1987 National Panasonic Cup Quarter Final
Melbourne vs Hawthorn
Tuesday 17 March
Venue: Waverley
Attendance: 6526
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 2.3 | 6.5 | 10.8 | 14.12.96 |
| Hawthorn | 1.2 | 4.2 | 7.5 | 10.7.67 |
Melbourne win by 29 points
Goalkickers: Warren Dean 4, Joe Rugolo 3, Robert Flower 2, Peter Moore 2, Alan Johnson 1, Adrian Battiston 1, Garry Lyon 1
Having shown some improvement in 1986 the Demons had won through to a quarter final match-up against Hawthorn with a 16 point win over Richmond in Round 1.
The 1986 Grand Finallists, though, were a different proposition and the Hawks started warm favourites. Melbourne though played like men possessed and their physicality shell shocked the Hawks early. Each Demon had been given a job to chase a particular opponent, inspired by research into Hawthorn's 1986 losses by John Northey which showed they were vulnerable if their running game failed.
Alan Johnson, Robert Flower and Warren Dean were amongst Melbourne's best early as they opened up a seven point lead at quarter time. Dermott Brereton, sporting a pair of bright green boots for St. Patrick's Day, suffered a heavy bump early and was beaten comfortably by Earl Spalding from then on.
John Northey was a happy man in the changerooms after the match, saying "It's great for football. It lets the supporters know that maybe Melbourne are a chance".
Best were Dean, Johnson and Todd Viney.
The win moved Melbourne in a semi final against Geelong.
Team
Flower (c), Lyon, Moore, B. Lovett, O'Dwyer, Giles, Wilson, Turner, Campbell, Yeats, Johnson, Koop, Spalding, Hughes, Viney, Williams, Battiston, Newport, Healy, Stretch, Payne, Connolly, Cordner, Rugolo, Dean, Bailey, Eishold
Media
Canberra Times - 17/03/1987
Age - 18/03/1987
Inside Football - 25/03/1987
Links
hardballget.net