1978 VFL season

Rule changes

• The 19th and 20th men were converted into interchange players, meaning that any two players could be rested at any time, and could return to the field.
• Goal umpires required to touch goal post if the ball had hit post. Also two flags were positioned at one post and one flag at the other to save time when signalling scores.

Night series

defeated 13.18 (96) to 2.8 (20) in the final.

Home-and-away season

Round 1

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 22.15 (147) | | 9.14 (68) | Princes Park | 10,632 | 1 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.14 (80) | **** | 23.11 (149) | Western Oval | 20,420 | 1 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.11 (101) | **** | 16.13 (109) | Junction Oval | 17,030 | 1 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 19.9 (123) | | 14.18 (102) | Windy Hill | 23,562 | 1 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.10 (76) | **** | 17.16 (118) | Kardinia Park | 27,463 | 1 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 25.24 (174) | | 14.13 (97) | MCG | 49,031 | 1 April 1978

Round 2

• Fitzroy broke South Melbourne's 1976 record for the highest losing score against Melbourne by four points. This record would last until the 1989 VFL season.

Round 3

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 16.14 (110) | **** | 15.20 (110) | MCG | 35,602 | 15 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.16 (76) | **** | 21.14 (140) | Western Oval | 16,949 | 15 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 15.15 (105) | | 14.17 (101) | Windy Hill | 16,300 | 15 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 13.20 (98) | | 11.19 (85) | Princes Park | 17,765 | 15 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 18.11 (119) | | 14.18 (102) | Lake Oval | 20,733 | 15 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 16.15 (111) | | 12.14 (86) | VFL Park | 39,097 | 15 April 1978

Round 4

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 18.17 (125) | | 15.8 (98) | Kardinia Park | 20,566 | 22 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 21.17 (143) | | 18.16 (124) | Junction Oval | 13,660 | 22 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.19 (103) | **** | 15.15 (105) | Victoria Park | 28,714 | 22 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.16 (100) | **** | 17.17 (119) | Moorabbin Oval | 29,117 | 22 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 18.19 (127) | | 18.12 (120) | MCG | 14,865 | 22 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.8 (104) | **** | 19.17 (131) | VFL Park | 34,516 | 22 April 1978

Round 5

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 19.16 (130) | | 8.11 (59) | MCG | 34,212 | 25 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 14.14 (98) | | 9.11 (65) | VFL Park | 43,388 | 25 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.17 (101) | **** | 15.12 (102) | Princes Park | 13,528 | 29 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 15.20 (110) | | 13.15 (93) | Western Oval | 20,328 | 29 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 19.10 (124) | | 17.13 (115) | Arden Street Oval | 31,424 | 29 April 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 18.9 (117) | | 17.14 (116) | Lake Oval | 20,183 | 29 April 1978

Round 6

• and set the current record for the highest aggregate score in a game, the two teams amassing 52.33 (345). This broke the record set in the 1972 VFL Grand Final. The Saints also kicked their highest score in a match.

Round 7

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.14 (98) | **** | 19.11 (125) | MCG | 25,904 | 13 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 27.15 (177) | | 13.13 (91) | Princes Park | 9,099 | 13 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 14.14 (98) | | 14.11 (95) | Arden Street Oval | 14,150 | 13 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 17.11 (113) | | 16.11 (107) | Moorabbin Oval | 30,760 | 13 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.14 (68) | **** | 12.13 (85) | Victoria Park | 26,782 | 13 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.18 (126) | **** | 21.13 (139) | VFL Park | 13,072 | 13 May 1978

Round 8

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.13 (61) | **** | 20.17 (137) | MCG | 21,268 | 20 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 11.10 (76) | | 7.18 (60) | Windy Hill | 21,212 | 20 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 8.15 (63) | | 9.7 (61) | Princes Park | 21,520 | 20 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 20.16 (136) | | 4.13 (37) | Lake Oval | 21,494 | 20 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.5 (89) | **** | 14.9 (93) | Western Oval | 19,096 | 20 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.16 (70) | **** | 14.15 (99) | VFL Park | 27,224 | 20 May 1978

Round 9

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 16.13 (109) | | 14.11 (95) | Kardinia Park | 21,603 | 27 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.14 (92) | **** | 18.9 (117) | Junction Oval | 11,903 | 27 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 12.20 (92) | | 10.16 (76) | Victoria Park | 28,651 | 27 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 18.9 (117) | | 8.11 (59) | Princes Park | 30,976 | 27 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.9 (57) | **** | 13.19 (97) | Moorabbin Oval | 25,293 | 27 May 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.12 (60) | **** | 15.12 (102) | VFL Park | 28,231 | 27 May 1978

Round 10

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 12.24 (96) | | 8.13 (61) | Princes Park | 11,066 | 3 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 12.14 (86) | | 11.14 (80) | MCG | 21,122 | 3 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 13.7 (85) | | 12.10 (82) | Arden Street Oval | 28,828 | 3 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 24.18 (162) | | 14.8 (92) | Lake Oval | 15,738 | 5 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 19.11 (125) | | 15.14 (104) | Western Oval | 30,197 | 5 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.13 (97) | **** | 18.23 (131) | VFL Park | 72,669 | 5 June 1978

