Round 18, 1997
Melbourne vs Sydney
Saturday 2 August
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 26,901
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 1.2 | 4.5 | 6.7 | 7.11.53 |
| Sydney | 10.5 | 14.11 | 21.16 | 25.19.169 |
Sydney win by 116 points
Goalkickers: David Schwarz 3, Sean Charles 1, Brent Grgic 1, Brett Lovett 1, Todd Viney 1
Brownlow Votes:
Nil
Milestones:
100 games
Marcus Seecamp (also with Fitzroy)
Statistical categories led:
Biggest loss in Round 18
The Swans were playing their first game on the MCG since losing the 1996 Grand Final, but were untroubled by the lowly Demons. By the time they kicked their sixth goal at the ten minute mark, Melbourne had registered just nine possessions in total, and the day didn't get much better. David Schwarz got his side's first after seven straight to the Swans, who then kicked three more before half time for a rare 10 goal quarter.
Melbourne managed to stem the bleeding in the second quarter, kicked three goals to four, but were blown away by seven goals to two in the third. Almost a hundred points behind at the last change they were lucky to avoid an even bigger humiliation.
Three minutes into the third quarter Shaun Smith was knocked in a heavy bump by Tony Lockett. Lockett was cited on video evidence and received a two match ban. Swan Dale Lewis was also reported.
Greg Hutchison said: "We'd taken a lot of steps forward over the past eight weeks and to perform the way we did in the first quarter was extremely disappointing".
Best were David Neitz, Paul Hopgood, and Brett Lovett.
Reserves
Sydney 21.13.139 d. Melbourne 9.9.63
Goals - Gardiner 3, Bassett 2, Lamaro 2, Hardie 1, Robertson 1
Best - Robertson, Bassett, Lamprill
Lists
100 point losses
Media
Age - 03/08/1997, 04/08/1997
Sun-Herald - 03/08/1997
Sydney Morning Herald - 04/08/1997
Football Record R19 1997