Round 1, 2001
Melbourne vs Richmond
Sunday 1 April
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 44,466
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 3.3 | 6.6 | 10.12 | 15.13.103 |
| Richmond | 7.1 | 12.8 | 15.10 | 20.14.134 |
Richmond win by 31 points
Goalkickers: David Schwarz 4, Adem Yze 3, Brad Green 2, Ben Beams 1, Cameron Bruce 1, Andrew Leoncelli 1, Anthony McDonald 1, David Neitz 1, Peter Walsh 1
Brownlow Votes:
Nil
Best and Fairest
29 - David Schwarz
28 - Andrew Leoncelli
20 - Cameron Bruce
17 - Peter Walsh
10 - Jeff White
8 - Adem Yze
4 - Brent Grgic
Milestones:
First MFC Game
Ross Funcke
As Melbourne ran on the ground, the MCG played the Hawthorn theme song, and things got worse from there. Melbourne's backline had no answer for the Tiger talls, with Matthew Richardson and Brad Ottens kicking five of Richmond's seven first quarter goals, leading their side to a 26 point lead at the first change. With Troy Simmonds injured and Alistair Nicholson occupied with Richardson, Jeff White was forced to ruck all day on his own. Even David Schwarz was forced to start in defence to try and cover Richmond's numerous tall marking options.
The margin blew out to 38 at the long break, and despite a fightback throughout the third quarter led by Schwarz when he went forward which saw them draw to within 16, Richmond booted the last two goals of the last quarter to send Melbourne into the last break 28 points behind. Kicking 4.6 for the quarter hadn't helped their cause, and Matthew Knight's goal after the siren effectively finished the match off.
Best were Schwarz, Bruce and Leoncelli. Shane Woewodin, in his first game since winning the Brownlow Medal was shut down by former Saint Steven Sziller. White dominated the taps, with 24 to the Tigers total of 14, but when the ball hit the deck the Demon midfielders couldn't get near it.
Neale Daniher said "I guess at the end of the day the best team won on the day. I was really happy with the spirit of our blokes to fight it out, and their forward line was probably too good on the day for us."
Video
Media
AFANA News 2001
Age - 02/04/2001
Herald Sun - 02/04/2001
Age - 04/04/2001