Seconds Grand Final, 1956
Melbourne vs South Melbourne
Saturday 15 September
Venue: MCG
Attendance: n/a
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 4.6 | 9.8 | 11.12 | 16.14.110 |
| South Melbourne | 2.2 | 8.4 | 8.10 | 10.12.72 |
Melbourne win by 38 points
Goalkickers: Ben Crameri 7, Terry Mountain 3, Tony Bull 2, Peter Brenchley 1, G.Longney 1, Dick Atkinson 1, Brian Collopy 1
On a day where the seniors were due to go around in the big match, and a massive 115,802 strong crowd was building at the MCG, the Seconds got Melbourne off to a winning start with a comfortable victory.
Aided by seven goals from rookie Ben Crameri, Melbourne were never seriously challenged other than a brief period during the second quarter. After a lopsided first quarter when the Demons lead of 16 points didn't give full value for their performance, South struck back. Three quick goals to open the quarter put them ahead. In 15 minutes they overturned the deficit and were 14 points ahead. Then Melbourne took over again, retaking the lead before half time. When Crameri kicked his fifth from close-range just before the half it restored a 10 point lead.
South's pace slackened in the third quarter, and their 0.6 and allowing the Demons to extend the margin to 20 points. They were untroubled in the last quarter, with their talls helping add another five goals and put the result beyond doub.
Best were John Lord, Ben Crameri and Jones. Lord reportedly took 20 marks, including nine in one quarter. Ash replaced Lay and Tossol replaced Case, both injured, in the last quarter.
Goalkicking tallies were Crameri 7.2, Mountain 4.2, Longney 1.3, Bull 1.1, Wilson 1.1, Atkinson 1.1, Brenchley 1.0, Collopy 0.2, Lay 0.2, Rushed 0.1
Team
B: Pinfold, Hayes, Jones
HB: Thorogood, Lord, Case
C: Dunkerley, Kerr, Brenchley
HF: Lay, Cook, Collopy
F: Mountain, Crameri, Longney
Foll: Wilson, Atkinson, Bull
INT: Tossol, Ash
E: Dunsford, Boyle, Clay, Williamson
Notes
One newspaper reported Crameri kicking eight, this was an error.