Round 11, 1957
Melbourne vs Footscray
Saturday 29 June
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 49,941
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 2.2 | 10.9 | 11.12 | 12.15.87 |
| Footscray | 1.4 | 2.5 | 3.7 | 7.9.51 |
Melbourne win by 36 points
Goalkickers: Ron Barassi 2, Ian Ridley 2, Geoff Tunbridge 2, Frank Adams 1, Geoff Case 1, Brian Dunsford 1, Dick Fenton-Smith 1, Terry Gleeson 1, Athol Webb 1
Milestones:
First Game
Bob Turner
50 Games
Frank Adams
Having just ascended to the top of the ladder again, the Demons faced a tough task in staying there against a Footscray side pushing for a spot in the four. It took to the second quarter for the home side to spark, but when they did it confirmed them as the favourite to win a third straight premiership.
The Dogs had beaten them in the 1954 Grand Final, and at the Western Oval in 1956 but Footscray had no match for the pace and skill of the Demons. Midway through the second quarter the score was three goals to two and it looked like an arm-wrestle, before Melbourne slammed on seven unanswered goals.
Footscray attempted to get back in the game with a number of positional changes at half time, and they restricted Melbourne to two goals in the entire second half but the damage had been done. Five goals wasn't enough to mount a challenge, and with dangerous full-forward Jack Collins restricted to four goals from very few opportunities the Demons won.
Victory gave Melbourne a one game break on the challengers for the minor premiership, and they retained a substantial percentage lead over any other side in the competition. Their spot in the finals was not yet sealed though, with only six points and percentage separating them from the fifth placed Bulldogs.
Best were Tunbridge, Adams and Lord. Brian Dixon was replaced by Dunsford in the first quarter after suffering bruised ribs. Case (bruised elbow) was replaced by Turner in the last.
Seconds
Footscray 16.9 d. Melbourne 6.9
Goals - McKay 2, Unknown 4
Best - Cook, Pinfold, Sandral
Thirds
Melbourne 6.13 d. Footscray 4.13
Media
Age - 01/07/1957
Age - 01/07/1957
Sun - 01/07/1957
Football Record R12 1957