Login
Login

1973 VFL season

{{Short description|77th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}

{{Use Australian English|date=October 2011}}

{{Infobox Australian rules football season

| competition = vfl_premiership

| year = 1973

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| teams = 12

| premiers ={{AFL Ric}}

| count = 8

| minor premiers ={{AFL Col}}

| mpcount = 16

| pre-season name =

| pre-season cup =

| pscount =

| matches = 138

| attendance = 3338648

| highattend = 116,956

| top goal scorer =Peter McKenna ({{AFL Col}})

| brownlow medal =Keith Greig ({{AFL NM}})

| prevseason = 1972

| nextseason = 1974

}}

The 1973 VFL season was the 77th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 7 April until 29 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top five clubs.

The premiership was won by the Richmond Football Club for the eighth time, after it defeated {{AFL Car}} by 30 points in the 1973 VFL Grand Final.

Background

One of the most significant innovations that came into force in 1973 was the implementation of a painted centre diamond area with 45-metre long sides, with a maximum of four players from each team permitted to stand within the diamond at centre bounces.[https://www.afl.com.au/about-afl/history/rule-changes afl.com.au] Following a long period of lobbying by the VFL to the Australian Football Council for its introduction, the centre diamond was initially subject to a 12-month trial period. The purpose of this innovation was to try and solve the problem of congestion at centre bounces, as well as giving skilled players more space to benefit their teams.{{cite magazine|magazine=The Football Record|url=http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/125364|volume=62|title=Centre Square now part of game|page=6|date=7 April 1973}}

The home-and-away season consisted of 22 rounds, with teams facing each other twice; matches 12 to 22 were the "home-and-away reverse" of matches 1 to 11. At the conclusion of the home-and-away fixtures, the 1973 VFL Premiers were determined by the specific format and conventions of the "McIntyre final five system".

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 Mel}}

| 9.12 (66)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 14.14 (98)

| MCG

| 44,737

| 7 April 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 20.17 (137)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 12.15 (87)

| Junction Oval

| 14,988

| 7 April 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 19.13 (127)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 19.15 (129)

| Windy Hill

| 27,959

| 7 April 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 17.22 (124)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 6.12 (48)

| Victoria Park

| 23,412

| 7 April 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 14.14 (98)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 9.16 (70)

| Arden Street Oval

| 15,934

| 7 April 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 10.8 (68)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 18.16 (124)

| Kardinia Park

| 26,130

| 7 April 1973

{{s-end}}

=Round 2=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 14.14 (98)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 13.22 (100)

| Glenferrie Oval

| 13,128

| 14 April 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 18.15 (123)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 14.12 (96)

| Princes Park

| 29,185

| 14 April 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 18.19 (127)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 16.14 (110)

| MCG

| 29,665

| 14 April 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 20.8 (128)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 10.11 (71)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 23,662

| 14 April 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 15.19 (109)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 21.20 (146)

| Lake Oval

| 16,260

| 14 April 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 11.16 (82)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 14.18 (102)

| Western Oval

| 24,794

| 14 April 1973

{{s-end}}

=Round 3=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 21.23 (149)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 11.13 (79)

| Victoria Park

| 24,042

| 21 April 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 12.9 (81)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 17.8 (110)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 33,022

| 21 April 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 11.18 (84)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 10.18 (78)

| Arden Street Oval

| 18,704

| 21 April 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 17.16 (118)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 20.15 (135)

| Lake Oval

| 13,199

| 23 April 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 11.9 (75)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 11.16 (82)

| MCG

| 49,439

| 23 April 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 27.8 (170)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 15.12 (102)

| VFL Park

| 32,045

| 23 April 1973

{{s-end}}

=Round 4=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 11.18 (84)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 14.20 (104)

| MCG

| 48,923

| 25 April 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 8.12 (60)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 19.16 (130)

| VFL Park

| 49,552

| 25 April 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 17.16 (118)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 12.14 (86)

