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1960

Image Coach: Norm Smith
Captain: Ron Barassi
Finishing Position: 1st (Premiers)
Best and Fairest: Brian Dixon
Leading Goalkicker: Ian Ridley (38)
Best First Year Player: Ray Nilsson
Members: 4440

Matches Ladder Playing List Tribunal Reserves Under 19s
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The defending premiers had to cope with the loss of Don Williams (24), Athol Webb (24) and Dick Fenton-Smith (27), and Captain John Beckwith stood down after contemplating retirement. He remained deputy to new captain Ron Barassi.

The Thirds and Seconds were rebranded as Under 19s and Reserves respectively.

Melbourne finished Round 15 with one loss and were heavy premiership favourites, before losing their last three games. Fitzroy started the Semi Final as the form side, but were thrashed, and after the Len Smith led Lions lost the Preliminary Final, Collingwood would again be the Grand Final opposition. The Magpies were restricted to two goals, their lowest score since 1900, as Melbourne captured their 11th premiership.

Despite this latest success, trouble was stirring between Norm Smith and the committee. In his premiership address, Smith said, "This has not been my happiest year at Melbourne. Many people in this room have to put away their shotguns for another year. These critics are within the football club itself. There are too many people in the club who claim to know a great deal about football - more than anyone else - but they do nothing about it except criticise. Today I have given my answer". Smith concluded his speech by saying "Put those shotguns away. Hang them up on the wall".

An exhibition match was played against South Australian premier North Adelaide. Players didn't go on an end-of-season trip, conserving money for a proposed trip to New Zealand at the end of 1961.

Tassie Johnson, John Lord, Bryan Kenneally and Clyde Laidlaw were the Melbourne representatives in a long kicking competition held at that year's Royal Melbourne Show. Kenneally was the competition winner.

Melbourne's VFL delegates were Bert Chadwick and Richard Taylor, however Taylor was replaced by Jim Cardwell between 6 May and 19 August, and Chadwick by Tom Trumble between 19 August and 21 October.

Lord Mayor Bernard Evans was the club's patron.

Premiership season

RoundOppositionResultScore
1 North MelbourneWIN99-44
2 St. KildaWIN72-48
3 South MelbourneWIN110-46
4 CollingwoodLOSS19-55
5 HawthornWIN57-37
6 RichmondWIN124-32
7 EssendonWIN71-69
8 FootscrayWIN75-44
9 FitzroyWIN110-68
10 GeelongWIN83-41
11 CarltonWIN71-58
12 North MelbourneWIN103-73
13 St. KildaWIN49-45
14 South MelbourneWIN109-70
15 CollingwoodWIN111-65
16 HawthornLOSS67-76
17 RichmondLOSS60-68
18 EssendonLOSS65-78
SF FitzroyWIN102-40
GF CollingwoodWIN62-14

Ladder

WDL%P:
Melbourne1404143.156
Fitzroy1404112.556
Essendon1305125.152
Collingwood1107114.344
Hawthorn1107104.944
St. Kilda909101.736
Carlton81999.034
South Melbourne701192.328
Geelong611195.526
Footscray601290.424
North Melbourne501380.320
Richmond221466.712

Exhibition match

OppositionResultScore
North Adelaide WINUnknown

Playing list

NumberPlayerGamesGoals
2 Alan Rowarth 15 22
4 John Lord 204
5 Ian McLean 40
6 Frank Adams 1316
7 Geoff Case 190
8 Tassie Johnson 190
9 Brian Dixon 204
10 Bob Turner 55
11 Laurie Mithen 203
12 Neil Crompton 54
14 Trevor Johnson 181
16 Bob Johnson 1630
20 Graeme Pinfold 70
21 Brian Leahy 120
22 Bryan Kenneally 170
23 Geoff Tunbridge 2017
24 Ian Ridley 2038
26 Ian Thorogood 150
27 Denis Jones 150
28 Terry Gleeson 153
29 Hassa Mann 2022
30 John Beckwith 160
31 Ron Barassi 1821
32 George Milner 51
34 Len Mann 61
35 Clyde Laidlaw 1914
37 Bernie Massey 70
38 Ray Nilsson 1319
45 Peter Baker 10

Best and Fairest

Player
1st Brian Dixon
2nd Ian Ridley
3rd John Beckwith

Awards
Most Improved - Bryan Kenneally
Outstanding Service - Ron Barassi, Tassie Johnson, Terry Gleeson, Laurie Mithen, John Lord, Geoff Tunbridge
Best Clubman - Alan Rowarth
Most Improved Player - Bryan Kenneally

Tribunal

RoundPlayerChargeSanction
Practice Match Terry Gleeson Obscene language 2 matches
Round 12 Ron Barassi Obscene Language 1 match
Round 16 Robert B Johnson Obscene Language 2 matches

Reserves

1960 Reserves season
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Best and Fairest - Len Mann
Second Best and Fairest - Bruce Leslie
Best First Year Player - Felix Strachov
Outstanding Service - Bernie Massey, Barry Sheppard

Under 19s

1960 Under 19s season
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Best and Fairest - John Leahy
Second Best and Fairest - Gavin Mooney
Outstanding service - Brian Weidlich, Reg Wicks, Ray Groom, Robert Anderson, Alec Ingwersen

Fourths

Best and Fairest - Herbie Matthews
Second Best and Fairest - Terry Johnston
Outstanding Service - Kevin Glass, George Carey

Media
Age - 29/09/1960, 27/09/1960

Links
AFL Tables page
Wikipedia page