Round 17, 1944
Melbourne vs Collingwood
Saturday 26 August
Venue: Punt Road
Attendance: 8,000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 2.3 | 5.6 | 8.14 | 11.17.83 |
| Collingwood | 5.1 | 10.5 | 10.7 | 15.12.102 |
Collingwood win by 19 points
Goalkickers: Fred Fanning 5, Bob Herbert 3, Percy Beames 2, Frank Kennedy 1
Milestones:
Nil
With eighth place to play for the Demons needed to beat Collingwood to stay above them on the ladder but suffered defeat. In three of the four quarters they played terribly, and were outrun by the Pies. They were bolstered by the return of Shane McGrath, playing his first game since 1941 after serving in the war. but only a rally in the third-quarter after a reorganisation of the side helped them get within three points before the Magpies pulled away again.
Fred Fanning was a thorn in Collingwood's side, and they tried four men on him until one finally had an impact. He didn't have enough support and Melbourne dropped to 10th.
Best were Cordner, Dowsing and Herbert. Downey replaced Archibald (finger injury) at three-quarter time.
Seconds
Collingwood 12.18 d. Melbourne 8.8
Media
Argus - 28/08/1944
Sporting Globe - 30/08/1944
Football Record R18 1944