| Kardinia Park

| 14,739

| 28 April 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 13.9 (87)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 13.16 (94)

| Junction Oval

| 16,101

| 28 April 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 14.11 (95)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 12.11 (83)

| Princes Park

| 27,913

| 28 April 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 8.19 (67)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 17.13 (115)

| Western Oval

| 25,314

| 28 April 1973

{{s-end}}

=Round 5=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 13.13 (91)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 16.14 (110)

| MCG

| 37,667

| 5 May 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 16.26 (122)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 15.16 (106)

| Windy Hill

| 19,007

| 5 May 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 6.12 (48)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 10.16 (76)

| Lake Oval

| 13,513

| 5 May 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 18.16 (124)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 16.12 (108)

| Glenferrie Oval

| 11,402

| 5 May 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 13.20 (98)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 15.19 (109)

| Arden Street Oval

| 27,048

| 5 May 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 15.15 (105)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 10.8 (68)

| VFL Park

| 19,654

| 5 May 1973

{{s-end}}

=Round 6=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 15.17 (107)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 12.13 (85)

| Junction Oval

| 10,706

| 12 May 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 15.10 (100)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 10.16 (76)

| Victoria Park

| 21,360

| 12 May 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 11.14 (80)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 14.14 (98)

| Kardinia Park

| 15,305

| 12 May 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 18.13 (121)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 21.14 (140)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 23,120

| 12 May 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 18.20 (128)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 15.12 (102)

| MCG

| 54,139

| 12 May 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 18.16 (124)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 11.14 (80)

| VFL Park

| 10,020

| 12 May 1973

{{s-end}}

=Round 7=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 17.10 (112)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 12.11 (83)

| MCG

| 16,075

| 19 May 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 14.9 (93)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 13.12 (90)

| Western Oval

| 14,953

| 19 May 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 20.24 (144)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 11.8 (74)

| Windy Hill

| 26,907

| 19 May 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 16.23 (119)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 8.12 (60)

| Princes Park

| 43,531

| 19 May 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 19.15 (129)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 9.14 (68)

| Glenferrie Oval

| 11,621

| 19 May 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 12.8 (80)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 16.21 (117)

| VFL Park

| 19,539

| 19 May 1973

{{s-end}}

=Round 8=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 15.13 (103)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 10.8 (68)

| Victoria Park

| 20,822

| 26 May 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 10.22 (82)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 16.23 (119)

| MCG

| 32,613

| 26 May 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 16.10 (106)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 8.12 (60)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 15,114

| 26 May 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 8.8 (56)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 8.8 (56)

| Arden Street Oval

| 16,148

| 26 May 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 7.9 (51)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 19.16 (130)

| Lake Oval

| 14,659

| 26 May 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 10.11 (71)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 12.9 (81)

| VFL Park

| 25,603

| 26 May 1973

{{s-end}}

=Round 9=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 14.6 (90)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 18.13 (121)

| Kardinia Park

| 18,868

| 4 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 9.14 (68)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 10.14 (74)

| Western Oval

| 17,973

| 4 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 16.8 (104)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 7.15 (57)

| Junction Oval

| 10,119

| 4 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 19.19 (133)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 13.14 (92)

| Princes Park

| 39,646

| 4 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 11.12 (78)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 8.16 (64)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 22,521

| 4 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 10.6 (66)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 15.15 (105)

| VFL Park

| 55,827

| 4 June 1973

{{s-end}}

=Round 10=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 11.14 (80)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 7.12 (54)

| Arden Street Oval

| 16,387

| 9 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 15.17 (107)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 14.13 (97)

| Windy Hill

| 16,632

| 9 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 9.8 (62)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 13.14 (92)

| Lake Oval

| 10,726

| 9 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 20.19 (139)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 11.15 (81)

| MCG

| 19,900

| 9 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 14.11 (95)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 15.18 (108)

| Glenferrie Oval

| 19,963

| 9 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 13.13 (91)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 9.11 (65)

