Table of contents
Introduction
After nine VFL Premierships (1898 1899 1900 1908 1913 1919 1920 1923 1924), on Saturday the 25th September 1954, a crowd of 80,897 at the M.C.G. watched Footscray achieve a VFL premiership.
Season and Lead-up
Since 1950 Footscray had an up and down time on the VFL ladder, ending in the bottom three on the ladder in 1950 and 1952, but also as finalists in 1951 and 1953. During 1954, led by veteran Captain/Coach Charlie Sutton, the League's 1954 leading goal kicker Jack Collins Footscray ended the 1954 home and away season in second position. Ladder leaders Geelong had beaten Footscray in their only meeting in round nine, but Footscray kicked away for a 23 point victory in the semi-final after the teams had been tied at three quarter time.
Melbourne had been premiers in 1948 but were in the bottom three teams in the league in 1951 and 1953. The team was rebuilding well. Coached by Norm Smith and with 18 year old Ron Barassi and 19 year old Bob Johnson now in the team supporting experienced players such as Denis Cordner. Melbourne ended the Home and Away season in fourth position and had to defeat North Melbourne in the Semi-final, then Geelong in the Preliminary final to reach the Grand Final and a meeting with Footscray.
Grand Final Week
The Age 22-Sep-1954 p14 Charlie Sutton Footscray - Source- Google News Archive
Charlie Sutton |
The Age 22-Sep-1954 p14 John Kerr Footscray - Source- Google News Archive
John Kerr |
The Age 22-Sep-1954 p14 Ted Whitten Footscray - Source- Google News Archive
Ted Whitten | ||
The Age 22-Sep-1954 p14 Dave Bryden Brian Gilmore Footscray - Source- Google News Archive
Dave Bryden Brian Gilmore |
The Age 23-Sep-1954 p9 Noel McMahon Melbourne - Source- Google News Archive
Noel McMahen |
The Age 23-Sep-1954 p9 Peter Marquis Melbourne - Source- Google News Archive
Peter Marquis | ||
The Age 24-Sep-1954 p12 Geoff Case Melbourne - Source- Google News Archive
Geoff Case |
The Age 24-Sep-1954 p12 Ken Albiston Melbourne - Source- Google News Archive
Ken Albiston |
The Age 24-Sep-1954 p12 Laurie Mithen Melbourne - Source- Google News Archive
Laurie Mithen | ||
The Age 22-Sep-1954 p14 Herb Henderson Footscray - Source- Google News Archive
Herb Henderson | ||||
Teams
Footscray
Melbourne
Links for Player Pages
Reference_ 1954 VFL Grand Final - Winning Team (Footscray)
Reference_ 1954 VFL Grand Final - Defeated Team (Melbourne)
The Game
Footscray had a comfortable win in the game. They established a 29 point margin in the first quarter and never looked back.
| Teams | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Final |
| Footscray | 6.3 (39) | 8.5 (53) | 12.9 (81) | 15.12 (102) |
| Melbourne | 1.4 (10) | 4.6 (30) | 6.7 (43) | 7.9 (51) |
| FO by 29 | FO by 23 | FO by 38 | FO by 51 |
Goals:
Footscray: Collins 7: Sutton 3, Duffy , Kerr , Reynolds , Stevens , Stockman
Melbourne: Albiston : Barassi , Clarke , Johnson , McLean , Mithen , Spencer
Match Reviews
They've got that flag at last! BULLDOGS LEAVE MELBOURNE FAR BEHIND. (1954, September 27). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956), p. 23. Retrieved January 31, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23445264
FOOTSCRAY THRASH MELBOURNE FOR FIRST PREMIERSHIP. (1954, September 25). The Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1912 - 1954), p. 59. Retrieved January 31, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article58105661
Photos
The Age 27-Sep-1954 p15 Wells Cartoon - Source- Google News Archive
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Argus 27Sep1954p1 Footscray
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The Age 27-Sep-1954 p15 Herb Henderson Footscray Ron Barassi Melbourne - Source- Google News Archive
Herb Henderson Ron Barassi Jnr |
The Age 27-Sep-1954 p18 Ted Whitten Footscray Ron Barassi Melbourne - Source- Google News Archive
Ted Whitten Ron Barassi Jnr | |||
The Age 27-Sep-1954 p18 Charlie Sutton Footscray Ken Christie Melbourne - Source- Google News Archive
Charlie Sutton Ken Christie |
The Age 27-Sep-1954 p15 Roger Duffy Footscray Don Williams Melbourne - Source- Google News Archive
Roger Duffy Don Williams | |||
The Age 27-Sep-1954 p18 Jack Collins Footscray L Arnold Melbourne - Source- Google News Archive
Lance Arnold Jack Collins |
The Age 27-Sep-1954 p15 Peter Box Footscray - Source- Google News Archive
Peter Box | |||
The Aftermath
Chris McConville's article 'Footscray, Identity and Football History' in Football Studies v1.1 Jan 1998 relates the events of the evening after the Grand Final as a series of disorganised events soured the moment for some and "ushered in months of recriminations between club, players, supporters and Council.". These events probably had repercussions on the clubs performance in the coming years.
The Age 27-Sep-1954 p3 Footscray Supporters at ground - Source- Google News Archive
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The Age 27-Sep-1954 p3 Footscray Supporters - Source- Google News Archive
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Argus 30Sep1954 p1 Famed Jersey given to boy
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Argus 27Sep1954p5 Police Stop Party
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The Following Years
The 1954 was a highlight for Footscray and for Melbourne's West. Unfortunately the following years were less successful with another finals appearance in 1956 but back to the bottom end of the ladder by 1959.
1954 Football presented to Charlie Sutton - Source: Bulldogs Museum - Whitten Oval (Photo MRiley)
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1954 Premiership Cup - Source: Bulldogs Museum - Whitten Oval (Photo MRiley)
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1942 Member Ticket FFC - Source: Bulldogs Museum - Whitten Oval (Photo MRiley)
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In contrast to Footscray, the 1950s were a golden age for Melbourne with five premierships in the following six years (1955,1956,1957, 1959 and 1960).
External Links