Round 18, 1991
St. Kilda vs Melbourne
Saturday 20 July
Venue: Moorabbin
Attendance: 24,950
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| St. Kilda | 5.4 | 9.9 | 12.10 | 16.14.110 |
| Melbourne | 6.2 | 9.4 | 16.8 | 17.9.111 |
Melbourne win by 1 point
Goalkickers: Allen Jakovich 8, Steven Clark 3, Garry Lyon 3, Luke Beveridge 1, Kevin Dyson 1, Jim Stynes 1
Brownlow votes:
3 - Jim Stynes
2 - Allen Jakovich
Milestones:
Nil
The Demons won their last game at Moorabbin Oval in dramatic fashion when eight goals from Allen Jakovich - a last minute club record at the ground - lifted them over the line. It was the first time the Demons had won a game by a point since Round 3, 1981 and it kept their finals chances alive.
Melbourne got the jump early, with the St Kilda defenders unable to control Allen Jakovich or Garry Lyon up front - with Lyon kicking three goals on first gamer Greg Jones - but the Saints fought back to cut the margin to four points at quarter time.
St Kilda took a five point lead into half time before seven third quarter goals to the Demons blew the game wide open. It gave Melbourne a 22 point lead going into the final term, and was largely led by the dominant Jim Stynes who took another huge step towards the Brownlow Medal with strong marking and lightning fast handball. His third quarter burst was complemented for four goals to Jakovich.
Jakovich had all eight to three quarter time until Danny Frawley clamped down on him in the last, and with Tony Lockett finally coming into the game the Saints charged home but a tough defensive effort by the Demons saw them hold on for a critical victory. The margin was cut to a point at the 20 minute mark thanks to a Stewart Loewe goal, and St Kilda continued attacking but Melbourne kept them out. In the finals seconds Gilbert McAdam missed a diving mark 20m out, and when the umpire paid a free kick to Melbourne from the ensuing scrimmage the Demons were safe.
Best were J. Stynes, Jakovich and T. Viney
John Northey said: "In the third quarter there were a couple of misses with easy shots for goal and we could have put them away. I think the players knew that a loss today was pretty well it for us this year, we're still in the fight and hopefully we've turned the corner."
Video
Reserves
St Kilda 27.13.175 d. Melbourne 13.10.88
Best - Gorozides, P. Goldberg, Flintoff
Goals - Cuthbertson 3, Gorozides 3, Owen 2, Jackson 2, Heaver 1, Wearne 1, Stroud 1
Under 19s
Collingwood 19.13.127 d. Melbourne 15.13.103
Best - Nelson, Sullivan, Pinches
Goals - Merritt 3, Taylor 2, Burgmann 2, Hartman 2, Goonewardene 1, Fafatoulis 1, Mackenzie 1, Lemon 1, Aubrey 1, Nelson 1
Lists
One Point games
Media
Canberra Times - 21/07/1991
Age - 21/07/1991