Round 16, 1947
Collingwood vs Melbourne
Saturday 9 August
Venue: Victoria Park
Attendance: 25,000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Collingwood | 4.4 | 4.10 | 6.13 | 7.14.56 |
| Melbourne | 2.3 | 3.12 | 5.17 | 7.19.61 |
Melbourne win by 5 points
Goalkickers: Lance Arnold 2, Adrian Dullard 2, Len Dockett 1, Noel McMahen 1, Norm Smith 1
Milestones:
Last game
Roy Stabb
Against a side already within the four, Melbourne needed to win to keep their slim finals chances alive. Their task was made harder by losing bookends Fred Fanning and Shane McGrath to the Victorian team playing interstate on the same day, but Collingwood were also weakened and Melbourne got the points in a thriller.
Collingwood's pace advantage helped them early on, and they kicked three goals in a row to open the game. Eventually Norm Smith got their first goal, before the sides traded one more major each to end the quarter with the Magpies 13 points in front.
The home side kicked three points in a row to open the second quarter before Melbourne's strength advantage helped them back into the game. They kicked the only goal of the second quarter but also booted nine behinds, for a total of 1.15 in the quarter between the sides.
The third quarter was a tense arm wrestle that saw the Pies just two points in front. Melbourne had matched their opponents everywhere but were again inaccurate and the margin was cut to two points.
After a 20 minute arm wrestle in the final term the Pies broke away and seemingly had the match won, but a goal by Lance Arnold dragged the margin back to under a goal. Just before the final bell Adrian Dullard goalled to put the Demons in front and they held on to win.
It was Collingwood's lowest score against the Demons since 1921.
Best were Rodda, Cordner and Jackson. Bowman replaced an injured Norm Smith in the second quarter, and Stabb was unused as the 20th man.
Seconds
Collingwood 15.19.109 d. Melbourne 12.14.86
Notes
Sporting Globe has the crowd as 24,050
Media
Argus - Argus - 08/08/1947
Herald - Herald - 08/09/1947
Sporting Globe - 09/08/1947,13/08/1947
Age - Age - 11/08/1947
Football Record R17 1947