Round 1, 1991
West Coast vs Melbourne
Sunday 24 March
Venue: Subiaco
Attendance: 26,105
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| West Coast | 3.2 | 3.4 | 10.6 | 14.15.99 |
| Melbourne | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 2.8.20 |
West Coast win by 76 points
Goalkickers: Glenn Lovett 1, Garry Lyon 1
Brownlow Votes:
Nil
Milestones:
First Game
Allen Jakovich
David Schwarz
MFC Debut
Rod Owen
Only MFC Game
Phil Egan
Statistical categories led:
Lowest score against West Coast and at Subiaco
Having been the only side to beat the Eagles in Perth during 1990 (though the home side got their revenge in the finals) the Demons were expected to provide stiff resistance in the opening round of the season.
Instead they turned on the lowest score of any league team in a first round match since North Melbourne only managed 2.7 in 1930. It was the lowest score a Victorian team had ever kicked outside of the state. Their first goal didn't come until the opening minute of the third quarter when Garry Lyon scored, and the next was 14 minutes into the last term.
John Northey attempted many positional shifts to try and drag his side back into the game but none were successful. Jim Stynes started at centre half-back before moving into the ruck. During the second term he was sent to full-back and on the bench.
Best were Flintoff, O'Dwyer and T. Viney
John Northey described the performance as the worst in his time at the club, and showing an admirable flair for understatement suggested they were "beaten by a better team".
The result remains the Demons lowest score against West Coast and at Subiaco. The Eagles ended the day with a percentage of 495.
Reserves
Essendon 19.10.124 d. Melbourne 13.17.95
Goals: Beveridge 4, Bryce 3, Eishold 3, Lovell 2, C O'Sullivan 1
Best: Dyson, Stretch, Yeats
Lists
Scoreless First Quarters
Media
Canberra Times - 25/03/1991