Round 11

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.15 (111) | **** | 16.18 (114) | Junction Oval | 10,300 | 17 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.8 (104) | **** | 19.19 (133) | Windy Hill | 23,302 | 17 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 17.25 (127) | | 10.7 (67) | Victoria Park | 19,931 | 17 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 23.27 (165) | | 8.17 (65) | Princes Park | 25,388 | 17 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 23.17 (155) | | 14.13 (97) | MCG | 22,764 | 17 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.7 (97) | **** | 17.15 (117) | VFL Park | 31,037 | 17 June 1978

Round 12

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 20.17 (137) | | 13.16 (94) | Princes Park | 28,266 | 24 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.18 (108) | **** | 18.20 (128) | MCG | 14,652 | 24 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.12 (60) | **** | 13.12 (90) | Arden Street Oval | 14,269 | 24 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.9 (111) | **** | 20.14 (134) | Moorabbin Oval | 15,822 | 24 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.19 (97) | **** | 17.18 (120) | Lake Oval | 18,574 | 24 June 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.14 (56) | **** | 13.18 (96) | VFL Park | 31,636 | 24 June 1978

Round 13

• kicked their highest-ever score of 33.15 (213) and Kelvin Templeton also set a club record for most goals in a game by an individual player, kicking 15 goals 9 behinds. It also set the record for the most scoring shots in a game by an individual player. The last Bulldog to kick 10 goals in a game was Ron Grove against in Round 5, 1946. The score also broke the VFL record previously held by who kicked 30.30 (210) against in Round 2, 1969.

Round 14

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.7 (121) | **** | 18.16 (124) | Arden Street Oval | 12,599 | 8 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 20.7 (127) | | 8.11 (59) | Western Oval | 13,325 | 8 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 17.20 (122) | | 18.9 (117) | MCG | 24,417 | 8 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 22.11 (143) | | 13.15 (93) | Lake Oval | 16,642 | 8 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 13.24 (102) | | 14.11 (95) | Windy Hill | 29,831 | 8 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.14 (74) | **** | 13.6 (84) | VFL Park | 46,066 | 8 July 1978

Round 15

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 10.14 (74) | | 7.13 (55) | Princes Park | 16,214 | 15 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 17.12 (114) | | 12.22 (94) | Victoria Park | 23,729 | 15 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.11 (71) | **** | 19.11 (125) | Moorabbin Oval | 18,954 | 15 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 12.12 (84) | | 10.12 (72) | Kardinia Park | 15,700 | 15 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 15.11 (101) | | 11.17 (83) | Junction Oval | 13,550 | 15 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 2.14 (26) | **** | 17.13 (115) | VFL Park | 16,870 | 15 July 1978

Round 16

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.9 (93) | **** | 17.19 (121) | MCG | 18,416 | 22 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 16.8 (104) | | 12.20 (92) | Kardinia Park | 16,219 | 22 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 18.14 (122) | | 17.19 (121) | Junction Oval | 12,240 | 22 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.17 (59) | **** | 15.11 (101) | Victoria Park | 32,286 | 22 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 16.16 (112) | | 9.17 (71) | Princes Park | 24,277 | 22 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.8 (86) | **** | 15.17 (107) | VFL Park | 30,200 | 22 July 1978

Round 17

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 20.21 (141) | | 13.11 (89) | Moorabbin Oval | 13,118 | 29 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 18.14 (122) | | 10.16 (76) | Arden Street Oval | 15,775 | 29 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 15.15 (105) | | 13.13 (91) | Lake Oval | 14,112 | 29 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 20.16 (136) | | 13.18 (96) | MCG | 41,878 | 29 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.17 (95) | **** | 18.11 (119) | Princes Park | 28,132 | 29 July 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 16.11 (107) | | 11.11 (77) | VFL Park | 32,246 | 29 July 1978

Round 18

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.10 (112) | **** | 17.16 (118) | Western Oval | 17,285 | 5 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.16 (82) | **** | 19.10 (124) | Junction Oval | 13,022 | 5 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.16 (82) | **** | 18.13 (121) | Windy Hill | 18,410 | 5 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 14.19 (103) | | 8.14 (62) | Princes Park | 43,313 | 5 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.17 (95) | **** | 14.17 (101) | MCG | 12,363 | 5 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 14.9 (93) | | 9.16 (70) | VFL Park | 31,717 | 5 August 1978

Round 19

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 13.7 (85) | | 3.19 (37) | Moorabbin Oval | 20,933 | 12 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 18.19 (127) | | 10.10 (70) | Princes Park | 15,980 | 12 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 11.16 (82) | | 10.6 (66) | Victoria Park | 24,069 | 12 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 26.18 (174) | | 8.13 (61) | Arden Street Oval | 9,183 | 12 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 14.8 (92) | | 13.7 (85) | Kardinia Park | 15,080 | 12 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.10 (58) | **** | 9.15 (69) | VFL Park | 21,410 | 12 August 1978

Round 20

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.16 (130) | **** | 21.10 (136) | Windy Hill | 11,984 | 19 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 24.11 (155) | **** | 26.11 (167) | Lake Oval | 15,259 | 19 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.17 (71) | **** | 21.13 (139) | Western Oval | 12,525 | 19 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.13 (109) | **** | 19.9 (123) | MCG | 59,580 | 19 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.16 (70) | **** | 19.17 (131) | Arden Street Oval | 28,965 | 19 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.11 (83) | **** | 21.13 (139) | VFL Park | 31,677 | 19 August 1978

• were leading by 55 points at the 10-minute mark of the second quarter before the Magpies hit back to win by 14 points. It was at the time the third-biggest comeback in League history.

