1959 VFL grand final

Grand final of the 1959 Victorian Football League season

1959 VFL Grand Final

Melbourne
Essendon
17.13 (115) 11.12 (78)
1 2 3 4
MEL 1.4 (10) 8.5 (53) 11.10 (76) 17.13 (115)
ESS 3.5 (23) 7.8 (50) 10.10 (70) 11.12 (78)
Date26 September 1959
StadiumMelbourne Cricket Ground
Attendance103,506
← 1958 VFL Grand Final 1960 →

The 1959 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Melbourne Football Club and Essendon Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 20 September 1959. It was the 62nd annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine the premiers for the 1959 VFL season. The match, attended by 103,506 spectators, was won by Melbourne by 37 points, marking that club's tenth premiership victory.

This was Melbourne's sixth successive Grand Final appearance. It was the second time in three years in which the two teams met in a Grand Final, with Melbourne also having won the 1957 VFL Grand Final.

Teams

Melbourne
Essendon
Melbourne
B: John Beckwith (c) Tassie Johnson John Lord
HB: Geoff Case Dennis Jones Ian Thorogood
C: Ian McLean Laurie Mithen Brian Dixon
HF: Geoff Tunbridge Clyde Laidlaw Hassa Mann
F: Ron Barassi Alan Rowarth Ian Ridley
Foll: Bob Johnson Dick Fenton-Smith Frank 'Bluey' Adams
Res: Don Williams Peter Brenchley
Coach: Norm Smith
Essendon
B: Bob Shearman John Towner Brian Sampson
HB: Alec Epis Ian Shelton Col Hebbard
C: Alby Murdoch Reg Burgess Barry Capuano
HF: Ken Peucker Ken Fraser Greg Sewell
F: David Shaw Ron Evans John Birt
Foll: Geoff Leek Hugh Mitchell Jack Clarke (c)
Res: Barry Mackie Graham Leydin
Coach: Dick Reynolds
  • Umpire: Bill Barbour

Statistics

Goalkickers

Melbourne:

  • R Barassi 4
  • A Rowarth 4
  • F Adams 3
  • B Johnson 3
  • H Mann 1
  • I Ridley 1
  • G Tunbridge 1

Essendon:

  • G Sewell 4
  • J Clarke 2
  • R Evans 2
  • D Shaw 2
  • K Fraser 1

References

  • AFL Tables: 1959 Grand Final
  • The Official statistical history of the AFL 2004
  • 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

See also

  • v
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Melbourne Football Club 1959 VFL premiers
Melbourne 17.13 (115) defeated Essendon 11.12 (78), at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Coach: Smith
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Melbourne Football Club
  • Nickname: Demons
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  • Honour board
  • Awards
  • Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophy
  • Daisy Pearce Trophy
  • Leading goalkickers
  • AFL coach: Simon Goodwin
  • AFL captain: Max Gawn
  • AFLW coach: Mick Stinear
  • AFLW captain: Kate Hore
VFL/AFL home grounds
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Runner-up (5)
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(non-club articles in italics)
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Melbourne did not field a team from 1916–1918 due to the First World War
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Essendon Football Club
  • Nickname: Bombers
  • History
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  • Coaches
  • Honours
  • Crichton Medal
  • Leading goalkickers
  • AFL coach: Brad Scott
  • AFL captain: Dyson Heppell
  • AFLW coach: Natalie Wood
  • AFLW co-captains: Stephanie Cain & Bonnie Toogood
VFL/AFL home grounds
VFA premierships (4)
VFL/AFL premierships (16)
Runner-up (14)
VFA/VFL/AFL seasons (144)
AFLW home grounds
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Related articles
Essendon did not participate in the 1916 and 1917 VFL seasons due to World War I (indicated in grey)
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Australian Football League
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Known as the Victorian Football League from 1897–1989; no grand finals were held in 1897 and 1924