Round 2, 1963
Melbourne vs Hawthorn
Thursday 25 April
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 55,293
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 4.3 | 9.7 | 13.13 | 14.16.100 |
| Hawthorn | 2.3 | 6.5 | 9.11 | 13.18.96 |
Melbourne win by 4 points
Goalkickers: Ron Barassi 4, John Townsend 4, Barry Bourke 3, Frank Adams 2, Ray Groom 1
Milestones:
First game and first goal
Barry Bourke
First Goal
Ray Groom (2nd game)
Having beaten the Hawks comprehensively for three quarters, Melbourne nearly lost the match with just seconds to play, recovering to 1-1 after losing their opening game.
Melbourne were the better side on Anzac Day, but it counted for little as they periodically let the Hawks back into the game. After their rucks were obliterated by St Kilda, they had a much better time against the Hawks, now with Len Mann and John Lord in the key positions, but the rest of the side couldn't put the game away. Hawthorn had a purple patch in the middle of the second quarter before tiring at the end of the half after a tough game the previous Saturday, allowing Melbourne a 20 point break.
In greasy conditions they kicked two goals to open the third quarter, improving the margin to over 30 points. Only the Hawk defence was stopping the game being over, and they held out long enough to give their side a chance in the last quarter. Coverdale kicked two for Hawthorn to spark the match into life, and they started to attack in waves but their kicking for goal for wayward. Peck kicked two to make the margin less than a goal.
It was then that Hawk reserve Rod Olsson had the chance to punish the Demons for failing to put the game away, but when he took a mark within range in the last quarter he booted a point and Melbourne held on.
Best were Barassi, Lord and Adams. Vagg (a late replacement for Nilsson on the bench) replaced Adams (concussion) in the last quarter. Miller was an unused reserve.
Scoring
Ron Barassi 4, John Townsend 4, Barry Bourke 3, Frank Adams 2, Ray Groom 1
Barassi 4.4, Townsend 4.1, Bourke 3.1, Adams 2.3, Groom 1.3, Lord 0.2, Wise 0.1, Rushed 0.1
Reserves (played Saturday 27 April)
Hawthorn 13.9 d. Melbourne 5.13
Goals - Thiessen 2, Jacobs 1, Jenkinson 1, Matthews 1
Best - Anderson, Hill, Nilssen
Under 19s
Melbourne 11.12 d. Hawthorn 9.15
Goals - Schultz 4, Mitchell 2, Harrison 2, Warren 1, Brewster 1, Dale 1
Best - Millard, Harrison, Stone
Media
Age - 26/04/1963
Herald - 26/04/1963
Sun - 26/04/1963
Sporting Globe 27/04/1963
Football Record R3 1963