Round 12, 1944
Richmond vs Melbourne
Saturday 22 July
Venue: Punt Road
Attendance: 19,000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Richmond | 6.3 | 6.4 | 16.6 | 17.8.110 |
| Melbourne | 2.2 | 5.8 | 6.10 | 9.15.69 |
Richmond win by 41 points
Goalkickers: Roy Dowsing 4, Jack Mueller 3, Bob Herbert 1, Warren Lewis 1
Milestones:
Only Game
Bryan Crimmins
50 games and last game''
Hughie McPherson (also with Footscray)
First Goal
Warren Lewis (5th game)
Melbourne went into the match of the day without the suspended Fred Fanning, 11 goal hero of the previous Saturday's massive victory over Hawthorn. Conversely, Richmond were missing a number of players including Jack Dyer.
Roy Dowsing stepped up in Fanning's absence with four goals, but Melbourne was second best all day. In greasy, wet conditions Richmond immediately attacked from the opening bounce, and after having two chances turn back by the defenders they finally broke through. The sides traded goals early to be on two each, before Richmond used the wind to their advantage to kick the next four.
With the breeze in the second, the Demons capitalised on a disastrous kick-in to get the first goal. They crept to within two points by keeping the Tigers to a solitary behind for the term. Early in the third term Melbourne went ahead for the first time through Dowsing. That was the cue for the home side to run riot, kicking the last 10 goals of the term.
Almost 10 goals down at the last change, Melbourne got the first through Dowsing again, and he got the second not long after. The Demons fought the game out, but could only kick three goals to narrowly reduce the lead by the final siren.
Best were Smith, Herbert and Cordner. 19th man was debutante Bryan Crimmins, who replaced F. Scanlan (injured) in the last quarter.
Seconds
Richmond 11.15 drew Melbourne 11.15
Notes
Sporting Globe gives the crowd as 18,000.
Media
Herald - 21/07/1944
Sporting Globe - 22/07/1944
Weekly Times - 26/07/1944
Football Record R13 1944