Round 14, 1956
Melbourne vs Footscray
Saturday 21 July
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 47,947
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 0.5 | 3.10 | 6.14 | 7.17.59 |
| Footscray | 1.4 | 4.6 | 7.8 | 10.12.72 |
Footscray win by 13 points
Goalkickers: Stuart Spencer 3, Peter Cook 1, Robert B Johnson 1, Ken Melville 1, Athol Webb 1
Milestones:
First Goal
Ken Melville (65th game)
After a club record 19 straight victories the Demons finally tasted defeat for the first time since Round 14, 1955, when they also lost to Footscray two days short of a full year before.
In front of the largest crowd for the season Melbourne's poor kicking for goal didn't help their cause, hitting the post four times (including three to Spencer who kicked 3.6 in total), but they were all poor across half-forward in the middle of the ground.
Their forwards had failed a week earlier but goals had come from rovers and rusting ruckman, and they almost got away with it again. Despite their failings up forward Melbourne could still have won in a thrilling last quarter thanks to a strong performance by their defence which had kept Footscray at bay numerous times throughout the afternoon.
Best were McGivern, Beckwith and Spencer. Peter Marquis replaced Don Williams during the third quarter due to torn ligaments in his ankle. It ended Williams' 71 game consecutive streak.
Despite losing the Demons remained two games and percentage clear at the top of the ladder.
Seconds
Melbourne 13.10 d. Footscray 8.18
Goals - Unknown
Best - Jones, Crameri, Lord
Thirds
Melbourne 8.18 d. Footscray 8.7
Media
Argus - 20/07/1956
Age - 23/07/1956
Argus - 23/07/1956
Argus - 24/07/1956
Football Record R15 1956