Round 2, 1972
Melbourne vs Footscray
Saturday 8 April
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 21,452
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 2.4 | 5.8 | 10.15 | 11.18.84 |
| Footscray | 4.2 | 5.7 | 9.11 | 15.15.105 |
Footscray win by 21 points
Goalkickers: Ray Carr 6, John Townsend 3, Paul Callery 1, John Clennett 1
Milestones:
First Game and First goal
John Clennett
Last MFC Game
George Lakes
After impressing against the defending premiers in the first match of the year the Demons were expected to comfortably account for a Footscray side who had been disappointing in their season opener.
In a game which turned on its head several times the Dogs won because they had superior aerial skills. The biggest side in the competition were played back into the game after trailing for the middle two quarters by Demon coach Ian Ridley and his reluctance to use the flanks and wingers to carry the ball, instead insisting on kicking to contests which the Dogs dominated.
Melbourne turned for home with a 10 point lead but were overhauled by their fast finishing opponents and fell to a worrying 0-2 start. Footscray used an old Melbourne trick, playing a decoy forward to allow their ruckman to become an aerial threat. Barry Round kicked three in five minutes before Melbourne could counter and the game was over.
Best were Alves, Parke and Carr. Osborne was replaced by Lakes in the last quarter and Keenan by Dillon also in the last quarter. Hardeman suffered a corked leg.
Reserves
Melbourne 12.17 d. Footscray 11.11
Goals - Gallus 2, Harrold 2, McSpeerin 2, Anderson 1, Burgmann 1, Collins 1, Dilnot 1, Ritterman 1, Walker 1
Best - Burgmann, Gallus, McSpeerin
Under 19s
Footscray 13.18 d. Melbourne 13.11
Goals - Watts 3, Macdonald 2, Peters 2, Boyce 1, Curry 1, Giampaolo 1, Payne 1, Perrett 1, Slade 1
Best - Potter, Watts, Boyce
Media
Age - 10/04/1972
Inside Football - 15/08/1972
Football Record R3 1972