Round 12, 1985
Fitzroy vs Melbourne
Saturday 15 June
Venue: Waverley
Attendance: 14,668
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Fitzroy | 5.5 | 6.6 | 8.12 | 11.15.81 |
| Melbourne | 0.2 | 2.5 | 4.8 | 6.11.47 |
Fitzroy win by 34 points
Goalkickers: Stephen Newport 2, Kelvin Templeton 2, Ted Fidge 1, Mark Withers 1
Brownlow Votes:
1 - Adrian Battiston
Milestones:
First Goal
Stephen Newport (2nd game)
The Demons turned for the second half of the season a game outside the five after loitering around the middle of the ladder for most of the year.
Fitzroy had disappointed but were still just a game behind their opponents. They earned a vital win to pass the Demons on the ladder and stay within range of the top five.
On a bitterly cold day at Waverley Kelvin Templeton returned to the side after missing the start of the year with a broken foot. He'd been eased back through the reserves and kicked two goals but his side couldn't put a winning score on the board.
In the opening quarter they couldn't stop Fitzroy from kicking one either. Five goals in the first 20 minutes helped them to a 33 point lead and the game was all but over at the first break. Their brilliance was curbed in the second but Melbourne had no idea how to capitalise, the game descending into a comedy of errors as the two sides battled to see who could make less mistakes.
Barassi said "We were disappointed but we just had to throw the kids to the wolves today". He named Templeton's "survival" as one of his highlights on a dark day at VFL headquarters.
Best were Healy, Cordner and Battiston
Reserves
Fitzroy 13.18.96 d. Melbourne 9.10.64
Goals - Matthews 4, Armstrong 2, Greg Healy 2, McLean 1
Best - Kol, Allday, Tanner
Under 19s
Fitzroy 15.15.105 d. Melbourne 8.11.59
Goals - Roe 2, Hannant 1, Lawrence 1, Valkanis 1, Marra 1, Sparks 1, Martello 1
Best - Duerkop, McCarty, Hannant
Video
Media
Age - 14/06/1985
Age - 17/06/1985
Football Record R13 1985