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1976 VFL season#Round 21

{{Short description|80th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL)}}

{{Use Australian English|date=December 2017}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}

{{Infobox Australian rules football season

| competition = vfl_premiership

| year = 1976

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| teams = 12

| premiers ={{AFL Haw}}

| count = 3

| minor premiers ={{AFL Car}}

| mpcount = 13

| pre-season name =

| pre-season cup =

| pscount =

| matches = 138

| attendance = 3288470

| highattend = 110,143

| top goal scorer =Larry Donohue ({{AFL Gee}})

| brownlow medal =Graham Moss ({{AFL Ess}})

| prevseason = 1975

| nextseason = 1977

}}

The 1976 VFL season was the 80th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 3 April until 25 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 Hawthorn Football Club for the third time, after it defeated {{AFL NM}} by 30 points in the 1976 VFL Grand Final.

Background

In 1976, 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 22 rounds; matches 12 to 22 were the "home-and-way reverse" of matches 1 to 11 (except that rounds 14 and 15 were the reverse of 4 and 3 respectively).

Once the 22 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1976 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 Car}}

| 18.22 (130)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 10.13 (73)

| Princes Park

| 39,964

| 3 April 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 9.10 (64)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 11.21 (87)

| Arden Street Oval

| 17,986

| 3 April 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 13.11 (89)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 16.15 (111)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 22,879

| 3 April 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 23.15 (153)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 25.7 (157)

| Lake Oval

| 15,173

| 3 April 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 16.21 (117)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 14.14 (98)

| MCG

| 28,834

| 3 April 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 16.16 (112)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 16.17 (113)

| Western Oval

| 25,274

| 3 April 1976

{{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}}

| 20.11 (131)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 16.13 (109)

| Princes Park

| 14,586

| 10 April 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 22.11 (143)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 14.11 (95)

| Kardinia Park

| 20,443

| 10 April 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 14.17 (101)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 15.15 (105)

| Junction Oval

| 15,682

| 10 April 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 16.27 (123)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 20.14 (134)

| Victoria Park

| 25,410

| 10 April 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 16.9 (105)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 23.15 (153)

| MCG

| 26,707

| 10 April 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 12.16 (88)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 14.16 (100)

| Windy Hill

| 26,687

| 10 April 1976

{{s-end}}

=Round 3=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 20.14 (134)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 14.11 (95)

| Western Oval

| 22,580

| 17 April 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 25.22 (172)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 12.12 (84)

| Princes Park

| 23,375

| 17 April 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 6.12 (48)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 14.13 (97)

| VFL Park

| 32,648

| 17 April 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 15.8 (98)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 20.13 (133)

| Windy Hill

| 21,167

| 19 April 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 14.18 (102)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 12.11 (83)

| MCG

| 41,413

| 19 April 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 16.10 (106)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 12.14 (86)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 26,931

| 19 April 1976

{{s-end}}

=Round 4=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 17.15 (117)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 14.12 (96)

| Arden Street Oval

| 15,604

| 24 April 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 16.18 (114)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 15.9 (99)

| Victoria Park

| 27,009

| 24 April 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 19.12 (126)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 13.13 (91)

| Kardinia Park

| 16,244

| 24 April 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 22.11 (143)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 16.13 (109)

| Lake Oval

| 17,300

| 24 April 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 17.12 (114)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 24.13 (157)

| MCG

| 34,991

| 24 April 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 14.20 (104)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 14.8 (92)

| VFL Park

| 27,040

| 24 April 1976

{{s-end}}

=Round 5=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 15.13 (103)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 17.13 (115)

| Junction Oval

| 11,131

| 1 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 10.15 (75)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 14.10 (94)

| Windy Hill

| 14,389

| 1 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 8.19 (67)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 9.12 (66)

| Princes Park

| 20,327

| 1 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 12.17 (89)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 15.20 (110)

| MCG

| 31,434

| 1 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 19.19 (133)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 16.6 (102)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 28,737

