Round 19, 1947
St. Kilda vs Melbourne
Saturday 30 August
Venue: Junction Oval
Attendance: 6000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| St. Kilda | 3.7 | 4.10 | 7.15 | 10.18.78 |
| Melbourne | 5.2 | 16.4 | 21.7 | 27.9.171 |
Melbourne win by 93 points
Goalkickers: Fred Fanning 18, Frank O'Connor 4, Frank Scanlan 3, Adrian Dullard 1, Jack Mueller 1
Milestones:
Last game
Fred Fanning
Statistical categories led:
Biggest win and highest score at Junction Oval
Most individual goals in a match: 18 - Fred Fanning
In his last game before taking up a lucrative offer to play in the country Fred Fanning kicked the most goals in any VFL/AFL game. The contest started as an even struggle, with the home side kicking the first two behinds before Melbourne had the ball past the centre. The Saints missed multiple chances, while at the other end Fanning got his big day started with four straight. He quickly added three at the start of the second quarter, part of seven for the quarter to leave him on 11 at the break.
The match was over as a contest, with Melbourne leading by 66 points, but a short period of dominance thanks to St Kilda's smaller players only registered four behinds before Fanning's next two goals. The Saints kicked two straight, then Fanning replied to take him to 14. He booted another four in the final term, topping Gordon Coventry's record of 17 in a match, which had stood since 1930. Fanning kicked 18.1, only missing a single shot between goals 13 and 14, from 15 yards out directly in front.
The goals took Fanning past the 88 goals in a season record held by Norm Smith and the 13 goals in a match record of Harry Davie against Carlton in 1925. He was presented with the match ball, mounted and inscribed to celebrate the performance.
Thanks to Fanning, the score remains Melbourne's 10th highest score, and both their best score and biggest win at the Junction Oval. Melbourne's didn't score more against the Saints until Round 20, 1977.
Arnold (back) was replaced by Mitchell at three quarter time. Kennedy replaced Smith (injured) in the last quarter.
Seconds
Melbourne 21.14.140 d. St Kilda 7.8.50
Goals - Rowarth 6, Unknown 15
Lists
10 goals
Highest Scores
Notes
Some sources claim Fanning's opponent on the day was Alan Stretton - who became better known for another disaster when he was head relief operations for Cyclone Tracy in 1974 - but this has since been denied and it's now believed his opponent was Stan Le Lievre.
Media
Sporting Globe - 30/08/1947
Herald - 30/08/1947
Age - 01/09/1947
Sun - 01/09/1947
Football Record - 1947 Finals, R14 1996