Round 10, 1939
Melbourne vs Collingwood
Saturday 24 June
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 26,063
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 3.5 | 8.12 | 14.19 | 22.22.154 |
| Collingwood | 2.2 | 5.5 | 5.8 | 8.12.60 |
Melbourne win by 94 points
Goalkickers: Norm Smith 6, Ron Barassi 3, Percy Beames 3, Jack Mueller 3, Hugh Murnane 3, Ray Wartman 2, Jack Furniss 1, Harry Harley 1
Milestones:
First game
Gerry Daly
Statistical categories led:
Biggest win against Collingwood
What was set to be a top of the table clash had been ruined by Melbourne's surprise loss to Carlton and Collingwood's defeat at St Kilda a week earlier, but the home side came to play the next Saturday with a thumping victory. After starting favourites the Magpies suffered their biggest ever loss to that point.
It was as if the Carlton game had never happened. Melbourne had won seven games in a row with slashing attacking football and return to what had got them to the top of the ladder in the first place. Seven changes might have unbalanced the side, but Checker Hughes obviously found the right formula in the thumping victory. Hughes also made a surprise change to the named starting side, playing Jack Mueller in the ruck instead of in defence.
The Pies were without two of their key players - Regan and Todd - due to interstate duty, but Melbourne were also hit by the absences of Fischer and Baggott. Collingwood were further weakened by illness, and after staying in touch with their hosts in the first half they crumbled in the third quarter.
Neither team had been particuarly good in the first half, and the Magpies seemed lost without their two key players, but when Melbourne settled into the game they exploited their superior power and pace to slam on six third quarter goals to nil to open up a winning lead.
The most prolific attacking side in the league added another eight in the final term - their ninth consecutive score of over 100 points. As Melbourne ran away with the game their frustrated opponents turned to more spiteful tactics, but the threatened melees never broke out.
Mueller, La Fontaine and Lock were best. Rodda was 19th man.
Seconds
Melbourne 18.15.123 d. Collingwood 16.11.107
Media
Age - 23/06/1939
Herald - 23/06/1939
Herald - 26/06/1939
Argus - 26/06/1939
Weekly Times - 01/07/1939
Football Record R11 1939