VFA Lightning premiership was conducted between 1972-1979
1st division winners
Grand finals
1972 coburg d port Melbourne
1973 Geelong west d Preston
1974 Preston d prahran
1975 prahran d Northcote
1976 coburg d Brunswick
1977 Caulfield d Dandenong
1978 werribee d sandringham
1979 sandringham d Yarraville
2nd division
1972 box hill d Frankston
1973 Northcote d box hill
1974 Northcote d Frankston
1975 Northcote d mordialloc
1976 Camberwell d werribee
1977 Frankston d Northcote
1978 werribee d box hill
1979 Yarraville d Northcote
Northcote 1975, werribee 1978 and Yarraville 1979 were 2nd division clubs that made it to the gf facing 1st division clubs with werribee beating the zebras in 1978.
I have a couple of those games on DVD. Wonder if anyone has some of the lightning premiership games on tape.
Northcote won on 73-74-75 with runners up in 77-79 as well as 75 in 1st division loss to prahran.
There was an earlier lightning premiership held in 1946.
1946 VFA LIGHTNING PREMIERSHIP
DATE / VENUE
ROUND
WINNING TEAM
SCORE
LOSING TEAM
SCORE
CROWD
29-6-1946
Junction Oval
(St Kilda)
RD.1
Brighton (4)
4.2 (26)
Brunswick (7)
2.1 (13)
7,000
Port Melbourne (6)
3.0 (18)
Yarraville (8)
1.1 (7)
Prahran (9)
2.4 (16)
Preston (12)
1.2 (8)
Oakleigh (10)
2.2 (14)
Northcote (11)
1.2 (8)
RD.2
Brighton (4)
7.4 (46)
Camberwell (1)
1.1 (7)
Oakleigh (10)
2.3 (15)
Sandringham (2)
1.2 (8)
Williamstown (3)
2.4 (16)
Port Melbourne (6)
2.2 (14)
Prahran (9)
3.1 (19)
Coburg (5)
1.1 (7)
SF
Williamstown (3)
3.8 (26)
Oakleigh (10)
1.1 (7)
Prahran (9)
4.2 (26)
Brighton (4)
3.1 (19)
GF
Williamstown (3)
4.3 (27)
Prahran (9)
1.3 (9)
Held on the one day back in 1946. Williamstown beat Prahran in the final at the Junction Oval.
1896 VFA CHARITY CUP
VFA premiership matches were suspended so the Charity Day could be held on the Saturday between Rounds 5 and 6 of the season. The football matches consisted of two halves of 20 minutes each and were preceded by a baseball match described by The Argus (8-6-1896) as "the finest game of baseball yet seen in Melbourne". As winners of the football tournament, Essendon received the inaugural VFA Charity Cup.
As with the previous year, the 1896 event was used to trial new rules:
- the use of boundary umpires to throw the ball back into play (relieving the field umpire of this duty, allowing him to focus on the play);
- the abolition of the "little mark", meaning the ball had to be kicked at least ten yards for a mark to be paid by the umpire.
Both of these rule trials were considered successful and were later adopted across all levels of the game.
DATE / VENUE
ROUND
WINNING TEAM
SCORE
LOSING TEAM
SCORE
CROWD
6-6-1896
East Melbourne CG
SF
Essendon (1)
3.3
Collingwood (2)
2.5
8,000
Port Melbourne (4)
2.1
South Melbourne (3)
1.4
FINAL
Essendon (1)
2.4
Port Melbourne (4)
1.1
1895 VFA CHARITY DAY
VFA premiership matches were suspended so the Charity Day could be held on the Saturday between Rounds 6 and 7 of the season. The two football matches were played at 3pm and 4pm as the culmination of an event which also included a Champion Footballers sprint race (won by A. Drew of Port Melbourne) and a baseball match.