Round 21

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 15.16 (106) | | 11.19 (85) | MCG | 13,488 | 26 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.8 (86) | **** | 13.10 (88) | Kardinia Park | 21,663 | 26 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 20.14 (134) | | 17.15 (117) | Junction Oval | 11,200 | 26 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 22.15 (147) | | 15.17 (107) | Victoria Park | 31,537 | 26 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 23.7 (145) | | 15.12 (102) | Princes Park | 22,397 | 26 August 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.9 (51) | **** | 11.11 (77) | VFL Park | 22,337 | 26 August 1978

Round 22

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 16.15 (111) | | 12.15 (87) | Arden Street Oval | 15,607 | 2 September 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 13.22 (100) | | 5.8 (38) | Kardinia Park | 22,842 | 2 September 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 17.16 (118) | | 16.13 (109) | Princes Park | 14,534 | 2 September 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.11 (125) | **** | 24.12 (156) | MCG | 40,267 | 2 September 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 16.10 (106) | | 9.12 (66) | Moorabbin Oval | 35,850 | 2 September 1978 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.15 (81) | **** | 19.20 (134) | VFL Park | 17,768 | 2 September 1978

Ladder

|- style=background:#FFFFBB | 1 || align=left | || 22 || 16 || 6 || 0 || 2407 || 1991 || 120.9 || 64 |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 2 || align=left | (P) || 22 || 16 || 6 || 0 || 2496 || 2120 || 117.7 || 64 |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 3 || align=left | || 22 || 15 || 7 || 0 || 2347 || 2072 || 113.3 || 60 |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 4 || align=left | || 22 || 14 || 8 || 0 || 2329 || 1994 || 116.8 || 56 |- style=background:#FFFFBB | 5 || align=left | || 22 || 12 || 10 || 0 || 2153 || 2104 || 102.3 || 48 |- | 6 || align=left | || 22 || 11 || 10 || 1 || 2330 || 2503 || 93.1 || 46 |- | 7 || align=left | || 22 || 10 || 11 || 1 || 2459 || 2389 || 102.9 || 42 |- | 8 || align=left | || 22 || 9 || 13 || 0 || 2390 || 2383 || 100.3 || 36 |- | 9 || align=left | || 22 || 8 || 14 || 0 || 2258 || 2339 || 96.5 || 32 |- | 10 || align=left | || 22 || 8 || 14 || 0 || 2203 || 2337 || 94.3 || 32 |- | 11 || align=left | || 22 || 7 || 15 || 0 || 2272 || 2508 || 90.6 || 28 |- | 12 || align=left | || 22 || 5 || 17 || 0 || 2025 || 2929 || 69.1 || 20 |}

Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for Average score: 104.8 Source: AFL Tables

Finals series

Finals week 1

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 15.15 (105) | | 9.18 (72) | VFL Park | 57,505 | 9 September |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.14 (98) | **** | 23.16 (154) | MCG | 79,931 | 9 September |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

Finals week 2

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 15.18 (108) | | 13.15 (93) | MCG | 91,933 | 16 September |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.13 (73) | **** | 12.15 (87) | VFL Park | 48,716 | 16 September

Preliminary final

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | **** | 14.12 (96) | | 12.12 (84) | VFL Park | 73,354 | 23 September

Grand final

Main article: 1978 VFL Grand Final

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Game | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | Grand final | **** | ** 18.13 (121)** | | 15.13 (103) | MCG | 101,704 | 30 September 1978

Notable events

• In Round 20, Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser (who was the Number 1 ticket holder for Carlton throughout his time in office) was booed incessantly during the second half of the North Melbourne vs Carlton match at the Arden Street Oval. The booing continued right up to the moment when Mr. Fraser stepped inside his limousine and was driven away from the ground.

Awards

• The Coleman Medal was won by Kelvin Templeton of with 118 goals.
• The Brownlow Medal was won by Malcolm Blight of North Melbourne
• The reserves premiership was won by . North Melbourne 17.29 (131) defeated 11.13 (79) in the grand final, held as a curtain-raiser to the seniors grand final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 30 September.

References

• Stephen Rogers and Ashley Brown (1998). Every Game Ever Played. 6th ed. Victoria: Penguin Books.

Sources

• 1978 VFL season at AFL Tables
• 1978 VFL season at Australian Football

References

1. "History of Rule Changes". AFL Media.
2. Lovett (2019), p. 1088
3. (2 October 1978). "All the scores". The Age.