Round 1, 1979
Melbourne vs Footscray
Saturday 7 April
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 24,133
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 7.3 | 12.7 | 13.10 | 18.17.125 |
| Footscray | 4.5 | 7.11 | 13.13 | 16.17.113 |
Melbourne win by 12 points
Goalkickers: Garry Baker 3, Shane Fitzsimmons 3, Robert Flower 2, Graham Gaunt 2, Andrew Moir 2, Greg Wells 2, Phil Carman 1, Henry Coles 1, Carl Ditterich 1, Glenn Elliott 1
Milestones:
First game
Gerard Healy
Tony Martyn
First MFC game
Phil Carman
Glenn Elliott
First game as coach
Carl Ditterich
Last game
Ken Roberts
After their 1978 wooden spoon, new playing coach Carl Ditterich made a bold pre-season prediction that his side would play finals. His first game in charge made it look like that was a real possibility. Ditterich had to pick a side with eight regulars unavailable due to injury, selecting new recruits Phil Carman, Shane Grambeau and Glenn Elliott, alongside first gamers Tony Martyn and Gerard Healy.
Ditterich was one of the main reasons for his side's win, playing one of his best games for years. His fellow recruits helped, with Glenn Elliott playing a great game in the centre, and (Phil Carman)), who had been unable to train for two weeks before the game due to an ankle injury, defied a lack of match fitness to come to life in the last quarter at centre half-forward.Melbourne's defence still looked brittle in the first half, with future Demon Kelvin Templeton kicking 5.4. He was quietened in the second half when Steven Smith moved onto him. Their paper-thin defensive depth cost Melbourne multiple times during the year, but on the first Saturday of the year it held firm long enough to deliver the four points.
26 minutes into the second quarter the Demons led by 34 points but the Dogs gradually fought back over the next two quarters. They kicked five goals to a point in 12 minutes to briefly hit the lead late in the third quarter, before Melbourne went into the last change three points ahead. Ditterich sent Andrew Moir to full forward. He kicked 2.2 and had a hand in two other Melbourne goals during the final term - including the sealer.
Ditterich was impressive on his second Melbourne debut, but he was overshadowed by a returning Melbourne player. Robert Flower was one of the favourites for the Brownlow Medal, and was best on ground. He kicked two goals after mazy runs through the Footscray defence.
MCC Members gave the team a standing ovation at the end of the game, and for now nobody seemed too concerned that Footscray was one of only five sides Melbourne beat in 1978. Ditterich admitted "a lot of blokes aren't fit, we need to run on more"
Best were Flower, Ditterich and Smith. Garry Baker suffered a knee injury when he was kicked during the match and missed six matches.
Reserves
Footscray 18.19.127 d. Melbourne 18.17.125
Goals - Woodman 5, Code 2, Hunnibell 2, Walters 1, Gordon 1, Maynard 1, Begg 1, Wallace 1, McKeon 1, Johnston 1, Whitfort 1, Norsworthy 1
Best - Maynard, Gordon, Hunnibell
Reports - Walters (spitting in face of umpire)
Under 19s
Footscray 12.13.85 defeated Melbourne 8.4.62
Goals - Denko 3, Dickson 2, Bull 1, Juliffe 1, Stromjlani 1
Best - Parrish, Bardoel, Boyle
Media
Sunday Observer - 08/04/1979
Age - 09/04/1979
Sun - 09/04/1979
Football Record R2 1979