Round 15, 1980
Melbourne vs Carlton
Saturday 12 July
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 26,216
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 3.2 | 7.7 | 12.11 | 15.13.103 |
| Carlton | 4.4 | 8.11 | 14.19 | 18.24.132 |
Carlton win by 29 points
Goalkickers: Cameron Clayton 4, Robert Flower 3, Michael Byrne 2, Andrew Moir 2, Russell Rowe 2, Michael Seddon 1, Robert Walters 1
Milestones:
Nil
With the Demons well out of the finals race, the Round 15 match was still filled with intrigue. After a protracted clearance wrangle Greg Wells made his Carlton debut against the side who he had starred for throughout the 1970's, and Robert Flower acted as Melbourne captain in the absence of Carl Ditterich who had been dumped by the club's selection committee.
With Melbourne defenders Wayne Gordon and Cameron Clayton handily beating their opponents, the down on their best Carlton struggled to a 10 point lead at half-time.
Carlton coach Percy Jones to deliver a world class spray to his troops at the break, and his mood was not helped when midway through the third quarter the Blues let a four goal lead slip and the Demons were back within a goal. Ditterich threw Flower to full-forward and he responded with a goal.
At the 18 minute mark of the last quarter the Melbourne coaching staff botched an interchange and as Robert Elliott was carried off with a hip injury, Phil Pinnell left the ground at the same time and left the Demons with 17 players on the field. The MCC members made their feelings about this mistake loud and clear.
Melbourne's best were Cameron Clayton, Tony Elshaug and Robert Flower. Wells got 31 touches against his old side. Vin Catoggio was best for the Blues and his performance stood out in the minds of the Demon administration when they were taking players in return for Wells before the next season. Robert Elliott suffered a bruised hip.
Ditterich, who had already brawled with Reserves rover Henry Coles before the game, was severely reprimanded for an outburst about the umpires after the match. The matter was not settled until he met with VFL umpiring director Harry Beitzel to watch a replay of the game. Beitzel conceded a mistake had been made awarding a 15 metre penalty against a Melbourne player and asked top umpires to "lift their game".
Reserves
Melbourne 16.12.108 d. Carlton 15.13.103
Goals - O'Donnell 4, Woodman 3, Bunn 2, Coles 2, Czarnecki 2, Bickford 1, Smith 1, Wingate 1
Best - Wingate, Maynard, O'Donnell
Under 19s
Carlton 15.13.103 d. Melbourne 12.5.77
Goals - Corrigan 4, Fidge 2, O'Brien 2, Battiston 1, Bell 1, Deakin 1, Kelly 1
Best - O'Brien, Corrigan, Fidge
Media
Age - 11/07/1980
Canberra Times - 13/07/1980
Age - 14/07/1980
Age - 17/07/1980
Age - 19/07/1980
Football Record R16 1980
Links
Blueseum match report