| 1 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 15.6 (96)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 13.12 (90)

| VFL Park

| 20,760

| 1 May 1976

{{s-end}}

=Round 6=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 11.9 (75)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 10.10 (70)

| Western Oval

| 19,978

| 8 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 14.13 (97)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 15.13 (103)

| Victoria Park

| 23,428

| 8 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 16.12 (108)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 21.10 (136)

| Lake Oval

| 14,270

| 8 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 19.21 (135)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 9.9 (63)

| Arden Street Oval

| 10,342

| 8 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 7.20 (62)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 15.12 (102)

| Princes Park

| 27,055

| 8 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 17.17 (119)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 9.10 (64)

| VFL Park

| 27,631

| 8 May 1976

{{s-end}}

=Round 7=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 11.22 (88)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 12.15 (87)

| Junction Oval

| 11,267

| 15 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 21.14 (140)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 9.15 (69)

| Princes Park

| 30,095

| 15 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 14.13 (97)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 21.19 (145)

| MCG

| 25,876

| 15 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 13.17 (95)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 14.9 (93)

| Kardinia Park

| 30,395

| 15 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 9.15 (69)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 14.13 (97)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 19,864

| 15 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 5.16 (46)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 11.9 (75)

| VFL Park

| 34,051

| 15 May 1976

{{s-end}}

=Round 8=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 20.16 (136)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 11.10 (76)

| Princes Park

| 7,674

| 22 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 7.3 (45)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 14.11 (95)

| Western Oval

| 24,495

| 22 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 14.10 (94)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 12.12 (84)

| Windy Hill

| 14,618

| 22 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 15.11 (101)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 9.19 (73)

| Victoria Park

| 16,880

| 22 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 14.11 (95)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 9.15 (69)

| MCG

| 22,145

| 22 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 15.14 (104)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 9.12 (66)

| VFL Park

| 15,148

| 22 May 1976

{{s-end}}

=Round 9=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 15.19 (109)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 7.13 (55)

| MCG

| 26,094

| 29 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 13.18 (96)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 13.10 (88)

| Lake Oval

| 14,222

| 29 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 18.15 (123)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 14.12 (96)

| Princes Park

| 8,784

| 29 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 8.10 (58)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 7.12 (54)

| Arden Street Oval

| 19,990

| 29 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 14.18 (102)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 12.10 (82)

| Kardinia Park

| 27,649

| 29 May 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 10.16 (76)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 13.8 (86)

| VFL Park

| 36,042

| 29 May 1976

{{s-end}}

=Round 10=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 12.27 (99)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 19.10 (124)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 18,969

| 5 June 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 12.15 (87)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 13.13 (91)

| Junction Oval

| 12,439

| 5 June 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 11.10 (76)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 11.15 (81)

| Princes Park

| 24,492

| 5 June 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 13.10 (88)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 15.10 (100)

| MCG

| 29,608

| 5 June 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 14.19 (103)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 13.16 (94)

| Windy Hill

| 25,450

| 5 June 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 19.8 (122)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 13.15 (93)

| VFL Park

| 27,469

| 5 June 1976

{{s-end}}

=Round 11=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 19.13 (127)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 15.6 (96)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 21,681

| 12 June 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 14.11 (95)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 18.13 (121)

| Lake Oval

| 19,008

| 12 June 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 12.16 (88)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 12.18 (90)

| MCG

| 39,314

| 12 June 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 11.22 (88)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 11.10 (76)

| Princes Park

| 33,594

| 14 June 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 11.15 (81)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 9.10 (64)

| Western Oval

| 34,814

| 14 June 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 13.22 (100)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 16.14 (110)

| VFL Park

| 25,558

| 14 June 1976

{{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}}

| 13.19 (97)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 18.14 (122)

| Princes Park

| 14,072

| 19 June 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 23.17 (155)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 6.15 (51)

| Kardinia Park

| 17,731

| 19 June 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 22.14 (146)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 13.12 (90)

