Round 2, 1983
Richmond vs Melbourne
Saturday 2 April
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 41,889
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Richmond | 3.2 | 5.6 | 10.9 | 15.10.100 |
| Melbourne | 2.1 | 10.5 | 12.8 | 18.11.119 |
Melbourne win by 19 points
Goalkickers: Robert Flower 5, Gerard Healy 4, Glenn McLean 3, Les Bamblett 1, Chris Connolly 1, Tony Elshaug 1, Peter Giles 1, Peter Moore 1, Russell Richards 1
Milestones:
Last game
Paul O'Brien
First goal
Russell Richards (2nd game)
After losing in Round 1 against Collingwood, and dropping a night game against the Kangaroos, Melbourne and its coaching staff were already under attack just two weeks into the new season. A third game in eight days was not ideal preparation, but the club responded by delivering what The Age referred to as their "first victory over a competition heavyweight for four long years". The only downside to the day was controversy over whether a middle finger gesture by Brian Wilson had been directed at Ron Barassi or not.
Two seperate bursts with the wind were the catalyst for the victory, with 8.3 to 1.4 in 26 minutes of the second term and 5.1 to nothing in seven minutes of the last. With Melbourne out to 40 points in front early in the third term the Tiger forwards finally clicked and got within six points two minutes into the last term. Seven minutes of brilliance by the Demons, though, wiped out the challenge.
Best were Icke, Flower and Bamblett. O'Brien suffered a knee injury in what would be his last game and O'Donnell a corked thigh.
Reserves
Richmond 17.13.115 d. Melbourne 14.16.100
Best - Fidge, Wright, Thomas
Goals - Fidge 3, Wright 2, Hamilton 2, Bergman 2, Philby 2, Thomas 2, Reynolds 1
Under 19s
Melbourne 23.12.150 d. Richmond 12.12.84
Best - Unknown
Goals - Unknown
Media
Canberra Times - 03/04/1983
Age - 04/04/1983, 04/04/1983
Football Record - R3 1983