| VFL Park

| 18,205

| 9 June 1973

{{s-end}}

=Round 11=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 13.12 (90)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 12.9 (81)

| MCG

| 32,957

| 16 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 7.16 (58)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 17.7 (109)

| Western Oval

| 16,733

| 16 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 23.16 (154)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 16.16 (112)

| Victoria Park

| 31,754

| 16 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 16.8 (104)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 11.15 (81)

| Kardinia Park

| 12,786

| 16 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 13.13 (91)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 9.13 (67)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 25,081

| 16 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 11.10 (76)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 17.17 (119)

| VFL Park

| 9,436

| 16 June 1973

{{s-end}}

=Round 12=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 12.13 (85)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 10.10 (70)

| Glenferrie Oval

| 12,380

| 23 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 17.12 (114)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 9.13 (67)

| Princes Park

| 14,202

| 23 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 11.14 (80)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 6.18 (54)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 24,262

| 23 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 15.21 (111)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 13.17 (95)

| MCG

| 43,892

| 23 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 12.5 (77)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 15.9 (99)

| Lake Oval

| 12,484

| 23 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 10.15 (75)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 13.11 (89)

| VFL Park

| 7,016

| 23 June 1973

{{s-end}}

=Round 13=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 10.11 (71)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 20.11 (131)

| Junction Oval

| 14,776

| 30 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 20.19 (139)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 16.14 (110)

| Windy Hill

| 13,042

| 30 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 13.17 (95)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 14.6 (90)

| Victoria Park

| 18,253

| 30 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 15.15 (105)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 15.22 (112)

| MCG

| 25,787

| 30 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 16.19 (115)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 16.11 (107)

| Arden Street Oval

| 19,355

| 30 June 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 13.11 (89)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 21.7 (133)

| VFL Park

| 13,219

| 30 June 1973

{{s-end}}

=Round 14=

{{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}}

| 17.15 (117)

| Arden Street Oval

| 19,114

| 7 July 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 15.13 (103)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 12.10 (82)

| Victoria Park

| 25,312

| 7 July 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 18.15 (123)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 12.6 (78)

| Lake Oval

| 9,681

| 7 July 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 19.20 (134)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 14.13 (97)

| MCG

| 13,105

| 7 July 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 14.24 (108)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 12.14 (86)

| Glenferrie Oval

| 18,316

| 7 July 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 21.6 (132)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 13.19 (97)

| VFL Park

| 12,417

| 7 July 1973

{{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}}

| 12.7 (79)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 20.21 (141)

| Western Oval

| 11,115

| 14 July 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 16.12 (108)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 13.18 (96)

| Junction Oval

| 9,886

| 14 July 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 23.13 (151)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 18.8 (116)

| Windy Hill

| 22,437

| 14 July 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 18.14 (122)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 12.9 (81)

| Princes Park

| 22,283

| 14 July 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 13.10 (88)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 13.18 (96)

| Kardinia Park

| 15,892

| 14 July 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 13.12 (90)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 11.11 (77)

| VFL Park

| 31,502

| 14 July 1973

{{s-end}}

=Round 16=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 14.16 (100)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 13.15 (93)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 17,454

| 21 July 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 6.9 (45)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 9.11 (65)

| Western Oval

| 10,987

| 21 July 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 16.14 (110)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 9.19 (73)

| MCG

| 30,492

| 21 July 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 12.10 (82)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 11.15 (81)

| Kardinia Park

| 16,746

| 21 July 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 12.19 (91)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 11.14 (80)

| Junction Oval

| 14,800

| 21 July 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 10.11 (71)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 11.10 (76)

| VFL Park

| 25,650

| 21 July 1973

{{s-end}}

=Round 17=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 15.12 (102)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 10.19 (79)

| Windy Hill

| 21,469

| 28 July 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 15.17 (107)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 10.21 (81)

| Princes Park

| 28,592

| 28 July 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 19.16 (130)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 14.7 (91)

