Round 19, 1997
Western Bulldogs vs Melbourne
Saturday 9 August
Venue: Princes Park
Attendance: 13,058
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Western Bulldogs | 4.5 | 6.10 | 9.15 | 14.18.102 |
| Melbourne | 1.3 | 3.5 | 8.6 | 9.10.64 |
Western Bulldogs win by 38 points
Goalkickers: Jeff Farmer 4, Alastair Clarkson 1, Brett Lovett 1, Leigh Newton 1, David Schwarz 1, Shane Woewodin 1
Brownlow votes:
2 - Todd Viney
Milestones:
Last game
Andrew Lamprill
Brett Lovett
The Bulldogs stayed in the finals hunt with their first win in five games, but were hardly convincing for a side that was a game clear on top of the ladder after Round 14.
Melbourne had only kicked three goals in the first half, but when Jeff Farmer kicked three in a row late in the third term to cut the margin to 15 points. Greg Hutchison took his players in front of a small contingent of fans at the three quarter break. Hutchison admitted there were only about "500 or so voices" in the stand, and later said "Our supporters are probably up at the snow more than at the footy". A Leigh Newton goal early in the last quarter reduced the margin to nine again before the steadied with four goals in the next five minutes. David Neitz was beaten so comfortably that he was dragged late in the third quarter.
Hutchison said "We were obviously very disappointed with last week, and you didn't have to be a genius to work out we were going to come out fairly steamed up today. But we just lost a bit of focus and did some dumb things rather than concentrate on what we had to do".
Best for Melbourne were Viney, Yze and Schwarz. Sean Charles had a corked thigh, and Brett Lovett a groin injury. Marcus Seecamp was suspended for two weeks for kneeing.
Reserves
Western Bulldogs 14.15.99 d. Melbourne 14.12.96
Goals - Robertson 5, J. McDonald 2, Irving 2, Winterton 2, Pesch 1, D. Stynes 1, Goodale 1, Obst 1
Best - Goodale, Irving, O'Brien
Notes
Age shows the attendance as 12,960
Lists
Tribunal
Media
Age - 10/08/1997, 11/08/1997
Football Record - R20 1997