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1978 VFL season

{{Short description|82nd 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 = 1978

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| teams = 12

| premiers ={{AFL Haw}}

| count = 4

| minor premiers ={{AFL NM}}

| mpcount = 2

| pre-season name = Night series

| pre-season cup = {{AFL Fit}}

| pscount = 1

| matches = 138

| attendance = 3478015

| highattend = 101,704

| top goal scorer =Kelvin Templeton ({{AFL Foo}})

| brownlow medal =Malcolm Blight ({{AFL NM}})

| prevseason = 1977

| nextseason = 1979

}}

The 1978 VFL season was the 82nd season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 1 April until 30 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 fourth time, after it defeated {{AFL NM}} by 18 points in the 1978 VFL Grand Final.

Rule changes

  • The 19th and 20th men were converted into interchange players, meaning that any two players could be rested at any time, and could return to the field.
  • Goal umpires required to touch goal post if the ball had hit post. Also two flags were positioned at one post and one flag at the other to save time when signalling scores.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/about-afl/history/rule-changes|title=History of Rule Changes|publisher=AFL Media|accessdate=11 April 2021}}

Night series

{{AFL Fit}} defeated {{AFL NM}} 13.18 (96) to 2.8 (20) in the final.

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 Haw}}

| 22.15 (147)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 9.14 (68)

| Princes Park

| 10,632

| 1 April 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 11.14 (80)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 23.11 (149)

| Western Oval

| 20,420

| 1 April 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 15.11 (101)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 16.13 (109)

| Junction Oval

| 17,030

| 1 April 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 19.9 (123)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 14.18 (102)

| Windy Hill

| 23,562

| 1 April 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 11.10 (76)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 17.16 (118)

| Kardinia Park

| 27,463

| 1 April 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 25.24 (174)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 14.13 (97)

| MCG

| 49,031

| 1 April 1978

{{s-end}}

=Round 2=

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 2}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 8 April (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Car}}|13.17 (95)|A|{{AFL Gee}}|15.19 (109)|Princes Park|18,932|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1978/030919780408.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 8 April (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Col}}|22.23 (155)|H|{{AFL Ess}}|12.16 (88)|Victoria Park|34,665|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1978/040519780408.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 8 April (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Mel}}|24.23 (167)|H|{{AFL Fit}}|23.19 (157)|MCG|15,613|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1978/061119780408.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 8 April (2:10 pm)|{{AFL StK}}|20.17 (137)|H|{{AFL Foo}}|19.16 (130)|Moorabbin Oval|18,540|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1978/071519780408.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 8 April (2:10 pm)|{{AFL SM}}|16.8 (104)|A|{{AFL Haw}}|18.24 (132)|Lake Oval|15,072|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1978/101619780408.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 8 April (2:10 pm)|{{AFL NM}}|25.16 (166)|H|{{AFL Ric}}|14.9 (93)|Arden Street Oval|22,505|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1978/121419780408.html Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

  • Fitzroy broke South Melbourne's 1976 record for the highest losing score against Melbourne by four points. This record would last until the 1989 VFL season.

}}

=Round 3=

{{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 StK}}

| 15.20 (110)

| MCG

| 35,602

| 15 April 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 10.16 (76)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 21.14 (140)

| Western Oval

| 16,949

| 15 April 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 15.15 (105)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 14.17 (101)

| Windy Hill

| 16,300

| 15 April 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 13.20 (98)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 11.19 (85)

| Princes Park

| 17,765

| 15 April 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 18.11 (119)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 14.18 (102)

| Lake Oval

| 20,733

| 15 April 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 16.15 (111)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 12.14 (86)

| VFL Park

| 39,097

| 15 April 1978

{{s-end}}

=Round 4=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 18.17 (125)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 15.8 (98)

| Kardinia Park

| 20,566

| 22 April 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 21.17 (143)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 18.16 (124)

| Junction Oval

| 13,660

| 22 April 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 14.19 (103)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 15.15 (105)

| Victoria Park

| 28,714

| 22 April 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 14.16 (100)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 17.17 (119)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 29,117

| 22 April 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 18.19 (127)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 18.12 (120)

| MCG

| 14,865

| 22 April 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 16.8 (104)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 19.17 (131)

| VFL Park

| 34,516

| 22 April 1978

{{s-end}}

=Round 5=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 19.16 (130)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 8.11 (59)

| MCG

| 34,212

| 25 April 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 14.14 (98)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 9.11 (65)

