1976 NFL Wills Cup

From Snoutslouts

Jump to: navigation, search

Contents

The 1976 National Football League (NFL) Wills Cup was the first national night* football competition featuring WAFL, SANFL, and (the then) VFL. The names of the Cup contested changed with the sponsorship arrangements each season - 1976 was the generic "Wills" of the W.D. & H.O.Wills cigarette makers.

* "Night competition" refers to the origins of this type of competition - often however the NFL games were played as daytime fixtures.

Preliminary Round 1

1st 2nd 3rd Final Pts
Glenelg 5.3 8.6 13.11 16.11 107
Richmond 4.0 5.3 8.4 9.8 62

Football Park, Adelaide. Monday 17 May. Crowd 13,693 (Day)

Best -

Glenelg: Weston, Lihou, Cornes, Rebbeck, W. Phillis, McInerney

Richmond: Thorpe, Sheedy, Mattson, Lamb, Monteath, Carter

Goals -

Glenelg: Rebbeck 4, McInerney 2, Caldwell, D. Phillis, Hercock, Copping, MacFarlane

Richmond: Monteath 3, Heard 2, Balme, Thorpe, Edwards, Cumming

Player of the Match - Thorpe (Richmond).

Guernsey Clash
Due to the Tigers of the SANFL and the Tigers of the VFL both wearing black jumpers with a gold sash, a clash jumper was required.
​When these teams had met previously in the 1973 Champions of Australia tournament, a coin-toss was held with Glenelg losing the toss and wearing an all-gold jumper.
However, in 1976 it was Richmond forced to change uniforms, wearing a gold and red jumper supplied by the NFL. This was paired with red socks and white shorts.

Preliminary Round 2

1st 2nd 3rd Final Pts
Swan Districts 2.3 4.5 8.6 10.8 68
Glenelg 1.3 5.7 9.9 11.19 85

Subiaco Oval, Perth. Saturday 12 June. Crowd 10,876 (Day)

Best -

Swan Districts: Nowotny, Skulley, Olsen, Sidebottom, Brown, Bell

Glenelg: Cornes, Hodgeman, Weston, Carey, Rawson, McInerney

Goals -

Swan Districts: Olsen 4, Skulley 3, Walker 2, Close

Glenelg: Hodgeman 2, McInerney 2, W. Phillis 2, Rady, Rebbeck, Marker, Caldwell, D. Phillis

Player of the Match - Graham Cornes (G)


Semi Final

1st 2nd 3rd Final Pts
Glenelg 2.1 3.1 7.4 8.8 56
Hawthorn 2.2 7.7 9.11 11.16 82

Norwood Oval, Adelaide. Tuesday 27 July. Crowd 8,086 (Night)

Best -

Glenelg: Cornes, Croser, Hodgeman, McFarlane, Voigt

Hawthorn: Rowlings, Hendrie, K. Matthews, Tuck, L. Matthews, Martello, McCarthy

Goals -

Glenelg: D. Phillis 4, Hodgeman, Rebbeck, Hercock, Marriott

Hawthorn: L. Matthews 2, Hendrie 2, Walter 2, Scott, K. Matthews, Moncrieff, Eade, Douge

Player of the Match - Graham Cornes (G)

Other

  • Three weeks later Hawthorn went on to win the Grand Final against North Melbourne, also played at Norwood Oval.
  • Graham Cornes was declared the B.S. Stillwell Ford Player of the Series after receiving 2 first preference votes and 1 second preference vote in the three matches he played. During half-time of the Grand Final he was presented with a Ford Cortina "valued at $5700".
Personal tools