Round 20, 1945
Fitzroy vs Melbourne
Saturday 1 September
Venue: Brunswick Street
Attendance: 5,000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Fitzroy | 4.7 | 8.16 | 12.21 | 14.22.106 |
| Melbourne | 4.1 | 9.2 | 12.6 | 15.11.101 |
Fitzroy win by 5 points
Goalkickers: Fred Fanning 5, Dick Kennedy 4, Ron Baggott 2, Ralph Latham 2, Norm Smith 2
Milestones:
First Game
Harry Rowe
Last Game
Ron Baggott
Gordon Kramer
Allan La Fontaine
Ralph Latham
George Lenne
In their last game for the season the Demons fell narrowly short of an upset victory over the Maroons. The defending premiers had missed the finals, but it was still a strong performance by Melbourne to get so close.
They jumped the home side with the first two goals of the game, and were two in front before Fitzroy kicked the last two to take a six point lead. They had been wasteful with their kicking, having 11 scoring shots to five. They continued to be inaccurate in the second quarter, attacking continually but missing. At the other end Fanning had no such problems, and a Baggott goal put them in front. The sides traded goals for the rest of the quarter, but even though Fitzroy had kicked one goal less they were eight points in front courtesy of a 13 scoring shot advantage.
Fitzroy kicked four goals to three in the third quarter to open a 15 point lead based solely on behinds. FItzroy kicked the first two goals of the last quarter, and though Melbourne got the next three they fell five goals short.
Best were Fanning, Deans and Baggott. Lenne was 19th man. He replaced Cordner (injured ankle) at half time.
Seconds
Fitzroy 20.27 d. Melbourne 11.9
Notes
Sporting Globe gives the crowd as 6000
Media
Sporting Globe - 01/09/1945
Football Record 1945 Finals