| VFL Park

| 43,388

| 25 April 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 14.17 (101)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 15.12 (102)

| Princes Park

| 13,528

| 29 April 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 15.20 (110)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 13.15 (93)

| Western Oval

| 20,328

| 29 April 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 19.10 (124)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 17.13 (115)

| Arden Street Oval

| 31,424

| 29 April 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 18.9 (117)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 17.14 (116)

| Lake Oval

| 20,183

| 29 April 1978

{{s-end}}

=Round 6=

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 6}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 6 May (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Car}}|19.12 (126)|A|{{AFL Haw}}|24.13 (157)|Princes Park|19,649|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1978/031019780506.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 6 May (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Fit}}|14.12 (96)|A|{{AFL Col}}|22.16 (148)|Junction Oval|25232|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1978/040619780506.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 6 May (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Ess}}|22.18 (150)|H|{{AFL Ric}}|19.15 (129)|Windy Hill|21946|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1978/051419780506.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 6 May (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Foo}}|16.9 (105)|A|{{AFL SM}}|18.15 (123)|VFL Park|19263|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1978/071619780506.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 6 May (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Gee}}|12.16 (88)|A|{{AFL NM}}|16.14 (110)|Kardinia Park|23,074|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1978/091219780506.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 6 May (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Mel}}|21.15 (141)|A|{{AFL StK}}|31.18 (204)|MCG|24852|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1978/111519780506.html Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

  • {{AFL Mel}} and {{AFL StK}} set the current record for the highest aggregate score in a game, the two teams amassing 52.33 (345). This broke the record set in the 1972 VFL Grand Final. The Saints also kicked their highest score in a match.

}}

=Round 7=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 14.14 (98)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 19.11 (125)

| MCG

| 25,904

| 13 May 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 27.15 (177)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 13.13 (91)

| Princes Park

| 9,099

| 13 May 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 14.14 (98)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 14.11 (95)

| Arden Street Oval

| 14,150

| 13 May 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 17.11 (113)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 16.11 (107)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 30,760

| 13 May 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 9.14 (68)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 12.13 (85)

| Victoria Park

| 26,782

| 13 May 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 18.18 (126)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 21.13 (139)

| VFL Park

| 13,072

| 13 May 1978

{{s-end}}

=Round 8=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 8.13 (61)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 20.17 (137)

| MCG

| 21,268

| 20 May 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 11.10 (76)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 7.18 (60)

| Windy Hill

| 21,212

| 20 May 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 8.15 (63)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 9.7 (61)

| Princes Park

| 21,520

| 20 May 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 20.16 (136)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 4.13 (37)

| Lake Oval

| 21,494

| 20 May 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 14.5 (89)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 14.9 (93)

| Western Oval

| 19,096

| 20 May 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 9.16 (70)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 14.15 (99)

| VFL Park

| 27,224

| 20 May 1978

{{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}}

| 16.13 (109)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 14.11 (95)

| Kardinia Park

| 21,603

| 27 May 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 13.14 (92)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 18.9 (117)

| Junction Oval

| 11,903

| 27 May 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 12.20 (92)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 10.16 (76)

| Victoria Park

| 28,651

| 27 May 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 18.9 (117)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 8.11 (59)

| Princes Park

| 30,976

| 27 May 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 8.9 (57)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 13.19 (97)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 25,293

| 27 May 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 8.12 (60)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 15.12 (102)

| VFL Park

| 28,231

| 27 May 1978

{{s-end}}

=Round 10=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 12.24 (96)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 8.13 (61)

| Princes Park

| 11,066

| 3 June 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 12.14 (86)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 11.14 (80)

| MCG

| 21,122

| 3 June 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 13.7 (85)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 12.10 (82)

| Arden Street Oval

| 28,828

| 3 June 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 24.18 (162)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 14.8 (92)

| Lake Oval

| 15,738

| 5 June 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 19.11 (125)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 15.14 (104)

| Western Oval

| 30,197

| 5 June 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 14.13 (97)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 18.23 (131)

| VFL Park

| 72,669

| 5 June 1978

{{s-end}}

=Round 11=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 16.15 (111)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 16.18 (114)

| Junction Oval

| 10,300

| 17 June 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 16.8 (104)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 19.19 (133)

| Windy Hill

| 23,302

| 17 June 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 17.25 (127)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 10.7 (67)

| Victoria Park

| 19,931

| 17 June 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 23.27 (165)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 8.17 (65)

