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1940

Coach: Frank Hughes
Captain: Ivor Warne-Smith
Finishing Position: 1st (Premiers)
Best and Fairest: Ron Baggott
Leading Goalkicker: Norm Smith (86)
Best First Year Player: Col McLean

Matches Ladder Playing List Seconds
Image

World War II commenced a day after the last home and away game of 1939, and while Melbourne ended the war as one of the VFL's worst affected clubs, the most serious effects would come later, allowing them to win consecutive premierships for the first time.

The league changed rules to allow reporting of players who threw the ball away after a free kick or mark, or interfered with a player in those circumstances. Despite the additional reporting options, not one Melbourne player appeared before the Tribunal that year. Other minor alterations to the laws enlarged the ring in the centre of the ground and stopped players from kicking in after a behind until the goal umpire signalled a point.

Melbourne's premiership defence started with a pre-season fitness campaign overseen by Danish expert Drace Nissen, but their success was build on a dynamic forward line. Norm Smith, Jack Mueller and Ron Baggott kicked a combined 171 goals as their side scored over 300 points more than any other side in the league, registering scores of over 100 in a club record 16 of 21 games.

Smith's 86 goals remained the most in club history until 97 by Fred Fanning in 1947. While they were scoring freely, the Demons were shaky in defence and conceded the fourth most points of any side in the competition. In Round 7 they set a league record by kicking 34 behinds, and three weeks later were beaten by Geelong 151-154, the highest losing score in club history, and the first VFL game with a total score above 300.

Round 15 was delayed a week for teams to play a 'Patriotic Carnival' Lightning Premiership to raise funds for the war effort.

After finishing two games clear at the top of the ladder, a shock Semi Final loss to second placed Richmond left Melbourne on the verge of elimination. They beat Essendon in a thrilling Preliminary Final to earn another shot against the Tigers. With police boxing champion Jack O'Keefe playing protector against the deadly Jack Dyer, Melbourne avenged their earlier finals defeat to capture a fifth league premeirship.

Despite the successful season, the club still made a financial loss, with expenditure of £4054 against receipts of £3201.

Delegates to the VFL were Joe Blair and Bruce Hogg.

Premiership season

RoundOppositionResultScore
1 EssendonLOSS108-125
2 RichmondWIN122-99
3 FootscrayWIN141-102
4 CarltonWIN116-90
5 CollingwoodWIN114-98
6 HawthornLOSS81-87
7 North MelbourneWIN106-49
8 FitzroyWIN87-85
9 St. KildaWIN123-112
10 GeelongLOSS151-154
11 South MelbourneWIN130-78
12 EssendonWIN122-54
13 RichmondWIN94-87
14 FootscrayWIN110-91
15 CarltonLOSS96-133
16 CollingwoodWIN104-90
17 HawthornWIN176-62
18 North MelbourneWIN129-81
SF RichmondLOSS101-107
PF EssendonWIN90-85
GF RichmondWIN107-68

Ladder

WDL%P
Melbourne1404125.856
Richmond1206120.048
Essendon1206108.248
Geelong1107102.944
Carlton1008111.340
Footscray909108.936
Fitzroy90992.336
Collingwood8010100.632
Hawthorn701188.028
South Melbourne701187.328
St. Kilda501386.820
North Melbourne401475.116

Lightning Premiership

RoundOppositionResultScore
1 Richmond LOSS1-35

Exhibition match

OppositionResultScore
Combined Bookmakers-Ascot Vale Hotel LOSS63-92

Playing List

NumberPlayerGamesGoals
1 Gordon Jones 10 0
2 Roy Dowsing 1115
3 Bill Baxter 140
4 Norm Smith 2186
5 Keith Truscott 99
6 Fred Fanning 55
7 Hugh Murnane 1111
8 Rowley Fischer 161
9 Richie Emselle 211
10 Maurie Gibb 2125
11 Harold Ball 133
12 Jack Mueller 2138
13 Les Jones 43
14 Jack Maher 61
15 Ron Baggott 2147
16 Jack Atkins 41
17 Allan La Fontaine 196
18 Wally Lock 150
19 Frank Roberts 160
21 Ron Kimberley 11
22 Shane McGrath 50
23 Ray Wartman 217
24 Percy Beames 1530
25 Col McLean 110
26 Jack Furniss 50
27 Gerry Daly 20
29 Jack O'Keefe 139
30 Alby Rodda 1622
31 Ron Barassi 1414
32 Dick Hingston 120
33 Bernie Neenan 21
34 Adrian Dullard 21
35 Noel Ellis 10
36 Sid Anderson 213

Best and Fairest

PlayerVotes
1st Ron Baggott

Awards
Most Consistent - Richie Emselle
Most Improved Senior Player - Sid Anderson
Best Clubman - Gerry Daly

Seconds

1940 Seconds season

Points
Essendon 56
Collingwood 52
Carlton 52
Fitzroy 52
Melbourne 48
Richmond 44
Geelong 36
Footscray28
St Kilda24
Hawthorn20
South Melbourne8
North Melbourne8


Notes
Gerry Daly is shown as wearing #25 in the R9 and R10 Football Records and #27 in R13

Lists
Season Records

Media
Argus - 13/03/1940
Argus - 15/03/1940
[http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/11300602|Argus - 05/11/1940
Age - 04/02/1940
Argus - 05/02/1941

Links
AFL Tables page
Wikipedia page

Created by Supermercado. Last Modification: Tuesday 10 October 2023 21:11:27 AEDT by Supermercado. (Version 37)

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