Round 15, 1926
Melbourne vs Collingwood
Saturday 21 August
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 32,475
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 1.0 | 4.3 | 5.4 | 6.7.43 |
| Collingwood | 2.7 | 4.9 | 10.11 | 13.15.93 |
Collingwood win by 50 points
Goalkickers: Robert C Johnson 2, Harry Moyes 2, Col Deane 1, Stan Wittman 1
Milestones:
Nil
After almost losing to the winless North Melbourne a week before, the Redlegs suffered a heavy defeat to the best side in the competition.
The match between two of the three premiership fancies was much anticipated, and much had been said about Melbourne's superior speed but in the end they were outpaced by the visitors.
The MCG surface had been hard during the week but had benefited from rain on Friday to be in perfect conditions by the start of the match. Kicking with a strong wind in the first quarter the Magpies squandered their chances, booting just two goals from nine shots - including one late in the term - and allowing Melbourne to kick one. During the quarter Melbourne saw Thomas shaken after he came off second best in an attempt to bump Gordon Coventry, suffering a kick to the face that nearly closed one eye.
When the Redlegs had their chance with the breeze in the second their bunched forwards struggled to get past the strong Collingwood defence, allowing their visitors two goals and went into the third quarter a goal behind.
The only dominant quarter with the wind all day came in the third term when Collingwood piled on six goals to one to set up a match winning lead. Melbourne attacked first but nothing came from it and in a flash Collingwood had won the game. Even when Melbourne did manage to go forward they usually found it impossible to get through the defender, and kicked just two more goals for the day.
With Thomas still dazed from the first quarter and Mollison barely able to move due to a knee injury suffered just before half time Collingwood ran away with a big win in the last quarter.
Best were Warne-Smith, Dunbar and Corbett.
The loss left Melbourne a game outside of second place, but still with a game and large percentage break on fourth placed Essendon as well as both finals contenders South Melbourne and Carlton.
Seconds
Collingwood 9.10.64 d. Melbourne 8.9.57
Media
Argus - 23/08/1926
Sporting Globe - 25/08/1926
Argus - 27/08/1926
Football Record R16 1926