Round 17, 1975
South Melbourne vs Melbourne
Saturday 26 July
Venue: Waverley
Attendance: 11,427
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| South Melbourne | 6.2 | 6.4 | 7.5 | 11.9.75 |
| Melbourne | 3.4 | 7.5 | 10.11 | 13.13.91 |
Melbourne win by 16 points
Goalkickers: Henry Coles 3, Shane Fitzsimmons 2, Robert Flower 2, Stan Alves 1, Des Campbell 1, Frank Giampaolo 1, Gary Hardeman 1, Steven Smith 1, Greg Wells 1
Milestones:
Nil
The Demons had troubled top of the ladder Hawthorn for three and a half quarters the week before but seven days later their task was the exact opposite - battling with South Melbourne were sitting stone motherless last on the league table with just one win. They had lost to Richmond by 107 points the week before.
Two games outside the five the Demons could still make the five if a few miracle went their way, but the first task was to clean up the future wooden spooners. When they went into half time three goals behind having conceded six to the Swans it looked like it was going to be a long day at the office for Bob Skilton and his men.
The handful of South fans present could barely believe what they were watching, but they got a reminder of where they sat in the world of football in the second quarter when their side only managed two behinds to go in seven points down.
It took them until midway through the third quarter to kick another goal, and while they were brave in defeat it was another bad day for the Swans while Melbourne kept their slim hopes of a return to September action alive. It was just Melbourne's 4th win in 18 starts at league headquarters.
Best were R. Smith, Sullivan and Wells. Keays (concussion) was replaced by Clark at three quarter time. Hurst was an unused reserve.
Reserves
Melbourne 19.11 d. South Melbourne 14.6
Goals - Sparks 8, K. Smith 4, Chamberlain 3, Norris 2, Tilbrook 1, Woodman 1
Best - Sparks, Osborne, Chamberlain
Under 19s
Melbourne 18.18 d. South Melbourne 10.4
Media
Age - 28/07/1975
Football Record R18 1975