1976 VFL season

Background

In 1976, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man. A player could be substituted for any reason; however, once substituted, a player could not return to the field of play under any circumstances.

Teams played each other in a home-and-away season of 22 rounds; matches 12 to 22 were the "home-and-way reverse" of matches 1 to 11 (except that rounds 14 and 15 were the reverse of 4 and 3 respectively).

Once the 22 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1976 VFL Premiers were determined by the specific format and conventions of the "McIntyre final five system".

Home-and-away season

Round 1

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 18.22 (130) | | 10.13 (73) | Princes Park | 39,964 | 3 April 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.10 (64) | **** | 11.21 (87) | Arden Street Oval | 17,986 | 3 April 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.11 (89) | **** | 16.15 (111) | Moorabbin Oval | 22,879 | 3 April 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 23.15 (153) | **** | 25.7 (157) | Lake Oval | 15,173 | 3 April 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 16.21 (117) | | 14.14 (98) | MCG | 28,834 | 3 April 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.16 (112) | **** | 16.17 (113) | Western Oval | 25,274 | 3 April 1976

Round 2

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 20.11 (131) | | 16.13 (109) | Princes Park | 14,586 | 10 April 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 22.11 (143) | | 14.11 (95) | Kardinia Park | 20,443 | 10 April 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.17 (101) | **** | 15.15 (105) | Junction Oval | 15,682 | 10 April 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.27 (123) | **** | 20.14 (134) | Victoria Park | 25,410 | 10 April 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.9 (105) | **** | 23.15 (153) | MCG | 26,707 | 10 April 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.16 (88) | **** | 14.16 (100) | Windy Hill | 26,687 | 10 April 1976

Round 3

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 20.14 (134) | | 14.11 (95) | Western Oval | 22,580 | 17 April 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 25.22 (172) | | 12.12 (84) | Princes Park | 23,375 | 17 April 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.12 (48) | **** | 14.13 (97) | VFL Park | 32,648 | 17 April 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.8 (98) | **** | 20.13 (133) | Windy Hill | 21,167 | 19 April 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 14.18 (102) | | 12.11 (83) | MCG | 41,413 | 19 April 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 16.10 (106) | | 12.14 (86) | Moorabbin Oval | 26,931 | 19 April 1976

Round 4

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 17.15 (117) | | 14.12 (96) | Arden Street Oval | 15,604 | 24 April 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 16.18 (114) | | 15.9 (99) | Victoria Park | 27,009 | 24 April 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 19.12 (126) | | 13.13 (91) | Kardinia Park | 16,244 | 24 April 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 22.11 (143) | | 16.13 (109) | Lake Oval | 17,300 | 24 April 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.12 (114) | **** | 24.13 (157) | MCG | 34,991 | 24 April 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 14.20 (104) | | 14.8 (92) | VFL Park | 27,040 | 24 April 1976

Round 5

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.13 (103) | **** | 17.13 (115) | Junction Oval | 11,131 | 1 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.15 (75) | **** | 14.10 (94) | Windy Hill | 14,389 | 1 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 8.19 (67) | | 9.12 (66) | Princes Park | 20,327 | 1 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.17 (89) | **** | 15.20 (110) | MCG | 31,434 | 1 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 19.19 (133) | | 16.6 (102) | Moorabbin Oval | 28,737 | 1 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 15.6 (96) | | 13.12 (90) | VFL Park | 20,760 | 1 May 1976

Round 6

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 11.9 (75) | | 10.10 (70) | Western Oval | 19,978 | 8 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.13 (97) | **** | 15.13 (103) | Victoria Park | 23,428 | 8 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.12 (108) | **** | 21.10 (136) | Lake Oval | 14,270 | 8 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 19.21 (135) | | 9.9 (63) | Arden Street Oval | 10,342 | 8 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.20 (62) | **** | 15.12 (102) | Princes Park | 27,055 | 8 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 17.17 (119) | | 9.10 (64) | VFL Park | 27,631 | 8 May 1976

Round 7

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 11.22 (88) | | 12.15 (87) | Junction Oval | 11,267 | 15 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 21.14 (140) | | 9.15 (69) | Princes Park | 30,095 | 15 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.13 (97) | **** | 21.19 (145) | MCG | 25,876 | 15 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 13.17 (95) | | 14.9 (93) | Kardinia Park | 30,395 | 15 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.15 (69) | **** | 14.13 (97) | Moorabbin Oval | 19,864 | 15 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 5.16 (46) | **** | 11.9 (75) | VFL Park | 34,051 | 15 May 1976