| Lake Oval

| 13,637

| 28 July 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 15.10 (100)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 9.9 (63)

| Glenferrie Oval

| 12,386

| 28 July 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 12.15 (87)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 17.24 (126)

| MCG

| 37,838

| 28 July 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 21.15 (141)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 13.14 (92)

| VFL Park

| 13,546

| 28 July 1973

{{s-end}}

=Round 18=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 14.11 (95)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 14.10 (94)

| Kardinia Park

| 13,546

| 4 August 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 15.20 (110)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 12.14 (86)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 15,217

| 4 August 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 15.14 (104)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 13.14 (92)

| MCG

| 20,578

| 4 August 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 13.13 (91)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 14.10 (94)

| Arden Street Oval

| 21,071

| 4 August 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 19.7 (121)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 15.16 (106)

| Victoria Park

| 37,660

| 4 August 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 12.14 (86)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 11.12 (78)

| VFL Park

| 15,255

| 4 August 1973

{{s-end}}

=Round 19=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 11.11 (77)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 12.10 (82)

| Glenferrie Oval

| 20,236

| 11 August 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 10.8 (68)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 10.14 (74)

| Western Oval

| 13,581

| 11 August 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 17.13 (115)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 15.11 (101)

| Windy Hill

| 18,008

| 11 August 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 20.17 (137)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 11.14 (80)

| Princes Park

| 22,181

| 11 August 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 10.19 (79)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 19.10 (124)

| Junction Oval

| 19,103

| 11 August 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 13.8 (86)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 11.17 (83)

| VFL Park

| 19,477

| 11 August 1973

{{s-end}}

=Round 20=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 11.11 (77)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 15.8 (98)

| Glenferrie Oval

| 16,952

| 18 August 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 8.11 (59)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 14.16 (100)

| Victoria Park

| 28,286

| 18 August 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 9.10 (64)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 7.6 (48)

| Arden Street Oval

| 11,121

| 18 August 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 10.13 (73)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 17.8 (110)

| MCG

| 12,563

| 18 August 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 15.11 (101)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 14.21 (105)

| Lake Oval

| 8,584

| 18 August 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 10.7 (67)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 17.9 (111)

| VFL Park

| 36,160

| 18 August 1973

{{s-end}}

=Round 21=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 22.11 (143)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 13.16 (94)

| MCG

| 24,307

| 25 August 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 17.11 (113)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 14.14 (98)

| Kardinia Park

| 15,489

| 25 August 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 16.18 (114)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 14.12 (96)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 29,257

| 25 August 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 13.22 (100)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 9.23 (77)

| Junction Oval

| 14,875

| 25 August 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 10.15 (75)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 9.12 (66)

| Western Oval

| 18,988

| 25 August 1973

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 16.10 (106)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 13.10 (88)

| VFL Park

| 48,059

| 25 August 1973

{{s-end}}

=Round 22=

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 22}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 1 September (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Car}}|20.15 (135)|H|{{AFL StK}}|13.9 (87)|Princes Park|22,824|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1973/031519730901.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 1 September (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Ess}}|16.6 (102)|A|{{AFL Col}}|17.10 (112)|Windy Hill|28,049|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1973/040519730901.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 1 September (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Fit}}|17.15 (117)|H|{{AFL Gee}}|14.17 (101)|Junction Oval|9,172|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1973/060919730901.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 1 September (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Ric}}|10.16 (76)|A|{{AFL Foo}}|11.11 (77)|MCG|24,671|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1973/071419730901.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 1 September (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Haw}}|16.20 (116)|H|{{AFL SM}}|11.13 (79)|Glenferrie Oval|9,932|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1973/101619730901.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 1 September (2:10 pm)|{{AFL NM}}|11.5 (71)|H|{{AFL Mel}}|9.12 (66)|VFL Park|9,411|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1973/111219730901.html Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes= * {{AFL Foo}} ended its otherwise disappointing season on a high note with a third consecutive victory, this time the eventual premiers {{AFL Ric}}. After scores were level at three-quarter time, ruckman Gary Dempsey was moved to full-forward where he kicked two key goals. Former Carlton rover Adrian Gallagher (with 31 kicks) and Bernie Quinlan were outstanding for the Bulldogs, while Kevin Bartlett was by far the Tigers' best.{{cite news|date=3 September 1973|newspaper=The Age|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5ZwQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xJADAAAAIBAJ&pg=5649%2C901680|title=Tigers upstaged by underDogs|page=30|first=Graham|last=Trevellyan}}

