Round 19, 1977
Fitzroy vs Melbourne
Saturday 6 August
Venue: Junction Oval
Attendance: 7,575
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Fitzroy | 7.2 | 10.4 | 20.5 | 23.8.146 |
| Melbourne | 2.1 | 4.3 | 5.7 | 12.12.84 |
Fitzroy win by 62 points
Goalkickers: Greg Wells 4, Ted Carroll 2, Mark Alves 1, Garry Baker 1, Ross Brewer 1, Tony Dullard 1, Gary Hardeman 1, Craig McKellar 1
Milestones:
Last Game
Mark Alves
Brett Marchant
Last MFC Game
Ted Carroll
First Goal
Mark Alves (4th game)
The Demons year went from bad to worse when they fell apart against bottom of the ladder Fitzroy and were smashed. Bob Skilton was so furious with his troops at half time that he forced them back onto the field to run laps around the Little League players.
His tactic failed to pay dividends when the Roys slammed on another ten goals in the third quarter in front of the handful of disbelieving diehards who had turned up to watch the match between two of the league's bottom three clubs. The margin was 88 points at the last change before Fitzroy slackened off and allowed the Demons to boot a belated seven goals and keep the margin under the dreaded century.
Fitzroy's score was their highest ever against the Demons, breaking a record that went back to Melbourne's horror 1919 season. It would only last another two years.
Skilton summed up his players by saying "It was pitiful. They showed no desire, no discipline. It was disgraceful". The win drew Fitzroy to within 3% of the Demons in 10th, but both were still a game and percentage above St Kilda in last place.
Best were Sullivan, R. Flower and Baker. Garry Baker injured his hamstring in the first minute but played on. Biffin was replaced by Fitzsimmons in the selected side, Sparks replaced Fitzsimmons on the bench. Smith (hamstring) was replaced by Johnston in the second quarter and Fowler (knee) by Sparks in the third quarter.
Henry Coles was reported, and despite tearing off his jacket and shirt to show the tribunal members his right bicep and a mark he'd suffered shortly before striking Lawrie Serafini he was still outed for two matches.
Reserves
Melbourne 19.17.131 d. Fitzroy 9.12.66
Goals - Baldwin 3, Denny 3, Cumming 2, Tippett 2, Thorne 2, Walters 2, Byrne 1, Campbell 1, Cortese 1, Flower 1, Kelly 1
Best - Giampaolo, Keays, Hamilton
Under 19s
Fitzroy 25.14.164 d. Melbourne 12.7.79
Goals - Angelis 5, Moir 3, Caddaye 1, McKaige 1, McLean 1, Quinne 1
Best - Barclay, Caddaye, Moncrieff
Lists
Tribunal
Media
Age - 08/08/1977
Age - 10/08/1977
Age - 24/08/1977
Football Record R20 1977