1985 VFL season
From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
| 1985 VFL Premiership season | |
|---|---|
| Teams | 12 |
| Premiers | Essendon (14th premiership) |
| Minor premiers | Essendon (12th minor premiership) |
| Night series | Hawthorn (2nd Night series win) |
| Matches played | 138 |
| Attendance | 3,113,173 (22,559 per match) |
| Highest attendance | 100,042 |
| Coleman Medallist | Simon Beasley (Footscray) |
| Brownlow Medallist | Brad Hardie (Footscray) |
|
← 1984
1986 →
|
|
The 1985 Victorian Football League season was the 89th season of the elite Australian rules football competition. This season commenced in March 1985 and concluded on 28 September 1985 with Essendon winning their second consecutive Premiership in a third consecutive Grand Final against Hawthorn.
Contents
Night Series
Hawthorn defeated Essendon 11.11 (77) to 10.8 (68) in the Final.
Premiership season
Round 1
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 15.13 (103) | Collingwood | 21.15 (141) | MCG | 65,628 | 29 March 1985 |
| St Kilda | 8.18 (66) | Sydney | 26.20 (176) | Moorabbin Oval | 20,910 | 30 March 1985 |
| Essendon | 21.11 (137) | Richmond | 18.12 (120) | Windy Hill | 22,802 | 30 March 1985 |
| Carlton | 17.10 (112) | Footscray | 22.10 (142) | Princes Park | 26,873 | 30 March 1985 |
| Melbourne | 20.8 (128) | Fitzroy | 14.18 (102) | MCG | 20,910 | 30 March 1985 |
| Geelong | 20.8 (128) | Hawthorn | 14.16 (100) | VFL Park | 20,776 | 30 March 1985 |
Round 2
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Richmond | 12.16 (88) | Sydney | 13.14 (92) | MCG | 24,113 | 6 April 1985 |
| Geelong | 14.12 (96) | Collingwood | 18.11 (119) | Kardinia Park | 32,966 | 6 April 1985 |
| St Kilda | 2.17 (29) | Carlton | 25.19 (169) | Moorabbin Oval | 18,655 | 6 April 1985 |
| Hawthorn | 25.20 (170) | Melbourne | 14.18 (102) | Princes Park | 17,278 | 8 April 1985 |
| Fitzroy | 8.15 (63) | Essendon | 24.22 (166) | Victoria Park | 17,093 | 8 April 1985 |
| Footscray | 20.14 (134) | North Melbourne | 16.12 (108) | VFL Park | 24,056 | 8 April 1985 |
Round 3
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Essendon | 17.12 (114) | Hawthorn | 15.10 (100) | VFL Park | 41,694 | 23 March 1985 |
| Richmond | 31.25 (211) | St Kilda | 14.14 (98) | MCG | 17,753 | 13 April 1985 |
| Footscray | 26.14 (170) | Geelong | 16.9 (105) | Western Oval | 23,259 | 13 April 1985 |
| Collingwood | 19.9 (123) | Melbourne | 16.17 (113) | Victoria Park | 22,896 | 13 April 1985 |
| Carlton | 22.13 (145) | North Melbourne | 22.15 (147) | Princes Park | 20,404 | 13 April 1985 |
| Sydney | 18.12 (120) | Fitzroy | 26.15 (171) | SCG | 10,204 | 14 April 1985 |
- The average score by each team this round was 134.8, which stands as the VFL/AFL record.[1]
Round 4
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 16.15 (111) | St Kilda | 11.6 (72) | MCG | 12,895 | 20 April 1985 |
| Fitzroy | 12.14 (86) | Richmond | 15.13 (103) | Victoria Park | 11,056 | 20 April 1985 |
| Carlton | 24.17 (161) | Geelong | 13.11 (89) | Princes Park | 19,894 | 20 April 1985 |
| Essendon | 13.8 (86) | Collingwood | 12.10 (82) | Windy Hill | 26,550 | 20 April 1985 |
| Melbourne | 14.18 (102) | Footscray | 12.11 (83) | VFL Park | 20,797 | 20 April 1985 |
| Sydney | 5.14 (44) | Hawthorn | 8.15 (63) | SCG | 7,860 | 21 April 1985 |
Round 5
