Coach: Allan Jeans (St Kilda) - Already immortalised as the man who led St Kilda to its first ever VFL premiership Allan Jeans has the potential to become one of the most successful coaches in the history of the game. An astute tactician and stern task master, he will expect nothing less than 100% dedication and commitment from every VFL player in these championships.
| No. | Player | Age | Ht. | Wt. | Information |
| 1 | 
Ross Smith (St Kilda - captain) - click on image to enlarge |
29 | 175cm | 74.5kg | Rover. Outstanding player, having a great season. Joined Saints in 1961 and won club fairest and best in 1967 and 1971. Brownlow Medal in 1967. Club captain since 1970. State teams 1967 and '72. League games 200. |
| 2 | 
John Nicholls (Carlton - vice-captain) - click on image to enlarge |
32 | 189cm | 105kg | Ruckman. The outstanding follower of the past decade. Joined club 1957. This will be his 29th interstate appearance since 1959. Five times club fairest and best. League games 280. |
| 3 | 
Leigh Matthews (Hawthorn) |
20 | 178cm | 82.5kg | Rover. One of the best in Victoria, he was involved in the 'Cable incident' in Perth last year. Joined club 1969 and won fairest and best award last year. Having a great season. League games 54. |
| 4 | 
David Thorpe (Footscray) |
24 | 183cm | 85.5kg | Utility. Versatile, can ruck-rove, play centre or half forward. Has great speed and is a fine ball getter. Dangerous opponent if let loose. Won club's fairest and best 1968 and again last year. Played for VFL 1969 and '71. League games 119. |
| 5 | 
Kevin Bartlett (Richmond) |
25 | 180cm | 71kg | Rover. Fearless player with great delivery. VFL rep. in 1969 and '71. Won Richmond's fairest and best 1967 and '68 and was runner-up last year. First played 1965. League games 146. |
| 6 | 
Kevin Sheedy (Richmond) |
24 | 182cm | 79.5kg | Back pocket. Victoria's most fearless and tenacious defender. Joined Richmond 1967. Has played at centre. The tougher the going the more he likes it. Favourite with WA fans (see footnote 1). League games 96. |
| 7 | 
Keith Greig (North Melbourne) |
20 | 183cm | 77kg | Wingman. His club's vice-captain. Played for VFL last year in his first League season. Won best first year player award last year. Came from Brunswick in the VFA. League games 30. |
| 8 | David Rhodes (Fitzroy) | 24 | 183cm | 78kg | Wingman. Dashing fair-haired player whose tearaway dashes are always crowd pleasers. Has great pace, enabling him to trouble all opponents. Joined club in 1968, but only hit the top in the last 2 seasons. First state game. League games 50. |
| 9 | 
David Clarke (Geelong) |
19 | 187cm | 79.5kg | Half forward flanker. Brilliant youngster who was named 'recruit of the year' in his first season and also won his club's fairest and best award. Wonderful anticipation will help him in his first state game. League games 28. |
| 10 | 
Stan Alves (Melbourne) |
26 | 178cm | 75.5kg | Wingman. Outstanding wingman in the VFL this year and doing well in many awards. Has tons of pace and accurate disposal. He joined Melbourne in 1965. State rep. 1968. League games 135. |
| 11 | 
Alex Jesaulenko (Carlton) |
26 | 180cm | 86.5kg | Centreman or full forward. The most brilliant ball handler in Victoria, who has played mainly at full forward. Spectacular high mark and accurate kick. State rep. 1967-68-69-70. All Australian 1969. League games 106. |
| 12 | 
Geoff Southby (Carlton) |
21 | 188cm | 86.5kg | Full back. Outstanding defender with great judgement. Tremendous mark and kick. Joined club last year and won both best first year player and club fairest and best awards. VFL rep. in first season. League games 31. |
| 13 | 