| Princes Park

| 25,388

| 17 June 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 23.17 (155)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 14.13 (97)

| MCG

| 22,764

| 17 June 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 15.7 (97)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 17.15 (117)

| VFL Park

| 31,037

| 17 June 1978

{{s-end}}

=Round 12=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 20.17 (137)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 13.16 (94)

| Princes Park

| 28,266

| 24 June 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 15.18 (108)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 18.20 (128)

| MCG

| 14,652

| 24 June 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 8.12 (60)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 13.12 (90)

| Arden Street Oval

| 14,269

| 24 June 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 17.9 (111)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 20.14 (134)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 15,822

| 24 June 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 13.19 (97)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 17.18 (120)

| Lake Oval

| 18,574

| 24 June 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 7.14 (56)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 13.18 (96)

| VFL Park

| 31,636

| 24 June 1978

{{s-end}}

=Round 13=

{{AFLGameHeader|title=Round 13}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 1 July (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Gee}}|8.9 (57)|A|{{AFL Car}}|9.13 (67)|Kardinia Park|25,185|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1978/030919780701.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 1 July (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Ess}}|12.26 (98)|A|{{AFL Col}}|14.21 (105)|Windy Hill|29,768|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1978/040519780701.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 1 July (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Fit}}|19.27 (141)|H|{{AFL Mel}}|8.13 (61)|VFL Park|13,933|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1978/061119780701.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 1 July (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Foo}}|33.15 (213)|H|{{AFL StK}}|16.10 (106)|Western Oval|16,300|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1978/071519780701.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 1 July (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Haw}}|21.14 (140)|H|{{AFL SM}}|18.11 (119)|Princes Park|13,853|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1978/101619780701.html Report]}}

{{AFLGame|Saturday, 1 July (2:10 pm)|{{AFL Ric}}|21.16 (142)|H|{{AFL NM}}|17.15 (117)|MCG|27,156|[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1978/121419780701.html Report]}}

{{AFLGameFooter|notes=

  • {{AFL Foo}} kicked their highest-ever score of 33.15 (213) and Kelvin Templeton also set a club record for most goals in a game by an individual player, kicking 15 goals 9 behinds. It also set the record for the most scoring shots in a game by an individual player. The last Bulldog to kick 10 goals in a game was Ron Grove against {{AFL Mel}} in Round 5, 1946. The score also broke the VFL record previously held by {{AFL Car}} who kicked 30.30 (210) against {{AFL Haw}} in Round 2, 1969.

}}

=Round 14=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 19.7 (121)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 18.16 (124)

| Arden Street Oval

| 12,599

| 8 July 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 20.7 (127)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 8.11 (59)

| Western Oval

| 13,325

| 8 July 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 17.20 (122)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 18.9 (117)

| MCG

| 24,417

| 8 July 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 22.11 (143)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 13.15 (93)

| Lake Oval

| 16,642

| 8 July 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 13.24 (102)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 14.11 (95)

| Windy Hill

| 29,831

| 8 July 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 10.14 (74)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 13.6 (84)

| VFL Park

| 46,066

| 8 July 1978

{{s-end}}

=Round 15=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 10.14 (74)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 7.13 (55)

| Princes Park

| 16,214

| 15 July 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 17.12 (114)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 12.22 (94)

| Victoria Park

| 23,729

| 15 July 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 10.11 (71)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 19.11 (125)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 18,954

| 15 July 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 12.12 (84)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 10.12 (72)

| Kardinia Park

| 15,700

| 15 July 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 15.11 (101)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 11.17 (83)

| Junction Oval

| 13,550

| 15 July 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 2.14 (26)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 17.13 (115)

| VFL Park

| 16,870

| 15 July 1978

{{s-end}}

=Round 16=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 14.9 (93)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 17.19 (121)

| MCG

| 18,416

| 22 July 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 16.8 (104)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 12.20 (92)

| Kardinia Park

| 16,219

| 22 July 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 18.14 (122)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 17.19 (121)

| Junction Oval

| 12,240

| 22 July 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 7.17 (59)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 15.11 (101)

| Victoria Park

| 32,286

| 22 July 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 16.16 (112)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 9.17 (71)

| Princes Park

| 24,277

| 22 July 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 13.8 (86)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 15.17 (107)

| VFL Park

| 30,200

| 22 July 1978

{{s-end}}

=Round 17=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 20.21 (141)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 13.11 (89)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 13,118

