Round 17, 1997
Collingwood vs Melbourne
Sunday 27 July
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 37,779
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Collingwood | 3.3 | 4.6 | 13.10 | 20.14.134 |
| Melbourne | 5.3 | 9.6 | 10.8 | 12.10.82 |
Collingwood win by 52 points
Goalkickers: Sean Charles 3, Shaun Smith 3, Brent Grgic 2, Anthony McDonald 1, James McDonald 1, David Schwarz 1, Adem Yze 1
Brownlow votes:
Nil
Milestones:
First game and First goal
James McDonald
Last Game
David Cockatoo-Collins
100 Games
David Neitz
In the league's original fixture the game was scheduled for Victoria Park on the Saturday, but was moved before the season began.. With a rugby union game played on the MCG the previous night, there was speculation of the Collingwood home game being relocated to Victoria Park, but the AFL accepted assurances from the MCC that the ground could be converted for an AFL game in time.
James McDonald debuted alongside brother Anthony, with their brother Alex playing for Collingwood. In his 235th consecutive game Jim Stynes completed ten straight years of football without missing a premiership match but the milestone was to be marked by yet another loss in the disappointing 1997 campaign. Their best first half of the year left Melbourne five goals up at half time, but a stoush after the siren fired the Magpies up and they kicked nine unanswered goals after the break to kill the contest. Adem Yze was reported for wrestling during the melee. The ill-feeling in the game started after quarter time when Paul Hopgood clashed with Paul Williams, but flarde late in the second when Matthew Francis was reporting for striking Stynes in the groin and then appeared to make contact with his leg while Stynes was on the ground.
Three goals in the first seven minutes of the third quarter cut the margin to 12 points, and Melbourne had their share of chances but the Pies held out and took a 20 point lead into the last change. They were over 10 goals in front late in the game before two late goals reduced the margin.
Speaking about his side's fadeout, Greg Hutchison said: "I can't believe it. I still feel sick about it". He lamented his side going from "controlling the contest", but said that "we just couldn't do it in the second half".
Best were Brett Lovett, Glenn Lovett and Jim Stynes. Adem Yze was fined his match payment and another weeks pay for his two wrestling charges. Shaun Smith suffered a cut face.
Reserves
Collingwood 14.23.107 d. Melbourne 7.10.52
Goals - Bassett 2, Irving 1, Robertson 1, Gardiner 1, Winterton 1, DeCrespigny 1
Best - Lamprill, Irving, Robertson
Reported - Bradly (Wrestling)
Lists
Tribunal
Media
Age - 22/02/1997, 15/07/1997, 25/07/1997, 27/07/1997
Football Record - R18 1997