The 1940 Victorian Football League (VFL) season was the 44th season of the VFL. The season saw 115 Australian rules footballers make their senior VFL debut and a further 24 transfer to new clubs having previously played in the VFL.

Summary + Summary of debuts in 1940 Club VFL debuts Change of club 6 1 11 2 9 1 10 6 Footscray 7 3 3 0 17 2 7 0 13 3 8 1 South Melbourne 13 3 11 2 Total 115 24

Debuts

Name Club Age at debut Round debuted Games Goals Notes 126 161 119 46 17 1 9 6 6 0 5 1 1 1 Previously played for Hawthorn. 62 61 58 113 48 3 Father of Ron Carruthers Jr.. 42 16 18 2 Brother of Arch and George Knott. 17 0 17 4 13 2 12 2 4 4 3 0 Previously played for Footscray. 2 0 Previously played for North Melbourne. 2 2 131 256 122 0 102 2 Father of Allan Hird Jr. and grandfather of James Hird. Previously played for Hawthorn. 99 2 Brother of Chris Lambert. 78 41 21 1 12 9 7 2 Brother of Clive Smith. 2 0 2 7 222 442 1950 Brownlow Medallist. 157 48 Brother of Ivor Clay. 81 37 59 61 52 16 45 5 41 17 Previously played for Hawthorn and Footscray. 22 32 Previously played for Carlton. 22 2 Previously played for Collingwood. 18 20 Cousin of Doug Nicholls. 12 0 Previously played for Essendon. 6 2 6 0 4 1 Previously played for South Melbourne. 4 10 Previously played for Essendon and North Melbourne. 3 4 Played first-class cricket for Victoria. 66 80 Australian Test cricketer. Brother of Tom Tribe. 65 2 Father of Lindsay and Kingsley Ellis, and grandfather of Daniel Merriweather. Previously played for North Melbourne. 25 28 Brother of Frank Murphy. Previously played for Collingwood. 17 5 15 0 12 0 6 3 3 0 Previously played for Richmond and South Melbourne. 2 0 1 0 6916 3515 2 3 125 116 85 9 85 0 1949 Brownlow Medallist. 64 46 Previously played for Collingwood. 44 1 24 0 23 0 23 9 18 16 12 0 11 4 8 7 5 13 Previously played for Collingwood. 5 3 5 1 3 0 Son of Richard Pirrie, brother of Kevin Pirrie and uncle of Stephen Pirrie. 2 3 2 0 1 0 138 1 118 3 116 143 Father of Anthony Dullard. 104 411 Holds the record for most goals in a VFL/AFL match, with 18. 8 11 4 1 Son of Ernie Atkins. 3 0 167 5 39 27 Previously played for Essendon. 36 3 18 7 9 2 Previously played for Footscray. 9 3 8 2 7 0 6 9Son of Bill Thomas. Previously played for South Melbourne and Hawthorn. 4 3 3 0 2 2 2 0 2 0 1 1 1 0 170 53 148 10 83 22 42 1 Grandfather of Stuart Steele. 25 25 Son of Billy Quinn. 19 14 Played for South Melbourne earlier in the 1940 VFL season. 17 0 3 0 Killed in action in 1943. Uncle of Peter Cosgrove. 1 0 South Melbourne 136 17 South Melbourne 9332 South Melbourne 26 3 South Melbourne 17 28 South Melbourne 9 5 South Melbourne 9 4 South Melbourne 50 South Melbourne 3 0 Previously played for Collingwood and Richmond. South Melbourne 3 7 South Melbourne 3 0 South Melbourne 2 3 Father of Eddie O'Halloran. Previously played for St Kilda. South Melbourne 2 1 South Melbourne 2 0Drowned aged 20, while attempting to save the life of a young girl. South Melbourne 2 3 South Melbourne 1 0 Previously played for Richmond. South Melbourne 1 0 117 13 Brother-in-law of Jack and Tom Meehan. 80 57 Played first-class cricket for Victoria. 50 42 Played Test cricket for Australia. 39 35 Previously played for North Melbourne. 32 8 1917 17 18 1321 111 62 40 4 0 10 Previously played for South Melbourne.

References