The event is also noteworthy for being the first trial of boundary umpires. The Argus (10-6-1896) notes: "From the first it was clear that the boundary umpires effected two desirable things, viz., giving the field umpire a better chance to watch the game, and preventing the followers crowding on to the ball at the boundary when it was thrown in". However, The Argus also notes that these gains were offset by the wingmen migrating to the centre of the field creating problems within that section of the field.
Note that prior to 1897 behinds were recorded but did not count towards a team's score, so the Fitzroy-Collingwood match was drawn at 3 goals apiece.
DATE / VENUE
MATCH
WINNING TEAM
SCORE
LOSING TEAM
SCORE
CROWD
8-6-1895
East Melbourne CG
1
Fitzroy
3.10
Collingwood
3.5
7,000
2
Melbourne
5.9
Essendon
1.0
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
Date
Teams
1/4
1/2
3/4
Final
Margin
Venue
Day / Time
Crowd
ROUND 1 (QUALIFYING)
Mar-20
Claremont
2.0 (12)
4.3 (27)
10.6 (66)
13.7 (85)
32
Claremont Oval,
Sun
5,195
South Adelaide
0.0 (0)
2.3 (15)
4.3 (27)
8.5 (53)
Perth
(D)
Mar-27
Dandenong
4.2 (26)
7.5 (47)
10.6 (66)
14.8 (92)
9
Lake Oval,
Sun
2,500
Central District
3.7 (25)
5.9 (39)
8.13 (61)
11.17 (83)
South Melbourne
(D)
Apr-05
West Perth
4.4 (28)
8.8 (56)
11.11 (77)
16.20 (116)
51
Leederville Oval,
Tue
-
North Adelaide
3.1 (19)
5.4 (34)
7.10 (52)
9.11 (65)
Perth
(D)
Apr-05
Preston
4.2 (26)
5.8 (38)
11.9 (75)
15.10 (100)
27
Norwood Oval,
Tue
-
New South Wales
0.2 (2)
2.4 (16)
8.5 (53)
11.7 (73)
Adelaide
(7:00pm)
Apr-12
West Adelaide
3.2 (20)
4.5 (29)
8.6 (54)
9.9 (63)
30
Norwood Oval,
Tue
1,500
East Fremantle
2.3 (15)
5.3 (33)
7.4 (46)
14.9 (93)
Adelaide
(7:00pm)
Apr-19
Caulfield
3.4 (22)
6.6 (42)
8.9 (57)
11.10 (76)
19
Norwood Oval,
Tue
250
A.C.T.
2.0 (12)
6.2 (38)
9.6 (60)
14.11 (95)
Adelaide
(7:00pm)
ROUND 2
Apr-26
Tasmania
5.3 (33)
9.5 (59)
10.10 (70)
13.11 (89)
3
Norwood Oval,
Tue
-
South Fremantle
2.1 (13)
6.4 (40)
10.9 (69)
13.14 (92)
Adelaide
(7:00pm)
May-03
Sturt
5.5 (35)
11.8 (74)
13.18 (96)
18.23 (131)
86
Norwood Oval,
Tue
3,073
Claremont
3.2 (20)
3.2 (20)
4.2 (26)
7.3 (45)
Adelaide
(7:00pm)
May-10
Norwood
4.1 (25)
7.6 (48)
13.10 (88)
18.17 (125)
66
Norwood Oval,
Tue
2,000
A.C.T.
