1965 VFL season#Round 1
{{Short description|69th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2011}}
{{Infobox Australian rules football season
| competition = vfl_premiership
| year = 1965
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| teams = 12
| premiers ={{AFL Ess}}
| count = 12
| minor premiers ={{AFL|StK}}
| mpcount = 1
| pre-season name = Consolation series
| pre-season cup ={{AFL NM}}
| pscount = 1
| matches = 112
| attendance =
| highattend = 104,846
| top goal scorer =John Peck ({{AFL Haw}})
| brownlow medal =Ian Stewart ({{AFL|StK}})
Noel Teasdale ({{AFL NM}})
| prevseason = 1964
| nextseason = 1966
}}
The 1965 VFL season was the 69th 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 Essendon Football Club for the twelfth time, after it defeated {{AFL|StK}} by 35 points in the 1965 VFL Grand Final.
Background
In 1965, 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 1965 VFL Premiers were determined by the specific format and conventions of the Page–McIntyre system.
North Melbourne Football Club moved its playing and training base from the Arden Street Oval to Coburg City Oval.{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun News-Pictorial|publication-place=Melbourne|page=51|date=30 March 1965|title=North gets lease}} The move was intended to be permanent, with some initial negotiations seeking long-term leases for up to 40 years,{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun News-Pictorial|publication-place=Melbourne|page=34|date=3 November 1964|title=North can have a new oval}} but it was ultimately cancelled after only eight months, and North Melbourne returned to the Arden Street Oval in 1966.{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun News-Pictorial|publication-place=Melbourne|page=51|date=28 September 1965|title=Coburg to drop stand?}}{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun News-Pictorial|publication-place=Melbourne|page=52|date=29 September 1965|title=North to quit Coburg}}
Home-and-away season
=Round 1=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 8.16 (64)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 11.18 (84)
| 17,500
| 17 April 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 8.12 (60)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 8.6 (54)
| 51,370
| 17 April 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 8.6 (54)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 12.19 (91)
| 36,000
| 17 April 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL NM}}
| 4.12 (36)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 6.10 (46)
| 13,774
| 19 April 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 6.5 (41)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 7.5 (47)
| MCG
| 36,283
| 19 April 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 5.5 (35)
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 5.3 (33)
| 23,233
| 19 April 1965
{{s-end}}
=Round 2=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 11.14 (80)
| {{AFL NM}}
| 10.12 (72)
| MCG
| 21,744
| 24 April 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 20.18 (138)
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 6.8 (44)
| 20,500
| 24 April 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 11.13 (79)
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 9.10 (64)
| 31,370
| 24 April 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 8.11 (59)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 9.11 (65)
| 34,945
| 24 April 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 7.9 (51)
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 12.12 (84)
| 23,979
| 24 April 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 8.6 (54)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 9.4 (58)
| 16,998
| 24 April 1965
{{s-end}}
=Round 3=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 12.13 (85)
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 14.12 (96)
| MCG
| 43,412
| 1 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 9.4 (58)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 14.25 (109)
| 15,890
| 1 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 19.16 (130)
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 10.9 (69)
| 25,733
| 1 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL NM}}
| 7.13 (55)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 14.14 (98)
| 17,408
| 1 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 6.12 (48)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 18.18 (126)
| 24,365
| 1 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 12.14 (86)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 10.11 (71)
| 23,100
| 1 May 1965
{{s-end}}
=Round 4=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 12.8 (80)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 11.11 (77)
| MCG
| 27,404
| 8 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 10.9 (69)
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 14.9 (93)
| 14,500
| 8 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 16.11 (107)
| {{AFL NM}}
| 6.8 (44)
| 12,728
| 8 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 14.7 (91)
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 7.8 (50)
| 14,454
| 8 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 14.14 (98)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 9.7 (61)
| 9,000
