Round 15, 1971
Essendon vs Melbourne
Saturday 10 July
Venue: Windy Hill
Attendance: 14,093
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Essendon | 3.1 | 4.5 | 7.11 | 11.12.78 |
| Melbourne | 4.5 | 6.8 | 9.13 | 12.17.89 |
Melbourne win by 11 points
Goalkickers: John Gallus 3, Paul Callery 2, Ross Dillon 2, Shane McSpeerin 2, Denis Clark 1, Greg Parke 1, John Townsend 1
Milestones:
First goal
Shane McSpeerin (2nd game)
After their loss against the Blues a week before, Ian Ridley had given his troops what he described as "the works" during the week, with the price a back injury to prized recruit John Tilbrook who missed the match.
Essendon had lost by 147 points the week before and despite the loss of "Diamond Jim", the fierce spirit that the match put into his team saw Ridley's Demons capitalise on a a collective lack of confidence from the Bombers to strengthen their spot in the top four.
With the Demons 15 points to the good at half time Essendon had to come out firing in the third term, and they did but full-forward Alan Noonan couldn't convert from multiple shots. The Demons weren't much better, with 3.5 to 2.6 for the quarter. Essendon's more experienced side could have reeled a 14 point three-quarter time lead in but rovers Paul Callery and John Townsend teamed masterfully with ruckman John Gallus to hold them off.
Best were Davis, McSpeerin and Callery. Clark was replaced by Lakes in the last quarter. Rollinson suffered a bruised knee.
Reserves
Melbourne 19.7 d. Essendon 13.18
Goals - Carr 6, Dilnot 5, Burgmann 3, Brewer 2, Brown 1, Colcott 1, Ritterman 1
Best - Burgmann, Carr, Colcott
Under 19s
Melbourne 20.12.132 d. Essendon 10.8.68
Goals - Smith 5, Cumming 3, Tesoriero 3, Moore 2, Taylor 2, Williamson 2, Hamblin 1, Harrold 1, O'Kane 1
Best - Tassell, Macdonald, Martin
Media
Age - 07/07/1971, 12/07/1971
Football Record - R16 1971