1.3 (9)
4.5 (29)
6.9 (45)
8.11 (59)
Adelaide
(7:00pm)
May-17
Port Melbourne
4.3 (27)
7.5 (47)
11.8 (74)
17.9 (111)
31
Norwood Oval,
Tue
500
Queensland
2.2 (14)
4.2 (26)
8.4 (52)
12.8 (80)
Adelaide
(7:00pm)
May-24
Preston
1.6 (12)
1.7 (13)
5.11 (41)
7.14 (56)
69
Norwood Oval,
Tue
-
East Fremantle
2.4 (16)
6.5 (41)
12.9 (81)
18.17 (125)
Adelaide
(7:00pm)
May-31
Perth
5.2 (32)
9.4 (58)
17.9 (111)
21.14 (140)
53
Lathlain Park,
Tue
5,000
Glenelg
4.2 (26)
8.6 (54)
9.6 (60)
13.9 (87)
Perth
(D)
May-31
Port Adelaide
4.6 (30)
10.7 (67)
16.12 (108)
25.18 (168)
141
Norwood Oval,
Tue
-
West Perth
3.0 (18)
4.1 (25)
4.2 (26)
4.3 (27)
Adelaide
(7:00pm)
Jun-07
East Perth
2.2 (14)
5.5 (35)
6.9 (45)
7.12 (54)
11
Norwood Oval,
Tue
-
Dandenong
3.2 (20)
4.4 (28)
6.6 (42)
6.7 (43)
Adelaide
(7:00pm)
QUARTER FINALS
Jun-14
South Fremantle
0.4 (4)
2.6 (18)
5.10 (40)
9.14 (68)
57
Norwood Oval,
Tue
3,000
Sturt
4.4 (28)
9.6 (60)
15.10 (100)
19.11 (125)
Adelaide
(7:00pm)
Jun-21
Norwood
4.5 (29)
13.6 (84)
18.8 (116)
23.14 (152)
70
Norwood Oval,
Tue
2,500
Port Melbourne
3.3 (21)
6.6 (42)
9.7 (61)
12.10 (82)
Adelaide
(7:00pm)
Jun-28
East Fremantle
3.2 (20)
6.5 (41)
7.7 (49)
14.14 (98)
25
Leederville Oval,
Tue
3,500
Perth
1.2 (8)
4.3 (27)
10.6 (66)
11.7 (73)
Perth
(D)
Jul-05
Port Adelaide
1.3 (9)
4.4 (28)
9.6 (60)
13.6 (84)
2
Norwood Oval,
Tue
-
East Perth
3.3 (21)
6.3 (39)
9.6 (60)
13.8 (86)
Adelaide
(7:00pm)
SEMI FINALS
Jul-12
Sturt
0.1 (1)
0.4 (4)
2.7 (19)
8.9 (57)
56
Norwood Oval,
Tue
8,000
Norwood
3.3 (21)
7.7 (49)
13.8 (86)
17.11 (113)
Adelaide
(7:00pm)
Jul-19
East Fremantle
1.4 (10)
2.5 (17)
2.8 (20)
3.11 (29)
56
Leederville Oval,
Tue
-
East Perth
2.2 (14)
6.6 (42)
10.8 (68)
12.13 (85)
Perth
(D)
GRAND FINAL
Jul-26
Norwood
3.0 (18)
6.2 (38)
8.3 (51)
10.9 (69)
8
Norwood Oval,
Tue
12,000
East Perth
2.1 (13)
4.4 (28)
8.7 (55)
9.7 (61)
Adelaide
(7:00pm)
1977 Ardath Cup. I went to the Dandenong v Central Districts game at Lakeside Oval.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
Date
Teams
1/4
1/2
3/4
Final
Margin
Venue
Day / Time
Crowd
ROUND 1
Apr-25
Perth
2.1 (13)
3.4 (22)
8.9 (57)
14.10 (94)
18
Subiaco Oval,
Tue
4,678
West Adelaide
4.4 (28)
5.7 (37)
8.9 (57)
11.10 (76)
Perth
(D)
May-02
Norwood
1.4 (10)
7.6 (48)
15.9 (99)
21.12 (138)
51
Norwood Oval,
Tue
-
East Fremantle
2.6 (18)
5.8 (38)
8.9 (57)
13.9 (87)
Adelaide
(7:00pm)
May-07
Queensland
6.2 (38)
9.3 (57)
10.9 (69)
16.9 (105)
22
The Gabba,
Sun
10,000
Tasmania
2.3 (15)
7.6 (48)
10.7 (67)
12.11 (83)
Brisbane
(D)
May-09
Port Melbourne
1.7 (13)
7.8 (50)
11.15 (81)
12.20 (92)
46
Lake Oval,
Tue
3,682
New South Wales
0.1 (1)
2.2 (14)
4.3 (27)
7.4 (46)
South Melbourne
(7:30pm)
May-16
South Adelaide
2.4 (16)
5.5 (35)
10.10 (70)
12.15 (87)
31
Norwood Oval,
Tue
-
Port Adelaide
2.5 (17)
5.8 (38)
6.10 (46)
7.14 (56)
Adelaide
(7:00pm)
May-23
Sandringham
2.2 (14)
5.5 (35)
8.7 (55)
12.10 (82)
4
Lake Oval,
Tue
2,680
A.C.T.
