Preliminary Final, 1994
West Coast vs Melbourne
Saturday 1 October
Venue: WACA
Attendance: 34,317
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| West Coast | 4.7 | 7.9 | 13.16 | 16.21.117 |
| Melbourne | 1.0 | 6.3 | 6.4 | 8.4.52 |
West Coast win by 65 points
Goalkickers: Garry Lyon 3, Sean Charles 2, Paul Hopgood 1, Brett Lovett 1, Glenn Lovett 1
Milestones:
Last MFC Game
Jason Norrish
Martin Pike
50 Games
Matthew Febey
Statistical categories led:
Biggest loss and lowest score at the WACA
Melbourne were unlucky to be the first Melbourne side forced to play an interstate preliminary final, and they didn't handle the journey - especially on a hot and windy day in the west. Despite being within two goals at the long break, the Eagles dominated in the second half and won comfortably.
Lyon, Schwarz and Pike had kicked 83 goals between them in the previous eight games but with the forwards seeing very little of the ball Lyon managed three and the other two were scoreless. Melbourne had just one of the first 12 scoring shots of the game. Sean Charles kicked two quick goals in the second quarter but they were his only majors for the day, his two and another goal got Melbourne back into the game but they couldn't keep it going in the second half.
West Coast controlled the game when they had the wind at their back in the first and third quarters, and despite kicking five goals in the second Melbourne didn't leave themselves close enough to steal a win in the last quarter.
Neil Balme said, "I think our blokes just lost it. They lost all confidence in their ability to play footy. They were shell-shocked". Worse was to come when his players returned to the dressing rooms only to discover the showers were delivering cold water. When their bust didn't turn up after the game, Balme made the team walk back to their hotel. As they were abused by Eagles fans in one pub, the coach grabbed a beer off the table and sculled it.
Best were Wight, Charles and Neitz.
Media
Canberra Times - 25/09/1994