Round 17, 1953
Fitzroy vs Melbourne
Saturday 22 August
Venue: Brunswick Street
Attendance: 7500
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Fitzroy | 2.4 | 2.7 | 6.10 | 6.13.49 |
| Melbourne | 3.3 | 5.8 | 6.8 | 9.10.64 |
Melbourne win by 15 points
Goalkickers: Dale Anderson 4, Bob McKenzie 2, Denis Cordner 1, Peter Marquis 1, Jack Thomson 1
Milestones:
Last Game
Neil Whitaker
First Goal
Peter Marquis (16th game)
The Demons started the day in last place, but climbed off the canvas after their surprise victory over fifth placed Fitzroy. The Maroons were well out of the finals race - three games and 42% behind Collingwood - but it was still a major surprise when the Demons travelled to Brunswick Street and beat them in an often spiteful game.
Melbourne took a five point lead into quarter time, they had been inconsistent in their attack but had broken through for three goals. Amongst intermittent showers Melbourne skipped away in the second quarter.
Fitzroy reorganised their side at half time and narrowly took the lead back, before running out of gas in the final quarter, allowing the Demons to run over the top to register their third win for the season. It was Fitzroy's second lowest score of 1953, above only their 1.0 against Footscray.
Best were Spencer, Arnold and Williams. Bull and Whitaker replaced Lane and Albiston (leg injuries) in the last quarter.
Seconds
Melbourne 8.8 d. Fitzroy 5.13
Notes
Sporting Globe shows the crowd as 9000
Media
Sporting Globe - 22/08/1953
Age - 22/08/1953
Argus - 24/08/1953
Age - 24/08/1953
Sporting Globe - 26/08/1953
Football Record R18 1953