Round 18, 1976
Hawthorn vs Melbourne
Saturday 31 July
Venue: Princes Park
Attendance: 7567
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Hawthorn | 4.3 | 8.7 | 10.11 | 16.17.113 |
| Melbourne | 4.5 | 8.6 | 12.11 | 14.11.95 |
Hawthorn win by 18 points
Goalkickers: Henry Coles 3, Allan Davis 2, Steven Smith 2, Greg Wells 2, Ray Biffin 1, Ross Brewer 1, Frank Giampaolo 1, Gary Hardeman 1, Chris Woodman 1
Milestones:
Nil
The Hawks got their ninth straight win over Melbourne with a blistering final term after being behind most of the day. In front of the lowest crowd to turn out for a league game that year the players did no favours to the people who did show up by putting on a dull game for the first three quarters.
The loss effectively killed Melbourne's finals chances, leaving them two games and percentage shy of St Kilda in fifth place.
Best were Fowler, Osborne and Coles. Davis was replaced by Hutchison and S. Smith by Hamilton, both in the last quarter.
Reserves
Hawthorn 13.18.96 d. Melbourne 10.15.75
Goals - Walters 3, Hurst 2, Tippett 2, Guy 1, Keays 1, Thorne 1
Best - Grambeau, Withers, Tippett
Under 19s
Hawthorn 11.20.86 d. Melbourne 4.8.32
Media
Age - 02/08/1976
Football Record R19 1976