  • Hawthorn snapped its four-game losing streak and farewelled Glenferrie Oval in style with a hard-fought win over a plucky {{AFL SM}} side. Leading by only five points at the main break, the Hawks kicked clear in the second half to win by 37 points. Leigh Matthews was easily best-on-ground with 36 touches and 3 goals, while Michael Moncrieff chimed in with six goals.

}}

Ladder

class=wikitable

| (P)

Premiers
bgcolor=FFFFBB |Qualified for finals

{{Australian rules football ladder start}}

|- style=background:#FFFFBB

| 1 || align=left | {{AFL Col}} || 22 || 19 || 3 || 0 || 2356 || 1878 || 125.5 || 76

|- style=background:#FFFFBB

| 2 || align=left | {{AFL Ric}} (P) || 22 || 17 || 5 || 0 || 2301 || 1957 || 117.6 || 68

|- style=background:#FFFFBB

| 3 || align=left | {{AFL Car}} || 22 || 15 || 7 || 0 || 2342 || 1850 || 126.6 || 60

|- style=background:#FFFFBB

| 4 || align=left | {{AFL Ess}} || 22 || 13 || 9 || 0 || 2443 || 2341 || 104.4 || 52

|- style=background:#FFFFBB

| 5 || align=left | {{AFL StK}} || 22 || 12 || 10 || 0 || 2024 || 1922 || 105.3 || 48

|-

| 6 || align=left | {{AFL NM}} || 22 || 11 || 10 || 1 || 1938 || 1986 || 97.6 || 46

|-

| 7 || align=left | {{AFL Haw}} || 22 || 11 || 11 || 0 || 2194 || 2002 || 109.6 || 44

|-

| 8 || align=left | {{AFL Fit}} || 22 || 9 || 13 || 0 || 1990 || 2194 || 90.7 || 36

|-

| 9 || align=left | {{AFL Foo}} || 22 || 7 || 14 || 1 || 1860 || 2109 || 88.2 || 30

|-

| 10 || align=left | {{AFL Mel}} || 22 || 7 || 15 || 0 || 1938 || 2111 || 91.8 || 28

|-

| 11 || align=left | {{AFL Gee}} || 22 || 6 || 16 || 0 || 1903 || 2426 || 78.4 || 24

|-

| 12 || align=left | {{AFL SM}} || 22 || 4 || 18 || 0 || 1932 || 2445 || 79.0 || 16

|}

Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for
Average score: 95.5
Source: [https://afltables.com/afl/seas/1973.html#lad AFL Tables]

Finals series

=Finals week 1=

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Qualifying final}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 8 September (2:30 pm)|{{AFL Ric}}|10.11 (71)|A|{{AFL Car}}|13.13 (91)|MCG|86,386|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1973/031419730908.html Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Elimination final}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 8 September (2:30 pm)|{{AFL Ess}}|13.13 (91)|A|{{AFL StK}}|24.14 (158)|VFL Park|53,405|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1973/051519730908.html Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

}}

=Finals week 2=

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Semi-finals}}

{{AFLGame|SF1: Saturday, 15 September (2:30 pm) |{{AFL Ric}}|15.18 (108)|H|{{AFL StK}}|9.14 (68)|MCG|86,483|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1973/141519730915.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|SF2: Saturday, 15 September (2:30 pm) |{{AFL Col}}|12.15 (87)|A|{{AFL Car}}|15.17 (107)|VFL Park|60,072|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1973/030419730915.html Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