| 8 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 7.8 (50)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 6.9 (45)
| 21,525
| 8 May 1965
{{s-end}}
=Round 5=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 8.7 (55)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 10.9 (69)
| 37,774
| 15 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 11.11 (77)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 11.10 (76)
| 11,253
| 15 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 12.9 (81)
| {{AFL NM}}
| 16.13 (109)
| 10,561
| 15 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 14.21 (105)
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 8.12 (60)
| MCG
| 32,104
| 15 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 7.14 (56)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 14.9 (93)
| 39,765
| 15 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 9.11 (65)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 13.7 (85)
| 37,223
| 15 May 1965
{{s-end}}
=Round 6=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL NM}}
| 8.10 (58)
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 14.12 (96)
| 13,291
| 22 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 8.8 (56)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 11.21 (87)
| 11,925
| 22 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 8.13 (61)
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 6.9 (45)
| 29,949
| 22 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 12.9 (81)
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 10.14 (74)
| 11,800
| 22 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 14.12 (96)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 12.16 (88)
| 24,200
| 22 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 6.13 (49)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 7.5 (47)
| MCG
| 56,808
| 22 May 1965
{{s-end}}
=Round 7=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 18.14 (122)
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 6.9 (45)
| 19,004
| 29 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 9.11 (65)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 10.9 (69)
| 18,380
| 29 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 15.11 (101)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 10.12 (72)
| 33,452
| 29 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 21.16 (142)
| {{AFL NM}}
| 6.12 (48)
| MCG
| 24,602
| 29 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 11.18 (84)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 5.5 (35)
| 18,670
| 29 May 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 5.23 (53)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 10.9 (69)
| 35,500
| 29 May 1965
{{s-end}}
=Round 8=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 8.14 (62)
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 6.7 (43)
| 27,584
| 5 June 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 14.12 (96)
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 11.12 (78)
| 25,250
| 5 June 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 6.22 (58)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 13.17 (95)
| 41,561
| 5 June 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 13.24 (102)
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 12.19 (91)
| 17,400
| 5 June 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 21.17 (143)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 10.15 (75)
| MCG
| 20,649
| 5 June 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL NM}}
| 11.15 (81)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 13.10 (88)
| 12,828
| 5 June 1965
{{s-end}}
=Round 9=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 14.10 (94)
| {{AFL NM}}
| 14.13 (97)
| 11,000
| 12 June 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 20.9 (129)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 17.13 (115)
| 32,260
| 12 June 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 7.12 (54)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 12.14 (86)
| 34,900
| 12 June 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 9.7 (61)
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 18.14 (122)
| MCG
| 72,114
| 14 June 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 9.11 (65)
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 9.17 (71)
| 25,345
| 14 June 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 9.7 (61)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 14.18 (102)
| 20,140
| 14 June 1965
{{s-end}}
=Round 10=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 12.9 (81)
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 9.11 (65)
| 25,350
| 26 June 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 14.16 (100)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 14.10 (94)
| 12,626
| 26 June 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 12.10 (82)
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 8.10 (58)
| 19,680
| 26 June 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 24.12 (156)
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 11.9 (75)
| 20,010
| 26 June 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 6.6 (42)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 10.11 (71)
| MCG
| 51,420
| 26 June 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL NM}}
| 12.11 (83)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 13.12 (90)
