geelong (3rd) v footscray (4th)
dogs knock cats out by 2 they will play collingwood in prelim.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Score | Date / Result | Ground | Crowd | Gate | |
| Footscray | 1.3 | 4.6 | 5.8 | 5.13 | 43 | Sat 25-Aug-1956 2:30 pm | M.C.G. | 79,402 | £11,315 |
| Geelong | 4.2 | 6.2 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 41 | Footscray won by 2 points | |||
melbourne (1st) v collingwood (2nd)
dees beat pies by 16 to make grand against pies or dogs.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Score | Date / Result | Ground | Crowd | Gate | |
| Melbourne | 1.4 | 3.6 | 8.9 | 11.14 | 80 | Sat 1-Sep-1956 2:30 pm | M.C.G. | 91,680 | £15,387 |
| Collingwood | 1.4 | 3.7 | 8.10 | 8.16 | 64 | Melbourne won by 16 points | |||
prelim final
collingwood v footscray