1971 Heinz Cup
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox AFL National Cup
| name = 1971 Heinz Cup
| type = VFL Night Series Cup
| year = 1971
| image =
| imagesize = 180px
| caption = Heinz Night Premiership
| teams = 8
| winners = {{AFL Mel}}
| count = 1st
| runner up = {{AFL Fit}}
| matches = 7
| attendance = 77956
}}
The 1971 VFL H.J. Heinz Night Premiership was the Victorian Football League end of season cup competition played in September of the 1971 VFL Premiership Season. Run as a knock-out tournament, it was contested by the eight VFL teams that failed to make the 1971 VFL finals series. Games were played at the Lake Oval, Albert Park, then the home ground of South Melbourne, as it was the only ground equipped to host night games. It was the 16th and last VFL Night Series competition, with the series disbanded the following year due to waning interest and the introduction of the final five in the premiership competition. Melbourne won its first night series cup defeating Fitzroy in the final by 16 points.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=MDQ-9Oe3GGUC&dat=19710928&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|page=28|date=28 September 1971|title=Demons' first night title|first=Peter|last=McFarline|work=The Age}}
Games
=Round 1=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Winning team
| Winning team score
| Losing team
| Losing team score
| Ground
| Crowd
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 11.25 (91)
| {{AFL SM}}
| 10.10 (70)
| 10,028
| Thursday, 2 September
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 14.16 (100)
| {{AFL NM}}
| 8.10 (58)
| 7,280
| Tuesday, 7 September{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G8NUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=u5ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=7103%2C1540119|first=Jim|last=Robb|title=Fitzroy too strong|date=8 September 1971|work=The Age}}
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Car}}
| 9.15 (69)
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 9.6 (60)
| 7,328
| Thursday, 9 September{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HMNUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=u5ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=3518%2C2047481|title=Carlton by nine points|first=Peter|last=McFarline|date=10 September 1971|work=The Age}}
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 19.20 (134)
| {{AFL Gee}}
| 11.8 (74)
| 8,108
| Tuesday, 14 September{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IMNUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=u5ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=7062%2C3119333|title=Easy for Demons|date=15 September 1971|work=The Age}}
{{s-end}}
=Semi-finals=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Winning team
| Winning team score
| Losing team
| Losing team score
| Ground
| Crowd
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 16.17 (113)
| {{AFL Foo}}
| 11.12 (78)
| 12,124
| Thursday, 16 September{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IsNUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=u5ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=3815%2C3610586|title=Lions win a fiery clash|first=Jim|last=Robb|date=17 September 1971|work=The Age}}
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 14.16 (100)
| {{AFL Car}}
| 11.8 (74)
| 11,919
| Tuesday, 21 September{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JsNUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=u5ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4800%2C4680038|title=Melbourne too strong|first=Peter|last=McFarline|date=22 September 1971|work=The Age}}
{{s-end}}
=Final=
{{s-start}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
| Winning team
| Winning team score
| Losing team
| Losing team score
| Ground
| Crowd
| Date
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 12.7 (79)
| {{AFL Fit}}
| 9.9 (63)
| 21,169
| Monday, 27 September{{cite book|title=AFL Record Season Guide to 2010|year=2010 |page=900|publisher=G. Slattery |isbn=978-0-9806274-5-9|editor=Lovett, Michael}}
{{s-end}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.hardballget.net/afl-npm-1971-vfl-night-series-heinz.html 1971 VFL Night Premiership - detailed review including quarter-by-quarter scores, best players and goalkickers for each match]
{{AFL pre-season seasons}}
Category:Australian rules football competitions in Australia