The 1970 VFL season was the 74th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria.
The season featured twelve clubs, and ran from 4 April until 26 September. It was the first season to play comprise a 22-game home-and-away season, which became the standard for the following fifty years, and which was followed by a finals series featuring the top four clubs. The season saw the opening of the league's privately owned stadium, VFL Park, in Mulgrave.
The premiership was won by the Carlton Football Club for the tenth time, after it defeated by ten points in the 1970 VFL Grand Final. A crowd of 121,696 attended the match, the all-time record for the highest Australian rules football crowd.
Background In 1970, 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 22 rounds; matches 12 to 22 were the "home-and-way reverse" of matches 1 to 11.
Once the 22 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1970 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" | | 21.19 (145) | | 14.12 (96) | Princes Park | 23,948 | 4 April 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.16 (100) | | 7.6 (48) | Moorabbin Oval | 21,429 | 4 April 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.14 (68) | | 14.9 (93) | Lake Oval | 15,242 | 4 April 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.12 (126) | | 21.9 (135) | Glenferrie Oval | 20,509 | 4 April 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.12 (84) | | 23.10 (148) | Western Oval | 26,596 | 4 April 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.12 (96) | | 16.20 (116) | MCG | 38,617 | 5 April 1970
Round 2
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.11 (59) | | 8.12 (60) | Arden Street Oval | 10,986 | 11 April 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.9 (51) | | 23.23 (161) | Junction Oval | 22,857 | 11 April 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.14 (74) | | 14.22 (106) | Windy Hill | 19,380 | 11 April 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.19 (133) | | 13.16 (94) | Victoria Park | 35,318 | 11 April 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.12 (96) | | 11.19 (85) | MCG | 25,575 | 11 April 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.9 (81) | | 16.7 (103) | Kardinia Park | 28,302 | 11 April 1970
Round 3
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.23 (107) | | 10.14 (74) | Western Oval | 17,972 | 18 April 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.24 (108) | | 15.11 (101) | Victoria Park | 24,532 | 18 April 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.13 (121) | | 8.16 (64) | Arden Street Oval | 10,182 | 18 April 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.17 (89) | | 15.10 (100) | Lake Oval | 14,726 | 18 April 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.12 (114) | | 15.11 (101) | MCG | 46,373 | 18 April 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.11 (53) | | 17.12 (114) | VFL Park | 27,557 | 18 April 1970
Round 4
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.16 (112) | | 13.15 (93) | Princes Park | 20,540 | 25 April 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.19 (109) | | 7.12 (54) | Moorabbin Oval | 32,147 | 25 April 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 17.19 (121) | | 13.13 (91) | MCG | 22,909 | 25 April 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.10 (70) | | 16.14 (110) | Glenferrie Oval | 19,017 | 25 April 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.9 (93) | | 14.17 (101) | Kardinia Park | 35,654 | 25 April 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.11 (77) | | 9.6 (60) | VFL Park | 24,371 | 25 April 1970
Round 5
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.13 (49) | | 10.11 (71) | MCG | 23,084 | 2 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.13 (79) | | 11.10 (76) | Western Oval | 19,610 | 2 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 5.24 (54) | | 7.7 (49) | Junction Oval | 7,450 | 2 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.14 (68) | | 14.4 (88) | Windy Hill | 16,077 | 2 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.9 (57) | | 12.14 (86) | Moorabbin Oval | 22,800 | 2 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.17 (65) | | 8.9 (57) | VFL Park | 28,454 | 2 May 1970
Round 6
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 23.9 (147) | | 15.20 (110) | Princes Park | 20,022 | 9 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.25 (79) | | 9.8 (62) | Lake Oval | 20,312 | 9 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.15 (123) | | 11.11 (77) | Kardinia Park | 21,139 | 9 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.12 (72) | | 7.15 (57) | MCG | 34,219 | 9 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.6 (66) | | 17.30 (132) | Arden Street Oval | 20,091 | 9 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.10 (130) | | 21.11 (137) | VFL Park | 26,133 | 9 May 1970
Round 7
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.14 (68) | | 7.4 (46) | Western Oval | 16,346 | 16 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.15 (105) | | 9.18 (72) | Victoria Park | 22,774 | 16 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.21 (81) | | 8.8 (56) | Moorabbin Oval | 17,618 | 16 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.20 (116) | | 15.2 (92) | MCG | 43,435 | 16 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 23.12 (150) | | 10.13 (73) | Lake Oval | 28,395 | 16 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.12 (60) | | 9.22 (76) | VFL Park | 13,339 | 16 May 1970
Round 8
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.10 (100) | | 18.19 (127) | MCG | 36,064 | 23 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 21.20 (146) | | 12.12 (84) | Glenferrie Oval | 17,063 | 23 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.5 (89) | | 12.9 (81) | Kardinia Park | 20,942 | 23 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.13 (67) | | 13.18 (96) | Arden Street Oval | 13,475 | 23 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.14 (68) | | 11.5 (71) | Junction Oval | 12,264 | 23 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.13 (85) | | 16.12 (108) | VFL Park | 55,332 | 23 May 1970