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 18.13 (121) | Carlton | 13.14 (92) | MCG | 53,067 | 25 April 1985 |
| St Kilda | 19.12 (126) | Fitzroy | 18.14 (122) | VFL Park | 20,480 | 25 April 1985 |
| Hawthorn | 21.23 (149) | Richmond | 29.14 (188) | Princes Park | 17,268 | 27 April 1985 |
| Geelong | 16.23 (119) | North Melbourne | 14.9 (93) | Kardinia Park | 16,492 | 27 April 1985 |
| Collingwood | 15.15 (105) | Sydney | 13.12 (90) | Victoria Park | 23,306 | 27 April 1985 |
| Footscray | 18.17 (125) | Essendon | 11.18 (84) | Western Oval | 33,677 | 27 April 1985 |
Round 6
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 20.11 (131) | North Melbourne | 20.12 (132) | MCG | 23,815 | 4 May 1985 |
| Fitzroy | 15.12 (102) | Hawthorn | 19.16 (130) | Victoria Park | 9,231 | 4 May 1985 |
| St Kilda | 16.12 (108) | Geelong | 15.21 (111) | Moorabbin Oval | 16,000 | 4 May 1985 |
| Essendon | 27.14 (176) | Carlton | 8.19 (67) | Windy Hill | 22,644 | 4 May 1985 |
| Richmond | 16.10 (106) | Collingwood | 13.10 (88) | VFL Park | 58,733 | 4 May 1985 |
| Sydney | 25.11 (161) | Footscray | 11.17 (83) | SCG | 9,537 | 5 May 1985 |
Round 7
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 28.15 (183) | St Kilda | 8.9 (57) | Princes Park | 8,762 | 11 May 1985 |
| Geelong | 12.13 (85) | Melbourne | 5.10 (40) | Kardinia Park | 15,000 | 11 May 1985 |
| Collingwood | 11.15 (81) | Fitzroy | 25.10 (160) | Victoria Park | 22,964 | 11 May 1985 |
| Richmond | 15.11 (101) | Footscray | 23.13 (151) | MCG | 36,250 | 11 May 1985 |
| North Melbourne | 22.20 (152) | Essendon | 14.9 (93) | VFL Park | 37,125 | 11 May 1985 |
| Sydney | 11.17 (83) | Carlton | 12.16 (88) | SCG | 12,507 | 12 May 1985 |
Round 8
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 11.8 (74) | Sydney | 6.10 (46) | MCG | 14,572 | 18 May 1985 |
| Collingwood | 8.9 (57) | Hawthorn | 6.10 (46) | Victoria Park | 20,731 | 18 May 1985 |
| Carlton | 11.18 (84) | Richmond | 9.13 (67) | Princes Park | 21,777 | 18 May 1985 |
| Footscray | 11.7 (73) | Fitzroy | 12.15 (87) | Western Oval | 16,952 | 18 May 1985 |
| Geelong | 8.11 (59) | Essendon | 10.15 (75) | Kardinia Park | 23,102 | 18 May 1985 |
| Melbourne | 16.10 (106) | St Kilda | 7.12 (54) | VFL Park | 16,282 | 18 May 1985 |
Round 9
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Essendon | 23.15 (153) | Melbourne | 9.17 (71) | Windy Hill | 19,985 | 25 May 1985 |
| Richmond | 16.15 (111) | North Melbourne | 18.19 (127) | MCG | 31,347 | 25 May 1985 |
| Hawthorn | 17.24 (126) | Footscray | 16.11 (107) | Princes Park | 16,686 | 25 May 1985 |
| St Kilda | 20.17 (137) | Collingwood | 24.18 (162) | Moorabbin Oval | 22,348 | 25 May 1985 |
| Carlton | 18.16 (124) | Fitzroy | 19.9 (123) | VFL Park | 29,455 | 25 May 1985 |
| Sydney | 13.11 (89) | Geelong | 16.21 (117) | SCG | 12,577 | 26 May 1985 |
Round 10
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 15.19 (109) | Sydney | 14.8 (92) | MCG | 16,749 | 1 June 1985 |
| Fitzroy | 17.15 (117) | North Melbourne | 19.14 (128) | Victoria Park | 11,333 | 1 June 1985 |
| Carlton | 9.14 (68) | Hawthorn | 22.15 (147) | Princes Park | 25,424 | 1 June 1985 |
| St Kilda | 18.12 (120) | Essendon | 21.20 (146) | Moorabbin Oval | 16,536 | 1 June 1985 |
| Geelong | 18.12 (120) | Richmond | 10.10 (70) | VFL Park | 24,849 | 1 June 1985 |
| Footscray | 16.10 (106) | Collingwood | 12.8 (80) | MCG | 45,408 | 2 June 1985 |
Round 11