| Junction Oval

| 12,644

| 19 June 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 12.17 (89)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 12.7 (79)

| Windy Hill

| 18,863

| 19 June 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 12.10 (82)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 8.8 (56)

| Victoria Park

| 28,537

| 19 June 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 8.13 (61)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 22.14 (146)

| VFL Park

| 20,529

| 19 June 1976

{{s-end}}

=Round 13=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 7.10 (52)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 14.20 (104)

| Western Oval

| 13,464

| 26 June 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 11.19 (85)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 9.14 (68)

| Princes Park

| 24,826

| 26 June 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 9.13 (67)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 10.15 (75)

| Arden Street Oval

| 16,230

| 26 June 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 15.12 (102)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 14.14 (98)

| MCG

| 28,608

| 26 June 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 11.10 (76)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 13.17 (95)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 17,861

| 26 June 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 17.19 (121)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 11.16 (82)

| VFL Park

| 28,537

| 26 June 1976

{{s-end}}

=Round 14=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 5.7 (37)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 17.15 (117)

| Western Oval

| 13,307

| 3 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 17.17 (119)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 13.18 (96)

| Junction Oval

| 13,788

| 3 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 13.15 (93)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 12.6 (78)

| Windy Hill

| 14,462

| 3 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 10.12 (72)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 13.11 (89)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 18,486

| 3 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 23.13 (151)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 7.14 (56)

| MCG

| 36,477

| 3 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 18.7 (115)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 6.22 (58)

| VFL Park

| 24,366

| 3 July 1976

{{s-end}}

=Round 15=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 12.10 (82)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 11.11 (77)

| Arden Street Oval

| 18,421

| 10 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 15.12 (102)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 9.9 (63)

| Kardinia Park

| 21,213

| 10 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 12.8 (80)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 10.16 (76)

| Princes Park

| 25,340

| 10 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 20.16 (136)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 17.14 (116)

| Lake Oval

| 12,226

| 10 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 15.14 (104)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 18.11 (119)

| MCG

| 25,009

| 10 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 16.11 (107)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 18.11 (119)

| VFL Park

| 27,353

| 10 July 1976

{{s-end}}

=Round 16=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 15.14 (104)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 18.13 (121)

| Victoria Park

| 22,680

| 17 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 22.13 (145)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 12.6 (78)

| Arden Street Oval

| 19,334

| 17 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 21.20 (146)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 15.16 (106)

| MCG

| 16,187

| 17 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 15.17 (107)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 18.15 (123)

| Princes Park

| 16,257

| 17 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 14.10 (94)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 15.10 (100)

| Lake Oval

| 17,395

| 17 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 15.6 (96)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 12.19 (91)

| VFL Park

| 22,795

| 17 July 1976

{{s-end}}

=Round 17=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 11.7 (73)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 13.14 (92)

| Junction Oval

| 12,614

| 24 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 8.15 (63)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 15.16 (106)

| Windy Hill

| 21,585

| 24 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 17.14 (116)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 11.19 (85)

| Princes Park

| 26,164

| 24 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 17.16 (118)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 15.14 (104)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 19,882

| 24 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 15.9 (99)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 11.27 (93)

| Kardinia Park

| 22,349

| 24 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 11.13 (79)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 14.9 (93)

| VFL Park

| 17,580

| 24 July 1976

{{s-end}}

=Round 18=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 16.17 (113)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 14.11 (95)

| Princes Park

| 7,519

| 31 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 13.8 (86)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 10.14 (74)

| Western Oval

| 16,069

| 31 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 8.10 (58)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 9.8 (62)

| Victoria Park

| 19,464

| 31 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 16.11 (107)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 11.14 (80)

| Lake Oval

| 9,784

| 31 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 8.17 (65)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 22.16 (148)

| MCG

| 39,744

| 31 July 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 12.7 (79)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 17.15 (117)