| 21,626
| 26 June 1965
{{s-end}}
=Round 11=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 9.13 (67)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 19.11 (125)
| 14,900
| 3 July 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 7.10 (52)
| {{AFL NM}}
| 5.10 (40)
| 14,150
| 3 July 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 12.8 (80)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 10.14 (74)
| 35,794
| 3 July 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 23.20 (158)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 12.10 (82)
| MCG
| 35,200
| 10 July 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 12.16 (88)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 6.9 (45)
| 27,000
| 10 July 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 10.14 (74)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 4.6 (30)
| 20,657
| 10 July 1965
{{s-end}}
=Round 12=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 9.6 (60)
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 9.12 (66)
| MCG
| 36,830
| 17 July 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 1.8 (14)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 5.13 (43)
| 13,395
| 17 July 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 12.12 (84)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 3.8 (26)
| 10,650
| 17 July 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 8.13 (61)
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 7.5 (47)
| 29,357
| 17 July 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 8.19 (67)
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 8.4 (52)
| 12,791
| 17 July 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 8.8 (56)
| {{AFL NM}}
| 6.17 (53)
| 9,520
| 17 July 1965
{{s-end}}
=Round 13=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 18.9 (117)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 6.12 (48)
| 18,709
| 24 July 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 7.13 (55)
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 6.6 (42)
| 7,456
| 24 July 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL NM}}
| 11.15 (81)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 9.6 (60)
| 8,312
| 24 July 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 7.5 (47)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 10.11 (71)
| 11,400
| 24 July 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 8.8 (56)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 12.7 (79)
| MCG
| 56,360
| 24 July 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 5.9 (39)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 9.12 (66)
| 19,568
| 24 July 1965
{{s-end}}
=Round 14=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 10.17 (77)
| {{AFL NM}}
| 5.4 (34)
| 19,658
| 31 July 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 13.18 (96)
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 6.11 (47)
| 16,800
| 31 July 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 9.19 (73)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 13.12 (90)
| 20,744
| 31 July 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 14.12 (96)
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 11.17 (83)
| 34,076
| 31 July 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 12.11 (83)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 11.15 (81)
| MCG
| 30,381
| 31 July 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 8.12 (60)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 12.22 (94)
| 18,500
| 31 July 1965
{{s-end}}
=Round 15=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 6.9 (45)
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 9.15 (69)
| 11,313
| 7 August 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 4.12 (36)
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 8.6 (54)
| 7,463
| 7 August 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 14.9 (93)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 7.4 (46)
| 26,915
| 7 August 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 11.12 (78)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 5.9 (39)
| 15,130
| 7 August 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 14.10 (94)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 5.6 (36)
| MCG
| 32,031
| 7 August 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL NM}}
| 6.8 (44)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 5.2 (32)
| 11,474
| 7 August 1965
{{s-end}}
=Round 16=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 9.14 (68)
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 16.14 (110)
| 15,000
| 14 August 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 9.15 (69)
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 9.10 (64)
| 28,700
| 14 August 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 11.16 (82)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 16.11 (107)
| 36,730
| 14 August 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 11.7 (73)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 16.11 (107)
| MCG
| 44,753
| 14 August 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 10.18 (78)
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 13.14 (92)
| 13,600
| 14 August 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL NM}}
| 12.10 (82)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 12.11 (83)
| 7,788
| 14 August 1965
{{s-end}}
