1973 VFL Season - Notable Events

Notable Events

• The VFL introduced a new clearance system, whereby any player who had played ten years with a single club was eligible for a free transfer to the club of his choice. New North Melbourne coach Ron Barassi recruited champion half-backs Barry Davis (who had already played 218 games for Essendon) and John Rantall (who had already played 174 games for South Melbourne), and champion full-forward Doug Wade (who had already played 208 games for Geelong), and the team improved from last place in 1972 to sixth in 1973. The "ten year rule" was rescinded in May.
• In Round 11 Kevin Murray played his 300th game for Fitzroy.
• In Round 21, Hawthorn full-forward Peter Hudson, who had been injured in Round 1 of 1972, returned to the VFL. He beat four opponents and kicks 8 goals.
• In the first moments of the Grand Final, Carlton's captain-coach John Nicholls was running out of goal to mark a kick from Alex Jesaulenko when Richmond's's back-pocket Laurie Fowler ran straight at Nicholls and smashed him in the head. Nicholls was given the mark and a 15-yard penalty. He kicked a goal; however, due to severe double vision cause by Fowler's blow, Nicholls could hardly see anything, and effectively took no further part in the match even though he stayed on the ground. In the second quarter Richmond's Neil Balme knocked out Carlton full-back Geoff Southby with a vicious elbow strike to the head (Southby did not return after half-time, and it took some months for him to fully recover from the effects of the assault). In the ensuing brawl, Balme also attacked Carlton's Vin Waite. Balme was not reported by the umpires.
• On the day of the Grand Final, the Richmond Football Club had much to celebrate: its Senior Team, Reserve Team, Under-19 team, and its Under-17 team all won their Grand Finals at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.