Sunshine
After running third in 1970, Sunshine appointed former Footscray player Don McKenzie as captain-coach the following year and the players responded by qualifying for the second division finals for the ninth straight time before winning the premiership, and promotion to first division, in style. Only 3 losses were sustained all year, and on grand final day the Crows overwhelmed Brunswick in devastating fashion, 22.26 (158) to 16.8 (104) at Toorak Park.
1971 Season (VFA Division 2) Fixture
Sunshine's 1971 Fixture
| Rnd | H&A | Club | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | S | R | Opponent | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | S | Mgn | Grd | Date | SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971-04-11 1 | A | Sunshine | 6.2 | 15.7 | 21.15 | 29.18 | 192 | WON | Brunswick | 1.0 | 7.2 | 9.6 | 14.12 | 96 | 96 | BWP | 1971-04-11 Apr 11 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1971-04-17 2 | H | Sunshine | — | — | — | 10.9 | 69 | LOST | Caulfield | — | — | — | 20.20 | 140 | -71 | SKI | 1971-04-17 Apr 17 (Sat, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1971-05-01 3 | H | Sunshine | 8.8 | 13.11 | 19.19 | 27.24 | 186 | WON | Werribee | 1.1 | 5.3 | 6.5 | 9.6 | 60 | 126 | SKI | 1971-05-01 May 1 (Sat, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1971-05-08 4 | H | Sunshine | 7.3 | 14.10 | 19.15 | 26.20 | 176 | WON | Mordialloc | 1.4 | 1.6 | 3.11 | 5.15 | 45 | 131 | SKI | 1971-05-08 May 8 (Sat, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1971-05-16 5 | A | Sunshine | 3.5 | 10.11 | 17.16 | 29.20 | 194 | WON | Frankston | 4.5 | 10.8 | 13.9 | 17.9 | 111 | 83 | FRA | 1971-05-16 May 16 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1972-05-23 6 | H | Sunshine | 3.4 | 6.7 | 14.14 | 16.22 | 118 | WON | Box Hill | 7.2 | 11.6 | 12.7 | 14.8 | 92 | 26 | SKI | 1972-05-23 May 23 (Tue, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1971-05-30 7 | A | Sunshine | 1.5 | 10.11 | 13.15 | 21.15 | 141 | WON | Northcote | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.11 | 5.13 | 43 | 98 | NOR | 1971-05-30 May 30 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1971-06-06 8 | H | Sunshine | — | — | — | 21.29 | 155 | WON | Camberwell | — | — | — | 17.13 | 115 | 40 | SKI | 1971-06-06 Jun 6 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1971-06-12 9 | A | Sunshine | 5.6 | 6.9 | 7.12 | 15.13 | 103 | LOST | Yarraville | 4.6 | 8.13 | 14.17 | 19.22 | 136 | -33 | YAR | 1971-06-12 Jun 12 (Sat, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1971-06-20 10 | H | Sunshine | 2.2 | 8.4 | 13.7 | 18.14 | 122 | WON | Brunswick | 4.4 | 7.7 | 10.11 | 16.12 | 108 | 14 | SKI | 1971-06-20 Jun 20 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1971-06-25 11 | A | Sunshine | 3.4 | 9.11 | 12.19 | 18.22 | 130 | WON | Caulfield | 4.7 | 8.11 | 13.15 | 14.24 | 108 | 22 | PPC | 1971-06-25 Jun 25 (Fri, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1971-07-04 12 | H | Sunshine | — | — | — | 19.13 | 127 | WON | Werribee | — | — | — | 9.11 | 65 | 62 | SKI | 1971-07-04 Jul 4 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1971-07-10 13 | A | Sunshine | 9.3 | 11.5 | 19.10 | 33.16 | 214 | WON | Mordialloc | 3.2 | 9.6 | 10.6 | 11.8 | 74 | 140 | BKR | 1971-07-10 Jul 10 (Sat, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1971-07-17 14 | H | Sunshine | 4.7 | 6.9 | 10.15 | 14.21 | 105 | WON | Frankston | 0.4 | 2.10 | 3.11 | 6.13 | 49 | 56 | SKI | 1971-07-17 Jul 17 (Sat, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1971-07-25 15 | A | Sunshine | — | — | — | 11.7 | 73 | WON | Box Hill | — | — | — | 10.12 | 72 | 1 | BOX | 1971-07-25 Jul 25 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1971-08-01 16 | H | Sunshine | 5.4 | 6.5 | 11.10 | 15.13 | 103 | WON | Northcote | 1.1 | 5.4 | 11.6 | 15.8 | 98 | 5 | SKI | 1971-08-01 Aug 1 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1971-08-08 17 | A | Sunshine | 3.12 | 4.15 | 10.23 | 13.29 | 107 | WON | Camberwell | 1.0 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 10.11 | 71 | 36 | CBW | 1971-08-08 Aug 8 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1971-08-15 18 | H | Sunshine | 1.6 | 4.8 | 8.13 | 8.13 | 61 | LOST | Yarraville | 4.2 | 6.6 | 8.6 | 14.12 | 96 | -35 | SKI | 1971-08-15 Aug 15 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1971-08-29 2SF | A | Sunshine | 0.5 | 5.10 | 8.13 | 13.24 | 102 | WON | Caulfield | 2.3 | 3.6 | 7.9 | 10.13 | 73 | 29 | TOO | 1971-08-29 Aug 29 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |
| 1971-09-26 GF | H | Sunshine | 7.3 | 11.13 | 15.17 | 22.26 | 158 | WON | Brunswick | 6.4 | 8.6 | 13.8 | 16.8 | 104 | 54 | TOO | 1971-09-26 Sep 26 (Sun, 2:10) | Scores |