Round 15, 1946
South Melbourne vs Melbourne
Saturday 3 August
Venue: Junction Oval
Attendance: 22,000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| South Melbourne | 4.4 | 8.9 | 10.12 | 15.16.106 |
| Melbourne | 5.3 | 7.5 | 11.10 | 14.11.95 |
South Melbourne win by 11 points
Goalkickers: Fred Fanning 3, Alby Rodda 3, Norm Smith 3, Jack Mueller 2, Len Dockett 1, Frank Kennedy 1, Jim Mitchell 1
Milestones:
Nil
Having climbed back into finals reckoning after six consecutive wins, the Demons blew their chance to replace Carlton in the four with a surprise loss to a 6-8 Swans side. Even worse, South were coming off their lowest score in years the previous Saturday, but were now scoring freely. They managed four goals into the wind in the first quarter, while Melbourne's followers weren't getting their hit-outs anywhere near well-held centre players.
South took the lead with the breeze in the second, and held Melbourne well in the third to be just four points behind with the use of it in the last term. They hit the lead early in the fourth, but Fred Fanning - who had been well held all day - came to life and kept the match interesting. Jack Mueller was also important, kicking a goal that dragged the margin back to under six points. South soon hit back, before Rodda regained the lead for his side. They couldn't hold it, South kicked the last two goals of the game to win.
Best were McGrath, Mitchell and Deans. Unused 19th and 20th men were Byfield and Scanlan.
Luckily for the Demons their rivals for fourth place Carlton were also surprisingly beaten, leaving them no worse off than they had been at the start of the day.
Seconds
Melbourne 16.18 d. South Melbourne 9.10
Media
Argus - 02/08/1946
Age - 02/08/1946
Sporting Globe - 03/08/1946
Age - 05/08/1946
Football Record R16 1946