Round 10, 1980
Essendon vs Melbourne
Saturday 31 May
Venue: Windy Hill
Attendance: 16,504
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Essendon | 3.3 | 6.6 | 11.12 | 17.18.120 |
| Melbourne | 2.5 | 6.7 | 11.7 | 11.10.76 |
Essendon win by 44 points
Goalkickers: Andrew Moir 3, Michael Byrne 2, Henry Coles 2, Steven Smith 2, Robert Flower 1, Robert Walters 1
Milestones:
Nil
With the game in the balance at three-quarter time the Demons fell apart. They stopped chasing under relentless pressure from the Dons and conceded 6.6 to 0.3.
Undermanned in defence and with no forward plan the Demons were lucky to be as close as they were. Robert Flower had been well held, and Brent Crosswell wasted in a job stopping Paul Van der Haar.
Carl Ditterich implied that the last quarter fade out meant that his charges would be trained even harder during the week. After six losses there was not much else he could do.
Best were Elliott, Pinnell and Elshaug. Garry Baker was reported for striking Essendon's Peter Keenan but was cleared. Pinnell suffered a bruised calf.
Reserves
Essendon 21.20.141 d. Melbourne 13.17.95
Goals - MacDermid 3, Seaton 2, Barnes 1, Gaunt 1, McLean 1, Maynard 1, O'Brien 1, O'Donnell 1, O'Sullivan 1, Whitford 1
Best - Woodman, Hunnibell, O'Sullivan
Under 19s
Melbourne 16.13.109 d. Essendon 11.14.80
Goals - Bell 5, Fidge 2, Locandro 2, Todd 2, Boyle 2, Cooper 1, Fanning 1, Osiurak 1, Sier 1
Best - Ellingworth, McKissick, Tossol
Lists
Tribunal
Media
Age - 02/06/1980
Football Record - R11 1980