Round 2, 1982
Melbourne vs St. Kilda
Saturday 3 April
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 25,467
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 3.5 | 8.7 | 12.15 | 20.26.146 |
| St. Kilda | 7.0 | 10.5 | 14.10 | 16.10.106 |
Melbourne win by 40 points
Goalkickers: Mark Jackson 6, Brent Crosswell 4, Adrian Battiston 2, Gerard Healy 2, Alan Johnson 2, David Cordner 1, Roger Ellingworth 1, Tony Elshaug 1, Robert Flower 1
Milestones:
First Goal
Adrian Battiston (2nd game)
50 Games
Brian Wilson (also with Footscray and North Melbourne)
Mark Jackson was reported in the first minute but went on to be the match winner for the Demons in their first victory for almost a year. The crowd forgave him his early indiscretion and cheered him when he went near the ball, and went wild again when the scoreboard beamed up a replay of his heroics. One man not taking the report seriously was Ron Barassi, when asked about the performance of Saint Michael Roberts who Jackson had allegedly struck Barassi said "Henry Fonda would have been very jealous of Roberts' performance. If the awards had been this week I'm sure an Australian would have won it". The tribunal enjoyed Roberts' 'acting' more than the Melbourne coach and suspended Jackson for a fortnight.
The boom full forward was undoubtedly the star of the show on the new MCG scoreboard. It was the first time the Demons had played in front of the $4m screen and it gave fans a chance to, for a rare time see the play a second time in triumph not despair.
St. Kilda jumped to a handy lead at quarter time but failed to break away over the next two quarters and were deluged in a triumphant avalanche in the last term. Jackson put them ahead with his fourth 11 minutes into the last quarter, then kicked his fifth a few minutes later and his side were on their way. It had been 358 days since the Demons last triumph, but one point in Round 3, 1981. Even President Billy Snedden had to push through an adoring throng who were chanting Jacko's name just to get into the rooms.
Robert Flower and Brent Crosswell joined Jackson amongst the best. Crosswell had 27 touches and four goals of his to go alongside 12 marks. Rumours of his demise had been greatly exaggerated, and after the match his old sparring partner Barassi said "If more footballers had as much pride in their performance as Brent we would have a lot of better players". Flower went to the half-back flank and repeatedly beat two or more opponents to the ball.
The love/hate relationship between the two had swung back towards love, but the reunion was soured by Jackson being suspended for two weeks for striking Michael Roberts with a right clenched fist to the face. In his evidence to the tribunal Jackson claimed the the blow "would not have stuck a hole in a stick of fairy floss." Roberts deviated from the usual practice of covering up for opponents at the tribunal and testified that he had been struck. The jury preferred his evidence and found Jackson guilty after a 62 minute hearing.
Graham Gaunt was a late withdrawal from the side with hip soreness.
Reserves
Melbourne 21.13.139 d. St Kilda 18.12.102
Goals - P. Tossol 9, J.Fidge 3, Cattogio 2, Clayton 1, Dickson 1, McCarthy 1, McKenzie 1, O'Dwyer 1, Sutcliffe 1, J. Tossol 1
Best - Hamilton, P. Tossol, Gordon
Under 19s
Melbourne 30.20.200 defeated St. Kilda 12.8.80
Goals - T.Fidge 10, Bergman 6, Rugolo 5, Hutchinson 2, Thomas 2, DiStefano 1, Fisher 1, Green 1, Howard 1, McDonald 1
Best - Bergman, Fidge, Howard
Lists
Tribunal
Media
Canberra Times - 04/04/1982
Age - 05/04/1982
Age - 06/04/1982
Age - 07/04/1982
Inside Football - 08/04/1982
Football Record R3 1982