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 15.11 (101) | Richmond | 17.19 (121) | MCG | 31,606 | 8 June 1985 |
| Footscray | 15.21 (111) | St Kilda | 13.12 (90) | Western Oval | 17,538 | 8 June 1985 |
| Essendon | 17.11 (113) | Sydney | 11.5 (71) | Windy Hill | 17,652 | 8 June 1985 |
| North Melbourne | 17.11 (113) | Hawthorn | 17.11 (113) | MCG | 39,084 | 10 June 1985 |
| Geelong | 17.8 (110) | Fitzroy | 20.21 (141) | Kardinia Park | 20,000 | 10 June 1985 |
| Carlton | 16.14 (110) | Collingwood | 13.9 (87) | VFL Park | 56,604 | 10 June 1985 |
Round 12
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Collingwood | 9.10 (64) | North Melbourne | 14.17 (101) | Victoria Park | 19,573 | 15 June 1985 |
| Hawthorn | 17.15 (117) | Geelong | 13.10 (88) | Princes Park | 11,377 | 15 June 1985 |
| Richmond | 10.9 (69) | Essendon | 23.12 (150) | MCG | 36,851 | 15 June 1985 |
| Footscray | 13.8 (86) | Carlton | 5.9 (39) | Western Oval | 20,707 | 15 June 1985 |
| Fitzroy | 11.15 (81) | Melbourne | 6.11 (47) | VFL Park | 14,668 | 15 June 1985 |
| Sydney | 23.21 (159) | St Kilda | 13.14 (92) | SCG | 7,811 | 16 June 1985 |
Round 13
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Essendon | 21.14 (140) | Fitzroy | 16.17 (113) | Windy Hill | 18,398 | 22 June 1985 |
| Collingwood | 12.13 (85) | Geelong | 13.13 (91) | Victoria Park | 16,852 | 22 June 1985 |
| Carlton | 20.19 (139) | St Kilda | 16.11 (107) | Princes Park | 13,534 | 22 June 1985 |
| Melbourne | 12.9 (81) | Hawthorn | 11.31 (97) | MCG | 16,406 | 22 June 1985 |
| Footscray | 11.11 (77) | North Melbourne | 9.21 (75) | VFL Park | 22,319 | 22 June 1985 |
| Sydney | 19.23 (137) | Richmond | 8.12 (60) | SCG | 9,504 | 23 June 1985 |
Round 14
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 10.15 (75) | Carlton | 22.19 (151) | MCG | 32,861 | 28 June 1985 |
| Fitzroy | 13.17 (95) | Sydney | 11.14 (80) | Victoria Park | 9,953 | 29 June 1985 |
| St Kilda | 12.9 (81) | Richmond | 17.15 (117) | Moorabbin Oval | 14,243 | 29 June 1985 |
| Geelong | 17.22 (124) | Footscray | 23.8 (146) | Kardinia Park | 17,000 | 29 June 1985 |
| Melbourne | 12.13 (85) | Collingwood | 23.19 (157) | MCG | 29,154 | 29 June 1985 |
| Essendon | 21.11 (137) | Hawthorn | 15.11 (101) | VFL Park | 48,880 | 29 June 1985 |
Round 15
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 23.18 (156) | Sydney | 12.11 (83) | Princes Park | 8,689 | 6 July 1985 |
| Footscray | 26.13 (169) | Melbourne | 6.13 (49) | Western Oval | 15,328 | 6 July 1985 |
| Collingwood | 11.12 (78) | Essendon | 13.11 (89) | Victoria Park | 26,014 | 6 July 1985 |
| Richmond | 21.16 (142) | Fitzroy | 17.16 (118) | MCG | 19,794 | 6 July 1985 |
| Geelong | 16.8 (104) | Carlton | 19.16 (130) | Kardinia Park | 18,727 | 6 July 1985 |
| North Melbourne | 21.13 (139) | St Kilda | 11.9 (75) | VFL Park | 11,829 | 6 July 1985 |
Round 16
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Fitzroy | 16.13 (109) | St Kilda | 18.10 (118) | Victoria Park | 8,735 | 13 July 1985 |
| Richmond | 17.11 (113) | Hawthorn | 27.18 (180) | MCG | 23,522 | 13 July 1985 |
| Essendon | 17.10 (112) | Footscray | 13.10 (88) | Windy Hill | 28,144 | 20 July 1985 |
| North Melbourne | 12.19 (91) | Geelong | 20.11 (131) | MCG | 17,686 | 20 July 1985 |
| Carlton | 14.15 (99) | Melbourne | 5.9 (39) | VFL Park | 17,920 | 20 July 1985 |
| Sydney | 17.21 (123) | Collingwood | 29.11 (185) | SCG | 12,172 | 21 July 1985 |
