Round 11, 1956
Hawthorn vs Melbourne
Saturday 30 June
Venue: Glenferrie Oval
Attendance: 15,500
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Hawthorn | 3.4 | 3.7 | 5.10 | 5.12.42 |
| Melbourne | 1.1 | 6.7 | 8.7 | 11.14.80 |
Melbourne win by 38 points
Goalkickers: Clyde Laidlaw 3, Ian Ridley 3, Ron Barassi 2, Athol Webb 2, Robert B Johnson 1
Milestones:
First game
Denis Jones
Melbourne had traditionally had trouble at the narrow Glenferrie Oval, but after 16 straight wins - including 10 for the season - they were almost unstoppable.
With a strong wind blowing to one end of the ground the home side had a 15 point lead at quarter time, but they didn't use it as well as they could have due to a misfiring attack. Melbourne didn't have any problems of that sort, turning the tables and taking a three goal lead into half time. Hawthorn only narrowly won the third quarter, leaving them vulnerable in the last.
The visitors held them to two points in the final quarter and ran away with an easy win against the top four challenging home side. Hawthorn had managed just 0.5 combined in the second and fourth terms. With an impregnable defence featuring Beckwith in a back pocket and Don Williams at centre half-back - and a midfield generating enough scoring shots for the misfiring attackers to put up a winning score.
Best were John Beckwith, Ron Barassi - played in an unfamiliar role as centre half-forward - and Trevor Johnson. Adams (bruised ribs) was replaced by Cook and Trevor Johnson (cramp) by debutant Jones.
The win broke Melbourne's record for the most victories at the start of a season, but they were still well behind Geelong's league record 23 wins in a row.
Norm Smith said "We were pleased to win this game at Glenferrie Oval, with its narrow confines, is not one of our favourite arenas. Hawthorn proved to be as tenacious as usual and made our boys go hard all the way, but Melbourne's strong defensive play, particularly against the wind in the first and third terms, laid the foundation for our victory. We also made better use of the wind and our more direct approach to goal was profitable."
Seconds
Hawthorn 17.14 d. Melbourne 9.10
Thirds
Hawthorn 6.12 d. Melbourne 6.11
Media
Argus - 27/06/1956, 30/06/1956, 02/07/1956
Age - 02/07/1956
Football Record - R12 1956