1961 Brisbane Carnival
The 1961 Brisbane Carnival was the 15th edition of the Australian National Football Carnival, an Australian football interstate competition. It was the last carnival to be held in Queensland.
It was one of the most competitive carnivals to have been played, with the traditional carnival powerhouse Victoria going down to Western Australia in the final game to give Western Australia its first carnival victory since 1921. Despite Victoria comfortably accounting for South Australia, the Western Australians narrowly lost their game to South Australia. Tasmania, who traditionally struggle, lost all games but got within seven points of the South Australians. With Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria all finishing on 2 wins and a loss, Western Australia won the championship due to a superior percentage.
In 2014, the Western Australian team from this carnival was inducted as a whole into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Teams
Although the carnival took place in Brisbane, no Queensland team competed in the tournament. The four teams were Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania.South Australian Squad
Players: John Abley ; Barrie Barbary ; Fred Bills ; Jeff Bray ; John Cahill ; Ken Eustice ; Paul Garnett ; Ian Hannaford ; John Halbert ; Neville Hayes ; Lindsay Head ; Bill Herron ; Frank Hogan ; Dick Jackson ; Geoff Kingston ; Neil Kerley, captain; Don Lindner ; Theo "Hank" Lindner ; Trevor Obst ; Des Panizza ; Jeff Potter ; Don Roach ; Bob Shearman ; and Bill Wedding.Coach: Fos Williams.
Tasmanian Squad
Players: Trevor Anthony ; John Archer ; Darrel Baldock, captain; Ted Banks ; Roger Browning ; Arthur Cole ; Neil Conlan ; John Fitzallen ; Dale Flint ; Don Gale ; Rex Geard ; Ivan Hayes ; Len Lawson ; "Casey" Lawrence ; Trevor Leo ; Rex Lethborg ; Ron Marney ; Peter Marquis ; Stan Morcom ; Colin Moore ; John Noble ; Garth Smith ; Murray Steele ; Kevin Symons ; and Bob Withers, vice-captain.Coach: Jack Metherell.
Victorian Squad
Players: Owen Abrahams ; Frank Adams ; Allen Aylett ; Ron Barassi ; Terry Callan ; Brian Dixon ; Brian Gray ; John Heriot ; John James ; Graeme MacKenzie ; Hugh Mitchell ; Ian Mort ; Kevin Murray ; John Nicholls ; Lance Oswald ; John Peck ; Neil Roberts ; John Schultz ; Fred Swift ; Jim Taylor ; Noel Teasdale ; Ken Turner ; and Ted Whitten.Coach: Len Smith.
Western Australian Squad
Players: Malcolm Atwell ; Ken Bagley ; Dinny Barron ; Neville Beard ; Haydn Bunton Jr., captain; Derek Chadwick ; Jack Clarke ; John Colgan ; Lorne Cook ; John Dethridge ; Joe Fanchi ; Graham Farmer ; Ray Gabelich ; John Gerovich ; Bob Graham ; Ken Holt ; Denis Marshall ; Barry Metcalfe ; Les Mumme ; Con Regan ; Norm Rogers ; Keith Slater ; Ray Sorrell ; John Todd, vice captain; John Turnbull ; and Don Williams.Coach: Jack Sheedy,.
All-Australian team
In 1961 the All-Australian team was picked based on the Brisbane Carnival. Ron Barassi was named as captain. West Australian ruckman Jack Clarke became the first person to be named in four All Australian teams.Tassie Medal
Brian Dixon of the VFL won the Tassie Medal after beating East Fremantle's Jack Clarke by one vote.| Player | State | Votes received | Total |
| Brian Dixon | Victoria | 3,3,2 | 8 |
| Jack Clarke | Western Australia | 3,3,1 | 7 |
| Allen Aylett | Victoria | 3,2 | 5 |
| Darrel Baldock | Tasmania | 3,1 | 4 |
| Don Lindner | South Australia | 2,1 | 3 |
| Graham Farmer | Western Australia | 2 | 2 |
| Frank Adams | Victoria | 2 | 2 |
| Neil Kerley | South Australia | 2 | 2 |
| Colin Moore | Tasmania | 1 | 1 |
| Derek Chadwick | Western Australia | 1 | 1 |
| Bob Withers | Tasmania | 1 | 1 |