Round 10, 1940
Melbourne vs Geelong
Saturday 29 June
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 15,265
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 9.6 | 13.11 | 17.17 | 22.19.151 |
| Geelong | 7.2 | 15.4 | 19.9 | 24.10.154 |
Geelong win by 3 points
Goalkickers: Ron Baggott 5, Jack Mueller 4, Norm Smith 4, Hugh Murnane 3, Roy Dowsing 2, Maurie Gibb 2, Allan La Fontaine 1, Alby Rodda 1
Milestones:
Nil
Statistical categories led:
Highest losing score
Having just broken into the top four, the Pivotonians had high hopes of travelling to the MCG and besting the top of the league Demons. They did it in what was then the highest aggregate score for a VFL match.
Melbourne kicked off the 16 goal first term - equal to the record for most ever in a first quarter - with two to Baggott in the opening minutes, and his side had nine at the break. Their wing players were being beaten easily, so the Demons tried long kicking tactics. They looked the better side until their defence collapsed and Geelong's Glenister kicked three goals in two minutes to round off an eight goal second term and give the visitors the lead.
Geelong only lost a point off their half time lead in the third quarter in the lowest scoring term of the game - four goals each - but looked tired early in the last quarter. Three goals in a row for the Demons put them back in front, before conceding three more goals to leave Geelong a point ahead after a goal from future Demon Clyde Helmer.
Melbourne could consider themselves particuarly unlucky, having booted the biggest losing score ever recorded - and having lost a chance to win the match when Ron Barassi had a shot at goal after the siren with his side four points down but kicked a point.
It was the first time that two teams kicked 22 goals in a match, and only the third time ever that both sides kicked 20 goals. Both teams recorded their record score against each other, and the 16 goal first term equalled the all time record.
Baggott was Melbourne's best until half time when he was slowed by a knee injury. La Fontaine, Mueller and Gibb were Melbourne's best four quarter players. 19th man was Baxter.
The loss dropped the Demons into third place. They were left as the highest scoring team in the competition but also the second worst defensively.
Reserves
Geelong 14.21 d. Melbourne 7.14
Lists
After the Siren
Highest losing scores
Quarter records
Media
Herald - 28/06/1940
Sporting Globe - 29/06/1940
Argus - 01/07/1940
Sporting Globe - 03/07/1940
Australasian - 06/07/1940
Football Record R11 1940