Round 8

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 20.16 (136) | | 11.10 (76) | Princes Park | 7,674 | 22 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.3 (45) | **** | 14.11 (95) | Western Oval | 24,495 | 22 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 14.10 (94) | | 12.12 (84) | Windy Hill | 14,618 | 22 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 15.11 (101) | | 9.19 (73) | Victoria Park | 16,880 | 22 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 14.11 (95) | | 9.15 (69) | MCG | 22,145 | 22 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 15.14 (104) | | 9.12 (66) | VFL Park | 15,148 | 22 May 1976

Round 9

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 15.19 (109) | | 7.13 (55) | MCG | 26,094 | 29 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 13.18 (96) | | 13.10 (88) | Lake Oval | 14,222 | 29 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 18.15 (123) | | 14.12 (96) | Princes Park | 8,784 | 29 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 8.10 (58) | | 7.12 (54) | Arden Street Oval | 19,990 | 29 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 14.18 (102) | | 12.10 (82) | Kardinia Park | 27,649 | 29 May 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.16 (76) | **** | 13.8 (86) | VFL Park | 36,042 | 29 May 1976

Round 10

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.27 (99) | **** | 19.10 (124) | Moorabbin Oval | 18,969 | 5 June 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.15 (87) | **** | 13.13 (91) | Junction Oval | 12,439 | 5 June 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.10 (76) | **** | 11.15 (81) | Princes Park | 24,492 | 5 June 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.10 (88) | **** | 15.10 (100) | MCG | 29,608 | 5 June 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 14.19 (103) | | 13.16 (94) | Windy Hill | 25,450 | 5 June 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 19.8 (122) | | 13.15 (93) | VFL Park | 27,469 | 5 June 1976

Round 11

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 19.13 (127) | | 15.6 (96) | Moorabbin Oval | 21,681 | 12 June 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.11 (95) | **** | 18.13 (121) | Lake Oval | 19,008 | 12 June 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.16 (88) | **** | 12.18 (90) | MCG | 39,314 | 12 June 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 11.22 (88) | | 11.10 (76) | Princes Park | 33,594 | 14 June 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 11.15 (81) | | 9.10 (64) | Western Oval | 34,814 | 14 June 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.22 (100) | **** | 16.14 (110) | VFL Park | 25,558 | 14 June 1976

Round 12

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.19 (97) | **** | 18.14 (122) | Princes Park | 14,072 | 19 June 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 23.17 (155) | | 6.15 (51) | Kardinia Park | 17,731 | 19 June 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 22.14 (146) | | 13.12 (90) | Junction Oval | 12,644 | 19 June 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 12.17 (89) | | 12.7 (79) | Windy Hill | 18,863 | 19 June 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 12.10 (82) | | 8.8 (56) | Victoria Park | 28,537 | 19 June 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.13 (61) | **** | 22.14 (146) | VFL Park | 20,529 | 19 June 1976

Round 13

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.10 (52) | **** | 14.20 (104) | Western Oval | 13,464 | 26 June 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 11.19 (85) | | 9.14 (68) | Princes Park | 24,826 | 26 June 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.13 (67) | **** | 10.15 (75) | Arden Street Oval | 16,230 | 26 June 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 15.12 (102) | | 14.14 (98) | MCG | 28,608 | 26 June 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.10 (76) | **** | 13.17 (95) | Moorabbin Oval | 17,861 | 26 June 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 17.19 (121) | | 11.16 (82) | VFL Park | 28,537 | 26 June 1976

Round 14

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 5.7 (37) | **** | 17.15 (117) | Western Oval | 13,307 | 3 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 17.17 (119) | | 13.18 (96) | Junction Oval | 13,788 | 3 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 13.15 (93) | | 12.6 (78) | Windy Hill | 14,462 | 3 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.12 (72) | **** | 13.11 (89) | Moorabbin Oval | 18,486 | 3 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 23.13 (151) | | 7.14 (56) | MCG | 36,477 | 3 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 18.7 (115) | | 6.22 (58) | VFL Park | 24,366 | 3 July 1976

Round 15

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 12.10 (82) | | 11.11 (77) | Arden Street Oval | 18,421 | 10 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 15.12 (102) | | 9.9 (63) | Kardinia Park | 21,213 | 10 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 12.8 (80) | | 10.16 (76) | Princes Park | 25,340 | 10 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 20.16 (136) | | 17.14 (116) | Lake Oval | 12,226 | 10 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.14 (104) | **** | 18.11 (119) | MCG | 25,009 | 10 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.11 (107) | **** | 18.11 (119) | VFL Park | 27,353 | 10 July 1976

