Round 12, 1978
Melbourne vs Hawthorn
Saturday 24 June
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 14,652
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 4.4 | 8.10 | 11.14 | 15.18.108 |
| Hawthorn | 7.4 | 10.9 | 15.12 | 18.20.128 |
Hawthorn win by 20 points
Goalkickers: Michael Byrne 3, Peter Johnston 3, Ken Roberts 3, Greg Wells 3, Garry Baker 1, Ross Brewer 1, Steven Smith 1
Milestones:
First Game
Paul Thompson
Despite having been thrashed in their last two games, the Demons stayed within striking distance of the Hawks all day. At the end of the match the winners went to the top of the ladder and the losers went to the bottom but pound-for-pound Melbourne were the more impressive side.
After choosing to kick into a four goal wind, the Demons were six goals down in the first quarter. They fought back to cut the margin to five points in the last quarter, and may have won if the field umpire had paid an obvious late free to forward Michael Byrne.
Melbourne rover Wells kicked three, but missed three more gettable shots on the run and his opposing number Norm Goss booted six.
Melbourne won everywhere but the scoreboard, and ultimately the ladder, with more marks, kicks and handballs than the Hawks. Despite their performance the Demons dropped to the bottom of the VFL ladder when Fitzroy beat St Kilda on the same day.
Best were Wells, Baker and Flower.
Shane Fitzsimmons was replaced in the selected side by Andrew Moir after suffering a slipped disc. Paul Thompson was promoted to the bench to replace Moir.
Reserves
Hawthorn 20.23.143 d. Melbourne 11.10.76
Goals - Cooke 3, Walters 3, Begg 2, Wallace 2, Hamilton 1
Best - Cunningham, Hamilton, O'Keefe
Under 19s
Hawthorn 15.20.110 d. Melbourne 14.10.94
Goals - Angelis 5, Wallace 2, Barclay 1, Bickford 1, Boccabella 1, Elshaug 1, McLean 1, Maynard 1, Sadauskas 1
Best - Boccabella, Chapman, Love
Media
Age - 26/06/1978
Football Record R13 1978