Round 16, 1978
Melbourne vs Richmond
Saturday 22 July
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 18,416
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 6.1 | 8.2 | 10.6 | 14.9.93 |
| Richmond | 2.6 | 4.12 | 13.14 | 17.19.121 |
Richmond win by 28 points
Goalkickers: Henry Coles 4, Ray Biffin 3, Robert Flower 2, Tom Flower 2, Gary Cooke 1, Tony Dullard 1, Mick Rea 1
Milestones:
First game
Mick Rea (and first goal))
First goal
Gary Cooke (2nd game)
The match was a tale of two teams going in opposite directions. The Tigers were busy racking up their sixth win in seven weeks, the Demons were crashing to their ninth loss in a row.
After the first fifteen minutes it seemed like the form book had been tossed out the window, Melbourne were 6.1 to 0.3. It was too good to be true, the Demons took their foot off the gas allowed the Tigers to hit back with three goals. They still led by 19 points at the first change but the tide was starting to turn in Richmond's favour.
The Tigers were attacking but lacked a focal point up front and the Demons managed to hold on to a 14 point lead at half time. Sprayed by their coach Barry Richardson at the main break they came out with a renewed vigour and ended the term with 26 point advantage.
Robert Flower and Henry Coles kicked goals to drag the Demons to within fifteen points but the Tigers were never seriously worried.
It was the best display the Demons had put in a month but that was scant consolation to a coach who was sitting alone at the bottom of the ladder in his first season.
Best were R. Flower, Baker and Dullard
Reserves
Richmond 26.31.187 d. Melbourne 17.18.120
Goals - Tippett 4, Mills 3, Richards 3, Woodman 2, Code 1, Cunningham 1, Hamilton 1, Maynard 1, Whitford 1
Best - Cunningham, Woodman, Code
Under 19s
Richmond 15.10.100 d. Melbourne 10.10.70
Goals - Mobbs 3, Bickford 2, Elshaug 2, Angelis 1, Cochrane 1, Davis 1
Best - McLean, Barkley, Cochrane
Media
Age - 24/07/1978
Football Record R17 1978