Round 16, 1946
Footscray vs Melbourne
Saturday 10 August
Venue: Western Oval
Attendance: 23,000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Footscray | 3.7 | 6.8 | 12.12 | 13.13.91 |
| Melbourne | 2.1 | 5.8 | 8.8 | 16.16.112 |
Melbourne win by 21 points
Goalkickers: Ernie O'Rourke 4, Arnold Byfield 2, Adrian Dullard 2, Jack Mueller 2, Norm Smith 2, Don Cordner 1, Fred Fanning 1, Jim Mitchell 1, Alby Rodda 1
Milestones:
50 Games
Adrian Dullard
Alby Rodda
Melbourne had blown a golden chance to jump into the top four a week earlier with a surprise defeat against South Melbourne, and were forced to beat second placed Footscray to keep their finals hopes alive.
Kicking with a strong breeze in the first quarter after the Demons won the toss and elected to go into it, Footscray attacked first, but Melbourne got the first goal and their defence held out until midway through the first quarter before conceding their first goal. Two late goals gave Footscray a 12 point lead, and it took Melbourne 15 minutes of the second quarter to level the scores. They were finding it difficult to break through the opposition defence. The sides traded pairs of goals to level the scores befor the Tricolours got a late goal to take a six point lead.
The Demons attacked three times at the start of the third quarter, all courtesy of Adrian Dullard, but his forwards couldn't convert. The sides went goal for goal early in the third before Footscray kicked away with six goals to three for the quarter, but Melbourne came home with a furious wind in the last quarter and kicked five goals in the last ten minutes to win comfortably.
Ernie O'Rourke kicked his four matchwinning goals after coming on as the 19th man.
After the game mounted policeman had to clear the field when they wouldn't leave after the police had already dispersed a brawl.
Don Cordner, Lock and Mitchell were best. O'Rourke and Dowsing were 19th and 20th men, O'Rourke replaced Dowsing (leg injury) during the first quarter. Rodda also suffered leg injury.
Carlton's second loss in a row allowed Melbourne to replace them in the top four.
Seconds
Melbourne 13.16 d. Footscray 4.5
Notes
Sporting Globe gave the crowd as 26,000.
Media
Sporting Globe - 10/08/1946
Age - 12/08/1946
Age - 14/08/1946
Sporting Globe - 14/08/1946
Football Record R17 1946