Round 9
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.14 (74) | | 15.16 (106) | Princes Park | 19,298 | 30 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.17 (77) | | 15.7 (97) | MCG | 22,284 | 30 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.12 (96) | | 7.11 (53) | Moorabbin Oval | 19,393 | 30 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 19.14 (128) | | 10.18 (78) | Lake Oval | 19,794 | 30 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.15 (93) | | 11.21 (87) | Windy Hill | 24,936 | 30 May 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.13 (79) | | 12.9 (81) | VFL Park | 10,292 | 30 May 1970
Round 10
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.9 (93) | | 12.19 (91) | Junction Oval | 16,971 | 6 June 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.13 (97) | | 15.14 (104) | Windy Hill | 20,650 | 6 June 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.23 (107) | | 15.10 (100) | Victoria Park | 30,858 | 6 June 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.14 (74) | | 13.13 (91) | MCG | 27,665 | 6 June 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.14 (104) | | 14.10 (94) | Western Oval | 22,262 | 6 June 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.8 (62) | | 11.9 (75) | VFL Park | 14,214 | 6 June 1970
Round 11
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.17 (83) | | 9.10 (64) | Kardinia Park | 19,133 | 15 June 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 22.15 (147) | | 9.8 (62) | Princes Park | 18,760 | 15 June 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 22.15 (147) | | 13.12 (90) | MCG | 41,866 | 15 June 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.12 (120) | | 12.8 (80) | Glenferrie Oval | 14,489 | 15 June 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.15 (111) | | 16.14 (110) | Lake Oval | 35,567 | 15 June 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.21 (69) | | 8.9 (57) | VFL Park | 21,105 | 15 June 1970
Round 12
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 5.10 (40) | | 11.5 (71) | Arden Street Oval | 10,007 | 20 June 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.15 (99) | | 10.11 (71) | Kardinia Park | 12,698 | 20 June 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.11 (83) | | 8.9 (57) | Junction Oval | 14,541 | 20 June 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 8.16 (64) | | 7.9 (51) | Victoria Park | 23,008 | 20 June 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 10.16 (76) | | 12.9 (81) | Windy Hill | 20,270 | 20 June 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.6 (78) | | 12.10 (82) | VFL Park | 13,962 | 20 June 1970
Round 13
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.17 (113) | | 11.8 (74) | Glenferrie Oval | 13,196 | 27 June 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.21 (93) | | 11.14 (80) | Princes Park | 25,519 | 27 June 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.9 (105) | | 14.12 (96) | Lake Oval | 12,407 | 27 June 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.14 (80) | | 8.11 (59) | Moorabbin Oval | 17,073 | 27 June 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.12 (78) | | 9.8 (62) | Western Oval | 18,817 | 27 June 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.13 (79) | | 9.13 (67) | VFL Park | 23,939 | 27 June 1970
Round 14
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.19 (85) | | 11.11 (77) | MCG | 13,975 | 4 July 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.12 (78) | | 7.7 (49) | Princes Park | 26,895 | 4 July 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.16 (52) | | 6.10 (46) | Moorabbin Oval | 15,415 | 4 July 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 20.8 (128) | | 13.16 (94) | Kardinia Park | 15,304 | 4 July 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.7 (115) | | 13.13 (91) | Glenferrie Oval | 19,587 | 4 July 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 5.10 (40) | | 11.5 (71) | VFL Park | 13,238 | 4 July 1970
Round 15
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.15 (81) | | 7.21 (63) | MCG | 38,037 | 11 July 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 6.4 (40) | | 13.10 (88) | Western Oval | 21,921 | 11 July 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.18 (90) | | 8.14 (62) | Junction Oval | 9,467 | 11 July 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 9.8 (62) | | 21.4 (130) | Windy Hill | 13,174 | 11 July 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.15 (93) | | 8.16 (64) | Victoria Park | 28,847 | 11 July 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 4.7 (31) | | 13.21 (99) | VFL Park | 12,572 | 11 July 1970
Round 16
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 16.14 (110) | | 10.11 (71) | Princes Park | 22,988 | 18 July 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 11.9 (75) | | 12.17 (89) | Lake Oval | 25,651 | 18 July 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.17 (95) | | 18.14 (122) | Arden Street Oval | 8,443 | 18 July 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 15.16 (106) | | 8.17 (65) | Kardinia Park | 17,220 | 18 July 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 7.19 (61) | | 10.16 (76) | MCG | 36,044 | 18 July 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 23.9 (147) | | 6.12 (48) | VFL Park | 14,151 | 18 July 1970
Round 17
! Home team ! Home team score ! Away team ! Away team score ! Venue ! Crowd ! Date |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 13.14 (92) | | 11.6 (72) | Moorabbin Oval | 20,851 | 25 July 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 12.15 (87) | | 7.14 (56) | Western Oval | 14,660 | 25 July 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 18.17 (125) | | 12.17 (89) | Windy Hill | 9,755 | 25 July 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | | 14.21 (105) | | 8.8 (56) | Victoria Park | 15,678 | 25 July 1970 |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |