Round 13, 1961
Hawthorn vs Melbourne
Saturday 15 July
Venue: Glenferrie Oval
Attendance: 27,500
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Hawthorn | 3.2 | 5.5 | 7.6 | 8.10.58 |
| Melbourne | 0.1 | 2.3 | 3.8 | 5.10.40 |
Hawthorn win by 18 points
Goalkickers: Alan Rowarth 2, Hassa Mann 1, Laurie Mithen 1, Ray Nilsson 1
Milestones:
First Game
Herbie Matthews
Last Game
John Leahy
Already seriously wounded by injuries the Demons found themselves having to replace three interstate players - Frank Adams, Brian Dixon and Ron Barassi - for their visit to second placed Hawthorn.
They were spared some pain at the selection table thanks to John Lord and Brian Leahy recovering from injuries suffered the previous week, and opted for a conservative approach to team selection other than the surprise move of Alan Rowarth to the centre of the ground.
The returning Terry Gleeson replaced Barassi and the other two interstate representatives Frank Adams and Brian Dixon were replaced by Ray Dawson - freed from playing up forward - and Brian Kenneally respectively. Debutante Herbie Matthews was named as a reserve.
The changes didn't save them though, and after a draw against Fitzroy Melbourne stumbled again and saw their lead in the race for a double chance sliced to just a game and percentage over Geelong. Hawthorn were the better side from the first bounce, and unlike previous weeks Melbourne was unable to launch a comeback in the final term.
Hawthorn kicked three goals in the first seven minutes, and only tireless work by John Lord stopped the margin from blowing out by half time. Norm Smith recast his team, switching his full-forward with his centre half-forward and putting Geoff Tunbridge onto the ball as a rover but nothing he could do would quell the home side.
Best were Lord, Rowarth and Mann. Gleeson and Dawson were replaced by John Leahy and first gamer Herbie Matthews in the last quarter.
Reserves
Melbourne 6.12 d. Hawthorn 4.4
Goals - Bourke 3, Thorpe 2, Unknown 1
Best - Leslie, Bourke, Roet
Under 19s (played 22 July)
Melbourne 15.24 d. Hawthorn 8.12
Goals - Emselle 4, O'Brien 4, Corrigan 3, T. Johnson 1, Russell 1, O'Neill 1, Hancy 1
Best - Hill, Corrigan, B. Johnston
Media
Age - 12/07/1961
Age - 15/07/1961
Age - 17/07/1961
Football Record R14 1961