Round 17
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Geelong | 14.18 (102) | St Kilda | 12.9 (81) | Kardinia Park | 11,989 | 27 July 1985 |
| Footscray | 15.15 (105) | Sydney | 11.13 (79) | Western Oval | 13,026 | 27 July 1985 |
| Collingwood | 13.8 (86) | Richmond | 11.12 (78) | Victoria Park | 20,336 | 27 July 1985 |
| Carlton | 18.12 (120) | Essendon | 10.8 (68) | Princes Park | 28,786 | 27 July 1985 |
| North Melbourne | 17.12 (114) | Melbourne | 16.14 (110) | MCG | 10,787 | 27 July 1985 |
| Hawthorn | 19.20 (134) | Fitzroy | 8.14 (62) | VFL Park | 13,197 | 27 July 1985 |
Round 18
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Essendon | 25.16 (166) | North Melbourne | 8.14 (62) | Windy Hill | 18,894 | 3 August 1985 |
| Carlton | 19.13 (127) | Sydney | 14.9 (93) | Princes Park | 15,717 | 3 August 1985 |
| St Kilda | 13.16 (94) | Hawthorn | 20.15 (135) | Moorabbin Oval | 10,911 | 3 August 1985 |
| Melbourne | 12.14 (86) | Geelong | 21.18 (144) | MCG | 16,421 | 3 August 1985 |
| Fitzroy | 14.21 (105) | Collingwood | 14.10 (94) | Victoria Park | 15,958 | 3 August 1985 |
| Footscray | 25.16 (166) | Richmond | 17.6 (108) | VFL Park | 16,205 | 3 August 1985 |
Round 19
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Fitzroy | 10.12 (72) | Footscray | 12.5 (77) | Victoria Park | 11,022 | 10 August 1985 |
| St Kilda | 7.8 (50) | Melbourne | 8.11 (59) | Moorabbin Oval | 11,779 | 10 August 1985 |
| Hawthorn | 15.6 (96) | Collingwood | 8.16 (64) | Princes Park | 15,799 | 10 August 1985 |
| Richmond | 11.14 (80) | Carlton | 23.15 (153) | MCG | 24,125 | 10 August 1985 |
| Essendon | 13.11 (89) | Geelong | 8.16 (64) | VFL Park | 34,614 | 10 August 1985 |
| Sydney | 12.22 (94) | North Melbourne | 14.15 (99) | SCG | 9,215 | 11 August 1985 |
Round 20
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 16.20 (116) | Richmond | 9.12 (66) | Arden St Oval | 7,341 | 17 August 1985 |
| Geelong | 13.13 (91) | Sydney | 9.10 (64) | Kardinia Park | 12,422 | 17 August 1985 |
| Footscray | 5.13 (43) | Hawthorn | 5.8 (38) | Western Oval | 21,828 | 17 August 1985 |
| Carlton | 12.15 (87) | Fitzroy | 8.11 (59) | Princes Park | 16,902 | 17 August 1985 |
| Melbourne | 15.7 (97) | Essendon | 17.10 (112) | MCG | 22,193 | 17 August 1985 |
| Collingwood | 17.18 (120) | St Kilda | 9.15 (69) | VFL Park | 15,709 | 17 August 1985 |
Round 21
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Essendon | 27.22 (184) | St Kilda | 14.7 (91) | Windy Hill | 14,133 | 24 August 1985 |
| Collingwood | 9.10 (64) | Footscray | 15.19 (109) | Victoria Park | 21,724 | 24 August 1985 |
| North Melbourne | 17.22 (124) | Fitzroy | 17.14 (116) | MCG | 14,581 | 24 August 1985 |
| Hawthorn | 15.17 (107) | Carlton | 12.12 (84) | Princes Park | 31,484 | 24 August 1985 |
| Richmond | 16.15 (111) | Geelong | 12.7 (79) | VFL Park | 16,174 | 24 August 1985 |
| Sydney | 24.21 (165) | Melbourne | 14.13 (97) | SCG | 7,942 | 25 August 1985 |
Round 22
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 23.21 (159) | North Melbourne | 14.11 (95) | Princes Park | 16,449 | 31 August 1985 |
| Fitzroy | 14.13 (97) | Geelong | 17.18 (120) | Victoria Park | 9,120 | 31 August 1985 |
| Richmond | 20.12 (132) | Melbourne | 13.13 (91) | MCG | 17,158 | 31 August 1985 |
| St Kilda | 12.12 (84) | Footscray | 8.18 (66) | Moorabbin Oval | 14,236 | 31 August 1985 |
