Round 13, 1977
Melbourne vs Footscray
Saturday 25 June
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 12,566
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 2.3 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 7.9.51 |
| Footscray | 3.4 | 10.4 | 12.11 | 15.12.102 |
Footscray win by 51 points
Goalkickers: Ray Biffin 2, Laurie Fowler 2, Garry Baker 1, Daryl Cumming 1, Greg Wells 1
Milestones:
First Game
Barry Norsworthy
100 Games
Ross Brewer
Melbourne's disappointing season crashed to a new low with a big loss to the out of form Bulldogs. After nearly breaking even with the Dogs against the wind in the first quarter the Demons came out in the second and conceded seven straight. When Footscray had their chance again in the third they made no mistake, keeping the Demons scoreless and cantering away to a win.
The second half was a training drill for the visitors who handballed and long kicked their way to an easy victory which kickstarted a season which had threatened to fall apart when they lost four of their last five. It didn't help that Craig McKellar was missing through injury, giving the Bulldog ruckmen an easy ride for most of the day.
Even when Greg Wells kicked the Demons first goal of the second half ten minutes into the last term it failed to fire them and Bob Skilton roasted his players after the match, telling the media "I'm bitterly disgusted. The disappointing thing is Footscray showed far more desire". With their field kicking terrible and teamwork in short supply the Demons dropped to second last, only kept off the bottom on percentage.
Best were Fowler, Davis and Giampaolo
Reserves
Match cancelled due to poor weather
Under 19's
Footscray 7.21.63 d. Melbourne 6.10.46
Goals - Hayes 2, Burns 1, Keane 1, Thorn 1, Zubin 1
Best - Murten, Burns, Ellingworth
Media
Age 27/06/1977
Football Record R14 1977