Round 13, 1915
Melbourne vs Collingwood
Saturday 17 July
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 19,645
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 2.0 | 4.2 | 6.5 | 8.6.54 |
| Collingwood | 5.8 | 5.10 | 8.16 | 12.21.93 |
Collingwood win by 39 points
Goalkickers: Roy Park 4, Harry Brereton 2, Johnny Hassett 1, Jack Huntington 1
Milestones:
Last Game
Tim Collins
With the Reds well entrenched inside the top four for the first time in a decade, the motion that was put to the VFL during the week to shorten the season on account of the war might have helped them. It didn't pass, the games went on as scheduled and Melbourne suffered defeat against the best side in the competition.
Collingwood had won by a league record 122 points the week before, so they were hardly out of form, but Melbourne were the league's big improvers in 1915 and the defeat ended a six match winning streak. Heavy turf stopped the Magpies from racking up a similarly large score, but they were still clearly the better side.
Despite the Magpies pressing their claims for a premiership with the massive win a week earlier there were still plenty of people willing to part with money to say Melbourne were going to trouble them. It didn't take long for the Pies to show their superiority, opening up a 20 point lead at quarter time and all but ending the match by the long break. They would have been even further in front had they not converted just five goals from 13 scoring shots in the opening term.
Despite the absence of Jack Brake from their ruck division Melbourne improved in the third term and held Collingwood to two points. Roy Park roved to the weakened rucks brilliantly and added four goals for the day, but by only shaving two goals off the lead they didn't give themselves a chance to steal it in the last term.
Collingwood's ruck were dominant, and with Melbourne a forward down after Tim Collins suffered what was ultimately a career ending knee injury they couldn't put a big enough score on the board to trouble the premiership favourites. It was a fast game, but with outbreaks of unnecessary roughness - especially by the Magpies who were too good even without resorting to dirty play.
Despite being heavily covered by his opponents and a shoulder injury Jack McKenzie was one of Melbourne's best. Evans and Lilley were also named amongst the best. Gibb also impressed against his old side.
Melbourne remained three games inside the top four with just four matches remaining.
Media
Herald - 16/07/1915
Argus - 19/07/1915
Football Record 1915
Punch - 22/07/1915
Leader - 07/08/1915