| 29 July 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 18.14 (122)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 10.16 (76)

| Arden Street Oval

| 15,775

| 29 July 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 15.15 (105)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 13.13 (91)

| Lake Oval

| 14,112

| 29 July 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 20.16 (136)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 13.18 (96)

| MCG

| 41,878

| 29 July 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 13.17 (95)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 18.11 (119)

| Princes Park

| 28,132

| 29 July 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 16.11 (107)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 11.11 (77)

| VFL Park

| 32,246

| 29 July 1978

{{s-end}}

=Round 18=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 17.10 (112)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 17.16 (118)

| Western Oval

| 17,285

| 5 August 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 11.16 (82)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 19.10 (124)

| Junction Oval

| 13,022

| 5 August 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 11.16 (82)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 18.13 (121)

| Windy Hill

| 18,410

| 5 August 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 14.19 (103)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 8.14 (62)

| Princes Park

| 43,313

| 5 August 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 13.17 (95)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 14.17 (101)

| MCG

| 12,363

| 5 August 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 14.9 (93)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 9.16 (70)

| VFL Park

| 31,717

| 5 August 1978

{{s-end}}

=Round 19=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 13.7 (85)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 3.19 (37)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 20,933

| 12 August 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 18.19 (127)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 10.10 (70)

| Princes Park

| 15,980

| 12 August 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 11.16 (82)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 10.6 (66)

| Victoria Park

| 24,069

| 12 August 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 26.18 (174)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 8.13 (61)

| Arden Street Oval

| 9,183

| 12 August 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 14.8 (92)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 13.7 (85)

| Kardinia Park

| 15,080

| 12 August 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 8.10 (58)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 9.15 (69)

| VFL Park

| 21,410

| 12 August 1978

{{s-end}}

=Round 20=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 19.16 (130)

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 21.10 (136)

| Windy Hill

| 11,984

| 19 August 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL SM}}

| 24.11 (155)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 26.11 (167)

| Lake Oval

| 15,259

| 19 August 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 9.17 (71)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 21.13 (139)

| Western Oval

| 12,525

| 19 August 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 16.13 (109)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 19.9 (123)

| MCG

| 59,580

| 19 August 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 9.16 (70)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 19.17 (131)

| Arden Street Oval

| 28,965

| 19 August 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 12.11 (83)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 21.13 (139)

| VFL Park

| 31,677

| 19 August 1978

{{s-end}}

  • {{AFL Ric}} were leading {{AFL Col}} by 55 points at the 10-minute mark of the second quarter before the Magpies hit back to win by 14 points. It was at the time the third-biggest comeback in League history.Lovett (2019), p. 1088

=Round 21=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 15.16 (106)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 11.19 (85)

| MCG

| 13,488

| 26 August 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 13.8 (86)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 13.10 (88)

| Kardinia Park

| 21,663

| 26 August 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 20.14 (134)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 17.15 (117)

| Junction Oval

| 11,200

| 26 August 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 22.15 (147)

| {{AFL StK}}

| 15.17 (107)

| Victoria Park

| 31,537

| 26 August 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Car}}

| 23.7 (145)

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 15.12 (102)

| Princes Park

| 22,397

| 26 August 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 7.9 (51)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 11.11 (77)

| VFL Park

| 22,337

| 26 August 1978

{{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}}

| 16.15 (111)

| {{AFL SM}}

| 12.15 (87)

| Arden Street Oval

| 15,607

| 2 September 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 13.22 (100)

| {{AFL Fit}}

| 5.8 (38)

| Kardinia Park

| 22,842

| 2 September 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 17.16 (118)

| {{AFL Ess}}

| 16.13 (109)

| Princes Park

| 14,534

| 2 September 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Mel}}

| 19.11 (125)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 24.12 (156)

| MCG

| 40,267

| 2 September 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL StK}}

| 16.10 (106)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 9.12 (66)

| Moorabbin Oval

| 35,850

| 2 September 1978

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Foo}}

| 11.15 (81)

| {{AFL Ric}}

| 19.20 (134)

| VFL Park

| 17,768

| 2 September 1978

{{s-end}}

Ladder

class=wikitable

| (P)

