1971 VFL Grand Final

Hawthorn	St Kilda
12.10 (82)	11.9 (75)

	1	2	3	4
HAW	2.2 (14)	4.4 (28)	5.7 (37)	12.10 (82)
STK	2.1 (13)	4.6 (30)	8.9 (57)	11.9 (75)

Date

25 September 1971

Stadium

Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia

Attendance

118,192

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The 1971 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Hawthorn Football Club and St Kilda Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 25 September 1971. It was the 73rd annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine the premiers for the 1971 VFL season. The match, attended 118,192 spectators, was won by Hawthorn by a margin of 7 points, marking that club's second premiership.

This was St Kilda's first appearance in a premiership decider since winning the 1966 VFL Grand Final, while for Hawthorn it was their first since losing the 1963 VFL Grand Final. Both clubs were aiming for their second premiership.

At the conclusion of the regular home-and-away season, Hawthorn had finished first on the ladder with 19 wins and 3 losses. St Kilda had finished second with 16 wins and 6 losses. Hawthorn's Peter Hudson was the leading goal-kicker in the competition with 140 goals.

In the finals series leading up to the Grand Final, Hawthorn met St Kilda in the Second Semi Final, Hawthorn dominated early with Hudson kicking 7 goals to be well clear by three quarter time. St Kilda staged a fightback to lose by only two points. Hawtorn's victory sent them straight through to the Grand Final. St Kilda, after this loss, defeated Richmond by 30 points in the Preliminary Final to match up with Hawthorn in the premiership decider.

The Grand Final was played in wet conditions and it was probably the toughest grand final ever played. Both sides dished out physical punishment and copped it as well. It was an evenly fought contest throughout.

Hawthorn started well with star full forward Peter Hudson kicking two goals early in the term. St Kilda's fullback Bob Murray was hurt early, and then Cowboy Neale clashed heavily with Hudson leaving Hudson with double vision for the rest of the game. Murray was moved to full forward and Barry Lawrence was moved onto Hawthorn's Hudson and kept him well in check. Les Hawken who had a fitness test earlier in the week hurt his ankle again after a clash with Carl Ditterich and was replaced by Ken Beck.

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