Round 10, 1978
South Melbourne vs Melbourne
Monday 5 June
Venue: Lake Oval
Attendance: 16,387
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| South Melbourne | 5.5 | 10.8 | 13.13 | 24.18.162 |
| Melbourne | 6.1 | 11.2 | 12.6 | 14.8.96 |
South Melbourne win by 70 points
Goalkickers: Steven Smith 3, Peter Thorne 3, Robert Flower 2, Ken Whitfort 2, Ross Brewer 1, Henry Coles 1, Peter Johnston 1, Maurice Wingate 1
Milestones:
MFC Debut
Ken Roberts
100 Games
Robert Flower
First Goal
Ken Whitfort (2nd game)
Maurice Wingate (8th game)
Statistical categories led:
Biggest loss at Lake Oval
In a Queen's Birthday clash at the Lake Oval the Swans showed no mercy in the second half as they flew to a record victory.
Melbourne started brightly with a six goal first quarter, and despite conceding 11 by half time went into the long break level with the Swans. Even three quarter time found them just 13 points behind, but in front of the great Laurie Nash the Swans put together one of the great final terms to rack up their all time highest score in the VFL.
11.5 to 2.2 sent the margin over ten goals and undid all the good work that the Demon defenders, lead by Tony Dullard had done for the first three quarters in repelling waves of Swan attacks. Swan coach Des Tuddenham suggested the Demons had run out of legs, Denis Jones said they had "run out of ability".
It hadn't helped their cause that the best on ground to half time Robbie Flower had suffered a heavy knock early in the third term and didn't reappear again until near the end of the match, but despite brave performances by Gary Baker and Steven Smith in the ruck Melbourne had no answers to the Swan barrage in the final term and crashed to just one game off the bottom of the ladder.
Best were Baker, Smith and Flower. Wells (thigh) was replaced by Wingate in the selected squad. Flower suffered concussion and a bruised thigh, and Fitzsimmons also had a bruised thigh.
Reserves
South Melbourne 27.21.183 d. Melbourne 19.12.126
Goals - T. Flower 5, Byrne 3, Walters 3, Cooke 2, Mills 2, Code 1, May 1, Norsworthy 1, Rae 1
Best - Begg, Byrne, T. Flower
Under 19s
Melbourne 16.10.106 d. South Melbourne 8.5.53
Goals - Angelis 6, Maynard 5, Bickford 1, Boccabella 1, Hayes 1, McGivern 1, Wallace 1
Best - Maynard, Chavaran, Mehrten
Media
Age - 06/06/1978
Football Record R11 1978