| VFL Park

| 26,572

| 31 July 1976

{{s-end}}

=Round 19=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 17.17 (119)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 13.11 (89)

| MCG

| 16,585

| 7 August 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 22.19 (151)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 7.8 (50)

| Princes Park

| 19,356

| 7 August 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 8.13 (61)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 7.8 (50)

| Arden Street Oval

| 13,719

| 7 August 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 18.8 (116)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 18.14 (122)

| Kardinia Park

| 17,762

| 7 August 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 17.15 (117)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 9.16 (70)

| Junction Oval

| 12,247

| 7 August 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 12.11 (83)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 13.19 (97)

| VFL Park

| 18,640

| 7 August 1976

{{s-end}}

=Round 20=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 16.14 (110)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 12.12 (84)

| MCG

| 20,817

| 14 August 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 12.19 (91)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 14.10 (94)

| Junction Oval

| 10,417

| 14 August 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 10.9 (69)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 14.11 (95)

| Windy Hill

| 22,474

| 14 August 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 13.14 (92)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 18.21 (129)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 18,089

| 14 August 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 18.16 (124)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 15.9 (99)

| Western Oval

| 17,805

| 14 August 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 11.16 (82)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 5.12 (42)

| VFL Park

| 35,279

| 14 August 1976

{{s-end}}

=Round 21=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 11.16 (82)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 17.12 (114)

| Princes Park

| 13,574

| 21 August 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 20.20 (140)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 12.17 (89)

| Victoria Park

| 19,036

| 21 August 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 15.18 (108)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 10.6 (66)

| Lake Oval

| 12,997

| 21 August 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 22.18 (150)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 16.9 (105)

| MCG

| 28,130

| 21 August 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 10.15 (75)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 18.16 (124)

| Arden Street Oval

| 26,455

| 21 August 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 4.11 (35)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 3.16 (34)

| VFL Park

| 15,638

| 21 August 1976

{{s-end}}

=Round 22=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 19.14 (128)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 12.19 (91)

| Arden Street Oval

| 14,196

| 28 August 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 13.18 (96)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 10.11 (71)

| Kardinia Park

| 22,916

| 28 August 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 17.11 (113)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 18.20 (128)

| Victoria Park

| 28,354

| 28 August 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 15.17 (107)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 15.17 (107)

| Princes Park

| 27,958

| 28 August 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 15.20 (110)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 10.18 (78)

| Junction Oval

| 11,721

| 28 August 1976

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 21.14 (140)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 14.22 (106)

| VFL Park

| 27,249

| 28 August 1976

{{s-end}}

Ladder

class=wikitable

| (P)

Premiers
bgcolor=FFFFBB |Qualified for finals

{{Australian rules football ladder start}}

|- style=background:#FFFFBB

| 1 || align=left | {{AFL Car}} || 22 || 16 || 5 || 1 || 2245 || 1690 || 132.8 || 66

|- style=background:#FFFFBB

| 2 || align=left | {{AFL Haw}} (P) || 22 || 16 || 6 || 0 || 2323 || 2035 || 114.2 || 64

|- style=background:#FFFFBB

| 3 || align=left | {{AFL NM}} || 22 || 15 || 7 || 0 || 2041 || 1748 || 116.8 || 60

|- style=background:#FFFFBB

| 4 || align=left | {{AFL Gee}} || 22 || 12 || 10 || 0 || 2251 || 2166 || 103.9 || 48

|- style=background:#FFFFBB

| 5 || align=left | {{AFL Foo}} || 22 || 11 || 10 || 1 || 1958 || 2023 || 96.8 || 46

|-

| 6 || align=left | {{AFL Mel}} || 22 || 11 || 11 || 0 || 2319 || 2333 || 99.4 || 44

|-

| 7 || align=left | {{AFL Ric}} || 22 || 10 || 12 || 0 || 2192 || 2224 || 98.6 || 40

|-

| 8 || align=left | {{AFL SM}} || 22 || 9 || 13 || 0 || 2223 || 2364 || 94.0 || 36

