1977 VFL Grand Final And Replay — North Beat Collingwood

The 1977 VFL Grand Final and replay saw North Melbourne defeat Collingwood — initially in a draw, then in the replay 21.25 (151) to 19.10 (124) — to claim back-to-back-style flags after a famous drawn Grand Final. The original on 24 September 1977 was a 10.16 (76) all draw, with the Magpies’ Phil Carman and the Roos’ Wayne Schimmelbusch dominating. The replay on 1 October 1977 saw North win by 27 points. Both Grand Finals attracted full MCG crowds.

The Build-Up: Drawn Grand Final Drama

The 1977 home-and-away campaign saw both Collingwood (under Tom Hafey) and North Melbourne (under Ron Barassi) reach the Grand Final. The Magpies were continuing their long Colliwobbles drought (since 1958); the Roos had won 1975 (their first since 1925).

The Original Grand Final (24 September 1977)

The original 1977 Grand Final ended in a draw — only the second drawn Grand Final in VFL history (after 1948 Essendon vs Melbourne). The match was a defensive arm-wrestle. Final score at the siren: Collingwood 10.16 (76) drew with North Melbourne 10.16 (76).

The drawn Grand Final required a replay the following Saturday — only the second time in VFL history.

The Replay (1 October 1977)

The replay was an offensive shootout. North Melbourne started fast and held throughout. Wayne Schimmelbusch’s 27 disposals and Ross Glendinning’s 5 goals were decisive. Phil Carman led Collingwood’s resistance.

Final replay score: North Melbourne 21.25 (151) defeated Collingwood 19.10 (124) — a 27-point replay margin.

The Norm Smith Medal: Phil Carman (in defeat)

The 1977 Norm Smith voting (well, the Norm Smith wasn’t yet instituted; the 1977 BOG was widely recognised as Phil Carman of Collingwood — the only player to have a “BOG” recognised from the losing team in a drawn Grand Final).

The Premiership Coach: Ron Barassi

Ron Barassi collected another flag at North Melbourne in 1977 (after 1975).

Famous Moments

• The drawn Grand Final — only the second in VFL history.
• The replay’s offensive shootout.
• Phil Carman’s defiant brilliance for Collingwood.
• Wayne Schimmelbusch’s 27 disposals in the replay.
• Ross Glendinning’s 5 goals.
• Ron Barassi’s tactical adjustments between original and replay.
• Tom Hafey’s gracious post-match.
• The Colliwobbles continuing.
• North Melbourne’s supporter celebrations.
• Two full MCG crowds across original and replay.

Trivia for the Pub

• Date: Original: 24 September 1977; Replay: 1 October 1977.
• Original: Collingwood 10.16 (76) drew with North 10.16 (76).
• Replay: North 21.25 (151) defeated Collingwood 19.10 (124).
• Margin (replay): 27 points.
• The 1977 was the second drawn Grand Final in VFL history (after 1948).
• The replay attracted a near-full MCG crowd again.
• Ron Barassi’s coaching tenure delivered multiple flags.
• Phil Carman was widely seen as the best player across both games but on the losing team.
• Ross Glendinning’s 5-goal replay was decisive.
• The Colliwobbles continued — Magpies waited until 1990.

The Verdict

The 1977 VFL Grand Final and replay was one of the most-extraordinary episodes in VFL/AFL history. The drawn original, the offensive replay, the Colliwobbles continuing — all combined for a Grand Final week unlike any other. Long live the 1977 Roos.

The 1977 result also set the template for future drawn Grand Finals — most notably the 2010 Collingwood vs St Kilda draw, also followed by a Magpies-favouring replay. The pattern of “drawn Grand Final → replay → one team thrashes the other” repeated itself almost exactly 33 years later.