Coach: Norm Smith
Captain: Hassa Mann
Finishing Position: 7th
Best and Fairest: John Townsend
Leading Goalkicker: John Townsend (34)
Best First Year Player: John Townsend
| Matches | Ladder | Playing List | Night Series | Reserves | Under 19s |
The reigning premiers started the new year without Ron Barassi, whose defection to Carlton had been drawn into the new year before he was eventually cleared. Melbourne appointed Hassa Mann as Barassi's replacement, and won their first eight games of the season before falling apart both on and off-field.
For the first time Melbourne had competition at the MCG, with Richmond arriving as co-tenants. The move tested the loyalty of MCC members for the first time, as they could now sit in their usual seat every week instead of following Melbourne's fortunes in away games.
A proposed practice match against South Adelaide at the MCG on April 10 was rejected by VFL league delegates, but the SANFL allowed the game to be played in Adelaide, with Melbourne winning comfortably to become the unofficial 'champions' of Australia.
The VFL planned to introduce country zones, but were stopped when 10 of 16 affiliated country leagues voted against the move.
Despite their winning streak to start the year, Melbourne's performances were not up to the standard of 1964. In the first four weeks of the season they had three narrow victories over sides they would likely have thrashed a year earlier, before scrappy wins against Geelong and and Collingwood had them looking like a top side again. The wheels came off the day before Round 13 when Norm Smith was sensationally sacked. He'd been fighting with club management, and was dismissed by letter on Friday night. Checker Hughes came out of retirement to lead the side in their only game at Coburg Oval, before Smith was reinstated days later.
Despite winning their first match after Smith's return, Melbourne only won one more game. Four losses to finish the year saw them finish 7th, and a last round defeat which allowed allowed Footscray to avoid the wooden spoon underlined their issues. Since Round 9 they were the worst performing side in the competition.
Playing in their first night series with just teams who hadn't made the top four the Demons were knocked out in the first round by Carlton.
The club suffered its first financial loss for many years, with a £5,733 shortfall.
Melbourne's VFL delegates were Arthur King and Tom Trumble.
Practice matches
| Opposition | Result | Score | |||
| Ballarat | WIN | 194-1 | |||
| South Adelaide | WIN | 126-53 | |||
Premiership season
| Round | Opposition | Result | Score | ||
| 1 | Richmond | WIN | 47-41 | ||
| 2 | North Melbourne | WIN | 80-72 | ||
| 3 | Fitzroy | WIN | 109-58 | ||
| 4 | South Melbourne | WIN | 80-77 | ||
| 5 | Geelong | WIN | 69-55 | ||
| 6 | Collingwood | WIN | 49-47 | ||
| 7 | Footscray | WIN | 69-65 | ||
| 8 | Carlton | WIN | 95-58 | ||
| 9 | St. Kilda | LOSS | 61-122 | ||
| 10 | Essendon | LOSS | 42-71 | ||
| 11 | Hawthorn | WIN | 125-67 | ||
| 12 | Richmond | LOSS | 60-66 | ||
| 13 | North Melbourne | LOSS | 60-81 | ||
