Round 13, 1943
Melbourne vs South Melbourne
Saturday 7 August
Venue: Punt Road
Attendance: 14,000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 4.0 | 7.1 | 7.3 | 9.6.60 |
| South Melbourne | 4.4 | 8.5 | 14.9 | 21.13.139 |
South Melbourne win by 79 points
Goalkickers: Fred Fanning 6, Bob Herbert 2, Doug Heywood 1
Milestones:
First Game
Ron Irwin
Ron Marshall
Statistical categories led:
Equal biggest loss at Punt Road
Five wins in a row dragged the Demons from the bottom of the ladder to the verge of a surprise finals appearance, but a second half fadeout against a team who barely avoided being excluded from the second part of the season cost them dearly.
South had gone winless for the first few weeks of the year and only avoided finishing 11th and being 'retired' from the season at the last minute, but they were much improved in demolishing the Demons with 13 goals to two in the second half. Once they got on top in the third quarter they beat Melbourne to a pulp. Melbourne had Fanning as a focal point, but even though he kicked five of his side's first six goals, they couldn't find any other reliable scoring options.
Melbourne dropped back to 6-6, still a game outside the finals but now almost 34% behind fourth placed Carlton and a further game behind Richmond and Fitzroy.
Best were Ted Cordner, Fanning and Donald Cordner. Marshall was a late replacement for Doherty (military duties).
Seconds
South Melbourne 17.13.115 d. Melbourne 15.9.99
Media
Herald - 07/08/1943
Sporting Globe - 11/08/1943
Record - 14/08/1943
Record - 14/08/1943
Football Record R14 1943