| Carlton | 12.9 (81) | Collingwood | 11.9 (75) | VFL Park | 37,027 | 31 August 1985 |
| Sydney | 11.12 (78) | Essendon | 24.21 (165) | SCG | 12,180 | 1 September 1985 |
Ladder
|
||||||||||||
| TEAM | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | PTS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Essendon (P) | 22 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 2755 | 1991 | 138.37 | 76 | |||
| 2 | Footscray | 22 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 2417 | 2000 | 120.85 | 64 | |||
| 3 | Hawthorn | 22 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 2647 | 2024 | 130.78 | 62 | |||
| 4 | Carlton | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2430 | 2104 | 115.49 | 60 | |||
| 5 | North Melbourne | 22 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 2379 | 2431 | 97.86 | 54 | |||
| 6 | Geelong | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2277 | 2263 | 100.62 | 48 | |||
| 7 | Collingwood | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 2197 | 2180 | 100.78 | 40 | |||
| 8 | Richmond | 22 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 2362 | 2590 | 91.20 | 36 | |||
| 9 | Fitzroy | 22 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 2301 | 2452 | 93.84 | 28 | |||
| 10 | Sydney | 22 | 6 | 16 | 0 | 2219 | 2349 | 94.47 | 24 | |||
| 11 | Melbourne | 22 | 6 | 16 | 0 | 1965 | 2527 | 77.76 | 24 | |||
| 12 | St Kilda | 22 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 1899 | 2937 | 64.66 | 12 | |||
| Key: P = Played, W = Won, L = Lost, D = Drawn, PF = Points for, PA = Points against | ||||||||||||
Finals
Elimination Finals
| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Carlton | 16.11 (107) | North Melbourne | 20.6 (126) | Waverley Park | 49,126 | Saturday, 7 September |
Qualifying Final
| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Footscray | 8.14 (62) | Hawthorn | 22.23 (155) | MCG | 58,367 | Sunday, 8 September |
Semi Finals
| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Essendon | 14.18 (102) | Hawthorn | 9.8 (62) | Waverley Park | 67,063 | Saturday, 14 September |
| Footscray | 19.23 (137) | North Melbourne | 16.11 (107) | MCG | 56,112 | Sunday, 15 September |
Preliminary Final
| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Hawthorn | 16.13 (109) | Footscray | 15.9 (99) | Waverley Park | 55,246 | Saturday, 21 September |
Grand Final
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| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
| Essendon | 26.14 (170) | Hawthorn | 14.8 (92) | MCG | 100,042 | Saturday, 28 September |
Player Statistics and Awards
Leading goalkickers
| Name | Club | Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simon Beasley | Footscray | 105 |
| 2 | Bernie Quinlan | Fitzroy | 84 |
| 3 | Gary Ablett | Geelong | 82 |
| 4 | Brian Taylor | Collingwood | 80 |
| - | Michael Roach | Richmond | 80 |
Brownlow Medal Count
| Name | Club | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brad Hardie | Footscray | 22 |
| 2 | Justin Madden | Carlton | 21 |
| 3 | Paul Roos | Fitzroy | 16 |
| 4 | Tim Watson | Essendon | 15 |
| - | Greg Williams | Geelong | 15 |
| - | Gary Ablett | Geelong | 15 |
| - | Matthew Larkin | North Melbourne | 15 |
| - | Brian Royal | Footscray | 15 |
| - | Stephen Wallis | Footscray | 15 |
- The Leigh Matthews Trophy was awarded to Greg Williams of Geelong.
