The 1956 VFL season was the 60th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 14 April until 15 September, and comprised an 18-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top four clubs.
The premiership was won by the Melbourne Football Club for the eighth time and second time consecutively, after it defeated by 73 points in the 1956 VFL Grand Final.
Background From 22 November to 8 December, the 1956 Summer Olympics were to be held in Melbourne, with a re-configured Melbourne Cricket Ground as its Main Stadium.
The need to accommodate this fact brought certain changes to the 1956 VFL season: The 1956 Grand Final was brought forward to 15 September in order to allow sufficient time to prepare the M.C.G. for the Olympics. The season commenced early to accommodate a full eighteen rounds of home-and-away matches. Due to works to demolish the old Grandstand and the construct the new Northern (Olympic) Stand, Melbourne Cricket Ground would not be available to Melbourne for its home matches until Round 5.
It was not desirable for Melbourne to play four consecutive away matches to start the season. This was partly because Melbourne would then have four consecutive home matches between Rounds 12 and 15. Additionally, because of the proximity of the Melbourne Cricket Ground to Punt Road Oval, matches were never scheduled at the venues on the same day; so it would have forced to open the season with four home matches, then play four away matches from Rounds 12 to 15. To overcome this, Melbourne played only its first three matches away, then played its Round 4 home match against at Punt Road Oval.
In 1956, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man. A player could be substituted for any reason; however, once substituted, a player could not return to the field of play under any circumstances.
Teams played each other in a home-and-away season of 18 rounds; matches 12 to 18 were the "home-and-way reverse" of matches 1 to 7.
Once the 18 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1956 VFL Premiers were determined by the specific format and conventions of the Page–McIntyre system.
Home-and-away season
Round 1
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.8 (98) | | 5.11 (41) | Arden Street Oval | 11,000 | 14 April 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.7 (55) | | 12.16 (88) | Punt Road Oval | 25,000 | 14 April 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.8 (50) | | 11.11 (77) | Lake Oval | 25,000 | 14 April 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.14 (98) | | 10.9 (69) | Western Oval | 26,617 | 14 April 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.17 (65) | | 14.13 (97) | Glenferrie Oval | 24,000 | 14 April 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.13 (67) | | 5.9 (39) | Windy Hill | 30,000 | 14 April 1956
Round 2
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.14 (110) | | 2.10 (22) | Kardinia Park | 17,294 | 21 April 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.18 (90) | | 7.11 (53) | Victoria Park | 24,800 | 21 April 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.11 (47) | | 12.18 (90) | Princes Park | 18,656 | 21 April 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.13 (85) | | 16.10 (106) | Punt Road Oval | 16,000 | 21 April 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.4 (46) | | 10.14 (74) | Junction Oval | 21,382 | 21 April 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.19 (79) | | 7.15 (57) | Brunswick Street Oval | 18,000 | 21 April 1956
Round 3
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 5.11 (41) | | 9.13 (67) | Western Oval | 33,265 | 28 April 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.16 (94) | | 10.13 (73) | Brunswick Street Oval | 18,000 | 28 April 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.10 (100) | | 16.16 (112) | Glenferrie Oval | 20,000 | 28 April 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.11 (65) | | 15.17 (107) | Arden Street Oval | 15,000 | 28 April 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.12 (114) | | 11.12 (78) | Punt Road Oval | 30,000 | 28 April 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.11 (65) | | 13.9 (87) | Junction Oval | 26,400 | 28 April 1956
Round 4
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.13 (103) | | 10.11 (71) | Kardinia Park | 21,840 | 5 May 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.9 (117) | | 9.23 (77) | Windy Hill | 16,000 | 5 May 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.15 (87) | | 11.7 (73) | Victoria Park | 29,818 | 5 May 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.12 (102) | | 13.16 (94) | Princes Park | 17,447 | 5 May 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.17 (53) | | 8.11 (59) | Lake Oval | 18,500 | 5 May 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.19 (79) | | 9.6 (60) | Punt Road Oval | 23,000 | 5 May 1956
Round 5
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.13 (67) | | 8.9 (57) | Western Oval | 18,134 | 12 May 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.15 (63) | | 7.6 (48) | Brunswick Street Oval | 9,000 | 12 May 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.22 (58) | | 7.10 (52) | Windy Hill | 17,000 | 12 May 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.16 (64) | | 3.4 (22) | Princes Park | 24,000 | 12 May 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 3.9 (27) | | 6.12 (48) | Junction Oval | 12,250 | 12 May 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.20 (56) | | 6.12 (48) | MCG | 47,130 | 12 May 1956
Round 6
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.11 (77) | | 7.11 (53) | Brunswick Street Oval | 11,500 | 19 May 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.7 (67) | | 2.14 (26) | Victoria Park | 28,000 | 19 May 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.6 (42) | | 11.18 (84) | Arden Street Oval | 11,000 | 19 May 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.14 (74) | | 10.11 (71) | Glenferrie Oval | 22,000 | 19 May 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.8 (98) | | 11.20 (86) | Lake Oval | 26,000 | 19 May 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.14 (68) | | 15.17 (107) | Punt Road Oval | 28,000 | 19 May 1956
