Round 17, 1957
South Melbourne vs Melbourne
Saturday 17 August
Venue: Lake Oval
Attendance: 18,500
1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final
| |
| South Melbourne | 3.0 | 6.4 | 7.5 | 11.9.75 |
| Melbourne | 0.7 | 2.10 | 7.13 | 9.17.71 |
South Melbourne win by 4 points
Goalkickers: Ian Ridley 3, Terry Gleeson 1, Robert B Johnson 1, Ian McLean 1, Terry Mountain 1, Geoff Tunbridge 1, Athol Webb 1
Milestones:
First Game
Kevin Mithen
First Goal
Terry Mountain (2nd game)
With their finals spot assured the defending premiers suffered a thrilling loss to their less fancied opponents after a titanic struggle, and once again it was poor kicking for goal which cost them - not managing their first until midway through the second quarter when the score was 0.10.
South had played better football than the Demons, but had failed to take their chance to put Melbourne away after a blistering first half. Peter Marquis had been forced from the ground before half time with an eye injury, and Frank Adams suffered an injured ankle in the third term but against the odds the Demons struck back and by the half-way mark of the last term they were fifteen points in front and seemingly coasting to victory.
South fought back again and got to within a goal. With just seconds left the ball was in the Swans forward line where Don Keyter snapped on the run from 30 metres out. The ball flew through on the siren to give South the win.
Best for Melbourne were Gleeson, Ridley and Tunbridge. Marquis was replaced by Jones at half-time (eye) and Adams (ankle) by Sandral in the third quarter. Marquis was taken to hospital after bleeding and losing the sight in his eye.
Despite the loss the Demons went into the last round half a game clear of second placed Hawthorn and third placed Carlton in the battle for the double chance.
Seconds
Melbourne 23.14 d. South Melbourne 9.9
Goals - Wilkinson 7, Lay 4, Brenchley 3, Crompton 3, Fenton-Smith 3, Unknown 6
Best - Cook, Brenchley, Wilkinson
Media
"Demons Overpowered by Determined South" - The Age 19/08/1957
"Marquis in hospital and Adams is doubtful" - The Age 19/08/1957
Football Record R18 1957