Round 1, 1944
Melbourne vs Richmond
Saturday 6 May
Venue: Punt Road
Attendance: 15,000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 0.3 | 6.5 | 9.6 | 14.8.92 |
| Richmond | 3.8 | 10.9 | 13.12 | 19.18.132 |
Richmond win by 40 points
Goalkickers: Fred Fanning 5, Percy Taylor 4, Percy Beames 3, Frank Kennedy 1, Frank McGrath 1
Milestones:
First game
Clem Conroy
Col Galbraith
Frank Kennedy (and first goal)
Frank McGrath (and first goal)
MFC debut
Percy Taylor
First goal
Frank Kennedy
Frank McGrath
Melbourne were given a tough assignment to open the season, with a clash against the last season's defeated Grand Finalists but before on-field hostilities began the teams stood for the playing of the Last Post to pay tribute to the VFL players and other sportsmen who had lost their life during the war.
The Demons were never in the hunt, always a few goals behind their more fancied opponents, before storming back into the game in the last quarter and getting within 12 points thanks to three Taylor goals in a row before Richmond steadied and kicked four goals of their own to win.
Fanning, Taylor and McLean were best.
Seconds
Melbourne 11.20 d. Richmond 11.12
Media
Herald - 05/05/1944
Argus - 08/05/1944
Football Record R2 1944