Round 10, 1981
Melbourne vs North Melbourne
Saturday 30 May
Venue: Waverley
Attendance: 17,015
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 3.3 | 5.5 | 6.7 | 6.7.43 |
| North Melbourne | 6.5 | 11.11 | 17.15 | 25.22.172 |
North Melbourne win by 129 points
Goalkickers: Mark Jackson 3, Tony Elshaug 1, Wayne Gordon 1, Shane Zantuck 1
Milestones:
Nil
Statistical categories led:
Biggest loss against North Melbourne
Biggest loss in Round 10
The cheer squad banner before the game took a bullish tone, reading "Ron made them, Ron will break them". It was a brave declaration from the fans of a side which won one of ten games.
Barassi's first match against his old side, and first coaching duel with Malcolm Blight was the real story. Blight had been one of Barassi's favourite whipping boys during the end of his stint at North and he couldn't have been forgiven for wanting to get one over his old tormentor.
Not only was Barassi playing against his old side, the Demon squad featured 1977 premiership heroes Brent Crosswell, Peter Keenan and Bill Nettlefold.
When Mark Jackson got his second at the 12 minute mark of the first quarter things didn't look so bad, but North responded with five goals in ten minutes and the game was over. North's first quarter score was only two points less than the Demons' total. A Wayne Gordon goal 20 minutes into the third quarter was their last for the day and for the second time that season failed to score even a solitary point in the last term. North got 14.11 to 1.2 in the second half.
Kerry Good kicked nine for the winners and had the best of five opponents throughout the day. Captain/Coach Blight was content to sit back and help himself to three while his teammate ran riot.
The Demons second biggest AFL/VFL loss, and biggest against North Melbourne was the equal 17th highest score they have ever conceded. It was North's biggest win ever at the time.
"The players said it all" Barassi commented after the game, understandably not keen to go too far into depth about his side's disastrous performance.
Best were Gaunt, Healy and Fowler. Jamie Barham suffered a gashed cash and Shane Zantuck a strained hamstring.
Reserves (at Lake Oval, played Sunday 31 May)
North Melbourne 20.20.140 d. Melbourne 5.14.44
Goals - Walters 3, Osuriak 1, Tossol 1
Best - Seddon, Macdermid, Todd
Under 19s
North Melbourne 14.13.97 d. Melbourne 10.14.70
Goals - Battiston 2, Fidge 2, Fisher 2, McCarthy 2, O'Sullivan 2
Best - Connolly, Ford, McCarthy
Lists
100 point losses
Highest score conceded
Scoreless fourth quarters
Media
Canberra Times - 31/05/1981
Age - 01/06/1981
Football Record R11 1981