Peter Bedford (South Melbourne) - click on image to enlarge |
25 | 178cm | 76kg | Centreman or rover. Also an interstate cricketer. Won club's best first year player award and then fairest and best awards in 1969-70-71. Brownlow Medallist 1970. VFL rep. 1969-70-71. League games 90. |
| 14 | 
Francis Bourke (Richmond) - click on image to enlarge |
25 | 185cm | 85.5kg | Wingman. One of the top wingmen. Has excellent pace and is a good mark and kick. Was recruited from Nathalia in 1967. VFL rep. 1968. Won club's fairest and best award 1970. More than 100 League games. |
| 15 | 
Barry Davis (Essendon) |
28 | 185cm | 86.5kg | Half back flanker. Experienced defender. Played in every state team since 1967. Club fairest and best 1968-69 and '71. Runner up Brownlow Medal 1969. Big kick. Having a great season. League games 209. |
| 16 | 
Gary Dempsey (Footscray) |
23 | 197cm | 98.5kg | Ruckman. Great high mark as WA fans know to their sorrow. Runner-up Brownlow Medal and club fairest and best winner 1970. State rep. 1970-71-72. Great asset when resting in defence. League games 78. |
| 17 | 
Alan Noonan (Essendon) |
24 | 187cm | 88kg | Centre half forward. Outstanding recruit in 1966, club's leading goal kicker in 1967-68-69, and state rep. 1967 and '68. Lost form after breaking a leg in 1970 but now back to his top. League games 95. |
| 18 | 
Peter Knights (Hawthorn) |
20 | 188cm | 83.5kg | Centre half back. Outstanding player in Perth last year in his first interstate appearance. Spectacular mark, kicks well with either foot, reads game well. League games 55. |
| 19 | 
Barry Lawrence (St Kilda) |
25 | 183cm | 87kg | Centre half back. A great player for St Kilda since 1967. Has also played in attack with great dash and was named best utility player for his club last year. Tasmanian rep. 1966. League games 64. |
| 20 | 
Gary Hardeman (Melbourne) |
22 | 187cm | 85.5kg | Centre half back. Cool customer who backs his judgement. Marks well under pressure. Lacks no pace. Won interstate selection last year for first time and is recognised as one of the VFL's best defenders. League games 97. |
| 21 | 
John Williams (Essendon) - click on image to enlarge |
24 | 188cm | 88kg | Centre half back. Outstanding player in the VFL this year and leading all awards at this stage. Fearless defender who goes straight through. VFL rep. in 1970. League games 126. |
| 22 | 
Len Thompson (Collingwood) - click on image to enlarge |
25 | 199cm | 96.5kg | Ruckman. Fastest big man in the VFL and having his best season for many years. Club fairest and best 1967 and '68, runner-up '69. Interstate rep. 1967-68-70-72. League games 125. |
| 23 | 
Travis Payze (St Kilda) |
25 | 184cm | 89kg | Ruck-rover. Rugged player whose 205 kicks in the first 10 games this year indicate he is at peak form. Safe, strong mark, but kicking suspect. Shown great improvement in the last 2 seasons. League games 86. |
| 24 | 
Peter McKenna (Collingwood) - click on image to enlarge |
26 | 192cm | 89kg | Full forward. Brilliant player if given the opportunity. Leads well, accurate kick with 143 and 134 goals in the last 2 seasons. Kicked 13 majors in 2 state matches in 1971. Club fairest and best 1970. League games 123. |
| 25 | 
John Murphy (Fitzroy) - click on image to enlarge |
22 | 178cm | 79.5kg | Rover. Can also play in centre or on half forward flank. Was Fitzroy's equal fairest and best in 1968 and the club's outright fairest and best in 1970. Played against WA in Perth in 1971. More than 100 League games. |
CLUB REPRESENTATION: Carlton, Essendon, Richmond, St Kilda 3; Collingwood, Fitzroy, Footscray, Hawthorn, Melbourne 2; Geelong, North Melbourne, South Melbourne 1
1. How times change! Return to Main Text