Notable Events
- In Round 6, Hawthorn set records against St. Kilda of 41 behinds (previous highest 34) and 66 scoring shots (previous highest 60).
- For the only time in VFL/AFL history, two players from one team - Peter Hudson (110) and Leigh Matthews (91) of Hawthorn - combined for over 200 goals in one season. Additionally, it was the first time since 1906 that one club produced the two leading goalkickers in a season.
- In the Round 15 game against Geelong, Hawthorn had three players - Hudson with eight, John Hendrie with eight, and Leigh Matthews with seven - kick seven or more goals in one match. This has been repeated only by Fitzroy with Matthew Rendell, Bernie Quinlan and Michael Conlan in 1983 against North Melbourne.
- In shocking conditions in Round 12, Carlton and Geelong played the first match since the 1927 Grand Final where both teams scored three or fewer goals. As with the Footscray versus Fitzroy game the previous year, both teams’ scores were lower than any score from any other game during 1977.
- In Round 16, Geelong beat Collingwood despite having fifteen fewer scoring shots. This equalled Richmond's record against Fitzroy from 1957.
- In the Reserve and Under-19 Grades, the appalling weather of mid- to late June caused the only cancellation (as opposed to postponement) of matches in V/AFL history. These cancellations affected Round 14 in the Reserves and Round 13 in the Under-19s.
- Starting from this season, neither Richmond nor Melbourne was permitted to play finals matches at the Melbourne Cricket Ground prior to the Grand Final week. Standard scheduling was for the Qualifying Final to be played at the M.C.G. and the Elimination Final to be played at VFL Park in the first week of the finals; and for the First Semi-Final to be played at the M.C.G. and the Second Semi-Final to be played at VFL Park in the second week of the finals. After concern from other clubs that the two M.C.G. tenants, Richmond and Melbourne, could get a home ground advantage in M.C.G. finals, the rules were amended such that the venues would be switched if Richmond or Melbourne was involved in an M.C.G. match. Such a switch occurred this season, when the First Semi-Final between Richmond and North Melbourne was played at VFL Park.
- Collingwood becomes the first VFL/AFL team to win the Minor Premiership after winning the wooden spoon the year before.
Read more about this topic: 1977 VFL Season
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