Out Tenth Flag
The Dons continued their great form from 1949 and played brilliant football finishing on top of the ladder at the end of the home and away season with 17 out of 18 wins, losing only to North Melbourne in round 6 by 15 points.
They went into the finals as red hot favourites, however North Melbourne gave them a very hard time in the 2nd Semi Final winning by three points, 11.14.80 to 11.11.77. They again fronted up to North Melbourne in the Grand Final, winning comfortably, 13.14.92 to 7.12.54.
During this season John Coleman kicked 120 goals, kicking 11 goals against South Melbourne and 10 each against Collingwood and St Kilda during the season.
Captain and Coach, Dick Reynolds, played his 300th game against Fitzroy during the season and retired at the end of the season with 319 games played, a VFL record at that time. He created some controversy when he actually named himself as a reserve in the 1951 Grand Final, due to a spate of injuries, but the team was defeated by North Melbourne.
The Grand Final team consisted of:
- B.
- H.B.
- C.
- H.F.
- F.
- Foll:
- Rov.
- Res:
- Les Gardiner
- Harold Lambert
- Chris Lambert
- Jack Jones
- Ron McEwin
- Bob McClure
- Bill Hutchison
- Noel Allanson
- Bill Brittingham
- Roy McConnell
- Alan Dale
- Bill Snell
- John Coleman
- Bob Syme
- –
- Ted Leehane
- Wally May
- Norm McDonald
- Jack Collins
- Alan Harper
- Dick Reynolds
- –
- –
- –
Best players in the Grand Final were: Dick Reynolds, Norm McDonald, Wally May, Bob McClure, Bob Syme and Les Gardiner
