September 1 1956
MCG
Melbourne 2.5, 4.9, 5.14, 7.23.65
South Melbourne 4.2, 4.6, 6.8, 8.11.59
Melbourne win by 6 points
Goalkickers: Crameri 2, Longney 2, Collopy 1, Bull 1, Atkinson 1
Despite absymal kicking for goal the Demons managed to hold off a last quarter charge by the Swans to join their senior side in going straight to the Grand Final.
South had been the better side in the first half, and despite having limited attacking opportunities they made the best of them. With the wind Melbourne recovered to take a nine point lead into half time. South had opportunities but struggled to break through the Demon defence and kicked a number of points to end the half. The used superior pace to camp the ball in their attacking area for the last 10 minutes of the quarter but couldn't break through for a major.
The Swans quickly took the lead in the third, but it was a quarter where both sides found it tough to breach the opposition defence. Melbourne had chances into the wind but kicked 1.5, leaving them level at the last change, albeit with two fewer goals.
With the breeze in the last term Melbourne should have run away with the game, but they were again unaccurate. They were lucky not to waste their dominance, kicking 2.9 for the term to hold on to win by a goal.
Even with the aid of the breeze they were inaccurate in the final term, and scores were level until a string of six straight points got them over the line.
Best were Kerr, Pinfold and Bull. Tossol and Dunford were unused reserves.
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
Res: Tossol, Dunsford
EMG: Williamson, Boyle, Clay, Fitzgerald
Media
Age - 03/09/1956
Football Record 1956 Finals