Round 1, 1978
Hawthorn vs Melbourne
Saturday 1 April
Venue: Princes Park
Attendance: 11,986
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Hawthorn | 3.6 | 7.11 | 14.11 | 22.15.147 |
| Melbourne | 2.4 | 4.5 | 6.10 | 9.14.68 |
Hawthorn win by 79 points
Goalkickers: Ray Biffin 4, Garry Baker 1, Henry Coles 1, Peter Johnston 1, Phil Seaton 1, Steven Smith 1
Milestones:
First Game
Phil Seaton (and first goal)
Ken Whitfort
First Game as Coach
Denis Jones
Hopes for a return to the relatively heady days of 1976 under new coach Denis Jones were dashed early as the Demons were thrashed by Hawthorn in front of a paltry crowd at Princes Park.
Phil Seaton and Ken Whitfort were picked to debut after impressing in practice matches, but Ross Brewer and Tony Dullard were unavailable through injury.
In a terrible game of football the Hawks were off their game but still managed to thrash the disappointing Demons. Barry Norsworthy was lost with a broken jaw after his just two minutes in a clash with Hawk ruckman Jeff Murray, who became the first report of the new VFL season. It was Murray's debut, which must make it one of the earliest reports in a player's career.
Noel Bushnell, writing in the Age, described Hawthorn's performance as one that "used the bludgeon more often than the rapier on a Melbourne side with its ribs exposed".
Hawthorn dominated the centre, and Laurie Fowler was playing a lone hand up front against a forward line that featured Michael Moncrief booting nine goals.
The match was the first in which unlimited interchange could be made, but the Hawks were not troubled enough to use the system making just one change for the entire day and not using their other reserve player. Melbourne made just two changes.
Laurie Fowler, Henry Coles and Robert Flower were best.
Reserves
Hawthorn 14.15.99 d. Melbourne 9.16.70
Goals - Thorne 2, Code 1, Clarke 1, T. Flower 1, Hunnibell 1, Lockwood 1, Tippett 1, Walters 1
Best - Fitzsimmons, Woodman, Wingate
Under 19s
Melbourne 16.17.113 defeated Hawthorn 13.17.95
Goals - Hayes 4, McGivern 3, Sadsakis 3, Bickford 2, Demunk 1, Elsshaug 1, Maynard 1, Wallace 1
Best - Wallace, Hayes, Davis
Media
Age - 03/04/1978
Football Record R2 1978