Round 18, 1953
Geelong vs Melbourne
Saturday 29 August
Venue: Kardinia Park
Attendance: 18,124
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Geelong | 4.4 | 6.8 | 11.11 | 16.14.110 |
| Melbourne | 1.3 | 4.4 | 5.6 | 8.8.56 |
Geelong win by 54 points
Goalkickers: Dale Anderson 3, Ken Albiston 2, Denis Cordner 1, Bob McKenzie 1, Stuart Spencer 1
Milestones:
Last Game
Jack Thomson
Melbourne could avoid the wooden spoon no matter what the result in their game thanks to a win the previous weekend, as long as Hawthorn lost elsewhere. Which was lucky as the Demons were playing one of the major premiership fancies in the last match of the season. Geelong had been in a slump recently, but Melbourne were a good side to get some form back against and the home side ran out easy winners.
Geelong dashed away to a two goal lead early, and beaten for pace Melbourne's struggled to get back into the game. The Demons were winning in the ruck, and two goals at the start of the second quarter cut the margin to eight. Geelong hit back and took a 16 point lead into half time.
A switch of positions for Clarke and McGiven in the Demon defence failed to have the desired effect, and the side managed just one goal to five. The superiority of aerial attack didn't help Melbourne when they lacked small players to gather the ball on the ground.
Geelong ended the game with 17 men, but but still extended their margin in the last quarter and coasted to a comfortable win.
Best were Cordner, Spencer and Marquis. Case replaced McMahen at half time and Barassi replaced Marquis in the last quarter.
Seconds
Melbourne 18.13 d. Geelong 13.16
Media
Sporting Globe - 29/08/1953, 02/09/1953
Sun - 28/08/1953, 31/08/1953
Football Record - 1953 Finals