Round 17, 1908
Melbourne vs Collingwood
Saturday 15 August
Venue: MCG
Attendance: Unknown
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 2.2 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.8.32 |
| Collingwood | 1.1 | 3.2 | 4.8 | 6.9.45 |
Collingwood win by 13 points
Goalkickers: Vin Coutie 1, Joe Hodgkins 1, Jack Smith 1, Wally Sykes 1
Milestones:
Last Game
Jack Gardiner
Jack Purse
Both teams were still a chance of making the top four, but where Melbourne's chances were very slim, Collingwood was right in the thick of the battle and earned a much-needed victory.
With the Governor, his wife and the Chief Justice all in attendance, the two sides put on a good quality game. Melbourne made the brighter start, nearly scoring the first goal twice, including Coutie's kick being touched through, before the got on the board through a free kick from Smith. With the Magpie defence under siege Coutie made amends for the earlier near miss by scoring with a place kick. Collingwood pulled one back, but went into quarter time seven points behind.
The sides traded behinds at the start of the second term, before Sykes added to Melbourne's lead. By half time each side had kicked two goals for the term.
Despite the loss of Fitzpatrick, who was injured, Melbourne attacked first in the third quarter but was kept out by Collingwood's strong half-back line. Down the other end, the Pies kicked six behinds in a row before finally taking the lead through a goal.
Collingwood were the better side in the last quarter, kicking a goal in the opening seconds. For the first three quarters Melbourne had been the better side in every aspect other than the ruck, but now the Pies took over. They kicked 2.1 to 0.1 and clinched the game with a goal shortly before the bell. The loss ended Melbourne's finals hopes.
Best were Wright, Pearce and Nolan.
Media
Herald - 15/08/1908
Argus - 17/08/1908
Australiasian - 22/08/1908