HOW DID YOU FARE with club historian Lynda Carroll’s trivia? Check the answers here
Early Days
Early Days
1 What other sporting administration position did Tom Wills hold apart from his primary role in the shaping of the game? He was MCC Secretary
2 What administrative organisation took control of the game in 1877? The Victorian Football Association (the forerunner to the Victorian Football League)
3 Who was the umpire in Melbourne’s premiership win over Fitzroy in 1900? Ivo Crapp
4 What condition forced Melbourne great Fred McGinis to retire and have a benefit match played in his honour in late 1902? He was going blind
5 Which VFL club shared the MCG with Melbourne as its home ground between 1911 and 1914? University
6 To where was the team travelling in 1912 when the ‘Grand Old Flag’ club song received its first airing? Tasmania
7 What sombre feature did Melbourne players have added to their uniforms in the Round Eight, 1915 game against Essendon? They wore black armbands for Joe Pearce, who was killed at Gallipoli
8 What was unusual about Melbourne’s finals appearance against Carlton (a loss to Melbourne) in late 1915? It was the last game played by Melbourne before going into wartime recess
9 Which dual Brownlow Medallist made his senior debut for Melbourne in 1919? Ivor Warne-Smith
10 How many players played their first senior game for Melbourne in 1919? 28
1920s
1 From which Gippsland town did star 1920s player Stan ‘Bunny’ Wittman hail? Rosedale
2 Which Melbourne player polled the most votes in the inaugural Brownlow Medal count in 1924? Albert Chadwick - he finished equal runner up with six votes to E ‘Carji’ Greeves with seven
3 Bob Johnson Snr made his senior debut in 1926. His son, ‘Big Bob’, followed in his father’s footsteps nearly thirty years later. Which of the two giant Johnsons was the taller? ‘Big Bob’, recorded at 198 cm to his father’s 191 cm
4 Which Melbourne player made his senior debut in the 1926 Grand Final? F ‘Pop’ Vine
5 How many Melbourne players kicked fifty goals or more in the premiership year of 1926? Three - Moyes - 55, Johnson - 50, Davie - 50)
6 Ivor Warne-Smith was lured back to the mainland by which other VFL club before it was found that he was actually tied to Melbourne? Richmond
7 From which state did wingman Ray Usher emerge to make his senior debut for Melbourne in 1928? New South Wales
8 With what special medal was Albert Chadwick presented following Melbourne’s 1926 premiership win? The premiership coach’s medal
9 With what other sport was Melbourne’s 1920s ruckman, Col Deane, associated? Rowing
10 After 141 games with Melbourne from 1920, Albert Chadwick left to head to Hawthorn in 1929. How many games did he play in his one season with the Mayblooms? 17
1930s
1 Half-forward flanker Bill Vanthoff was one of four players to make his senior debut for Melbourne in Round One, 1930. What sports related career did he pursue later in life? MCG curator
2 What goal scoring honour did first year player George Margitich achieve in 1930? His 73 goals for the season was the most scored in any season to that time by a Melbourne player
3 Bob Johnson changed guernsey number in his last season - 1933 - after wearing No. 16 his entire career. What number did he finish up in? No. 11
4 The Melbourne Football Club became known as ‘Demons’ from 1933. What had been the Club’s nickname preceding this one? Fuchsias
5 Throughout how many VFL games was the Barassi name seen wearing the No. 31 guernsey? 312. Ron Barassi Snr wore it for 58 games with Melbourne between 1936 and 1940, while his son, Ronald Dale, wore it for his entire 254-game playing career with both Melbourne and Carlton
6 Who was Melbourne’s Best First Year Player in 1939? Harold Ball - a wartime casualty, the award would later be named in honour of the young ruckman
7 Which player did Norm Smith replace to make his senior debut against Richmond in Round 15, 1935? Gordon Jones, who had broken his ankle
8 Jack Mueller dominated the game during the 1930s and 1940s, and holds the record for having kicked the most goals in finals of any Melbourne player, with 62. Who is in second place, and how many goals did they kick in finals? Norm Smith, with 36
9 Star Melbourne centreman Dick Taylor returned to the Club in 1935 after two seasons with which other VFL club? North Melbourne
10 Percy Page was a great Secretary throughout the 1930s, who - like his predecessor, Andrew Manzie - hailed from Richmond. Which legendary Melbourne chairman crossed through the reigns of both Page and Manzie? J.C. ‘Joe’ Blair
1940s
1 Where did Melbourne finish at the end of the home and away season in 1940? First place
2 Norm Smith and Fred Fanning were goal kicking geniuses of the 1930s and 1940s, sharing many achievements and great scoring feats. Which honour did they split exactly between them between 1938 and 1945? Leading Melbourne’s goal scoring. Smith took the honours from 1938 to 1941, and Fanning led the way from 1942 to 1945
3 A tragic wartime loss, Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott - after whom the Club’s Best and Fairest is named - played in the first two of the hattrick of Melbourne flags in 1939, 1940 and 1941. How many goals did he kick in these two Grand Finals? Three - two in 1939, and one in 1940
