Round 17, 1958
Melbourne vs St. Kilda
Saturday 16 August
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 24,823
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 4.3 | 8.5 | 15.8 | 21.11.137 |
| St. Kilda | 3.1 | 6.4 | 10.5 | 13.9.87 |
Melbourne win by 50 points
Goalkickers: Ron Barassi 5, Neil Crompton 5, Robert B Johnson 5, Athol Webb 5, Ian McLean 1
Milestones:
Nil
Needing one win from their final two games to confirm top spot on the ladder going into the finals, the Demons avenged their one point loss to the Saints earlier in the season and won comfortably.
St Kilda were in the game until the last 10 minutes of the first half, using their small fleet of players to win contested football and kick forward at every opportunity but physicality got Melbourne on top as they ground their opponents down with hard tackling. They were also encouraged by a fiery half time speech from (Norm Smith)), and from there they were powered to victory by Ron Barassi. St Kilda ran out of gas after doing so well in the first half and the Demons took, kicking 19 of their 21 goals. The avalanche came despite their forwards struggling - with just Athol Webb firing to kick five.
It was a steadying victory after two close wins followed by a narrow loss the previous Saturday. After an even first half Melbourne kicked away with seven goals to four in the third term and six - including four to Neil Crompton - to three in the last.
Best were Barassi, Webb and Johnson. Beckwith (eye) was replaced by Carroll and Ridley (cramp) by K. Mithen both in the last quarter.
Seconds
St Kilda 12.11 d. Melbourne 10.14
Goals - Wilkinson 5, Brenchley 2, Boyle 1, Lord 1, Rowan 1
Best - Wilkinson, Milner, Atkinson
Media
"Demons too strong for speedy St Kilda side" - The Age 18/08/1958
Football Record R18 1958