Round 16, 1976
Melbourne vs Fitzroy
Saturday 17 July
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 16,192
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 5.4 | 11.13 | 15.15 | 21.20.146 |
| Fitzroy | 3.4 | 7.7 | 11.14 | 15.16.106 |
Melbourne win by 40 points
Goalkickers: Ray Biffin 6, Ross Brewer 6, Greg Wells 3, Stan Alves 1, Ted Carroll 1, Robert Flower 1, Greg Hutchison 1, Chris Woodman 1
Milestones:
First Game
Peter O'Keefe
Chris Woodman
First Goal
Greg Hutchison (4th game)
Chris Woodman
Just when it looked like their season was finished the Demons rebounded with a win that kept them in touch with the five and and ended any chance Fitzroy had of playing in September themselves.
Greg Wells played a great game, with 31 kicks, eight marks and six handballs despite being battered with three big hits in the third quarter. Ross Brewer also added four of his six goals in the third term.
The match was no classic, with the first half in particular a litany of errors, but Melbourne got the result they needed. Roys full-forward Max George kicked 2.6 and four out on the full.
Best were Wells, Brewer and Biffin. Hardeman (ankle) was replaced by Campbell in the selected side. Des Campbell (ankle) was replaced by Grambeau in the last quarter and Carroll (ribs) was replaced by Tippett in the last quarter.
Reserves
Melbourne 19.17.131 d. Fitzroy 11.23.89
Goals - Walters 4, Guilero 3, Guy 2, Thorne 2, Walley 2, Withers 2, Davidson 1, Goss 1, Graham 1, Johnston 1
Best - Arundale, Walley, Guy
Under 19s
Fitzroy 17.14.116 d. Melbourne 10.9.69
Goals - Quine 3, Santagarda 2, Caddaye 1, Cortese 1, Fergus 1, Woods 1, Zubin 1
Best - Santagarda, Salter, Zubin
Media
Age - 19/07/1976
Age - 21/07/1976
Football Record R17 1976