4.3 (27)
6.4 (40)
9.5 (59)
12.6 (78)
South Melbourne
(7:30pm)
May-30
Glenelg
4.2 (26)
6.6 (42)
7.8 (50)
10.11 (71)
2
Norwood Oval,
Tue
-
West Perth
3.2 (20)
6.3 (39)
9.7 (61)
10.9 (69)
Adelaide
(7:00pm)
Jun-06
Coburg
3.3 (21)
6.4 (40)
9.8 (62)
10.11 (71)
22
Lake Oval,
Tue
1,280
East Perth
2.2 (14)
3.4 (22)
6.6 (42)
7.7 (49)
South Melbourne
(7:30pm)
QUARTER FINALS
Jun-13
Perth
5.1 (31)
8.3 (51)
12.9 (81)
16.10 (106)
13
Subiaco Oval,
Tue
2,209
Norwood
5.1 (31)
9.4 (58)
12.6 (78)
14.9 (93)
Perth
(D)
Jun-20
Port Melbourne
1.6 (12)
3.12 (30)
11.14 (80)
13.18 (96)
36
Lake Oval,
Tue
3,000
Queensland
2.3 (15)
4.3 (27)
6.5 (41)
9.6 (60)
South Melbourne
(7:30pm)
Jun-27
Glenelg
5.0 (30)
7.2 (44)
10.8 (68)
15.11 (101)
17
Norwood Oval,
Tue
-
Coburg
2.1 (13)
6.4 (40)
8.4 (52)
13.6 (84)
Adelaide
(7:00pm)
Jul-04
South Adelaide
4.2 (26)
6.6 (42)
10.9 (69)
14.10 (94)
59
Lake Oval,
Tue
1,000
Sandringham
1.2 (8)
2.3 (15)
3.4 (22)
5.5 (35)
South Melbourne
(7:30pm)
SEMI FINALS
Jul-11
Perth
4.1 (25)
6.3 (39)
9.5 (59)
10.10 (70)
22
Norwood Oval,
Tue
-
Glenelg
1.4 (10)
5.7 (37)
10.12 (72)
13.14 (92)
Adelaide
(7:00pm)
Jul-18
Port Melbourne
3.3 (21)
6.4 (40)
8.6 (54)
9.9 (63)
5
Lake Oval,
Tue
2,000
South Adelaide
1.3 (9)
3.6 (24)
7.9 (51)
9.14 (68)
South Melbourne
(7:30pm)
GRAND FINAL
Jul-25
Glenelg
1.3 (9)
2.6 (18)
2.7 (19)
3.8 (26)
37
Norwood Oval,
Tue
9,000
South Adelaide
3.0 (18)
4.2 (26)
5.3 (33)
9.9 (63)
Adelaide
(7:00pm)
I watched Coburg knock off the Barry Cable led East Perth at Lakeside oval in the 1978 Escort Cup game under lights.
Port Melbourne should have beaten South Adelaide in the semi and would have easily accounted for Port Adelaide in the final. So close yet so far.
Pages