=Round 17=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 4.17 (41)
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 11.6 (72)
| 10,496
| 21 August 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 14.13 (97)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 4.7 (31)
| 18,950
| 21 August 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Col}}
| 14.10 (94)
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 7.10 (52)
| 33,318
| 21 August 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 12.13 (85)
| {{AFL NM}}
| 6.12 (48)
| 18,704
| 21 August 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 9.16 (70)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 8.4 (52)
| 15,651
| 21 August 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 14.8 (92)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 10.9 (69)
| MCG
| 40,576
| 21 August 1965
{{s-end}}
=Round 18=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Home team
| Home team score
| Away team
| Away team score
| Venue
| Crowd
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL NM}}
| 11.12 (78)
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 6.12 (48)
| 11,867
| 28 August 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 16.6 (102)
| {{AFL|StK}}
| 19.13 (127)
| 15,782
| 28 August 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 10.9 (69)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 9.6 (60)
| 26,267
| 28 August 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 10.9 (69)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 17.20 (122)
| 15,106
| 28 August 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 10.12 (72)
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 10.15 (75)
| MCG
| 19,532
| 28 August 1965
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL SM}}
| 13.16 (94)
| {{AFL Col}}
| 12.6 (78)
| 28,860
| 28 August 1965
{{s-end}}
Ladder
| class=wikitable
| (P) | Premiers |
| bgcolor=FFFFBB | | Qualified for finals |
{{Australian rules football ladder start}}
|- style=background:#FFFFBB
| 1 || align=left | {{AFL|StK}} || 18 || 14 || 4 || 0 || 1573 || 1154 || 136.3 || 56
|- style=background:#FFFFBB
| 2 || align=left | {{AFL Col}} || 18 || 13 || 5 || 0 || 1473 || 1131 || 130.2 || 52
|- style=background:#FFFFBB
| 3 || align=left | {{AFL Gee}} || 18 || 13 || 5 || 0 || 1319 || 1088 || 121.2 || 52
|- style=background:#FFFFBB
| 4 || align=left | {{AFL Ess}} (P) || 18 || 12 || 6 || 0 || 1465 || 1102 || 132.9 || 48
|-
| 5 || align=left | {{AFL Ric}} || 18 || 10 || 8 || 0 || 1561 || 1249 || 125.0 || 40
|-
| 6 || align=left | {{AFL Car}} || 18 || 10 || 8 || 0 || 1317 || 1190 || 110.7 || 40
|-
| 7 || align=left | {{AFL Mel}} || 18 || 10 || 8 || 0 || 1265 || 1315 || 96.2 || 40
|-
| 8 || align=left | {{AFL SM}} || 18 || 9 || 9 || 0 || 1386 || 1550 || 89.4 || 36
|-
| 9 || align=left | {{AFL NM}} || 18 || 5 || 13 || 0 || 1143 || 1415 || 80.8 || 20
|-
| 10 || align=left | {{AFL Foo}} || 18 || 4 || 14 || 0 || 1010 || 1310 || 77.1 || 16
|-
| 11 || align=left | {{AFL Fit}} || 18 || 4 || 14 || 0 || 1114 || 1580 || 70.5 || 16
|-
| 12 || align=left | {{AFL Haw}} || 18 || 4 || 14 || 0 || 1200 || 1742 || 68.9 || 16
|}
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for
Average score: 73.3
Source: [https://afltables.com/afl/seas/1965.html#lad AFL Tables]
Finals series
=Semi-finals=
| class="wikitable"
!Team !1 Qtr !2 Qtr !3 Qtr !Final |
| Geelong
|align=center|2.0 |align=center|4.3 |align=center|6.8 |align=center|7.9 (51) |
| Essendon
|align=center|3.5 |align=center|8.14 |align=center|10.16 |align=center|14.19 (103) |
| align=center|Attendance: 89,833 |
| class="wikitable"
!Team !1 Qtr !2 Qtr !3 Qtr !Final |
| St Kilda
|align=center|2.7 |align=center|6.14 |align=center|11.22 |align=center|13.24 (102) |
| Collingwood
|align=center|5.5 |align=center|8.7 |align=center|11.10 |align=center|14.17 (101) |
| align=center|Attendance: 98,385 |
=Preliminary final=
| class="wikitable"
!Team !1 Qtr !2 Qtr !3 Qtr !Final |
| Collingwood
|align=center|1.0 |align=center|3.0 |align=center|4.4 |align=center|6.6 (42) |
| Essendon
|align=center|3.6 |align=center|5.9 |align=center|10.10 |align=center|14.13 (97) |
| align=center|Attendance: 95,386 |
=Grand final=
Night Series Competition
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: North Melbourne 14.13 (97) defeated Carlton 9.3 (57).
Season notes
- Melbourne's 1964 premiership captain Ron Barassi was cleared to Carlton as captain/coach, one of the most significant player transfers in the Coulter Law era.
- Three teams moved their home grounds in 1965:
- {{AFL|StK}} moved its training and playing base from Junction Oval to Moorabbin Oval, after signing a 75-year lease with the Moorabbin Council in June 1964.
- Richmond moved its home ground for matches to the Melbourne Cricket Ground, sharing it with Melbourne, while continuing to train at the Punt Road Oval, because roadwork to widen Punt Road was going to significantly reduce Punt Road Oval's capacity.{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun News-Pictorial|publication-place=Melbourne|date=4 November 1964|title=New den for the Tigers|page=64}}
- {{AFL NM}} moved its training and playing base from Arden Street Oval to Coburg City Oval, after signing a seven-year lease with the Coburg Council in April 1965. The move was not successful for either party, and the club returned to Arden Street Oval in 1966.