| 14 | Fitzroy | WIN | 83-81 | ||
| 15 | South Melbourne | LOSS | 39-78 | ||
| 16 | Geelong | LOSS | 73-107 | ||
| 17 | Collingwood | LOSS | 52-94 | ||
| 18 | Footscray | LOSS | 72-75 | ||
Ladder
| W | D | L | % | P | |
| St. Kilda | 14 | 0 | 4 | 136.3 | 56 |
| Collingwood | 13 | 0 | 5 | 130.2 | 52 |
| Geelong | 13 | 0 | 5 | 121.2 | 52 |
| Essendon | 12 | 0 | 6 | 132.9 | 48 |
| Richmond | 10 | 0 | 8 | 125.0 | 40 |
| Carlton | 10 | 0 | 8 | 110.7 | 40 |
| Melbourne | 10 | 0 | 8 | 96.2 | 40 |
| South Melbourne | 9 | 0 | 9 | 89.4 | 36 |
| North Melbourne | 5 | 0 | 13 | 80.8 | 20 |
| Footscray | 4 | 0 | 14 | 77.1 | 16 |
| Fitzroy | 4 | 0 | 14 | 70.5 | 16 |
| Hawthorn | 4 | 0 | 14 | 68.9 | 16 |
Practice matches
| Opposition | Result | Score | |||
| East Fremantle | LOSS | 76-80 | |||
Playing List
| Number | Player | Games | Goals | ||
| 1 | Rob Foster | 3 | 4 | ||
| 4 | John Lord | 14 | 22 | ||
| 5 | Neil Crompton | 15 | 0 | ||
| 6 | Frank Davis | 18 | 0 | ||
| 8 | Tassie Johnson | 17 | 1 | ||
| 9 | Brian Dixon | 13 | 1 | ||
| 10 | Ken Emselle | 17 | 22 | ||
| 11 | Tony Anderson | 10 | 2 | ||
| 12 | Hugh Bromell | 13 | 4 | ||
| 14 | Barry Bourke | 12 | 6 | ||
| 15 | Stan Alves | 12 | 1 | ||
| 16 | John Townsend | 18 | 34 | ||
| 17 | Graeme Watson | 5 | 1 | ||
| 18 | Brian Roet | 5 | 0 | ||
| 20 | Graeme Jacobs | 14 | 12 | ||
| 21 | Brian Leahy | 1 | 0 | ||
| 22 | Bryan Kenneally | 18 | 11 | ||
| 23 | Graham Wise | 17 | 0 | ||
| 25 | Kerry Rattray | 6 | 6 | ||
| 26 | Frank Vearing | 5 | 1 | ||
| 27 | Robin Andrew | 1 | 1 | ||
| 28 | David Robbie | 9 | 1 | ||
| 29 | Hassa Mann | 14 | 9 | ||
| 30 | Ken Rowe | 8 | 0 | ||
| 31 | Ray Groom | 8 | 2 | ||
| 32 | Barrie Vagg | 17 | 30 | ||
| 33 | Robert Miller | 16 | 0 | ||
| 35 | Don Williams | 17 | 1 | ||
| 36 | Peter McLean | 18 | 1 | ||
| 37 | Bernie Massey | 7 | 0 | ||
| 38 | Jim Leitch | 10 | 7 | ||
| 40 | Rick Feldmann | 1 | 0 | ||
| 48 | Bob Gormly | 1 | 0 | ||
Night Series
| Round | Opposition | Result | Score | ||
| 1 | Carlton | LOSS | 60-136 | ||
Exhibition Match
| Opposition | Result | ||||
| East Fremantle | LOSS | 76-80 | |||
Best and Fairest
| Player | |||||
| 1st | John Townsend | ||||
| 2nd | Hassa Mann | ||||
| 3rd | Brian Dixon | ||||
| 4th | Ken Emselle | ||||
| 5th | Don Williams | ||||
Awards
Outstanding Service - Ken Emselle, Don Williams
Reserves
Best and Fairest - Frank Vearing
Best and Fairest - David Robbie
Outstanding Service - Rob Foster, Ken Rowe, John Quirk
Under 19s
Captain - Bob Stewart
Best and Fairest - Bob Stewart
Second Best and Fairest - A. Mars
Outstanding Service - Neville Stone, M. Nash
Best Clubman - John Callery
Early in the season Melbourne was stripped points from two wins for fielding ineligible players, but by the end of the year all their wins were credited on the ladder.
Fourths
Best and Fairest - Greg Smith
Second Best and Fairest - Bob Stone
Outstanding Service - D. Leahy, D. King, E. Feldmen
Notes
A practice match against Essendon in September was proposed but doesn't appear to have been played.
Media
Age - 06/02/1965, 18/03/1965