26 October
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Attendance: 2500-5000
Melbourne 10.11.71
Geelong 9.12.66 (half time 3.4 - 7.7)
Melbourne won by 5 points
Goalkickers: Barassi 3, Unknown 7
After a torrid, violent clash in Honolulu which Melbourne won by 12 points, the two sides met again in San Francisco. Despite the umpires being asked to keep more control of the game the match was still a brutal affair. Doug Wade had his eye split by Bernie Massey, ironically the day after Norm Smith had told Wade he'd be a better player if he didn't fight so much.
The match was played 15 a side on a baseball field known as 'Big Rec'. Geelong led 42-22 at half time, and kicked the first three goals of the second half, before Melbourne outscored them 7.7 to 3.6 to win comfortably.
3DB provided a direct call of the game back to Australia. Broadcaster Tony Charlton provided a live call of the game for fans at the ground.
Selected side
Dixon, Crompton, Massey, Miller, Roet, Leahy, Mann, Adams, Vagg, Groom, Rattray, Bourke, Johnson, Emselle, Lord, Matthews, Rowarth. (Barassi not listed, but played)
Notes
San Francisco Chronicle 28/10/1963 says the game may have originally been played at Candlestick Park but the cost of renting the ground was too high.
Fresno Bee - 27/10/1963 gave the crowd as 7500.
Media
San Francisco Chronicle - 26/10/1963, 27/10/1963, 28/10/1963
Fresno Bee - 27/10/1963
Redwood City Tribune - 18/10/1963
Sunraysia Daily - 28/10/1963
Age - 29/10/1963, 31/07/1973