}}

=Preliminary final=

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Preliminary final}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 22 September (2:30 pm)|{{AFL Col}}|14.14 (98)|A|{{AFL Ric}}|15.15 (105)|MCG|98,652|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1973/041419730922.html Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes= * Collingwood became the first team under the McIntyre final five system to exit in straight sets}}

=Grand final=

{{main|1973 VFL Grand Final}}

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Grand final}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 29 September (2:30 pm)|{{AFL Car}}|12.14 (86)|A|{{AFL Ric}}|16.20 (116)|MCG|116,956|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1973/031419730929.html Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes= * This was the second consecutive VFL Grand final meeting between Richmond and Carlton

}}

Season notes

  • The VFL introduced a new clearance system, "10-year rule", in order to render the VFL immune from the sorts of "restraint of trade" difficulties that were being experienced, at the time, in New South Wales in relation to Rugby League footballers, whereby any VFL player who had played ten years with a single club was eligible for a free transfer to the club of his choice.
  • Although twenty-two VFL players were eligible to do so, only six players, George Bisset (Footscray to Collingwood), Barry Davis (Essendon to North Melbourne), Carl Ditterich (St Kilda to Melbourne), Adrian Gallagher (Carlton to Footscray), John Rantall (South Melbourne to North Melbourne), and Doug Wade (Geelong to North Melbourne) took advantage of the new rule. The rule was rescinded in May 1973.
  • The new North Melbourne coach Ron Barassi recruited champion half-backs Barry Davis (who had already played 218 games for Essendon), John Rantall (who had already played 174 games for South Melbourne), and champion full-forward Doug Wade (who had already played 208 games for Geelong). North Melbourne improved from last place in 1972 to sixth in 1973.
  • In Round 11 Kevin Murray played his 300th game for Fitzroy.
  • In Round 21, Hawthorn full-forward Peter Hudson, who had been injured in Round 1 of 1972, returned to the VFL. He beat four opponents and kicked 8 goals.
  • In Round 22, Hawthorn hosted its last senior VFL football match at Glenferrie Oval. The ground was notable for its temperamental playing surface and narrow flanks (wedged between the railway line on the one side and houses on the other). The venue had long been described by football fans as "the sardine can." Hawthorn subsequently played its home games at Princes Park for the next eighteen seasons.
  • The Richmond Football Club won the premiership in all grades in 1973: its Senior Team, Reserves Team and Under-19 team all won their Grand Finals at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Grand Final Day; and the Essex Heights Football Club, which served as Richmond's Under-17 team, won the South-East Suburban League premiership.{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|title=Tom's grand design|date=1 October 1973|page=28|author=Percy Beams|publication-place=Melbourne}}

Awards

  • The 1973 VFL Premiership team was Richmond.
  • The VFL's leading goalkicker was Peter McKenna of Collingwood who kicked 84 goals (including 2 goals in the finals).
  • The winner of the 1973 Brownlow Medal was Keith Greig of North Melbourne with 27 votes.
  • South Melbourne took the "wooden spoon" in 1973.
  • The reserves premiership was won by {{AFL Ric}}. Richmond 17.18 (120) defeated {{AFL Gee}} 8.12 (60) in the grand final, held as a curtain-raiser to the seniors Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 29 September.{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|publication-place=Melbourne|date=1 October 1973|title=Wesley gets into the Barrot act|page=27}}

References

{{Reflist}}

  • Hogan, P., The Tigers of Old, The Richmond Football Club, (Richmond), 1996. {{ISBN|0-646-18748-1}}
  • 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}}

Sources

  • [https://afltables.com/afl/seas/1973.html 1973 VFL season] at AFL Tables
  • [https://www.australianfootball.com/seasons/season/afl/138/premiership%2Bseason/1/1/1973 1973 VFL season] at Australian Football

{{Australian Football League}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1973 VFL season}}

Category:Australian Football League seasons

VFL season