) | Punt Road Oval | 25,000 | 28 August 1954 |
| Geelong | 13.12 (90) | Carlton | 6.13 (49) | Kardinia Park | 23,119 | 28 August 1954 |

## Ladder

| (P) | Premiers |
| - | - |
| | Qualified for finals |
| # | Team | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | Pts |
| 1 | Geelong | 18 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 1630 | 1225 | 133.1 | 52 |
| 2 | Footscray (P) | 18 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 1423 | 1095 | 130.0 | 46 |
| 3 | North Melbourne | 18 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 1355 | 1361 | 99.6 | 46 |
| 4 | Melbourne | 18 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 1504 | 1239 | 121.4 | 44 |
| 5 | Richmond | 18 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 1503 | 1310 | 114.7 | 40 |
| 6 | Essendon | 18 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 1471 | 1364 | 107.8 | 40 |
| 7 | Collingwood | 18 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 1312 | 1301 | 100.8 | 40 |
| 8 | Carlton | 18 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 1382 | 1391 | 99.4 | 32 |
| 9 | Hawthorn | 18 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 1177 | 1337 | 88.0 | 32 |
| 10 | South Melbourne | 18 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 1209 | 1482 | 81.6 | 24 |
| 11 | Fitzroy | 18 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 1174 | 1604 | 73.2 | 18 |
| 12 | St Kilda | 18 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 1149 | 1580 | 72.7 | 18 |

Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for Average score: 75.4 Source: AFL Tables

## Finals series

### Semi-finals

| | First semi-final | First semi-final | First semi-final | | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Saturday, 4 September 2:30pm | North Melbourne | def. by | Melbourne | MCG (crowd: 42,166) | |
| | 3.4 (22) 5.7 (37) 7.12 (54) 11.14 (80) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 1.4 (10) 4.7 (31) 9.11 (65) 16.14 (110) | Umpires: Barbour | Umpires: Barbour |
| Templar 5 Aylett 3 Brooker, Grambeau, Spencer 1 | Templar 5 Aylett 3 Brooker, Grambeau, Spencer 1 | Goals | 6 Clarke 3 Albiston, Case 1 Barassi, Collins, Johnson, McKenzie | 6 Clarke 3 Albiston, Case 1 Barassi, Collins, Johnson, McKenzie |
| Brady, Marchesi, Lawrence, Templar, Brooker | Brady, Marchesi, Lawrence, Templar, Brooker | Best | McGivern, Clarke, Case, Williams, Marquis, Beckwith, Arnold, Barassi | McGivern, Clarke, Case, Williams, Marquis, Beckwith, Arnold, Barassi |
| | Second semi-final | Second semi-final | Second semi-final | | |
| Saturday, 11 September 2:30pm | Geelong | def. by | Footscray | MCG (crowd: 64,686) | |
| | 4.5 (29) 4.8 (32) 7.10 (52) 8.14 (63) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 3.1 (19) 7.7 (49) 7.10 (52) 11.19 (85) | Umpires: Robinson | Umpires: Robinson |
| Goninon 2 Sharp, Flanagan, Palmer, Trezise, Davis, McMahon 1 | Goninon 2 Sharp, Flanagan, Palmer, Trezise, Davis, McMahon 1 | Goals | 4 Collins 2 Kerr, Stevens 1 Duffy, Edwards, Gilmore | 4 Collins 2 Kerr, Stevens 1 Duffy, Edwards, Gilmore |
| Hovey, Williams, Smith, Davis, Pianto | Hovey, Williams, Smith, Davis, Pianto | Best | Stevens, Whitten, Box, Kerr, Ross | Stevens, Whitten, Box, Kerr, Ross |

### Preliminary final

| | Preliminary Final | Preliminary Final | Preliminary Final | | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Saturday, 18 September 2:30pm | Geelong | def. by | Melbourne | MCG (crowd: 51,985) | |
| | 2.3 (15) 4.3 (27) 5.6 (36) 7.8 (50) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 1.1 (7) 3.3 (21) 7.5 (47) 10.7 (67) | Umpires: Jamieson | Umpires: Jamieson |
| Wiltshire 2 Pianto, Goninon, Davis, Turner, Trezise 1 | Wiltshire 2 Pianto, Goninon, Davis, Turner, Trezise 1 | Goals | 3 Clarke, Albiston 1 Barassi, Laidlaw, Johnson, Spencer | 3 Clarke, Albiston 1 Barassi, Laidlaw, Johnson, Spencer |
| Pianto, Smith, Middlemiss, Williams, Turner, Sharp | Pianto, Smith, Middlemiss, Williams, Turner, Sharp | Best | Cordner, Melville, Case, Williams, McLean, Albiston | Cordner, Melville, Case, Williams, McLean, Albiston |
| Williams (cramp) | Williams (cramp) | Injuries | | |

### Grand final

| Team | 1 Qtr | 2 Qtr | 3 Qtr | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Footscray | 6.3 | 8.5 | 12.9 | 15.12 (102) |
| Melbourne | 1.4 | 4.6 | 6.7 | 7.9 (51) |

## Season notes

* Despite winning the 'wooden spoon', St Kilda defeated both Grand Final teams during the home and away rounds.
* North Melbourne are renamed "The Kangaroos" from "The Shinboners".
* In round 8, Essendon champion full-forward John Coleman sustained a career-ending knee injury (he left the field having scored 42 goals in five and a half matches). With two other players also injured, Essendon finished the match with 17 men.
* A group of Fitzroy players and supporters, who were offered a series of side bets at 10/1, back Fitzroy. Fitzroy produces a shock result, beating Collingwood 12.9 (81) to 6.13 (49), and the punters collect around £2,000 (approx. $40,000 in 2007).
* An injured Charlie Sutton (he had not played in the second semi-final) is picked in Footscray's Grand-Final team. Although not playing in his usual back-pocket position, he plays reasonably well in the forward-pocket, and kicks three goals.

## Awards

* The 1954 VFL Premiership team was Footscray. This was the first premiership won by Footscray since it entered the VFL in 1925.
* The VFL's leading goalkicker was Jack Collins of Footscray who kicked 84 goals (including 11 goals in the final series).
* The winner of the 1954 Brownlow Medal was Roy Wright of Richmond with 29 votes (he had missed one match through illness, but still won the medal by 10 votes).
* St Kilda took the "wooden spoon" in 1954.