- The Norm Smith Medal was awarded to Simon Madden of Essendon.
- Hawthorn won the reserves premiership. Hawthorn 18.16 (114) defeated Carlton 16.12 (108) in the Grand Final, held as a curtain-raiser to the seniors Grand Final on 28 September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.[2]
Notable events
- In the first three rounds, St Kilda set an unwanted record of three consecutive losses by 100 points (110, 140 and 113 points). Their percentage at the end of the round was only 34.7.
- In Round 10, Geelong trailed at each change by 1, 10 and 13 points, but then kicked 11.7 (73) to 1.2 (8) in the last quarter to beat Richmond by 50 points. Their 50-point margin is the largest by a team outscored for each of the first three quarters.
- A violent brawl in the Round 12 match between Hawthorn and Geelong led to veteran champion Leigh Matthews being charged with assaulting Geelong's Neville Bruns by Victoria Police.
- On the week of Round 18, the Sydney Swans club was bought by Geoffrey Edelsten and became the first privately owned VFL club. Earlier in the season, Perth businessmen Alan Delany and John Watts attempted to buy lowly St. Kilda and move them to Perth.[3]
- In Round 18, Essendon led North Melbourne 18.8 (116) to 2.4 (16) at half-time. This was the largest half-time lead since Round 2 of 1931, when led by Richmond 17.9 (111) to North Melbourne's 0.5 (5).
- Collingwood player Andrew Witts wore jumper #65 during his seven games with the Magpies - the highest jumper number in VFL/AFL history.[4]
- In Round 20, the Arden Street Oval hosted its last senior VFL match. The venue had been used by North Melbourne throughout its time in the VFL, except for 1965 when the club was based in Coburg. A total of 529 VFL senior matches were played at the ground that was formerly overshadowed by a massive gasometer on Macaulay Road.
- In a reserves match between Collingwood and the Sydney Swans at the Lake Oval in South Melbourne on Sunday, April 28, Collingwood reserves full-back John Bourke was reported in the third quarter by field umpire Phil Waight for kicking Swans ruckman Patrick Foy in the groin. In a fit of rage, Bourke then kicked and pushed umpire Waight and hit the Collingwood runner before being escorted off the field, but not before he jumped into the stands to attack an Swans fan. Bourke was given the longest suspension in VFL/AFL history: ten years and 16 games (subsequently reduced to seven years). Bourke was later convicted on two counts of assault and fined $2000 plus costs in the Prahran Magistrates Court.[5] In a meeting that was orchestrated twenty years later, John Bourke apologised to Phil Waight for the incident (see www.150years.com.au: Moment #58 -- "He's Just Whacked the Umpire!").
See also
References
- Stephen Rodgers: Every Game Ever Played VFL/AFL Results 1897-1991 3rd Edition 1992. Penguin Books Australia ISBN 0-670-90526-7.
- 1985 Season - AFL Tables
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Christian, Geoff; "WAFL to Monitor Move on Saints"; in The West Australian, May 20, 1985
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ The Age, November 19, 1985
