World War II was still raging, making the MCG unavailable, so the football focus was on Junction Oval on September, 30, 1944 when Fitzroy took on Richmond in the VFL Grand Final.
A tram and bus strike caused transport chaos in sweltering 29.7-degree heat (the second hottest Grand Final day ever recorded. In 1987 it reached 30.7 degrees) as 1500 people packed train after train for the four-minute journey from Flinders Street to StKilda. Even before game time 12 people were taken away by ambulance as sections within the capacity-plus crowd of 43,000 climbed trees, fences and roofs in search of a good vantage point.
Richmond were hoping for two in a row after taking the 1943 premiership.
Fitzroy captain-coach Fred Hughson, deeply admired and respected by his team, bravely kicked into a strong north wind in the first toss and was delighted as they restricted the opposition to a one-goal lead. The underdogs led a fierce physical battle by two goals at halftime and were not headed. They led by 11 points at the final change and, finishing with the wind, hung on 9.12 (66) to 7.9 (51) after the Tigers had pulled to within nine.
Bert Clay was outstanding in the ruck, Bruce Calverley dominated in midfield, and Ken Sier and Keith Stackpole were dangerous up forward. Hughson at fullback kept Richmond’s ‘Captain Blood’ Jack Dyer to one goal in a telling contribution.
It was the club’s eighth premiership in the then VFL. And their last as a separate entity.
FINAL SCORE
FITZROY 1.2 | 4.8 | 6.10 | 9.12 (66)
RICHMOND 2.2 | 3.2 | 5.5 | 7.9 (51)
GOALS - Sier 3, Stackpole 2, Calverley, Symons, Wright, Ruthven.
BEST - Calverley, Hillard, Price, Hughson, Hearn, Clay.
CROWD - 43,000 at the Junction Oval.
FITZROY'S 1944 GRAND FINAL TEAM
B Clen Denning Fred Hughson (c) Alan Fields
HB Laurie Bickerton Norm Hillard Arthur O'Bryan
C Bruce Calverley Geroge Hoskins Noel Jarvis
HF Stan Dawson Stan Wright Noel Price
F Maurie Hearn Ken Sier Keith Stackpole
FOLL Bert Clay Jack Symons Allan Ruthven
RES Dan Murray
COACH Fred Hughson
