Round 14, 1996
Melbourne vs Footscray
Sunday 7 July
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 22,852
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 2.4 | 6.6 | 12.8 | 14.10.94 |
| Footscray | 3.1 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 10.7.67 |
Melbourne win by 27 points
Goalkickers: David Neitz 8, Jeff Farmer 1, Anthony Ingerson 1, Glenn Lovett 1, Darren O'Brien 1, Andrew Obst 1, Shaun Smith 1
Brownlow Votes:
3 - David Neitz
2 - Craig Nettelbeck
Milestones:
First Goal
Darren O'Brien
After starting the season 1-8, the Demons registered their third win in four games on the day when Allen Jakovich made his solitary appearance against his old side for Footscray. Jakovich was comfortably beaten by makeshift defender Shaun Smith and Melbourne ran away to an easy victory.
The two sides played out an even first quarter before Melbourne began to pull away, then they kicked six goals to one in the third term to take an unassailable lead. Their much-maligned midfield was the key to the victory, with the Demons owning the centre of the ground and not letting Footscray's centremen get their hands on the ball.
When David Neitz soccered through his eighth the margin was over 10 goals midway through the final term but the Bulldogs kicked the last six goals of the match to depart with some respectability.
Best were Neitz, G. Lovett and Smith
Reserves
Footscray 11.9.75 d. Melbourne 6.12.48
Goals - Guest 2, Corrigan 1, Irving 1, McDonald 1, Ormond-Allen 1
Best - Hilton, Corrigan, Norman
Media
Age - 07/07/1996
Age - 08/07/1996
Football Record R15 1996