Round 16

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.14 (104) | **** | 18.13 (121) | Victoria Park | 22,680 | 17 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 22.13 (145) | | 12.6 (78) | Arden Street Oval | 19,334 | 17 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 21.20 (146) | | 15.16 (106) | MCG | 16,187 | 17 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.17 (107) | **** | 18.15 (123) | Princes Park | 16,257 | 17 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.10 (94) | **** | 15.10 (100) | Lake Oval | 17,395 | 17 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 15.6 (96) | | 12.19 (91) | VFL Park | 22,795 | 17 July 1976

Round 17

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.7 (73) | **** | 13.14 (92) | Junction Oval | 12,614 | 24 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.15 (63) | **** | 15.16 (106) | Windy Hill | 21,585 | 24 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 17.14 (116) | | 11.19 (85) | Princes Park | 26,164 | 24 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 17.16 (118) | | 15.14 (104) | Moorabbin Oval | 19,882 | 24 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 15.9 (99) | | 11.27 (93) | Kardinia Park | 22,349 | 24 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.13 (79) | **** | 14.9 (93) | VFL Park | 17,580 | 24 July 1976

Round 18

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 16.17 (113) | | 14.11 (95) | Princes Park | 7,519 | 31 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 13.8 (86) | | 10.14 (74) | Western Oval | 16,069 | 31 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.10 (58) | **** | 9.8 (62) | Victoria Park | 19,464 | 31 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 16.11 (107) | | 11.14 (80) | Lake Oval | 9,784 | 31 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.17 (65) | **** | 22.16 (148) | MCG | 39,744 | 31 July 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.7 (79) | **** | 17.15 (117) | VFL Park | 26,572 | 31 July 1976

Round 19

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 17.17 (119) | | 13.11 (89) | MCG | 16,585 | 7 August 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 22.19 (151) | | 7.8 (50) | Princes Park | 19,356 | 7 August 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 8.13 (61) | | 7.8 (50) | Arden Street Oval | 13,719 | 7 August 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.8 (116) | **** | 18.14 (122) | Kardinia Park | 17,762 | 7 August 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 17.15 (117) | | 9.16 (70) | Junction Oval | 12,247 | 7 August 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.11 (83) | **** | 13.19 (97) | VFL Park | 18,640 | 7 August 1976

Round 20

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 16.14 (110) | | 12.12 (84) | MCG | 20,817 | 14 August 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.19 (91) | **** | 14.10 (94) | Junction Oval | 10,417 | 14 August 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.9 (69) | **** | 14.11 (95) | Windy Hill | 22,474 | 14 August 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.14 (92) | **** | 18.21 (129) | Moorabbin Oval | 18,089 | 14 August 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 18.16 (124) | | 15.9 (99) | Western Oval | 17,805 | 14 August 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 11.16 (82) | | 5.12 (42) | VFL Park | 35,279 | 14 August 1976

Round 21

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.16 (82) | **** | 17.12 (114) | Princes Park | 13,574 | 21 August 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 20.20 (140) | | 12.17 (89) | Victoria Park | 19,036 | 21 August 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 15.18 (108) | | 10.6 (66) | Lake Oval | 12,997 | 21 August 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 22.18 (150) | | 16.9 (105) | MCG | 28,130 | 21 August 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.15 (75) | **** | 18.16 (124) | Arden Street Oval | 26,455 | 21 August 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 4.11 (35) | | 3.16 (34) | VFL Park | 15,638 | 21 August 1976

Round 22

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 19.14 (128) | | 12.19 (91) | Arden Street Oval | 14,196 | 28 August 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 13.18 (96) | | 10.11 (71) | Kardinia Park | 22,916 | 28 August 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.11 (113) | **** | 18.20 (128) | Victoria Park | 28,354 | 28 August 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 15.17 (107) | **** | 15.17 (107) | Princes Park | 27,958 | 28 August 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 15.20 (110) | | 10.18 (78) | Junction Oval | 11,721 | 28 August 1976 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 21.14 (140) | | 14.22 (106) | VFL Park | 27,249 | 28 August 1976

