Round 14, 1943
Fitzroy vs Melbourne
Saturday 14 August
Venue: Brunswick Street
Attendance: 8000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Fitzroy | 3.2 | 6.6 | 11.10 | 15.14.104 |
| Melbourne | 0.3 | 2.6 | 5.9 | 7.12.54 |
Fitzroy win by 50 points
Goalkickers: Fred Fanning 4, Percy Beames 1, Tom Ferguson 1, Maurie Gibb 1
Milestones:
First Game
Ralph Shalless
Last Game
Ron Hobba
Don Hooper
Ron Marshall
Melbourne's hopes of qualifying for the finals had been damaged by their big loss to the lowly Swans a week earlier, and their prospects were completely destroyed with another big loss against one of the teams a game in front of them.
Despite their good run of form in the middle of the season the Demons were still suffering from the same defensive issues that had plagued them in 1942. They had suffered more points against them than all the teams other than St Kilda, who had been excluded after Round 11. No club was within 200 points of those conceded by Melbourne.
The visitors conceded the first two goals quickly, and though they held Fitzroy to one more for the quarter they could only manage three points. It wasn't until they were four goals down that Gibb snapped the first through an unguarded goal, and Fanning followed not long after to reduce the margin to a goal. That was the end of Melbourne's resistance, conceding the next three goals to be 24 points down at half time.
Melbourne got the first goal of the third term through Fanning, and after three Fitzroy attacks only registered points, the Demon spearhead had another chance. He missed, and a misdirected kick allowed the Maroons in for the steadier. Nearing the end of the term they were only 25 points behind, before two quick Lions goals extended the margin to 37. The game dwindled to an uninteresting finish, with Fitzroy easily pulling away to win by an even 50.
Best were Beames and Newman. Hobba was 19th man and replaced Hooper (injured leg) in the last quarter.
Seconds
Fitzroy 17.11 d. Melbourne 9.15
Media
Sporting Globe - 14/08/1943
Football Record R15 1943