Round 1, 1961
Fitzroy vs Melbourne
Saturday 15 April
Venue: Brunswick Street
Attendance: 31,787
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Fitzroy | 1.1 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 6.10.46 |
| Melbourne | 4.6 | 5.8 | 10.14 | 10.15.75 |
Melbourne win by 29 points
Goalkickers: Ron Barassi 3, Hassa Mann 2, Frank Adams 1, Robert B Johnson 1, Bryan Kenneally 1, Alan Rowarth 1, Geoff Tunbridge 1
Milestones:
First Game
Ray Dawson
The defending premiers opened their account away from home with an easy victory over a Fitzroy side who managed just 1.5 in the second half.
After taking an early lead courtesy of two Hassa Mann goals in the first 10 minutes and Fitzroy's failure to kick their first goal until the 27 mark of the first quarter Melbourne were pegged back by half time, but Fitzroy's four goals in the second term was as good as it got and they conceded five for only scoring one themselves in the second term.
The home side, who had rarely been beaten on their turf in 1960, were beaten in almost every position on the ground and the strong wind which favoured one end was never a factor.
During the match the scoreboard at Brunswick Street caught fire. Ironically two of Fitzroy's players were firefighters but the blaze was extinguished before they were required.
Melbourne were the only one of the 1960 finalists to win their opening match of the season.
Barassi, Dixon and Kenneally were Melbourne's best. Adams (cramp) was replaced by Dawson and Massey by Len Mann both during the last quarter.
Reserves
Melbourne 12.12 d. Fitzroy 8.8
Goals - Thorpe 4, Urwin 2, Anderson 1, Bourke 1, Ireland 1, J. Leahy 1, Richards 1, Rolfe 1
Best - Johnson, Pinfold, Miller
Under 19s
Melbourne 7.14 d. Fitzroy 5.16
Goals - Mathews 2, Groves 2, O'Brien 1, Johnson 1, Doyle 1
Best - Mathews, Wicks, Corrigan
Media
"Demons prove their superiority" - The Age 17/04/1961
"This made Maroons hot" - 17/04/1961
Football Record R2 1961