Round 12, 1942
Melbourne vs Essendon
Saturday 25 July
Venue: Punt Road
Attendance: 6000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 2.5 | 6.13 | 11.17 | 14.20.104 |
| Essendon | 4.1 | 7.6 | 10.7 | 12.12.84 |
Melbourne win by 20 points
Goalkickers: Fred Fanning 4, Ron Baggott 3, Alby Rodda 3, Norm Smith 3, Percy Beames 1
Milestones:
First Game
Colin Bradley
Last Game
Jack Heal
150 Games
Jack Mueller
With just a few weeks of the season to go the best Melbourne could hope for was not finishing last, and they did themselves no harm by shocking the top of the table Dons. It was the first time all year that they showed the form that had recently won them three premierships in a row.
Essendon kicked the first two goals, and against a defence that was solid in the air but not in their structure, the visitors opened a 7.2 to 2.9 lead midway through the second quarter. Just as it looked like the Demons were going to concede another big score they unexpectedly took control of the game. After dominating play for little reward on the scoreboard they finally dragged themselves in front by a point at the half.
Fred Fanning got the first of the third quarter after a strong mark, but Essendon then added the next three. The reply was strong, four goals in a row to open a 16 point lead at the last change. Essendon threw themselves into the play in the last quarter but conceded the first two goals to be left 33 points behind with 10 minutes left. The best they could do was kick two late consolation goals to cut the margin.
Victory gave Melbourne a two game and percentage gap on the bottom two, Collingwood and Hawthorn.
Baggott, Fanning and Beames were best. Les Gibbs was reported for striking but found not guilty. Stan Heal was unused 19th man in what would be his final league appearance.
Notes
Sporting Globe gives the crowd as 5000.
Seconds
Melbourne 17.15 d. North Melbourne 8.11
Lists
Tribunal
Media
Football Record R13 1942