Tasmania vs Victoria (1960)
On Monday, 13 June 1960 (Queen's Birthday holiday), the Tasmanian state team hosted a Victorian state team in an interstate Australian rules football match at York Park, Launceston. The Tasmanian team won by seven points, considered one of the biggest interstate football upset victories of all time, and one of the greatest moments in the history of Tasmanian football.[1] It was the first of only two victories by Tasmania against a Victorian Football League or Victorian state of origin team, from a total of 29 matches.[2] A then-record Launceston crowd of 15,600 attended the game.[3]
| Tasmania vs Victoria | ||||||||||||||||
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 Match programme cover | ||||||||||||||||
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| Date | 13 June 1960 | |||||||||||||||
| Stadium | York Park | |||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 15,600 | |||||||||||||||
| Accolades | ||||||||||||||||
| Australian Football Hall of Fame | 1. Billy Goggin (2000) 2. Ken Fraser (2001) 3. Stuart Spencer (2005) 4. Frank Johnson (2007) 5. Murray Weideman (2007) 6. Verdun Howell (2016) | |||||||||||||||
Tasmania played the better football early, and opened a 17 point lead at quarter time. Victoria fought back gradually throughout the day, and hit the front for the first time ten minutes into the final quarter. A tight contest ensued, and the scores remained level with only two minutes remaining; but, Tasmania kicked the final goal of the game and ended by winning by seven points, 13.13 (91) d. 12.12 (84).[3]
Teams
Tasmania
The Tasmanian team, as usual, was selected among players from the three major senior leagues. The 1960 team demonstrated the rise of the North West Football Union as a senior football body, as it was the first time that more union players had been selected than league or association players. Additionally, the original choice for captain of the team, the union's Darrel Baldock, was the first player who had never previously played in the TANFL to be selected captain[4] – although he ultimately missed the game with injury and the league's Stuart Spencer became captain.
| B: | Casey Lawrence (NTFA) | Brian Loring (NWFU) | Don Gale (NWFU) |
| HB: | Max Kelleher (NTFA) | Barry Strange (NWFU) | Murray Steele (TANFL) |
| C: | John Fitzallen (NTFA) | Ken Sheehan (NWFU) | Dicky Lester (TANFL) |
| HF: | Neil Conlan (NWFU) | John Hawksley (NTFA) | Colin Moore (NWFU) |
| F: | Burnie Payne (TANFL) | Athol Webb (TANFL) | Garth Smith (NWFU) |
| Foll: | Rex Geard (TANFL) | Terry Shadbolt (NWFU) | Stuart Spencer (TANFL) (c) |
| Int: | George Mason (NWFU) | Bob Withers (NTFA) | |
| Coach: | Jack Metherall | ||
Victoria
The Victorian team was selected from among Victorian Football League players, and included one player of Tasmanian origin: Verdun Howell. The team was the weaker of two VFL representative teams engaged in interstate football on the day: the first choice VFL team was playing an interstate match against South Australia in Melbourne on the same day,[6] and the second choice team travelled to Launceston for the match against Tasmania.
References
- "Australian Football - big v humbled in the apple isle". australianfootball.com. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
- John Devaney (2009), Full Points Footy's Tasmanian Football Companion, Full Points Publications, pp. 79–83
- "1960 Tasmania v Victoria – 13th June at York Park – Memorable Game". Pathartnett.net.au. 10 June 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- "Darrel Baldock to lead Tasmania against V.F.L.". The Advocate. Burnie, TAS. 6 June 1960. p. 9.
- "2005 Memorable Game – Tasmania vs. Victoria, 1960 – AFL Tas Hall of Fame". afltashalloffame.com.au. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
- "League". North Adelaide Football Club. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- "2005 Memorable Game – Tasmania vs. Victoria, 1960 – AFL Tas Hall of Fame". afltashalloffame.com.au. Retrieved 24 October 2018.