Round 7
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.7 (97) | | 7.16 (58) | Arden Street Oval | 13,000 | 26 May 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.10 (64) | | 6.8 (44) | Junction Oval | 15,800 | 26 May 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.10 (58) | | 9.13 (67) | Glenferrie Oval | 18,000 | 26 May 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.17 (107) | | 8.9 (57) | Kardinia Park | 21,758 | 26 May 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.13 (79) | | 9.7 (61) | MCG | 46,868 | 26 May 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.13 (55) | | 8.8 (56) | Western Oval | 33,089 | 26 May 1956
Round 8
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.10 (64) | | 3.4 (22) | Victoria Park | 22,650 | 2 June 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.13 (73) | | 5.9 (39) | Princes Park | 33,557 | 2 June 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.11 (47) | | 9.7 (61) | Junction Oval | 26,300 | 2 June 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.15 (75) | | 12.6 (78) | Punt Road Oval | 23,000 | 4 June 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.11 (83) | | 14.23 (107) | Windy Hill | 31,500 | 4 June 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.12 (78) | | 8.8 (56) | Kardinia Park | 21,985 | 4 June 1956
Round 9
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.13 (55) | | 3.12 (30) | Glenferrie Oval | 11,000 | 9 June 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.14 (86) | | 6.8 (44) | Western Oval | 24,443 | 9 June 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.13 (79) | | 12.8 (80) | Princes Park | 33,254 | 9 June 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.5 (89) | | 11.8 (74) | Lake Oval | 21,000 | 9 June 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.17 (107) | | 4.15 (39) | MCG | 32,543 | 9 June 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 5.7 (37) | | 12.10 (82) | Brunswick Street Oval | 24,000 | 9 June 1956
Round 10
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.13 (73) | | 12.11 (83) | Arden Street Oval | 11,000 | 16 June 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.12 (90) | | 10.8 (68) | Western Oval | 35,909 | 16 June 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.9 (63) | | 8.21 (69) | Junction Oval | 26,800 | 16 June 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.10 (82) | | 8.11 (59) | MCG | 36,361 | 23 June 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.20 (92) | | 10.11 (71) | Windy Hill | 17,000 | 23 June 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.11 (53) | | 13.11 (89) | Brunswick Street Oval | 27,000 | 23 June 1956
Round 11
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 5.12 (42) | | 11.14 (80) | Glenferrie Oval | 15,500 | 30 June 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.8 (62) | | 8.9 (57) | Kardinia Park | 11,052 | 30 June 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.18 (108) | | 7.12 (54) | Victoria Park | 23,814 | 30 June 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 5.9 (39) | | 6.13 (49) | Arden Street Oval | 14,000 | 30 June 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.12 (102) | | 12.14 (86) | Punt Road Oval | 12,000 | 30 June 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.19 (73) | | 7.12 (54) | Lake Oval | 27,000 | 30 June 1956
Round 12
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.13 (79) | | 7.3 (45) | MCG | 26,772 | 7 July 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.7 (67) | | 3.8 (26) | Kardinia Park | 16,439 | 7 July 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.9 (51) | | 9.7 (61) | Brunswick Street Oval | 17,500 | 7 July 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.18 (84) | | 8.10 (58) | Victoria Park | 17,150 | 7 July 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.13 (85) | | 5.15 (45) | Princes Park | 23,154 | 7 July 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.9 (129) | | 7.9 (51) | Junction Oval | 14,600 | 7 July 1956
Round 13
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 3.13 (31) | | 8.6 (54) | Glenferrie Oval | 13,000 | 14 July 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.13 (79) | | 13.2 (80) | Western Oval | 25,414 | 14 July 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.13 (67) | | 8.10 (58) | Windy Hill | 14,000 | 14 July 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.5 (47) | | 19.15 (129) | Arden Street Oval | 9,000 | 14 July 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.9 (69) | | 11.9 (75) | Lake Oval | 25,000 | 14 July 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.10 (94) | | 12.7 (79) | MCG | 46,022 | 14 July 1956
Round 14
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.13 (85) | | 10.14 (74) | Kardinia Park | 13,373 | 21 July 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.18 (78) | | 6.11 (47) | Windy Hill | 12,800 | 21 July 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.16 (100) | | 8.5 (53) | Victoria Park | 21,422 | 21 July 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.18 (66) | | 9.12 (66) | Princes Park | 30,100 | 21 July 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.17 (59) | | 10.12 (72) | MCG | 47,956 | 21 July 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.15 (81) | | 15.15 (105) | Lake Oval | 15,000 | 21 July 1956
Round 15
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.18 (78) | | 12.6 (78) | Glenferrie Oval | 12,500 | 28 July 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.11 (53) | | 11.15 (81) | Brunswick Street Oval | 13,000 | 28 July 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.11 (65) | | 11.13 (79) | Punt Road Oval | 15,000 | 28 July 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.11 (47) | | 7.7 (49) | Junction Oval | 28,100 | 28 July 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.6 (72) | | 14.20 (104) | Western Oval | 41,639 | 28 July 1956 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 4.8 (32) | | 11.16 (82) | Arden Street Oval | 13,000 | 28 July 1956
Round 16