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Some Stars of the '56 Perth Carnival |
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Ron Barassi (VFL) - All Australian team |
Barry Strange (Tas) - All Australian team |
Graham 'Polly' Farmer (WA) - Tassie Medallist |
Roy Wright (VFL) - All Australian team |
Stan Costello (SA) - All Australian team |
'Big V' pre-eminence continued at Perth in 1956 but Western Australia, Tasmania and South Australia proved to be quite evenly matched. Only the VFA seemed out of its depth, losing all 4 matches by an average margin of 109 points. Tasmania's 13 point triumph over South Australia was its first defeat of a 'big 3' state in a carnival since 1911, when it had downed Western Australia by 5 points in Adelaide. The Tasmanians' 3rd place finish equalled its highest ever carnival placing (also attained at Adelaide in 1911), while its tally of 27.22 (184) compiled in the annihilation of the VFA had only twice been exceeded in carnival football.
Just as at Adelaide in 1953 home state supporters were forced to witness the ignominy of their local heroes being significantly outgunned by the might of the VFL in the carnival's decisive match. However, at least they had the consolation of seeing emerging superstar Graham 'Polly' Farmer of East Perth being accorded Australian football's highest individual honour, the Eric Tassie Medal.
| Points | |||||||
| Pld | Won | Lost | For | Ag | % | Pts | |
| Victorian Football League | 4 | 4 | 0 | 542 | 247 | 219.4 | 16 |
| Western Australia | 4 | 3 | 1 | 403 | 350 | 115.1 | 12 |
| Tasmania | 4 | 2 | 2 | 434 | 405 | 107.2 | 8 |
| South Australia | 4 | 1 | 3 | 302 | 342 | 88.3 | 4 |
| Victorian Football Association | 4 | 0 | 4 | 252 | 589 | 42.8 | 0 |
| South Australia | John Abley (Port Adelaide), Haydn Bunton junior (North Adelaide), Stan Costello (West Adelaide), Lindsay Head (West Torrens) |
| Tasmania | Geoff Long (City), Barry Strange (New Town) |
| VFA | Frank Johnson (Port Melbourne - captain) |
| VFL | Ron Barassi junior (Melbourne), John Chick (Carlton), Jack Clarke (Essendon), Bill Hutchison (Essendon), Peter Pianto (Geelong), Des Rowe (Richmond), Ted Whitten (Footscray), Roy Wright (Richmond) |
| Western Australia | Jack Clarke (East Fremantle), Graham Farmer (East Perth), John Gerovich (South Fremantle), Keith Harper (Perth), Cliff Hillier (South Fremantle) |
| Placing | Player(s) | Votes |
| 1st | G.Farmer (Western Australia) | 6 |
| =2nd | R.Barassi (VFL) & P.Pianto (VFL) | 4 |
1956 Perth Carnival: Leading Goalkickers
J.Spencer (VFL) 17; N.Clarke (Tasmania) 15; J.Gerovich (Western Australia) 13; L.Head (South Australia) 12
