1989 Panasonic Cup Quarter Final
Melbourne vs Fitzroy
Sunday 26 February
Venue: Waverley
Attendance: 6695
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 4.2 | 8.7 | 10.12 | 10.13.73 |
| Fitzroy | 2.4 | 3.8 | 5.10 | 9.16.70 |
Melbourne win by 3 points
Goalkickers: Darren Bennett 4, Glenn Lovett 1, Steven Stretch 1, Dean Chiron 1, Stephen Newport 1, Peter Rohde 1, Stephen Tingay 1
On a warm day, Fitzroy opened better by kicking the first two goals, before Melbourne's fluent attack took over and kicked the next seven goals. They were getting good service from West Coast discard Darren Bennett, playing his first game for the club.
In a game with skill errors befitting the fact that there were seven weeks left until the home and away season, the lead was out to nearly five goals at half time, with the advantage maintained until the last change. The Lions then mounted a comeback, reducing the 32 point gap to less than a kick but missing multiple chances from inside 50 to take the lead with minutes left.
In a spiteful game, players from both sides were fortunate not to be reported, with the only man in the book Fitzroy's Paul Roos for abusive language towards an umpire after the game.
Best were Johnson, Stynes and G. Lovett. Healy suffered concussion and Tingay a twisted knee.
John Northey lamented his inexperienced team trying to save the game instead of winning it, but he was missed Garry Lyon and Warren Dean from his first choice forward line.
Team
Ahern, Bailey, Bennett, Beveridge, Chiron, Eishold, Grinter, Healy, Hughes, Johnson, Keogh, B. Lovett, G. Lovett, Newport, Rohde, Spalding, Stretch, Stynes, Tingay, Turner, J. Viney, Wight
Hawkins and Howat were selected in the squad but did not play.
Scores
Bennett 4.3, Chiron 1.0, G. Lovett 1.1, Newport 1.0, Rohde 1.1, Stretch 1.2, Tingay 1.0, Bailey 0.1, Keogh 0.1,
Media
Age - 25/02/1989
Age - 27/02/1989
Canberra Times - 27/02/1989
Inside Football - 01/03/1989