Premiers
bgcolor=FFFFBB |Qualified for finals

{{Australian rules football ladder start}}

|- style=background:#FFFFBB

| 1 || align=left | {{AFL NM}} || 22 || 16 || 6 || 0 || 2407 || 1991 || 120.9 || 64

|- style=background:#FFFFBB

| 2 || align=left | {{AFL Haw}} (P) || 22 || 16 || 6 || 0 || 2496 || 2120 || 117.7 || 64

|- style=background:#FFFFBB

| 3 || align=left | {{AFL Col}} || 22 || 15 || 7 || 0 || 2347 || 2072 || 113.3 || 60

|- style=background:#FFFFBB

| 4 || align=left | {{AFL Car}} || 22 || 14 || 8 || 0 || 2329 || 1994 || 116.8 || 56

|- style=background:#FFFFBB

| 5 || align=left | {{AFL Gee}} || 22 || 12 || 10 || 0 || 2153 || 2104 || 102.3 || 48

|-

| 6 || align=left | {{AFL StK}} || 22 || 11 || 10 || 1 || 2330 || 2503 || 93.1 || 46

|-

| 7 || align=left | {{AFL Ric}} || 22 || 10 || 11 || 1 || 2459 || 2389 || 102.9 || 42

|-

| 8 || align=left | {{AFL SM}} || 22 || 9 || 13 || 0 || 2390 || 2383 || 100.3 || 36

|-

| 9 || align=left | {{AFL Fit}} || 22 || 8 || 14 || 0 || 2258 || 2339 || 96.5 || 32

|-

| 10 || align=left | {{AFL Ess}} || 22 || 8 || 14 || 0 || 2203 || 2337 || 94.3 || 32

|-

| 11 || align=left | {{AFL Foo}} || 22 || 7 || 15 || 0 || 2272 || 2508 || 90.6 || 28

|-

| 12 || align=left | {{AFL Mel}} || 22 || 5 || 17 || 0 || 2025 || 2929 || 69.1 || 20

|}

Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for
Average score: 104.8
Source: [https://afltables.com/afl/seas/1978.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 Car}}

| 15.15 (105)

| {{AFL Gee}}

| 9.18 (72)

| VFL Park

| 57,505

| 9 September

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 14.14 (98)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 23.16 (154)

| MCG

| 79,931

| 9 September

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

{{s-end}}

=Finals week 2=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Score

| Away team

| Score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL Col}}

| 15.18 (108)

| {{AFL Car}}

| 13.15 (93)

| MCG

| 91,933

| 16 September

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 10.13 (73)

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 12.15 (87)

| VFL Park

| 48,716

| 16 September

{{s-end}}

=Preliminary final=

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Home team

| Score

| Away team

| Score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| {{AFL NM}}

| 14.12 (96)

| {{AFL Col}}

| 12.12 (84)

| VFL Park

| 73,354

| 23 September

{{s-end}}

=Grand final=

{{Main|1978 VFL Grand Final}}

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Game

| Home team

| Home team score

| Away team

| Away team score

| Venue

| Crowd

| Date

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| Grand final

| {{AFL Haw}}

| 18.13 (121)

| {{AFL NM}}

| 15.13 (103)

| MCG

| 101,704

| 30 September 1978

{{s-end}}

Notable events

  • In Round 20, Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser (who was the Number 1 ticket holder for Carlton throughout his time in office) was booed incessantly during the second half of the North Melbourne vs Carlton match at the Arden Street Oval. The booing continued right up to the moment when Mr. Fraser stepped inside his limousine and was driven away from the ground.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Awards

  • The Coleman Medal was won by Kelvin Templeton of {{AFL Foo}} with 118 goals.
  • The Brownlow Medal was won by Malcolm Blight of North Melbourne
  • The reserves premiership was won by {{AFL NM}}. North Melbourne 17.29 (131) defeated {{AFL Haw}} 11.13 (79) in the grand final, held as a curtain-raiser to the seniors grand final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 30 September.{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC|date=2 October 1978|title=All the scores|page=32}}

References

{{Reflist}}

  • Stephen Rogers and Ashley Brown (1998). Every Game Ever Played. 6th ed. Victoria: Penguin Books.
  • {{cite book|editor-first=Michael|editor-last=Lovett|title=AFL Record season 2019 : official statistical history of the AFL|year=2019|publisher=Australian Football League|isbn=9780648465102}}

Sources

  • [https://afltables.com/afl/seas/1978.html 1978 VFL season] at AFL Tables
  • [https://www.australianfootball.com/seasons/season/afl/138/premiership%2Bseason/1/1/1978 1978 VFL season] at Australian Football

{{Australian Football League}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1978 VFL season}}

Category:Australian Football League seasons

VFL season