The 1966 VFL Grand Final was the championship decider of the 1966 Victorian Football League (VFL) season. The match was contested between the St Kilda Football Club and the Collingwood Football Club on 24 September 1966 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne, Victoria. St Kilda won by a margin of one point, defeating Collingwood 10.9 (69) to 9.13 (67). The victory marked St Kilda's first and, to date, only VFL/AFL premiership.
Background
St Kilda entered the match as the minor premiers, having finished the regular season at the top of the ladder with a record of 17 wins and 5 losses. Collingwood qualified for the Grand Final after a series of finals victories, including a preliminary final win over Essendon.
Match details
| Aspect | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | 24 September 1966 |
| Venue | Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) |
| Attendance | 101,800 spectators |
| Umpires | Jeff Crouch (field), John O'Connell and Frank Schwab (boundary) |
| Final score | St Kilda 10.9 (69) defeated Collingwood 9.13 (67) |
| Margin | 1 point |
| Best on ground | Ian Stewart (St Kilda) – awarded the Norm Smith Medal (retroactively recognized) |
| Premiership flag | St Kilda’s first VFL premiership |
Game summary
The match was closely contested throughout, with multiple lead changes. Collingwood led by 12 points at quarter time, but St Kilda rallied to take a slender lead into the final quarter. In the closing stages, Collingwood narrowed the gap, and with less than a minute remaining, St Kilda’s Barry Breen kicked the decisive behind that secured the one‑point margin. The narrow victory has been remembered as one of the most dramatic finishes in VFL/AFL history.
Aftermath
St Kilda’s premiership win remains a historic milestone for the club and its supporters, ending a long premiership drought. The 1966 Grand Final is frequently cited in discussions of close finals, and its one‑point margin is tied for the smallest winning margin in a VFL/AFL Grand Final, alongside the 2000 Grand Final (also decided by 1 point). The match is also notable for being the only Grand Final appearance for St Kilda’s legendary captain, Darrel Baldock, who retired shortly thereafter.
Legacy
The 1966 Grand Final is commemorated by St Kilda during club anniversaries and is often featured in retrospectives on significant moments in Australian rules football. The match’s dramatic ending has contributed to its lasting prominence in the cultural memory of the sport.