4 What was the average age of the Melbourne sides across the 1939, 1940 and 1941 premiership victories? 24
5 With which branch of the armed services did Denis Cordner serve during World War Two, being called up shortly after making his senior debut for Melbourne in 1943? RAN - rising to the rank of Sub-Lieutenant
6 How many behinds did Essendon score in their drawn Grand Final with Melbourne in 1948? 27
7 What coaching role did Jack Mueller hold in 1948, while also still a player? He was coach of the Seconds
8 To which Victorian country side did Fred Fanning transfer following 1947 and his record breaking goal kicking feat - 18.1 in a game? Hamilton
9 What was Melbourne coach ‘Checker’ Hughes’ actual full name? Francis Vane Hughes
10 With which newspaper did Melbourne rover Percy Beames go on to forge a brilliant sports journalism career after his playing days (both football and cricket). The Age
1950s
1 Coming on board as Melbourne’s senior coach in 1952, against which side and in which round did Norm Smith experience his first victory in this role? Round Two, against St Kilda (a two point win at the Junction Oval)
2 Which South Australian premiers did Melbourne play and defeat by one point after winning the 1955 flag? Port Adelaide
3 Who shared the goal kicking honours in Melbourne’s 1956 premiership win? Spencer and Webb with five apiece (followed by Johnson and Barassi with three apiece, and Ridley with one).
4 After serving as captain for the 1955 and 1956 flags, Noel McMahen hung up his boots. Who replaced him and went on to captain Melbourne to the 1957 premiership? John Beckwith
5 Melbourne suffered a devastating Grand Final loss to Collingwood in 1958, despite having met and defeated them by how many points earlier in the finals? 45 in the second semi-final
6 What record was set in Melbourne’s Round 10 Queen’s Birthday win over Collingwood in 1958? The greatest attendance at a home and away game, which still stands today - 99,346.
7 How many Reserves/Seconds premierships did Melbourne win during the 1950s? One - 1956
8 From which Victorian country town did star rover Ian Ridley hail, and which other famous Australian was born there? Jeparit, where Australian Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies was also born
9 With which Tasmanian side did Stuart Spencer play after leaving Melbourne at the end of 1956? Clarence
10 What pioneering part did John Beckwith play when the final siren sounded to give Melbourne victory over Essendon in the 1959 Grand Final? He was the first captain to be presented with the premiership cup as we know it today
2 What administrative organisation took control of the game in 1877? The Victorian Football Association (the forerunner to the Victorian Football League)
3 Who was the umpire in Melbourne’s premiership win over Fitzroy in 1900? Ivo Crapp
4 What condition forced Melbourne great Fred McGinis to retire and have a benefit match played in his honour in late 1902? He was going blind
5 Which VFL club shared the MCG with Melbourne as its home ground between 1911 and 1914? University
6 To where was the team travelling in 1912 when the ‘Grand Old Flag’ club song received its first airing? Tasmania
7 What sombre feature did Melbourne players have added to their uniforms in the Round Eight, 1915 game against Essendon? They wore black armbands for Joe Pearce, who was killed at Gallipoli
8 What was unusual about Melbourne’s finals appearance against Carlton (a loss to Melbourne) in late 1915? It was the last game played by Melbourne before going into wartime recess
9 Which dual Brownlow Medallist made his senior debut for Melbourne in 1919? Ivor Warne-Smith
10 How many players played their first senior game for Melbourne in 1919? 28
1920s
1 From which Gippsland town did star 1920s player Stan ‘Bunny’ Wittman hail? Rosedale
2 Which Melbourne player polled the most votes in the inaugural Brownlow Medal count in 1924? Albert Chadwick - he finished equal runner up with six votes to E ‘Carji’ Greeves with seven
3 Bob Johnson Snr made his senior debut in 1926. His son, ‘Big Bob’, followed in his father’s footsteps nearly thirty years later. Which of the two giant Johnsons was the taller? ‘Big Bob’, recorded at 198 cm to his father’s 191 cm
4 Which Melbourne player made his senior debut in the 1926 Grand Final? F ‘Pop’ Vine
5 How many Melbourne players kicked fifty goals or more in the premiership year of 1926? Three - Moyes - 55, Johnson - 50, Davie - 50)
6 Ivor Warne-Smith was lured back to the mainland by which other VFL club before it was found that he was actually tied to Melbourne? Richmond
7 From which state did wingman Ray Usher emerge to make his senior debut for Melbourne in 1928? New South Wales
8 With what special medal was Albert Chadwick presented following Melbourne’s 1926 premiership win? The premiership coach’s medal
9 With what other sport was Melbourne’s 1920s ruckman, Col Deane, associated? Rowing
10 After 141 games with Melbourne from 1920, Albert Chadwick left to head to Hawthorn in 1929. How many games did he play in his one season with the Mayblooms? 17