- In the Round 2 match against Essendon, Hawthorn forward Garry Young sustained a painful injury from a hard knock. Hawthorn captain Graham Arthur stood over him and said "Get up you weak bastard", and Young returned to the play and did his best to continue. Eventually he left the ground and went to hospital where it was discovered that he had a perforated bowel and peritonitis, both of which are life-threatening conditions. He never played again.
- In Round 6, Essendon forward Geoff Gosper was the first VFL player to play with a mouthguard.
- Victoria played two interstate matches against South Australia during the season. On Saturday 19 June, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Victoria won 19.17 (131) to 9.18 (72); on 10 July, in Adelaide, South Australia won 12.11 (83) to 3.1 (19).
- After opening the season with eight consecutive wins, Melbourne fell to 9–3 after Round 12, then sacked coach Norm Smith. He was reinstated before Round 14, but Smith had also been unhappy about his lack of support from the Melbourne Football Club in the libel case that had been brought against him by VFL umpire Don Blew in the late 1964. The sacking is said to have given rise to a sports curse, which saw Melbourne miss the finals for the first time since 1953 (after a twelve-year period under Smith which had netted six premierships), fail to reach another finals series until 1987, and fail to win another premiership until 2021.
- St Kilda played in a Grand Final for the first time since 1913.
- Essendon's half-forward flanker John Somerville was felled behind play in first 10 minutes of the 1965 Preliminary Final. His opponent for the day, Collingwood's Duncan Wright, was never selected to play for Collingwood again. The field umpire, Ron Brophy, was never selected to umpire a VFL match again. (See Duncan Wright and John Somerville.)
Awards
- The 1965 VFL Premiership team was Essendon.
- Hawthorn won the "wooden spoon" for 1965. As of 2024, this remains the club's latest wooden spoon.
- The VFL's leading goalkicker was John Peck of Hawthorn who kicked 56 goals; he was the third player to win the goalkicking when his team won the "wooden spoon", the first since Roy Park of University in 1913 and the last until Brendan Fevola in 2006.{{cite web|url=https://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/100981/king-of-the-kids|title=King of the Kids|publisher=Greater Western Sydney Giants|first=James|last=Dampney|date=21 August 2013|accessdate=11 April 2023}}
- The winner of the 1965 Brownlow Medal was Ian Stewart of St Kilda with 20 votes; he won on a count-back from Noel Teasdale of North Melbourne.
- As a consequence of its 1981 decision to change its rules relating to tied Brownlow Medal contests, the AFL awarded a retrospective medal to Teasdale in 1989.
- The reserves premiership was won by {{AFL Col}}. Collingwood 16.9 (105) defeated {{AFL Gee}} 10.20 (80) in the Grand Final, held as a curtain-raiser to the seniors Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 25 September.{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun News-Pictorial|publication-place=Melbourne|date=27 September 1965|title=Magpies in clear win|page=42|author=Rex Pullen}}
References
{{Reflist}}
- Maplestone, M., Flying Higher: History of the Essendon Football Club 1872–1996, Essendon Football Club, (Melbourne), 1996. {{ISBN|0-9591740-2-8}}
- Rogers, S. & Brown, A., Every Game Ever Played: VFL/AFL Results 1897–1997 (Sixth Edition), Viking Books, (Ringwood), 1998. {{ISBN|0-670-90809-6}}
- 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. {{ISBN|0-670-86814-0}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070918065143/http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/4742/Default.aspx?newsId=47060 Richard Allsop, "Round 15 Footy Flashbacks: Player of the week – Garry Young", (Official Website of the Hawthorn Football Club, 11 July 2007)]
Sources
- [https://afltables.com/afl/seas/1965.html 1965 VFL season] at AFL Tables
- [https://www.australianfootball.com/seasons/season/afl/138/premiership%2Bseason/1/1/1965 1965 VFL season] at Australian Football
{{Australian Football League}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1965 VFL season}}