1965 VFL Grand Final

The 1965 VFL Grand Final took place on September 25, 1965 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between VFL clubs Essendon and St Kilda.

St Kilda were minor premiers for the first time in their history and after beating Collingwood by a point in the Semi Final found themselves competing in just their second ever Grand Final and first since 1913, which they lost to Fitzroy. Essendon on the other hand were attempting to win premiership number 12, the most recent of those coming three years prior.

The game was one sided throughout with Essendon ending up winners by 35 points. Ted Fordham kicked seven goals for the premiers.

Teams

Aussie rules team old| title = Essendon
backpocket1 = Darryl Gerlach
fullback = Greg Brown
backpocket2 = Charlie Payne
halfbackflank1 = Barry Davis
centrehalfback = Ian Shelton
halfbackflank2 = Geoff Pryor
wing1 = Alec Epis
centre = Jack Clarke
wing2 = Russell Blew
halfforwardflank1 = Graeme Johnston
centrehalfforward = Ken Fraser (captain)
halfforwardflank2 = Geoff Gosper
forwardpocket1 = Brian Sampson
fullforward = Ted Fordham
forwardpocket2 = David Shaw
ruck = Don McKenzie
ruckrover = Hugh Mitchell
rover = John Birt
reserve1 = Bruce Waite
reserve2 = Kevin Egan
coach = John Coleman

Aussie rules team old| title = St Kilda
backpocket1 = Rodger Head
fullback = Robert Murray
backpocket2 = Kevin Neale
halfbackflank1 = Brian Sierakowski
centrehalfback = Ian Synman
halfbackflank2 = Daryl Griffiths
wing1 = Jim Read
centre = Ian Stewart
wing2 = Bruce McMaster-Smith
halfforwardflank1 = Ian Cooper
centrehalfforward = Darrel Baldock (captain)
halfforwardflank2 = Ray Cross
forwardpocket1 = Alan Morrow
fullforward = Verdun Howell
forwardpocket2 = Ross Smith
ruck = Carl Ditterich
ruckrover = Des Kennedy
rover = Ian Rowland
reserve1 = Bob Morton
reserve2 = Kevin Roberts
coach = Allan Jeans

tatistics

Goalkickers

Essendon:
* Fordham 7
* Gosper 2
* Sampson 2
* Birt 1
* Fraser 1
* Mitchell 1

St Kilda:
* Howell 3
* Baldock 2
* Rowland 2
* Roberts 1
* Smith 1

Attendance

* MCG crowd - 104,846

External links

* [http://stats.rleague.com/afl/seas/1965.html#fin Summary of the 1965 season including finals]
* [http://www.essendonfc.com.au/history/premierships.asp?action=show_team&year=1965 Essendon's premiership team]

ee also

* 1965 VFL season