Round 1, 1984
Collingwood vs Melbourne
Saturday 31 March
Venue: Victoria Park
Attendance: 32,741
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Collingwood | 3.5 | 7.9 | 11.10 | 18.12.120 |
| Melbourne | 2.6 | 6.10 | 11.12 | 15.17.107 |
Collingwood win by 13 points
Goalkickers: Gerard Healy 3, Kelvin Templeton 2, Peter Thorne 2, Adrian Battiston 1, Chris Connolly 1, Roger Ellingworth 1, Robert Flower 1, Danny Hughes 1, Alan Johnson 1, Michael Reynolds 1, Frank Rugolo 1
Brownlow Votes:
2 - Robert Flower
1 - Alan Johnson
Milestones:
First Game
Ray Holden
Danny Hughes (and first goal)
Many times in the last 20 years the Demons had opened a season with a win only to disappoint in upcoming weeks. In Round 1 of 1984 they did something different - flatter that they were going to win before throwing it all away.
An attempt to buy home ground advantage off the cash-strapped Magpies had been rebuffed. Mindful of the 72,000 strong crowd who saw the sides play at the MCG in Round 1, 1983, the Demons suggested a switch that would leave Collingwood as the home team. Their administrators were in favour of the switch as it would have doubled the income they made playing at Victoria Park, but the idea was vetoed by the club’s match committee. There was nearly a forced move when the roof blew off the Victoria Park members’ stand on the Monday before the game but the damage was rectified in time for the match.
Even on foreign territory Melbourne should still have won. From four goals in front halfway through the last quarter they conceded seven goals in 17 minutes. They'd already kicked four goals in the quarter, but after harassing the Magpies all day they suddenly fell apart and couldn't stem the flow.
While Collingwood's coach admitted he thought his team were finished, Ron Barassi blamed a lack of concentration and self-discipline. He said "we think we have improved this year in talent, but everyone knows talent isn't enough. What our guys have to realise is that concentration is part of being a good footballer”.
Best were Healy, Moore and Reynolds. Hughes suffered strained ankle ligaments, Icke bruised ribs and Templeton a gashed leg.
Video
Reserves
Melbourne 18.14.122 d. Collingwood 16.13.109
Goals - Cordner 5, Tossol 4, Tanner 2, Sutcliffe 2, Dickson 2, Bailey 1, T. Fidge 1, Fisher 1
Best - Tanner, Fisher, Cordner
Under 19s
Melbourne 22.21.153 d. Collingwood 12.6.78
Goals - Payne 5, Mazurek 4, Howard 3, Paul McCarty 3, Louttit 2, Nichols 1, Peter McCarty 1, Jamieson 1, Lyon 1, McLean 1
Best - Newport, Nichols, Howard
Media
Age - 27/03/1984
Canberra Times - 01/04/1984
Age - 02/04/1984