1930s
1 Half-forward flanker Bill Vanthoff was one of four players to make his senior debut for Melbourne in Round One, 1930. What sports related career did he pursue later in life? MCG curator
2 What goal scoring honour did first year player George Margitich achieve in 1930? His 73 goals for the season was the most scored in any season to that time by a Melbourne player
3 Bob Johnson changed guernsey number in his last season - 1933 - after wearing No. 16 his entire career. What number did he finish up in? No. 11
4 The Melbourne Football Club became known as ‘Demons’ from 1933. What had been the Club’s nickname preceding this one? Fuchsias
5 Throughout how many VFL games was the Barassi name seen wearing the No. 31 guernsey? 312. Ron Barassi Snr wore it for 58 games with Melbourne between 1936 and 1940, while his son, Ronald Dale, wore it for his entire 254-game playing career with both Melbourne and Carlton
6 Who was Melbourne’s Best First Year Player in 1939? Harold Ball - a wartime casualty, the award would later be named in honour of the young ruckman
7 Which player did Norm Smith replace to make his senior debut against Richmond in Round 15, 1935? Gordon Jones, who had broken his ankle
8 Jack Mueller dominated the game during the 1930s and 1940s, and holds the record for having kicked the most goals in finals of any Melbourne player, with 62. Who is in second place, and how many goals did they kick in finals? Norm Smith, with 36
9 Star Melbourne centreman Dick Taylor returned to the Club in 1935 after two seasons with which other VFL club? North Melbourne
10 Percy Page was a great Secretary throughout the 1930s, who - like his predecessor, Andrew Manzie - hailed from Richmond. Which legendary Melbourne chairman crossed through the reigns of both Page and Manzie? J.C. ‘Joe’ Blair
1940s
1 Where did Melbourne finish at the end of the home and away season in 1940? First place
2 Norm Smith and Fred Fanning were goal kicking geniuses of the 1930s and 1940s, sharing many achievements and great scoring feats. Which honour did they split exactly between them between 1938 and 1945? Leading Melbourne’s goal scoring. Smith took the honours from 1938 to 1941, and Fanning led the way from 1942 to 1945
3 A tragic wartime loss, Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott - after whom the Club’s Best and Fairest is named - played in the first two of the hattrick of Melbourne flags in 1939, 1940 and 1941. How many goals did he kick in these two Grand Finals? Three - two in 1939, and one in 1940
4 What was the average age of the Melbourne sides across the 1939, 1940 and 1941 premiership victories? 24
5 With which branch of the armed services did Denis Cordner serve during World War Two, being called up shortly after making his senior debut for Melbourne in 1943? RAN - rising to the rank of Sub-Lieutenant
6 How many behinds did Essendon score in their drawn Grand Final with Melbourne in 1948? 27
7 What coaching role did Jack Mueller hold in 1948, while also still a player? He was coach of the Seconds
8 To which Victorian country side did Fred Fanning transfer following 1947 and his record breaking goal kicking feat - 18.1 in a game? Hamilton
9 What was Melbourne coach ‘Checker’ Hughes’ actual full name? Francis Vane Hughes
10 With which newspaper did Melbourne rover Percy Beames go on to forge a brilliant sports journalism career after his playing days (both football and cricket). The Age
1950s
1 Coming on board as Melbourne’s senior coach in 1952, against which side and in which round did Norm Smith experience his first victory in this role? Round Two, against St Kilda (a two point win at the Junction Oval)
2 Which South Australian premiers did Melbourne play and defeat by one point after winning the 1955 flag? Port Adelaide
3 Who shared the goal kicking honours in Melbourne’s 1956 premiership win? Spencer and Webb with five apiece (followed by Johnson and Barassi with three apiece, and Ridley with one).
4 After serving as captain for the 1955 and 1956 flags, Noel McMahen hung up his boots. Who replaced him and went on to captain Melbourne to the 1957 premiership? John Beckwith
5 Melbourne suffered a devastating Grand Final loss to Collingwood in 1958, despite having met and defeated them by how many points earlier in the finals? 45 in the second semi-final
6 What record was set in Melbourne’s Round 10 Queen’s Birthday win over Collingwood in 1958? The greatest attendance at a home and away game, which still stands today - 99,346.
7 How many Reserves/Seconds premierships did Melbourne win during the 1950s? One - 1956
8 From which Victorian country town did star rover Ian Ridley hail, and which other famous Australian was born there? Jeparit, where Australian Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies was also born
9 With which Tasmanian side did Stuart Spencer play after leaving Melbourne at the end of 1956? Clarence
10 What pioneering part did John Beckwith play when the final siren sounded to give Melbourne victory over Essendon in the 1959 Grand Final? He was the first captain to be presented with the premiership cup as we know it today