Ladder

|- style=background:#FFFFBB | 1 || align=left | || 22 || 16 || 5 || 1 || 2245 || 1690 || 132.8 || 66 |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 2 || align=left | (P) || 22 || 16 || 6 || 0 || 2323 || 2035 || 114.2 || 64 |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 3 || align=left | || 22 || 15 || 7 || 0 || 2041 || 1748 || 116.8 || 60 |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 4 || align=left | || 22 || 12 || 10 || 0 || 2251 || 2166 || 103.9 || 48 |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 5 || align=left | || 22 || 11 || 10 || 1 || 1958 || 2023 || 96.8 || 46 |- | 6 || align=left | || 22 || 11 || 11 || 0 || 2319 || 2333 || 99.4 || 44 |- | 7 || align=left | || 22 || 10 || 12 || 0 || 2192 || 2224 || 98.6 || 40 |- | 8 || align=left | || 22 || 9 || 13 || 0 || 2223 || 2364 || 94.0 || 36 |- | 9 || align=left | || 22 || 9 || 13 || 0 || 2056 || 2282 || 90.1 || 36 |- | 10 || align=left | || 22 || 9 || 13 || 0 || 1987 || 2253 || 88.2 || 36 |- | 11 || align=left | || 22 || 7 || 15 || 0 || 2005 || 2161 || 92.8 || 28 |- | 12 || align=left | || 22 || 6 || 16 || 0 || 2033 || 2354 || 86.4 || 24 |}

Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for Average score: 97.1 Source: AFL Tables

Finals series

Finals week 1

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 14.18 (102) | | 14.11 (95) | VFL Park | 50,686 | 4 September |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 14.19 (103) | | 12.11 (83) | MCG | 64,148 | 4 September |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

Finals week 2

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.12 (60) | **** | 14.9 (93) | MCG | 71,042 | 11 September |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.16 (70) | **** | 12.15 (87) | VFL Park | 60,105 | 11 September

Preliminary final

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.12 (66) | **** | 10.7 (67) | VFL Park | 69,234 | 18 September

Grand final

Main article: 1976 VFL Grand Final

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 13.22 (100) | | 10.10 (70) | MCG | 110,143 | 25 September

Season notes

• The VFL introduced two field umpires per match.
• John Nicholls resigned as coach of Carlton three days before the VFL season commenced. Assistant coach Ian Thorogood was promoted to coach.
• The opening round match between South Melbourne and Geelong at the Lake Oval saw the Swans set a new record for the highest losing score on record, beating Melbourne's 1940 previous record.
• The Round 1 match between Carlton and Collingwood at Princes Park saw a massive all-in brawl that involved virtually every player from both sides, with Collingwood's Phil Carman the chief target.
• In Round 10, North Melbourne's Malcolm Blight kicked a booming torpedo punt 65–70 metres out from goal after the final siren at Princes Park, which sailed through for a goal that won the match for North Melbourne. HSV Channel 7 football commentator Michael Williamson exclaimed after the match, "I have seen it all, now. I have seen it all!!" ("The Sensational Seventies -- 1976." Screened on HSV 7 Melbourne in September 1979)
• The Round 21 match between Footscray and Fitzroy at VFL Park was the first match to provide the lowest two scores of a season.
• Collingwood "won" its maiden wooden spoon after seventy-nine years, leaving Carlton as the only foundation VFL team yet to finish last. Carlton would "win" its maiden wooden spoon twenty-six years later in 2002.
• Collingwood's six wins is the most by a wooden spooner in VFL/AFL history.

Awards

• The 1976 VFL Premiership team was Hawthorn.
• The VFL's leading goalkicker was Larry Donohue of Geelong who kicked 105 goals (including 6 goals in the finals).
• The winner of the 1976 Brownlow Medal was Graham Moss of Essendon with 48 votes.
• Collingwood took the "wooden spoon" for the first time in 1976.
• The reserves premiership was won by . Collingwood 23.17 (155) defeated 19.15 (129) in the grand final, held as a curtain-raiser to the seniors Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 25 September.

References

• Rogers, S. & Brown, A., Every Game Ever Played: VFL/AFL Results 1897–1997 (Sixth Edition), Viking Books, (Ringwood), 1998.
• Ross, J. (ed), 100 Years of Australian Football 1897–1996: The Complete Story of the AFL, All the Big Stories, All the Great Pictures, All the Champions, Every AFL Season Reported, Viking, (Ringwood), 1996.

Sources

• 1976 VFL season at AFL Tables
• 1976 VFL season at Australian Football

References

1. (27 September 1976). "All the scores". The Age.