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1965

Coach: Norm Smith
Captain: Hassa Mann
Finishing Position: 7th
Best and Fairest: John Townsend
Leading Goalkicker: John Townsend (34)
Best First Year Player: John Townsend

Matches Ladder Playing List Night Series Reserves Under 19s

Image The reigning premiers started the new year without Ron Barassi, whose defection to Carlton had been drawn into the new year before he was eventually cleared. Melbourne appointed Hassa Mann as Barassi's replacement, and won their first eight games of the season before falling apart both on and off-field.

For the first time Melbourne had competition at the MCG, with Richmond arriving as co-tenants. The move tested the loyalty of MCC members for the first time, as they could now sit in their usual seat every week instead of following Melbourne's fortunes in away games.

A proposed practice match against South Adelaide at the MCG on April 10 was rejected by VFL league delegates, but the SANFL allowed the game to be played in Adelaide, with Melbourne winning comfortably to become the unofficial 'champions' of Australia.

The VFL planned to introduce country zones, but were stopped when 10 of 16 affiliated country leagues voted against the move.

Despite their winning streak to start the year, Melbourne's performances were not up to the standard of 1964. In the first four weeks of the season they had three narrow victories over sides they would likely have thrashed a year earlier, before scrappy wins against Geelong and and Collingwood had them looking like a top side again. The wheels came off the day before Round 13 when Norm Smith was sensationally sacked. He'd been fighting with club management, and was dismissed by letter on Friday night. Checker Hughes came out of retirement to lead the side in their only game at Coburg Oval, before Smith was reinstated days later.

Image Despite winning their first match after Smith's return, Melbourne only won one more game. Four losses to finish the year saw them finish 7th, and a last round defeat which allowed allowed Footscray to avoid the wooden spoon underlined their issues. Since Round 9 they were the worst performing side in the competition.

Playing in their first night series with just teams who hadn't made the top four the Demons were knocked out in the first round by Carlton.

The club suffered its first financial loss for many years, with a £5,733 shortfall.

Melbourne's VFL delegates were Arthur King and Tom Trumble.

Practice matches

OppositionResultScore
Ballarat WIN194-1
South Adelaide WIN126-53

Premiership season

RoundOppositionResultScore
1 Richmond WIN47-41
2 North Melbourne WIN80-72
3 Fitzroy WIN109-58
4 South Melbourne WIN80-77
5 Geelong WIN69-55
6 Collingwood WIN49-47
7 Footscray WIN69-65
8 Carlton WIN95-58
9 St. Kilda LOSS61-122
10 Essendon LOSS42-71
11 Hawthorn WIN125-67
12 Richmond LOSS60-66
13 North Melbourne LOSS60-81
14 Fitzroy WIN83-81
15 South Melbourne LOSS39-78
16 Geelong LOSS73-107
17 Collingwood LOSS52-94
18 Footscray LOSS72-75

Ladder

WDL%P
St. Kilda1404136.356
Collingwood1305130.252
Geelong1305121.252
Essendon1206132.948
Richmond1008125.040
Carlton1008110.740
Melbourne100896.240
South Melbourne90989.436
North Melbourne501380.820
Footscray401477.116
Fitzroy401470.516
Hawthorn401468.916

Practice matches

OppositionResultScore
East Fremantle LOSS76-80

Playing List

NumberPlayerGamesGoals
1 Rob Foster 3 4
4 John Lord 1422
5 Neil Crompton 150
6 Frank Davis 180
8 Tassie Johnson 171
9 Brian Dixon 131
10 Ken Emselle 1722
11 Tony Anderson 102
12 Hugh Bromell 134
14 Barry Bourke 126
15 Stan Alves 121
16 John Townsend 1834
17 Graeme Watson 51
18 Brian Roet 50
20 Graeme Jacobs 1412
21 Brian Leahy 10
22 Bryan Kenneally 1811
23 Graham Wise 170
25 Kerry Rattray 66
26 Frank Vearing 51
27 Robin Andrew 11
28 David Robbie 91
29 Hassa Mann 149
30 Ken Rowe 80
31 Ray Groom 82
32 Barrie Vagg 1730
33 Robert Miller 160
35 Don Williams 171
36 Peter McLean 181
37 Bernie Massey 70
38 Jim Leitch 107
40 Rick Feldmann 10
48 Bob Gormly 10

Night Series

RoundOppositionResultScore
1 Carlton LOSS60-136

Exhibition Match

OppositionResult
East Fremantle LOSS76-80

Best and Fairest

Player
1st John Townsend
2nd Hassa Mann
3rd Brian Dixon
4th Ken Emselle
5th Don Williams

Awards
Outstanding Service - Ken Emselle, Don Williams

Reserves

1965 Reserves Season

Best and Fairest - Frank Vearing
Best and Fairest - David Robbie
Outstanding Service - Rob Foster, Ken Rowe, John Quirk

Image

Under 19s

1965 Under 19's Season

Captain - Bob Stewart
Best and Fairest - Bob Stewart
Second Best and Fairest - A. Mars
Outstanding Service - Neville Stone, M. Nash
Best Clubman - John Callery

Image

Early in the season Melbourne was stripped points from two wins for fielding ineligible players, but by the end of the year all their wins were credited on the ladder.

Fourths

Best and Fairest - Greg Smith
Second Best and Fairest - Bob Stone
Outstanding Service - D. Leahy, D. King, E. Feldmen

Notes
A practice match against Essendon in September was proposed but doesn't appear to have been played.

Media
Age - 06/02/1965, 18/03/1965

Links
AFL Tables page
Wikipedia page

Created by Supermercado. Last Modification: Wednesday 01 November 2023 18:04:10 AEDT by Supermercado. (Version 44)

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