|-

| 9 || align=left | {{AFL StK}} || 22 || 9 || 13 || 0 || 2056 || 2282 || 90.1 || 36

|-

| 10 || align=left | {{AFL Ess}} || 22 || 9 || 13 || 0 || 1987 || 2253 || 88.2 || 36

|-

| 11 || align=left | {{AFL Fit}} || 22 || 7 || 15 || 0 || 2005 || 2161 || 92.8 || 28

|-

| 12 || align=left | {{AFL Col}} || 22 || 6 || 16 || 0 || 2033 || 2354 || 86.4 || 24

|}

Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for
Average score: 97.1
Source: [https://afltables.com/afl/seas/1976.html#lad AFL Tables]

Finals series

=Finals week 1=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Score

| Away team

| Score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 14.18 (102)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 14.11 (95)

| VFL Park

| 50,686

| 4 September

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 14.19 (103)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 12.11 (83)

| MCG

| 64,148

| 4 September

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

{{s-end}}

=Finals week 2=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Score

| Away team

| Score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 8.12 (60)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 14.9 (93)

| MCG

| 71,042

| 11 September

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 9.16 (70)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 12.15 (87)

| VFL Park

| 60,105

| 11 September

{{s-end}}

=Preliminary final=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Score

| Away team

| Score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 9.12 (66)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 10.7 (67)

| VFL Park

| 69,234

| 18 September

{{s-end}}

=Grand final=

{{Main|1976 VFL Grand Final}}

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Score

| Away team

| Score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 13.22 (100)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 10.10 (70)

| MCG

| 110,143

| 25 September

{{s-end}}

Season notes

  • The VFL introduced two field umpires per match.
  • John Nicholls resigned as coach of Carlton three days before the VFL season commenced. Assistant coach Ian Thorogood was promoted to coach.
  • The opening round match between South Melbourne and Geelong at the Lake Oval saw the Swans set a new record for the highest losing score on record, beating Melbourne's 1940 previous record.
  • The Round 1 match between Carlton and Collingwood at Princes Park saw a massive all-in brawl that involved virtually every player from both sides, with Collingwood's Phil Carman the chief target.
  • In Round 10, North Melbourne's Malcolm Blight kicked a booming torpedo punt 65–70 metres out from goal after the final siren at Princes Park, which sailed through for a goal that won the match for North Melbourne. HSV Channel 7 football commentator Michael Williamson exclaimed after the match, "I have seen it all, now. I have seen it all!!" ("The Sensational Seventies -- 1976." Screened on HSV 7 Melbourne in September 1979)
  • The Round 21 match between Footscray and Fitzroy at VFL Park was the first match to provide the lowest two scores of a season.
  • Collingwood "won" its maiden wooden spoon after seventy-nine years, leaving Carlton as the only foundation VFL team yet to finish last. Carlton would "win" its maiden wooden spoon twenty-six years later in 2002.
  • Collingwood's six wins is the most by a wooden spooner in VFL/AFL history.

Awards

  • The 1976 VFL Premiership team was Hawthorn.
  • The VFL's leading goalkicker was Larry Donohue of Geelong who kicked 105 goals (including 6 goals in the finals).
  • The winner of the 1976 Brownlow Medal was Graham Moss of Essendon with 48 votes.
  • Collingwood took the "wooden spoon" for the first time in 1976.
  • The reserves premiership was won by {{AFL Col}}. Collingwood 23.17 (155) defeated {{AFL NM}} 19.15 (129) 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 Age|publication-place=Melbourne|date=27 September 1976|title=All the scores|page=28}}

References

{{Reflist}}

  • 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/1976.html 1976 VFL season] at AFL Tables
  • [https://www.australianfootball.com/seasons/season/afl/138/premiership%2Bseason/1/1/1976 1976 VFL season] at Australian Football

{{Australian Football League}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1976 VFL season}}

Category:Australian Football League seasons

VFL season